Crossbow

Crossbows are a weapon type originating from Ximizhlum that allows even less skilled and agile characters to shoot their foes from afar.

For the first few centuries, the only real ranged weapons used by humans were bows and throwing weapons such as javelins.

It was during Bjorn’s Campaign that the first crossbow was invented. Being at a great disadvantage compared to the Takedan regime, Bjorn’s forces had to come up with numerous unconventional tactics and inventions.

One such invention was the crossbow, known as vkoyumyus in Ximi, literally meaning pull-shooter or pull-bow.

While a bow was fine on its own, it took quite a lot of time to master. The crossbow, on the other hand, could be used by just about any numbnut with a decent accuracy. The weapon’s ammo, bolts, also had a greater penetration, helping greatly against the better equipped government units.

Though the earliest versions were prone to break fairly often, they were made cheaply and for mass production, with the only part worth keeping and reusing being the trigger mechanism. The bolts, which then were regarded as and built as nothing more than mini arrows, had their heads made from cheap iron, bronze, and even materials such as stone or bone.

Despite the cons, the crossbow turned out to be revolutionary. It took a few years before the Takedans were able to mass produce and equip their armies with crossbows, while Bjorn’s side enjoyed great success with them.

After the war was over, crossbows became a dominant part of Ximi military and hunting tradition. Their invention lead to further innovation with things like ballistas that became common place on defenses, ships, and sieges.

At some point, crossbows found their way to Helvetya, where they were adopted predominantly by megitsune who found their penetrative power quite useful against the armoured kumiho whose armour simple bows would only be able to scratch and bounce off of. It’s likely that other races, and even the melee loving kumiho, adopted crossbows into their arsenals.

Crossbows are nice, indeed.