Avalon/National Library/Weapon Guide/Axes
Bitter Axe
This Axe has the handle made of wood, which provides a good grip for the hand when balancing. It's also a great distinction component, giving the axe a point of elegancy. The main structure and the blade are made of steel.
It was mainly used in the north lands, because of the low temperatures. The humidity in the ambient rusted the axes, except this one made of stainless steel. Legends about this kind of weapons are few, but this axe is also recognized for showing the rank of soldier of the one handling it. In this wood handle there were made lots of cuts, which represent the victims who fell under that axe. Well, the legend sais that there were a couple of soldiers who were called the "Barbarian Nightmare" who needed to cut even the steel (with other axes) to count every victim they killed.
The legend say they were five, but some of them even speak about a possible sixth. Their names are not known, mostly because they weren't fighing for glory but for the liberty of his realm, who made them ironically even more famous. Anyways, in the final battle when they were near to victory, their enemy, just for shame of being defeated by a bunch of warriors in older battles, wanted to kill them at any prize. They emptied their whole chargement of catapults over them, which killed definitely the "Barbarian Nightmare". That's why this axe is called Bitter Axe, because allthough of being so close to victory and finally earning his peace as warriors in the end of a war, they were killed in a not honourable way... a bitter way.
Normal Combat Axe
This Axe is the most common one. It's used by the lower population when they want to defend themselves and their homes. Angry Peasants have this rudimentar axe by them. It's the woodcutters' axe but a bit more sharped for fighting.
Although the reality is that it's a very low quality axe, it's the most feared one, because you'll never see one alone. Peasants don't fight alone, so if you see one on the battlefield prepare yourself for a tuff battle against a minimum of 20 peasants trying to kill you. They're not expert warriors, but most of them spent their days cutting trees, and know exactly how to manage that axe.
One hand axe
Here you can see one of the most beautiful one-hand-axes ever made... This complex design gives not only beauty to the axe but also a very good stability in the air. This way when throwing it's pretty sure that it won't change direction in the way to the target.
The metal of this axe isn't other than mithril itself... It's cost is too high of course for normal soldiers and rarely they have been seen in Lord's hands. Generals often use them because of their great accuracy and effectivity. Mithril blades are well known because of their easy way to cut other metals and of course flesh.
About the handle; it's covered just with straight leader. What grips better with human hand's skin? Well, of course more skin! This leader is from black panther, which is a common animal in the north of Beluaterra. That's why there are lots of warnings about them in the forests of that regions.