Kinlu Weapons

The chart below details the most common weapons in use in Kinlu that are substantially different from their Western Alusian counterparts and require ranking as a separate weapon.

There are some Kinlu weapons that differ only from the Alusian ones in name, and for these the normal skills and statistics apply.

The Warrior column shows the weapon category for the purposes of the Warrior skill.

Weapon	Wt	PS	MD	SC	DM	Range	Class	Use	Rk	EM Equivalent	Warrior
Tanto	5/8	7	10	40	+0	P	A	MC	9	Dagger	Shortswords
War Fan	1	8	15	40	-1	P	A	MC	10	Main-Gauche	Shortswords
Sai	2	8	15	45	+1	6	A/C	RMC	10	Main-Gauche	Shortswords
Kodachi	2	11	17	45	+2	P	B	M	9	Estoc	Shortswords
Ninjato (1-2)	3	14	17	45	+3	P	B	M	9	Estoc	Oriental Swords
Wakizashi (2)	2	14	17	45	+3	P	B	M	10	Rapier	Oriental Swords
Katana (2)	3	15	17	45	+4	P	B	M	10	Rapier	Oriental Swords
Nodachi (2)	5	18	17	50	+6	P	B	M	8	Scimitar	Oriental Swords
Tonfa	2	14	15	50	+0	P	C	MC	9	Quarterstaff	Blunt
Tetsubo (2)	8	22	10	50	+7	P	C	M	5	War Club	Blunt
Nunchaku (2)	3	14	17	45	+1	P	C	M	8	Scimitar	Entangling/Chain
Bo (2)	3	12	16	55	+2	P	C	M	9	Quarterstaff	B Class Pole
Hanbo (1-2)	1	10	16	55	+0	P	C	M	9	Quarterstaff	Blunt
Shuriken	2oz	9	15	40	-1	12	A	R	10	Dart
Yari (2)	4	13	17	45	+3	P	A	M	10	Javelin	A Class Pole
Naginata (2)	5	14	18	55	+4	P	B	M	9	Glaive	B Class Pole
Hankyu	4	14	15	45	+2	60	A	R	8	Short Bow
Daikyu	6	16	15	55	+4	180	A	R	8	Long Bow
Manriki-kusari (2)	6	14	19	40	+2	2	B	RMC	10	Whip	Entangling/Chain
Tetsubishi	1	5	15	40	-3	6	A	R	4	Grenado
Kataran	2	12	16	35	-1	P	C	MC	9	Cestus	Unarmed

Notes

Tanto: A Kinlu dagger, similar in shape to the larger swords, and not suitable for throwing. This weapon uses the Dagger skill and need not be ranked separately.

War Fan: Small folding war fans (tessen) are designed to look like normal decorative fans and will generally pass casual inspection as such. They may be used to strike or to distract an opponent and increase the user's DEF (see Shields).

Sai: May be used to either attack or deflect blows (see Shields). When used in Melee or Close, Sai may inflict either A or C class damage as the user chooses. However, because of their size and weight they cannot inflict C class Grievous Injuries. If a pair of Sai are used together to disarm (making neither available for defence or another attack durin the action), then if the Disarm is successful the opponent does not receive a roll to retain their weapon and must drop it. A variant with only a single side-prong is the Jitte; it has the same statistics and abilities.

Kodachi: A shortsword that may be worn and used by non-Samurai classes, such as Merchants. It is common ot see two Kodachi in one scabbard, one with the handle fittings, the second handle hidden as the bottom part of the scabbard. When used this way the scabbard is normally worn on the back with the handles pointing out to the sides, allowing both Kodachi to be Prepared as a single action.

Ninjato: (also called Shinobigatana) are most commonly used by the Shinobi clans and usually consists of a wakizashi or cut-down katana blade, fitted with a full katana-length handle and placed in a katana-length saya (scabbard). The intent is to deceive one's opponents into miscalculating how quickly it can be drawn and also to conceal its nature a Shinobi weapon. The extra space in the saya may also be used to store or hide other equipment or goods. It can be used with only one hand on the hilt (allowing the user to prepare shuriken, etc with the other hand). No damage bonus is conferred for using it 2-handed, and no other Melee weapon can be used in the off-hand unless the character has learnt the Nito-Kenjutsu skill.

Katana & Wakizashi: are two different sized versions of the same weapon. They have slightly different uses in combat since the smaller Wakizashi can be more easily used in confined spaces. The major difference however is cultural in that the Wakizashi is viewed as a less hostile weapon and can be carried openly in most situations, much as a dagger will often be retained in Alusian society. It is only necessary to rank Katana once and the same rank will apply to both these weapons. Both are listed as 2-handed weapons due to the fighting style they use. Strictly speaking they are 1-2 handed weapons and can be used with only one hand on the hilt, however no damage bonus is conferred for using them 2-handed, and no other weapon can be used in the off-hand unless the character has learnt the Nito-Kenjutsu skill.

Nodachi: A large sword of similar shape to the Katana, the Nodachi (Field Sword) is also known as the Horse Killing Sword as one of its uses is to allow Samurai on foot to attack mounted opponents. The blade on a Nodachi is typically around 3 1/2 feet long (giving an overall length of 5 1/2 feet), and as the sword is too long to be worn at the side by a human or elven sized figure it is usually word strapped across the back.

Tonfa: Consists of a handle with a knob, perpendicular to a shaft that lies along the hand and forearm. When holding the handle, the shaft protects the forearm and hand from blows. In attack, the shaft can be used to punch, or swung out to strike the target with considerable momentum. The tonfa is traditionally wielded in pairs, one in each hand, and the techniques taught may only be combined with Unarmed or another Tonfa as an off hand weapon. If a Tonfa is not used to attack it may be used to deflect blows (see Shields).

Tetsubo: An iron shod staff used in Kinlu by various sects of religious warriors. It is constructed out of heavy oak, plated with iron on the sides, and with large iron studs at the end. It is usually 6 to 7 feet in length.

Nunchaku: Due to the Nunchaku's extreme speed in the hands of a Master, at Ranks 6 and above this weapon may be used to Multi-hex Strike.

Bo: (also called rokushakubo meaning "six foot staff") are the quarterstaves of Kinlu. This weapon uses the Quarterstaff skill and need not be ranked separately.

Hanbo: A short staff approximately half the length of a Bo. The fighting style is quite different from a long staff, and incorporates elements of sword techniques. It can be used one or two handed, but the techniques taught may only be combined with Unarmed or another Hanbo as an off hand weapon. One variant of the Hanbo is the Shakuhachi or Kinlu flute. These may be made of Bamboo, or less usually of Bronze, Iron, Steel, or even Jade. They are fully functional musical instruments and may also be used as Hanbo.

Shuriken: Up to three Shuriken can be thrown at one, two or three targets in one Pulse with no penalty. Shuriken is a generic term of any small edged throwing weapons. They come in a wide range of shapes but use the same characteristics.

Hankyu: Is the Kinlu Short Bow. This weapon uses the Short Bow skill and need not be ranked separately.

Daikyu: Is the asymmetric longbow of Kinlu. These weapons are very tall -- most Erelheine would use a Daikyu of around 8 feet -- but the grip is positioned at about one-third the distance from the lower tip. This allows the bow to be used when mounted, and would also allow a shorter figure (such as a Dwarf or Halfling) to use the weapon if desired. The initial draw weight is less than that of a Western Alusian long bow, but the draw length is further, the release occuring behind the archer's head. The unusal shape and shooting style make this a separate weapon from long bow.

Manriki-kusari: Several similar weapons are covered under this skill, including the Manriki-kusari, Kusari-gama and Kyoketsu-shogi. All comprise a weighted chain or rope which may be used to Entangle, and a bladed weapon such as a small sword or axe. Like a whip these weapons may be used to Entangle and damage in the same Pulse. This damage has a DM of -2. The damage on the weapon table is for the blade which may be used in melee and also against opponents another hex away. The weapon can also Trip in Melee. In close the weapon may be used as a Garrote. This is a complex and difficult weapon to use and GMs are encouraged to be inventive with Fumbles.

Tetsubishi: are small, sharp caltrops scattered to delay and deter pursuit. The weight shown is for a single use of them and is enough to cover 1 mega-hex. The SC is the chance of throwing caltrops so that they scatter around a centre chosen by the player. In the case of a "miss" the GM should randomly determine their placement. It is possible to carefully place the clatrops, or toss them into adjacent hexes only with no chance of "missing".

Kataran: are worn along the backs of the forearms and need not be prepared to use, and may be used to either attack or deflect blows (see Shields).

Shields

Shield Type	Wt	Def/Rank	MD loss
War Fan	1	2	-
Sai	2	2	-
Tonfa	2	2	-
Kataran	2	2	-1