Forgotten Realms Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Forgotten Realms Wiki

The scimitar (pronounced: /ˈsɪmɪtɑːrSIM-i-tar[6]) was a one-handed, martial melee weapon of the sword family.[1]

Description[]

The scimitar was similar to the falchion in that it was a "backsword", sharpened on one edge and the other edge was thicker to give it strength. Scimitar blades were 2​ to ​3 feet (0.61​ to ​0.91 meters) long and almost always curved, though a few were angled like a khopesh.[7] Starting at the hilt, the blade might taper gradually to a point or might increase in width and then rapidly come to a point. The hilt was one-handed and had quillons.[8]

Weaponology[]

Drizzt and guenhwyvar-5e

Drizzt Do'Urden wielding his legendary pair of scimitars, Icingdeath and Twinkle.

Scimitars did not have the damaging power of longswords or other heavier swords, but with skill they could hit vital areas better than most. Using the one-sided, curved scimitar required special training and was therefore classified as a martial weapon.[1][2]

History[]

Scimitars first became available in the Netheril Empire in 1800 NY (−2059 DR). They had developed from the khopesh, which were created a thousand years prior. During this time scimitars were primarily utilized by drow.[9]

In later centuries, these blades were commonly favored by Calishites[10] and some druids.[11][12]

Notable scimitars[]

Notable Users of Scimitars[]

Husteem insignia

A bloody scimitar depicted on the insignia of House Husteem.

Groups[]

Individuals[]

Races & Sentient Creatures[]

Religions[]

  • The deities Mielikki and Iyachtu Xvim were known to wield scimitars.
  • Scimitars were the favored weapon of the deity Doresain.[28]
  • Scimitars were the favored weapon of the xvart deity Raxivort.[29]
  • Scimitars were the favored weapon of the Untheric deity Utu.[30]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Novels & Short Stories

Referenced only
The Adversary

Video Games

Referenced only
Warriors of Waterdeep

Board Games

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

External links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 116. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  3. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 35, 37. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  4. Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 109. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  5. Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 218. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  6. Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 28.
  7. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  8. Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  9. slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  10. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  11. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  12. Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 34. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  13. George Krashos (November 2000). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Soargar's Legacy”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #277 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87.
  14. Stormfront Studios (2001). Designed by Mark Buchignani, Ken Eklund, Sarah W. Stocker. Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. Ubisoft Entertainment.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 177. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  16. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  17. Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
  18. Christopher Perkins (July 1996). “Nemesis”. In Anthony J. Bryant ed. Dungeon #60 (TSR, Inc.) (60)., p. 57.
  19. Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  20. Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  21. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 82. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  22. James Wyatt and Steve Berman (February 1998). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Miracles of Flight”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #244 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 76–82.
  23. Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
  24. Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 77. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
  25. Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
  26. Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, Bruce R. Cordell and JD Wiker (March 2005). Sandstorm. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 147. ISBN 0-7869-3655-X.
  27. David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
  28. Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (October 2004). Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 15, 17. ISBN 0-7869-3433-6.
  29. Wesley Schneider (September 2007). “Class Acts: Forgotten Faiths”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #359 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 121.
  30. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
Advertisement