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A scythe (pronounced: /sðseyedh[4]) was a farm implement that could be used as a two-handed, martial melee weapon.[2]

Description[]

A scythe was a long, curved, sharp-pointed, one-sided blade mounted at 90° on a shaped haft and was normally used for harvesting wheat or corn. The blade was tilted and the haft was shaped to make it easy to swing just above the ground and cut the crop stalks. One or two handles might jut out of the haft to make it more comfortable to swing in a mowing fashion.[5]

Weaponology[]

It took two hands to wield a scythe and some training to use it effectively. They could be used to pierce or slashing at an opponent, much in the same manner as some pole arms, like the halberd, though it did not have a comparable reach. And because their blades were long and slightly curved, scythes could be used to trip opponents.[6]

Varieties[]

  • Fauchards: scythes that had been properly developed for the purposes of combat and warfare.[7] Compared to farming scythes they were reinforced, a bit straighter, and more balanced.[5]
  • Fauchard-fork: fauchards that had blades curved more like a sickle, putting their cutting edge on their convex side (facing the opponent).[8] And much like a gardening fork, they had two parallel spikes,[7] which either projected from the blade or tipped the pole end.[8]
  • Fauchard-guisarme: also known as a hooked-fauchard,[7] were fauchards that had a heavy hook attached to the back of their blade that one could use to dismount their opponents.[7][8]

Availability[]

Notable Scythes[]

  • Nature's scythe: dreadful magic weapons of war left behind by the creatures of the Army of Darkness after the Weeping War.[10]
  • Rose Scythes of Chauntea: Sturdy scythes carved with the images of wheat sheaves, and whose blades were engraved with the image of a single rose. They could be used as walking sticks, farming tools, and could also provide help to divine spellcasters—empowering their spells and protecting healed allies against their foes.[13]

Notable Users of Scythes[]

Races & Sentient Creatures[]

Religions[]

Trivia[]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Notes[]

  1. The scythe is not mentioned in the 1st or 2nd edition player handbooks.

Appearances[]

Video Games
Gateway to the Savage FrontierNeverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights 2Neverwinter

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 53. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  3. Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 218. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  4. Dungeons & Dragons FAQ (HTML). Wizards of the Coast. (2003). Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved on 2018-05-22.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 115, 117. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  6. 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.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 127–128. ISBN 0880380845.
  9. Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  10. 10.0 10.1 BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  11. Obsidian Entertainment (October 2006). Designed by Ferret Baudoin, J.E. Sawyer. Neverwinter Nights 2. Atari.
  12. Strategic Simulations, Inc. (1989). Designed by George MacDonald. Curse of the Azure Bonds. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
  13. Chad Brown (June 2012). “Channel Divinity: Chauntea and Silvanus”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #412 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 22–27.
  14. Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  15. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 162. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  16. Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matthew Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt (April 2003). Fiend Folio. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 52–54. ISBN 0-7869-2780-1.
  17. Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc), p. 48. ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
  18. Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
  19. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 238. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  21. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 188. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
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