The Dragon's Prophecy

by David Noel

  Scutum

  The standard shield of the Roman Legionnaire. The scutum was used as much for attacking as for defending. It provided better coverage than a round shield and was much more versatile in the many different ways it could be used. It was made from gluing together three layers of wood with layers of canvas and leather in between each layer of wood and then formed into its distinctive curved shape. It had a large metal boss that covered the primary handle and made the shield a punching weapon as well as a shield. It had a metal edge to make it more resistant to hacking attacks. It was lighter than the typical round shield but covered more of the body and provided superior protection to arrows and other projectiles. There is some evidence that there were other strap configurations used on the back that would allow it to be carried on the shoulder and used in different orientations. It was not widely adopted despite its superiority as a shield because it was considerably harder to make than a round shield. Shieldmaidens use a slightly smaller and lighter version they call a scuta.

  Kite shield: Developed during the early medieval period, the kite shield was created for use by cavalry. The traditional round shield provided very poor coverage to someone on horseback and had limited usefulness. The kite shield was designed to provide coverage for the rider’s entire side and their leg. The shield was held by straps that were set up in different configurations so that it could be held in different ways. It was commonly worn on the shoulder so that the rider’s left hand was free to handle the reins while the right hand wielded a weapon.

  Weapons

  Bow, Self:

  A traditional longbow or a simple hunting bow are examples of a self-bow. A self-bow is, in its simplest form, a stick with a string attached. Yew wood is preferred for making long bows but almost any strong, springy wood can be used for making smaller bows. Sinew is generally preferred for making the string but bow strings were also made from flax, silk, and hemp.

  **A note about bows: the front of the bow (also known as the belly of the bow) is that part that faces the archer while the back of the bow is that part that faces away from the archer and toward the target, this can be confusing to people who are not familiar with bows.**

  Bow, Composite:

  A composite bow is a bow that is made out of multiple materials. The core is wood but the front of the bow facing the archer has a layer of material that is strong in compression, usually horn or bone, while the back of the bow facing away from the archer has a layer that is strong in tension, such as sinew. These three layers are then glued together. This makes a very powerful bow that can be just as powerful as a longbow but with a much smaller size. They longer to construct than a self-bow and must be cared for since excessive moisture can cause the glue that holds it together to come apart. They are commonly used by horse archers who need a powerful bow in a smaller size.

  Francisca

  A throwing axe invented by the Franks. It was designed to be thrown at the ground in front of an enemy, this would cause it to bounce up unpredictably and spin very fast. This made it hard to block and when used this way by a line of warriors it could disrupt enemy formations. It was heavy enough to break shields and to kill with a single blow and long enough that it was still an effective hand weapon if the wielder chose to swing it instead of throwing it. It was so effective that a slightly longer version used primarily as a hand weapon was adopted by the Vikings.

  Gladius/Gladia

  The standard sword used by a Roman legionnaire. In battle, legionnaires led with their shield (the scutum) and then used this short sword when they got in close by making quick stabbing attacks around the shield. It was extremely effective in stabbing attacks, even against armor and was very good in hacking or slashing attacks. It had no crosspiece or guard and was not used to parry or block an opponent’s attacks (the scutum was used for that). Centurion shieldmaidens use a slimmer, lighter version of this weapon that they call a gladia. The gladia has a blade 20-21 inches in length and a weight of 1.5-2.0 lbs. They use it with their own version of a scutum (a scuta) in much the same way that the Roman legionnaires did.

  Glaive

  The glaive was one of the first polearms used in Europe. It is similar to a spear. It is a long pole with a heavy blade on top. It can be swung with two hands and used like an axe or used in stabbing attacks like a spear. The heavy blade is capable of piercing most kinds of armor. Most glaives have some sort of hook or spar on the back of the head for hooking riders and pulling them off their horse. It was an ideal weapon for a soldier on foot and was considered one of the most effective handheld weapons of all time. Its only real drawback was its size which made it inconvenient to carry when not in battle and challenging to use with a shield.

  Messer

  The German word messer means knife. Messers are a class of swords that can be thought of as “big knives”. They are single edged swords similar in shape to larger butcher knives. They are excellent for hacking and slashing and very good for stabbing attacks. They are different from normal single edged swords because of their hilt construction and the inclusion of a nagel or a small metal projection from the side of the crosspiece to help protect the wielder’s hand. Sir Gerard uses a langes messer (long knife) that is slightly bigger than the typical messer. His has a 30“ blade and an extended handle so that it can be wielded with one hand or two. Not all messers have pommels (a knob on the end of the hilt used to help balance the weight of the sword and to allow a striking attack with the hilt) but Sir Gerard’s does to help balance its weight. Messers could be even larger with a kriegsmesser (“war knife”) being a two-handed weapon with a blade over 36” long.

  Seax

  The seax (pronounced “sax”) is a type of knife invented by the Saxons, an early Germanic tribe who, along with the Angles, migrated to/conquered England after the fall of Rome (hence the term Anglo-Saxon for Englishmen). It is noteworthy for its drop point. Most knives have their point in line with the spine or nearly in line with the spine. The seax has its point either in line with the middle of the knife (in its earlier versions) or in line with the cutting edge (in its later versions). This makes it excellent for slashing attacks and very good at stabbing attacks. Seaxs come in various sizes and designs but Brendan uses a long seax. A typical long seax was between 20” and 24” in total length and could be used as a short sword (Brendan’s was 24”).

  ** A note about knives: The difference between knives and daggers is that knives have only one cutting edge on one side of the knife while daggers have two cutting edges, one on each side. Daggers are primarily weapons of war while knives are generally considered to be tools. Some knives, such as the seax, also happen to be very good for fighting with.**

  Centurion Steel

  Centurion smiths and natural philosophers have made many important discoveries in the area of metallurgy making them centuries ahead of the rest of the world. Steel is made by smelting iron from iron ore and then adding carbon to it, usually in the form of charcoal. Most of the world cannot get iron hot enough to turn it completely into a liquid, they get it very soft, like chewing gum, but not actually into liquid form. Because of this it is impossible to completely remove all the impurities and inclusions within the iron and to thoroughly mix carbon all the way through it. Centurions have discovered smelting methods that allow them to smelt iron at very high temperatures and turn it into a liquid which produces a very pure iron and allows for a complete mixing of carbon all the way through the metal. Centurions have also discovered some rare metals in some of their mines in East Francia that can be added into their steel during the smelting process to produce exceptional steels. Centurion Steel is one of the most closely held secrets of the Order and part of their cultural identity. It also gives them a clear technological edge that makes them formidable warriors despite their relatively small numbers.

  Mollis: mollis refers to “soft” steel. Low quality iron with many impurities and inclusions and a low carbon content would be considered mollis by Centurion smiths. This is the
standard steel used for weapons and armor by the rest of the world. The Centurions will sometimes produce mollis while training new smiths because it is easy to make and easy to work with. They use it for pots, flatware, and farming implements, not weapons or armor.

  Durum: durum refers to “hard” steel and is the standard steel used by Centurions for most weapons and armor. It is a very high quality, high carbon steel that is much stronger and harder than mollis.

  Altum: altum refers to the “high” steel. This is the legendary Centurion Steel that most outsiders are referring to when they speak of Centurion steel. It is durum with small amounts of tungsten and vanadium added. The addition of tungsten and vanadium into the steel alloy makes it even stronger and harder. It is resistant to corrosion and will hold an edge like no other metal on earth. The tungsten makes the steel denser but also stronger so the blades can be forged thinner to compensate for the slight increase in weight and thinner blades cut better. Adding tungsten and vanadium increases the cost and makes the metal much harder to work so altum is used sparingly in Centurion castles. Swords, some select weapons, and Mail and Plate armor for elite knights and shieldmaidens are its primary uses.

  Centurion Medicine

  Centurions have traveled around the world in their quest to learn the best medical practices and they have uncovered an incredible breadth of knowledge both ancient, domestic, and foreign. They are also among the leading medical researchers in the world (Nian Zhen among them).

  They grow and use a variety of potent herbs and advanced treatments including:

  Willow leaves which have salicylic acid (aspirin) in them and are concentrated, distilled, and used as a pain reliever.

  Opium which is highly restricted but is available for the most severe pain and injury.

  Spanghum moss is used on wounds for its antiseptic qualities.

  Green Beer - Streptomyces is a soil bacteria that is carefully maintained in a small hot house and then used to ferment beer. Discovered by the ancient Nubians, this sour beer has a greenish tint and a golden colored foam on top. It is laced with tetracycline and used as an antibiotic medicine. One batch can be used to ferment the next batch if it is kept warm. It must be dosed carefully, it cannot be overused or it leads to iron deficiency.

  Silver is antimicrobial and powdered silver and silver foil can be placed on wounds to help kill bacteria and prevent infection (it is NOT effective when taken orally).

  Obsidian is used for medical tools, especially scalpels.

  Distilled alcohol is used to disinfect equipment and wounds. (The ability to distill alcohol is a major medical innovation by the Centurions, it is done by burning wine and collecting the alcohol vapors in copper tubes).

  Silk is used for sutures to stitch up wounds.

  Clinics are established in the village nearest the castle to provide free medical care to the villagers. These also serve as training facilities for Centurion doctors and nurses.

  Infirmaries and Apothecaries – each castle has a dedicated space for dealing with the sick and injured and for mixing medicines and managing medical supplies.

  Sanitary conditions. Nian Zhen discovered by accident the value of washing one's hands between patients using alcohol and water and wearing a "body apron" which she changes between patients as well. She originally did it because she is obsessive about personal cleanliness, especially around sick people. When she discovered that her patients had lower mortality rates than some of her fellow Centurion doctors whom she knew were excellent, she made the connection between extreme cleanliness and reduced infection rates (they do not have any concept of germs yet but they know that dirty wounds can get infected and lead to death). When her fellow Centurion doctors began following her cleanliness regimen the mortality rates in Centurion clinics and infirmaries fell dramatically.

  Centurion medical texts are centuries ahead of anyone else. Even internal organs are drawn and described (though the purpose of many is still a mystery since the Centurions do not practice vivisection). The Centurions understand the value of studying the dead in order to help the living so Centurion doctors and nurses have a tradition of "leaving their bodies to science", that is, specifying that their bodies may be used for dissection and study purposes. The bodies of those who are studied are then stitched back together as completely as possible afterwards and buried with full military honors as a sign of respect. Centurion doctors have even begun developing protocols for autopsies.

  Castle Parts

  Castle Wall: The wall around the castle is called the curtain wall. If the top of the wall is crenellated (has open sections called crenels for shooting through and raised sections called merlons for protection) the top part of the wall is called the battlement (a wall with a battlement on top is said to be “embattled”). The pathway on top of the wall for the defenders to walk on is called the wallwalk or the parapet. The entire defensive front of the wall, from the bottom of any moat to the top of the battlement is called the rampart.

  Armory: A place to store all the weapons and armor that the smiths have made.

  Bailey: The bailey is the main courtyard of the castle and is used as a training ground and as a staging area for troops getting ready to make a sortie out of the castle. A bailey is specifically the courtyard surrounded by the curtain wall of the castle and its primary purpose is military. Some castles had other kinds of courtyards (surrounded by buildings instead of the curtain wall) that served non-military purposes so referring to a bailey as a “courtyard”, while technically true, was potentially confusing and generally avoided. For many castle dwellers the bailey was the bailey and everything else was a courtyard.

  Ballista: A ballista is a large piece of siege equipment operated by a crew of 3-4 people. It looks like an oversized crossbow set on a wooden frame. It fires bolts that are up to 6 feet (2 m) long. Early Roman versions used twisted ropes to provide the torsion to fire the projectile, but by the Middle Ages ballista were being built that used large steel arms as the limbs of the bow like a crossbow. It was powerful enough that it could only be drawn by a winch attached to the frame.

  Bakery: A place for baking bread. Every castle has its own bakery and in Castle Warrick it is attached to the kitchens next to the brewery. Bread was an important staple and part of every meal in medieval times.

  Barracks: The building where troops are housed, it contains their bunks, lockers or trunks, and gear. Bunk beds were invented during the Middle Ages (though their exact date of origin is hard to determine). Castle Warrick is an early adopter of bunk beds in their barracks because in war time the population inside the castle can more than quadruple.

  Brewery: A place for brewing beer. In Castle Warrick it is attached to the kitchens next to the bakery. Beer was a common beverage for most people in the castle (even teenagers) but it was by no means the only thing that people drank in the middle ages. Water was often drunk if it was fresh and clean (which it is in Castle Warrick) and milk kept in silver jugs could remain drinkable for a week or more. In Carinthia wine was also drunk but was imported from other regions rather than being fermented in the castle. Alcohol was consumed in strict moderation in Centurion castles, beers and wines were frequently watered down, and drunkenness was not tolerated.

  Chapel: The church building for the castle. Early chapels were small and multiple services were sometimes necessary to accommodate a large castle population.

  Keep: The main building in a castle is called the keep. It served as both the home for the noble family living in the castle and as the final defensive fortification if the rest of the castle should fall. The French word for the keep was don jon which developed into the English word dungeon. Early castles didn’t have dungeons since keeping someone a prisoner for a long period of time as a punishment was unknown to them (lawbreakers were typically fined, whipped, pressed into service, or executed). High ranking prisoners held for ransom would often be given nice quarters and allowed to roam around, they just weren’t allowed to leave the keep. It was n
ot until much later when people began to see the advantages to holding on to political prisoners for long periods of time that the modern idea of dungeons began to take shape.

  Privy: The toilet, it was also known as a garderobe when it is built inside of a castle (sometimes it was euphemistically called the jardin – French for “garden”). If the privy was built outside in the bailey it was usually just a small wooden shack built over a pit. If the privy was built inside of a building the waste dropped down through a chute into a cesspit that had to be cleaned out periodically. Castle Warrick’s privies are stone buildings that dump the waste into sewers. Still smelly but much better than a traditional privy.

  Scorpion: A scorpion is essentially a small ballista designed to be operated by a crew of 1-2 people. It looks like a large crossbow mounted on a wooden stand and fires bolts that are 4+ feet (1.5 m) long.

  Smithy: where the blacksmiths work to make and repair weapons and armor. It would contain a smelter, multiple forges, a large supply of coal, anvils, tools, and metal ore.

  Stable: The building where the horses are kept, cared for, and fed. The stables at Castle Warrick are extensive and can house up to 100 horses when necessary. Temporary stables can be built in the bailey if needed to house additional horses when the Centurions are gathering troops for war.