Arquebus

Game Stats

• Maximum Range: 75 yds.
• Aimed Range: 20 yds.
• Damage: 2d6 (impaling)
• Reload time: 2 rounds
• Secondary: may be used as a truncheon with -1 damage and no more than 1 attack per round.
• Concealable:  no
• Civilian Carry: no

Description

The arquebus is a black-powder long gun that fires a spherical lead shot.  It is the principal firearm of Harkanian infantry.  Arquebuses are generally hand-made on an individual basis by expert gunsmiths, although individual guilds may have standard "patterns."  Because of this individuality there is no real "typical" arquebus, but an average weapon is about 44 to 48 inches in length and discharges a ball about 0.54 inches in diameter.

Method of Operation

Modern Harkanian arquebuses are fired by means of a flintlock mechanism, which is simpler to manufacture and less prone to break down than earlier designs.  The flintlock consists of a small pan into which the arquebusier pours a tiny amount of gunpowder (this is called "priming" the pan).  The pan has a cover to keep the powder from falling out of the pan, allowing the weapon to be carried loaded for action.  An arquebus is loaded by pouring an amount of loose gunpowder down the muzzle of the barrel, followed by the spherical projectile (the "ball" or "shot") and a wad of cloth or paper to keep the ball from rolling out of the barrel while the weapon is being handled.  The powder, shot, and wadding are then rammed to the bottom (or "breech") of the barrel with a thin steel ramrod, stored in a slot underneath the barrel.  The barrel may or may not have a fluted muzzle.  Fluting has no effect on accuracy, but it does act as a funnel, making it easier to load the weapon in stressful situations.

Once the pan has been primed and the weapon loaded, the arquebusier pulls back a small spring-loaded vice or "cock" gripping a shard of flint.  When the trigger is pulled, a spring-powered clockwork mechanism drives the cock forward and simultaneously raises the pan cover, exposing the gunpowder.  The flint strikes sparks from a carefully curved piece of steel on the lid of the pan cover, and the sparks ignite the powder in the pan.  The fire thus created travels (hopefully) through a small hole in the side of the barrel, igniting the main charge of powder behind the ball and propelling it forward.  The arquebusier then brushes any gunpowder residue from the pan and repeats the process, all of which takes about twenty to thirty seconds for an experienced arquebusier.

Advantages

The arquebus can propel its shot with great force, and the lead ball will deform and expand as it smashes through armor and flesh, creating a larger wound than is created by an arrow or bolt.  Because its destructive potential comes entirely from gunpowder rather than muscle strength, an arquebus can make even a weak man a lethal force on the battlefield with only a little practice of the loading drill.  The weapon can be even be used in the rain with the simple expedient of fitting a small umbrella or "cow's knee" of oiled leather over the pan and cock and storing the shot and powder in waterproof containers.

In general, an arquebus is a much "handier" weapon than a bow or crossbow.  Gunpowder cannot be stored in the open air forever without spoiling, but a gun can be kept loaded for many hours before its powder begins to degrade.  Bows cannot be carried for long with an arrow nocked and ready to shoot, and even crossbows suffer from being kept cocked for too long.  Even though it is considered a long gun, arquebuses are generally short enough to be used at close quarters.  So long as the target is outside of melee range, an arquebus can generally be brought to bear.  It can also be fired in many more stances than a bow, allowing an arquebusier to make much more effective use of cover and fortifications than can an archer.

Disadvantages

An arquebus creates a great deal of noise and smoke when discharged.  Even a single shot creates a large and highly noticeable cloud of smoke, and repeated shots will quickly leave the arquebusier in a miniature fogbank.  This makes it an extraordinarily un-stealthy weapon, and when used in large numbers on the battlefield the smoke from hundreds of discharges can quickly obscure entire armies, making it difficult to maneuver or give orders intelligently.  The Harkanian army attempts to mitigate this disadvantage through careful choice of ground and extensive training.

The arquebus' theoretical range is about 75 yards, but this is merely the distance the shot can be expected to travel.  The aimed range of an arquebus is generally much shorter.  Because the weapon is loaded from the muzzle, its barrel must be smooth and slightly larger than the diameter of the shot.  This means that as the shot is fired it bounces around in the barrel, imparting a random spin to the ball that causes it to curve in unpredictable ways.  On the battlefield this is not much of a liability, as a shot that misses one soldier is just as likely to hit the one standing next to him.  However, most arquebusiers are unable reliably to hit a specified man-sized target beyond 20 yards, if they can even achieve that much.  The inherent inaccuracy of the arquebus makes target-shooting matches contests of great skill.  One such contest was held at Festivale, with first place taken by Monica Jasmine.

The arquebus' clockwork lock mechanism is difficult to make but quite reliable.  However, there is always the possibility that the fire from the pan will not travel through the touch hole to the barrel.  This is called a "flash in the pan," and results in the trigger being pulled but the gun failing to shoot.  Additionally, black gunpowder leaves a residue of salts when it combusts.  This residue can clog the barrel or block the touch hole after repeated shots, making it harder to force the shot down the barrel and further reducing accuracy.  Arquebuses must be cleaned regularly to prevent gunpowder residue from building up, and in particularly pitched battles soldiers may be forced to clean their weapons in the midst of combat.

Variants

The arquebus is often thought of as the prototypical black-powder weapon.  It shares many similarities but should not be confused with the pistol, the blunderbuss, or the rifled musket.

By far the most common ammunition for the arquebus is plain black gunpowder and spherical lead shot, often cast by hand in a mold provided by the gunsmith who crafted the weapon.  However, alchemists have developed a variety of alchemically-enhanced shots and powder.  These can be used either alone (in conjunction with traditional powder or shot) or in conjunction to combine effects.

Party Associations

Monica Jasmine uses the arquebus as her primary weapon.

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