Cunnan - User contributions [en]

Weapons

2005-11-05T10:28:22Z

24.14.74.111: /* Hand weapons */

===Weapons in the SCA===
Most '''weapons''' used in the [[SCA]] are made out of [[rattan]]. Weapons are constructed according to guidelines laid out in the [[combat handbook]]. Nothing can be done to the rattan that changes its flexibility.

SCA "[[SCA sword|Swords]]" are usually shaved down on the sides and out of the back [[blade]]s with a plane or spokeshave, then covered with [[tape]]. Once taped, they cannot be less than 31.8 mm (1¼ inches) in diameter. Swords may be fitted with a [[thrusting tip]], which is required to have at least 12.7 mm (½ inch) of [[progressive give]], and may not double over. A [[basket hilt]], [[quillion]]s or the equivalent is required.

[[Thusting tip]]s are usually contructed from [[closed cell foam]] with a [[leather]] collar around the area where the [[rattan]] and the thrusting tip are joined to prevent doubling over.

[[Axe]]s are considered a [[mass weapon]] and thus cannot weigh more that 4 pounds. The head can be constructed out of several materials, the most common being [[closed cell foam]] (like a camp mat) and must have [[progressive give]] over the whole head.

[[Mace]]s often have a foam head with rattan splints attached to the outside, this is then taped over and is usually attached to a handle(haft) that is relatively short and is also considered a [[mass weapon]].

Two handed weapons such as the [[glaive]], [[halberd]] and [[great sword]] are all [[mass weapon]]s and have many different methods of construction.

It is a good idea to shape the handle of your weapon so that you can tell if you are hitting with the "[[blade]]" or the "flat" of your weapon.

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==Hand weapons==
*[[sword]]
*[[SCA sword]]
*[[spear]]
*[[mace]]
*[[hammer]]
**[[maul]]
*[[flamberge]]
*[[great sword]]
*[[polearm]]s
**[[pike]]
**[[glaive]]
**[[halberd]]
*[[dagger]]
**[[dirk]]

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==Missile weapons==
*[[bow]]
*[[javelin]]
*[[axe|throwing axe]]
*[[rocks]]

==[[siege weapons|Siege Weapons]]==
*[[trebuchet]]
*[[catapult]]
*[[battering ram]]

Alchemy

2005-10-08T20:49:08Z

24.14.74.111:

'''Alchemy''' was a pseudoscience of [[medieval]] times, probably influenced by the [[Egypt]]ians and the [[Greek Philosophy]] of [[Democritus]].

It is based on the idea that the world is composed of the four elements [[fire]], air, water and earth. These elements are considered to be contained in all things, the most common example being wood which "obviously" contained earth (which was why it was hard) and water (sap when squeezed out) and air (smoke when lit) and fire (you could light it). It was a nice little theory...

The basic idea of the atom as the "smallest unit of divisibility" was also formed during this time - though this truly bears little relation to the present-day concept of the atom (which is merely named after the Democritian concept). Atoms were considered to be tiny, perfect spheres and made up of one of the four above-mentioned elements... like I said, a nice little theory and a lot more advanced than the infinite-turtles style of science that was around previously.

One of the concepts was that, because [[lead]] and [[gold]] (the perfect metal) were from the earth element, earth could therefore be turned into lead and gold using an "appropriate catalyst" known as the [[Philosophers stone|Philosopher's Stone]]. This was a magical substance which could turn water into [[wine]], heal the sick, and as mentioned, turn really boring lumps of metal into gold and [[silver]]. Most of it though was just processes like mixing [[copper]] with [[arsenic]] to give it a silver finish, or a philosophical trick by which the alchemist's [[apprentice]], through years of hard work and training, was turned from lead (i.e. an ignorant klutz) into gold (i.e. an alchemically educated klutz). :)

The quest to turn lead into gold was also a spiritual one, as it represented the change of an impure substance into a pure substance - the equivalent of returning Man from his current state of sin to a state of Grace last known before the Fall.

Despite never discovering the Philosopher's Stone, alchemists did come up with a number of interesting reactions and the knowledge gathered eventually led to the foundations of modern [[chemistry]].

Alchemy also gave rise to concept of the [[panacea]], the "[[medicine]]" to cure all illnesses - also never found, but a search for it led to an interesting number of ways to [[poison]] oneself (mercury, silver and lead poisoning being numbered under the chief ways that alchemists died).

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Renaissance

2005-10-08T20:02:55Z

24.14.74.111: