Lasso

Lassos, also known as lariats, were a relatively nonlethal form of exotic ranged weaponry.

Description
Lassos were little more than lengths of rope, typically thin, knotted with a slipknot at the end to create a large loop.

Weaponology
Lassos were used by simply twirling them in the air, then hurling them at a target and pulling the rope taut once the loop landed around their target.

Within this simple framework there was a variety tricks that could be done with lassos. They could be settled around a target's legs to trip them, settled around their necks to strangle, or settled about their torso and arms to pin them down. Though in the latter case, there was a chance a target might shrug the rope off before a wielder could pull their lasso taut. People were also known to settle lassos about a mounted target's torso, bracing for impact as they pulled them to the ground off their mount.

History
Around the 14 century DR, Tsenya Garbo captured Sandiraksiva using a golden lasso.

Some time prior to 1367 DR, a nephew of Lyra Sunrose was trampled to death by a herd of wild horses when he attempted to lasso a mare in the oat fields along the western shore of Lake Sember.

Notable Users of Lassos

 * In cultures that relied heavily upon herding beasts, people often wielded lassos.

Classes

 * In some cultures, lassos were a favorite weapon among assassins.
 * Some gladiators specialized in the use of lassos, including the fugitive gladiators of Hillsfar.
 * Lassos were a favored weapon among the mariners of Evermeet.
 * Lassos were one of the few weapons that Mystics were known to wield.
 * Lassos were a typical weapon in the arsenal of thieves. Though proffesional beggars were never known to use them.

Individuals

 * Sir Celedon Kierney was proficient in the use of lassos.
 * King Janol Famisso was proficient in the use of lassos.
 * The bounty hunter Jobinov was typically known to wield a lasso.
 * Kane

Nations & Settlements

 * Lariats were a typical weapon in the arsenal of the ranch-hand militias of Longsaddle.
 * The tuigan of the Hordelands often hunted with lassos that were fastened to the far end of a pole. They were also known to wield this weapon against their enemies.
 * Devious and disreputable people in Waterdeep were often known to wield lassos.

Races

 * Lassos were one of the two weapons that avariels trained with extensively and were proficient in the use of.
 * Herdsman genies, being a race whose lives largely surrounded herding beasts, often wielded lassos.
 * Me-zu onis were often known to wield lassos.
 * Typically short demihuman races &mdash; such as arctic dwarves, halflings, and gnomes &mdash; were not known to wield lassos due to their height making them ineffective. However, jermlaines and taslois were both known to wield lassos in combat.

Religions

 * A monk in the Disciples of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred who wished to challenge for the rank of Master of Dragon first had to succeed in riding a remorhaz. This ritual involved the use of a simple lasso.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that aetharnors, the specialty priests of Abbathor, were known to wield.
 * Priests of the deity Erevan Illsere were often known to wield lassos.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that goldhearts, the specialty priests of Hanali Celanil, were known to wield.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that hoodwinkers, the specialty priests of Baravar Cloakshadow, were known to wield.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that hurndors, the specialty priests of Vergadain, were known to wield.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that joydancers, the specialty priests of Lliira, were known to wield.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that luchas, the specialty priests of Mystra, were known to wield.
 * Lassos were one of the many weapons that misadventurers, the specialty priests of Brandobaris, were known to wield.