Scythe

A scythe was a farm implement that could be used as a two-handed, martial melee weapon.

Description
A scythe was a long, curved, sharp-pointed, one-sided blade mounted at 90&deg; 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.

Weaponology
The scythe could be used for piercing or slashing attacks in the same manner as some pole arms, like halberds, but it was not a reach weapon. It took two hands to wield a scythe and some training to use it effectively, so it was classified as a martial weapon. Because the blade was long and slightly curved, it could be used to trip opponents.

History
Throughout the 14 century DR, fully assembled scythes were available for purchase through ''Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue, as well as the blade or handle individually as separate parts.

In the 1370s DR, scythes could be found openly sold at many stores throughout the Sword Coast.

Varieties

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

Notable Scythes

 * Nature's scythe: dreadful magic weapons of war left behind by the creatures of the Army of Darkness after the Weeping War.
 * 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&mdash;empowering their spells and protecting healed allies against their foes.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * Derro were often known to fight with hooked-fauchards.

Religions

 * Scythes were often known to be used by followers of the deity Myrkul.

Trivia

 * Scythes were a favored weapon of the goddess Chauntea.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Gateway to the Savage Frontier &bull; Neverwinter Nights &bull; Neverwinter Nights 2 &bull;