Arquebus

The arquebus, also known as a hackbut, was a type of firearm.

"As far as can be determined, the arquebus is good for making gods-awful noise that will either scare the Nine Hells out of an enemy, or possibly anger the target into attacking with even more ferocity."

- Grymwand, a professional mercenary

Description
An arquebus consisted of a wooden stock and a metal, smooth bore barrel, which often had a hook-like projection on the underside. Where some firearms had a trigger, arquebuses had a curved piece of metal called the "serpentine". This was known as a matchlock firing mechanism.

Arquebuses that came from Lantan typically had the symbol of Gond stamped on the butt of their stock.

Weaponology
An arquebus required both hands to fire, with arms absorbing the recoil, and unlike a musket they didn't require a stand to support their barrel. They were also sturdy enough to be wielded like a club, but they could be damaged in the process.

Arquebuses were loaded by pouring smokepowder from a powderhorn into the muzzle, firmly packing it with a piece of paper, and then ramming in the projectile (an iron ball). Once the barrel was loaded a user needed to fill the firearm's priming pan with smokepowder, close it, and place a burning slow-match within the serpentine. Putting pressure on a metal plate would then release the serpentine into the pan, thereby firing the weapon.

If an arquebus ever backfired it was fouled and couldn't be used further until it was cleaned, a process that could take at least thirty minutes.

Variants

 * Blunderbuss: a variation of the arquebus that offered more versatility in terms of ammunition.
 * Caviler: a lighter variation of the arquebus.
 * Musket: a heavier variation of the arquebus.

History
On the world of Toril, the arquebus originated on the island nation of Lantan, during the Time of Troubles, after the deity Gond revealed to his followers how to make reasonably safe and accurate firearms that utilized smokepowder. From 1358 DR onwards, the Lantanna priests of Gond (mainly the specialty priests) would work to spread the use of firearms, shipping them to Western ports.

When arquebuses first showed up off of Lantan they were considered mere curious, but after five or so years they became increasingly common. Their increasing prevalence on Toril was due in part to spelljammers bringing in arquebuses from elsewhere. With one source being the Smiths' Coster trading company, who conducted business with the Lantanna, Waterdhavians, and elsewhere.

By 1370 DR, one could purchase arquebuses among other firearms from The Brigadier, a giff gunsmith, in Skullport.

Price
In the first three years that it was available for purchase outside of Lantan, an arquebus cost roughly 5,000 gold pieces. Through the third to fifth year, as the weapon became more common, the cost lowered to 1,000 gold pieces. Following the fifth year, an arquebus on Toril consistently cost around 500 gold pieces.

Reputation
Arquebuses were thought by some to be as dangerous to their user as they were their target.

Classes

 * Lantanna rogues were noted for their use of the arquebus.

Groups

 * All giff members of the Mindulgulph Mercenary Company carried arquebuses.

Individuals

 * On the plane of Acheron, a cambion by the name of Thrao was known to sell arquebuses.
 * The deity Gond was able to instantly summon a fully loaded arquebus whenever he desired.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * It was not uncommon for giff to carry around an arquebus.
 * Approximately a quarter of any scro fighting force were likely to be armed with arquebuses.

Regions & Settlements

 * In the city of Bezantur, the clergy of the local Temple of Gond were outfitted with arquebuses.
 * These weapons rarely saw use in the Domains of Dread, being considered primitive by technologically advanced domains and unreliable by primitive domains.

Religions

 * The arquebus was among the weapons favored by priests of the Church of Gond, as well as the specialty priests known as Gondsmen.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Ruins of Adventure • Dungeon #64, "Grotto of the Queen"
 * Novels
 * Prince of Lies • Passage to Dawn • The Council of Blades • Tymora's Luck • Under Fallen Stars • The Stowaway