Lance

A lances were a long member of the spear family of polearms, specially designed for use in mounted combat.

Description
The design of these spears varied between cultures, but they generally consisted of a long shaft made of tough wood with an iron head shaped like a laurel. These spearheads had cutting edges and a sharp point meant to penetrate armor. Also fitted to the shaft, just behind where a wielder would grip the lance, was the "graper" &mdash; a thick leather ring that acted as a stop against the wielder's armpit. This was meant to halt any rearward momentum brought about by impacts.

Weaponology
Lances were meant to be aimed diagonally above a mount's neck and gripped close to their bottom end, the latter of which was meant to put a great distance between their wielder and a target. Is aimed diagonally above the horse's neck. A lance relied in part upon the weight and speed of a wielder's mount to effectively penetrate a target. If a lance was too heavy for the mount being ridden upon, its effectiveness would be reduced.

Without the aid of stirrups, a lance had to be wielded with two hands and it was generally impossible be couched for a charge. Prior to the invention of stirrups, lancers fought by stabbing overhand or even throwing the weapon.

It was common for lances to be tossed aside once their wielder became engaged in close quarters combat.

History
Around, the lance was first adopted by many cultures on Toril. The adoption of lances as mounted weaponry was directly linked to the adoption of stirrups many years prior.

In 1360 DR, in the Battle of the Fissures, the Bedine fought against the asabi with lances.

Varieties of Lances
Lances were divided into three classes of size and weight, designating what kind of mounts they were suitable to be used with &mdash; light, medium, and heavy. For example, light warhorses could only handle light lances.

Each lance was heavier and longer than the last. Measuring, , and in length respectively; weighing around , , and  respectively.

Additionally, there was the "jousting lance", which was used in jousting tournaments. These lances measured in length and weighed around. Instead of ending in a sharp point these lances had their heads fitted with short, blunt, three-pronged projections that prevented them from penetrating armor. However, one could potentially cause fatalities with them if used at full tilt.

Notable Lances

 * Anhur's lance, a unique enchanted lance that was wielded by the avatar of Anhur.
 * Flight lances, a variety of lances designed especially for use in aerial combat.
 * Great Rift skylance, a variety of enchanted lances that were wielded by the Great Rift skyguards.
 * Lance of Faerûn, a variety of holy lances.
 * Lance of burning blackfire, a variety of enchanted heavy lances that were the preferred weapon of the Griffon Cavalry.
 * Lance of Nhamashal, an enchanted lance from Evermeet.

Classes

 * For cavaliers the lance was the most preferred weapon.

Groups

 * Various orcish tribes in the Fallen Lands would wield lances while mounted upon axebeaks, including the Black Bone, Bloody Scar, Black Slasher, Seven Eye, and Severed Fist.
 * Great Rift skyguards.
 * The Hawkynfleur noble house's members delighted in using lances while hunting boars and deers from horseback.
 * The Hellriders were typically proficient in the use of lances.
 * All members of the Knights of the Flying Hunt were proficient in the use of enchanted lances.
 * The Knights of the Griffon were typically proficient in the use of lances.
 * The Riders of Blood.
 * The Sailors of the Crimson Sea, a mercenary company in Chessenta, commonly equipped their cavalrymen with lances.
 * The Shad'iar of the Land of the Lions often utilized lances.
 * The Sisters of Synnoria wielded silver lances.

Individuals

 * Alias was proficient in the use of lances.
 * Alusair Obarskyr, the princess and regent of Cormyr, was proficient in the use of lances.
 * Azoun Obarskyr IV, the king of Cormyr and father of Alusair, was skilled in fighting with heavy lances.
 * Mourngrym Amcathra was proficient in the use of heavy lances.
 * The Porcelain Warrior wielded a +2 lance.
 * Tabja Rung wielded legendary lances that had been forged on the fabled Mount Shun.
 * Xale, an aasimar paladin, wielded a shattermantle lance.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * The most prominent weapon of narzugons were lances forged in hellfire.
 * Among the tanar'ri, lances were sometimes used by armanites.
 * Some dohwar specialized in combat would wield lances while mounted upon space swine.
 * Locathah would wield light lances while riding upon the backs of giant eels.
 * The nomadic centaurs of the Hordelands often fought with lances.
 * Light lances were a common armament among pegataurs.
 * Seelie often wielded tiny lances while mounted upon large insects.
 * Lances were among the weapons favored by shieres.

Regions & Settlements

 * The Axe of Mirabar, the standing militia of Mirabar, utilized lances.
 * Archendale's standing military, the Archenriders, were often equipped with lances.
 * Impiltur's standing militia, the Warswords, often wielded lances.
 * The core of Tymanther's military forces, the Lance Defenders, were specialized in fighting with lances, both on foot and while mounted upon giant bats.
 * The army of Ubar fielded camel mounted lancers.

Trivia

 * A number of mercenary and military organizations in the Realms were named for this weapon. This included the Ahrakshar of Iliphanar, the First Lancers, the Lance Defenders, the Lances of Leilon, the Lancers of Death, the Nightfire Lances, the Order of the Silver Lance, and the Purple Lancers contingent of the Company of the Ebon Spur.
 * There were some spells in the Realms named for this weapon due to their unleashed effect resembling a lance, such as fire lance, icelance, Laeral's silver lance, and the lance of disruption.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Desert of Desolation • Swords of the Iron Legion
 * Novels
 * The Ogre's Pact • War in Tethyr • Dangerous Games • The Ruin • Key of Stars