Voulge

The voulge was a popular polearm variation on the axe and cleaver, variously classified within either the poleaxe family of weapons or the family of polearms that were derived from agricultural tools.

Description
Voulges consisted of a long, stout shaft, measuring  in length,  mounted at the end with a large heavy cleaving blade. Sometimes the top front or back edge of this blade was ground down, giving it a narrowed spiked tip and a hook-shaped fluke at its rear.

Weaponology
The cleaving head of a voulge was used for the purpose of cleaving through armor, aided by the leverage which their poles gave. Those that featured a spiked tip or fluke at their end were better suited for keeping enemies at a distance. And the spiked tip of a voulge was also used for piercing through armor. They required two hands to wield.

They were relatively easy to craft and simple to learn how to wield, But they were one of the slowest varieties of polearms.

History
The design of the voulge was originally derived from peasants fastening meat cleavers to the end of staves to form makeshift polearms.

Notable Users

 * The Weaponers of Cormyr sold voulges among their many types of polearms.
 * Voulges were sometimes utilized by ninjas.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Pool of Radiance‎ • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Gateway to the Savage Frontier