Lassos, also known as lariats, were a relatively nonlethal form of exotic ranged weaponry.[2][4]
Description[]
Lassos were little more than lengths of rope,[4] typically thin, knotted with a slipknot at the end to create a large loop.[5]
Weaponology[]
Lassos were used by simply twirling them in the air,[6] then hurling them at a target and pulling the rope taut once the loop landed around their target.[4][5]
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.[4][6]
History[]
Around the 14th century DR, Tsenya Garbo captured Sandiraksiva using a golden lasso.[7]
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.[8]
Notable Users of Lassos[]
- In cultures that relied heavily upon herding beasts, people often wielded lassos.[9]
Classes[]
- In some cultures, lassos were a favorite weapon among assassins.[9]
- Some gladiators specialized in the use of lassos,[10] including the fugitive gladiators of Hillsfar.[11]
- Lassos were a favored weapon among the mariners of Evermeet.[12]
- Lassos were one of the few weapons that Mystics were known to wield.[13]
- Lassos were a typical weapon in the arsenal of thieves. Though proffesional beggars were never known to use them.[14]
- In Kara-Tur, lassos were often used by monks.[15]
Individuals[]
- Sir Celedon Kierney was proficient in the use of lassos.[16]
- King Janol Famisso was proficient in the use of lassos.[17]
- The bounty hunter Jobinov was typically known to wield a lasso.[18]
- Kane
Nations & Settlements[]
- Lariats were a typical weapon in the arsenal of the ranch-hand militias of Longsaddle.[19]
- The tuigan of the Hordelands often hunted with lassos that were fastened to the far end of a 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 meters) pole. They were also known to wield this weapon against their enemies.[20]
- Devious and disreputable people in Waterdeep were often known to wield lassos.[21]
Races[]
- Lassos were one of the two weapons that avariels trained with extensively and were proficient in the use of.[22][23]
- Herdsman genies, being a race whose lives largely surrounded herding beasts, often wielded lassos.[24]
- Me-zu onis were often known to wield lassos.[25][26]
- Typically short demihuman races — such as arctic dwarves, halflings, and gnomes — were not known to wield lassos due to their height making them ineffective.[27] However, jermlaines[28] and taslois were both known to wield lassos in combat.[29]
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.[30]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that aetharnors, the specialty priests of Abbathor, were known to wield.[31]
- Priests of the deity Erevan Ilesere were often known to wield lassos.[32]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that goldhearts, the specialty priests of Hanali Celanil, were known to wield.[33]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that hoodwinkers, the specialty priests of Baravar Cloakshadow, were known to wield.[34]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that hurndors, the specialty priests of Vergadain, were known to wield.[35]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that joydancers, the specialty priests of Lliira, were known to wield.[36]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that luchas, the specialty priests of Mystra, were known to wield.[37]
- Lassos were one of the many weapons that misadventurers, the specialty priests of Brandobaris, were known to wield.[38]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Aaron Allston (1989). The Complete Fighter's Handbook. (TSR), pp. 95, 119. ISBN 978-0880387798.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 108. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Aaron Allston (1989). The Complete Fighter's Handbook. (TSR), p. 98. ISBN 978-0880387798.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 77. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Troy Denning (1990). Storm Riders. (TSR, Inc), pp. 15–16. ISBN 0-88038-834-X.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 4. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Aaron Allston (1989). The Complete Fighter's Handbook. (TSR), p. 99. ISBN 978-0880387798.
- ↑ Aaron Allston (1989). The Complete Fighter's Handbook. (TSR), p. 25. ISBN 978-0880387798.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 186. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 12, 32. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1988). The Throne of Bloodstone. (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 0-8803-8560-X.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #558, "Jobinov". TSR, Inc..
- ↑ Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott (1991). Horde Campaign. (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 1-56076-130-X.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 32, 34. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
- ↑ Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
- ↑ Johnathan M. Richards (August 1999). “Ecology of the Jermlaine”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #262 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 56–61.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 188. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (1989). The Bloodstone Lands. Edited by Elizabeth T. Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 41. ISBN 0-88038-771-8.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 116. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 99. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 137. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 168. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.