Morions were an open-faced style of helmet[4] worn in parts of the Lands of Intrigue region of west Faerûn.[1][2]
Description[]
These helmets were denoted as having oval-shaped sides, which helped to deflect projectiles, as well as an elevated brim in the front and back. This high brim gave greater visibility compared to some helmets, but left the neck and lower half of the wearer's head vulnerable to attacks, necessitating further protection such as gorgets. The sides and brim of the helmet were overshadowed by a comb atop the helmet, which stood up to 4 inches (0.1 meters) high. This high crest served the purpose of preventing attacks from penetrating the wearer's skull and spreading the resulting force of downward blows.[5]
Notable Morions[]
- Steelwatcher helmet, a variety of enchanted morions that were forged from infernal iron and used to outfit steel watchers in the late 15th century DR.[6]
Notable Users[]
Organizations[]
- Some bandits in west Faerûn wore morions, such as a group of halflings that tried to rob Countess Zaranda Star's caravan in the Snowflake Mountains in 1366 DR.[1]
- Some members of the Golden Legion possibly wore morions.[7][note 1]
Regions & Settlements[]
- Morions were part of the uniform of the civic guardsmen of Zazesspur during the Tethyrian Interregnum.[2] This style of helmet continued to be part of their uniform well into the late 15th century DR.[8]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ See the "Background" sub-section of the Appendix for a detailed argument regarding this topic.
Background[]
In popular culture, morions are commonly associated with the Spanish Conquistadors.[5]
According to author and game designer Douglas Niles, Cordell and his Golden Legion, the Amnian invaders of Maztica, were deliberately designed as parallels to the Conquistadors and their conquest of Mesoamerica.[9]
Amerigo and Halloran, Amnian members of the Golden Legion, were depicted in AD&D Trading Cards and the cover of Ironhelm respectively as wearing helmets that resemble morions, evoking the pop culture understanding of Conquistadors. However, the word "morion" itself is never used within any of the Maztica line's books, nor within Douglas Niles' Maztica trilogy of novels, but their helmets are described as "brimmed" in Chapters 2 and 4 of Ironhelm. Given this, they are presumed to be morions.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Video Games
External Links[]
Morion (helmet) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), chap. 1. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), chap. 7, p. 82. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 128. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 149. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michael H. Kluever (May 1979). “Arms and Armor of the Conquistadors”. In Timothy J. Kask ed. Dragon #25 (TSR, Inc.), p. 45.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1990). Ironhelm. (TSR, Inc), pp. 35, 45, 63. ISBN 0-8803-8903-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2023-02-23). Zazesspur in the 1490s DR. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2023-03-28.
- ↑ Appelcline, Shannon. Maztica (2e) (in en). Archived from the original on 03-10-2018. Retrieved on 04-24-2024.