Awl pikes, also simply known as pikes,[6] were a member of the spear family of polearms.[6]
Description[]
These weapons were built similarly to longspears,[7][8] having long shafts that varied in length at 16 to 22 feet (4.9 to 6.7 meters),[6] but had a comparatively superior construction and balance that made them far more usable by smaller races like gnomes and halflings.[8] These shafts tended to be made of strong woods, such as those of an ash tree, with their non-bladed ends capped in silver and their grips wrapped in cloth in order to prevent splitting.[6]
The bladed head of a pike was typically leaf- or lozenge- shaped. These heads often had two tongues of steel, which were nailed down the sides of a pike's shaft in order to prevent the spear head from getting hacked off.[6]
Weaponology[]
Like many spears, pikes were designed for the purpose of delivering thrusting and piercing attacks from a distance. The great length of the pike, coupled with its widespread deployment with infantry known as "pikemen", also helped to keep enemy forces at a distance.[9]
Availability[]
Places in the Realms where one could purchase pikes included:
- Aunsible Durn, a smithy in the town of Ghars, Cormyr, produced pikes that outfitted a number of local farmhands.[10][11]
- The Weaponers of Cormyr.[12]
- In many of the bazaars found across Zakhara, one could find an awl pike for around 4 to 7 gold pieces depending upon how good they were at haggling.[13]
Notable Pikes[]
- Returning pike, enchanted pikes found in the Western Heartlands in the 15th century DR that had the returning quality.[14]
Notable Users[]
Groups[]
- Pikes were among the arsenal of the City Guards of Waterdeep.[15][16]
- The Ring-nose tribe, a clan of orcs in Vaasa, utilized pikes in their ambushes.[17]
- The Trading Company, a mercenary group in Bral, armed some of their new recruits with pikes.[18]
- The Zhentilar.[19]
Individuals[]
Races & Sentient Species[]
- Pikes were among the typical weaponry of firenewts.[21]
- Jermlaine were known to wield miniature pikes.[22]
Regions & Settlements[]
- The army of Aglarond featured a number of pikemen.[23]
- Bargewright Inn's militia of shopkeepers were all armed with pikes.[24]
- The armies of the Blade Kingdoms featured a large number of troops outfitted with pikes.[25]
- The army of Earthfast fielded heavy pikemen, following their introduction to polearms by King Azoun IV, and would use them to devastating affect against the Tuigan Horde in 1360 DR.[26]
- The High Captains of Luskan were always accompanied by an armed bodyguard, which sometimes wielded pikes.[27]
- Pikes could be found in militia armories throughout the land of Tasseldale.[28]
- Tethyr.[29]
- Turmish.[30]
- The town of Voonlar kept around fifty pikes in their armory, the Locktower.[31]
- In the 13th century DR, pikes were being used by many peasant militias in the Western Heartlands.[32]
- The awl pike was a widespread weapon in the land of Zakhara.[33]
- Beyond the Prime Material plane, pikes could be found in the Domains of Dread. The Barovian town of Vallaki had over a dozen pikes outside of their gates with the heads of wolves mounted upon them.[34]
Trivia[]
It was not an uncommon tactic for people to mount heads upon pikes as a means to introduce fear and intimidation,[34] even decorating the divine realm of Hoar.[35]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Swords of the Iron Legion • Waterdeep • Dungeon #53, "Steelheart" • Curse of Strahd • Keys from the Golden Vault: "Prisoner 13"
Novels & Short Stories
The Ogre's Pact • The Council of Blades • The Temptation of Elminster • The Magehound • The Orc King
Video Games
Pool of Radiance series (Pool of Radiance • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Pools of Darkness) • Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Neverwinter Nights (AOL game) • Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Sword Coast Legends • Baldur's Gate III
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Gallery[]
_2nd_edition.png "Group of Polearms (1) 2nd edition.png (779 KB)")
External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Pikes article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.
Pike (weapon) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1995). Player's Option: Skills & Powers. (TSR, Inc), pp. 122, 132. ISBN 0-7869-0149-7.
- ↑ Ari Marmell and Jason Bulmahn (May 2005). “The Point of Pole Arms”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #331 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 24.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Schubert, et al. (September 2011). Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Edited by Cal Moore, Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7869-5744-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 85. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Ari Marmell and Jason Bulmahn (May 2005). “The Point of Pole Arms”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #331 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 23.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Schubert, et al. (September 2011). Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium. Edited by Cal Moore, Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7869-5744-6.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 124. ISBN 0880380845.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ Chet Williamson (July 1998). Murder in Cormyr. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 5, pp. 26–27. ISBN 0-7869-0486-0.
- ↑ Strategic Simulations, Inc. (1989). Designed by George MacDonald. Curse of the Azure Bonds. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 91. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc), pp. 31–32. ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (May/June 1995). “Steelheart”. In Wolfgang Baur ed. Dungeon #53 (TSR, Inc.) (53)., p. 60.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1992). Rock of Bral. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 1-56076-345-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc), pp. 10, 16. ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 46. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ Johnathan M. Richards (August 1999). “Ecology of the Jermlaine”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #262 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 56–61.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 52. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 1, pp. 5–7. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott (1991). Horde Campaign. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 1-56076-130-X.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 118. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1993). The Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 978-1560766674.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.
- ↑ Black Isle Studios (February 2001). Designed by Chris Avellone, Steve Bokkes, John Deiley, J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter. Interplay.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Fortunes and Fates). (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 978-1560763291.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.