https://rpggeek.com/thread/2341469/article/33730820#33730820

Drinaxian Companion pp181-182

SINDALIAN OFFICER’S SWORD

When every Sindalian ship was commissioned, a small number of ceremonial (but functional) swords were also produced out of the same materials as the hull. One of these weapons was to forever remain aboard the ship. Others were presented to those considered worthy – the ship’s first captain, her patron or admiral, and particularly influential individuals associated with

her. By tradition, these swords represent the spirit and honour of the ship, and must be kept sharp and ready for instant use. They symbolise integrity, fidelity and lethality, and surrendering the ship’s sword is a grave dishonour.

Weapons of a similar design were used by Sindalian officers. Many had an area for engraving the name of ships served aboard, but the finest instead had inscribed jewels fitted. It was possible to tell what classes of ship an officer had served aboard, and in what capacity, by the ostentation of his sword. A few of these weapons still survive, along with a far larger number of copies.

The standard pattern for a Sindalian officer’s sword is a straight blade, flat but slightly oval in cross-section, with little taper towards the point. The result is a slightly blade-heavy feel, much like a schlager. As a result the weapon can cut reasonably well and deliver a lethal thrust. The blade is not as quick on the parry as some light swords, but the tradeoff is an improved cutting action. Hand protection takes the form of a knuckle bow and a traditional small ‘butterfly’ handguard, making the weapon easy to carry and reducing wear on the officer’s uniform.

The listed cost is for a replica or weapon of dubious authenticity. An original Sindalian or Drinaxian weapon with verifiable provenance might cost a hundred times more on the collector’s market.

SINDALIAN OFFICER’S REVOLVER

The Sindalian penchant for ostentation extended, not surprisingly, to officers’ sidearms. The standard weapon for officers, inevitably referred to as a ‘service revolver’, was a complex but effective multi-barrel handgun. Originals still exist today, and there have been numerous replicas made. The main component is a long-barrelled revolver chambered for 8mm ammunition, with space for eight rounds in the chamber.

Two kinds of ammunition are available, colour-coded by type. Red cartridge cases represent ‘hot’ rounds with a very high muzzle velocity and modest anti- armour capability, but with correspondingly high recoil. Blue cases indicate ‘cool’ rounds with a much lower velocity, which perform poorly against armour and lack stopping power but generate virtually no effective recoil. This is useful in low-gravity combat or when overpenetration is a danger.

In addition, the weapon has a second, short barrel under the main one. A small lever on the side of the weapon realigns the firing mechanism, permitting a single shot from this barrel. Reloading it is a complex evolution taking a couple of minutes and, in addition, the complex internal mechanism is prone to failure if not well maintained. The lower barrel contains a ‘mutiny cartridge’, consisting of what amounts to a miniature fragmentation grenade. The bursting charge is initiated almost immediately, causing the cartridge to fling a spray

of small, sharp metal fragments in a cone from the muzzle. Effective range is very short but knockdown power is considerable for a handgun and the rather random effects of the cartridge can be a useful deterrent.