#handgonne

[illustratus]

Swiss soldier firing a hand cannon (handgonne) with a powder bag and ramrod at his feet, late 14th century

[uraniumraptor]

Another fantasy character! As a follow-up to the elf fighter with the insectoid carapace armor, I wanted to make a dwarven character with a hand gonne. God I love dwarves!

[possumcollege]

Gonne-wytch for hire.

Frowned upon by traditional magic users, guncasting offers a few novel advantages. Better range than your average wand, less draining than a full staff, better penetration than purely energetic transmission. Really gets those wards and blessings *deep* in the ground!

Indirect fire capability enables low-mana casting without line-of-sight. Casting rounds allow rapid access to a large variety of spells. Conductive wards allow last-second alteration of chambered spells.

Can fire canister shot in a pinch. Sub-5% chance of exploding once properly seasoned.

Magical gunnery was born on the battlefield but thoughtful nurturing by kinder, less belligerent hearts has allowed the craft to grow past its violent origins. Gun witches often favor military garb, hunting attire, buckskin, and armor, believing it fosters a living bond between gun and gunner. Gun witches believe that trust, like that between a horse and rider, must be earned and maintained lest the gun revert to its purely destructive inanimate form. A new gun must be carefully trained and observed. Erratic or untrustworthy guns are rejected or destroyed. A well-loved gun is a cherished, respected partner and companion. This cooperative relationship is the difference between practicing one's gift and simply blasting charmed items out of a tube.

Like bardic magic, it's said that masters of the craft are able to use their instruments to influence the weather, halt and part the flow of rivers, and cast portals. There are even well-documented accounts of them healing the sick. This is considered an option of last-resort though, as most communities have access to forms of healing magic that don't require the patient to be shot in the face.

Witchcraft doesn't enjoy the same social status as the highly stratified, academic institution of wizardry. As such, many practical witches find a great deal of freedom in subtlety. This is not one of those witches. After all, it's hard to get paid if you don't advertise.

No hired gun of this era is complete without friend-shaped codpiece. She calls him "Bucky."

[wearemercs]

handgunner by PzKpfwI

[segfaulteddreams]

I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to explore adding early/renaissance-era firearms to the crpg I'm working on, and now that I've actually done research into them, I'm lowkey so hyped to add them to the game 😭😭😭

Like the idea of someone walking around a dungeon with a handgonne like this is just so funny to me lol

[pencilbrony]

not to sound demanding, but bullpup guns look futuristic

[housedeaubemarle]

Yield not to misfortune

(Follows after The Grand Hunt)

~~

“Good morning, Viscount Oudine! What a pleasant surprise.”

Oudine looks up from her ponderings, and smiles as she bows a little. “Well met, Lord Stephanivien.”

“Likewise,” he says cheerfully. “What brings you by the guild?”

“I was on my way to an appointment nearby, and just had a whim.” She gestures at the various firearms on secured display within the lobby of the building. “Your work is exquisite. I've been given some insight into their craftsmanship.” She nods at the guild members who had been helpfully attending to her before Stephanivien's appearance. “Even an ignoramus such as myself can see they have been made with care and attention.”

Stephanivien can't help but grin a little. “Now who would dare to accuse my lady of being such a thing? ‘Tis merely a lack of experience, which all of us begin with.” His eyebrows raise at a sudden thought. “Perhaps, Viscount, you might like to try a round?”

Oudine's smile widens. “My lord, it would be my pleasure. However I must keep my appointment which is due in ten minutes. I wonder though if I might be able to avail myself of your marksmanship master's time and patience at a later date.”

Stephanivien's eyes are bright with enthusiasm. “If you are in earnest, my lady, I would be more than happy to take you through the basics myself.”

Her eyes widen in genuine surprise at this generous offer. “I couldn't possibly impose. I'm sure you're quite preoccupied already.”

“Not at all. I would be delighted to make time for a new enthusiast, especially one as, well quite frankly, as unexpected as yourself,” he says, not really knowing how to be glib about it. “When might be best for you to come again?”

Oudine has to chuckle at the comment. It’s refreshing to be at such ease with a member of one of the High Houses.  

“If my lord insists so kindly, and only if it is convenient, then I would be glad to return the day after tomorrow, at about this time.”

Stephanivien doesn't hesitate to agree. “I look forward to it, my lady. We shall be well in hand to receive you.”

Oudine reaches out to shake his hand. “I am most honoured, Lord Stephanivien. Now I must be on my way, and let you get back to your business – till next time.”

The master of Skysteel watches her leave, one hand rubbing his chin in curiosity. House Aubemarle had never been a martial or magical one - even if connected to Dzemael, they had rarely shown any particular willingness to throw their weight into a fighting cause. During Dragonsong, Aubemarle, and the late Viscount in particular, had been more invested in supporting Ishgard's forces through financial means and supplying their defenses with food, water, armour and fortification of Ishgard’s walls. The Observatorium's astrologians, he'd also heard, had received financial backing as well. Theirs, for better or worse, had been a rather more pacifist approach.

It seems his daughter might have picked up new ideas in recent times.

~~

Two days later sees Oudine faithfully keeping her appointment with Lord Stephanivien. After careful explanations and cautions, along with a lesson in the disassembly and reassembly of a basic handgonne, she’s completed two rounds of practice.

“I must say, Viscount, it isn't bad at all for one completely untrained.”

Oudine looks at him with a wry smile. “My lord, you cannot possibly call that,” she points at all the holes around the target rather than within, “not bad.”

Stephanivien laughs. “I will have you know that flattery isn't in my nature. Look,” he gestures to the same target. “You may not have hit dead centre, but six out of ten managed to get quite close. This is your first time handling a device of this nature, and you've only had two hours’  practice and instruction.” He raises an eyebrow. “We can't all be savants!”

Oudine sighs but does smile at the logic of it. “I wish I had taken an interest sooner. Twenty seven seems quite late.”

“Better than twenty and eight or nine or thirty,” replies Stephanivien bracingly. “Regular practice and more instruction will soon have you treat this as an extension of your arm.” ‘This’ being the handgonne she had been loaned from the machinists guild. 

She brushes her fingers across the weapon gingerly. Its weight had surprised her at first, but it no longer feels as extraordinary as when she first picked it up.

“Ishgard owes you a great deal, Lord Stephanivien.”

He blinks at this sudden comment, not quite sure how to respond. 

She looks up and smiles. “We Ishgardians are resistant to change, are we not? Yet here your guild stands, strong and flourishing, and the city lives on as ever, in no small part due to your principles. You succeeded in protecting us.”

He watches her grey eyes take on a determined gleam. “I have smaller ambitions of protecting my house, you see. I used to think I could do so with diplomacy and negotiations, with careful tipping of scales.” She raises the handgonne in both hands, trying to get used to the stance needed to use it effectively. “I think perhaps, I must learn to wield something louder.”

“...Viscount,” he says, noting the sudden somberness in her usually pleasant expression. “Has something happened?”

She shakes her head, her usual smile returning. “Nothing, my lord. Merely a new perspective. I beg you to forget my ramblings. May I try again?”

Stephanivien nods. “Most certainly.” He waves at some guild members and they move to replace the target at the far end of the shooting range. 

Through the corner of his eye, he catches Oudine's expression. It is hard, and stern.

“My lady,” he says.

She looks up again inquiringly, the sternness slipping away.

“Perhaps you could remind me of the motto of your house? I have a sudden curiosity.”

Oudine smiles, less amused and more grim. Her spine is straight, shoulders and arms at the angles she’d been taught to keep: a machinist's posture. “Yield not to misfortune.”

Stephanivien nods thoughtfully. “I see. You take it to heart, I think.”

Oudine lifts the handgonne higher, as the workers signal that she can begin. 

“I do.”

“Then if diplomacy cannot turn such misfortune away,” he gives her a knowing smile. “Perhaps you can teach the machines to speak for you.”

A corner of Oudine's lips curls upwards. “I shall endeavour, my lord. Thank you.”

Stephanivien steps back with a small bow. As she takes aim, brows furrowed in concentration, he thinks someone is about to learn a very sharp lesson indeed.

~

End.

[vvizardbone]

Handgonne: A thunderous boom and cloud of smoke send lead-formed Hell through the air. Its terrible force ripping through plate, flesh, and hide all the same. So long as it fires...

[nothingxs]

FFXIV Write // Morsel

Her muscles were sore. Her back felt tight, overworked. Her ears were ringing and her headache was getting worse. Her sword arm in particular was exhausted beyond belief. Every single fiber of her being roared in pain, and exhaustion had threatened to lay her low several times over, but she figured that stillness, particularly in those moments, would be death.

She had never felt more alive than in the past bell.

She didn't really know what was happening. Horizon was just another stop for work, as far as she knew. But the sky had turned red and flame descended from the sky. No sooner than she had started to help unload that cart than she noticed a massive, hulking beast had turned the corner out from behind an alleyway, roaring before charging at the cart she was protecting. It swung its heavy arm and crashed into it, destroying it and sending goods flying everywhere—and people running.

"Run! I'll hold it off!"

Blade swung up to meet claw the next time, but Celica's long sabbatical had taken its toll on her strength and reflexes. The claw sent her careening off into a crate, smashing it.

No time to recuperate; it was upon her again. She ducked and tumbled under it, running her sword across its underside as she did, causing it to howl in… something. Pain? She could not tell, it was nothing like she'd ever heard. She turned to see a woman, panic slowly setting in as it faced the two of them down. She turned and barked in that commanding tone she hadn't used in so long:

"Get yourself together! Go, grab them and run!" She pointed, directing her to a huddled mass of people; children within. "They need safety! Go!"

The woman gasped, focused, looked around, then with a sudden focus in her eyes —purpose, she thought; when was the last time Celica had purpose?—she ran off to help the stragglers.

Just in time for Celica to get slammed aside by another swipe of the claw. She grit her teeth, coughing up blood. And yet she stood again, defiant, blade held in the way Hector had taught her so many years back, a wild glint in her eye and a grin. If she was going to go, this was as good a way as—

CRACK! CRACK! Gunfire echoed through the streets, over the din of on-going chaos.

The aberration's head rocked away, then swung as the two heavy impacts collided against the side of its massive head. It bellowed out another incomprehensible roar—frustration, Celica thought. She turned to look at the source of the noise, and saw a Viera clad in turquoise garb strafing around, firing round after round from a handgonne while she fiddled with an aetheroconverter at her side, preparing for a follow-up.

"Come, darling! The show's not over yet!"

Spurred by those words, with a grit of her teeth, Celica dug her feet into the ground and sprung forth, and lunged, a loud roar escaping her as she brought her blade up, challenging the unholy beast with blade bared forward.

—

She sat there, looking up at the still-red sky. Well, can't be Dalamud, she thought. That's long passed.

What was it? Who could be sure. She swallowed again and shifted her weight, still trying to deal with the soreness. She saw the woman she had earlier helped and shot her a smile. She nodded in return, and the family she had helped returned the wave. One of the children came back with a jug of water, which Celica was all-too happy to drink.

The Viera from earlier approached her again. Now, she got to get a good look at her: darker skin, tall, a carefully-styled head of dark brown hair and self-sure expression, clad from head to toe in brilliant turquoise and earthen tones. In her hands, a pair of skewers. She reached down to offer one of them to her.

"Well, darling, I've never quite seen anyone fight like that. Here, my treat." She grinned down at her.

"I'm Vex. What do I call you?"

[nightbringer24]

I want to know so much about your Medieval fantasy I don't even know what to ask first. Which part of Medieval is it the closest to, and how strict are you about it? Are there horses or are some other creatures used instead?

In closest terms, we're going for the period of the 1390s up to the 1420s. This is when the full plate harness or white plate armour was in fashion and style, but also when knights were still wearing jupons over their armour to display their heraldry. Handgonnes and bombards were beginning to come into the fore, though in my story, I've accelerated the development of the bombards a bit so they're the smaller, more portable variety we'd see from the later 1400s. Handgonnes are just about becoming similar to arqeubuses, but that's still a good ways off yet so they're more iron barrels on sticks lit by a hand touched fuse. And that's just for the main human kingdoms....

So kind of strict, but giving myself some wriggle room to play around with.

There are horses. Every faction has horses to some degree. Though the Indish kingdoms do use elephants. Because why not?

[noneedtofearorhope]

fantasy doesn't usually get into firearms, but when it does it seems to always be something like a blunderbuss(y). i think it would be good and cool to see more explorations of earlier firearms, like fire lances, handgonnes, hand cannons...

[tentacion3099]

75 caliber handgonne

[heavy-swing]

!!!Set Your Sights!!!

On the newest revolver model from the Skysteel Manufactory, with parts forged by the master smith Aelita Tirasch herself! More accurate, faster reloading, and fewer jams than any other handgonne on the market, guaranteed! Easy for any layperson to learn to use!

To place an order or enquire about lessons, write to: The Skysteel Manufactory c/o Stephanivien Haillenarte, Foundation, Ishgard

Given Aelita's proclivity for metalworking and her drive to support the downtrodden, Machinist seemed like the most natural fit for her as a ranged job, on the off chance that she doesn't need to be right in the center of the action. She's certainly not as skilled a markswoman as Joye, but she can hold her own with a revolver, and she takes great pride in helping Stephanivien with drafting and manufacturing new designs!

Also have a bonus slightly zoomed in shot cause I like looking at her:

[missazurerose]

"I'll defeat you with the power of love and this handgonne a strange man with no pants gave me."

I thought the bar chaos was the dumbest this I could make. No. I've entered my magical girl era. And what better magical girl to follow than Sailor Moon? It's a little harder to find magical boy inspiration for Aymeric. I don't know if I love the top but the vibe is there I think. And his weapon already looks kind of magical so that at least fit.

[mortiflyer]

If you follow me, it's probably tennis-related since that's the only thing I've posted about for three months straight at this point...however. I'm also an artist and I actually started this blog with the more express intent of sharing my work a bit! I've just finished this painting which I'm quite proud of, so here's some trivia about it:

It's of course based on the 1997 film Princess Mononoke, one of my favorites from Studio Ghibli.

The (poorly-rendered text) around the border reads "Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret", which means "you may drive nature out with a pitchfork, but she will keep coming back".

I like my paintings to have some compositional and symbolic similarities with eras of art (usually Renaissance, Mannerist, and pre-Raphaelite). Not sure it always comes through, but that was the intent with the border and little icons from the film.

The gun along the bottom of the piece is modeled from the actual gun in the film; apparently it is an "XIV-XV Century Breech-Loading Handgonne Arquebus", according to this very helpful page I found when searching for what type of firearm it was. Thankfully I know nothing of guns...

It's oil on canvas! I sanded the canvas, drew the initial sketch with a colored pencil, and did a diluted acrylic wash for the areas I wanted more depth of color on. (This post will not have any traction at all, I'm sure, but if anyone wants some process pictures, I maaaay post some)

OKAY anyways...It's a little embarrassing to put a watermark on my own art but I do not like reposts or that "credit to the artist!!" bs. Sorry to my handful of tennis mutuals who follow me for yapping about that redhead and got this instead pls like and subscribe & reblog & comment and all that

[wil-is-rotting]

Imagine if the death maze was treated seriously and them falling actually lead to a combat portion, similar to the hunger games? So there’s alliances, and hiding places and betrayal that isn’t just Joan? Your weapons aren’t found either, when you enter your holding place, you will find weapons that are curated BASED ON YOUR CLONE PARENT! (Joan would get a sword, Topher would get a handgonne or an older styled knife, etc.)

There are multiple weapon options, but they’re mostly recreations of what they actually used or what were available at the time.