Butcher's Bill
Description
These polearms are comparatively cheap to craft, and this helps to make them popular among both Marcher households and League free companies. They can be bought in moderate numbers, and used to add additional strength to a unit of skilled soldiers, or allow a recruit to fight nearly as well as their more experienced colleagues.
Their extensive use on the battlefield as part of tight formations has given them a brutal reputation that is not entirely deserved. They take their name from the "butcher's bill", the list of casualties after a battle. Several generals have referred to the use of these weapons as "balancing the butcher's bill" by ensuring there are more casualties on the enemy side than on the Imperial side.
Rules
- Form: Weapon. Takes the form of a polearm. You must be wielding this weapon to use its magical properties.
- Requirement: You must have the weapon master skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Once per day you may call either STRIKEDOWN or CLEAVE with this polearm.
- Materials: Crafting a Butcher's Bill requires eight ingots of orichalcum and three ingots of iridescent gloaming. It takes one month to make one of these items.
The sutler looked up from her ledger at the servant in front of her, and replied: "Do me the honour of informing the Merchant Prince that his business may provide him with a solid income, but he will need to extend his reach if he wishes to arm one in five of his company's recruits with even the cheapest of artisan-crafted weapons."
"But the reputation of the soldiery of Tassato!"
"...will survive this minor setback. Train them harder, and longer. I can profit better in Overton, and my concern is the Prosperity of my Guild."