Dragaera

Bows and arrows

FRIEDA2133 at aol.com FRIEDA2133 at aol.com
Sun Nov 21 12:11:39 PST 2004

Hi,

Hmmm, maybe an anti-arrow spell had been modified to work 
on javelins and the "much smaller" javelins from "javelin
shooters".  Seems to me an arrow would be a twig when
being compared to a javelin and not just "much smaller".

More from Dragon chapter 15 page 249-250 paperback: 
This involves the "javelin shooters"

"Drummer! Beat 'Kiss the Ground."
...
"Virt, and everyone else, was busy lying on the ground."
...
"a mass of javelins flew over our heads, save for a few 
that landed, point first, in the ground near us.  Down 
the line someone began cursing, very creatively in a 
low, even, conversational tone of voice."
...
"Crown walked in front of us, about ten feet down the 
hill, appearing utterly unconcerned by the javelins
falling around him."

Okay, he was a Dragon.  But maybe Kiss the Ground is
not just a message for everyone to get down.  Maybe 
it is a message to everyone who knows the Kiss the
Ground spell that makes falling objects hit
the dirt instead of people.  No one seems to have 
been hit.

Dragon Chapter 14 pages 227-229
Vlad's unit is "attacking uphill" against javelins.
...
The Captain says:
"we will have additional support from the sorcerors
corps, especially defensive.  If we keep our lines
dressed and strick quickly.  I do not anticipate
any difficulty."
...
"they launched their javelins at us."..."single, vast
sheet of metal"

The first barrage, Vlad is distracted "from noticing
what effect, if any, the javelins had had on our 
forces.  Then they launched a second barrage, and this
time I noticed: Virt stumbled and went down"...third
barrage of javelins, which did some damage, to judge
by the screams around me, and then a fourth, during
which one went screaming past my ear and made Loiosh
yelp phychically, and then we met the enemy."

Okay, they were getting closer with each barrage, but
maybe the sorcerors corps were getting more and more
tired and the defensive spells weaker and weaker.

Maybe a defensive spell that would have worked totally
against arrows and the "much smaller javelins" would
have had trouble with the heavier, full-size javelins.

Note that in Chapter 10, page 157-158, Vlad's unit in 
Morrolan's army does not have shields.  Fornia's army
has shields.

Okay, maybe it is because Vlad's unit was light infantry.
Or maybe it is because Sethra likes to fight a defensive
war and shields are not needed if you have a good 
sorcerors corps.

Bye.

Linda G.