Funky Balor
Singer of Tales
Image Source: A movie still from the blog post http://www.katanasycolegialas.es/peliculas/recordando-un-gran-clasico-en-the-guillotines#.V9FILJgrLIU
Intent: A flavorful unique weapon for Funky on the battle field
Development Thread: The Mandalorian Crusade MC Vs. GR Invasion of Kashyyk. It's a songsteel challenge to use an IC war song in an invasion. All my remaining posts were set to different music as well.
Manufacturer: Null Ironworks and Meadery
Model: N/A
Affiliation: Funky, and by proxy, the Mandalorians.
Modularity: None
Production: Unique.
Material: The primary body and chain are comprised of songsteel, with integrated gyro-stabilizers and a repulsor-lift system to help steer it better.
Classification: Hybrid whip death-trap.
Size: Thrown with one hand while holding the chain in the other, although it can be "swung" in a crude sort of way if necessary.
Length: The main body is about 40 centimeters, while the attached chain is about 7 meters in length.
Weight: 8 kg.
Special Features: Combining the design philosophies of a remote droid, a small repulsorlift shooting target, a bear trap, and the bes'briik, the flying guillotine is meant to sever limb and heads. By landing on an opponent's head, the multiple songsteel blades on the inside can be activate remotely to snap, removing the offending body part.
Strengths:
- When the blades snap, they do it with force severe enough to sever a limb of head on most humanoids.
- Due to the chain, the weapon has a good bit of reach.
- The external blades and spikes can also do some damage.
- You can "swing" the body of it by holding the chain and twirling it liek a morning star.
- Gory finishes are great for scaring people.
- It's gorgeous.
- It can hold a severed piece of victim, or anythign of equivalent size. This is great for taking trophies home, and even better for hiding surprises like grenades, rocks, or even angry bees in. Pack the angry bees would be hard, though.
Weaknesses:
- You can shove a log in the thing instead of your head, or parry it by sticking an equally tough weapon inside it.
- The range on this is only as good as the chain.
- That twirling trick isn't great for balance.
- Despite its frequent portrayal as an assassination weapon in movies, I can't think of a less stealthy way to kill someone.
- Any forcer who isn't dumb can probably parry it with a lightsaber.
- This thing is strange as hell to wield, and requires to have a remote activation system in your glove to use the repulsor system properly.
- It needs to be clean after every battle, and degunking the gears can be an issue around particularly messy scenarios.
Description:
The flying guillotine is a strange, if rather uniquely terrifying weapon. The opening at the bottom of the body has several songsteel blades, prime on multiple springs and other components. When the bowl-shape inside of the contraption lands on a head, limb, or other offending thing, the blades close, snapping shut and severing the capture part form the rest of your target. Design for brutal, dramatic executions, the weapon was made of songsteel to ensure it's lightness and to create a weapon that is easily thrown and aimed. The internal repulsor systems and gyroscopes can be used to direct the weapon with surprising efficiency.
However, what the weapons makes up for in showiness, it lacks both in subtlety and versatility. As great as it is at scaring off cannon fodder and leaving behind only the brave to fight him, a smart opponent who watches the weapon in action can quickly learn to avoid the murder-hole function and then the weapon is only useful as a bladed ball of doom, which is still useful, but not as much.
Primary Source:
