Firearms

"The firearm. A weapon of great potential, even if that potential is destructive. Some say that its creation is Aethon's greatest crime, others say that it is Aethon's crowning achievement. My hope is that it is perceived as a tool to defend the innocent from demons, and not spill the blood of humans and spirits alike." ~Professor Ozhren, Headmaster of Emerald Academy.

History

The first firearm was developed in Aethon, by scientists hired by the state. The idea of propelling projectiles with explosive force was inspired by the propulsion of aurelium powered jet engines. The theory was that the force generated by explosive fuels could be harnessed for combat. That theory was proven correct, and resulted in the creation of the combustion pistol. The first combustion pistol was rather primitive, as was its bullets, which were completely spherical and did not contain gunpowder within them, meaning that shots were inaccurate and reloads were constant.
Over the Great War, firearms saw little use in any of the armies outside of Aethon, and at time of the war's end, combustion pistols were seen as a colossal failure as they did not grant the Aethesian military victory in the deserts of Crucible.
After the conclusion of the Great War, the Last King of Vale proposed that the technology used to create combustion pistols should be further researched and modified, as it could one day be critical in combating demons. Over the subsequent decades, firearms became far more advanced, in terms of craftsmanship, design, complexity and power.

Complexity

While the first firearms were rather primitive, modern firearms are far more sophisticated. Modern day firearms contain a multitude of gears, springs and metal fittings. Where vintage firearms needed to be reloaded with every shot, and needed to have gunpowder poured into their barrels, modern day firearms function with either revolving chambers or springloaded clips, enabling them to fire multiple times before needing to be reloaded. Fully automatic firearms are feasible to create, though their cumbersome and heavy forms make them impractical to carry around.
In recent years, gunblades have become incredibly popular, particularly amongst huntsmen and huntswomen. Gunblades are fusion weapons, a melee weapon with a built-in firearm. Gunblades are typically capable of converting between two forms, with one being more suited to close quarters combat and the other being more suited to ranged engagements. Due to on average being rather large, gunblades usually have a folding feature, so that they can be carried in a more compact form.
Some huntsmen prefer to use pneumatic weapons, which use pressurized gas instead of gunpowder in order to propel projectiles at their target. These pneumatic weapons can range from spearguns to steam cannons. The advantages of pneumatic weapons include the fact that they are quieter than gunpowder based alternatives, as well as the fact that their ammunition is typically reusable due to the fact that there is no spent casing when a pneumatic weapon is fired. Pressure on pneumatic firearms can also be adjusted to increase its potency though at the price of expending more air pressure. The only downside of pneumatic weaponry is that they require small canisters of pressurized gas in order to function. Pneumatic weapons are not considered to be conventional, and those who utilize these weapons often employ unique, strange tactics and fighting styles.
Another alternative to gunpowder-based firearms are railguns. Railguns propel projectiles via electromagnetic force. Railguns contain a barrel filled with electromagnets, creating a quickly accelerating momentum within the railgun to force the projectile forward along the pathway or "rail" within the barrel. When compared to standard firearms, railguns are more powerful and accurate, and have incredible range. However, railguns fire at a slow rate, and require both standard ammunition and electric aurelium in order to power their electromagnets. Railguns are typically used by marksmen, though they remain a rather unconventional choice of weaponry for both soldiers and huntsmen alike. This is mostly due to the great effort required to maintain these weapons, as a single electromagnet becoming damaged could cripple the weapon.

Access/Availability

To those living in the four kingdoms, firearms can only be legally obtained by soldiers, law enforcement and huntsmen. For one to obtain a firearm in one of the four kingdoms, they must either be in one of these professions or purchase one from the black market.
To an Outstatesman, obtaining a firearm is a somewhat less complicated task. There is no firearm regulation outside of the four kingdoms, with the exception of Anima, meaning that there are no restrictions on who can obtain a weapon. Limited resources do make procuring a firearm a somewhat difficult challenge, as trade between communities are rare and firearms are considered incredibly valuable due to the dangers of demons and bandits outside of the four kingdoms. Some Outstatesmen have even resorted to crafting makeshift firearms, though these tend to be of extremely poor quality and lack any semblance of reliability.

Manufacturing

Most Huntsmen create their own weapons, be they melee weapons, firearms or gunblades. The reasoning behind this is so that the Huntsman in question knows every inch of their weapon, so that cleaning and repairs can be done without reliance on a gunsmith. This also means that each Huntsman possesses a weapon perfectly suited to their fighting style.
The Aethesian Military produces thousands of its own weaponry, though the Aethesian Military supplies the majority of its troops with firearms produced by the Licinius Aurelium Company. LAC firearms are known for their reliability and their high compatibility with aurelium rounds.
The most popular arms company in Crucible is the Morrdure Munitions. Morrdure firearms are known for their high stopping power and equally high recoil. Morrdure Munitions are popular amongst Crucible's militias, and many huntsmen possess a Morrdure firearm as a backup weapon in case their primary weapon of choice is damaged in combat.

Inventor(s)

The first firearm was invented by Aethesian scientists ninety three years ago, right before the beginning of the Great War. There was no one single inventor of the firearm, but instead a team of six Aethesian scientists funded by the Aethesian government.