Repeating Bow

This contraption can fit many arrows.

— Itanircel Silentgale, Luna Guard

The repeating bow allows its user to fire a magazine of arrows in rapid succession. The magazine is attached to the bow itself, and it includes a reloading mechanism. No quiver is necessary. The technology is really a conversion module attached to any bow, and the module (magazine and mechanism) permits the user to fire arrows faster and more accurately. Faster, because the user wastes no time pulling another arrow from their person and then notching it. More accurate as the reloading mechanism allows the archer to maintain their aim, and the release mechanism imparts little force to the bow, if any at all. That is to say, this type of bow is highly stable. The attachment can be applied to any type of bow, including longbows.
The highest quality bows are made from or include Sable Fiber as part of the device's construction. Sable fiber allows for more energy to be imparted to the arrow as well as for providing lighter construction. Not only will Sable Fiber bows have greater range and power, they will also be lighter so the archer won't be worn out as easily. However, the lighter construction can make aiming more difficult as there is less weight to "anchor" the shot. In other words, the true accuracy of the bow is highly dependent on the skill of the archer.
Most models can only load eight arrows per magazine. More advanced types can load as many as twenty, though they are bulkier and more difficult to handle.
The highest users of repeating bows as a percentage of their demographic are Dwarves, followed by Elf. The Queendom of Lunaria produces the highest quality repeating bows. The Queendom is rumored to have successfully upscaled the technology for use on certain Ballista types. Another rumor claims that the Kingdom of Helia wishes to develop the same technology for their own siege engines.

Utility

To attack enemies at range, and to allow the archer to fire rapidly.

All artwork is by starfarertheta unless otherwise noted.

Inventor(s)

Many claim to have re-engineered the design from ancient examples. However, not one is confirmed as being the first despite plenty of claims to being the first. Many scholars believe that the bow is an ancient invention, and the evidence supports that position. However, it was not in common use before The Great Collapse as the Ancients used stranger, more deadly armaments.

Access & Availability

Repeating crossbows are produced only by wealthy armies that can afford to pay for each weapon's construction. Additionally, advanced training, which can be expensive, is required before a soldier can properly use and maintain the weapon.
The best repeating bows, the Lunarian Bow, are often enchanted to the use of a specific user. The enchantment is designed to break the bow when anyone else uses it, and a skilled mage is required to disarm the spell and reapply it for a new user. Therefore, when Lunarian Bows are acquired by individuals who are not soldiers of the Queendom usually offer to sell the bows back for favors, usually some sum of coin. In recent times, Queen Shava has become less than accommodating to such activity, dispatching assassins of her own to reacquire the valuable weapons. It is believed that Helia has a few such bows in their possession, but it seems that they have yet to reverse-engineer the technology.

Complexity

Anyone can make a repeating bow, but it takes a skilled craftsman to produce one of true quality.

There are three essential components to making a repeating bow:

1. A sturdy bow complete with string
2. The arrows that it will fire.
3. The loading chamber/magazine attachment.

Note(s) from the Archivists

I have one. - Archivist Bob
Why? More importantly, how? - Archivist Taenya
For personal use, and my cousin gave it to me. - Archivist Bob