"The first great bow was wielded by one of the five great heroes. Since that time, the tradition of making and using the bows has been passed down with the rest of our history, even though the weapons are unwieldly even for some of our finest warriors."— Lizardfolk Oral Histroy
A Hero's Weapon
While
Anz is the
lizardfolk hero most known for wielding a bow, the weapon is not depicted as a great bow. This is because in the most important stories - those of the
Five Great Heroes, he was still young and too weak to wield such a weapon.
It was
Kratam the Black who wielded - even created - the first great bow. He is usually depicted wielding a greatclub and a
spear - as in the tale of
Toranti and Kaztora - but is depicted in other stories as a skilled archer.
Difficult to Use
Even for most of the musclebound
lizardfolk the draw strength of a great bow is too much to overcome - all but the strongest are too weak to pull the string. The size of the bow also makes it unwieldly in tight quarters and effectively impossible to fire at a combatant engaged in melee with the wielder.
Since
Lizardfolk are quite large and the great bow is already big for them, the arrows seem ridiculously proportioned upon first viewing as well, far longer than normal arrows.
Difficult to Make
Each great bow is a unique item created by its wielder built from materials gathered on a ritual quest. While the arrows can be built of standard - albeit long - materials, the wood of the bow must come from a special tree that grows only in a specific region of
Ratoghar - the
lizardfolk home continent and the bow string is made of the sinew of a beast that roams the lands where the tree is found.
Traditionally, the bow-maker must undertake the adventure alone. Collecting the wood is a difficult task already, being located in a difficult to reach place where water is scarce, but defeating the beast while dehydrated, hungry, and tired is even more dangerous. Some do not return.
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Unparalleled Range
While difficult to wield and to make, the great bow offers many advantages. Its piercing power has been known to fell several foes in a line and all but the most advanced armors are as effective as paper against it.
Perhaps the scariest part of the weapon is its incredible range. Some bowmakers even manage to create stronger - even harder to draw - bows that exceed even the already incredible range of the weapon.
Firing the weapon at its most extreme ranges introduces a host of new issues . Even among the strongest archers who can fire the weapons only a few have the skill to make accurate attacks at these huge distances.
I once saw a lizardfolk hit a goat so far away it was but a spec on the cliffside. I was awed by the skill and power of the archer beside me and relieved that she was a friend.— Darosi, Journal No. 1
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