Glutton Hilts
The hilts of weapons crafted here in the Kirinal Concordance Zone often portray the open mouth or claw of one of the Celestial Gluttons. The practice comes from the Talin Islands, whose weapons culture and artisans have immigrated here along with their large diaspora.
Personally, I prefer a simple pommel on my weapons. A spike or a nice brass ball are plenty good in a fight for me. But I can't deny that they look good! I have a few glutton hilts in my collection. The one's that actually bite, or with crab claw grip are especially nasty in a fight!
Swords, daggers, and other weapons crafted in the Talin Islands traditionally have distinctive pommels depicting the open mouth of the serpent Bakunawa or the claw of the crab Tambanokano. Usually carved from hardwoods or cast in brass, they act as a counterbalance for the weight of the blade.
The monster depicted often corresponds to the region that they terrorize and/or originate from. The magma spider Tambanakua live in a volcano on the Island of the Sun. Weapons have pommels depicting the spider itself with a brass sun clutched in its legs. Expensive versions sometimes have gold-plated or gem encrusted suns on the end.
Weapons of the Mountain Jakar depict the lion Arimoanga or the beak of the eagle Minokawa clutching a hevenly spear in its jaws.
The traditional serpent with a moon in its mouth are most common on Kampilan, Island of the Moon. Crab clawed hilts clutching stars are found on the Islands of the Stars.
These hilts serve well as matrices for holding enchantments or agimat. Enchantments to bite or claw opponents and thieves are especially popular.
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