Sai
The sai first came into existence as a farm tool used to measure the distance between seeds in a crop and to plant the crop itself (poking the tip into the ground). After years of tough times experienced by farmers, the sai evolved into a handy weapon used to trap and disarm swordsmen.
The sai consists of a shaft with a sharpened point, a grip, and a pair of upswept wings, or prongs, that are similar to a crossguard. The joint between the shaft and the wings is called the wing base. The area of the shaft below the tip and above the wing base is often called the "strike point" and the bottom of the grip is called the pommel.
Alternate Names
- jitte
A jitte is similar in construction to a sai, except there is only one wing that branches off the shaft just above the grip.
Game Mechanics
Sais are defensive weapons, like the main gauche, and effective against chainmail. They give a +10 bonus to DS when held in the off-hand.
| Weapon | AG | Cloth | Leather | Scale | Chain | Plate | RT | Min RT | Damage Type | STR/DU | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AsG | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |||||
| Sai | DF | .250 | .200 | .110 | .150 | .040 | 2 | 3 | Puncture | 25/175 | ||||||||||||
| AvD | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 33 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 0 | -6 | -12 | |||||
Related Articles
- Forging - Sais can be forged. They are the newest addition to the forging system.
- Brawling - The skill required to use a sai effectively.
Behind the Scenes
The sai is a small Okinawan weapon which has been added into GemStone with the addition of the Erithian race. Historically, the sai was a weapon used in law enforcement, more often in the form of a jitte. Sais were usually used in threes, one in each hand and one carried in the belt, in case one of the sais were disarmed or thrown. When used as a thrown weapon, the sai had a lethal range of 20-30 feet. The heavy iron construction of a sai gave it enough weight to punch a hole in armor.