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Some concept work for the 'Basilisk', a sub-race of the Cathazra, from Red Lantern
Category Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 982 x 842px
File Size 535.5 kB
Basilisks don't have what we'd call 'human' intelligence. They can't even communicate verbally. They form bonds with Cathazra Dragons primarily, but occasionally with Wyrms, through empathic connections that are ill-understood by most other species. They lack the ability to plan for the future aside from instinctive impulses, and cannot count or understand complex commands. They are generally slow-moving, slow-witted, and accustomed to a lazier pace of life. They are not actually the greatest hunters amongst the Cathazra - far from, preferring to hunt from ambush and then sleep for days after a meal.
In short, not the sharpest tools in the shed.
In short, not the sharpest tools in the shed.
So of the 'muscle' than anything else... And their fear from the Amurescans comes solely from the fact they ambush and blend into their enviroment?
Interesting!
I have also always wondered, why. Since they have demi-culverins. That the Amurescan navy doesn't use shrapnell shots. I would believe a barrage of bullets fired at a flock of them would do damage better than the harpoons.
Interesting!
I have also always wondered, why. Since they have demi-culverins. That the Amurescan navy doesn't use shrapnell shots. I would believe a barrage of bullets fired at a flock of them would do damage better than the harpoons.
Why not? From the stories, the flying Drakes are impervious to steel arrowheads and pistolfire on their main body unless you're pretty much at point blank range. And they're much smaller than Basilisks - not to mention that Basilisks don't need to bother staying light enough to be able to fly. All the Cathazra appear to have very strong natural armor, which is why the Amurescans are struggling despite having firearms.
Additionally, think about stopping power. How many times would you have to fire something like a 9mm handgun into a creature two times as tall and eight times times as heavy as you in order to kill it? Answer: you can't carry enough bullets with you. If you catch a weak spot you can wound it so that it slowly bleeds out, but you cannot kill it by gunfire itself. Impact shock and trauma is the thing that makes projectiles kill instantly instead of merely wounding, and the shock needs to be large enough in comparison to the body mass of the thing you're shooting. A twenty kilo harpoon going through your torso at half the speed of sound packs a significantly higher punch than a hail of buckshot scratching your skin - even if it scratch you all over at the same time. If you were a Basilisk, that would probably just make you angrier.
Shrapnel loads might be of use against the flying Drakes though. Apparently putting a hole through their wing membrane doesn't bother them, but if you shred the whole wing in one go, that might be a different story. Also, I'd reckon chain and bar shot would be quite devastating, and more likely to hit. Still, using a cannon - even a small one - to track a flying target is an exercise in frustration. The harpoon guns the Amurescans are using are likely specially-designed as anti-Cathazra weapons and have an easier time placing their payload on target.
Additionally, think about stopping power. How many times would you have to fire something like a 9mm handgun into a creature two times as tall and eight times times as heavy as you in order to kill it? Answer: you can't carry enough bullets with you. If you catch a weak spot you can wound it so that it slowly bleeds out, but you cannot kill it by gunfire itself. Impact shock and trauma is the thing that makes projectiles kill instantly instead of merely wounding, and the shock needs to be large enough in comparison to the body mass of the thing you're shooting. A twenty kilo harpoon going through your torso at half the speed of sound packs a significantly higher punch than a hail of buckshot scratching your skin - even if it scratch you all over at the same time. If you were a Basilisk, that would probably just make you angrier.
Shrapnel loads might be of use against the flying Drakes though. Apparently putting a hole through their wing membrane doesn't bother them, but if you shred the whole wing in one go, that might be a different story. Also, I'd reckon chain and bar shot would be quite devastating, and more likely to hit. Still, using a cannon - even a small one - to track a flying target is an exercise in frustration. The harpoon guns the Amurescans are using are likely specially-designed as anti-Cathazra weapons and have an easier time placing their payload on target.
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