Item type description/doc

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This template returns the default description for the input item type in Pillars of Eternity. It is used to avoid filling the cargo tables with repeated data, and is intended to be used as a fallback should an item not include a unique description.

The input should be the same string that is usually entered in type fields for infoboxes. A few different aliases are accepted, but not all pluralized variants.

Input	Output
Weapons
arbalest	Arbalests are heavy crossbows with exceptionally high power. They must be hand-cranked before loading, so they have a slow rate of fire.
arquebus	Matchlock firearms of high power and fair accuracy, arquebuses are prized for their ability to penetrate wizards' Arcane Veils.
battle axe	Capable of delivering powerful blows from their broad, curved blades, battle axes are commonly used by soldiers throughout the Dyrwood and Eir Glanfath.
blunderbuss	Blunderbusses are matchlock firearms used for hunting or in combat against groups of enemies. They can inflict an impressive amount of damage but fare poorly against armor. Despite this, like other firearms, blunderbusses are capable of penetrating a wizard's Arcane Veil.
club	Most commonly fashioned from a short length of wood, clubs are simple but fast and effective weapons.
crossbow	Crossbows are commonly used for hunting by nobles in the Dyrwood, but they are also employed as weapons of war by many soldiers and adventurers. Less powerful than their close sibling, the arbalest, crossbows can be cocked by hand and have a moderately fast rate of fire.
dagger	Daggers are among the most common personal weapons found in the Dyrwood. Whether simple or ornate, all daggers are fast and dangerous in the hands of a skilled wielder.
estoc	These long, two-handed swords are easily distinguished from greatswords by their narrow, spike-shaped blades. Estocs are not commonly used by warriors in the Dyrwood, but their value against heavily-armored opponents is undisputed.
flail	Flails are fashioned from a metal ball, often spiked, linked to a wooden or metal handle via a short chain. They are popular among soldiers for their ability to foil the defensive properties of shields.
great sword	The great sword is renowned for its ability to cause deadly wounds even against terrible beasts. Though it is a relatively slow weapon and requires the use of both hands, it is truly devastating when used by a skilled warrior.
hatchet	Small and swift, the humble hatchet is extremely common in the Dyrwood, both as a woodsman's tool and a hunter's weapon. Much smaller than a true battle axe, the hatchet's great speed allows its wielder to strike many blows in a short time.
hunting bow	Hunting bows are extremely popular in the Dyrwood and Eir Glanfath. Though used most frequently for hunting deer and small game, hunting bows can be deadly against two-legged prey. Hunting bows lack the high draw weight of war bows but can be fired more quickly.
mace	The bane of mailed soldiers throughout the known world, maces are a common sight in the Dyrwood. Regardless of the shape of their flanges, maces always consist of a metal shaft topped with a number of symmetrical flanges that focus the weapon's power to a small point. Though estocs have even more penetrating power than maces, the latter can be used in concert with a shield.
morning star	The big brother of the mace, morning stars are two-handed weapons topped with a spiked head. They lack the armor penetrating power of maces but are effective against a wider range of armor types.
pike	Pikes are easily the longest weapons in common use by soldiers and adventurers in the Dyrwood. Powerful two-handed piercing weapons, the main advantage pikes have is their long reach, which allows wielders to attack enemies from behind their allies.
pistol	Pistols are small firearms, but despite their size, they require two hands to reload properly. They are not as powerful as arquebuses, but they can be reloaded much more quickly. As with all firearms, pistols have the ability to penetrate wizards' Arcane Veils.
pollaxe	The versatile pollaxe is a powerful and flexible weapon that can deal devastating blows even against a fully-armored opponent. Its straight-bladed axe head is opposed by a hammer, allowing the wielder to switch between different damage types as circumstances require.
quarterstaff	Deceptively simple, quarterstaves can be powerful weapons in the hands of a skilled combatant. Wielders can use a quarterstaff's long reach to deliver crushing blows from behind their allies.
rapier	Light and fast, rapiers are precise weapons favored by urban duelists. They are not known for being especially powerful, but a skilled wielder can rely on rapiers to accurately land blows.
rod	Rods are the largest of the magical implements and can be distinguished from wands and sceptres by the "heads" on each end. Rods focus and release more soul energy than wands or scepters. This attribute makes their blows more powerful, but they recharge and fire more slowly.
sabre	Sabres are curved, single-edged swords capable of inflicting severe wounds. Though they are less effective against armor than standard swords, they are deadly against unarmored enemies.
scepter	Scepters are the most imperious-looking magical implements and are often favored by Aedyran wizards for this reason. Like wands and rods, they have flexible damage types.
spear	Spears are not as long as their two-handed kin, pikes, but they are easier to maneuver and can be used with a shield. Even with a one-handed grip, spears can strike fierce blows with high accuracy.
stiletto	Stilettos are similar to daggers but differ subtly in their shape and function. Made for penetrating armor, stilettos feature a stiff piercing blade that resembles a shrunken estoc's. Though they are not powerful weapons, they can strike deadly blows rapidly against a lightly-armored opponent.
sword	Whether single-edged or double-edged, swords are always straight-bladed one-handed weapons that can be used to cut or thrust at an enemy. In some circumstances, swords lack the raw slashing power of sabres, but they are more flexible against a variety of armor types.
wand	As magical implements often lack serious power compared to bows, crossbows, and firearms, the wand's flexible damage types help wizards deal with heavily-armored opponents more easily. Wands are easily distinguished from scepters by their tapered points.
war bow	Though war bows are outnumbered by hunting bows in the Dyrwood, war bows are more popular among professional soldiers and adventurers. With a high draw weight and respectable speed, they possess a power unmatched by magical implements and don't have the lengthy reloading times of crossbows and firearms.
war hammer	War hammers have the tactical flexibility of a morning star in a much smaller size. By switching from the flat side of the head to the pick, wielders can adapt their damage type to the opponents they are facing.
Armor
cloth, clothes, clothing, cloth armor	This outfit is extremely simple, consisting of little more than a rough shirt and breeches made from uncomfortable material.
robe, robes	Offering minimal protection, cloth armor consists of layers of wool or linen cloth. Though it does not provide much protection, it is the least restrictive type of body armor.
padded, padded armor	Padded armor consists of heavily quilted wool or linen and offers modest protection against crushing attacks. Though it cannot protect against heavy attacks, it does not slow its wearers down much.
hide, hide armor	Hide armor is commonly worn by woodsmen, Glanfathan explorers, and those who favor speed over protection. Hide armor is made of layers of soft leather. Though its construction often requires multiple layers to provide dependable protection, it does little to slow its wearer in combat.
leather, leather armor	Stiffer and more durable than ordinary hide armor, leather armor is shaped and boiled in oil to achieve its distinctive finish and toughness. Leather armor is often chosen by adventurers who want a balance of protection and speed.
scale, scale armor	Scale armor is made of overlapping small plates of metal or horn sewn to a leather backing. It offers a balance of protection and speed.
breastplate, breastplates	Breastplates are popular for offering a modest amount of protection without the restrictive movement of heavier mail and full suits of plate armor. Due to their widespread use by warriors from the Vailian Republics, the fashion of clothing and padding worn under breastplates typically reflects Vailian styles.
mail, mail armor	Mail armor is quite popular for its protective qualities, especially against slashing attacks. Mail is comprised of thousands of small rings of steel that form a flexible mesh. Normally worn over a padded jacket, mail protects well but restricts its wearer in combat.
brigandine, brigandines	Despite its unassuming appearance, brigandine provides impressive protection to its wearer at a cost of speed in combat. It is made of dozens of steel plates sandwiched between canvas or leather. The plates are held in place by distinctive rivets across the surface of the brigandine.
plate, plate armor	The heaviest armor in regular use by adventurers and soldiers, plate armor protects its wearers from all but the most severe blows. It is comprised of three layers: the base padding, a suit of mail, and the top layer of steel plates.
Shields
small shield	Though they don't offer much protection, small shields do not interfere with a warrior's accuracy at all. Unlike larger shields, which are worn on the forearm, small shields are held in the hand.
medium shield	Medium shields offer a moderate improvement in protection with a small reduction to accuracy. They are the most commonly-used shields in the Dyrwood and come in a variety of shapes.
large shield	Large shields are used when a warrior needs the best protection possible, even if that means sacrificing some accuracy in exchange. Though they typically taper like an inverted "teardrop", large shields come in a variety of shapes, often emblazoned with heraldry.
Clothing
boots	Boots are worn for both comfort and style. Most often made of leather, they can be custom-made to suit a variety of terrains and purposes. While soldiers and explorers often favor hardy, thick-soled boots, rogues and thieves may prefer soft-soled shoes that allow them to move nimbly and quietly.
gloves, gauntlets, bracers, handwear	Gloves, gauntlets, and bracers offer a variety of benefits. While some grant protection in combat, many have magical properties that empower the wearer in other ways.
cloak, cape	Capes and cloaks can be worn for protection from the elements and from prying eyes alike. Many are woven with spells to provide additional defense or abilities.
helm, helmet	Helmets come in many forms, from the humble padded cap to fully-enclosed steel great helms. Different cultures tend toward different styles of helmets, but outside of regimented armies, the type of helmet an individual wears often comes down to personal preference.
hat	Hats come in many different shapes, sizes, and a wide array of colors. Dyrwoodans are known for their modest, rustic hats while Vailians are associated with broad-brimmed hats featuring a variety of exotic plumes.
hood	From the hunters of the Dyrwoodan wilds to cowled wizards with a flair for the mysterious, residents of the Eastern Reach appreciate the warmth and anonymity provided by a hood.
Accessories
amulet, necklace, torc	Amulets are most often gems, medallions, or other items worn around the neck. While some serve a purely ornamental purpose, many are imbued with charms and spells to aid the wearer. Torcs are stiff rings worn around the neck. Like amulets, they often have magical properties.
belt, girdle	Apart from holding up one's trousers, belts are much-favored by enchanters, for the material portion is easily crafted, typically light in weight, and requires few adjustments to those pieces of armor which contribute in more direct ways to protection. As such they are second only to rings in volume, and commonly peddled in urban markets.
ring	Rings can feature plain bands or jewels in settings. Magical rings may bestow a variety of special properties or defenses on the wearer. Their small size allows their enchantments to complement similar enchantments from other items and spells, and this versatility has made them popular among adventurers.
Other items
grimoire	A grimoire is the lifeblood of any wizard's magical repertoire. These books are painstakingly constructed with rare materials arranged in precise configurations, and are able to temporarily hold fragments of ambient soul essence, which is channeled through the book and discharged in the form of a spell. It is a popular misconception among the uninitiated that wizards are the shapers of the magical energies they wield. In truth it is the pages of the grimoire that do the shaping. The art of wizardry is in the disciplined control and manipulation of the grimoire, with the most skilled wizards able to coax spells of maximal effectiveness and magnitude from their tomes. Though all grimoires are limited by a finite set of pages, many accomplished wizards are known to carry several grimoires at once to handle a variety of situations.

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