Siege weapons

Siege weapons, or siege engines, are large mechanical devises used to defend or assault a fortified position by projecting stones, bolts, shrapnel, burning pitch, or carcasses at the enemy, each having their own desired effect. Siege weapons may be mounted to a fixed structure or set upon a mobile platform allowing it to be dragged to another location. One type has been modified to be mounted on ships. All siege weapons require a minimum crew of two operators to prepare them for firing.

History

Siege weapons were used against Elanthian forces when the Gorbesh ships entered harbors and began a catapult barrage. Once the Crossings fell the devices were brought into the city to propel the dead over the walls. When the Zoluren militias were formed they were alloted four types of siege weapons to be strategically placed in defensive positions about the province.

Although no working examples exist, the doors to Chyolvea Tayeu'a mention cannons:

Each door is a huge, undivided, flawless slab of black almhara stone. Merely a foot thick, the stone is nevertheless strong enough to withstand the fiercest attacks by magic or cannon. The silver of the symbol gleams as if it were polished daily.

Types

The 4 types are:
Scorpion- A robust crossbow type weapon mounted to a swivel on a wheeled platform.
Ballista- A massive crossbow type weapon mounted on a wheeled platform.

Some fire 3 bolts at a time, like the one outside Wolf Clan

Mangonel- A robust catapult type weapon modified to be mounted on ship.
Onager- A massive catapult type weapon that is mounted to a structure or a wheeled platform.

Examples of these still exist in Elanthia. There are scorpions in Tiger Clan and Aesry, a ballista on Ratha and outside of Wolf Clan, onagers on the Crossings battlements, and mangonels on the ships Kree'la or Lybadel that sail from Riverhaven, all in working order.