Racial Motifs 20 : Yokudan Content . Stored here in the Seeker ' s Archive are much of the lost history and wisdom of Yokuda , in books and scrolls brought here by the first of the Ra Gada . It will take many lifetimes to catalogue it all , so we shall start simply , with references to the characteristics that make the Yokudan motifs unique and distinctive , such as the so - called " broad arrowhead " design . AXES Though the Yokudans were dedicated to the sword above all , they recognized the utility of other weapons as well ; their axes , for example , were both beautiful and formidable . They often had long , curved cutting edges , giving them some of the virtues of swords . BELTS Yokudan belts tended not to be elaborate , because what mattered was what hung from them : the all - important sword or other weapon , as well as tassets for hip protection . The buckle was usually a strong and simple geometric design . BOOTS Yokudan boots were made for combat , of heavy leather with strategically - placed metal plates for protection . But they were also flexible and rugged for marching across the harsh Yokudan terrain . BOWS The Yokudans had little esteem for archery , deeming it less honorable than melee combat , and their gallants and grandees left it to the common foot soldier . A Yokudan archer or light skirmisher was usually armed with a simple self bow adorned with modest metal facings . CHEST PIECES For Yokudans , the art of weapon combat was profoundly athletic , so while their cuirasses offered solid central protection for the chest and back , the arm , shoulder , and waist areas were covered with flexible leather for maximum agility . DAGGERS A Yokudan dagger just looks like a smaller version of a Yokudan sword , and indeed they tended to be large , approaching short swords in size . A large dagger in the off hand was a common choice for Yokudan dual wielders . GLOVES Yokudan warriors emphasized sword fighting above all other weapon styles , and in swordplay the hands are always under threat , so Yokudan gauntlets were heavy and multi - layered , with flaring upper sleeves to protect the forearms . HELMETS Yokudan helm designs are clearly descended from the turbaned hats of ancient pastoral nomads . They typically had aventails to protect the back of the neck , full visors covering the face , and even horns on the forehead or crest . LEG GREAVES Yokudan chausses were strong to protect against low cuts in swordplay , often with metal plates covering both the shin in front and the calves in back , to prevent hamstringing attacks . Pointed knee poleyns were common as well . MACES The Yokudans were so attached to the idea of edged blades that they even mounted them on the heads of their maces , where you might find spikes or flanges in another crafting style . Some of these edged blades even came to points in the " broad arrowhead " design . SHIELDS Yokudan shields might be round , oval , or kite - shaped , but all were fitted with blade - turning metal plates around their edges , and round central bosses featuring geometric designs . They appeared to be entirely metal , but were actually made of metallic plates riveted to wooden frames . SHOULDER ARMOR Though the shoulders themselves were sheathed in flexible leather to enable acrobatic swordplay , above that the joints were protected by sharp and often elaborate pauldrons , cops that flared at the top to guard the side of the neck . STAVES The rare Yokudan war - wizards employed staves designed to resemble melee weapons to borrow some of the prestige of hand - to - hand combat . Their metallic finials might be round , flared , or pointed in the " broad arrowhead " design . SWORDS Though the curved Yokudan swords weren ' t elaborately embellished , they nonetheless represented the apogee of Yokudan weapon - making , having been forged and re - forged in a long process designed to make them unbreakable and invincible . Yokudan warriors regarded their swords as extensions of their essential selves .