Volxa

The Volxa (Euluska: /vɔlʃʌ/) was the signature Euluska style of sword, and one of the most common in Indratera. It was an exceptionally light one-handed sword. It was iconic, used by the Empire and on heraldry.
== History ==
The Volxa was the traditional weapon of Calivéran nomad warriors from the Horn, who lived in the foothills of the landscape-defining Caliveri massif. In their dialect they called it vólxón siv'a /vɔlʂɔn sivʲa/, which means 'littke stirrup' because a horse rider wore a smaller stirrup on the side they wore their sword, so it would not get tangled. 
These nomads used it mounted, to protect their yak herds from hide-clad bandits. Its form was known to the people of Bristi, and was used as the style of the Euluskan Empire's standard issue sword in the first century.
=== A Note on Warfare ===
In this world's development of warfare, metal armour was historically less common by most cultures - most armies of the prehistorical, medieval, and early modern periods valued the mobility, lightness, and quietness of tanned furs and padded leathers. Therefore, curved slashing swords (rather than straight thrusting swords) became the dominant type of sword for a lot of history. This was especially true because of the rise of shields, because they allowed mobility and lightness - and a sword that could reach around a shield was valuable. 
== Information ==
The Volxa was a single-handed, single-edged sword built mainly for slashing, but could be used for stabbing secondarily. It was designed for light use from horseback or in conjunction with a free hand or shield - most Volxas measured between 80 to 120cm It was gently tapered and fullered, and on its blunt backside, the lower quarter was sharpened to create a false edge. Original Volxas had no guard, to fit a thin scabbard and not get tangled in the reins of a rider's horse, but models designed for off-horse use (i..e most models) had cruciform guards or round ones, with a wide onion-shaped pommel for easy grabbing. Volxas were exceptionally light and well-balanced, usually weighing about 300-500g.
== Notable Volxasi & their Wielders ==
* The hero Luska, from the poetic epic of the Euluskan people, wielded a crude bronze guardless Volxa with mere leather wrapped around the handle.
* Kassiüs Komitatus, one of the earliest named Euluskans attested in foreign history. He was noted in the Old Rakki Djévkus saga from the -1770s as a far traveller who wielded "a sword of sheer sleek iron, two hands longer than my adze". 
* The early Felonil Guardia standard issue kit included a wide-hilted Volxa from the 600s to the 1300s, before firearms and wooden clubs replaced it. 
* Karrus Weyloran wielded a black Volxa meant to imitate Xánwyr.
* Empress Dateriä II famously carried a mirror-bladed volxa which stored the faces of its victims. Naël of the Wildecards acquired it centuries later from Belle.
* Lewis Trajanson, a Rakki warrior who fought in Bracken during the fall of King Altor Mazander's reign, wielded an extra-long hand-and-a-half volxa.
* Malak Coldblood, legendary brigand, wielded a silver volxa known as the Moor sword, which it is said left no marks on its victims.
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