Senko (Chapter)

HistoryThe senko was one of the first major applications of gen-8 weaponry. It used the same handle and blade lengths of the classic war-bound era kelv. At the time it was simply named 'feather kelv'. This caused major blowback from influential traditionalist members in West Verdite. Because of this extreme reaction the weapon was renamed to hanedachi (roughly translating to featherblade).
As gen-8 and gen-9 weaponry began making the vast majority of war-bound era weaponry obsolete, it became increasingly difficult to make names for weapons that weren't overly complicated. New policies finally addressed this by renaming new era weapons to reflect common weapons that had become easy to identify. The 'hanedachi' was therefore renamed the 'senko'. A coined term combining the term sen (meaning war) with the standard kokatana.
(again a throwback to the original joke misnomer of kokatana. Ko means child. Roughly meaning child blade.)
Weapon PropertiesConsult the following image for a quick property chart. 
The categories are explained as followed:
* Speed - The weapons ability to accelerate and combo.
* Range - The effective combat range of the weapon.
* Weight - The overall weight of the weapon.
* Difficulty - The learning curve of the weapon in terms of how much work will be required to be considered proficient.
* Value - The combat usefulness in a war situation.
VariantsThere are no notable variants of the senko. The standard version is gen-8, effectively making the weapon minimal weight.Modern Usage
==== In War ====
Senko are considered valuable weapons in war efforts. While they are the shortest of gen-8 and gen-9 weaponry, they still boast impressive combat ranges that remain effective in most situations. Senko truly shine in flanks and loose formations where pike and glaive suppression are less prevalent. Because of it's balanced size it can swiftly deliver rapid onslaughts to enemies, chipping down shields and armors at an impressive rate.
Some archers have even been seen using senko as backup weapons, however the overall length of the weapon has been known to be unwieldy when stored, often catching itself on allies as you navigate the field. It is for this reason that katana, sengatana, kokatana, and dai katana are used more frequently as sidearms for archers. 
==== In Dueling ====
Senko offer strong effective range in duels allowing for an effective balance between max-range abuse and maneuverability. While outraged by every other class of gen-8 and gen-9 weapon, it remains the fastest of those weapon classes, allowing for strong abuse of swift interception and counterattack. Senko are often favored by smaller stature warriors as the upgraded size of nodachis and kelvs can become a bit unwieldy for them.
Notable UsersArtaillies
Lactoes
Marros
RakdosGallery