Zaghnol

Lore & Background

According to the source, the zaghnol is a specific type of battle-axe characterized by a pointed head with two cutting edges. It was part of the arsenal used during the Mughal Empire's military campaigns, where cavalrymen often relied on short arms for close-quarter combat alongside long-range weapons like bows and muskets. The text notes that axe shafts varied in length from 17 to 23 inches (430 to 580 mm), with heads measuring between 5 to 6 inches (130 to 150 mm) on one side and 3 to 5 inches (76 to 127 mm) on the other. The zaghnol is distinct from the 'tabar zaghnol,' which featured a double-headed design with a broad blade on one side of the handle and a pointed tip on the other. These weapons were crafted for practical warfare, fitting into the broader category of short arms that included swords, maces, spears, and daggers.

In Their Own Story

The source offers no narrative story or fictional account involving a character named Zaghnol. It does describe the equipment carried by a specific officer in the Nizam's service as commended by Fitzclarence: this jamadar possessed two handsome horses with superb caparisons, wore a green English broadcloth vest laced with gold, and carried a shield of buffalo hide with gilt bosses. His arms included two swords, a dagger, a brace of flintlock pistols, and a matchlock carried by a servant. While this officer may have wielded various weapons, the text does not attribute any specific battle-axe named 'zaghnol' to his personal loadout in the provided excerpt.

Reader's Guide

The source provides technical specifications for the zaghnol rather than gameplay mechanics. It identifies the weapon as a pointed axe with two cutting edges, often referred to by the name meaning 'crow's beak.' For historical context or reenactment purposes, one would note that the shafts of such tabar-style axes ranged from 17 to 23 inches in length. The head dimensions were precise: 5 to 6 inches wide on one side and 3 to 5 inches on the other. Some variations featured crescent-shaped heads with hollow shafts for storing daggers. The text does not provide weakness data, status effects, or appearance dates for a fictional monster, as it is strictly a historical record of Mughal military hardware.

Did You Know?

• The term 'zaghnol' translates to 'crow's beak' and describes a battle-axe with a pointed head and two cutting edges.
• Mughal axes like the tabar zaghnol had shafts measuring between 17 to 23 inches (430 to 580 mm) in length.
• Some Mughal axe heads were designed as crescents with hollow shafts specifically for storing a dagger.
• The 'tabar zaghnol' featured a dual design: a broad blade on one side of the handle and a pointed tip on the other.
• Production centers for Mughal military equipment, including axes, were primarily located in Delhi and Lahore.