Dagger (weapon)

Daggers, also dirk, kirpan or tanto, are fighting knife between 11 and 18 in. long, typically double-edged and intended for stabbing, thrusting or throwing. They're commonly forged from hard iron or steel and feature a minimal guard and a pommel, tapering to a sharp point. A narrow groove known as a blood gutter runs along the flat of the blade, not to channel blood but as part of the forging process to reduce weight and maintain strength. Daggers are a preferred weapon of illusionists and mages, and are also used to a lesser degree by bards, druids, monks and thieves.

In many societies, daggers carry social and symbolic weight beyond its practical use, often associated with assassination, duelling or codes of honour. Styles vary widely across regions, with some featuring elaborate hilts or inscriptions, especially when intended as gifts or marks of rank. While not ideal against armoured foes, the dagger excels in close quarters, where its speed and precision can be decisive. In civilian life, they're frequently carried for utility, such as cutting rope, preparing food or as a last resort for self-defence. In urban centres or courtly settings where larger weapons are restricted or impractical, daggers may be the only arms permitted, making them essential for self-protection and political intrigue alike.

Combat

Damage from the dagger is 1-4, adjusted by strength. When hurled, the weapon's range is poor. Hitting with a hurled dagger can be improved by a high dexterity.

Missile Range in Combat Hexes

Bow	Point Blank	Short	Medium	Long
Dagger	2	3-5	6-9	10-12

At 16 oz., or 1 lb., the dagger is a very light weapon, one that is more easily concealed than most — though not as easily as the short knife, which does less damage. It can be used with one hand and takes 1 action point to draw it from a character's belt. If a roll to hit produces a fumble, the dagger will break on a 1 in 6. It's too short a weapon to be used effectively from horseback, unless it's thrown.

The dagger is a hereditary weapon for characters raised in the Rhineland. It's favoured among persons whose progenitor is an assassin, fence, guildmaster thief, gypsy, miner or rat catcher. This grants a +1 bonus to hit for these peoples.

Additional Footnotes

Daggers are commonly used by many creatures and races as a weapon, including dryads, erinyes, homonculi, locathah, mites, naga and sea hags.

The sage ability main-gauche enables the use of a dagger to parry attacks in place of a shield.

The dagger of venom is a magic item that injects a fatal poison when a critical hit is rolled.