Combinatory silicate projectiles

Combinatory silicate projectiles are a weapon, most well-known for their use in the First Battle of Tietero.

History

The combinatory silicate projectile was first invented in 1 PC by Jebricofa Iri-Baincheli, an aubergine-thief who saw an arrow pierce through a mushroom on the day of the Grand Calming and wondered if asbestos could do the same thing. After some experimentation, he had a proof of concept that firing two asbestos-tipped arrows directly at one another resulted in asbestos exploding from the collision releasing harmful microcrystals. After being treated in the hospital for ingestion of harmful microcrystals, he submitted a proposal to the Caseic Military to develop the design further. The Caseic Military ignored it, considering it too inhumane to use until around 20 PC.

As of 27 PC, combinatory silicate projectiles have only ever been used by the Caseic Federation, in the Battle of Tietero. Their use resulted in widespread lung disease in Tietero, and aboard the CFS Fromachi II and CFF Jasfeya

Design

Each silicate projectile consists of closely-bundled silicate crystals. Each individual silicate crystal is very small, meaning that if ingested it can cause damage to the internal tissue of the lungs, mouth, digestive system, or most likely all three. When two projectiles collide with one another at high velocity in mid-air, they disperse millions of crystals over the land, causing any population below to be affected by the ensuing health complications.

A major flaw in this design is the rarity of mid-air collisions, even when attempting to deliberately cause them. This leads to an abundance of silicate crystals in the sea when they shouldn't be there.