Gastraphetes (85)

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Statistics

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Other Uses

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Synthesis Recipes
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Used in Recipes

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Desynthesis Recipe
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Obtained From Desynthesis

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Quest
Used in Quest:
 * Trial of the Magians
 * Marksmanship Trials

Historical Information
Equipped with an incredibly strong compound string, proper operation of this powerful bow typically requires the user to brace the stock against their stomach, from which its name, literally “belly bow,” derives. At present, the empire furnishes automated pulling devices to accomplish the arduous task of reloading.

Background
The gastraphetes (Ancient Greek γαστραφέτης, lit. 'belly-bow') was a handheld crossbow, used by ancient Greeks. It was described in the first century AD by the Greek author Heron of Alexandria in his work Belopoeica (Ancient Greek Βελοποιικά, 'on catapult-making'). It is believed to have been invented around 400 BC.