Spade and Pickaxe

“A person can inflict a lot of damage with a spade or a pickaxe. Therefore, these tools are collected from mining slaves at the end of each shift.”
-Silvario Dellamonte, Meridian Questador, 1034 FB

No treasure hunter, researcher, miner, or tomb robber ever went into the field without a sturdy spade and pickaxe. Without these tools, ruins would remain buried, precious ores and stones would never see the light of day, and caves would remain largely unexplored. These tools also are invaluable in agriculture, and nothing is better than a spade for performing the somber task of digging a grave.

While bulky, both tools are relatively weather-proof, and each one can be easily attached to a traveling pack or saddle via a simple leather strap.

Both serve as passable improvised weapons in the case of an emergency, although the pickaxe is far more robust and therefor much more dangerous. Many tomb robbers and naïve explorers died when struck from behind by greedy companions.

“I have even seen a folding spade, which I hear is useful when you want to make someone disappear quickly.”

— Carolan Calavanti, Vinsaltan vagabond

“Do not underestimate them. As improvised weapons, pickaxes, especially, can inflict severe injuries. The biggest drawback, in my opinion, is that both items are unbalanced—heavy at the top—which makes them pretty useless for parrying.”

— Geron Bladebreaker, mercenary

“Yes, Geron, I know that you can turn anything into a weapon, but these things were created to hew stone from quarries or help with gardening. They are not intended for combat.”

— Brother Hilbert of Auen, Blessed One of Peraine

“We Angroshim fight more frequently with pickaxes than we would prefer, especially in tunnels, which are full of rummaging bugbears. Most of the time, a pickaxe is the only thing around that can pierce the thick hide of this creature. Unfortunately, pickaxes sometimes get stuck in tunnel walls, too…”

— Arbosh son of Angrax, forge dwarf master smith