Dagger

“The weapon merchant addressed the puzzled looking youth with confidence. ‘Come closer, young friend! What may I show you? Ah, I know. You must need a good sword!’ ‘This dagger is more than enough for what I want to do,’ said the young man as he quickly drew a dagger and held it to the merchant’s throat. As the lad was about to learn, this was a bad place to go in search of easy coin.”
— Jack “One-eye” Silverthaler, relating an encounter witnessed in a bazaar in Zorgan

The dagger is a short, one-handed cutting and stabbing weapon suited for quick maneuvers at close range. Daggers are usually forged like swords, but some are cast from molten metal to save time and money. Many daggers have a slender cross-guard mainly useful for protecting the hand from accidental cuts rather than actively defending against an opponent’s blows. Most daggers’ grips are made of wood or twisted wire wrapped over a wooden core.

Because daggers are small and easily worn on the belt or hidden in a boot, they are popular with thieves and scoundrels.

“Everyone should carry a dagger. It’s a useful cutting tool, and it can save your life in a fight.”

— Carolan Calavanti, Vinsaltan vagabond

“Almost every Aventurian carries a dagger. People don’t often think of them as weapons anymore.”

— Rowena of the Transweal, Bornish cat witch