Hello, lovelies!
So, this will be a new series on this blog, talking about how different weapons can be used in stories and what kind of characters are more likely to weild these tools. I have often noticed readers and writers alike have favourite weapons and want their favourite characters to obviously use these. Yet, the technicalities are often either glossed over or researched to death, to the point where the detailed descriptions just look pretentious.
However we will be starting with a weapon that may not necessarily immediatly pop into people's minds, but can still be extrememly effective, as evidenced by its presence in countless places around the world. The whip may not be everyone's favourite weapon, but I believe it deserves more love than it's gotten.
So, let's begin looking into it!
Material and Tails:
A whip can be made out of leather, metal, or wood, with the latter usually forming the handle, and the former two forming the tail or tails.
Not only is this going to effect the wounds the victim will receive upon impact, but the sound of the weapon willbe affected as wel.
Leather bends naturally, meaning that, if the tail is smooth and has no knots, it will have a sharper swooshing sound when used.
Metal, on the other hand, would sound more like a chain, since it would have to be made with clinks in order to be able to bend.
The handle and number of tails will also be something that affects the sound, use, and wounding.
The shorter the handle, the longer the tail, and the more force the person has to use in order to make the entire thing do its bidding. Unless you want your character to accidentally hit themselves with the end of the whip.
If the whip has multiple tails, like the Cat-o'-Nine-Tails, aim will not be as much of a factor for the user, as it would be with just one. They are essentially holding a bush, one of them will hit regardless. In this case, the handle will also be longer to compensate the
Use:
There are a number of ways in which a whip can be used, whether it be for attack or restraint. The latter isn't used as much as the former, since a whip is still a weapon, but it can definitely add a layer of creativity to your character's use of the tool.
If you do choose to have a character with a whip restrain another, there are a couple of things you should take into account.
First of all, you will need to use a whip with one tail, since the character will use a lot of dexterity and accuracy, which isn't really possible with multiple tails flaying around.
Second of all, since the whip is still a weapon, it will leave marks on the target. At the very least, there will be reddened skin, at worst, the skin will be cut by the friction.
As an attack, hitting, swinging, and slashing are the most common uses of the whip, whether in a fight, or as a punishment.
With the latter, however, it will be more common for the user to have a whip with multiple tails, since that's what those types of whips were mostly used for. The movement, in this case, will be more brusque and harsh, since the point isn't to hit a specific place, just to cause pain.
With the former, a whip with one tail is much more practical. Using a whip in a fight means the need for agility and precision, which is a lot more viable with a single tail whip, where the weilder is able to hit their opponent in the exact place they want. The wounds they will most likely leave behind in this case are either slash wounds or bludgeoning, depending on how thin and smooth the whip is. However, if your character doesn't actually want to fight or harm their opponent, a whip can also be used to easily disarm them from a distance, by hitting their hand, wrist, or directly wrapping the whip around their weapon.
Character Types:
From a physical perspectives, it takes a lot less strength to weild a whip with a long handle, rather than a short handle. This is because the longer handle, the more strength the weapon helps with. However, the act of using any whip will still require quite a bit of energy, so if your character is on the weaker side, they either won't be able to use it for a longer period of time, or they will have to switch hands.
However, when it comes to the type of person who would use a whip as a weapon, it's a little more difficult to give a concrete answer. Still, there are some characteristics you could probably attribute, such as defensiveness, temper, distance, and possible sadism.
When it comes to the more positive character traits, the whip is a weapon which keeps opponents at a distance. So, when weilded well, can be a very good defense. This could indicate a person literally lashing out to protect themselves, or at least have a protective streak of their own feelings and body. Furthermore, the person possibly has a sharp mind and an eye for detail, with good coordination, since a whip requires precision in order to use correctly.
However, on a somewhat darker note, the historical association of the whip with punishment can also create a character with, at best, a bad temper, and at worst, a sadistic side. The force that goes into using a whip, and the extreme damage it can cause someone, is something that won't be a surprise to the person weilding a weapon. So, if a character has some issues using the whip, they are probably aprehensive about causing harm, but if they have no issues at all, they may very well not care.
I hope this has brought some well-deserved affection for the whip, and that his weapon will inspire a new wave of characters unafraid to use it.
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Goodbye, lovelies!
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