Longpole

Part navigation tool, part heirloom, and part weapon, the longpole is a popular tool among Samites, consisting of a straight stick around 12 ft long. One would be forgiven at first glance that a longstick was simply a decorated guide stick for traversing barges up and down Lake Sophie, however, on closer inspection, one can note a thin layer of leather covered by etchings along the entire length. These etchings serve as a map of the area, showing places to set up camp, fields of Aquaculture-grown plants, and difficult places to navigate. Some of these maps are very old, passed on through the generations, and depict the knowledge gathered by an entire family tree.   In addition to its use for navigation, in the hands of a Samite, a longpole is a formidable weapon. It's long reach and sturdy design allow for brutal strikes, allowing them to defeat their opponents from a safe distance. Typically Samites don't train for combat, as they try to avoid conflict when possible, but their experience with using the longpole for driving rafts provides them with a solid base ability when forced to fight.   Longpoles are crafted from palm wood dotting the edges of Lake Sophie. To prepare it, the raw wood is bound is a seaweed wrap, wrapped with a secret mixture of other plants and minerals, and left to soak in the waters for over a year. When it's removed and unwrapped, this process results in a wood with an extremely flexible core, as well as a tough external shell. The wood is then coated with a tar mix, further protecting the wood from weathering. The leather layer is then added on top, and is often replaced after a period of time, requiring its owners to copy the sketches onto a new leather wrap.