“The peasant rebel was well-armed and brave, but the experienced officer surprised him by swiftly drawing his rapier in an agile stance. The ornamented hilt gleamed during the deadly dance that followed. The rebel lunged forward but halted to defend himself from a deceiving thrust that pierced his wrist. A wound of finesse that already had decided the outcome of the duel. The officer stoically stood his ground, awaiting the decision of his opponent. Either he would surrender or succumb to his rage and die.”

Epic Armoury’s Rillet Rapier is a delicate sword inspired by 16th and 17th-century designs. This model features an elegantly leaf-curved quillon and guard, a filigree ornamented chappe and pommel, and a grooved handle. The blade comprises a fibreglass core embedded in closed-cell ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam coated with pigmented latex. For those playing high-ranking noble characters in settings inspired by the Renaissance, this is an elegant weapon for a more civilised age.