Why do hammer haunts carry swords?

jtr7 on 28/11/2008 at 04:19

I remember that, yeah.:erg:

AfroTaffer on 28/11/2008 at 05:45

Maybe the Hammerites used to carry swords as weapons but then changed to hammers?

jtr7 on 28/11/2008 at 06:11

Plausible. We know they made swords. We see their multimold for a sword hilt, and there's the conversation mentioning forgers making blades (although the type of blade in question was a knife).

There are 3 sword hilts and 7 broken swords scattered about. The sword would also loosely tie into the idea of the heretical rejection of the hammer. A sword is never consider a holy symbol amongst Hammerites. There's also a theme about the Hammers leaving behind their squalid past when they lived as pagans and were saved by the technological advancement of the hammer, leading to a profound paradigm shift. If they actually were pagans at one time, then we are witnessing a civil war/blood feud, or something. And the abhorrent Haunts would be a bit of the past come back to haunt them, laughing at them, twisting their prayers around, wielding unholy swords, and wearing silly boots.

And just for the heck of it: During the time of the Cataclysm their attackers were once called "demon-kind".

M11BCKGD: "Though these be perhaps the final moments of our beloved cathedral and mine mortal life, I shall faithfully chronicle to the end.
A great evil magic hath befallen us, and we battle with demon-kind on all sides. Our own fallen brethren rise from death and turn on us, cold light aflame in their eyes. Our mighty doors availed us naught, for the assault was from within. Soon I shall be found and slain, like the others. May The Builder save our souls."

sNeaksieGarrett on 29/11/2008 at 17:19

Where did you find that jtr7?
Interesting, so it appears that haunts are actually possessed hammerites. I never thought about what haunts were exactly, I just thought they were regular undead "skull warriors" but never gave much thought to the fact that they had a sword instead of a hammer. I think it makes sense to say that it is because a hammer is a holy symbol, and they perhaps can't touch one. I know you can actually chunk a hammer at them and it hurts them, IIRC.:p

As for the thread title, that's a really good question. I never thought about it until now.

jtr7 on 30/11/2008 at 01:28

Quote Posted by sNeaksieGarrett

I think it makes sense to say that it is because a hammer is a holy symbol, and they perhaps can't touch one.

I like that, yes, that could be a factor. :thumb:

And a reminder from Brother Murus:

MURHAU1: "Now I must ask thee for one last thing: These haunts who inhabit the bodies of my brethren--they must all be killed."

The M11BCKGD text is found on the floor inside and to the left of the front double doors that are sealed with the Elemental Wards.

ShadowSneaker on 30/11/2008 at 01:49

Quote Posted by Digital Nightfall

It's because the hammers are holy, and the undead cannot touch them.

They carry hammers in T2 and 3 because the developers forgot.

:p

I read that Haunts were Hammerites whose graves had been desecrated.

SS

sNeaksieGarrett on 30/11/2008 at 01:56

Thanks jtr7.:) It has been so long since I've played that level.

Oh! Perhaps another theory could be that they are not regular hammerites, nor novices, but perhaps high priests who became possessed, and by nature the Haunts needed a weapon so they found swords.. ? Just a thought anyway.

jtr7 on 30/11/2008 at 01:57

You're welcome, sNeaksie.

Quote Posted by ShadowSneaker

Quote Posted by Digital Nightfall

It's because the hammers are holy, and the undead cannot touch them.

They carry hammers in T2 and 3 because the developers forgot.

:p

I read that Haunts were Hammerites whose graves had been desecrated.

SS

:D :thumb:

You read it off your loading screen:
[INDENT]T_LoadingHelp54: "Tip: Hammer Haunts are undead Hammerites whose burial site was desecrated."[/INDENT]

Put the two together and you have evil spirits reanimating Hammer-flesh. Add this to the mix for good measure:

[INDENT]T_oldquarter3LoadingQuote1: "The undead are most abhorrent to us. Their flesh is putrid, and the mark of the Trickster is upon them. - from the Mass of Saint Aaron"

SM3dreptletter & SM3dreptletter2: "...thou can smite the undead, for they are most abhorrent to us."[/INDENT]