English Longbowman: Elite infantry of England who dominated France during the 100 years war.
(A squad of bowmen stand in formation and fire a volley of arrows upon a charging horde of French soldiers, cutting down several of them where they stand.)
vs.
Roman Centurion: Killer commander who's brutal assaults led Rome to conquer the world.
(A Centurion tackles a Gallic warrior to the ground with his scutum before stabbing him in the throat with his gladius.)
WHO IS DEADLIEST?
To find out, we've assembled a team of world class fighters to test history's most lethal weapons. Using 21st century science, we'll see what happens when two warriors go toe to toe.
No rules. No safety. No mercy. It's a duel to the death to decide who is...THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
During their last battles both warriors were soundly defeated by their respective opponents...
(The longbowman is shot in the back by the Mughal's composite bow before having his throat slit.)
...but now, each warrior will be given a chance for redemption and will face off in a one-on-one confrontation.
(The Roman Centurion has his arm sliced off by the Viking's longsword and then his throat slit as well.)
Here in our elite fight club we have gathered doctors, medical scientists and weapons experts to test out the lethal arsenals wielded by each of our combatants to determine who would win a fight between two warriors who never met in a face to face duel:
English Longbowman
Circa: 1415 A.D.
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Armor: Steel Helmet, Chainmail, Wood Buckler with Iron Cross
Roman Centurion:
Circa: 120 A.D.
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Armor: Lorica Segmentata, Galea, Iron Greaves, Scutum
"Alright, today on redemption we have a battle between two warriors who from the same continent but fought for completely different purposes." Mack said as he, Geoff and Dorian stand before a table where the warriors weapons are placed.
"This is a perfect battle of up close and personal vs. distance and accuracy. The longbowman is not just a formidable long range fighter, he is also a good close ranged combatant as well." Geoff said
"The Centurion may have the better armor for the fight, but the longbowman can shoot him wear he stands and his arrows are designed to pierce armor. This will be a very interesting match indeed." Dorian said as they all nod
In addition to his namesake, the English Longbowman comes equipped with a reliable arsenal for all ranges of combat:
Short Range: Bastard Sword
Mid-Range: Quarterstaff
Long Range: English Longbow
Special: Rondel Dagger
Likewise, the Centurion brings a brutal conquering arsenal to the battlefield:
Short Range: Gladius
Mid-Range: Pilum
Long Range: Plumbata
Special: Dolabra
For short range combat, both warriors slayed their enemies with two very lethal blades of similar design. The Longbowman's bastard sword and the Centurion's gladius.
The team now has experts Terence Rotolo and Andrew Bodley stand ready with their respective swords. They each will attack a torso outfitted in their opponent's armor.
"Alright, you guys will each have three strikes on your targets. One strike on the helmet, one on your respective shields and the armor itself. You guys may begin when ready." Geoff explained
Both experts then stand ready in front of their targets. Terence would strike first by swinging his gladius at the steel helmet denting it slightly as Andrew does the same with his bastard sword only the Galea was moderately dented. Both experts then proceed to swing their swords at their opponent's shield. Andrew's bastard sword manages to hit the shield hard enough to crack some of the wood behind the shield as Terence's gladius chips away the surface of the shield. Both experts then thrust their swords into their opponent's armor each penetrating.
Doctor Dorian walks up to examine what damage has been done. "I'll start with Andrew first. Your swing to the helmet left a moderate dent which will definitely fracture his skull causing a bleeding within the brain which he will eventually die from. The swing to the shield broke some of the wood from behind near the grip but we didn't detect enough force to break his arm. And your thrust to the segmentata pierce about 3 inches in with two in his body, a wound merely.
He then walks over to Terence. "Alright Terence, your swing to the helmet only left a small dent and we didn't detect enough force to fracture his skull but was strong enough to stun him temporarily. Your swing to the shield managed to slightly crack some of it but wasn't enough to fracture any bone in his arm. And finally, your thrust into the armor managed to get his heart for an instant kill."
The team has now just finished seeing both swords in action against armor, which do they believe gets edge?
"This is a close comparison given the shape and effectiveness of both swords, the gladius allows for quicker movement due to being shorter while to bastard sworf hits with much more force. I might have to call it even." Geoff started off
"I'm going with the bastard sword. Sure it is superbly deadly when paired with the scutum but the bastard sword has the length advantage over the gladius and that is what gives it my edge." Mack countered.
"I'm going with Mack on this one, the gladius is unstoppable when paired with the scutum, but given the length and harder hitting power of the bastard sword gives it the edge over the gladius." Dorian finished.
In short range weapons, the Longbowman takes the edge with the bastard sword.
For mid-range combat, both warriors utilized different polearms to get the job done, the longbowman quarterstaff and the Centurion's pilum.
The panelists now review previous tests of both weapons in action and after a brief debate, come to a conclusion.
"The quarterstaff may be able to cause severe trauma on the body, but it is only really lethal with bludgeoning blows and best suited for anti cavalry purposes. Edge pilum." Geoff started off
"Agreed, the pilum, despite its simple appearance, shows its flexibility as an up close weapon and projectile. Edge pilum." Dorian said
"I couldn't agree more you guys, edge pilum." Mack finished
In mid-range weapons, the Centurion takes the edge with the pilum.
For long ranged weapons, both warriors relied on different means to take their foes down from a distance. The Longbowman with his English Longbow and Centurion with the plumbata throwing dart.
The team reviews the tests of both weapons in action in their previous battles.
"Alright, we'll just need to see if the longbow can pierce through the Centurion's armor." Geoff said
The team now sets up a torso outfitted in the lorica segmentata armor of the Centurion. Andrew will be given two bodkin tipped arrows to see what kind of penetration we will see.
"Alright Andrew, you may fire when ready." Mack yelled
Andrew nodded and strung his first bodkin tip, aiming at the center of the segmentata, he fires his arrow and the bodkin pierces through the armor enough to get stuck in it. He then strings his second bodkin and fires this one and it hits just below where the first arrow was.
Doctor Dorian makes his way over to assess the damage. "What in seeing here Andrew with the first shot is the bodkin managed to pierce through the armor deep enough to puncture his heart which will instantly kill him. The second bodkin struck just below the and just missed the bottom portion of the heart. The first one kills and the second would if the arrow was just a centimeter higher."
Both warriors have effective ways of bringing their enemies down from a distance, which gets the edge...? Pretty obvious if you ask me but who cares about what I have to say, I'm just the narrator.
"Longbow, no questions asked." Geoff yells with both his arms raised
"Longbow" Dorian and Mack said in unison
In long ranged weapons, the Longbowman takes the edge...did I really have to say that? It was so obvious but whatever, I'm the narrator dammit.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Now it is time to move on to special weapons when a brutal improvised axe goes against a nasty dagger. The Centurion's dolabra and the Longbowman's rondel dagger.
The team now reviews the tapes of both weapons in action and come to a conclusion.
"Even though the rondel dagger has speed on it's side, the dolabra, despite being improvised gives more options over the dagger. Edge dolabra." Geoff started
"The dolabra causes more trauma than the stab only dagger. Edge dolabra." Dorian seconded
"Also it has reach which will keep the longbowman at a distance then hack him to death and it will have no problem going through chainmail as we saw with the viking. Edge dolabra." Mack added
In special weapons the Roman Centurion takes the edge with the dolabra.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"Alright, let's go through the x-factors." Mack said
"For training, the Centurion was part of the most professional army of all time. The longbowman was elite infantry but not to the same extent as the Centurion. The Centurion had a 98 to the Longbowman's 94."
"For endurance, the Centurion was very professionally trained. He had a 92 to the Longbowman's 81."
"For physicality, the Centurion had a 93 to the Longbowman's 84."
"For ferocity, the Centurion had an 88 to the Longbowman's 80."
"Lastly. There is killer instinct, the both warriors killed for their respective kingdoms but the Centurion was killing to expand his empire. He had a 94 to the Longbowman's 86."
Our scientists and weapons experts are done testing the results and the time has come to decide who will be the victor. To ensure the battle won't be decided by a single lucky blow, the battle will be simulated one thousand times in a duel to the death.
Who will prevail between two elite soldiers?
Distance and accuracy
(A squad of longbowman unleash an arrow rain onto some French soldiers cutting them down.)
vs.
Up close and personal
(A Roman Centurion tackles a Gallic warrior to the ground before stabbing him in the face with his gladius.)
"In the end, only one will be redeemed. Let's find out." Mack said flipping the switch.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A Roman Centurion is seen scouting the English countryside. His empire has decided to suppress an uprising from an army of archers they had not encountered during their conquest of England.
He continues walking through the countryside and eventually comes to a bog. He looks to the other side of the bog and notices a figure in chainmail. At first he though it was a legionary who was lost but upon further inspection, it is not. Rather it is an English Longbowman. The Englishman has had enough of the Romans in his kingdom and when he spots the Centurion, he raises his longbow in the air and yells at the Roman.
He strings a bodkin tip onto his bow and takes aim at the Centurion. The Roman lifts his scutum in defense as the longbowman let's his arrow fly. The bodkin hits the scutum and pierces through the other side. The Centurion moves to yank the arrow out. When he does he lowers the scutum only to have another bodkin fly his way and hit him in his galea.
The bodkin pierces the helmet and the Centurion's head jets backwards and he stumbles. Seeing his opponent stunned, the longbowman loads another bodkin and fires. The Centurion was still stunned as the arrow pierces his segmentata in his side.
The Centurion grunts and goes to yank that arrow out and looks at it seeing blood on it. He turns to face the longbowman. He draws his gladius and raises high and yells "Præparate cadere sicut alii!"
The longbowman sets his bow and quiver beside a tree, picks up his wood buckler, draws his bastard sword and mounts a charge at the Centurion. The Roman does the same and both meet in the center of the bog and bash shields sending both stumbling backwards. They take stances and wait for their opponent to make a move. The longbowman strikes first with a thrust from his bastard sword and the Roman holds his scutum out to block it. Seeing the blade glance off the Centurion quickly tackles the longbowman and goes for a thrust aimed at his neck.
Seeing the gladius coming at him, the longbowman quickly swings his bastard sword upwards and sends the Roman's sword arm flying upwards. He then brings the bastard sword in an overhead chop only to have it blocked by the scutum. After blocking that swing the Roman rushes forward and gives a forceful shove knocking the Englishman to the ground.
With his opponent down the Centurion brings his gladius down to stab the longbowman but he brings his wood buckler up just in time to block the blade. He let's go of the buckler and with that shield arm he grabs the Roman's sword arm and quickly swings his bastard sword and hits him in his galea making him stumble sideways. The longbowman gets up and slips his shield and sword onto his back and unstraps his quarterstaff. He rushes over to the Roman and brings the quarterstaff down onto his back denting his segmentata.
The Roman yells in pain and does a 360 swing with his gladius and manages to cut the Englishman in his arm.
The Englishman reels back in pain and holds his cut. Taking the opportunity, the Roman thrusts his gladius at the longbowman only for him to swing his quarterstaff and knocks the gladius right out of his hand.
The Longbowman does a follow up swing at the Roman who lifts the scutum up only to have it cracked by another swing from the quarterstaff. He drops his scutum and draws his dolabra and quickly ducks under another swing and swings the sharp end of the pickaxe and lands a hit on the Englishman's side piercing his chainmail. The Longbowman yells in pain as the Roman grabs his arm and squeezes his wrist to let the quarterstaff go.
He drops the quarterstaff and the Roman shoves him back and foes to brings his dolabra down onto the Englishman's helmet. The axe end hits the helmet and dents it sending him falling face first to the ground. He then flips the dolabra over and brings the spike end down onto the helmet only for the longbowman to spring to life and take his rondel dagger and stab him in his leg. The Roman grunts and the longbowman pulls him down and puts himself on top of the Roman.
The Englishman then brings his rondel dagger down intent on putting it in the Roman's skull. Both warriors struggle to gain control of the dagger when the Roman eventually takes his dolabra and hits the longbowman in the side with the axe head knocking him off of him. The Roman gets up and as he does, the longbowman brings the rondel dagger down onto his shoulder and pierces his armor and cuts into his shoulder. This puts the Roman on one knee and the longbowman then goes to bring it onto his helmet.
The Roman quickly takes a pilum out and holds it out. Seeing the weapon the longbowman quickly jumps back and runs to the treeline where he stashed his bow. The Roman hurls his pilum and managed to get the longbowman in his calf making him fall forward.
The longbowman refuses defeat and goes to pull the pilum out only to see a dart flying his way. The plumbata hits him in his chests going through his chainmail and cutting his skin. The longbowman takes it out and rushes to get his bow. He runs behind the tree where his bow and quiver were and strings an arrow.
The Centurion makes his way over to where his foe is with his dolabra in hand. He seeing movement behind a tree and quietly jogs over to it and swings his dolabra. The pickaxe harmlessly embeds itself in the trunk and he hears a whistle. He turns around to see the longbowman fire an arrow at him. The Roman had no time to react and takes a hit to his side. The arrow penetrating and piercing his skin. He ignores the pain and with his dolabra, charges at the longbowman.
The longbowman strings another arrow and looks up only to be tackled by his foe and put face first onto the ground. The Roman gets up and raises his dolabra high ready to bring to axehead down onto his opponent's face when suddenly the longbowman rolls onto his back and fires and arrow directly up his chin and protruding out of his head.
The arrow protruded far enough to slightly lift the helmet up a few inches and the Roman gags and twitches before falling to the ground. The longbowman gets up and loads another arrow and walks over to inspect the Roman.
He kicks him.
No response.
He raises his longbow into the air and shouts "By the will of God another heathen falls!"
XXXXXXXXX
Winner: English Longbowman
English Longbowman: 601
Bastard Sword: 190
Quarterstaff: 37
English Longbow: 293
Rondel Dagger: 81
Roman Centurion: 399
Gladius: 144
Pilum: 130
Plumbata: 10
Dolabra: 115
Following a battle between two elite soldiers, the English Longbowman triumphs in a lopsided victory. His longbow being the deadliest weapon profiled within the simulator. The Roman Centurion scoring more kills at mid and special weapons with his pilum being his deadliest.
"The longbowman won because he can fight effectively by himself or with other longbowman, the Roman Centurion was meant to fight with his legion and that is what led to his downfall. Despite his dominance in all the x-factors, the longbowman was able to put him down a majority of the time." Geoff explained
(The longbowman is seen resting near the tree where his bow was stashed from the battle. He has claimed the Roman's dolabra as a souvenir of their battle and that the Roman army can be defeated.)
XXXXXXXXXXX
Next up on redemption, we conclude with two blackpowder marksmen.
French Musketeer: The king's ruthless personal guards and fierce defenders of France's borders.
vs.
Conquistador: Vicious slayers of the Aztec empire.
Who is deadliest?!
Author's note: I can't believe it's almost time for season two! Thanks to Metal Harbinger, Dr. MkDemigodZ, Harbingers of NEVEC and DeadAliveManiac for supporting and being there for me. Hope the support continues for Season two which will premiere July 31! The full list of Season two will be released along with French Musketeer vs. Conquistador so stay tuned!