dude I have to be real with you you have got to be reading translations of 10th century war manuals, this guy is describing a ram (for blowing up castle walls) with a giant spring-loaded arm attached to the top of it that smacks all the guards off the top of a tower

like hey man what the fuck

POV you're a 10th century soldier defending Melitene as I slowly roll my fucking torsion flail into "fuck your entire life" range

this is why you still have to read books. Google "torsion flail" and tell me what you find. This is fucking looney tunes siege weaponry and it's real

my man Heron of Byzantium is saying you should make ballista tension ropes out of women's hair because it works as well as if not better than animal tendons

Me when I get within drop bridge flamethrower range to your 10th century fortress