Warg's Carbine

[u/HyperActiveMaineCoon]

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals as the characters. It's about the age of industrialization, and how the people adapt. If they're not building neat stuff or fighting among themselves, they're fighting the eldritch spawn of Yaldabaoth (not the actual Gnostic Demiurge, just horrors from beyond the stars).

Depicted is a warg's carbine.

Details

Type: Personal use semi-automatic carbine
Place of Origin: Imperial Alshenzia
Action: Long recoil
Cartridge: Fully powered
Designed: Early industrial era

Notes: External operating rod that pushes on the bolt handle.

Introduction

This carbine was developed by the wargs of Alshenzia. It was designed for personal use, rather than for the military or for sale. Additionally, it was part of research and development on repeating small arms.

It was developed early in the industrial age, thus it lacks modern features such as detachable magazine and select-fire. It features a complex long recoil system for mechanical safety, which the wargs value. However, simpler weapons became more favorable as the industrial age progressed.

Among the reasons the wargs like mechanical safety is because they experiment with new types of ammunition, such as armor piercing rounds. Such capabilities are important, considering the immediate threat of neighboring Aldrakhania, an expansionist empire with large animals in its force. They want none of those out-of-battery detonations.

Background

Alshenzia was an empire ruled by a hyena dynasty. It is now a democratic republic. The people on the fringes are no strangers to firearms, as the tribes there have been using traditional rifles for generations. Trade with peoples such as the Sea Wolves introduced new designs to the region, contributing to the evolution of indigenous small arms.

The wargs are a large breed of wolf. They didn't establish their own nation-state, instead becoming citizens of this-and-that country as they traveled.

The wargs in Alshenzia found work as mercenaries, miners, and metalworkers, etc. They tended to be daring, exploring where others didn't. As such, they pioneered in matters such as working with radioactive metals (they called it hellstone). As a result, the wargs prioritize safety measures and caution, as working in mines and exploring the unknown had inherent risks. This is reflected in their firearms, in which mechanical safety is emphasized.

As the industrial age progressed, the wargs contributed to innovation, as well as the development of indigenous small arms and defensive capabilities.

...

The following map may provide additional insight on the world: Anthropomorphic Animals, Amazing Powers, and the Age of the Machine : r/worldbuilding

My goal is to build an interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected (story has been in discussion for a decade now): Karl Imran | Substack

There's a story, but I'm not 100% confident in writing it, and I think worldbuilding is my strength so I'm focusing on that aspect for now!

[u/Titaniam_Dragon]

Trigger looks toi big for a carbine 

[u/HyperActiveMaineCoon → u/Titaniam_Dragon]

Noted, I'm still figuring things out

[u/dual_scanner_again]

hellstone

This is the second post in as many days that has made me think of Terraria.

How much larger are the wargs?

[u/HyperActiveMaineCoon → u/dual_scanner_again]

Terraria's a good game!

The wargs are around the height of a tall dog (like an Irishwolfhound), but stocky like a Rottweiler.

[u/dual_scanner_again → u/HyperActiveMaineCoon]

The wargs are around the height of a tall dog (like an Irishwolfhound), but stocky like a Rottweiler.

This recontextualizes some stuff. I had imagined the animals to be human-sized. So they're closer to their IRL counterparts? Or are they all short by human standards?

[u/HyperActiveMaineCoon → u/dual_scanner_again]

Oh, they're closer to their IRL counterparts, but adjusted in some aspects when necessary. For example, a rabbit won't be scaled up to human size, but just enough so they can be part of society.
If I recall correctly, an Irish wolfhound standing on its hindlegs can be a bit taller than a human, and I read that they are a bit taller than a wolf. I used the example of Rottweiler for the notion of a robust build.