Big guns for big monsters (GLÅUGUST 2025 #1)

Taking on The Nothic's Eye GLÅUGUST 2025, challenge #1 is from a list by Halfalcon - "He Wields A Gun."

Here we talk about the three main schools of magical firearms extant in menagerie world:
- blunderbus-types
- masterworks
- enchantment-powered

All of these are generally in competition with 'cheap' bows and crossbows or 'easy' magic.

While all looking somewhat similar there are three different things happening
- first are the blunderbus or cannon types which are strongly built vessels for whatever magical explosives and shot you can get your hands on. The oomph comes from what you can stuff inside, not the vessel itself, though it may have some enchantments to keep it from exploding in your hands. This is the punt-gun stuffed full of dragonbone powder, casting a fistful of freshly enchanted magic stones at a foe.
- the second are weapons which are designed to be deadly even without magics - wonders of mastercraft, deploying such exotic metals and cunning techniques that to many they may as well be magical and then enhanced still further by precisely applied enchantments. One of these would be a long-rifle with optics of true-sight and carefully measured cartridges enchanted by obsesssive artificer mages. We include here things like railguns, bio-weapons like deathspitters or non-chemically propelled slug-throwers.
- lastly are things that produce similar effects of ruining your day at a distance when the thing is activated whether casting a shot at speed but do this through some fundamentally magical force such as a portal from a storm on the plane of air or through throwing balefire, encapsulated oozes or other such gruesomeness.

Examples of each to be found in the field:

#1 - Dwarven troll-gun (also known as a tunnel-gun); sturdy, typically octagonal stylings around the outside. Cunning grips make it intuitive to aim, adding +1 to hit out to 60'. This example is found in the hands of a minotaur who is using an extra-smoky black-powder that obscures a 30' cone for 3 rounds after firing and bone-chips and teeth from previous victims, which cause wounds that require a constitution save before healing.

#2 - First-ones dragon-rifle; big, large bore, breach-breaking, recoil-suppressed gun with a bipod - designed so a sturdy orc can fire it from (standing) wolf-back or a half dozen goblins can move it as a field team. Said orc wanting to show off will have bandoliers of hand-etched shells across their chest, roll-up carry-cases of charges, tools and optics slung from their saddle. Goblins operating this will likely have two to carry the weapon and another each for the shells, charges, tools and optics. Quick to reload in case the dragon fails to obligingly die with the first shot. Armour penetrating, stuns on impact. Each one a priceless masterwork, each cartridge the price of a good mount.

#3 Forge-clan lightning-thrower; looks like a crossbow with a hexagonal arrangement of rods pointing forward and a reel. Throws lightning from bottles of the stuff screwed onto the top. At short-range, against metallic things, just pull the trigger. For longer ranges or multiple targets, there is a small onboard harpoon that tows a cable to the target. Typically 6 flasks of lightning can be clipped in, choose how many to use with each shot using the insulated knob. Wear the insulated gloves while using. Do not let sweat drip onto it. Blinding to all present when it fires. Ignites flammables. Lightning bottles thrown into water will discharge affecting anyone touching the water. Do not bend the prongs. Do not tangle the reel. Recharging lightning bottles can be done by flying a kite in a storm.