a powerful torsion ballista

ballista ballistae

This powerful ballista is built in the scorpion design. It is in essence a counter-siege weapon, capable of firing bolts the size of a man, which can obliterate several men at once. The giant crossbow must be cranked back to generate torsion capable of flinging the massive iron bolts hard enough to impale any group of men foolish enough to assault Cedric's fortified manor house.