Ironspine Ballista - medieval siege

3D Model

The Ironspine Ballista, first fielded during the skirmishes of the Dunmarch Rebellion in 1312, was a siege-class crossbow designed for rapid deployment by eight ground troops. Mounted on a reinforced wheeled chassis, it featured a dual-arm torsion system and a gear-driven winch capable of launching iron-tipped bolts over 300 paces. Crews operated in synchronized roles, two on the crank, two on stabilization, two on loading, and two on targeting, allowing for a reload cycle under one minute.

Its compact design made it ideal for ambushes and narrow passes, where larger siege engines faltered. Though never mass-produced, the Ironspine earned a fearsome reputation at the Battle of Hollow Pike, where it disabled three cavalry charges and pierced the gate of a fortified watchtower. Surviving schematics suggest it was the precursor to later modular artillery used in border conflicts. Today, fragments of its frame are preserved in the Blackmere Arsenal Archive.