What's the opposite of "Weapons at the ready?"

[Elmoth]

I would use "at ease".

An axe held towards its equilibrium point (towards the head) is not ready to be used. A spear held as a walking stick or put against the shoulder (arm low) is not ready either, even it it can be readied much more easily (one of the many advantages of spears over other weapons, actually).

You can say that they "do not look threatening", in general and it will sound tolkienesque enough. At least it would in my table.

Cheers,
Xavi

[Terisonen]

This involves two Beornings out in the wild walking toward the heroes from a distance, one of them carrying a spear and one of them an axe, so standing at ease in formal military posture isn't going to work. I just want to convey the general sense of "non-hostility" to a lay reader, hopefully using Tolkien-esque language.

It's not a super important point, but it occurred to me that I didn't have a good way of conveying "their weapons are sheathed" for weapons that don't have sheathes, but I also didn't want to spend a long sentence describing exactly how they are holding their arms.

It did just occur to me that axes do have sheathes, and that if at least the axe is sheathed then maybe that by itself is suggestive enough.

Made them singing. That's not threatening, unless you have behind you utmost psychotics.

[Elmoth]

Spears can also have covers to protect the point from rust.

[Glorelendil]

This involves two Beornings out in the wild walking toward the heroes from a distance, one of them carrying a spear and one of them an axe, so standing at ease in formal military posture isn't going to work. I just want to convey the general sense of "non-hostility" to a lay reader, hopefully using Tolkien-esque language.

It's not a super important point, but it occurred to me that I didn't have a good way of conveying "their weapons are sheathed" for weapons that don't have sheathes, but I also didn't want to spend a long sentence describing exactly how they are holding their arms.

It did just occur to me that axes do have sheathes, and that if at least the axe is sheathed then maybe that by itself is suggestive enough.

Then carrying it in the hand, leaned against the shoulder, much like the guidon in "Carry Guidon" position. Keep in mind - modern close order drill is a holdover from medieval military training. And the manual of the guidon is the surviving form of the spear training manuals of the 17th C, based upon the spear drills of the 14th to 16th centuries; some rather compelling arguments can be made that they are essentially the Roman manuals.

A legionnaire of the Roman Army might have his javelin hanging off his pack, carried by hand-and-shoulder (like the modern guidon), at the ready for charge (gripped in fist, thumb forward, point forrward, held near waist level) or ready for throw (thumb back, held over the shoulder, point forward)... And there are illustrations and descriptions surviving of marching with the javelin "in order".

If they stop, the at-ease posture also dates back to the Roman legions... Western military tradition really draws from Roman tradition.

I'll have to assume 99.9% of the readers won't have the historical expertise to interpret various stances and poses.

Maybe I'll just say they're carrying their weapons in their left hands. That leaves some of the interpretation to the players, without requiring specialized knowledge about weapon techniques.

[Rue]

slung across his back? resting at his side? held in a relaxed grip as he waved with his other hand?

[poosticks7]

Weapons at easy - might be the simplest way to write it. It's unambiguous and gets the point across.

[Dunheved]

Glorelendil wrote:

It's not a super important point, but it occurred to me that I didn't have a good way of conveying "their weapons are sheathed" for weapons that don't have sheathes, but I also didn't want to spend a long sentence describing exactly how they are holding their arms.

If I can try a phrase... how about holding the 'weapons lowered'?

[Feanor]

Id go with total different approach here to make it more interesting, as this above issue really shouldnt be taking too much time. But if you would like it to do so i have a suggestion below:

As there are different cultures in middle earth each culture might have their own cultural differences, in how the weapons are being sheathed, or not, and what that MORE IMPORTANTLY, might mean.

Id make the dwarven code of conduct with weapons and elven, opposed, since they do have problems with each other. The Human code more in line with the elven but not opposed to either the dwarven or elven code of conduct.

By saying "code of conduct of weapons", it means what manner the weapon is carried in, and that reflects upon the wearers intentions with it, peace ( sheathed ), ready, combat stance is a few examples. It can also for instance be used to "declare war". The declaration might be personal or Cultural depending on the wearers station.

A swedish rpg uses these types of ideas for code of conduct or in what manner the weapons is weared as a bigger difference between elves and men and dwarves,a nd might also be a very big reason why they have issues with each other.

[zedturtle]

If I can try a phrase... how about holding the 'weapons lowered'?

The trouble with that is that lowering a spear or lance is getting it ready for business.

I like "friendly"

[Stormcrow]

Id make the dwarven code of conduct with weapons and elven, opposed, since they do have problems with each other. The Human code more in line with the elven but not opposed to either the dwarven or elven code of conduct.

Dwarves and elves tend to mistrust each other because of their history of mutual betrayal, not because it's inherent to them. Before those things happened dwarves and elves got along well, though each always considered the other strange in the way that any two very different cultures do. They don't do things opposite to each other all the time.

(There was a resurgence of trust between the elves of Hollin and the dwarves of the Dwarrowdelf until the balrog was awakened.)