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

[Bluenose]

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.

The normal way to carry a spear when you're not expecting to be fighting with it is with the shaft resting on the right shoulder, the right hand holding it towards the butt, and often with a bag or two hanging from the end to help with balance and to carry some kit. At least according to viking (Icelandic), Greek and Chinese writers.

And with an axe it's not so much a sheath as a loop for the shaft, part of or fastened to the belt.

[Feanor]

Thanks for pointing it out stormcrow. Makes it a bit harder of course.

[aramis]

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.

Depends upon what they're singing...

my local SCA group's favorite parade song is plenty imposing... March of Cambreadth. Here's one verse...

Axes flash, broadswords swing,
shining armor's piercing ring!
Horses run with a polished shield
Fight those bastards till they yield!
Midnight Mare, blood red roan,
Fight to keep this land your own!
Sound the Horn and Call the Cry...
How many of them can we make die!
©Heather Alexander. Fair use asserted.

That is VERY different from them singing

Bilbo, Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins
Only three feet tall,
Bilbo, Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins
The bravest little hobbit of them all!
©Leonard Nimoy. Fair use asserted.

[aramis]

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

So can axes. My grandfather's favorite wood-felling-axe had a leather cover for years - until the leather rotted. Why? because it (1) kept the blade from getting dulled by the accidental boot to the head or dropped tool, and (2) it was secure enough to prevent loss of a toe in case of an accident when being carried or stowed. That cover has in fact saved my toes on two occasions. (note also - he heated with firewood, so the axe got a lot of use.)

Picks and military hammers can also easily have covers over the points - and in fact it's a good idea. A military hammer often wasn't a flat nor a ball peen, but was often a crown-cut... two valleys chiseled into a cross shape, leaving four peaks. This increases penetration against steel and chain, but also means an accidental drop is more likely to goe through a toe, and when carried, more likely to snag on things. A local blacksmith here forged one, and made a leather cap that was held off the points as a safety measure. (He glued in a couple small leather washers to the inside - so they were taller than the points.)

Even a Military Fork and/or Trident can be sleeved... a folded piece of leather, a single strap, and stitched to make the requisite number of loose pockets, longer than the tines. The strap cinches around the crossbeam of the fork.

About the only weapons that don't benefit from covers somehow are smooth or round-bump ball maces and flails. (And a flail is more comfy to carry if you DO tie the balls to the haft.)

[poosticks7]

Doh I meant - weapons at ease.