| Watchtower from the Great Wall of China | |
|---|---|
| |
|
Origin |
Great Wall of China |
|
Type |
Earthen Guard Tower |
|
Effects |
Allows instant movement from one point of a structure to any other |
|
Downsides |
Unleashes projectile volleys from walls at amassing intruders |
|
Activation |
Occupation by sentries |
|
Collected by |
Warehouse 10 |
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
390485-6428 |
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Date of Collection |
Midyear 1608 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
The Great Wall of is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. Several walls were built from as early as the 7th century BC, with selective stretches later joined by Qin Shi Huang (220–206 BC), the first emperor of China. Little of the Qin wall remains. Later on, many successive dynasties built and maintained multiple stretches of border walls. The best-known sections of the wall were built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Apart from defense, other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls, allowing the imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation or encouragement of trade and the control of immigration and emigration. Furthermore, the defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watchtowers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor.
An "archery tower" was often placed in front of the main gatehouse. In its final form during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the archery tower was an elaborate construction, of comparable height to the main gatehouse, which stands some distance in front of the main gatehouse. The archery tower is so-named because of its rows of archery (and later cannon) placements, from which defenders could fire projectiles on attackers. Auxiliary walls, running perpendicularly to the main wall, connect the archery tower with the main gatehouse, enclosing a rectangular area. This area serves as a buffer zone, should the first gate be breached.
Its Chinese name, "jar walls", refers to the intended strategy whereby attackers coming through the archery tower would be trapped, open to attack from all sides. Towers that protruded from the wall were located at regular intervals along the wall. Large and elaborate towers, called corner towers, were placed where two walls joined. These were significantly higher than the wall itself, and gave defenders a bird's eye view over both the city and its surroundings.
Effects[]
Allows security or those technically protecting an area such as maintenance personnel to blip across a site near instantly. Works on any structure with a defined area such as a building complex or roadway but not open fields. Useful to maintain site integrity from decay by letting workers have an easy time reaching the site.
Also good for letting guards monitor the outskirts of entire villas with a fraction of the effort. Effective at reducing the amount of watchers on active duty at once. When they spot a suspicious group of more than ten individuals, defensive measures surround them. The closest walls will generate a menagerie of projectiles to disable the group. Arrows and small cannonballs are common, but so are materials from the main structure itself such as masonry. Pelting continues until all have fled the premises or captured.