How do I scientifically explain a specific type of wood piercing through armor when not even bullets can?












25














I've created a monster with three weaknesses:




  1. A soft spot in his belly that can be pierced through normally with objects, but the monster is so big and fast that hitting it is extremely hard and dangerous.


  2. The monster has a severe allergy to some types of coffee, to the point where surrounding yourself with coffee grains can keep him away.


  3. I'm having trouble finding an explanation for the third weakness: a specific type of wood that can pierce through his armor even though bullets can't. Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?



Solution found!



Thank you all for all the answers, ive selected the most upvoted one as the "solved" one but you all helped me greatly! Thanks All.



The way i solved it is mixing all the answers in one explanation: Basically the monster has a combination of a non newtonian type of blubber (putting together Arcanist Lupus and Greig answers) that usually is strong against bullet-like projectiles and other blunt force stuff and also has a specific type of coat that is fibrous like a doormat (as chasly from UK pointed out) this way the monster gets pratically impervious to damage unless you use the right type of wood that generates the reaction Arcanist Lupus suggested. Also Cyn's response was extremely usefull for the purpose of getting the type of wood and helping in a way to mix wood with bullets.



Thank you all!










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
    – Jannis
    Dec 27 at 15:59










  • This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:48






  • 3




    And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:56










  • Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
    – Nat
    yesterday
















25














I've created a monster with three weaknesses:




  1. A soft spot in his belly that can be pierced through normally with objects, but the monster is so big and fast that hitting it is extremely hard and dangerous.


  2. The monster has a severe allergy to some types of coffee, to the point where surrounding yourself with coffee grains can keep him away.


  3. I'm having trouble finding an explanation for the third weakness: a specific type of wood that can pierce through his armor even though bullets can't. Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?



Solution found!



Thank you all for all the answers, ive selected the most upvoted one as the "solved" one but you all helped me greatly! Thanks All.



The way i solved it is mixing all the answers in one explanation: Basically the monster has a combination of a non newtonian type of blubber (putting together Arcanist Lupus and Greig answers) that usually is strong against bullet-like projectiles and other blunt force stuff and also has a specific type of coat that is fibrous like a doormat (as chasly from UK pointed out) this way the monster gets pratically impervious to damage unless you use the right type of wood that generates the reaction Arcanist Lupus suggested. Also Cyn's response was extremely usefull for the purpose of getting the type of wood and helping in a way to mix wood with bullets.



Thank you all!










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
    – Jannis
    Dec 27 at 15:59










  • This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:48






  • 3




    And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:56










  • Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
    – Nat
    yesterday














25












25








25







I've created a monster with three weaknesses:




  1. A soft spot in his belly that can be pierced through normally with objects, but the monster is so big and fast that hitting it is extremely hard and dangerous.


  2. The monster has a severe allergy to some types of coffee, to the point where surrounding yourself with coffee grains can keep him away.


  3. I'm having trouble finding an explanation for the third weakness: a specific type of wood that can pierce through his armor even though bullets can't. Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?



Solution found!



Thank you all for all the answers, ive selected the most upvoted one as the "solved" one but you all helped me greatly! Thanks All.



The way i solved it is mixing all the answers in one explanation: Basically the monster has a combination of a non newtonian type of blubber (putting together Arcanist Lupus and Greig answers) that usually is strong against bullet-like projectiles and other blunt force stuff and also has a specific type of coat that is fibrous like a doormat (as chasly from UK pointed out) this way the monster gets pratically impervious to damage unless you use the right type of wood that generates the reaction Arcanist Lupus suggested. Also Cyn's response was extremely usefull for the purpose of getting the type of wood and helping in a way to mix wood with bullets.



Thank you all!










share|improve this question















I've created a monster with three weaknesses:




  1. A soft spot in his belly that can be pierced through normally with objects, but the monster is so big and fast that hitting it is extremely hard and dangerous.


  2. The monster has a severe allergy to some types of coffee, to the point where surrounding yourself with coffee grains can keep him away.


  3. I'm having trouble finding an explanation for the third weakness: a specific type of wood that can pierce through his armor even though bullets can't. Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?



Solution found!



Thank you all for all the answers, ive selected the most upvoted one as the "solved" one but you all helped me greatly! Thanks All.



The way i solved it is mixing all the answers in one explanation: Basically the monster has a combination of a non newtonian type of blubber (putting together Arcanist Lupus and Greig answers) that usually is strong against bullet-like projectiles and other blunt force stuff and also has a specific type of coat that is fibrous like a doormat (as chasly from UK pointed out) this way the monster gets pratically impervious to damage unless you use the right type of wood that generates the reaction Arcanist Lupus suggested. Also Cyn's response was extremely usefull for the purpose of getting the type of wood and helping in a way to mix wood with bullets.



Thank you all!







creature-design science-fiction weapons mythical-creatures






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edited 2 days ago

























asked Dec 27 at 15:45









Astral Thinker

146211




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  • 1




    ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
    – Jannis
    Dec 27 at 15:59










  • This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:48






  • 3




    And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:56










  • Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
    – Nat
    yesterday














  • 1




    ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
    – Jannis
    Dec 27 at 15:59










  • This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:48






  • 3




    And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
    – Mazura
    Dec 27 at 23:56










  • Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
    – Nat
    yesterday








1




1




ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
– Jannis
Dec 27 at 15:59




ever seen grass growing through asphalt? growing plants have an enourmous force, that could even pierce this armor. Maybe the wood grows extremely quick
– Jannis
Dec 27 at 15:59












This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
– Mazura
Dec 27 at 23:48




This needs an 'armor design' tag, and an explanation why bullets don't penetrate it.
– Mazura
Dec 27 at 23:48




3




3




And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
– Mazura
Dec 27 at 23:56




And a definition of bullet. Mine is anything smaller than a 20mm canon shell. List of armors that stop bullets: Kevlar and ceramics. Only Kevlar fits your needs. So it wears Kevlar; doesn't matter what kind of wood, as long as it can hold a point. See also, non-newtonian fluids.
– Mazura
Dec 27 at 23:56












Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
– Nat
yesterday




Wood hurts it but bullets don't - got that. But what about something like a bullet made of wood or tipped with wood? Or a crossbow bolt? By which I mean, is the deciding factor the material, or the delivery mechanism?
– Nat
yesterday










10 Answers
10






active

oldest

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58














The monster doesn't have armor - it has blubber.



Bullets don't bounce of the monster - instead they penetrate, but not deep enough to pass through the protective layer of blubber. The blubber isolates the bullets and then spits them out over time.



But the monster is allergic to this special wood. Instead of expelling the wood shards, the wounds close behind the shard, pushing it deeper until it reaches the vital organs inside, piercing and killing the monster.






share|improve this answer



















  • 7




    If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
    – ltmauve
    Dec 27 at 21:34






  • 1




    There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
    – Asoub
    2 days ago



















35














The bullets are made from Adina cordifolia.



Adina cordifolia aka Haldina is a decideous tree that grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high.




Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, is a flowering plant in
the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is
native to southern Asia, from India in the east to Yunnan and Vietnam
and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in
Hindi and Gáo trò in Vietnamese. (ref)




It is used to make furniture and flooring.



Haldina is part of the Rubiaceae botanical family. The same family coffee is from.



Why would this wood work when metal fails?



For the same reason that silver bullets kill werwolves when lead bullets fail. Or why a small piece of crystal from their home planet will take away the powers of Supergirl and Superman when bullets, bombs, or being hit by a train does nothing.



In other words, it works because you say it works. Make it part of the allergy. Even brief proximity to anything related to coffee will weaken this monster.



The wooden bullet is strong enough to hurt a human...seriously, who wants to be hit by a small pointy stick going 950 miles per hour (427 meters per second, the speed of a slower bullet)? That would kill any human if it hit the right place.



Because the bullet is "made of coffee" (close enough for your purposes), it weakens the monster's body enough to allow the bullet to penetrate. The speed and force of the bullet does the rest.



EDIT: Why not just use a wooden stake?



A stake would work if you could get close enough without dying first. But this monster can sense the presence of coffee from a distance farther than its reach (since surrounding yourself with coffee grains works to keep yourself safe). It would know you were sneaking up on it with a stake and would move out of reach.



With a bullet, you can hit the monster from a distance. And with enough force to do some damage, even if you don't hit its soft spot.



enter image description here






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  • 19




    So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
    – Joe Bloggs
    Dec 27 at 17:01






  • 12




    Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
    – Joe Bloggs
    Dec 27 at 17:12






  • 14




    Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
    – John Dvorak
    Dec 27 at 19:57






  • 4




    Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
    – T.J.L.
    Dec 27 at 20:50






  • 4




    [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
    – Richard
    Dec 27 at 22:55



















10














Only the locals know the secret



The invaders with their huge elephant guns can blast away for as long as they like. What they don't know, and the local tribes long ago discovered, is that the armour is actually fibrous and the fibres lie at right angles to the monster's skin (rather like a coir doormat).



enter image description here
These fibres easily mat together temporarily to block a bullet and then bounce back to shape, but if the monster is shot with a needle-sharp, wooden arrow or dart, it parts the fibres easily and penetrates right through. A simple poison tip then finishes the job.



enter image description here






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  • 1




    How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
    – Hans Janssen
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
    – chasly from UK
    2 days ago



















4














Why does a wooden stake through the heart or sunlight kill a vampire and bullets, knives, and other death dealing implements don't? It's part of the mystique of the monster.



Maybe the skin of the monster "senses" a metal bullet and turns into armor for the impact, then softens again. Sort of like oobleck, but better, since Mythbusters tried to stop a bullet with cornstarch and water and failed. The skin can't detect the wood, so doesn't harden and the wood is able to pierce the skin into the vital organs.



It all comes down to what you want to do. It's your book, you don't have to stick science. You already have the mythical creatures tag, so it, pretty much by definition, doesn't have to make sense.






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    3















    Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?




    You're going to have to improve the armour before the question makes sense, because e.g. kevlar bullet-proof armour is famously not stab-proof. Kevlar stops fast relatively blunt objects, but not slow sharp blades, so being bulletproof does not inherently protect against metal blades.



    Maybe you could come up with another reason why metal blades are no use (perhaps a dense acidic sweat which corrodes steel unreasonably fast, blunting the edge?) and make ironwood spears the weapon of choice against your foe.






    share|improve this answer





















    • Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
      – Mazura
      Dec 28 at 0:04



















    3














    Perhaps the armour is a bit like a non-newtonian fluid (ok, solid in this case) that doesn't only react to force but also reacts/hardens depending on the density of the thing hitting it.



    My balsa wood arrow doesn't have the density or velocity required to make it react and slips right through, but your dense fast-moving bullets make it tougher than Kevlar. Unfortunately, balsa is too soft to make a good arrow, but over the years we've found that handwavium wood is low density and really strong across the grain and that's why we use it against these monsters.






    share|improve this answer








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    Greig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    • A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
      – Greig
      2 days ago



















    2














    Since it's natural armor, I imagine it's made of some kind of keratin. Maybe reinforced with fiber.



    Without getting into the specifics of the wood or the keratin, let me suggest that some quality of the of the sap in the wood is like silver nitrate solution (AgNO3) and some quality of the keratin "glue" is like salt (NaCl).



    The reaction moves very quickly (see this video) and moves even more quickly in cold environments (like normal temperatures).



    So again speculating with this hypothetical pair of reactive sap and keratin, lets say the output products are significantly weaker than the undamaged armor. Additionally, the chemicals that result from the reaction may cause a secondary reaction with the fibers reinforcing the armor, causing those polymers/fibers to curdle (see video).



    The compound effect is that a simple touch from the wood causes the natural armor to gap open, and this happens quickly enough that a slow-moving attempt to penetrate the armor (such as stabbing it with a stake or spear made of this wood) just seems to pass through with inexplicable ease.






    share|improve this answer































      1














      I recommend quebracho, a wood so hard that it supposedly breaks axes.






      share|improve this answer





























        0














        This creature has a pseudo magical outer shell of unknown molecular structure. This gives it strength... But a specific wood type also has a molecular structure that loves to chemically interact with the shell of this creature. This interaction quickly weakens the surrounding structure and allows you to pierce through.






        share|improve this answer





























          0














          The answer is even easier than you think.



          Each wooden bullet would have to be made from the 'lodgepole' or core of the tree. As the tree grows layers develop at higher levels on this core. The bullet, looking at it end on, would have rings. When fired the bullet, conical in shape (7.62 NATO shape) would shed layers as it passed through armour. It would act like a depleted uranium round, heating up and hardening as it went through. Velocity becomes yur friend. Copper sleeve the round for stability, which would shed on the armour.






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          Soldier309 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          • Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
            – Mazura
            22 hours ago











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          10 Answers
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          10 Answers
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          58














          The monster doesn't have armor - it has blubber.



          Bullets don't bounce of the monster - instead they penetrate, but not deep enough to pass through the protective layer of blubber. The blubber isolates the bullets and then spits them out over time.



          But the monster is allergic to this special wood. Instead of expelling the wood shards, the wounds close behind the shard, pushing it deeper until it reaches the vital organs inside, piercing and killing the monster.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 7




            If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
            – ltmauve
            Dec 27 at 21:34






          • 1




            There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
            – Asoub
            2 days ago
















          58














          The monster doesn't have armor - it has blubber.



          Bullets don't bounce of the monster - instead they penetrate, but not deep enough to pass through the protective layer of blubber. The blubber isolates the bullets and then spits them out over time.



          But the monster is allergic to this special wood. Instead of expelling the wood shards, the wounds close behind the shard, pushing it deeper until it reaches the vital organs inside, piercing and killing the monster.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 7




            If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
            – ltmauve
            Dec 27 at 21:34






          • 1




            There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
            – Asoub
            2 days ago














          58












          58








          58






          The monster doesn't have armor - it has blubber.



          Bullets don't bounce of the monster - instead they penetrate, but not deep enough to pass through the protective layer of blubber. The blubber isolates the bullets and then spits them out over time.



          But the monster is allergic to this special wood. Instead of expelling the wood shards, the wounds close behind the shard, pushing it deeper until it reaches the vital organs inside, piercing and killing the monster.






          share|improve this answer














          The monster doesn't have armor - it has blubber.



          Bullets don't bounce of the monster - instead they penetrate, but not deep enough to pass through the protective layer of blubber. The blubber isolates the bullets and then spits them out over time.



          But the monster is allergic to this special wood. Instead of expelling the wood shards, the wounds close behind the shard, pushing it deeper until it reaches the vital organs inside, piercing and killing the monster.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited yesterday









          Alex2006

          4,2153928




          4,2153928










          answered Dec 27 at 20:13









          Arcanist Lupus

          2,714916




          2,714916








          • 7




            If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
            – ltmauve
            Dec 27 at 21:34






          • 1




            There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
            – Asoub
            2 days ago














          • 7




            If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
            – ltmauve
            Dec 27 at 21:34






          • 1




            There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
            – Asoub
            2 days ago








          7




          7




          If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
          – ltmauve
          Dec 27 at 21:34




          If this is combined with @Cyn answer about a coffee tree, that would make plenty of sense.
          – ltmauve
          Dec 27 at 21:34




          1




          1




          There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
          – Asoub
          2 days ago




          There has been researches about non-newtonian fluids used for bulletproof vests: sciencealert.com/… because I'm not sure how much blubber you would need to stop a bullet.
          – Asoub
          2 days ago











          35














          The bullets are made from Adina cordifolia.



          Adina cordifolia aka Haldina is a decideous tree that grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high.




          Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, is a flowering plant in
          the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is
          native to southern Asia, from India in the east to Yunnan and Vietnam
          and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in
          Hindi and Gáo trò in Vietnamese. (ref)




          It is used to make furniture and flooring.



          Haldina is part of the Rubiaceae botanical family. The same family coffee is from.



          Why would this wood work when metal fails?



          For the same reason that silver bullets kill werwolves when lead bullets fail. Or why a small piece of crystal from their home planet will take away the powers of Supergirl and Superman when bullets, bombs, or being hit by a train does nothing.



          In other words, it works because you say it works. Make it part of the allergy. Even brief proximity to anything related to coffee will weaken this monster.



          The wooden bullet is strong enough to hurt a human...seriously, who wants to be hit by a small pointy stick going 950 miles per hour (427 meters per second, the speed of a slower bullet)? That would kill any human if it hit the right place.



          Because the bullet is "made of coffee" (close enough for your purposes), it weakens the monster's body enough to allow the bullet to penetrate. The speed and force of the bullet does the rest.



          EDIT: Why not just use a wooden stake?



          A stake would work if you could get close enough without dying first. But this monster can sense the presence of coffee from a distance farther than its reach (since surrounding yourself with coffee grains works to keep yourself safe). It would know you were sneaking up on it with a stake and would move out of reach.



          With a bullet, you can hit the monster from a distance. And with enough force to do some damage, even if you don't hit its soft spot.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer



















          • 19




            So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:01






          • 12




            Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:12






          • 14




            Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
            – John Dvorak
            Dec 27 at 19:57






          • 4




            Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
            – T.J.L.
            Dec 27 at 20:50






          • 4




            [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
            – Richard
            Dec 27 at 22:55
















          35














          The bullets are made from Adina cordifolia.



          Adina cordifolia aka Haldina is a decideous tree that grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high.




          Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, is a flowering plant in
          the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is
          native to southern Asia, from India in the east to Yunnan and Vietnam
          and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in
          Hindi and Gáo trò in Vietnamese. (ref)




          It is used to make furniture and flooring.



          Haldina is part of the Rubiaceae botanical family. The same family coffee is from.



          Why would this wood work when metal fails?



          For the same reason that silver bullets kill werwolves when lead bullets fail. Or why a small piece of crystal from their home planet will take away the powers of Supergirl and Superman when bullets, bombs, or being hit by a train does nothing.



          In other words, it works because you say it works. Make it part of the allergy. Even brief proximity to anything related to coffee will weaken this monster.



          The wooden bullet is strong enough to hurt a human...seriously, who wants to be hit by a small pointy stick going 950 miles per hour (427 meters per second, the speed of a slower bullet)? That would kill any human if it hit the right place.



          Because the bullet is "made of coffee" (close enough for your purposes), it weakens the monster's body enough to allow the bullet to penetrate. The speed and force of the bullet does the rest.



          EDIT: Why not just use a wooden stake?



          A stake would work if you could get close enough without dying first. But this monster can sense the presence of coffee from a distance farther than its reach (since surrounding yourself with coffee grains works to keep yourself safe). It would know you were sneaking up on it with a stake and would move out of reach.



          With a bullet, you can hit the monster from a distance. And with enough force to do some damage, even if you don't hit its soft spot.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer



















          • 19




            So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:01






          • 12




            Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:12






          • 14




            Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
            – John Dvorak
            Dec 27 at 19:57






          • 4




            Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
            – T.J.L.
            Dec 27 at 20:50






          • 4




            [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
            – Richard
            Dec 27 at 22:55














          35












          35








          35






          The bullets are made from Adina cordifolia.



          Adina cordifolia aka Haldina is a decideous tree that grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high.




          Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, is a flowering plant in
          the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is
          native to southern Asia, from India in the east to Yunnan and Vietnam
          and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in
          Hindi and Gáo trò in Vietnamese. (ref)




          It is used to make furniture and flooring.



          Haldina is part of the Rubiaceae botanical family. The same family coffee is from.



          Why would this wood work when metal fails?



          For the same reason that silver bullets kill werwolves when lead bullets fail. Or why a small piece of crystal from their home planet will take away the powers of Supergirl and Superman when bullets, bombs, or being hit by a train does nothing.



          In other words, it works because you say it works. Make it part of the allergy. Even brief proximity to anything related to coffee will weaken this monster.



          The wooden bullet is strong enough to hurt a human...seriously, who wants to be hit by a small pointy stick going 950 miles per hour (427 meters per second, the speed of a slower bullet)? That would kill any human if it hit the right place.



          Because the bullet is "made of coffee" (close enough for your purposes), it weakens the monster's body enough to allow the bullet to penetrate. The speed and force of the bullet does the rest.



          EDIT: Why not just use a wooden stake?



          A stake would work if you could get close enough without dying first. But this monster can sense the presence of coffee from a distance farther than its reach (since surrounding yourself with coffee grains works to keep yourself safe). It would know you were sneaking up on it with a stake and would move out of reach.



          With a bullet, you can hit the monster from a distance. And with enough force to do some damage, even if you don't hit its soft spot.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer














          The bullets are made from Adina cordifolia.



          Adina cordifolia aka Haldina is a decideous tree that grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high.




          Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, is a flowering plant in
          the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is
          native to southern Asia, from India in the east to Yunnan and Vietnam
          and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in
          Hindi and Gáo trò in Vietnamese. (ref)




          It is used to make furniture and flooring.



          Haldina is part of the Rubiaceae botanical family. The same family coffee is from.



          Why would this wood work when metal fails?



          For the same reason that silver bullets kill werwolves when lead bullets fail. Or why a small piece of crystal from their home planet will take away the powers of Supergirl and Superman when bullets, bombs, or being hit by a train does nothing.



          In other words, it works because you say it works. Make it part of the allergy. Even brief proximity to anything related to coffee will weaken this monster.



          The wooden bullet is strong enough to hurt a human...seriously, who wants to be hit by a small pointy stick going 950 miles per hour (427 meters per second, the speed of a slower bullet)? That would kill any human if it hit the right place.



          Because the bullet is "made of coffee" (close enough for your purposes), it weakens the monster's body enough to allow the bullet to penetrate. The speed and force of the bullet does the rest.



          EDIT: Why not just use a wooden stake?



          A stake would work if you could get close enough without dying first. But this monster can sense the presence of coffee from a distance farther than its reach (since surrounding yourself with coffee grains works to keep yourself safe). It would know you were sneaking up on it with a stake and would move out of reach.



          With a bullet, you can hit the monster from a distance. And with enough force to do some damage, even if you don't hit its soft spot.



          enter image description here







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Dec 27 at 21:56

























          answered Dec 27 at 16:23









          Cyn

          4,759831




          4,759831








          • 19




            So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:01






          • 12




            Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:12






          • 14




            Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
            – John Dvorak
            Dec 27 at 19:57






          • 4




            Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
            – T.J.L.
            Dec 27 at 20:50






          • 4




            [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
            – Richard
            Dec 27 at 22:55














          • 19




            So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:01






          • 12




            Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
            – Joe Bloggs
            Dec 27 at 17:12






          • 14




            Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
            – John Dvorak
            Dec 27 at 19:57






          • 4




            Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
            – T.J.L.
            Dec 27 at 20:50






          • 4




            [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
            – Richard
            Dec 27 at 22:55








          19




          19




          So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
          – Joe Bloggs
          Dec 27 at 17:01




          So wrap a shell casing around a dried coffee bean and make sure you have a good store of caffeine themed one liners available?
          – Joe Bloggs
          Dec 27 at 17:01




          12




          12




          Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
          – Joe Bloggs
          Dec 27 at 17:12




          Shotgun cartridge filled with used coffee grounds. Making espresso is now a vital part of your supply chain.
          – Joe Bloggs
          Dec 27 at 17:12




          14




          14




          Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
          – John Dvorak
          Dec 27 at 19:57




          Have you got your espresso shot today? In case you don't.... BLAM
          – John Dvorak
          Dec 27 at 19:57




          4




          4




          Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
          – T.J.L.
          Dec 27 at 20:50




          Depending on the nature of the allergic reaction, it may not even have to penetrate - thousands of tiny shavings of the shattered wooden "bullet" could cause a fatal reaction. It doesn't even have to be a bullet, it's just that firing it from a gun gets it on target with enough speed, accuracy, and quantity to do the job.
          – T.J.L.
          Dec 27 at 20:50




          4




          4




          [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
          – Richard
          Dec 27 at 22:55




          [shoots the monster in the head. Flips him a salute]. "See you latté....In Hell."
          – Richard
          Dec 27 at 22:55











          10














          Only the locals know the secret



          The invaders with their huge elephant guns can blast away for as long as they like. What they don't know, and the local tribes long ago discovered, is that the armour is actually fibrous and the fibres lie at right angles to the monster's skin (rather like a coir doormat).



          enter image description here
          These fibres easily mat together temporarily to block a bullet and then bounce back to shape, but if the monster is shot with a needle-sharp, wooden arrow or dart, it parts the fibres easily and penetrates right through. A simple poison tip then finishes the job.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer



















          • 1




            How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
            – Hans Janssen
            2 days ago






          • 1




            @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
            – chasly from UK
            2 days ago
















          10














          Only the locals know the secret



          The invaders with their huge elephant guns can blast away for as long as they like. What they don't know, and the local tribes long ago discovered, is that the armour is actually fibrous and the fibres lie at right angles to the monster's skin (rather like a coir doormat).



          enter image description here
          These fibres easily mat together temporarily to block a bullet and then bounce back to shape, but if the monster is shot with a needle-sharp, wooden arrow or dart, it parts the fibres easily and penetrates right through. A simple poison tip then finishes the job.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer



















          • 1




            How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
            – Hans Janssen
            2 days ago






          • 1




            @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
            – chasly from UK
            2 days ago














          10












          10








          10






          Only the locals know the secret



          The invaders with their huge elephant guns can blast away for as long as they like. What they don't know, and the local tribes long ago discovered, is that the armour is actually fibrous and the fibres lie at right angles to the monster's skin (rather like a coir doormat).



          enter image description here
          These fibres easily mat together temporarily to block a bullet and then bounce back to shape, but if the monster is shot with a needle-sharp, wooden arrow or dart, it parts the fibres easily and penetrates right through. A simple poison tip then finishes the job.



          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer














          Only the locals know the secret



          The invaders with their huge elephant guns can blast away for as long as they like. What they don't know, and the local tribes long ago discovered, is that the armour is actually fibrous and the fibres lie at right angles to the monster's skin (rather like a coir doormat).



          enter image description here
          These fibres easily mat together temporarily to block a bullet and then bounce back to shape, but if the monster is shot with a needle-sharp, wooden arrow or dart, it parts the fibres easily and penetrates right through. A simple poison tip then finishes the job.



          enter image description here







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Dec 27 at 22:22

























          answered Dec 27 at 22:14









          chasly from UK

          12.6k356112




          12.6k356112








          • 1




            How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
            – Hans Janssen
            2 days ago






          • 1




            @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
            – chasly from UK
            2 days ago














          • 1




            How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
            – Hans Janssen
            2 days ago






          • 1




            @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
            – chasly from UK
            2 days ago








          1




          1




          How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
          – Hans Janssen
          2 days ago




          How does this explain why a wooden arrow can hit, while an exactly same-shaped metal arrow fails to pierce the skin?
          – Hans Janssen
          2 days ago




          1




          1




          @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
          – chasly from UK
          2 days ago




          @Hans Janssen - It doesn't. I'm assuming that the 'invaders' or whatever they are, are equipped with ordinary guns and are taken by surprise when they meet the monster. They just blast away. They don't have time to go and research the monster, design (and make!!!) a new kind of bullet or make their own spears by finding and smelting iron ore to use for the tips. They would have brought all their ammunition with them. Presumably they don't have mining equipment and months or years to find iron ore in what I imagine is a primitive land. The locals use a hard wood that they find in the forests.
          – chasly from UK
          2 days ago











          4














          Why does a wooden stake through the heart or sunlight kill a vampire and bullets, knives, and other death dealing implements don't? It's part of the mystique of the monster.



          Maybe the skin of the monster "senses" a metal bullet and turns into armor for the impact, then softens again. Sort of like oobleck, but better, since Mythbusters tried to stop a bullet with cornstarch and water and failed. The skin can't detect the wood, so doesn't harden and the wood is able to pierce the skin into the vital organs.



          It all comes down to what you want to do. It's your book, you don't have to stick science. You already have the mythical creatures tag, so it, pretty much by definition, doesn't have to make sense.






          share|improve this answer


























            4














            Why does a wooden stake through the heart or sunlight kill a vampire and bullets, knives, and other death dealing implements don't? It's part of the mystique of the monster.



            Maybe the skin of the monster "senses" a metal bullet and turns into armor for the impact, then softens again. Sort of like oobleck, but better, since Mythbusters tried to stop a bullet with cornstarch and water and failed. The skin can't detect the wood, so doesn't harden and the wood is able to pierce the skin into the vital organs.



            It all comes down to what you want to do. It's your book, you don't have to stick science. You already have the mythical creatures tag, so it, pretty much by definition, doesn't have to make sense.






            share|improve this answer
























              4












              4








              4






              Why does a wooden stake through the heart or sunlight kill a vampire and bullets, knives, and other death dealing implements don't? It's part of the mystique of the monster.



              Maybe the skin of the monster "senses" a metal bullet and turns into armor for the impact, then softens again. Sort of like oobleck, but better, since Mythbusters tried to stop a bullet with cornstarch and water and failed. The skin can't detect the wood, so doesn't harden and the wood is able to pierce the skin into the vital organs.



              It all comes down to what you want to do. It's your book, you don't have to stick science. You already have the mythical creatures tag, so it, pretty much by definition, doesn't have to make sense.






              share|improve this answer












              Why does a wooden stake through the heart or sunlight kill a vampire and bullets, knives, and other death dealing implements don't? It's part of the mystique of the monster.



              Maybe the skin of the monster "senses" a metal bullet and turns into armor for the impact, then softens again. Sort of like oobleck, but better, since Mythbusters tried to stop a bullet with cornstarch and water and failed. The skin can't detect the wood, so doesn't harden and the wood is able to pierce the skin into the vital organs.



              It all comes down to what you want to do. It's your book, you don't have to stick science. You already have the mythical creatures tag, so it, pretty much by definition, doesn't have to make sense.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Dec 27 at 18:42









              computercarguy

              2,255214




              2,255214























                  3















                  Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?




                  You're going to have to improve the armour before the question makes sense, because e.g. kevlar bullet-proof armour is famously not stab-proof. Kevlar stops fast relatively blunt objects, but not slow sharp blades, so being bulletproof does not inherently protect against metal blades.



                  Maybe you could come up with another reason why metal blades are no use (perhaps a dense acidic sweat which corrodes steel unreasonably fast, blunting the edge?) and make ironwood spears the weapon of choice against your foe.






                  share|improve this answer





















                  • Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                    – Mazura
                    Dec 28 at 0:04
















                  3















                  Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?




                  You're going to have to improve the armour before the question makes sense, because e.g. kevlar bullet-proof armour is famously not stab-proof. Kevlar stops fast relatively blunt objects, but not slow sharp blades, so being bulletproof does not inherently protect against metal blades.



                  Maybe you could come up with another reason why metal blades are no use (perhaps a dense acidic sweat which corrodes steel unreasonably fast, blunting the edge?) and make ironwood spears the weapon of choice against your foe.






                  share|improve this answer





















                  • Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                    – Mazura
                    Dec 28 at 0:04














                  3












                  3








                  3







                  Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?




                  You're going to have to improve the armour before the question makes sense, because e.g. kevlar bullet-proof armour is famously not stab-proof. Kevlar stops fast relatively blunt objects, but not slow sharp blades, so being bulletproof does not inherently protect against metal blades.



                  Maybe you could come up with another reason why metal blades are no use (perhaps a dense acidic sweat which corrodes steel unreasonably fast, blunting the edge?) and make ironwood spears the weapon of choice against your foe.






                  share|improve this answer













                  Can someone please help me with an explanation about how a piece of specific wood could pierce through armor even when other harder, stronger materials can't?




                  You're going to have to improve the armour before the question makes sense, because e.g. kevlar bullet-proof armour is famously not stab-proof. Kevlar stops fast relatively blunt objects, but not slow sharp blades, so being bulletproof does not inherently protect against metal blades.



                  Maybe you could come up with another reason why metal blades are no use (perhaps a dense acidic sweat which corrodes steel unreasonably fast, blunting the edge?) and make ironwood spears the weapon of choice against your foe.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 27 at 23:17









                  Peter Taylor

                  39616




                  39616












                  • Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                    – Mazura
                    Dec 28 at 0:04


















                  • Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                    – Mazura
                    Dec 28 at 0:04
















                  Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                  – Mazura
                  Dec 28 at 0:04




                  Before the question makes sense (+1) it's going to need to not start off with imaginary handwaved armor, that presumably can stop a .50 BMG? Yeah, no...
                  – Mazura
                  Dec 28 at 0:04











                  3














                  Perhaps the armour is a bit like a non-newtonian fluid (ok, solid in this case) that doesn't only react to force but also reacts/hardens depending on the density of the thing hitting it.



                  My balsa wood arrow doesn't have the density or velocity required to make it react and slips right through, but your dense fast-moving bullets make it tougher than Kevlar. Unfortunately, balsa is too soft to make a good arrow, but over the years we've found that handwavium wood is low density and really strong across the grain and that's why we use it against these monsters.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Greig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                  • A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                    – Greig
                    2 days ago
















                  3














                  Perhaps the armour is a bit like a non-newtonian fluid (ok, solid in this case) that doesn't only react to force but also reacts/hardens depending on the density of the thing hitting it.



                  My balsa wood arrow doesn't have the density or velocity required to make it react and slips right through, but your dense fast-moving bullets make it tougher than Kevlar. Unfortunately, balsa is too soft to make a good arrow, but over the years we've found that handwavium wood is low density and really strong across the grain and that's why we use it against these monsters.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Greig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                  • A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                    – Greig
                    2 days ago














                  3












                  3








                  3






                  Perhaps the armour is a bit like a non-newtonian fluid (ok, solid in this case) that doesn't only react to force but also reacts/hardens depending on the density of the thing hitting it.



                  My balsa wood arrow doesn't have the density or velocity required to make it react and slips right through, but your dense fast-moving bullets make it tougher than Kevlar. Unfortunately, balsa is too soft to make a good arrow, but over the years we've found that handwavium wood is low density and really strong across the grain and that's why we use it against these monsters.






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                  Perhaps the armour is a bit like a non-newtonian fluid (ok, solid in this case) that doesn't only react to force but also reacts/hardens depending on the density of the thing hitting it.



                  My balsa wood arrow doesn't have the density or velocity required to make it react and slips right through, but your dense fast-moving bullets make it tougher than Kevlar. Unfortunately, balsa is too soft to make a good arrow, but over the years we've found that handwavium wood is low density and really strong across the grain and that's why we use it against these monsters.







                  share|improve this answer








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                  answered 2 days ago









                  Greig

                  1412




                  1412




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                  • A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                    – Greig
                    2 days ago


















                  • A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                    – Greig
                    2 days ago
















                  A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                  – Greig
                  2 days ago




                  A quick look at engineeringtoolbox.com/density-solids-d_1265.html suggests that all wood is less dense than metal. You can make the density-reaction curve anything you like if your story needs a more exotic wood.
                  – Greig
                  2 days ago











                  2














                  Since it's natural armor, I imagine it's made of some kind of keratin. Maybe reinforced with fiber.



                  Without getting into the specifics of the wood or the keratin, let me suggest that some quality of the of the sap in the wood is like silver nitrate solution (AgNO3) and some quality of the keratin "glue" is like salt (NaCl).



                  The reaction moves very quickly (see this video) and moves even more quickly in cold environments (like normal temperatures).



                  So again speculating with this hypothetical pair of reactive sap and keratin, lets say the output products are significantly weaker than the undamaged armor. Additionally, the chemicals that result from the reaction may cause a secondary reaction with the fibers reinforcing the armor, causing those polymers/fibers to curdle (see video).



                  The compound effect is that a simple touch from the wood causes the natural armor to gap open, and this happens quickly enough that a slow-moving attempt to penetrate the armor (such as stabbing it with a stake or spear made of this wood) just seems to pass through with inexplicable ease.






                  share|improve this answer




























                    2














                    Since it's natural armor, I imagine it's made of some kind of keratin. Maybe reinforced with fiber.



                    Without getting into the specifics of the wood or the keratin, let me suggest that some quality of the of the sap in the wood is like silver nitrate solution (AgNO3) and some quality of the keratin "glue" is like salt (NaCl).



                    The reaction moves very quickly (see this video) and moves even more quickly in cold environments (like normal temperatures).



                    So again speculating with this hypothetical pair of reactive sap and keratin, lets say the output products are significantly weaker than the undamaged armor. Additionally, the chemicals that result from the reaction may cause a secondary reaction with the fibers reinforcing the armor, causing those polymers/fibers to curdle (see video).



                    The compound effect is that a simple touch from the wood causes the natural armor to gap open, and this happens quickly enough that a slow-moving attempt to penetrate the armor (such as stabbing it with a stake or spear made of this wood) just seems to pass through with inexplicable ease.






                    share|improve this answer


























                      2












                      2








                      2






                      Since it's natural armor, I imagine it's made of some kind of keratin. Maybe reinforced with fiber.



                      Without getting into the specifics of the wood or the keratin, let me suggest that some quality of the of the sap in the wood is like silver nitrate solution (AgNO3) and some quality of the keratin "glue" is like salt (NaCl).



                      The reaction moves very quickly (see this video) and moves even more quickly in cold environments (like normal temperatures).



                      So again speculating with this hypothetical pair of reactive sap and keratin, lets say the output products are significantly weaker than the undamaged armor. Additionally, the chemicals that result from the reaction may cause a secondary reaction with the fibers reinforcing the armor, causing those polymers/fibers to curdle (see video).



                      The compound effect is that a simple touch from the wood causes the natural armor to gap open, and this happens quickly enough that a slow-moving attempt to penetrate the armor (such as stabbing it with a stake or spear made of this wood) just seems to pass through with inexplicable ease.






                      share|improve this answer














                      Since it's natural armor, I imagine it's made of some kind of keratin. Maybe reinforced with fiber.



                      Without getting into the specifics of the wood or the keratin, let me suggest that some quality of the of the sap in the wood is like silver nitrate solution (AgNO3) and some quality of the keratin "glue" is like salt (NaCl).



                      The reaction moves very quickly (see this video) and moves even more quickly in cold environments (like normal temperatures).



                      So again speculating with this hypothetical pair of reactive sap and keratin, lets say the output products are significantly weaker than the undamaged armor. Additionally, the chemicals that result from the reaction may cause a secondary reaction with the fibers reinforcing the armor, causing those polymers/fibers to curdle (see video).



                      The compound effect is that a simple touch from the wood causes the natural armor to gap open, and this happens quickly enough that a slow-moving attempt to penetrate the armor (such as stabbing it with a stake or spear made of this wood) just seems to pass through with inexplicable ease.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Dec 28 at 0:20

























                      answered Dec 27 at 23:54









                      James McLellan

                      5,7561733




                      5,7561733























                          1














                          I recommend quebracho, a wood so hard that it supposedly breaks axes.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            1














                            I recommend quebracho, a wood so hard that it supposedly breaks axes.






                            share|improve this answer
























                              1












                              1








                              1






                              I recommend quebracho, a wood so hard that it supposedly breaks axes.






                              share|improve this answer












                              I recommend quebracho, a wood so hard that it supposedly breaks axes.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Dec 28 at 0:13









                              Walter Mitty

                              48527




                              48527























                                  0














                                  This creature has a pseudo magical outer shell of unknown molecular structure. This gives it strength... But a specific wood type also has a molecular structure that loves to chemically interact with the shell of this creature. This interaction quickly weakens the surrounding structure and allows you to pierce through.






                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0














                                    This creature has a pseudo magical outer shell of unknown molecular structure. This gives it strength... But a specific wood type also has a molecular structure that loves to chemically interact with the shell of this creature. This interaction quickly weakens the surrounding structure and allows you to pierce through.






                                    share|improve this answer
























                                      0












                                      0








                                      0






                                      This creature has a pseudo magical outer shell of unknown molecular structure. This gives it strength... But a specific wood type also has a molecular structure that loves to chemically interact with the shell of this creature. This interaction quickly weakens the surrounding structure and allows you to pierce through.






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      This creature has a pseudo magical outer shell of unknown molecular structure. This gives it strength... But a specific wood type also has a molecular structure that loves to chemically interact with the shell of this creature. This interaction quickly weakens the surrounding structure and allows you to pierce through.







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered Dec 27 at 19:54









                                      Demigan

                                      7,1381538




                                      7,1381538























                                          0














                                          The answer is even easier than you think.



                                          Each wooden bullet would have to be made from the 'lodgepole' or core of the tree. As the tree grows layers develop at higher levels on this core. The bullet, looking at it end on, would have rings. When fired the bullet, conical in shape (7.62 NATO shape) would shed layers as it passed through armour. It would act like a depleted uranium round, heating up and hardening as it went through. Velocity becomes yur friend. Copper sleeve the round for stability, which would shed on the armour.






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                                          • Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                            – Mazura
                                            22 hours ago
















                                          0














                                          The answer is even easier than you think.



                                          Each wooden bullet would have to be made from the 'lodgepole' or core of the tree. As the tree grows layers develop at higher levels on this core. The bullet, looking at it end on, would have rings. When fired the bullet, conical in shape (7.62 NATO shape) would shed layers as it passed through armour. It would act like a depleted uranium round, heating up and hardening as it went through. Velocity becomes yur friend. Copper sleeve the round for stability, which would shed on the armour.






                                          share|improve this answer








                                          New contributor




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                                          • Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                            – Mazura
                                            22 hours ago














                                          0












                                          0








                                          0






                                          The answer is even easier than you think.



                                          Each wooden bullet would have to be made from the 'lodgepole' or core of the tree. As the tree grows layers develop at higher levels on this core. The bullet, looking at it end on, would have rings. When fired the bullet, conical in shape (7.62 NATO shape) would shed layers as it passed through armour. It would act like a depleted uranium round, heating up and hardening as it went through. Velocity becomes yur friend. Copper sleeve the round for stability, which would shed on the armour.






                                          share|improve this answer








                                          New contributor




                                          Soldier309 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                          The answer is even easier than you think.



                                          Each wooden bullet would have to be made from the 'lodgepole' or core of the tree. As the tree grows layers develop at higher levels on this core. The bullet, looking at it end on, would have rings. When fired the bullet, conical in shape (7.62 NATO shape) would shed layers as it passed through armour. It would act like a depleted uranium round, heating up and hardening as it went through. Velocity becomes yur friend. Copper sleeve the round for stability, which would shed on the armour.







                                          share|improve this answer








                                          New contributor




                                          Soldier309 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer






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                                          answered yesterday









                                          Soldier309

                                          1




                                          1




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                                          • Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                            – Mazura
                                            22 hours ago


















                                          • Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                            – Mazura
                                            22 hours ago
















                                          Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                          – Mazura
                                          22 hours ago




                                          Being weak vs. wood doesn't make you immune to depleted uranium rounds. If those don't do it, nothing will.
                                          – Mazura
                                          22 hours ago


















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