Any long, flexible, lashing weapon is a whip. While their original
purpose is to cause long, shallow wounds that are painful but not
usually lethal, some more dangerous whips have been invented that use
the same basic technique. Wielding a whip is more of an art than a
science, as the twisting and swirling of the weapon draws an energetic,
if bloody, design in the air. Masters of the whip can tear through
muscle or even bone with a well-placed lash, whereas a novice is more
likely to cut himself than his target.