The judgement cannon was a type of weapon manufactured on Xia. It had the ability to affect the will of other beings, either destroying an enemy's will to continue fighting, or reinforcing an ally's resolve. When the weapon was used on an enemy, the target became disillusioned with violence, making him wish for peace and stop fighting. The energy for the weapon was produced by a specifically bred race of protodites which lived inside the cannon. The protodites produced a certain type of mental energy which the cannon amplified and focused into a constant stream. The power of the weapon could be augmented by the mental strength or skill of the user. The weapon's effectiveness was also determined by the mental strength of the target. The cannon's power could be further hampered if the target had been trained to mentally shield his mind.1