I'm not sure I like the idea of wire in L2, even for garrotes. My vision is of a lower tech society, albeit one with armor and metal weapons (although I have reservations there too).
Anyhoo, I might give up my objections if you could decapitate your victim with a well-timed, strong garrote snap. Even if you used a natural fiber like sisal, you could still pretty much snap the bones and crush the cartilage, even if you couldn't cut through the flesh.
Of course, you could add broken chunks of obsidian in a resin coating and turn it into a giant flexible hacksaw blade.
As for frontal attacks with a cord weapon, I'd like to suggest a completely different approach. Combine the garrote with a throwing and striking weapon, and whaddaya have: a two ball bola, known as an
avestrucera o nanducera!
You could use it like a nunchuck (hapkido actually teaches you how to make and use something like this in upper levels), throw it at legs or necks, hold one end and wrap it around someone's neck from front or back and jerk them into your grasp, or hold both ends and use it to strangle someone, or break their neck.
I'm liking this idea.
They can be made from primitive materials, or metal if you like: I bet they'd all be pretty effective, and very versatile. I know I wouldn't want to face one in the hands of an expert.
And fun > realism, especially in a game that features anthrobunnies.
