Lightning Sap
Properties
Material Characteristics
Lighting Sap is a low-viscosity fluid of a metallic silver colour, giving off a dim silver light in its inert state. It largely resembles liquid mercury in physical appearance, but solidifies only at extremely low temperatures.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Lightning Sap is a potent source of magical energy, the raw elemental foyson of a Wyldstorms concentrated down to a manageable and relatively safe and easy to handle form. The primary use of Lighting sap stems from its natural luminence.
Geology & Geography
Lightning Sap is harvested from Wyldstorms and has never been properly replicated artificially, despite numerous attempts at doing so. It must be harvested and quickly introduced to the tan-mor mixture. As a result, it is most commonly collected at sea or along the coast, with ready availability to capture from storms and draw on local materials.
History & Usage
Everyday use
When the compound is introduced to a source of heat, such as a spark or pilot light within a glowsphere, it shines brilliantly, and the luminescence can be easily modified by a layman.
Additional uses in all manner of clockwork and alchemical materials has doubled its usage, although it has yet to replace Black Ichor for some creations, such as the Brassgaurd.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Adopted widely across both Kornôgel and Alkebulan, Lightning Sap is used in buildings, vehicles and even streets to light up the darkness. It is not without its opponents and particularly zealous supporters of the Staunchist cause have rejected its use, relying instead on older methods of lighting such as whale oil and open flame. Even among the Staunchists though, most have come to accept the benefits of liquid lightning as a necessary evil.
Refinement
Lightning Sap is not a natural product, but rather a composite material made via alchemical means, refined from captured lightning and Tan-Noz. The Foyson of these electrical phenomena are collected via two primary methods: Ground based collection and Sparkcatcher Windships,
Ground based collection is accomplished with the use of metal rods and nets, suspended in the air and attached to the tops of buildings, collected on metal rods and wires and fed into an alchemical mixture of Tan-Mor, quicksilver and sulphur, with other ingredients depending on specific production. Ground based production is complex and expensive, typically requiring foreknowledge of the storms path to properly set up. While some, like the Lavigerien Guild can predict the general path of a Wyldestorm, ground based production is typically confined to special locations, such as Barrad-Faout and Magonia.
The exception to this is the "sandsap" method, which involves thrusting metal rods into a sandy beach to create a material-like Fulgerite, then grinding up the silicate to create a similar effect. While sandsap It is commonly available, easy to collect and produce, and significantly cheaper. it is also gritty, frequently causing "dirty" light with dim luminescence and clogged channels.
The aerial collection method is carried out by specialized Windships called Sparkcatchers. These skirt the edges of Wyldstorms, extending metal nets over the side or extending them in sail and wing-like structures. These collect lightning strikes, quickly converting the Foyson into pure energy, infusing them into the Tan-Mor mixture for storage and use. Most windships have apparatus to collect the Foyson of the Tan-Noz, but this is typically only done in volumes to power internal lighting and systems, unlike the more powerful lightning nets.
Hazards
Containing ingredients like quicksilver, sulphur and arsenic, liquid lightning is heavily toxic and should not be ingested. Furthermore, the raw chaos of its origins and potent magic within can lead to minor Bleed if left untreated in significant quantities.
Reusability & Recycling
After a period of use, highly dependent on quality, the light and magic within the liquid dims and vanishes, leaving a slimy silver liquid. While some have attempted to make use of it for cosmetics or jewelry, it has failed to catch on. Sandsap becomes a dull grey sludge that must be fully cleaned out, while pure liquid lightning can last for significantly long times, becoming an inert silver liquid with the consistency of water at the end of its life. High-grade liquid lighting is often use as a filler for the tan-mor mixture, or as a base for Sandsap.
Distribution
Trade & Market
The largest producer of Liquid Lightning and its byproducts is the city of Barrad-Faout in Letha, followed by the Tempestarii city of Magonia. A robust network of sparkcatchers, found along Silvercoast, The Opal Coast, fill in the gaps. Akitania and Letha are the largest producers of sandsap.
Storage
Lighting Sap is stored in quartz-crystal and glass containers, typically ringed with brass. These are often transported packed in boxes of straw, then stored on shelves. In addition to standalone devices, narrow glass tubes are sometimes used to transport the liquid, allowing an entire building to be lit from a single location.
Law & Regulation
Despite Gallian attempts to regulate the market and create both political clout and tax revenue as a result, the dispersed nature of the Sparkcatchers and the independence of Magonia and Barrad-Faout have allowed the industry to avoid these so far. Most Sovereignties have local trade caps or usage regulations in the cities.
Type
Composite
Value
Varies
Rarity
Common
Odor
Ozone
Taste
Metallic, bitter
Color
Luminescent Silver
Common State
Liquid
Related Locations
Related Species
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