Red Powder
A strange cocktail mixture by the Southern Dwarves of Khar Ankor. The mixtures exact recipe is an underground mystery among Professional Alchemysts. But it's effect is no secret. In fact, all in a proximity of 440 ft will learn of it. And tell of it after, if they survive. The mixtures effect when struck by fire is a massive and powerful explosion. Once, it had been used as a kind of mining tool. But the Dwarves of the south saw how the bombs could be used for terrible purpose and smuggled it north to The Heartland where their kin in Khar Durah might keep it out of the wrong hands. It was their last brave act before the ancient Khar fell to The Ramian Empire that would enslave them.
Yet, despite their struggle to keep Red Powder out of the hands of the wicked, criminal syndicates and the lower orders of thieves and profiteers manage to find a barrel or two every now and again. Even a keg will fetch a nice price.
Yet, despite their struggle to keep Red Powder out of the hands of the wicked, criminal syndicates and the lower orders of thieves and profiteers manage to find a barrel or two every now and again. Even a keg will fetch a nice price.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
Red Powder is one of the more obscure dangers at large in the Known World. It's production, and other details are something of a well kept secret. Red Powder makes the rounds in criminal circles and black markets all across The Heartland, The Shattered Sea, and several parts of The Great Abkari Desert. To much of the worlds relief, it's largely unseen in the territory of The Ramian Empire. Who would most certainly use it for war.
The mixture is typically used as incendiary or last-resort-ordnance. Last resort, because of the powders unpredictability. It's typically stored in clay pot containers with a woven fuse inserted to be lit and the area of the blast radius evacuated before the spark reached the powder. The fire spark would trigger a reaction from the powder and result in a violent explosion. Capable of leveling miles of structures and even the thickest castle walls.
For safety in transport, the powder could be fleetingly diluted with water to keep its reactivity moderate. Though this wouldn't last very long, a period of about six hours at best. And even then, there's no guarantee that the powder won't ignite for the slightest friction. Only the stupid and suicidal of the criminal underworlds deal in Red Powder. Most end up as a charred smear in some back alley or forgotten tunnel.
The mixture is typically used as incendiary or last-resort-ordnance. Last resort, because of the powders unpredictability. It's typically stored in clay pot containers with a woven fuse inserted to be lit and the area of the blast radius evacuated before the spark reached the powder. The fire spark would trigger a reaction from the powder and result in a violent explosion. Capable of leveling miles of structures and even the thickest castle walls.
For safety in transport, the powder could be fleetingly diluted with water to keep its reactivity moderate. Though this wouldn't last very long, a period of about six hours at best. And even then, there's no guarantee that the powder won't ignite for the slightest friction. Only the stupid and suicidal of the criminal underworlds deal in Red Powder. Most end up as a charred smear in some back alley or forgotten tunnel.
Item type
Weapon, Explosive
Current Location
Related Technologies
Related ethnicities
Rarity
Rare
Weight
200 lbs per full barrel
Base Price
200 gold pieces per barrel
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