Crystal Lamp

The Crystal Lamp is, as per the name, is a wooden or metal-framed standing lamp in which a type of light-emitting crystal, or crystal-like material is placed. At levels of Shevezz City below Level 1, the lamps are affixed to the walls to illuminate streets where light funnels (or "Shafts") had not been dug. From Level 2 and below there are few known light funnels, due to the weakening effect they would have on the structure of the under-city.

Letting Flaming Torches Die

Unable to make "cold flame in the Shevezzi Way", the city, which borders on the desert of Sablesand Dunes could not find relief at night time, when traditional braziers, torches and carrying-lamps were lit. They simply created more heat, giving the city a higher starting temperature at the beginning of each day, which would simply be made worse by the sunshine that followed.
Thus (sometime prior to BFD350) a specialist group of researchers were tasked in finding an adequate replacement, and given the following objectives:

1. Preventing avoidable heating of the streets.
2. Reduction of fuels used in fire creation.
3. Increasing the air:smoke ratio, especially in Level 1 and below.
4. Utilising, but not wasting, natural resources.
5. Maintaining a level of light to permit work, research, navigation and play within the city.
6. Use only mathematical, scientific and observable, tangible, natural resources. (Summarised: Not Magecraft).

The one aspect not covered was cost.

Social Cost

"Social Cost" is a term rarely heard outside of Shevezz, though an equivalent likely exists in the Byantē Alliance. While nearly impossible to calculate, it was regularly discussed by the authorities, who obtained their information from clerks, prefects and sector Overseers.

Nowadays one may call it "contentment factor" or "citizen satisfaction". Any reduction in these positive outcomes was a "social cost" and anything beyond a minor downturn was a factor to be addressed.

It was a founding principle that the Queendom put the happiness of its people ahead of her coin-purse.

Where the observable and recordable, though likely not in the mathematical sense, if the social cost of not taking action may be reasonably mitigated, or reduced, by taking action, then finances will be provided and found. Should our funds be unusually low during the research phase, additional business objectives will be added to the scope, with further researchers assigned for that task so as not to overwhelm the original team.

Prima-al-Daín

Researchers, while often seeking a name for themselves, also knew that such fame could only happen if their work benefited many people. Thus, the reason monetary cost was not discussed was because the scientists only requested reasonable expense recovery and their work was founded on reducing the "social cost". Even 800 years after Qalathii records began, Queen Vimitis Sapifor of Shevezz was known for being proud but holding a great love for her people.

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The Development of the Crystal Lamp

Developed initially by the Shevezzi, the Crystal Lamp was one of its earliest successes that impacted the majority of the population.
The "crystal" is, in fact, closer to compressed sand and was mined predominantly in the hills around Sablesand Dunes. It was named as a crystalline material simply due to its almost pure white colour. A more durable form of this was discovered deep underground during the city's excavation, and that was almost transparent in its raw form.
Much like the crystal's coating, the creation of these reusable lamps remains something of a mystery. To prevent the technology being duplicated elsewhere, the additional components of this Shevezzi invention have been kept a secret, except to those involved in their manufacture.

Tac-Clip AFD 436: I have removed the first clipped item which inferred that water would be an 'obvious component', but given the original invention came during tough times in Shevezz and water was rationed, it is doubtful the authorities permitted it. Salt from the purifying processes from ocean water is feasible, however. As for adhesives, there are a number of contenders: desert-tree sap, lizard saliva (almost any would suffice) and potentially smaller rocks melted into a furnace.

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Not Its Own Light

It would be useful at this point to clarify that it is not the crystal or mineral itself that creates then emits light. Instead, it appears to absorb light - especially sunlight - and then during the night gradually release it, illuminating the area around it.
A resource-holder, the crystal is gradually depleted, with the light growing dimmer over time, after a few Urs of "near-full brightness".

The Lighting Cycle

Everything in Shevezz City is based on systems, while acknowledging that people are not mindless puppets, and should not be treated as such.
However, one cycle which needed to remain unbroken was the lighting of the city. The light-emitting crystals were always somewhere in the system, which ran roughly in this order:

in use → collection → in-charge → distribution and delegation

However, to ensure there were some ready to be put into use, there were four such operations, all staggered.

in use → collection → in-charge → distribution and delegation
collection → in-charge → distribution and delegation → in use
in-charge → distribution and delegation → in use → collection
distribution and delegation → in use → collection → in-charge

The advantage to this was that, during sandstorms, where less sunlight was available, or the occasional desert storm that all but blocked out light, there were some held in reserve.

"Charging" or "Filling"

The crystals had to be laid out in the sun, ideally at ground level, rather than in cut-outs of buildings. This process allowed them to absorb the light. A huge, tightly-guarded area to the South of the City is marked for this purpose. After c 318BFD, on cloudless days, parts of the docks also took some of the burden. This is due to tests discovering that the sun's reflected light from the sea appeared to increase the brightness of the Sablesand crystal and the duration of the compressed crystal by around ten percent, or an extra Ur.
The in-city area in question is called the "Charging Field", though it is not a field in the traditional, or agricultural sense.

How Much Illumination?

The mineral type found in Sablesand Dunes appears to hold one Ur of light per adult thumbnail size. This meant that it was mathematically possible for Shevezz to cut it to precisely the size for thirteen Urs of light emission - twelve for the night-time, and one to extend the duration of full brightness.
The compressed form, by contrast, allowed it to emit between fifteen and eighteen Urs.

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Self-Sufficient Buildings

After much research, it was discovered that, when many such crystals were grouped close to each other, their duration could extend to weeks. This became vital for medical operations, or governmental departments below ground, where the transportation of Lamp Crystals could be arduous and usually partly drained the crystals en-route.
But if ten large lamps were placed a few paces apart, they appeared to act in unison, emitting over a wider area, but also transferring energy to and regenerating the others at the same time. A test against a single chunk of the same weight as the ten demonstrated that the group outperformed the single specimen by up to two weeks.

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Dampeners

As mentioned above, sometimes the feature of auto-draining crystals was not advantageous - the transportation to their intended location being one such example. Other uses such as hand-held Crystal Torches equally may need carrying in early evening or early morning, where eyesight alone is often enough.
Thus the invention of special covers, or dampeners were introduced to mitigate this lost light. The thought-group in charge of this innovation had calculated that between 5-10% of a single crystal's output could be lost during unintended times. Once multiplied across the number used across and in the depths of Shevezz, the saving of crystal manufacture and staff resources at the Charging Field markedly improved efficiency.

How a Dampener Works

In one sense, the traditional Shevezzi street lamp already has a dampener of sorts. The "shade" on top is reflective underneath, bouncing some of the light back to the crystal, allowing it to be emitted in a more useful direction than skyward.
From this model, flexible versions were created. A flexible dampener has three layers:

1. Outer Layer: tanned, waxed leather, where possible, for durability and flexibility.
2. Middle Layer: dense fibres, flax or goat hair. Whatever can be sustainably obtained. This creates a "blackout" layer that ensures no light gets in, which could trigger the crystal to lose power. It is also protective, allowing for gentle knocks without damaging the crystal itself.
3. Core/Inner Layer: The forge-workers of Shevezz had long made metal armour that was both durable and light. Not for any first lines of attack or defence, but for scouts, archers and even wielders of Arcane Sciences. Thus, they were approached to forge reflective sheets so thin they could line the dampeners. It is this layer which redirects all the light the crystal emits back to itself.

In case it had escaped the reader's notice, the dampener itself could drain the crystal. This is because a crystal plunged into darkness will begin to emit its light, the same as under natural conditions. Simply covering it was insufficient - and, indeed, could drain it quicker than not covering it at all.

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by FJ Brodie

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