Whale Oil

"Suranth runs on three things my friend. Spite, Liquor and Whale oil. But her people could function without two of them. But the whale oil? well that would be the end of the line."

Economics professor at Nightvale university, discussing economic structuring with a contemporary.

Whale oil, made from the blubber of the great beasts of the sea, is worth its weight in silver and gold in Suranth to many. It is used to make an amazingly wide variety of useful and vital products, and is one of the three real keystone exports of the tundra nation, along with stone and metals. Of those, Ghel products, that is those products made from whale oil, known as 'Ghel' locally, are the biggest. They account for some thirty-five percent of suranthi exports, followed closely by metals at thirty and stone at twenty-four. The rest is all small percentage stuff rounding it out. As such, it is seen as a highly valuable commodity. But what is it used for?

Well Ghel can be, and is, used for many things. Depending on the processes and additives, one can make a wide variety of jellied lubricants and greases for machine work, moving metal parts. Oils used for lantern fuel, or used in a mix with flashrite to create chymfuel, or mixed into a more solid gelatin, to make explosive charges of various strengths and consistencies used and heavily valued in mining. Using completely different processes, one can produce a variety of lards and cooking oils of different consistencies and textures. There are even additives and methods used to create candles and soaps from the stuff! It is a highly valued, highly flexible and very important material to and for the Suranthi people economically and culturally.

Properties

Physical & Chemical Properties

It is flammable, though more so the more processing it goes through, seeming quite resistant to burning at first. Depending which processes it goes through and which additives are used however, it can become both quite flammable and quite toxic. Food stuff grade is therefore always produced in its own separate facilities than the larger, more complex, and more numerous Ghel products used for everything from mining explosives to candle wax.

History & Usage

Cultural Significance and Usage

To proclaim whale oil as an important substance to the nation of Suranth, and the continent as a whole, would be to undersell the importance of it at this time. Though research is being done into other options, including something similar to tar that has been discovered in some places deep underground, a black liquid substance that is volatile and highly flammable, currently besides coal, whale oil is the lynch pin of the industrialization of Suranth, and one of the key cogs in the industrializaton of Valerick.

It is used for lantern fuel, machining greases and lubricants, an ingredient in various mining explosives, as well as chymech fuels. Besides this it is also used for cooking oils, lards, sealant for waterproofing, and even food in and of itself. A literal jack-of-all-trades material.

Environmental Impact

It is obvious even now that the whaling industry is not sustainable long term to the Suranthi government and ranking officials, nobility and businessmen and women. Put simply, whales are a finite, and depletable resource, and labor intensive to catch, even with the help of orca. But the country, hell the continents demand for the products that Ghel produces is rising steadily. It is why this new option, being called Gánae'kus, is being investigated by the powers that be, and is a high priority among the Suranthi government and is a top priority research project of the Suranthi Engineering Corps.

Type

Biomaterial

Odor

The above taste is in contrast to its strong and distinct fishy smell.

Taste

Oddly described in its raw unmelted (to being the process of creating Ghel and the various products that it is used for) as having an oddly nutty taste, with far less of the sea in the flavor and a flavor far more similar to moose or caribou.

Color

It is clear, not opague, and varies in color from a bright honey yellow to a dark brown

Common State

Solid, whale blubber