Barkburn

hEllo?

This is the first message that the inquisitive kobold, Ran-Jiit, created with a strange mixture that she discovered in the soil beneath the Arengold Tree. The mixture appeared to be some strange, obsidian-like rock. However, when unburied and pressed against the Arengold tree, the rock heated up slightly in her hand. She was able to write in Common this message, which puzzled some gnomes in the Southeastern roots, where Ran-Jiit lived.

We have discovered a new way to write! No longer must we rely on paper and ink. We can bring writing to the tree the way Filli intended!

The gnomes discovered no more of this "Barkburn" that the young Kobold located, but more of the material was discovered across the soil of the Arengold Forest. Primarily, in the Human Settlements at the Western Roots, Barkburn was located in vast quantities. In fact, Ran-Jiit was not the first to write with it; Humans had created their own written language with it centuries before the curious Kobold discovered it. It was used by Human Shamans to keep information on spells and rituals alive from generation to generation.

Barkburn is now one thing that the Humans freely trade, though not to Elves. The new material, used with a small sheet of Bark, is consistently effective and can be left on the tree for generations. Water nor natural disaster can effectively scrub it, and it can be restored with little effort. Because of it's effectiveness, Barkburn is by far the most important way to document essential rituals or information while on the Arengold Tree.

Item type

Art

Weight

Writing-weighted Barkburn weighs slightly more than 0.4 oz.

Dimensions

5mm x 20cm

A Human Prayer, written with Barkburn.

Dumgarth Prayer: Cut one hand, lightly enough to heal overnight. In that palm, hold the dagger that you cut it with, but without cutting yourself. If you cut yourself too deep, start the ritual again when the hand is healed. With the dagger in hand, mutter "My Lord Dumgarth, may you bless me with intelligence and innovation. May your tools of war smite the Elves that control us. May you have the mercy to understand our cause; keep our allies understanding as well."