Lightning Wheel

Itinerant Water Seekers use the lightning wheel as a means of both self-defense and watersense enhancement. Water molecules align themselves in the presence of a lightning field, allowing a Seeker to sense objects that do not contain water themselves, or reorient the water to intensify the local field enough to throw sparks.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The most common type of lightning wheel works by separating charge through two streams of water droplets. While this requires considerable effort on the part of the water seeker to continuously circulate the water reservoir, it delivers large amounts of charge on short notice. Another type generates charge through the random motions of magnets through wire loops as the device is carried. The charge accumulates much more slowly, but is usable by Seekers with less control over free water.

History

Lightning wheels originated late in the first Volcanic milennium, when a Zaiyeve engineer developed a device that separated drops of water from a stream, using their surplus charge to fill power wells.  He intended it as a means to provide controlled lightning power on boats, but Tideriders were not interested in it, and Water Seekers were. They asked for
Kezlaf saw a different kind of potential in the lightning wheel. Like almost everything else he touched, it became a weapon intended to cause pain. He increased the storage capacity and rearranged the electrodes to make it possible to deliver powerful shocks directly into a person's body. His Wringers were armed with these modified lightning wheels. All deadly versions of the wheel have been destroyed, but fear of them lives on. Water Seekers visiting islands in the Cluster need to be careful about openly displaying their wheels.

Significance

The interaction between lightning and water molecules has been known since the early days of sailing, when glowing streamers called "mastlight" were sometimes seen at the tips of masts and spars during stormy weather. Water-sensitive navigators couldn't help noticing the alignment of large amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere, but the unpredictable nature of such weather conditions made the phenomenon of little practical use.  Being able to generate a lightning field on command, however, enhances Water Seekers' senses exactly when they need it.

Item type

Sensory / Aid

Rarity

Lightning wheels are not made until someone needs one.  When possible, they are bequeathed from one Seeker to another.

Dimensions

Typical dimensions are 30 x 20 x 15 cm.