Tar Sap
A Thick, Flammable Sap oozed in abundance from Ash Blister Trees.
Used almost exclusively by Stitches out of necessity. It is detested by almost all magic institutions, as it is viewed as filthy. They are not wrong.
Properties
Material Characteristics
A Thick, Shiny, Black, Semi-opaque Liquid that can be harvested from Ash Blister Tree cyst's or fruit.
The Sap in it's natural state is thick, sticky and lightly alkaline.
Physical & Chemical Properties
The Sap is easily flammable and rather volatile.
The Sap is conductive to Heat and Electrcity.
The Sap is Toxic in it's raw form; often causing Fever, Delusions, Halucinations, collapse of the pupil and blindness.
When burned, the fire of the sap produces very little light and a thick black smoke.
Geology & Geography
The Ash Blister Tree is native to the Gnarled Wildes.
Origin & Source
Found in the Cysts and Fruits of Ash Blister Tree's.
History & Usage
History
Initially hailed upon it's discovery as the material of the new century, it quickly fell out of favour with magical institutions and the nations that relied on them and their services due to the difficulty of production, hazards of harvesting and filth created in it's use.
The Sap was found to have very little use in magical spells. Whilst it could be used as a substitute for standard Oils in Fire Spells, it was less effective and more expensive. As such, few organisations bothered to experiment with it and no innovations were created by the various institutions of the time.
Stitches found that by utilising an extremely convoluted and complicated method, they could refine the sap into an oil and even further into a gelatine esc brick. These refined versions of the Sap worked incredibly as a Fuel Source for their vehicles and as a Propellant for their Guns.
Due to it's renewable source of Ash Blister Trees, Stitches were able to mass produce the Sap in their City's. This renewability in the constantly mobile Stitches Cities lead to it becoming the dominant Fuel Source out of the Cities, not because of high quality but out of necessity for a large amount of constantly renewing fuel without having mines.
Discovery
The discovery of the Ash Blister Tree is frequently debated.
Stitches Cities carried various plantations of the trees when they first walked out of the Gnarled Wilds. These trees were kept secret for over 50 years.
Discovered in an early expedition into the Gnarled Wilds by various members of The Burning Crusade Adventuring Guild and was used to create weapon enhancements.
Everyday use
Frequently refined by Stitches to create several flammable products such as Fuel for their vehicles and Propellants for thier Bullets.
Sometimes used to create flammable oils for weapons or to create fake Flame Stones.
Has fallen out of use with Non-Stitches groups due to how volatile, toxic and flammable the raw material and it's refined varients are.
Industrial Use
This material is frequently Harvested by Stitches in Grand Plantations before then being Refined into various products in a factory.
Refinement
Tar Sap is frequently refined in massive factory plants found in Stitches Cities. The process of refinement is complicated and whilest well known by those with the technology level required for production, it's largely considered to be inefficient and costly in all meanings. As such, it is exclusively produced by Stitches who have no better option.
Manufacturing & Products
Tar Sap Oil
The First stage of refinement. This somewhat bioluminescent grey liquid is frequently used as the fuel for almost every Stitches vehicles. It shares the Volitile properties as the unrefined Sap, but produces a cleaner smoke and a less foul stench when burned. Kintawitz has pioneered a Strange, New Fuel (named "Dazzle") partially using this Oil as an ingredient, and has begun producing this Fuel via an unknown method. Kintawitz uses this New Fuel to power most of their machines.
Blister Sludge
A Thick, dark grey, semi-solid, gelatinous, substance, frequently pressed into bricks. When touched with bare skin, this substance is known to cause Blisters, Rashes and Boils. Frequently used as a propellant in Stitches Bullets and as an Explosive in Bombs. Blister Sludge posseses the same flamability and volitile nature as Tar Sap, coupling this with it's higher concetration of power when ignited, this had lead to it's use in weapons manufacturing.
Ash Bricks
An Ashen Grey solid, formed into thick bricks by Factory equipment. They burn hot and for a long time, producing a thick, choking smoke in the process. Most commonly used as a solid fuel in larger vehicles such as Broilers, Trains and Panopticons.
Hazards
Aside from the standard hazards of the Stitches Factory, Tar Sap refinement is uniquely dangerous due to it's toxic nature in all stages of production. Workers frequently die in the plantations due to the fullbody blisters. A common sign of an Ex-Tar Sap Production Worker is large blister scars on thier hands and body, along with blindness in one or more eyes.
The Smog and Smoke produced from burning is also toxic in nature, leading to respitory issues.
Environmental Impact
Due to thier Origin in the Gnarled Wilds, Ash Blister Trees can spread incredibly quickly, leading to massive wild fires and the destruction of native species wherever they do spread unrestrained.
The catastrophic Burning of a Tar Sap Oil Plant, Plantation and Storage Facility in one City caused it to become inveloped in the Smog. Nothing other than plants from the Ashfall Isles or Ash Blister Tree themselves grow there anymore. The Residents hesitate to venture outside, those that do must wear heavy coats and masks to protect themselve from The Smog.
Reusability & Recycling
Due to the rapid growing nature of Ash Blister Trees and their ability to grow almost anywhere, along with the high yield of Sap a single tree gives; the farming of these trees is very sustainable.
Comments