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Barrels were a commonplace liquid container used in Faerûn.[1][2][3][4]

Description[]

Barrels were used to store liquids, most commonly alcoholic beverages such as ale, cider, beer, wine, and other spirits, but also clean water. A barrel was a roughly cylindrical container made from wooden staves held in place by metal hoops. The bottom was permanently secured, while the top was usually removable but could be made permanent and cut with a plughole.[1][2][3][4]

Water barrel reservoirs could be set up for easy access for hand-washing and tool-cleaning in workshops.[5]

Variations[]

Although different terms denoted specific capacities or designs, they were sometimes used interchangeably, or simply all called "barrels."[1][2][3][4]

Costrel

A small leather "barrel" that resembled a large flask or skin, able to be carried by a shoulder strap.[6]

Hand keg

A small hand keg was 12 inches (0.3 meters) long, 8 inches (0.2 meters) wide, and held 2 gallons (7.6 liters). Without any liquid inside, it weighed 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).[1]

Cask

A cask was 2 feet (0.61 meters) long and 18 inches (0.46 meters) wide, containing 12 gallons (45 liters) of liquid.[1][3] In the Wa-an language, casks were referred to as "taru".[7]

Barrel

A standard barrel was 3​ to ​5 feet (0.91​ to ​1.5 meters) and as wide as an adult human's shoulders, holding about 30 gallons (110 liters) of liquid, 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of solids, and weighed 100 pounds (45 kilograms) empty.[1][4]

Butt

Large butts were about 6​ to ​7 feet (1.8​ to ​2.1 meters), wider than a man, and held 100 gallons (380 liters). They were most commonly purchased for castles, manors, and estates.[1]

Powderkeg

A type of small wooden keg that was used to store and transport either gunpowder[8][9] or smokepowder.[10]

Topkeg

A special form of wooden ale barrel that were designed to have a separate compartment for holding small amounts of rum.[11]

Tun

Far more massive than other barrels, a tun was often mounted inside the wall and could hold about 250 gallons (950 liters). They were usually built with a bunghole for a cork, allowing them to be easily tapped once installed in place.[1][2]

Trivia[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 126. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Dale Henson (February 1993). The Magic Encyclopedia, Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 145. ISBN ISBN 978-156076563.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Connie Rae Henson & Dale "slade" Henson (August 1992). The Magic Encyclopedia Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 40. ISBN 9781560764298.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Connie Rae Henson & Dale "slade" Henson (August 1992). The Magic Encyclopedia Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 9781560764298.
  5. Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), pp. 47, 62. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  6. Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb (September 1988). City System. Edited by Karen Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-8803-8600-2.
  7. David "Zeb" Cook (1987). Blood of the Yakuza (Encounter Construction Booklet). (TSR, Inc), pp. 7–9. ISBN 0-88038-401-8.
  8. Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 267–268. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
  9. Michael Shortt (July 2004). “The Way of the Gun”. In Matthew Sernett ed. Dragon #321 (Paizo Publishing), p. 38.
  10. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  11. Ed Greenwood (September 2002). “Elminster's Guide to the Realms: Moon Mountain Brewery”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #299 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 80.
  12. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  13. ericlboyd (2020-05-22). City System Map & Street of Six Casks. Candlekeep Forum. Archived from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved on 2021-08-22.
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