The light lathe was a type of mechanical tool invented by Lorenzo Utrelli. It used a beam of light produced by a chemical reaction to produce holes in materials. Although it was originally intended as a drill or lathe, the designs were repurposed into Ugo Svarézi's deadly Sun Cannon.[1][2]
Description[]
The main body of light lathe was a device small enough to fit on a table, and about the size of a large hat.[4] Two large spheres made from glass were a striking visual element. They were connected to a central chamber made of steel by a system of pipes controlled by valves. Each of the spheres held a different igniter chemical, and when they were rmixed together in the central chamber, an explosive chemical reaction ocurred. The explosion created a burst of light, which was focused by a lens made from quartz. The focused beam of the light lathe was incredibly powerful, enough to punch a hole through sturdy materials in an instant. The light lathe was activated by pulling two strings made from leather.[1]
The igniter chemicals were rare and highly acidic fluids that made hissing noises. While working in the palace of Sumbria, Lorenzo disguised the smell of the chemicals by mixing them with cherry essence.[1][5]
The quartz lens of the lathe was another costly element. It was polished into shape by a trained gemcutter. These lenses could not withstand more than a total of five seconds of operation, and would often shatter.[1]
The blast from the light lathe appeared as a flash of bright white light which caused purple afterimages in human eyes. A blast of one quarter of a second was powerful enough to burn a tiny, clean hole through an 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of steel, and further into a stone wall behind it. In stone and untreated wood, the burst created small explosions, which sounded like the crack of a whip.[1]
History[]
Lorenzo first announced the light lathe to Prince Cappa Mannicci and Blade Captain Gilberto Ilego of Sumbria, while he stayed there on a diplomatic mission in the Year of the Falling Moon, 1217 DR. Hoping to use the boy as an agent in his schemes, Ilego arranged for him to have a workshop in the palace, and funded his efforts with 500 gold ducats.[3] Lorenzo continued to develop the device, and his experiments caused many explosions in the palace.[1]
He demonstrated it to Gilberto Ilego and Rufo. Although they were unsure of the machine's potential, its destructive power caught their attention. Lorenzo offered the patent for the lathe to his patron Ilego, but Ilego declined. Ilego did take the chemical formulas required for the machine, suggesting that he might find cheaper sources of them for Lorenzo. After leaving the demonstration, Ilego secretly met with his conspirator Ugo Svarézi, and convinced him to expand the design for purposes of war.[1]
Later that year, the principles of the light lathe were expanded into the huge seige weapon called the Sun Cannon.[2] With its destructive power under his control, Ugo Svarézi was able to take over the Blade Kingdoms of Zutria and Sumbria.[6]
Reputation[]
The cherry essence that Lorenzo added to the igniter chemicals unintentionally made them delicious to rats. While he worked, the palace was plagued by exploding cherry-scented vermin.[5]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 7, pp. 132–140. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 10, pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 3, pp. 43–45. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 17, p. 301. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 5, p. 83. ISBN 978-0786905317.
- ↑ Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 15, pp. 266–267. ISBN 978-0786905317.