Mortar, also called mason mix, was a mineral paste used in masonry to bind and seal construction blocks such as stones and bricks in buildings.[1][3]
Ingredients[]
Most mortar was made from a mixture of lime (the binder), sand (the aggregate), and water.[1] Alternatively, simple clay could be used, as in peasant houses in Khazari and Ra-Khati.[4]
As an aggregate in their mortar and adobe, the Azuposi used a silt rich in mica taken from the Dunobo Springs, which was a gateway to the spirit realm of Wenimats. This made the walls of their city of Michaca sparkle in golden hues and imbued them with spiritual power.[5]
Other substances could be added for different outcomes. For example, it was widely known in Faerûn that gorgon, medusa, and even xorn blood mixed in mortar or stucco would block astral or ethereal travel through a wall.[6][7] To work, this needed a concentration of at least one drop of gorgon blood to each 1 pint (470 milliliters) of water. In comparison, four drops of medusa blood or three drops or xorn blood, together with two drops of unholy water, were needed per 1 pint (470 milliliters) of water; obviously, this was not used in buildings used by good and most neutral faiths. Whatever the formula, no area larger than a man's head should be left uncovered by such mortar for it to be effective.[6] The finished mortar had a red coloration.[7] Similarly, substances such as gorgon's blood or lead in mortar would block block scrying and certain eavesdropping spells, such as the Maskarran spells listening shadow and watching shadow.[8][9][10]
Reputedly, a solution of two drops of remorhaz ichor and three drops of giant slug spittle added to a flask of amberjet poison and mixed with a mortar would naturally repel all oozes and block them entering a building or going over a wall, without harming them. The formula was kept in Candlekeep and guaranteed to Volothamp Geddarm by a number of merchants, sages, and even Elminster.[6]
Uniquely, the mortar of the Dragonwall guarding Shou Lung was nothing less than the spirit of the great dragon Pao Hu Jen. When the dragon spirit was freed from part of the wall, the mortar between the bricks vanished and that part of the wall crumbled without its binding force.[11][12]
Boggles used the oil they secreted as a natural mortar to build their cubbies.[13]
Uses[]
Mortars were widely used to hold together simple houses and bridges,[14][15] and even the biggest structures.[1] However, not all structures used a mortar—buildings in Manass in Khazari used stacks of unmortared stone.[16]
Mortar was also used as a material component in priestly spellcasting.[2]
In the Utter East during the Bloodforge Wars (648–657 DR),[17] a thick mortar known as mason mix was used to repair buildings damaged during the fighting and even to restore health to constructed creatures like the stone golems formed from basal golems. [3]
Sources[]
Containers of glue, mortar, and pitch from Aurora's Emporium.
Aurora's Emporium sold dry mortar used for construction at 5 copper pieces for 1 pound (450 grams). It was said to usable with any stone material or as an exterior coating to wooden frames, and would set in an hour.[1] They also sold a mortar powder for use in spellcasting, at 5 silver pieces for 1 pound (450 grams).[2]
History[]
According to Azuposi legend, the spirit Masauwu taught them how to build with stone, mortar, and adobe, among many other things.[18]
Mortar was well in use in the Calim Empire by -6048 DR, and was used in the construction of Cursrah.[19]
Notable Uses of Mortar[]
The Twisted Tower of Ashaba, first built by drow in −2600 DR,[20] had a mortar mixed with substances designed to block scrying.[8]
In the 4th century DR, elves of Cormanthyr imprisoned an avatar of the god Moander called the Abomination within his temple in Yûlash. They trapped it behind a wall built using mortar mixed with a blood that would block creatures from passing through. In the Year of the Prince, 1357 DR, the mage Akabar Bel Akash recognized the grouting as "common enough" and estimated it was "mixed with gorgon blood, or something similar".[7]
Opened in the Year of the Soft Fogs, 1188 DR, the House of the Moon, a temple to Selûne in Waterdeep, had gorgon's blood mortar cementing the lead lining and the white marble façade of its outer walls.[21]
The guildhall of the Diviner's Guild of Ravens Bluff used gorgon's blood as well as lead to prevent both scrying and extraplanar infiltration.[10]
In the Year of the Fifth Circle, 1476 DR, when the entire garrison of paladins at Fort Morninglord disappeared, High Observer Thavius Kreeg of Elturgard ordered it sealed. All entrances were bricked up behind layers of stone and mortar.[22][23]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
External Links[]
Mortar (masonry) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 37. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tachyon Studios (November 1996). Designed by Brian Fargo. Blood & Magic. Interplay.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). The Horde. Edited by Steve Winter. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), pp. 32, 58. ISBN 978-1560763222.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeff Grubb, Kate Novak (October 1988). Azure Bonds. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 217, 220. ISBN 0-88038-612-6.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ed Greenwood (July 1988). Spellfire. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 12, p. 244. ISBN 0-88038-587-1.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 111, 112. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Walter Roberts (October 1993). “The Living City: The Ravens Bluff Diviner's Guild”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #88 (TSR, Inc.), p. 16.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), pp. 13, 17. ISBN 978-1560763222.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 79. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 94, 95. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), pp. 31, A13. ISBN 978-1560763222.
- ↑ Clayton Emery (January 1999). Star of Cursrah. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 14, p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-1322-3.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 34. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 154, 156. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.