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==History==
  
==History==
 
Smokepowder had existed on Toril for hundreds of years, being used in [[Kara-Tur]] to make rockets and magical [[firecracker]]s, but it never saw extensive research or development into its use.<ref name="FRA-11">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Adventures|11}}</ref> This was until the [[Time of Troubles]], when [[Gond]] in his mortal [[avatar]] form washed up on the shore of [[Lantan]]. In return for the people there sheltering him, in [[1358 DR]]<ref name="F&A-p62">{{Cite book/Faiths & Avatars|62}}</ref><ref name="FRCS-p264">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|264}}</ref> he revealed the secrets of smokepowder to the Lantanese,<ref name="FRCS-p264" /> including how to make reasonably safe and accurate [[firearm]]s that utilized the substance.<ref name="FRA-12-13">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Adventures|12-13}}</ref>
  
Smokepowder had existed on Toril for hundreds of years, being used in [[Kara-Tur]] to make rockets and magical [[firecracker]]s, but it never saw extensive research or development into its use.<ref name="FRA-11">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Adventures|11}}</ref> This was until the [[Time of Troubles]], when [[Gond]] in his mortal [[avatar]] form washed up on the shore of [[Lantan]]. In return for the people there sheltering him, in [[1358 DR]]<ref name="F&A-p62">{{Cite book/Faiths & Avatars|62}}</ref><ref name="FRCS-p264">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|264}}</ref> he revealed the secrets of smokepowder to the Lantanese,<ref name="FRCS-p264" /> including how to make reasonably safe and accurate [[firearm]]s that utilized the substance.<ref name="FRA-12-13">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Adventures|12-13}}</ref>
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In the mid-14th century DR, the city-state of [[Innarlith]] on the [[Lake of Steam]] made use of smokepowder in order excavate the trench for a canal that was dug between the Lake of Steam and the [[Nagaflow]].<ref>{{Cite book/Lies of Light||36}}</ref>
   
 
Around [[1372 DR]], the city of [[Telflamm]] was considered a gateway for smokepowder and other eastern goods into the rest of [[Faerûn]].<ref>{{Cite book/Unapproachable East|184}}</ref> Around this time firearms were available throughout [[Faerûn]]<ref name="FRCS-p97" /> and many rulers viewed the Church of Gond with ire for having introduced them to the continent, seeing the weapons as a threat to their authority.<ref>{{Cite book/Faiths and Pantheons|25}}</ref> It wasn't long before rulers began putting stricter regulations in place for the substance.<ref name="EFR-p125-126" />
  
Around [[1372 DR]], the city of [[Telflamm]] was considered a gateway for smokepowder and other eastern goods into the rest of [[Faerûn]].<ref>{{Cite book/Unapproachable East|184}}</ref> Around this time firearms were available throughout [[Faerûn]]<ref name="FRCS-p97" /> and many rulers viewed the Church of Gond with ire for having introduced them to the continent, seeing the weapons as a threat to their authority.<ref>{{Cite book/Faiths and Pantheons|25}}</ref> It wasn't long before rulers began putting stricter regulations in place for the substance.<ref name="EFR-p125-126" />

Revision as of 22:23, 25 July 2021

Smokepowder was a magical alchemical equivalent of gunpowder.[2] Though confusing matters, a few on Toril used the word "gunpowder" as simply another name for smokepowder.[4]

“
The night breeze still smelt of burning wood and men, but at least the screams had stopped. As oily smoke bid the last stars from view, the flames dancing amid the rocks below found the precious smoke powder deep in the hold of the Kissing Shark and flared up in fresh fury, spitting spars and embers high into the air... The sea shook, and a fierce ball of flames rose up into the sky with slow, ponderous fury.
”
—  An excerpt from The Mercenaries[5]

Description

Though bearing a resemblance to gunpowder, being a coarse dark grey powder that exploded when exposed to fire or heat, smokepowder differed by being magical in nature.[6] This rendered the substance vulnerable to anti-magic spells, dead-magic zones, and similar enchantments.[6][7] Also like gunpowder, it burned rapidly and was rendered unusable when exposed to water, though it was not explosive.[2]

Smokepowder was typically sold and carried within either small wooden powderkegs or in powder horns.[8] Those who used the substance on a frequent basis found that their fingers or gloves were left stained by it.[9]

Creation

The exact formula for creating smokepowder was a secret closely guarded by the Church of Gond,[10][11] what they referred to as a "temple secret." They would never make the substance in front of outsiders or discuss its making with them. That being said, quite a few people outside of the clergy had figured out the ingredients.[11] Including a handful of alchemists, priests, and wizards.[6]

Some believed the formula involved the mixture of two inert substances.[12] Some claimed the ashes left behind by a killed tome guardian could be used in the process.[13] And the alchemist Surero claimed to use a combination of 75% sulfur, 10% saltpeter and 15% charcoal mixed together in sacks to create the substance.[14][note 1] At least one of the formula's known ingredients was magical in nature and circumvented Gond's prohibition on explosives.[4]

Beyond the formula itself, the process of making smokepowder was difficult and fraught with danger, often ending in an unplanned explosion.[6] This was because only those in the Church of Gond knew the precise proportions for the ingredients and how to mix them in order to make functional smokepowder.[4][11] For those outside the clergy, determining these measurements and mixtures was a matter of (often dangerous) experimentation.[11]

Gondsmen had their own special tricks for making the powder, which they often expedited with spells. The first was a way of getting three dry ingredients to bond and another was ensuring the final mixture stayed bonded.[11]

Availability

Beyond Toril

  • The prevalence of smokepowder was far greater in Wildspace than it was on planets, being a particularly good seller for the merchants known as the Arcane.[12]
  • On Oerth smokepowder was an inert substance, not functioning until it was taken off the planet.[15] Though clerics of the Oerthian god of science, Murlynd, were capable of making smokepowder function by concentrating on it with their divine magic.[16]

History

Smokepowder had existed on Toril for hundreds of years, being used in Kara-Tur to make rockets and magical firecrackers, but it never saw extensive research or development into its use.[17] This was until the Time of Troubles, when Gond in his mortal avatar form washed up on the shore of Lantan. In return for the people there sheltering him, in 1358 DR[18][19] he revealed the secrets of smokepowder to the Lantanese,[19] including how to make reasonably safe and accurate firearms that utilized the substance.[20]

In the mid-14th century DR, the city-state of Innarlith on the Lake of Steam made use of smokepowder in order excavate the trench for a canal that was dug between the Lake of Steam and the Nagaflow.[21]

Around 1372 DR, the city of Telflamm was considered a gateway for smokepowder and other eastern goods into the rest of Faerûn.[22] Around this time firearms were available throughout Faerûn[7] and many rulers viewed the Church of Gond with ire for having introduced them to the continent, seeing the weapons as a threat to their authority.[23] It wasn't long before rulers began putting stricter regulations in place for the substance.[24]

Following the destruction of Lantan during the Spellplague, many artificers considered the secrets behind smokepowder to have been lost.[25]

For much of the 15th century DR, the nation of Cormyr only allowed the importation or creation of smokepowder by those who had a license from the Crown, but these licenses came with a variety of conditions and they came with a 500 gold piece fee. Most often the importer wasn't permitted to take the substance into Arabel or further south than Waymoot. Their licensing fee paid for two War Wizards and two members of the Purple Dragons to watch over the substance.[24]

In addition to the license, those importing smokepowder to Cormyr were required to give a detailed report to a War Wizard or their second-in-command that explained their reasons for importing it, where and how it would be stored in the meantime, and when it would be used, among other other things. Approval was generally more lenient for those who cited a desire to conquer the Stonelands. Furthermore, any attempts to sell, gift, or hide smokepowder would result in a confiscation order that would be carried out by dozens of ruthless War Wizards and Purple Dragons.[24]

In the 1480 DR, smokepowder was largely a banned substance in the city of Waterdeep. The people who had official access to it were guardsmen. To a limited degree members of the Watchful Order also had access for the purposes of experimentation, though such experiments had to be observed and supervised by officials. Around this same time, the substance could be covertly bought in small quantities at the black markets of Luskan and Westgate, though one was liable to attract the attention of spies.[24]

Scornubel, as well as later on Downshadow and Mistshore, were some of the few places in the 14th century where one could openly and freely purchase smokepowder.[24]

Reputation

Across the Realms, many had misconceptions regarding the safety and effectiveness of this substance. It was most often viewed as being unreliable and some form of dangerous or corruptive magic.[24] Smokepowder had a similar reputation among inhabitants of the Demiplane of Dread, especially the Vistani.[26]

Notable Users of Smokepowder

  • The Red Wizards of Thay were known to have developed large siege guns, known as bombards, that operated on smokepowder. However, these were largely inaccurate and each shot consumed over a hundred charges.[17]
  • In the land of Kara-Tur, there were known to be small rockets that were fueled by smokepowder.[17]
  • By 1372 DR, the use of smokepowder was known to be quite common among rock gnomes.[27]

Trivia

The noise that was given off by firearms using smokepowder was comparable to that of gunpowder, though it typically was of a lower-pitch.[28]

Appendix

This article is incomplete. You can help the Forgotten Realms Wiki by providing more information.

Notes

  1. ↑ It should be noted though that Ed Greenwood stated in one tweet that smokepowder had completely different ingredients from gunpowder.

Background

In 2017, Ed Greenwood stated in a tweet that the reason gunpowder didn't work on Toril was because executives at TSR, Inc. didn't want firearms in the setting. He also stated that Jeff Grubb later conceived of smokepowder, specifically for use with the giff.[29] In 2020, Ed further elaborated in a tweet that the idea of smokepowder was borrowed from jewelers’ rouge, a fictional gunpowder-equivalent in the Chronicles of Amber novel series (which like the Forgotten Realms, is a setting where actual gunpowder is inert), with the permission of Roger Zelazny.[30]

Appearances

Adventures
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Novels
The Council of Blades • The Mercenaries
Video Games
Baldur's Gate III

References

  1. ↑ Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  3. ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 192. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Template:Cite web/theedverse/How Gunpowder Works in the Forgotten Realms
  5. ↑ Ed Greenwood (February 1998). The Mercenaries. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 1–2. ISBN 0-7869-0866-1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ William W. Connors, Steve Miller, Cindi Rice, David Wise (1998). Champions of the Mists. Edited by Cindi Rice. (TSR, Inc.), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-0765-7.
  10. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Template:Cite web/theedverse/Making Smokepowder
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  13. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
  14. ↑ Philip Athans (September 2006). Lies of Light. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 30. ISBN 0-7869-3237-6.
  15. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 13. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  16. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds and Chris Pramas (2000). Slavers. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 9780786916214.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  18. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 62. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 264. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  20. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  21. ↑ Philip Athans (September 2006). Lies of Light. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 36. ISBN 0-7869-3237-6.
  22. ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 184. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
  23. ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 125–126. ISBN 0786960345.
  25. ↑ Doug Hyatt (September 2011). “Gond's Way: Artificers of the Realms”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #403 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 6.
  26. ↑ William W. Connors, Steve Miller, Cindi Rice, David Wise (1998). Champions of the Mists. Edited by Cindi Rice. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-7869-0765-7.
  27. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 78, 97. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  28. ↑ Template:Cite web/theedverse/Sound of Smokepowder
  29. ↑ Template:Cite web/theedverse/Gunpowder Mechanics and Smokepowder Origins
  30. ↑ Template:Cite web/theedverse/Out-of-Universe Origin of Smokepowder
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