Blackpowder

Blackpowder is a highly reactive chemical component that when set a light will cause an explosion. Since the introduction of blackpowder warfare has slowly revolutionized in Bataf, with nowadays most armies being equipped with flintlock rifles and pikes. Aside from warfare blackpowder is also used for civil efforts, such as mining, quarrying, or clearing landscapes. 
== History ==
=== Invention ===
The earliest (justice) records of the invention of blackpowder date back to 968 in Othlest Inod. Here the dwarf Zefon and the dragonborn Aathtod, who was the assistant of the dragon Niorvulth the later founder of the Erudite Citadel, both scholars they were interested in studying properties of different materials. Having invited Aathtod to her home the two set to experimenting with the most important sources being charcoal, magma, saltpetre, and sulphur. The initial experiments were unsuccessful, however after a year of experimenting they managed to create a dark powdery substance that exploded when it came into close contact with magma. They create a barrels worth of the substance and wrote down their findings in a small pamphlet. The duo would later find out that the powder did not react to the magma but to the heat of it. Zefon and Aathtod returned from diner, with Aathtod having eaten a spicy crab cake, Aathtod led out a burb which by accident turned into a breath of fire. This in turn set the keg ablaze containing the barrel promptly exploding. The explosion ended up causing a small tremor and a few nearby rooms collapsed. In addition Zefon was killed by the blast and Aathtod severely injured. Afterwards the guards came rushing investigating the explosion and putting out the fire raging within the room. Aathtod was arrested and would be eventually banned from the dwarven fortress. The pamphlet was partly scorched and would be put in a box of belongings, mainly containing books and, given to a relative of Zefon, where it remained hidden until it was found a decade later by the gnome Lowin Blacksmoke during a sale of the box of belongings. This would lead to Lowin Blacksmoke being considered the inventor of gunpowder.