Redpowder

## Overview

Also known as "Dwarvish Powder," Redpowder is a dry, explosive substance first invented in Magmaria in the year 1815. It functions primarily as a gunpowder substitute in the World of Eko, but has also been utilized to power the Lightning Rail, amongst other technomagical devices.

## History and Discovery

Within the Synvarian mountain range, there is a dark red powder, nicknamed “dwarf dust” produced in great quantities whenever the dwarves mined for other minerals and ores. This powder was originally seen as a nuisance, as spending extended time in a powder-heavy mine would often rend the miners with an affliction known as dust-fever, which produced lethargy and horrible skin effects with extended exposure (more details detailed below). However, a week of rest and fresh air is usually more than enough to cure the sickness.

The dwarves have long known that including the powder in forges produces brighter, hotter flames, which in turn allowed for the forging of better and stronger arms, and cemented the dwarves as master craftsmen in the eyes of the rest of the world. However, it wasn’t until recently that a young dwarven, by the name of Oatmeal Porridge (distant relative of Haggis Shincleaver), and a flamboyant Elven sorcerer, Wix Diaz, discovered while fending off the remnants of the Zozad Cult in the Magmarian Old-City, that the spell *Acid Splash*, when cast on the powder, left behind a sparkling, bright red, sand-like residue. **This residue, when subject to enough physical or magical energy, was an incredibly energetic explosive.** Their discovery allowed the Shincleaver to rise to prominence as the dominant Dwarven family in Magmaria, who then started exporting the newly dubbed “Dwarvish Red Powder” to anyone who would buy it, which, as it happened, was just about everyone.

Dwarven red powder, when consumed in great enough quantities, has the same effect as the dust-fever. The powder has a heavier, more granular nature than it’s dust-like counterpart, and as a result does not hang in the air as dwarf dust tends to. Therefore, in order to suffer the effects of dust-fever, one would need to actively consume large quantities of the powder.

*N.b.* The idiosyncratic name, Dwarvish Red Powder, specifically with regards to the Dwarv*ish* rather than *Dwarven*, is a result of Wix’s rather compelling argument that an Elf had at least part of a contribution to the discovery of the powder. He was, however, unsuccessful in his attempt to convince the Shincleavers to name it “Elvish Red Powder,” and, failing that attempt, “Wix’s Glittery Boom Sand.”

## Dwarvish Red Powder Consumption Effects

DC15 Constitution save.

**1-4 hours after ingestion:**

- Lethargy (disadvantage on all attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves)

- Passivity

- Mild Nausea

**4-24 hours after ingestion:**

   - Fever

   - Sore mouth and throat

   - Fatigue

   - Cough

   - Burning eyes

**1-4 days after ingestion:**

   - Fever

   - Unexplained widespread skin pain

   - A red or purple skin rash that spreads

   - Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes of your mouth, nose, eyes and genitals

   - Shedding of your skin within days after blisters form