TKOS, Watcher, and Daveedka stood before a large, wooden house with thatch for a roof. Several large trees had actually been built around in the construction and were now part of the interesting style that composed RTR’s home. A small column of dark smoke drifted out of a brick chimney.
Watcher brushed dirt from his clothing and shot little glares at Daveedka. Daveedka paid no mind, but only stood patiently awaiting the meeting.
An elderly man walked confidently out the front door of the house. His bearing was strong though his hair had faded to grey and he bore a long beard. In his hand was a slender staff with many arcane symbols intricately embossed on the centuries old wood. One of these indecipherable symbols drew Watcher’s attention and he found himself quietly muttering it to himself.
“E=MC2…”
“Gentlemen!” RTR started without a trace of hesitation. “We live in dark times and the coming days will ask much of us. AC’s two most hated adversaries have united and now threaten all our land believes in.”
Daveedka paled visibly and stuttered, “Dear God. You don’t mean…”
“Petco and Petsmart are now one and have established headquarters on AC soil,” RTR finished for him.
“What can we do against such power?” TKOS asked. “We are so few compared to their combined might. They will spread confusion, misunderstanding, and death so rapidly we will never be able to negate their influence.”
Watcher muttered, “E=MC2, E=MC2, E…”
“We have many friends that are willing to fight with us,” RTR continued. “Even as we stand here, they are being informed and are making preparations. But for our part, I have a special weapon. Gunpowder.”
“Gunpowder?” Watcher stopped muttering and spoke up. “What is Gunpowder?”
“Gunpowder,” RTR explained, “is an explosive composed of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur. Perfect balance is achieved through the marriage of sulfur and mercury. Also a careful balance of oxidation and reduction which is required for an explosion to take place. You have all observed that when you blow on a glowing coal, it gets brighter. The rate of combustion is limited by the rate at which fresh oxygen can be provided to the fuel. I believe you also understand the principle of the furnace, in which a steady draft of air allows the fuel to burn at a faster-than-normal rate, thereby increasing the temperature attainable in the kiln. The draft can only be so strong, however, before the extra heat produced by the draft is simply carried away by the increased flue gases.”
TKOS fidgeted with his staff, Daveedka shifted his weight from foot to foot, and Watcher’s eyes started to glaze.
“To make an explosive, what we really need is a solid or liquid which can be intimately mixed with the reductant, or fuel, thus eliminating the need for atmospheric oxygen. The first material to be used in the way is saltpeter, or potassium nitrate. A sort of gunpowder can be made from charcoal and saltpeter alone.”
Watcher spoke up once more, “I don’t understand what the f…”
TKOS poked Watcher in the ribs, “Shut it. RTR, so do you have some of this ‘Gunpowder’? Or must we battle some terrible monster for it?”
RTR sighed in exasperation and nodded his head. “Boom powder in stable. Big burlap bag. You take.”
“Now that I understand!” Watcher exclaimed with a smile.
In a short time two horses and a tired looking donkey were prepared and awaiting departure. Watcher crawled on top of the donkey and settled uncomfortable on top of the large bag of gunpowder.
“Hey Dave, are you sure that it’s safe for me to be sitting on top of this bag of boom powder?”
Daveedka responded as he held a burning match to his pipe. “Of course, Pig Boy. I would never let you do something dangerous. Want a smoke?”
“Well if you don’t mind, sure, I’d love…”
“DAVE!” TKOS exclaimed in alarm. “What are you trying to do?”
Dave laughed and threw the match on the ground. “Just toying with him, TKOS. Where’s your sense of humour? Now come on. RTR has sent word ahead and we are to join with Tyler718 and his group by tomorrow at noon. Let’s roll.”
With that Daveedka and TKOS set out at a strong gallop on their mighty beasts.
Watcher bounced determinedly along behind on his aging donkey.
Watcher brushed dirt from his clothing and shot little glares at Daveedka. Daveedka paid no mind, but only stood patiently awaiting the meeting.
An elderly man walked confidently out the front door of the house. His bearing was strong though his hair had faded to grey and he bore a long beard. In his hand was a slender staff with many arcane symbols intricately embossed on the centuries old wood. One of these indecipherable symbols drew Watcher’s attention and he found himself quietly muttering it to himself.
“E=MC2…”
“Gentlemen!” RTR started without a trace of hesitation. “We live in dark times and the coming days will ask much of us. AC’s two most hated adversaries have united and now threaten all our land believes in.”
Daveedka paled visibly and stuttered, “Dear God. You don’t mean…”
“Petco and Petsmart are now one and have established headquarters on AC soil,” RTR finished for him.
“What can we do against such power?” TKOS asked. “We are so few compared to their combined might. They will spread confusion, misunderstanding, and death so rapidly we will never be able to negate their influence.”
Watcher muttered, “E=MC2, E=MC2, E…”
“We have many friends that are willing to fight with us,” RTR continued. “Even as we stand here, they are being informed and are making preparations. But for our part, I have a special weapon. Gunpowder.”
“Gunpowder?” Watcher stopped muttering and spoke up. “What is Gunpowder?”
“Gunpowder,” RTR explained, “is an explosive composed of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur. Perfect balance is achieved through the marriage of sulfur and mercury. Also a careful balance of oxidation and reduction which is required for an explosion to take place. You have all observed that when you blow on a glowing coal, it gets brighter. The rate of combustion is limited by the rate at which fresh oxygen can be provided to the fuel. I believe you also understand the principle of the furnace, in which a steady draft of air allows the fuel to burn at a faster-than-normal rate, thereby increasing the temperature attainable in the kiln. The draft can only be so strong, however, before the extra heat produced by the draft is simply carried away by the increased flue gases.”
TKOS fidgeted with his staff, Daveedka shifted his weight from foot to foot, and Watcher’s eyes started to glaze.
“To make an explosive, what we really need is a solid or liquid which can be intimately mixed with the reductant, or fuel, thus eliminating the need for atmospheric oxygen. The first material to be used in the way is saltpeter, or potassium nitrate. A sort of gunpowder can be made from charcoal and saltpeter alone.”
Watcher spoke up once more, “I don’t understand what the f…”
TKOS poked Watcher in the ribs, “Shut it. RTR, so do you have some of this ‘Gunpowder’? Or must we battle some terrible monster for it?”
RTR sighed in exasperation and nodded his head. “Boom powder in stable. Big burlap bag. You take.”
“Now that I understand!” Watcher exclaimed with a smile.
In a short time two horses and a tired looking donkey were prepared and awaiting departure. Watcher crawled on top of the donkey and settled uncomfortable on top of the large bag of gunpowder.
“Hey Dave, are you sure that it’s safe for me to be sitting on top of this bag of boom powder?”
Daveedka responded as he held a burning match to his pipe. “Of course, Pig Boy. I would never let you do something dangerous. Want a smoke?”
“Well if you don’t mind, sure, I’d love…”
“DAVE!” TKOS exclaimed in alarm. “What are you trying to do?”
Dave laughed and threw the match on the ground. “Just toying with him, TKOS. Where’s your sense of humour? Now come on. RTR has sent word ahead and we are to join with Tyler718 and his group by tomorrow at noon. Let’s roll.”
With that Daveedka and TKOS set out at a strong gallop on their mighty beasts.
Watcher bounced determinedly along behind on his aging donkey.
