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Lantern Oil
Lantern Oil
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type:
Combustible fuel; lamp oil
rarity:
common
material:
refined fish-and-kelp distillate
volume:
250 ml flasks; 1 l tins
flash_point:
~74–82 °C (high-flash)
burn_time:
~6–8 hr per 250 ml in standard dock lamp
origin:
legality:
Regulated near bonded docks
Lantern Oil is a high-flash, weatherproof lamp fuel refined and traded around the lantern docks of Vesper Quay. It powers quay lamps, patrol lanterns, and counting-room fixtures maintained by the Silver Ledger and inspected under filings at the Counting House. Chandlers sell it to crews on both sides of the Lantern Truce, including runners tied to the Gutter Syndic.
Description
- Appearance: Clear to amber liquid with slight marine sheen; minimal sediment when properly filtered.
- Scent: Faint brine and resin note; clean burn with low acrid carry.
- Packaging: Thick-glass flasks wax-capped for skiff use; tin liter cans for pier lamps; embossed fill marks for rationing.
- Additives: Trace resin to bead water off wicks; anti-soot clarifier for enclosed shades.
- Markings: Guild lots bear a tally stamp from the Silver Ledger; independent blends are hand-marked with color daubs.
Type / Category
- Category: Utility consumable; lighting fuel.
- Use Case: Open-flame lanterns, pier beacons, inspection lamps.
- Users: Harbor Wardens under Ilex Marr, fixers like Scillia Doge, dock crews, chandleries.
Stats / Effects
- High Flash Point: Resists accidental ignition from stray sparks and warm metal.
- Burn Quality: Steady flame with low flicker; moderate lumen output in fogged glass.
- Weathering: Water-shedding on wicks; maintains flame in light mist and spray.
- Smoke Output: Low soot when trimmed; heavy smoke if over-wicked or contaminated.
- Cold Performance: Thickens in hard chill; warm the flask in hand for easier flow.
- Safety: Reduced spill-flare risk compared to cheap kerosene cuts; still flammable—open flames must be guarded.
Usage / Crafting / Requirements
- Use: Fill reservoir to mark, seat wick, prime for 30–60 seconds, then light; trim for a blue-edged flame.
- Maintenance: Clean chimneys weekly; replace salt-rimed wicks after heavy spray nights at Vesper Quay.
- Crafting (standard quay recipe):
- Rendered fish oil and reduced Salt-Slick Kelp pitch
- Brine wash and lime settle
- Clay-bed filtration; trace resin clarifier
- Rest and polish through wool felt
- Procurement: Sold at guild counters on the Silver Ledger pier and at independent stalls along the Lantern Docks.
- Restrictions: Bulk storage near bonded warehouses is logged with the Counting House; spill fines enforced by wardens under Ilex Marr.
Lore / Background
- Dock Standard: Adopted after pier fires to replace volatile mixes; became the night-work staple during the Lantern Truce with the Gutter Syndic.
- Guild Grades: Ledger-marked lots guarantee flash tests and soot checks for counting rooms.
- Runner Practice: Couriers working for brokers like Scillia Doge favor quarter-flasks with cork loops for quick swaps mid-run.
Image Gallery
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Flasks of oil racked beside quay lanterns at Vesper Quay
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A harbor warden topping a patrol lamp before a fog sweep
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Chandler’s bench showing filters and resin used in the quay blend
Related Characters / Mobs / Scenes
Variants
- Ledger-Grade: Extra-filtered, sootless blend for office lamps; pricier, marked with a fine-stamp tally.
- Cold-Weather Blend: Higher resin fraction; pours at lower temps with slightly dimmer burn.
- Blue-Tint Signal Oil: Dyed for shade signaling; moderate soot, used outdoors only.
- Syndic Cut: Cheaper kerosene-forward mix common in back alleys; brighter but harsher smoke, lower flash point.