Smoke Ampoule

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type:

Consumable; thrown gadget

rarity:

common

material:

thin glass bulb; kelp‑pitch resin; mineral mix

volume:

15–20 ml

weight:

~28 g

origin:

Vesper Quay

legality:

Restricted near bonded docks

Description

• Form: Thin-glass bulb the size of a thumb, necked and cork-tipped, banded with a waxed paper strip for grip.
• Fill: Slurried kelp-pitch from Salt-Slick Kelp cut with mineral smoke salts and a mild throat-bit.
• Seal: Resin lipping secures a brittle score line; a firm throw or heel press snaps it clean.
• Markings: Color-dot at the stem denotes blend; common mixes include grey, white, and blue-tinted fogs.
• Carry: Usually three to a felted sleeve; often paired with a Glasswire Dagger for cut-and-slip work.

Type / Category

• Category: Consumable; tactical obscurant; escape tool.
• Delivery: Thrown impact vial; can be heel-cracked on stone or deck plank.
• Users: Skiffers, night-market runners, and dock guards under both cartel and guild banners.

Stats / Effects

• Obscurement: Creates a 4–6 m radius smoke cloud in 1 round; lingers 20–40 seconds in still air.
• Wind Sensitivity: Halved duration in stiff breeze; blown out quickly on open piers.
• Irritant: Light cough and eye-water within 2 m of burst; no lasting harm unless confined.
• Visibility: Heavily obscures line of sight; lantern beams scatter; silhouettes only.
• Damp Tolerance: Functions after brief immersion if the glass remains intact; cold smoke thickens slightly.
• Spirit Quirk: The mix’s mineral tang can momentarily outline a Brine Wraith as eddies cling to its shape.
• Safety: Risk of minor cuts on mishandling; do not pocket loose ampoules.

Usage / Crafting / Requirements

• Use: Throw to hard ground or clamp under heel and snap; step into the plume’s edge and move.
• Handling: Keep in a felted sleeve; avoid direct pressure on the score line.
• Crafting (common recipe):
  • Kelp-pitch resin from reduced Salt-Slick Kelp
  • Finely milled lampblack and clay smoke salts
  • Vinegar spirit and trace ammonia for bite
  • Charge into thin bulbs; resin-cap; score a break band
• Workshop Sites: Mixed at the Smoke Niche under the Gutter Syndic and by independent chandlers near the Lantern Docks of Vesper Quay.
• Restrictions: Possession near the Counting House floors draws fines; patrol skiffs seize unmarked blends.

Lore / Background

• Dock Adoption: Standard pocket-fog for cutters racing claims at the Slickstone Arches when patrols press a tow.
• Truce Era: After the Lantern Truce, both the Silver Ledger and the Gutter Syndic normalized non-caustic blends to limit injuries near lantern crowds.
• Guild Response: Wardens under Ilex Marr catalogued dye marks and instituted burn-time tests.
• Broker Practice: Runners working for fixers like Scillia Doge carry two greys and a white for mixed light conditions.

Image Gallery

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A runner cracks an ampoule to fog a retreat along the Slickstone Arches

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Patrol inspection of seized smoke vials at the Counting House quay gate

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Night-market vendor restocking smoke blends beneath the bridges

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Skiff deck drill demonstrating plume spread in calm water

Related Characters / Mobs / Scenes

• Characters: Ilex Marr, Scillia Doge, Syndic Cutout
• Mobs: Brine Wraith, Hall Guard, Quay Rat
• Scenes: Vesper Quay, Gutter Syndic, Slickstone Arches, Counting House

Variants

• Harbor Grey: Balanced plume; best under mixed lanterns; standard issue for quay runners.
• Lantern White: Brighter, denser cloud tuned for lamp glare; shorter burn.
• Syndic Blue: Slight dye trace that clings to coats, used to mask silhouettes under bridge shadows.
• Warden Amber: Registry-marked training blend used by Silver Ledger escorts; mildest irritant and fastest dissipation.