Hydrogas
Contents
Hydrogas
Hydrogas is a magically produced, lighter-than-air substance that is highly flammable. Harvested from the floating islands of The Dreadfort, it is one of the most valuable commodities in the modern world, serving as the primary fuel for Airships and a vital reagent in magical experimentation.
Properties
Hydrogas appears as a translucent, shimmering vapor with a faint green tint and a metallic scent. It is:
- **Lighter than air** in its raw form.
- **Highly flammable** when exposed to open flame, spellfire, or electrical discharge.
- **Magically reactive** — Hydrogas responds to arcane fields, which makes it volatile in heavily enchanted environments.
- **Mildly toxic** if inhaled over prolonged periods, leading to symptoms similar to altitude sickness.
Because of its magical properties, Hydrogas cannot be synthesized artificially in large quantities; it must be extracted from natural shardisite veins, such as those found within The Dreadfort and a few smaller floating shard deposits.
Hydrogas as Fuel
Hydrogas revolutionized travel across the fractured world by making airships possible. Contained within magically reinforced tanks, Hydrogas provides lift and propulsion for vessels of all sizes.
| Hydrogas Tank Sizes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Size | Cost to Fill | Cost to Replace | Travel Distance | Base Armor Class | Hit Points |
| Small | 250gp | 250gp | 250 miles | 18 | 25 |
| Medium | 500gp | 500gp | 500 miles | 16 | 50 |
| Large | 1000gp | 1000gp | 1000 miles | 14 | 100 |
| Huge | 20000gp | 20000gp | 2000 miles | 12 | 200 |
Airships typically mount multiple tanks, allowing for redundancy in case of puncture or sabotage. In combat, Hydrogas tanks are a primary vulnerability; a direct hit on a tank can result in catastrophic ignition if safeguards fail.
Hydrogas as a Trade Commodity
Hydrogas is among the most tightly controlled and lucrative commodities in the world. Access to Hydrogas production is monopolized by the corporate powers controlling The Dreadfort, and prices are carefully manipulated through licensing agreements, export tariffs, and privateer enforcement.
Hydrogas is typically sold in:
- **Compressed containment barrels** (for overland transport)
- **Tankered airships** (for major bulk shipments)
- **Arcane stasis chambers** (for delicate long-term storage)
Prices fluctuate dramatically based on political tensions, shipping risks, and shardisite shortages. Pirates, rebel nations, and rogue merchants all covet Hydrogas as a pathway to independence—and warlords have risen and fallen by seizing or losing supply lines.
Dangers
Due to its magical volatility:
- Ships carrying large quantities of Hydrogas are at constant risk of explosion.
- Arcane interference (especially wild magic zones or shard-blight areas) can destabilize Hydrogas storage.
- Major naval powers often deploy elite sharpshooters and mages specifically trained to target enemy fuel tanks during boarding actions.
Hydrogas remains both a blessing and a curse—ensuring that those who control the skies must also constantly guard their own throats.
