If historical authenticity matters in your games, here's the best you're going to get in the way of lanterns in the Middle Ages. And bear in mind it'll probably contain a spitting, smoky, unreliable tallow candle, not wax because those are reserved for church services.
Or you could carry an oil lantern. That's not one of the storm-lamps you see in medieval movies. It's a dish of oil with a wick in it and, if you're lucky, a cover of horn or glass to stop it blowing out. (Argand lamps came much later.)
From the Jewelspider rules:
"Night’s black agents thrive in a world lit only by fire. Even in a wealthy baron’s castle, those ubiquitous flaring torches are a myth; after dark the passages and side chambers are unlit. If you need to leave the main hall, you carry your own sputtering lantern (containing a tallow candle or a wick in a dish of oil) or get a servant to accompany you with a torch or candelabrum. Thick trembling shadows fill the further reaches of the hallways, giving many places for a stealthy interloper to hide."
Lovely evocative writing, Dave - there could be a whole adventure just in that journey from the fire- lit great hall to the moon- lit bed chamber I think; along the way, your only friend the flickering flame which, even as it grants you sight, makes visible your fears in the twisting silhouettes it shadow-shapes!
ReplyDeleteMy feelings exactly, John, and I'm currently reading a book (A King Alone, by Jean Giono) which has a similar vaporous, chiaroscuro flavour; I think you'd enjoy it.
DeleteThanks Dave, I will check that out - reading by candle-light, of course!
DeleteNote that a side effect of this would be to make magical light far more wonderous and imposing than it generally is in (say) D&D. A mere human who can conjure bright, inextinguishable light that can last hours, isn't a fire risk and won't lead to suffocation or smothering fumes in enclosed space is a Big Deal, and they can do it with the wave of a hand and few mumbled arcane words in even the worst weather conditions. If they can do that, who knows what else they might be capable of?
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, each casting of even the humblest Light spell is over an hour of extra productivity after sunset with no cost in oil, candles, or firewood at all. That means a lot, especially in the short winter days - and combine that with Endure Elements and a wizard's lair needn't bother with wood for heating either. They might get tired of cold meals (although there's magic for that too) but to a realistically impoverished peasant spellcasting must seem like it grants freedom from many of life's essentials.
I think the signs of a great setting is love in the little details. ;-)
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