Jala - Volcanic Gas

Anywhere on Layida where hotspots exist, Jala can emerge from cracks in the earth. When this happens, the gas is clearly visible due to its green, orange or purple color, which is why the Layikani have known about it since ancient times. The color of the gas depends on which minerals are in the hotspot's magma melt. Green indicates greenschist and amphibolite, orange indicates heulandite and citrine and violet primarily indicates tanzanite or iolite. If the colored gases react with the four elements, the gas can change its natural state into solid, viscous or droplet-shaped.   The gas smells slightly of sour, sweet or salty adhesive, which also depends on the color. Jala is most dangerous in its natural gaseous state. However, risks still exist even in viscous and droplet-shaped aggregates. In principle, direct contact with the gas should be avoided as it always has a corrosive effect and causes burns on the skin. In addition, it causes strong hallucinations. Only as solid rock, which resembles colored lumps of resin, is it least dangerous. There are no known harmful effects on the respiratory system and it is also not radioactive.

Although the gas has been known since Layikanian's memory, mining only began in the 1st millennium BEC, when the artist Kulji Onye na-ese ọkụ realized that the gas, under the influence of flames, formed viscous droplets that still cause chemical burns and hallucinations which she also suffered. But she was a brave woman who tirelessly sought to expand her artistic horizons. She quickly noticed that the cooled mass formed small crystalline resins that were harmless. Kulji experimented with various additives to make the viscous droplets lose their color and turn white. When she liquefied the resin again, the artist added different color pigments. After the crystals had hardened, Kulji was able to cut the resins into small pieces and create wonderful mosaics with them.

Of course, it still took some time before female engineers became aware of gas and its uniqueness. Many continued to experiment in order to study reactions with water and earth and to investigate possible areas of application.   The gas is “captured” by suction systems and filled into gas bottles. The largest mining operation is carried out by LGC - Layidian Gas Company, which was founded in the 21st century AEC. The group works across the entire continent and is responsible for mining, processing to the end product and marketing. The company is run by female emissaries from the Ministry of Flame Guardians. The ministry is also responsible for monitoring and limited dismantling and has laid the foundations for this, which are strictly adhered to by the group. The cost of mining is 130 Njur/ton. It sells for twice as much.

When combined with fire, the gas forms viscous droplets. In this form, the Layikani use it as a raw material in their shields, which protect many cities and important facilities from violent takeovers.   In the Fire Labyrinths, the gas is sprayed onto the walls and the mazes are permanently protected. In cities, Jala protective images are only set up when there is imminent danger.

Layikan architecture fascinates with the colorful variety of mosaics on roofs and as a design element in rooms. However, for larger areas, simple clayey raw materials are used because they are significantly cheaper.   The resin crystals continue to be used for mosaics, as they have been since their discovery, as they can be colored and have a glaze-like surface after the second melt has hardened. However, these mosaics are extremely expensive, which is why they are only used for interior design in important buildings.