Gobak gunk

Gobak are found along almost all coasts of the continent of Mentzuul with exception of southern islands. They are a source for all kinds of objects of daily use, so it is only natural, that they play a major role in firemaking for the three peoples who live in the harsh environment Mentzuul offers as well. The gobak gunk is a crumbly, greasy mass made of dried gobak blubber mixed with powdered gobak bones to make it more viscous and easy to store and transport. It is a greyish white, sticky paste that can be rubbed onto wood or dry bones to speed up the process of setting them on fire a lot.

Gobak gunk as made up of the aforementioned two ingredients. Both of these have to be thoroughly dried though, because any water in the paste is going to make it become a tar-like sooty liquid that produces smoking and ugly smelling flames. Even worse, most of the time the fire will just smoulder and produce less heat. The gobaks blubber is dried in the sun, often by spreading it out on dark surfaces like rocks or leather or by hanging it on a framework to have the wind help in the drying process. Dried gobak blubber has a distinct consistency that will make it crumble if you grip it too harshly. The gobak bones are also dried in the sun - there are basically always surplus gobak bones at ones disposal in every society on Mentzuul. Should gobak bones not be available, the bones of other animals can be used as well, but not fishbones. The bones are crushed with a mortar and pestel until they are somewhat of a fine powder with grain sizes between sand and flour. One part of bone powder goes with two parts of gobak blubber. All this is mixed until is forms a smooth dough. This dough is less crumbly and less sticky than pure dried blubber but still leaves one fingers greasy, when touching it. The Gobak gunk is then applied to whatever is supposed to be set on fire. The blubber burns faster than the bone meal but simultaneously seeps into the material to be burnt. The bone meal ignites later but keeps the heat up for an extended time to allow the material it is applied to to almost always catch fire. The fire is often produced by methods involving friction, but magic can also by applied of course.