Blackpowder, or gunpowder, is a mundane alchemical substance that is volatile in the presence of oxygen and heat, consisting of a mixture of sulfur, charcoal and saltpetre. When exposed to heat the saltpetre oxidises and ignites the sulphur and charcoal causing an explosion. Blackpowder is widely used in mining and excavation works, and in the last 50 years there have been experiments with creating flintlock weapons that utilise blackpowder to propel a metal projectile at high speeds, though they're not yet widely available.
Invention
Blackpowder has been utilised for industrial purposes for centuries, but it was not until 2106 AP that it was first used as a propellant for a firearm by the Orcish Artificer Ugak-Morn. Ugak-Morn developed a working prototype of a flintlock mechanism, and a handheld firearm roughly analogous to a hand crossbow in size.
Limitations
This flintlock pistol was not deemed suitable for mass production due to a flaw that occassionally caused breach explosions, destroying the weapon and potentially wounding the firer. Another major flaw is the time it takes to reload the weapon, which is often upwards of 2 minutes.
Availability
The complexity and volatility of flintlock weapons so far limits their availability. The Ochal Legion has been working to develop stable firearms to augment their ranged units, though they are so far unable to resolve the breach explosion issue.
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