Tindertwig

Tindertwig
Uncommon Item (1 gp)
Rank: 4
An alchemically primed fire-splint of seasoned wood, made to take flame with a quick scrape and burn with a steady light.
Special Actions
Ignite
Standard Action [REC 1]
Effect: The Tindertwig ignites, burning with a steady, open flame for 10 segments before going out. During this time it can be used to kindle tinder, wicks, oil, and similar materials. A Moderate Wind automatically extinguishes the flame. A tindertwig is expended once lit or extinguished.
Creation
Split and dry the sticks within a Froken Kiln for roughly an hour, until their surface takes on a faint shimmer. Warm the pitch in a Coil of Dar’nath until it flows smooth along the horizon. Keep the pitch cycling and slowly bleed in the Fire from its flask, never breaking the flow. In the upper coils, melt the wax. When the mixture reaches the point of merge, use a First Circle of Ice to switch the coil to cooling.
Once prepared, draw the sticks through the cross-axis: coat first with the pitch solution, then with the wax. A smooth, even layering is desired. Allow the sticks to firm, then apply a second coating of wax for strength. Optionally, stamp the wax seal with a guildmark before storage. Yield: 10+1d4 tindertwigs.
Ingredients: Bundle of Wood Sticks, Beeswax (uncommon, 5sp), Clarified Pitch (Uncommon, 1gp), 1 Flask of Alchemist's Fire (Uncommon, 10gp)
"It is not a torch. It is a very confident spark."
——Foreman Rusk, Highstreet Lamplighters’ Guild

Description

A hand-length splint of fine-grained wood with a wax-coating and a faint alchemical tang. Break the wax seal to summon a sharp hiss and a sure, steady flame. Tindertwigs are favored by couriers, officers, and well-heeled travelers who prize reliable fire on demand; most common folk still make do with flint and steel. Premium batches burn evenly, with little smoke and a warm, candle-true light.

Lore

Originally a lamplighters’ convenience, tindertwigs became a fashionable amenity in cities—sold from brass-tinned cases or waxed bundles tied in ribbon, sometimes scented for the discerning buyer. House stewards keep them near hearths and lamps; sappers pack them for predictable sparks on damp nights; nobles tuck a few into travel kits as a quiet luxury. Guild bulletins caution against waste (one twig suffices) and note that a stiff wind will snuff the flame—an intentional design to keep careless sparks from becoming costly fires.