Oil Lamp

“No matter how hard you rub this lamp, no djinni will come out of it.”
-Abu the bazaar merchant, to a Nostrian customer named Lostrian, 1037 FB

For centuries, rich and poor people in the south and in the Lands of the Tulamydes have been lighting their homes with oil lamps. In more than one Tulamydian fairy tale, an oil lamp plays a central role as a magical item or as the domicile of a djinni, for example.

Most oil lamps are made from clay, have a hole that can be filled with oil, and have an opening in front for the wick. Lamps that stand on their own usually also have a carrying handle at the back. As their name implies, hanging versions are suspended from strings or chains hooked to eyelets on the side of the lamp.

Simple metal versions are often not much more expensive than plain clay lamps. However, metal lamps with elaborate decoration can be much costlier. Oil lamps range from very small to very large. The luminosity depends more on the thickness and length of the wick rather than the size of the lamp (size limits the amount of oil that the lamp can contain and, subsequently, the burning time). Most people use plant oil for fuel because tallow and other animal oils give off sooty smoke and are regarded as cheap substitutes for real lamp oil. High-end luxury oils incorporate perfumes and other scents.

“Small oil lamps are common in my homeland and on the Cyclopes Islands. They are inexpensive and burn for a long time. They are especially useful in libraries and archives because they emit hardly any smoke.”

— Mirhiban al’Orhima, Tulamydian fire mage

“I like lamps with scented oil. The pleasant smell quickly fills the entire room and clears the mind of negative thoughts.”

— Geron Bladebreaker, mercenary

“I never knew that you liked the smell of scented oil.”

— Rowena of the Transweal, Bornish cat witch

“Anyone who’s ever smelled an army camp or a battlefield soon comes to appreciate expensive lamp oil.”

— Geron Bladebreaker, mercenary

“My favorite scents are lavender and mint.”

— Layariel Treetopglint, elven wyldrunner

“Discussions on pretty scents aside, the oil lamp is a proven tool for lighting tunnels. You can set them down and get on with your work in narrow passages. I think they are more useful than torches, which produce too much smoke.”

— Arbosh son of Angrax, forge dwarf master smith

“It is said that the Cyclopeans got the idea for Hylailan Fire from oil lamps. I don’t doubt it, as clay Hylailan Fire canisters contain an oil-like liquid that burns hotter than the sun when lit.”

— Carolan Calavanti, Vinsaltan vagabond