Glitterbomb
A glitterbomb is an explosive device that disperses scattered clouds of Glitter in a broad area. Usually, glitterbombs tend to be personal, hand-held weapons, about the size of a grenade, but larger glitterbombs, including explosive missiles with a glitter payload, have been used over the course of the various Word Wars.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
Grenade-style glitterbombs consist of an explosive charge ("filler"), a detonator mechanism, an internal striker to trigger the detonator, and an arming safety secured by a transport safety. The user removes the transport safety before throwing, and once the grenade leaves the hand the arming safety is released, allowing the striker to trigger a primer that ignites a fuze, which burns down to the detonator and explodes the main charge, thus, dispersing the glitter.
The earliest glitterbombs, as used by Dame Duochanfan and Foxx, were simple "shell gernades," consisting of gunpowder and glitter in a ceramic shell that was designed to break on impact. These were not as precise as the grenades.
Glitterbombs utilized in The Battle of Crystal Song included artillery shells with glitter payloads.
Manufacturing process
Currently, Lagus Arms and Equipment in the Lapin Protectorate is the only large-scale glitterbomb manufacturer, but home versions have been made by various Tome Knights for several years now.
History
While the design of a glitterbomb was almost certainly older, the first recording of their appearance as magical weapons was in the July Tourney of Tales in 2022. At the time, Tome Knights began to toss homemade glitterbombs at each other as a practical joke. Foxx of House Ailurus is commonly credited with their invention, fueled by the supply they acquired from The Glitter Mines.
Glitterbombs soon became a signature weapon of both the Self Care Mafia, who used it to create a ubiquitous mark of shame for those Tome Knights who were not sufficiently taking care of themselves; and the Chaos Cartel, who began using them simply to create maximum chaos and bring joy. The explosive charges in such glitterbombs are specifically designed to be non-combustive, and to restrict concussive force, so as to not cause injury as their glitter payloads are widely dispersed.
However, glitterbombs as a payload delivery system for magical enchantments in an offensive capacity first took place during The Third Word War. Duochanfan of House Lapin and Foxx, who at that time was "FoxxWrither," turned by the The Undead Horde, had an extended duel of glitterbombs during the Battle of Mount Mitchell.
Queen Sable Aradia of House Lapin, and Foxx, had a personal pranking duel of glitterbombs and glitter guns during The Literomantic Games of April 2023. The photo of the medalists on the podium shows Queen Sable with a glitterbomb in hand, while Foxx holds a glitter gun to her back.
Glitterbombs, however, saw their most broad useage during The Fourth Word War, by both the Living and the Undead. The idea was likely sparked by the Battle vs the Nite Qing, in which glitter was used to protect the ritual space against hostile magic and serve as a magical barrier to help prevent The Nite Qing from escaping. AttorraRu, who would be the next Night Monarch, was present, as were a number of Woodland Family Alliance House Leaders.
AttorraRu, as the Nite Qween, used glitterbombs corrupted with Dark Literomancy to manipulate the minds of some living Tome Knights, including ShyRedFox, a Seneschal of House Meles and the Oyabun of the Self Care Mafia, getting her to sabotage portals, give Literomantic Power to the Horde, and help to sabotage The Warren. She also planted a glitterbomb of corrupted glitter among the carrot patch in The Cavern gardens, targeting Queen Sable, which led to the Bunny Queen having a breakdown and refusing to work with the other House Leaders, until they figured out what was going on. This corrupted glitter also spread — as glitter is wont to do — and began affecting the other Tome Knights around the Mother of Bunnies as well.
However, it was also glitterbombs that saved the day at the Battle of Crystal Song. Along with releasing glitter into the Cavern ventilation systems to counter the corrupted glitter DeathWriter and ShyDeadFox (now undead) had similarly released, the battlefield was bombarded with glitterbombs that carried the countermagic of joy and hope, turning the tide of the battle.
Dame Duochanfan, DoF by Moonflower with HeroForge
This article is a work in progress, and may be subject to changes.
This article is part of a series related to streaming the Game of Tomes. For more information, see Streaming Game of Tomes.
Item type
Weapon, Explosive
Creation Date
July 2022
Manufacturer
Creator
Related Technologies
Related ethnicities
Rarity
Glitterbombs are almost never used — at least, seriously — among the general population. However, for Literomancers, a device that disperses glitter is an excellent delivery system for various magical enchantments. Thus, glitterbombs tend to be quite commonly employed by them.
Weight
Varies, but usually no more than a pound at most
Dimensions
Varies, often about the size of a grenade - 3.5 inches (89 mm) body 4.5 inches (110 mm) overall; 2.3 inches (58 mm)
Raw materials & Components
A glitterbomb requires an explosive catalyst, glitter, and some kind of container to deliver the glitter and compress the combustive gasses of detonation, thus creating an explosion as the compressed gasses expand beyond the available space.
April 2023 LitGames Podium by Sable Aradia with Pixabay and HeroForge
Glitterbombs all the way! \o/
Shine bright like a glitterbomb... :D