Gunpowder

Gunpowder, known in older sources as fire powder (Varaso: polvo do fogo), and now referred to commonly as black powder to distinguish it from modern "smokeless" propellants, is a chemical explosive consisting of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal, and sulphur.

History

Gunpowder was invented in 2112 in early Furanist Enzim. The exact details surrounding its invention have been lost or intentionally destroyed to prevent the spread of the knowledge of the substance, and it was kept as a closely guarded religious secret. It was originally only used by Enzimian clerics in religious rites. While its potential as a weapon may seem obvious, the perceived sacred or religious nature of gunpowder to the Furanist clergy meant it saw little development or exploitation. It began to be incorporated into regular religious services in Enzim over the decades following its invention, and according to the common stories, it was Laslo Goçero, a Sémico, who developed the idea for cannon while presiding over a regular service in 2191. Apparently a child had snuck a stone into one of the fire vents, a type bronze vessel shaped like a narrow vase which was filled with gunpowder and lit from a small hole in its base which would eject a pillar of fire upwards in a spectacular display. When the fire vent with the stone was lit, the bronze container was able to sustain the pressures and it acted as crude gun, propelling the stone up into and through the high vaulted ceiling of the church. From this, Goçero began work on developing the first cannons, made of bronze and meant to propel round stones, much like the display he had seen in the church. Goçero was not the first to propose or experiment with weaponising the substance, but as with previous attempts, the Enzimian Sanhedrin remonstrated him and forced him to cease his works, calling them profane and sacreligious. It wasn't until 2216, with Enzim under siege by the Varasos, that the cannon once again emerged. Goçero pleaded with the Sanhedrin to allow the use of his creation on the Varasos' ships, and, under severe pressure from the siege, they granted allowance for the use of gunpowder as a weapon and a holy gift from Furana which would allow them to repel the heathens. Many fire vents in the city were melted down and cast into large cannons which were put to use against the naval blockade the Varasos were enforcing. The early cannons were innacurate and of little actual effect, but those cannonballs that did hit ships were devastating. But moreso than the actual damage caused by the cannons the psychological effect of the cannon proved decisive in forcing the Varasos to abandon the blockade. The Varasos had assumed their ships at a safe distance, far out of range of any mage's spells, which the Enzimians did not use anyway, and beyond the reach of ballistae or other siege engines, and the Enzimians suddenly introduced a terrifying new weapon which roared like thunder and could blow apart a ship's hull from unheard distances.
From this point, having saved the city, the cannon was seen as a gift from God and became an important part of Enzimian and Furanist martial culture: the weapon that could finally match the heathens' battlemages. Development of firearms continued over the next 125 years. It was discovered that corning gunpowder made it safer to store and lead to better combustion and more powerful guns. Bronze cannons gave way to the stronger iron. Bronze did not cease to be used, largely in light of bronze's ability to better weather the maritime conditions of Enzim, but iron began to predominate, especially after the introduction of the hand-gun. Lead projectiles began to be used over stone as they were easier to create, denser, and more uniform, making them more accurate. The hand-gun saw rapid development in Enzim in the first half of the 24^th century, culminating in the matchlock arquebus, which would be put into massive use during the Wars of Enzimian Expansion.
Following its use in the 2216 Siege of Enzim, the rest of the world became suddenly interested in the developments of the Enzimians, however, the secret of gunpowder was still a tightly kept religious secret, and attempts replicate gunpowder would fail until it saw widespread use outside of Enzim itself in the Wars of Enzimian Expansion and the secret could no longer be kept. There are only four recorded instances between 2216 and the start of the Wars of Enzimian Expansion in 2350 in which guns were used, each time in naval engagements.
Gunpowder has been largely supplanted by "smokeless" nitro propellants following their invention in Taminily in 2870.