Tenebrous Bulbs
Lights are both one's ward against The Gloom and a lure for any would-be assailant that stalks weary travelers from the darkness. These Shadelights will be the only thing that will provide the former, and not the latter. Do not stray far from your Tenebrous Bulb, and you will be fine.
Overview
Tenebrous Bulbs (often time refered to as Shadelights, Shadow Wisps, or Duskbeacons) are spherical, glass-like objects that are filled with swirling shadow that moves of its own accord. There is a small, arcane orb that freely floats within any given Bulb's structure, but it has been enchanted so as to avoid the walls of its container. This orb, colloquially known as a Wisp, emits a light that is bright enough to make The Gloom retreat away from it. To prevent Silhouettes being attracted to this light, Murk Crystal (a material symilar to smokey quartz in appearance) is used in the outter Bulb. This Gloom-infused crystal seems to have a sort of "camouflaging" effect on the light that is emitted - allowing for a dim light to be used while in The Gloom without the risk of Silhouettes being attracted to it. Granted, they can still see the light emitted by a mortal soul, but any little advantage helps.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
As mentioned previously, the key ingredient to this item's success in The Gloom is the Murk Crystal. It is still unknown how, exactly, it seems to mask light to creatures that are attracted to it. Several studies on this particular material are currently underway by the scholars of The Wissan Dominion, and their findings on further properties are planned to be publicly available. Aside from the key component, the Wisp on the interior of the Bulb is enchanted to emit a fairly bright light when the its on its own. An additional ward is placed on the Wisp that places a thin barrier around it, allowing the Wisp to freely move about a Bulb without making contact with the crystal.
History
In short, ever since The Lightfall Cataclysm occured and brought forth The Gloom and Veil from the Shadowfell, there has been a growing need to be able to light one's way in the now-corrupted world. For the longest time, alchemists, artificers, and scholars could not find a material that would allow light to move through The Gloom undetected. That is, until one military patrol conducted by a squadron of Dragonborn from Jaddregos found crystals growing out of large, spire-like structures in the desert known as the Divine Spears. These crystals were brought back and examined, and they were determined to be critical in making a light that can illuminate The Gloom safely.
The new material eventually found its way to Stahlrest, capital of The Luminforge Syndicate, and from there, it was honed and developed into something that could truly light the long-forgetten pathways. Using the Bulbs, artificers constructed small Waystones around Vasara's once immense roadway infrastructure to act as small beacons in the night. Almost all of these Waystones have signs that point travelers to the nearest Elysian Bastions, though they have not been updated in quite some time.
Significance
This item allows adventurers, couriers, and the general public (provided they have coin to spare on such an item) to venture out into The Gloom of the wastelands of Vasara without having to worry (as much) about being attacked from the shadows... at least, from Silhouettes.
Item type
Survival
Creation Date
1,254 After Lightfall
Rarity
Uncommon
Weight
Depending on size, they can range anywhere from 5 lbs to 20 lbs.
Dimensions
Variable
Base Price
A Tenebrous Bulb that is of usable size will typically run ~75 gold pieces. Custom made ones can get quite expensive, though.
Above is an old and worn Tenebrous Bulb that was found half-buried, alone, in The Gloom. Shaderoot seems to have already covered the majority of its surface.
Shown above is a new, commissioned Tenebrous Bulb that has seen little use. Its light is slightly brighter than the average.
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