Dragaera

Two words about two letters etc. (small PotD Spoiler)

David Silberstein davids at kithrup.com
Tue Jan 14 22:10:34 PST 2003

On Tue, 14 Jan 2003, Andrew Lias wrote:

>
>  Since the Dragons are the only ones I can see developing explosives
>technology in the first place, that would also explain why none of
>the other castes have utilized them.
>

Well, the Vallista (engineering and mining) might find them useful.

If Dragaerans know how to refine petroleum (per _Issola_), they
probably know enough about chemistry to know about explosive
substances.  Even if they don't have gunpowder, they could
theoretically make firebombs and/or napalm from petroleum products.

I am therefore more inclined to believe that there is a generic
sorcery for "inhibit certain uncontrolled chemical reactions", which
renders gunpowder & other physical explosives moot in battlefield
conditions.

Another thought that occurred to me, by the way, is that there may be
certain rules and limitations on what sorts of methods may be used in
warfare, and there is an agreement (similar to our world's various
arms treaties on the use of chemical, biological and radioactive
materials) or moral convention simply not to use certain types of
weapons in warfare.