F is for Firearms

It is a widely accepted fact that level of knowledge and technological advancement in the world has fallen considerably since the heyday of the Thulian Empire, never mind Eldritch or Ancient times. A good example of this decline can be seen in the near-total absence of ranged firearms in the present day. These weapons were once widely produced and used by Eldritch and early Thulian soldiers. Indeed, on Areon, such weapons continue to be common among the Eld.

The magical principles behind the operation of firearms is well understood, at least among magic-users. However, their manufacture is mostly forgotten, at least among anyone except the Red Elves. Poor copies of these weapons -- colloquially called "wands" -- can be manufactured by a handful of sorcerers but such copies lack the power and versatility of true firearms. For one, wands can only be successfully operated by someone already possessed of magical ability, whereas firearms function for anyone. For another, wands cannot be recharged; once their stored arcane energy is used up, the wand ceases to function permanently. A firearm, however, can be reused, provided one has access to batteries of the appropriate type (which are, unfortunately, even rarer than working firearms in this day and age).

Nowadays, firearms are rarely seen except among adventuring parties regularly delving into sites sealed since at least Thulian times or members of secret societies with ties to other worlds. Working firearms are much sought after by warlords and wizards alike and command high prices on the few occasions they are sold on the open market. The Despot of Adamas is reputed to have a sizable cache of firearms and other similar weaponry -- a testament to the city-state's founding as a Thulian military base.