Electricity and Electric Lights

Summary

Electricity and electric lights represent a rare and uncommon technology in the world of the campaign. In Session 8, electric lighting is established as a marker of technological advancement, with Sucks Benedict remarking he hasn't seen electric lights in years. The technology produces both a visible illumination and a physical sensation — a buzz and hum that can be felt through the air. The presence of electric lights indicates that a location has access to unusual technological resources unavailable to most settlements.

Details

Electric lights function through the use of electricity, which manifests not only as illumination but as a palpable force in the environment. The lights are typically strung overhead in sequences, creating what are described as "strings of lights" that activate as darkness falls. When operational, the electrical current running through these systems creates a humming sensation that can be physically felt by those nearby.

The rarity of this technology is emphasized by Sucks Benedict's observation that he hasn't encountered electric lights in years. This scarcity makes electric lighting a distinguishing feature of any location that possesses it, marking such places as technologically advanced compared to standard settlements that rely on conventional lanterns and torches for illumination.

History

Session 8

Electric lights first appear at the New Smoke Aftermarket as the sun begins to set. The transition from daylight to evening triggers the lighting system: conventional lanterns are turned on first, followed by the electric lights coming to life overhead. The activation of the electric lights creates an immediate change in the atmosphere, producing a buzz in the air that signals the presence of electricity.

Sucks Benedict identifies the lights and notes their rarity, stating: "I haven't seen electric lights in, I feel like, years. I mean. Yeah, it's kind of rare." The observation confirms that electric lighting technology exists in the world but is distributed unevenly, with most locations lacking access to it. The physical sensation of the electricity humming through the air is notable enough to be felt and remarked upon, establishing the New Smoke Aftermarket as possessing technological capabilities beyond those of typical settlements.