The user added subs is what made me actually enjoy this. I was having a hard time reading this and thinking it a full sub until I read the few submissions that were put up. I like it. I have read a few books similar in thought to this. I actually based my magic system of my game off of the Four Types of Magic, technology being the fourth magic. This just brings it all together.
Articles (Setting Building) (Gaming - In General)
In my now four years deceased fantasy game, the castle at Yllian had hot and cold running water and central heating, as well as a large forge that were all heated by the DragonGut Furnace. Located beneath even the dungeons, the Furnace was a large thick vessel with a few entry ports that were usually closed and all sorts of ducting, flues, and pipes leading in an out of it. The vessel was surrounded by water tanks that it kept warm, which in turn kept the vessel from overheating. This produced the hot water for the plumbing. The water was drawn up to the various places it was used by impeller pumps, like are used to tap 55 gallon drums. The forge was directly above the furnace and recieved the lion's share of heat, which was used for metal working. The rest of the vents and piping lead to floor and wall grates aound the castle, pumping out hot air. Thus, the castle was well heated in the cold and wet Yllian winters.
The heart of the furnace was a portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire, and altering the size of the portal altered the amount of heat it put out. The flues and vents are adjustable, so in winter, the portal could be opened wide and the vents all opened to heat the castle. In summer, the vents would be closed, and the portal would be very very small, as maintaining an open portal is easier than opening a new one.
In Case of Emergency
Two emergencies can occur with the Furnace, overheating, and unwanted guests. In case of overheating, the portal can be easily closed, and a master valve can be opened that would drain the cisterns in the castle down into the furnace room. While the vessel itself would be untouched by water (steam bomb anyone) the works would be cooled while the portal was closed. This did happen on several dramatic occasions. The second is that portals are two way, and sometimes things can scuttle in from the plane of fire. These creatures are generally held captive by the eight foor thick, ceramic line walls of the furnace. Most nasties leave finding the vessel to tight to escape. Those that start a fuss are isolated by cutting the portal down to the minimal size and letting the vessel cool. a restricted flame creature will usually flee back through the portal when it is opened, for that express purpose. Troublesome guests are delt with by the resident Magus of the Castle. Go to Comment