To be forwarded to Doctor Azuriann in reference to Bio-hazard Protocol 311a, Section 4, paragraph 9. Notably, the use of fire to purge and kill bio-hazards as a stopgap measure to prevent contamination or outbreak.
Regarding the request for a flamethrower
Author: Ahral Duskwhisper
Date: March 5th
Type: Resource / Material
Priority: Beta
Access: Open
Recipient: Anashae Dawnbringer
Secondary Recipient: Hyrall Fairwind
Let me preface this with: This is a prototype and is not one hundred percent safe nor is it void of any flaws. I don't create perfect weapons in a matter of days.
We took the time to study possible alternatives, the weaponry in use by the enemy and while many in Silvermoon would claim the contrary, we reached this conclusion:
We do not possess the technology to field weaponry that relies on the safe dispersal of flames thoroughout an area nor do we have the perfect fuel for that and I do not think there's a magical alternative, as many would boast, short of a spellcaster who can beckon flames into existence. Our enemy has the upper hand on military technology.
Now that that is out of the way, let me explain what we've been able to assemble, our two prototypes.
We took parts from a pair of rifles and adapted it. We could use the wooden handle, after we fixed some minimal flaws in it and the base of the barrel, but we had to, first and foremost, replace the barrel entirely ( the base is not a part of the barrel per see, it's only what you fit it into, as it's not built in ) by a larger metal barrel with a round exit and no entry or way for gas to escape.
We've welded a small, reliable, steel cylinder to underneath the barrel and we passed a hose that leads into it. Now, there's also a secondary frame, very thin, it stops next to the barrel and one light a flame with the gas in it, a second canister next to the first steel cylinder.
You squeeze the trigger, fuel is released, the fire is sparked, the pressure of the barrel proppel it outwards. You've flames.
How do you operate this prototype?: In one word. Carefully. In two. Very carefully. You aim it at the intended target for incineration and you GENTLY squeeze the trigger, once you have lit the flame by the barrel's end manually.
Can I simply spray flames all over?: Sure! If you've a death wish. You cannot move too fast with it. Or run. Why? The heat trail you leave may intoxicate you, as it produces a fine, thick smoke. The flames may not exit the barrel entirely and remain confined within, in which case the barrel could melt. Or you could burn yourself alive as the flames soar across the air as you run forward and catch some of the heat.
Cautionary Measures: This is not meant for an extended delivery of flames. It's meant for a small burst. Squeeze once. Let it burn. Squeeze once more. It's important that the wielder wear a mask to prevent asphyxia or smoke inhalation. If you try to spray flames for a period longer than ten seconds, it will start to overheat very quickly. In five seconds, the flow of fuel slows down and you've thicker flames. The device starts to become hotter. The mouth of the barrel is burnt. In extreme cases, overheating may cause an explosion of the cannisters underneath it. In that case, you will lose probably four fingers in your left hand, assuming you are right-handed and you will likely be on fire.
Could this be used in combat?: Maybe. If it's versus an enemy in a spellcaster's robes, you will incinerate their fancy clothes, ruin their concentration, render any spellcasting impossible and have yourself some nice toast. If it's leather, because of the fact leather has to be kept well-oiled to be flexible, if you aim it at that, it will catch fire and render the piece useless. Very new ( and sometimes very cheap, ill kept ) leather does not catch fire as easily. Any alloy, metal plating and so on and so forth, will only feel hotter. This cannot produce flames of so extreme a temperature to have any effect on a sturdy metal plating.
Someone struck the barrel or shot at it. Or one of the cannisters. What do I do?: There's a chance it will explode in your hands and in their face. It's not a weapon. Get rid of it. It's a clumsy, crude prototype, an exceptionally hasty product of our limited engineering. If there's a hole or cut or deep scratch in the barrel, the flames will come out of it, instead of the barrel and that may be too close to the fuel or gas cannister. If it's either cannister, you probably will be burning alive along with your enemy.
Can we improve this?: Yes. How? We steal their own weapons and reverse the engineering by learning how it works as we dismantle it. Could we have a tank strapped to someone's back? Yes. Would it be safer? No. Why not? You'd be carrying a bomb all across your back. It's a tempting target. Also, fuel in a small compartment, when it's being funnelled into a barrel, is often under a lot of pressure. The release of pressure would cause it to destabilize.
Even if we could weaponize this... :... or build a better prototype, it would still be volatile, because we lack alloys and knowledge of how to craft this. Also, you may notice you don't see any orcish warlord or ogre chieftain or anyone important with one of those strapped to them. That's for a reason. They don't want fire all over them. They equip the grunts. The people they don't mind losing and who go wide-eyed when they see that burst of flames melt everything in it's path. Pyromania is more common than you'd think.
So, what good is this? If you have to destroy resources quickly, this will burn them. If you have to set an empty building on fire, that will do it. Or a building full of people barricaded in it. If you have to clear foliage or any contaminated material. There's also the intimidation factor. If you use one of these, you -will- make any onlooker afraid. There's an ancient fear of fire in every and each one of us. Do not underestimate it.
Is it unstable? Yes. But it doesn't mean that it's one vibration and run for it. If you simply had a hole in it, fuel would leak out of it... if it were not in operation. Notice that, in some cases, if while under operation, the fuel canister has been breached, the pressurized gas would cause you to lose control of the weapon.
Do remember that...
The use of fire upon an enemy would have enormous psychological impact on unprepared onlookers, inflicting a particularly horrific death. In case of Blackrock flamethrowers, it is primarily used against fortifications or inaccessible locations. A flamethrower projects a stream of flammable liquid ( ours is gas flame, which is less effective and not as hot, but functions similarly ), rather than flame, which allows it to bounce off the walls and ceilings to project the fire into covered spaces, such as inside some room from it's hallway or into a tower's second floor from the outside.
In this model, the gas is expelled by it's own pressure.
It's heavy, impairs one's mobility and it uses fuel very quickly, so you need to measure it's application and not simply waste it.
You will find a crate with them inside delivered by Initiate Quel'salama shortly.
-Ahral Duskwhisper
