Fire Bundles

[GreenBeing]

A fire bundle is a means to keep a coal smoldering while traveling. It's use was common among North American aboriginals. There are various ways to construct them, which mainly vary depending upon the materials used. I think that they would be a fun addition to the game, especially if the amount of matches loot were reduced at the same time. One source describes construction as:

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A fire bundle can keep a coal for six to twelve hours. To construct it, surround the live coal with dry punk wood or fibrous bark, such as cedar or juniper, and wrap this with damp grass, leaves, or humus. Around this, wrap a heavy bark, such as birch. The key to success is to ensure that there is enough oxygen to keep the ember burning but not enough to promote its ignition. If the bundle begins to burn through, it may be necessary to stop and build another fire from which to create another coal for transport. 

  

Here is an example of one made from sage brush by the peoples of the American west:

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Fire was often transported between one camp and another via the fire bundle or "slow match". Naturally, the fire bundle was also made of sage bark.

The one to two-foot bundle was constructed in layers and was bound together with more bark strips. In cross-section it would have unrefined bark outside, lightly shredded bark inside that, and a center core of very finely shredded "fuzzed-up" bark. When they broke camp, the Indians spread open one end of the bundle to expose the fine inner core, shoved in a live, marble-sized coal and blew on it lightly. Once smoldering, the inner core kept the coal alive while the coarser outer layers kept it from burning through the bundle too rapidly. A well-made fire bundle would smolder flamelessly for ten to fifteen hours before it burned too short to carry conveniently. If the travelers had not reached their destination by this time, they would stop, kindle a new fire by blowing the remainder of the bundle into flame, then manufacture a new bundle and carry on.

Here is one using a Tinder Konk or Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius), which can be found growing on birch trees, among other places:

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To carry a coal, set the piece of Tinder Fungus or False Tinder Fungus smouldering. Then wrap it in something to keep the air off it while you carry it. It needs to breath a little though, or the coal will go out. Experiment with ways of carrying it. I have used birch bark wrapped around it, leaving a tiny hole at the top for the smoke to escape. Check it periodically to ensure that the coal hasn't spread - it has a tendency, especially if too much air gets at it, to spread and start to consume the entire piece of fungus. 
I was able to carry fire in a small 2" x 3" piece for about 2 hours, wrapped in a piece of birch bark. The fungus may get rather hot as the coal penetrates deeper into it. Makes a good hand warmer, though!

This photo shows a piece of False Tinder Fungus that has been smouldering for about 1/2 - 3/4 hour.

Lastly, here is one using our old favorite, the cattail head. This one only burns for five to twenty minutes:

[reginaphalange]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I've thought about this in game. Eventually I'll run out of firestarters/matches and have to use a magnifying lens, so things such as this makes sense. Add a little cultural lore, I don't see why not... Better than relying on a torch to xfer fire.

[hozz1235]

Cool idea! 

On 3/11/2018 at 12:58 PM, reginaphalange said:

Eventually I'll run out of firestarters/matches

Unless you're playing a VERY long game and making fires constantly, you won't run out of game-supplied fire-starters.