Firebreathing (racial)

Helpfile

Usage:  breath [inhale|exhale|status|release]

Salandrine are well known for their ability to manipulate the element of fire, hearkening back to their Salamandrin origins. Salandrine, though anatomically and mentally more advanced than their smaller cousins, still retain some of the abilities shared by their kin, including their fearsome flaming breath.

Salandrine are capable of channeling thermal energy, and amplifying it within their bodies, superheating the air in their lungs, and releasing it in the form of a cloud of flame, steam, smoke or fog. The power and nature of the breath is largely dependent on the age of the salandrine, the length of time for which the breath was heated or charged, and the environment in which the breath was released. As a complication of the compatitive complexity of the biology of Salamanders and Salandrine, unlike true Salamanders, Salandrine have some difficulty generating the amount of heat required to breathe flame, and while still quite possible, the assistance of a hot, dry environment greatly speeds the process.

To inhale, and begin charging a blast of flame, use: breath inhale. Note that hot, dry environments like deserts and volcanoes will greatly speed the time required to generate a blast of flame.

To exhale, and release a blast of flame at your enemies, or try to burn a flammable inanimate object, use: breath exhale, or breath exhale <target>.

To determine your internal temperature, external temperature and remaining oxygen level, use:  breath status.

To release your breath harmlessly (which does not incur the usual inhale timer) use:  breath release.

Note: Running out of oxygen will force you to release your breath, but will not incur a timer.

Note: Exhaling at a specific single target will greatly increase its combat effectiveness, while attempting to blast all current attackers will provide a much weaker effect as each target is hit in succession, with the possibility of missing one or more of the intended targets. It is also possible for younger salandrine to run out of flame before reaching the last intended target, thus bathing any remaining targets in smoke or fog instead of true flame. 

Note: All breath types have a chance of temporarily blinding any target(s) hit. Creatures immune to heat will be entirely unaffected by this, but MAY still be disoriented by the blast. The chance of blinding and damage done by the initial blast are largely dependent on the type of breath used. For obvious reasons, hot breath cannot be used underwater.

Commentary

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To check the temperature of the room you are in, you can also buy a "glass fog-filled ball" from Prendia's Magical Curios, located 5 west, 7 north, and 1 east from Starkeep Grand Hall. Even at low levels and at room temperature, breath exhale stood a strong chance of giving a four round stun for no cost. You can begin inhaling (holding your breath) and then move anywhere as the ability does not require you to remain stationary.