Coal is a common black combustible rock, dug from seams exposed in cliffs or reached through mines. It burns hotter and for longer than ordinary firewood, making it a basic fuel for household hearths, kilns and smithies across Orth. Hard, bright coal is prized for clean heat; softer grades produce more smoke and ash.
Metalworkers consume large quantities when smelting copper ore and iron ore, so a dependable coal supply can determine where heavy industry develops. Compact pieces suitable for carving and polishing are known as jet, though most coal is valued by the sack and disappears into furnaces rather than workshops.