Book of Stone: Gunpowder

First appearing in the American Southwest in early 1990, the drug gunpowder—so-called for its black coloration—originated in South America. The highly potent drug proved to be highly addictive and briefly threatened to overtake the emerging crack cocaine in illicit sales. Gunpowder’s appearance in the United States abruptly came to an end less than a year after it first appeared. Experts believed that the drug’s source was eliminated by U.S. interdiction efforts, with the remaining stockpiles smuggle din gradually used up and replaced by other more common drugs.

Behind the Scenes: Gunpowder was produced in the nation of Acre, in South America. Blended with human blood, Gunpowder was produced by alchemical means and actually linked the user with other users and the creator of the drug: the First Born Fell, son of Inti, Huayna Cuyochi. Linked, users of gunpowder could be drained of their lifeforce slowly, over time, or have their thoughts and memories read. The drug also allowed Inti to channel lifeforce into his users, giving them superhuman strengths and resistances to injury. Inti’s human underlings could further dilute the drug by adding their own blood to it, allowing the to siphon the lifeforce of those below them on the drug chain.

Gunpowder’s production was brought to a halt when Huayna was eliminated by Detachment 1039 in 1990

Read more about Gunpowder, Acre, and Huayna Cuyochi in Dark Powder, coming this Fall.