Firestarter (machine)

A device first employed by elven tinkers, a firestarter is a system of lenses and mirrors that collects the light and heat of the sun and focuses it upon a distant target. Few targets can withstand the incredible heat, and most immediately burst into flame. Firestarters are large, heavy devices mounted on carts drawn by teams of horses. Their creation requires an incredible amount of precision craftsmanship, and usually involves a partnership between tinkers and artisans familiar with glasswork in order to make the large, highly polished mirrors and finely ground lenses required. Efforts to make firestarters small enough to be carried by individuals have thus far proven unsuccessful.