Prized by alchemists and sailors alike, tar is a black oily substance derived from the dry heating of bark. It is a by-product of using bark in the tanning process.
From the Vilayet to the Western Ocean, shipwrights know the value of tar as a water repellent. The legendary purple-sailed fleet of Turan owes the color to the unusual mix of tar and local chemicals used to soak the sailcloth.
In the gladiatorial arenas of Argos, tar is used to seal cuts and abrasions and ward off minor infections.
