This is a very minor question, but I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on the mechanics and costs of a pyrahje (man-sized torch that lights major areas of Westcrown by night)?
Oil (1 sp): A pint of oil burns for 6 hours in a lantern or lamp.
Torch (1 cp): A torch burns for 1 hour, shedding normal light in a 20-foot radius and increasing the light level by one step for an additional 20 feet beyond that area (darkness becomes dim light and dim light becomes normal light).
Lamp, Common (1 sp): A lamp illuminates a small area, providing normal light in a 15-foot radius and increasing the light level by one step for an additional 15 feet beyond that area (darkness becomes dim light and dim light becomes normal light). A lamp does not increase the light level in normal light or bright light. A lamp burns for 6 hours on one pint of oil. You can carry a lamp in one hand.
I imagine that a pyrahje operates similar to a lamp but illuminates a larger area because it is so big, and therefore, also requires more oil.
The reason I am curious about this is because I could see the Mayor citing cost as the reason why the entire city can't be lit up at night.
This seems very plausible. It would also explain why the population is not more upset about it.
I was actually thinking the Pyrahje's more as large amounts of cheap kindling, mixed but adding the oil-angle is actually really good and helps out with populace acceptance and mayoral decrees as you both pointed out.