The centre of Abarin’s faith in Ashlar, the Great Forge is a buzzing hive of industry and commerce. Here, the Great Craftsman’s faithful work at their forges or toil over their workbenches in search of new creations and inventions.
Unsurprisingly, the temple is a busy place. Here can be found (reputedly) the most skilled craftsmen and women in Ashlar. While most such folk have their own shop or workplace in the city, they often congregate here to share news, stories and new techniques. Additionally, the temple holds supplies of certain hard-to-find materials including—it is rumoured—small stocks of mithral and adamantine which they sometimes make available to particularly devout worshippers.
The Great Forge has an extensive network of underground storerooms, reached via a wide sloping ramp useable by wagons. Here, are stored not just the mundane engines of industry—charcoal, wood and coal—but also more esoteric and valuable materials. Some of the restricted areas are said to be protected by fiendish mechanical traps and merciless clockwork guardians.
The clamour arising from the Great Forge and clouds of smoke often belching into the air make the residences near the church less salubrious and desirable than other locations on the Svart’s northern bank.
Staff
Scores of folk live, work at or visit the Great Forge. Most are nothing more than ordinary folk—labourers, apprentices and so on. Dozens of minor priestlings also dwell within. Some folk at the Great Forge, however, are particularly noteworthy:
- Heimo Karppanen (N male human cleric 6) The high priest is renowned as a skilled weaponsmith and armorer. He is also particularly interested in crafting elaborate clocks. Examples of his work adorn several noble’s homes and other important buildings such as the Dreaming Spires. His work is expensive, but sought after; consequently there is a long waiting list for his services.
- Janaela Vonothvar (LN female half-elf cleric 3) Fascinated by the movement of the planets and the effects they have on the world, Janaela has commandeered an entire workshop for the construction of a giant orrery. Pale skinned—from long hours spent toiling over her mechanism—she only emerges to speak with other learned craftsmen or to visit the library at the Dreaming Spires.
Hooks
The party could visit the Great Forge for a number of reasons. For example:
- In Gloamhold, the party have encountered a particularly tough creature resistant to normal weapons. Following rumours the church possesses a small supply of magical weapons—or weapons crafted from unusual metals—the PCs come here to purchase the weapons. Unfortunately, they are not for sale. Instead, Heimo Karppanen requests a favour…
- The party have recovered the twisted remnant of a small orrery in their adventures. While trying to sell it, they hear of Janaela Vonothvar’s interest (or perhaps obsession) in such objects.
Languard
Languard is the capital city of Ashlar and closest settlement of note to Gloamhold’s benighted halls. This is a first look at the location, which will appear in its final form in Town Backdrop: Languard which will be published by Raging Swan Press in early 2018.
For more Languard, check out the city’s main page!