Are you a busy GM? Does session prep take too long? Do you never have time to work on the cool little details that can bring your adventures to life? These focused lists give you, the time-crunched GM, the tools to effortlessly add verisimilitude and detail to your urban adventures.

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1: The Alchemist’s Laboratory

The Garden: This building stands amid a garden dotted with storage sheds, the apparatus of various outdoor experiments and more. Here works the eccentric Eetu Tammi (NG middle-aged male human).
The Half Moon: Comprising the entire upper floor of this rambling building, no one lives on the floor below this laboratory, such are the smells created by Kylli Ukko’s (CG female human) work.
Miela’s Wondrous Emporium: Lyyli Miela (CG female human) uses her abilities and knowledge to give a weekly demonstration of her craft. Such demonstrations are eagerly attended by children and the curious.
The Crypt: Antti Osma (N male human) works in the crypt of an abandoned church. He has a fell reputation—which is well deserved as he is researching how to return the dead to life using alchemy. He only takes on clients to pay the bills. He is not a pleasant chap.

2: Major Locale Features

A strong, pungent smell fills the air in the environs of the laboratory. It never seems to dissipate.
The laboratory has a fabulously expensive leaded glass skylight which lets in abundant light and lets the alchemist see the stars at night.
The laboratory has a deep cellar dug below it, which the alchemist uses to store their more dangerous raw components and equipment.
A small forge is set under a brass hood that rises up through the ceiling. It is always hot in the laboratory.

3: Minor Locale Features

Shelves set up along the walls hold a bewildering array of equipment and raw materials, all vital to the alchemist’s experiments.
The laboratory has excellent ventilation—mostly because several of its windows are broken.
A pool of some kind of semi-dried green sludge lies on the floor under the alchemist’s workbench.
A sign on the main door states that all visitors must have an appointment.

4: What’s Going On?

A small group of children watch the alchemist’s building with barely repressed excitement. They cannot wait for something “fun” to happen.
Strange sounds emanate from the laboratory; moments later, its chimney belches an odd effervescent white and green smoke.
Four burly teamsters are unloading a wagon pulled up outside the laboratory.
The alchemist is leaving and is in a hurry—they need certain supplies quickly; the characters will have to come back another time.

5: Other Folk

Anton Hopea (CN male human) wants to buy some acid to use during his next burglary. This whip-thin man loiters outside the shop, trying to come up with a legitimate, unsuspicious reason why he needs the acid.
Hanna Otava (LG female human) needs a special oil the alchemist knows how to make that burns twice as ferociously as normal oil. She wears chain armour and has an air of impatience about her.
Fredrik Miemo (N male human) hates the alchemist and has come here—again—to complain about the strange smells and sounds emanating from the building. He is half-drunk and belligerent and rants about the alchemist to anyone who will listen (and some who won’t).
Erkki Kaukiainen (LE male human) lusts after the alchemist’s secrets and has weaselled his way into an apprentice position. In his mid-20s, he is old for an apprentice—before this job, he was a failed wizard’s apprentice. He lusts for power and status.

6: What’s For Sale?

Glass Goggles (20 gp): These goggles of opaque grey glass are designed to reduce the glare from a forge. They might also be useful against gaze attacks.
Glue Bomb (15 gp): This ceramic flask shatters on impact to deluge a five-foot area with sticky glue.
Thick Leather Gloves (1 gp): These cumbersome leather gloves extend all the way to the wearer’s elbows.
Apron of Many Pockets (5 gp): This thick leather apron has many pockets perfect for holding small tools. Sadly, despite its impressive name, it is not a magical item.

Credit

This is a short system-neutral extract from Urban Locale #13 Alchemist’s Laboratory by Robert Manson. The book is available from DriveThruRPG and Raging Swan Press’s own web store.

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