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 Weaponsmith

The Forge: Run by the oft-discussed foreigner, Ahti Keiho (N middle-aged male human), this place makes good, cheap weapons. This is a no-frills place; Ahti’s weapons have only one purpose—to kill; they are not ornaments. He is a private, hardworking man who never discusses his history; thus, rumours are legion.
The Bright Blade: A flaming sword is emblazoned on the wall of this weaponsmith’s, but sadly, magical weapons are not for sale here. Kurt Rauma (CN male human) is an excellent salesman, though, and an affable chap. He likes money and welcomes customers in a hurry who will pay over the odds.
Enonen’s Blades: Now old and nearing retirement, the master smith, Lalli Enonen (LG old male human), has taught his daughter everything he knows. Traditionalists scoff at the thought of a woman working as a smith, but her blades are just as good as her father’s.
Five Swords: Named for the legendary Five Blades of Kravnav, this weaponsmith’s produces high-quality weapons much in demand among adventurers and the nobility. Prices are high, and waits are long. The weaponsmith, Reko Seppo (NG middle-aged male human), is a popular fellow, and many folk try to bribe their way to the front of his list—doing so is not cheap.

2: Major Locale Features

The weaponsmith has a small courtyard at the back of their shop where customers are welcome to try out a weapon before purchasing.
The weaponsmith has bins of old weapons for sale given in part-exchange for new ones. Most of the weapons therein are in poor condition, but sometimes a good-quality weapon lurks among the dross.
A high wall surrounds the weaponsmith’s place of business; sharp pieces of pottery are cemented into the top of the wall to dissuade thieves from climbing over it.
The weaponsmith works from an old tower; the ground floor and the courtyard are where they work. An armoury fills one of the upper floors.

3: Minor Locale Features

The weaponsmith has a small room where customers can wait to speak with the artificer.
Old swords, axes, hammers and the like hang from the ceiling on chains; they sway gently in the wind and sometimes clang against one another. The display might look dangerous, but it is perfectly safe.
The weaponsmith keeps large hounds; at any one time, several are lounging about the place.
Mannequins wearing chain armour flank the weaponsmith’s front doors. Each mannequin wears a tabard emblazoned with the shop’s name and mark.

4: What’s Going On?

The clanging of metal on metal fills the air; the weaponsmith is hard at work.
The weaponsmith’s apprentices labour to unpack a wagon drawn up outside the shop. The wagon contains coal and wood for the forge, and the apprentices are working hard to get it all inside.
An apprentice has just done something wrong—perhaps they let the forge fire die, imperfectly forged a blade or something else. The weaponsmith is in the process of explaining publicly—in exacting detail—what the apprentice did wrong.
The weaponsmith’s is busy; several mercenaries, adventurers and warriors are here browsing for new weapons. Their laughter and excitement fill the air.

5: What’s For Sale?

Ornate Longsword (350 gp): Semi-precious gemstones stud the pommel of this highly polished longsword. It comes in a supple leather sheath.
Battleaxe (25 gp): Elegant in its brutal simplicity, there is something beautiful—and malevolent—about this axe.
Two-Handed Sword (400 gp): Crafted of light-weight, incredibly strong steel, this sword is almost five-foot-long. It is the apex of the smith’s craft and could be enchanted so fine is its balance and so sharp is its blade.
Steel Spear (50 gp): This experimental weapon comprises a spear forged from a single piece of steel.

Credit

This is a short system-neutral extract from Urban Locale #10: Weaponsmith by Robert Manson. The book is available from DriveThruRPG and Raging Swan Press’s own web store.

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Urban Locales: Weaponsmith