Table of Contents
Races | Economy | Buildings & Organizations
VASQUEZ FORGE
Overview
- Location: Industrial Ring, Firetown
- Address: SE Industrial Ring Road 2
- Surroundings: Adjacent to Firetown Tool & Machine Works within Firetown’s “Forge Quarter”.
Run by Mateo Vasquez, a fiery smith known for his artistry, Vasquez Forge specialized in ornamental copperwork, jewelry, and decorative weapon hilts. Unlike other workshops, it catered to the Free State of Settlers' elite and visiting patrons of the Dark Side Hotel.
In 2632, during the funding of the Federal Confederation, Vasquez Forge was nationalized and merged into the Federal Copper Plant under the Federal Allotment Agency. Decorative metalwork was banned under the new regime, and its craftsmen reassigned to standardized tool production.
Architectural Significance
- Walls: Container and salvaged parts from the Last Frontier.
- Gates and Shutters: Crafted from copper frames reinforced with salvaged spaceship parts.
- Air Vents / Heat Recovery Ventilator: The building's air exchange was managed by a centralized, mechanical ventilation system with a central intake on the exterior of the building.
- Power Source: Geothermal energy for heating, lava furnaces for copper forging and Quantum Fusion Batteries for additional power supply.
- Lighting: Torch sconces illuminate the showroom and forge.
- Water Supply: Stored snowmelt provided cooling and cleaning water.
Building Structure
- Forge Hearth (1): Central lava-furnace used for heating copper and shaping jewelry-grade alloys.
- Anvil (1): Heavy iron anvil positioned near the hearth for detailed hammer work on decorative pieces.
- Showroom: A small front area with glass display cases showcasing copper jewelry, ornaments, and weapon fittings for wealthy patrons.
- Office Nook: Compact desk space with ledgers for customer orders and a copper shrine where Mateo honored his ancestors.
- Break Corner: Simple wooden benches and a table where smiths shared meals.
- Restroom: A small separate chamber equipped with an AuroraSana System, ensuring hygiene despite the forge’s soot and smoke.
Look and Feel
Inside Vasquez Forge, the air was always thick with the smell of scorched copper and smoldering charcoal. The forge hearth glowed faintly orange against the volcanic stone walls, while shadows danced across the showroom’s copper ornaments and jewelry. The lack of windows gave the space a cavernous, almost sacred quality, broken only by the flickering torchlight and the rhythmic clanging of hammer on metal.
The showroom displayed finely crafted ornamental hilts, filigreed copper jewelry, and unique decorative fittings — gleaming examples of the forge’s reputation for beauty over utility. Wealthy clients from the Free State's elite would occasionally gather here, inspecting pieces with hushed admiration while apprentices polished copper to a mirror sheen.
To celebrate a commission of a particularly unique or expensive piece, clients were sometimes offered a bottle of Lebensfreude Lager from a crate supplied by Pilswerke Inc.. This rare gesture underscored the exclusivity of Vasquez’s work, marking the forge not only as a place of craftsmanship but also of prestige within Firetown’s industrial heart.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Forge Master (1): Designs and forges ornamental copperwork, supervises staff, and manages elite clientele.
- Journeymen Smiths (2): Craft decorative weapon hilts, jewelry, and ornamental copper items.
- Apprentices (2): Assist in the showroom, polish finished works, and train in fine copper craftsmanship.
Products and Prices
| Product | Description | Price (Kourou) | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Ring | Simple hammered copper ring | 85 K | Popular among miners and laborers |
| Ornamental Dagger | Decorative weapon with engraved hilt | 150 K | Commission-only |
| Copper Necklace | Chain-link design with pendant | 120 K | Customizable |
| Commissioned Art Piece | Large decorative copper relief | 200 K+ | Reserved for wealthy clients |
Security Measures
- Armed Forge Master: Mateo Vasquez owns a Windstrike Rifle and has a dagger in his pocket.
- Closing: Copper-shuttered doors barred after hours.
- Lockdown Protocol: Furnace dampers closed, gates sealed in emergencies.
Public Access, Operating Hours & Operational Rhythm
- Opening Hours: 08:00 – 16:00, single shift per day.
- Public Access: The forge accepted commissions and displayed finished jewelry during working hours.
- Operational Rhythm: Daily copper deliveries by the Firetown Courier Service.
Player Interaction Possibilities
Legal interactions
- Commission jewelry or ornate weapon fittings.
- Negotiate with Mateo for custom copperwork.
- Apply as employee.
Illegal interactions
- Bribe apprentices to secretly craft jewelry despite ration laws.
- Smuggle decorative hilts to the Dark Side Hotel patrons.
Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters
The forges of Firetown present excellent opportunities for intrigue, as their close clustering in the Industrial Ring made them both competitive rivals and vulnerable targets for outside influence.
Adventure Hook Example
- The Cartel’s Grip – An anonymous client from Hope hires the party to investigate whether at least Vasquez Forge and Bernado Metalworks are cooperating with the Cartel. Rumors suggest the smiths are working under duress: some coerced by violent intimidation, others ensnared in predatory loans. The party’s task is to infiltrate the workshops and gather proof of Cartel activity. Evidence may include the uncovering of falsified ledgers showing repayments to the Cartel through copper goods or the production of contraband items. Dungeon Masters can heighten tension by introducing rival apprentices who suspect foul play, Cartel enforcers watching the workshops, or hidden storerooms concealing illicit goods. The party must decide whether to return the evidence to their employer, hand it to the authorities, or cut their own deal with the Cartel …