Table of Contents
Races | Economy | Buildings & Organizations
BERNADO METALWORKS
Overview
- Location: Industrial Ring, Firetown
- Address: SE Industrial Ring Road 3
- Surroundings: Adjacent to Vasquez Forge within Firetown’s “Forge Quarter”.
Founded in 2628 by Salvatore Bernado, the workshop specialized in heavy-duty copper fittings, wagon parts, and mining spares. Bernado focused on durability and fast turnaround for industrial clients.
Like its neighbors in the Forge Quarter, Bernado Metalworks was nationalized during the funding of the Federal Confederation in 2632 and merged into the Federal Copper Plant.
Architectural Significance
- Construction Material: Container and salvaged parts from the Last Frontier.
- Gates/Shutters: Copper-faced shutters backed by salvaged starship paneling.
- 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 feed for space heat; lava furnaces for casting/forging, Quantum Fusion Batteries for additional power supply.
- Lighting: Torches pinned to ribbed wall brackets.
- Water Supply: Covered snowmelt barrels for quench and wash-down.
Building Structure
- Forge Hearth (1): Large-mouth furnace for fittings and axle blanks.
- Anvil (1): Heavy face block for upsetting and truing.
- Tool & Mold Racks: Interchangeable molds for common wagon components.
- Office Nook: Order ledgers, work tickets, and delivery chits.
- Break Corner: Benches and mugs; a kettle over a small brazier.
- Restroom: Partitioned stall with Aurora Sana unit.
Look and Feel
Bernado Metalworks conveyed a practical, no-nonsense atmosphere. The showroom smelled faintly of smoke and polish, with cookware neatly arranged on iron racks. Settlers often came directly from the mines or market to buy replacements.
What truly set the forge apart, however, was the character of Master Smith Giovanni Bernado himself. Known to sing old Earth Pop songs while hammering at the anvil, his rhythmic voice often mixed with the steady beat of metal on metal, giving the workshop an almost musical quality. Apprentices joked that one could tell the day’s progress by whether Giovanni was in key or off-tune.
Adding to the forge’s unusual charm was Giovanni’s pet – a Kajanga, native to the Dark Side. The Kajanga spent most of its time curled up near the warmth of the furnace, dozing lazily through the clang of hammers and the hiss of steam. Locals saw it as a kind of living mascot, and superstitious miners believed its presence brought good luck to their orders.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Master Blacksmith (1): Plans batches; liaises with foremen; approves QA.
- Journeymen (4): Forge fittings and axles; maintain molds and dies.
- Apprentices (3): Cut stock, fetch quench, and learn core techniques.
- Sales Rep (1): Books contracts with mines and wagon masters.
- Accountant (1): Tracks copper flow, wages, and margins.
Products and Prices
| Product | Description | Price (Kourou) | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Pot | Standard cooking pot for household use | 12 K | Durable, everyday staple |
| Frying Pan | Forged copper pan with reinforced handle | 20 K | Highly demanded in Firetown |
| Mining Pick | Copper-alloy pickaxe for mining | 30 K | Essential for copper mine laborers |
| Pipe Fittings | Standardized copper joints and tubes | 25 K (set) | Sold in bulk to workshops |
| Custom Utility Order | Large-scale copper tools or replacements | 100 K+ | Commission-based |
Security Measures
- Barred shutters: Lock plates over mold racks.
- Lockdown Protocol: Heat dampers dropped; bay sealed on alarms.
- Armed Forge Master: The Master Blacksmith owns a Windstrike Rifle
Public Access, Operating Hours & Operational Rhythm
- Opening Hours: 08:00–16:00 (single shift).
- Operational Rhythm: Copper billets and cast stock delivered by the Firetown Courier Service.
- Customer Flow: Morning inspections by mine reps; afternoon pickups.
Player Interaction Possibilities
Legal interactions (Beta Age)
- Negotiate batch orders with the Sales Rep.
- Deliver billets as a Courier employee.
- Seek day-labor or a trainee spot.
Illegal interactions (Beta Age)
- Swap legit crates with contraband fittings.
- Cook ledgers to hide extra copper inflow.
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 …