The Ringing Anvil Expands!

(written by Joel, with slight edits by the scribes, concerning recent developments and expansions of the Ringing Anvil, the smithy/armory/engineering institution created by his player-character Durham)

The Ringing Anvil becomes a Major Institution

Scaffolding begins to surround the Ringing Anvil. The clang of metal working is replaced by the clapping of hammer and nails. Durham can be seen supervising the builders, making sure the work is done to exact specifications. After several days a few things become clear: a large forge is being built and some sort of large tower is being erected as well.

Many gather wondering what exactly is being planned, and rumors begin to swirl around:

"I hear the tower will be so tall, Durham will be able to lasso wind nymphs to use as bellows for the forge."

"I was told Durham trained a dzor to use a forge, and that is why the forge is so large."

"As I understand, Durham hired a Klackon wizard, who can wave the four arms around to complete their work in half the time!"

While rumors fly about what is happening at the Ringing Anvil, Pako, the ever faithful renyu servant of Durham, looks at his master's blueprints and says, "Master builds strange machines."

"Yes, I suppose a windmill is strange if you haven't seen one before. I studied how to make them when I became an architect."

Durham shows Pako the schematics for the windmill, explaining how the arms catch the wind and, through a series of gears and shafts, delivers power to various new tools being made for the Ringing Anvil.

"But why master?" asked Pako.

Durham replied, "Commissions! My dear friend commissions! That's where the Anvil makes its money. Once we complete these tools powered by the windmill, we should be able to complete commissions in half the time as normal, making the Anvil the go-to place for any custom work."

“And with the drawings of the forge from the Sixth House we will be better to work the zortrium and perhaps be able to forge the legendary metal ourselves one day.

"I also plan to hire an alchemist to expand the scope of our work here. For I have many ideas that require expertise outside of my own."

After a month the work was finished and Durham rolled out the six amphorae of beer he had kept to celebrate the new renovations. Rounds were poured for all the builders, employees and even a few strangers as a toast went out for the bright future of the ringing anvil.

Durham's list of items when drafting these expansions to the Ringing Anvil:

• I wanted to make anvil a bit of an icon on the city hence the windmill

  • I wanted the windmill tower to add to the city skyline.

• The windmill

  • Since Cothan-Gadeed is a port city I figured there is enough wind power to make the windmill useful

  • The windmill is used to power the automatic hammer, drill press, saw and bellows, allowing the rough shaping of items to be done faster, cutting down the overall time to process a commission but final shaping and detailed work still needs to be done by hand.

  • Also has a fan tail which adjusts the windmill into the direction the wind is blowing

• The forge

  • Definitely would help work the zortrium better

  • May need to do some non-magical research to achieve maximum performance

• Alchemist

  • Wanted to expand items that could be made like smoke bombs, grenades of various types. And other things that would require some knowledge of chemistry.

In expanding his institution, and especially in seeking the retainer of an alchemist, Durham drew the attention of the Guild of Alchemists, who frown upon the idea of mixing protected professions under the roof of a single institution. Fortunately for Durham, he is no citizen of Cothon-Gadeed, and so retains a certain kind of social freedom unfettered by the strictures of citizen-society--yet nevertheless, the Alchemists' Guild sent over agents to examine the Ringing Anvil, and to assess a variety of taxes and legal fees to the ultimate tune of 1200 dinars in order for Durham to be afforded the privilege of retaining on his staff members of both the Guild of Armorers and the Guild of Alchemists.