Blademarket

In the industrial heartland of Volfor, Blademarket is it's thriving centrepiece.

The forges never cease, the presses never stop. Whatever you need made or crafted, there'll be someone open to do it - if you have coin.

—William Sunderforth, A Visitors Guide to Blademarket

What the city lacks in beauty, it makes up for with its atmosphere. A place where people make things, design things, build things. The Amahi run most of the industry here and it's rare to see a workshop or alchemists without the guild crest on the building. The center of the city is dominated with the large guildhouse and it's towering clocktower. Tall buildings and towers in the center give way to more sprawl of workshops and warehouses as you head towards the walls with the sprawl extending further in some cases.

One of the unique points of the city are the steel cables and ropes criss-crossing the streets from building to building. These are called skylines and are used by some of the locals as a means of quickly reaching the ground or crossing to other buildings through the use of skyhooks, small greased jockey wheels with a leather strap to hold on to. As most of the buildings have doorways on the higher levels for hoisting loads of timber and metals, this gives easy anchoring points fot the skylines.

History

There's always been some kind of settlement here, from the earliest days of Osuvanne. Located at the crossroads of the natural North/South path through the continent, and the east/west path between the two sets of mountains in Volfor, has always been a natural place for trade and industry.

The start was a tavern, the name of which has been lost to history, but a basic coaching inn on the King's Road. Soon some traders met here to sell their goods and eventually an enterprising Dwarf set up their forge offering repairs to travellers and high quality arms. This is the first known named building of the growing town and the history of The Forge tavern can be traced back to this building.

As trade grew, people realised this was a place to go to acquire anything and try everything. Engineers and artificers started taking advantage of a steady stream of traders and a growing supply of goods and materials. The weapons market that gave the city it's name was established and soon Blademarket was listed on maps.

Layout

The city is roughly separated into 4 wards, with each encompassing one of the city's always open gates. The North and South wards make up the center of the city, running straight through the middle with the East and West wards either side. These days the city has spread outside of the old walls with homes and smaller businesses clustered around each gate.

The center itself is a busy mix of workers and crafters, merchants and apprentices, all going about their business.

The 2 main roads between the 4 gates are wide and open, with the usual skylines crossing them. The North-South King's Road and the East-West Market Street meet at The Cross in the middle. It's a hubbub of activity, containing a large open square and a fountain, and is the location of many civic events.

Southern Ward - Kingsgate

Located at the Southern end of the City, the Kingsgate is named for its historical purpose of being the road leading to The Kingdom of Sudvanne. In this area you'll find the major trading outposts and merchants, everything from wagons and weapons to artisans tools and farming tools.

The end of this closest to the center is also home to the weapons market that Blademarket its name - there hasn't been a time when weapons weren't on sale here, and the merchants will have almost anything you want.

Northern Ward - Volgate

At the Northern end of the city is the gate leading to Vol and Furangar. The key feature amongst the merchants and traders here is The Shambles. A large marketplace of smaller vendors, each trying to make their own coin. Twisting roads and winding alleyways lead off the main road to any number of small workshops and laboratories where clever people make clever devices and chemical concoctions.

Eastern Ward - Irongate

To the East of the city is the Irongate. Originally made of wood and now permanently unlocked, this is named for the traditional shipments of Iron and other metals that entered the city through these gates. Foundries and forges can be found here, with the red glow lighting up the sky at night and smoke hanging over the city by day. The streets are open and rutted with well-worn cart tracks, there's always a lot of activity here with the continual hammering and forging.

Western Ward - Felgate

To the West of the city is the Felgate. Close to the nearby forests, it's traditionally been a center for woodworking, carpentry and stonemasonry. Winding lanes and paths lead to workshops and some of the finest craftsmen in the region. Somewhat quieter than the other wards, just North you'll find the Felgardens, a large open park enjoyed by many of the population on the rare occasion they put down tools and rest.

Taverns

The reputable taverns serve ales for every taste and traditional food for traditional people

—William Sunderforth, A Visitors Guide to Blademarket

The city is littered with smaller drinking establishments but there are a few that have some renown in the city.

The Forge

The largest, busiest taverns and most prominent tavern in Blademarket, located around the corner from The Amahi guildhouse in the center of the city. There's fair food and good lodgings provded by the landlord, a dwarf called Bernam Lasthold. Many see it as the first point of call on entering the city and there's always traders passing through. A private lounge in the back is used for guild affairs.

The Drunken Alchemist

Located near the Kingsgate, this is a tavern that has practically turned brawling into a sport. It's rare the town guards aren't called to a disturbance here most nights. A raucous atmosphere and a place where quiet people are able to blend in.

Hammer and Anvil

In a small side-street in the Western ward, the gated entrance leads to a small courtyard containing a well and beyond it the main taproom and lounge. The cellar has been turned into a second taproom and there are stories of tunnels leading outside the city, but those are just urban legends.

The Rusty Bellows

To an outsider, it looks like this tavern is built into the Eastern wall of the old city, but as the locals know - the wall was built onto the Rusty Bellows. The oldest tavern in the city and one of the smaller places, the people here don't like to be disturbed, they come to drink and drink is what they do.

Markets and Merchants

The Blademarket

The original trading center of the city, giving it its name and purpose. Weapons of almost any kind can be obtained, from the latest crossbows to traditional pikes. All of varying qualities and prices. Located just south of The Cross on the King's Road.

The Shambles

A collection of smaller traders and artificers selling anything and everything. Curious inventions and knick-knacks to the latest in technomancy and historical devices. Clever people and even cleverer trinkets. Located amongst a collection of workshops and small warehouses in the Northern Ward.

'Shademarket'

A legend that attracts tourists, but truly I believe the Shadow Market only exists in the imagination and as a way to part unwary visitors from their coinpurse or their life.

—William Sunderforth, A Visitors Guide to Blademarket

Rumoured to operate somewhere in the city, The Shadowmarket or as some have come to call it, the Shademarket, is meant to be a place where anything can be obtained for a price. Often mentioned in conspiratorial, hushed tones, many believe it does not exist and is just a legend created by some in exchange for a tankard of ale or two from naive visitors.