The Heart of a City of Gold
The Jewellery Quarter of Aranthaes is a wonderland of wealth, where gold gleams underfoot and gemstones glitter in every window. Its streets are literally paved with gold leaf, catching the sunlight in dazzling flashes that give the district an almost otherworldly glow.
Narrow lanes wind between tall, narrow buildings, their facades painted in rich colors and gilded with delicate trim. Ornate balconies overflow with flowers, their fragrance mingling with the perfume that lingers in the air. The constant sound of hammers, files, and chisels provides a rhythmic heartbeat to the quarter, punctuated by the ringing of little shop bells and the clink of metal against stone.
Craft and Trade
The jewellery shops of Aranthaes are works of art in themselves, each one a gleaming showcase of precious stones and fine metalwork. Many are family-owned businesses passed down through generations, their masters and apprentices fiercely proud of their craft. From glittering tiaras and jeweled brooches to delicate rings and chains, every window promises luxury. Custom commissions are common, allowing nobles and merchants to order unique pieces that reflect their wealth and personality.
The Aranthaes Mint
At the heart of the quarter stands the Aranthaes Mint, a vast and imposing building of marble and brass. Here, the city’s wealth is transformed into gold coins and bars under the watch of heavily armed guards. The mint is a symbol of Aranthaes’ prosperity, but also a tempting target for thieves and conspirators – though few have ever dared to test its defenses.
Enchanted Trinkets
Alongside traditional jewellers, the quarter also hosts shops dealing in magical adornments. Enchanted rings, amulets, and charms sit alongside mundane finery, their faint glow or whispered auras drawing adventurers, nobles, and mages alike. These pieces often come at breathtaking prices, but they carry prestige as much as power.
Atmosphere
The Jewellery Quarter is both dazzling and perilous. Wealth attracts all walks of life: ambitious merchants, jealous rivals, skilled thieves, and even foreign envoys hoping to secure exclusive deals. For visitors, it is a place of awe and temptation, where beauty dazzles the senses – but a careless step may leave them lighter of purse.
Encounters
The Jewellery Quarter dazzles with wealth, but beneath the gold leaf lies rivalry, deceit, and danger. Roll d10 for possible encounters…
- A jeweller’s apprentice rushes into the street with a half-finished piece, nearly colliding with the adventurers.
Apprentice: AC 10, HP 7, improvised tools (1d4). - A wealthy patron loudly boasts about their latest purchase, attracting the attention of lurking pickpockets.
Pickpockets (1d4): AC 12, HP 8, daggers (1d4), cloaks. - A heated argument between two rival goldsmiths escalates into shoving, each accusing the other of copying designs.
Goldsmiths (2): AC 11, HP 10, hammers (1d4), aprons. - A vendor hawks “magical” rings for suspiciously low prices. Closer inspection suggests clever fakes.
Vendor: AC 11, HP 9, dagger (1d4), cloak. - A group of foreign envoys passes through with heavy guards, drawing stares and whispers from locals.
Envoys (1d4+1): AC 12, HP 12, rapiers (1d8), silks. - A child vendor offers the adventurers a trinket — a chipped gem that faintly glows. Is it magical, or just glass?
Child: AC 10, HP 5, improvised weapon (1d4). - A gang of thieves stages a distraction in the street while one slips toward a jeweller’s open door.
Thieves (1d4+2): AC 12, HP 9, shortswords (1d6), leather armor. - A jeweller collapses in the street, poisoned wine on their lips, as bystanders gasp and scatter.
Hazard: DC 13 Medicine check may stabilize; culprit unknown. - An armored caravan of wagons carrying unrefined ore rumbles toward the Mint, its guards scanning the crowd nervously.
Guards (1d4+2): AC 13, HP 16, spears (1d6+1), chain shirts. - A sudden shout of “Fire!” rings out — though whether it’s a real blaze or a thief’s ruse to scatter crowds is unclear.
Hazard: DC 14 Insight to judge; chaos may conceal danger.