The Red Anvils are a small group of blacksmiths who forge the Red Blades, swords imbued with a red-glowing magical energy. They supply the blades for elite soldiers and bodyguards in the region. The organization has existed for nearly a century with as many as twenty Red Anvils at one time, but this has dwindled to only eight remaining members.
Goals
- Keep the secret of forging the blades safe, so they do not fall into the wrong hands.
- Selectively screen and recruit new members from regional blacksmiths.
- Supply the elite guard with proper weaponry.
- Find a steady supply of materials and components for the blades.
Secrets
- The last three Red Anvils to die did so under suspicious circumstances, but this has not been shared publicly even among the surviving members.
- At least three separate parties currently seek the secrets of forging the blades, though none of infiltrated the organization…yet.
- One skilled blacksmith, currently under consideration by the Red Anvils, secretly works for a rival.
- An elite guard has been bribed by someone who wants to know the secrets of the blades.
- One of the oldest members of the Red Anvils wants to see the organization die because it no longer serves a noble goal, and she has discouraged the initiation of new members.
- One of the younger Red Anvils has discreetly taken on an apprentice; the apprentice is an outsider to the region.
- Some of the forged blades have been lower in quality recently, and the Red Anvils are not sure why.
- A witness to a recent murder swore he saw the murderer using a glowing red blade.
- The Red Anvils are all skilled blacksmiths and trained enchanters.
- The first (and most powerful) red blade was created nearly a century ago and has been lost for decades.
Seeds
Encounter Seed: As the characters are walking at night in a settlement, they hear someone say, “I’m…I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was you. I promise…I promise it won’t happen again.” If the characters investigate, they will see someone with their hand on the hilt of a sword, exposing just part of the blade. The blade is lightly glowing with a reddish tint.
Encounter Seed: A procession of town guards, including one with a red blade, runs past the characters in a settlement. They are followed by a burly man with a dark beard. They all appear to be worried about something.
Encounter Seed: While the characters are shopping, a blacksmith casually mentions to them that his dream is to become a Red Anvil. He will be offended if the characters do not know who the Red Anvils are, or if they act unimpressed.
Adventure Seed: The party learns through rumors that the original blade forged by the first of the Red Anvils belonged to a knight who traveled decades ago to explore a nearby dungeon and never returned. The blade would be a powerful magical weapon, but it would also make the characters targets for many who want the blade.
Adventure Seed: Rumors spread throughout town of another murder by someone wielding a glowing red blade. An ally of the Red Anvils is trying to dispel the rumors at the local tavern and is worried about their reputation. He might be willing to hire the party to investigate these murders further and to exonerate the Red Anvils and their clients.
Adventure Seed: A shady individual offers the characters serious money if they can fetch a red blade. He has information on who might possess them or how they might get one from an Anvil themselves.
Campaign Seed: The party is hired, or otherwise has an incentive, to look into the recent deaths of the Red Anvils and/or the murder allegedly committed by someone with a red blade. The party finds that the conspiracy is much more vast than it first appears
Campaign Seed: One of the Red Anvils becomes a patron to the party, starting off by sending them on a couple of simple fetch quests for more components or supplies. However, as the party works for the blacksmith, they learn more about the inner workings of the Red Anvils, the murders, and the blacksmith’s hope to return the group to prominence even while facing resistance within the network.