Deep within the Slave Trade District of Dergorai, where the air is thick with the stench of soot and molten metal, stands The Black Shackles Forge—a notorious workshop where chains of domination are forged. This is where magical collars, reinforced chains, and specialized manacles are created to ensure that no slave escapes or turns their powers against their masters.
The forge itself is a vast, blistering hall carved directly into the rock. Massive furnaces burn endlessly, casting a crimson glow upon the dark stone walls, while enormous bellows pump air into the flames with a rhythmic whoosh. The relentless clang of hammers striking heated iron fills the ears, and the air is suffused with the scent of hot metal, sweat, and oil.
Along the walls, rows of workbenches are lined with shackles, chains, locks, and rune-engraved plates embedded into magical collars. At the center of the chamber stands a colossal anvil, inscribed with ancient runes, surrounded by blazing crucibles filled with molten metal. Every tool is wielded by a craftsman—grim dwarves and gnomes with soot-blackened hands and hollow, emotionless eyes.
Rumors whisper that The Black Shackles does not merely craft restraints, but true instruments of control, imbued with curses and suppressive magical effects. Custom-made bindings can be ordered here, designed to seal specific abilities of the wearer, as well as specially enchanted keys that only their owners can use.
Overseeing it all is Skaldur the Cruel Brand, whose hands have forged thousands of chains, and whose magic has absorbed the hatred of countless captives. Her word is law in this forge, and her craftsmanship makes The Black Shackles the most sought-after supplier among slavers.
Key Features of the Location
- Giant Furnaces – Ever-burning sources of heat where black metal is melted down for the bindings.
- Central Anvil – A massive stone pedestal engraved with runes that enhance the magical properties of the chains.
- Shelves of Shackles and Collars – Storing everything from simple iron restraints to enchanted manacles that suppress magic, strength, or willpower.
- Order Chamber – A small office where wealthy clients negotiate custom orders with the master craftsmen.
Notable NPCs
Skaldur the Cruel Brand
“Shackles are not just metal. They are a symbol of power.”
Skaldur is the chief blacksmith of The Black Shackles, a grim and broad-shouldered dwarven woman whose skin is marked with burns and old scars. It is said she knows the secrets of ancient runes that allow metal to impose its master’s will upon the wearer. Her name is spoken with both respect and fear—she tolerates no mistakes and never forgives defiance.
Grimlok, the Forge Overseer
“Shackles are not just metal. They must become part of the body.”
Grimlok is a brutish, cruel dwarf responsible for overseeing the forge’s operations. He ensures the blacksmiths work without pause and has no hesitation in discarding those who prove too weak to keep up.