The Forges at Vendor

The Vale Forges
Located on the edge of a mountain range, about 15 miles North East of the ruins of Vendor the forges are not easy to find unless you specifically know what you are looking for – or have a guide. Two cave entrances both with streams running out of them that can only be reached by wading upriver into what appears to be a dead end canyon.
The first cave is extends for about 80’ into the mountain, there are four small chamber off the main cave each with two flat slabs of rock obviously levelled out to provide a sleeping pallet. Niches in the walls bear testament to items and possessions once being stored in the cave – but everything is now long gone, although there is very little dust from which you determine that the caves are used occasionally by visitors.
The second cave extends in about 30’ and then opens out into a huge cavern about 60’ deep and 30’ wide at it’s widest point. The floor of the cavern is largely sandy except for a approximately 15’ square slab of stone at the deepest point of the cave. Within the cavern can be found 4 blacksmiths workstations, each with their own forge, anvil, workbench and quench tanks. There are also two work tables with vices and tool racks, next to smaller forges – these are obviously intended for more delicate metal work. Chimneys above each of the forges lead up into the roof of the cavern and merge into a single vent.
The fourth and largest of the workstations is actually built upon the stone slab, and upon investigation the anvil itself appears to have been fused into the stone. Unlike the other workstations the anvil appears totally unblemished – almost as if unused. The tools found at this workstation are of the highest quality, worth a significant amount to a master smith.
The two forges nearest the cave entrance have obviously seen some use in the past few months, whilst the rearmost ones are covered with dust, implying that they have not been disturbed for at least a year – if not longer.