The Inkwell
The Inkwell is considered the holiest place in the sacrilegious city of Mantlemine. It is a tattoo parlor known across the city as a place of neutrality, even for rival gangs who all come to this parlor to get the mark of their respective organization. For The Emerald Claws, a green claw mark tattoo on the right shoulder, for The Crimson Knives, a crimson dagger tattoo on the left shoulder. It is known among Mantins that no matter the animosity, The Inkwell is an almost holy place where no urges are acted upon and where no blood is spilled. It is located in the southern Key District, though isn't charged for operating in Emerald Claw territory.
The Inkwell is built in the corpse of an old church dedicated to Erathis that was built when Mantlemine came to be, as the city didn't originally start as the crime den its turned into today. It is run by the skilled tattoo artist Urab-Gun-Durr, who chose the abandoned church as a place to set up shop. He supposedly did this to dedicate his finest works to the gods themselves, trying to garner some mercy for the misguided people of Mantlemine. This, however, doesn't stop Urab-Gun-Durr from perpetuating the gang violence common in the city by doing the gang member's tattoos.
One of the employees of The Inkwell is Moriee Vanderbush, who usually tends to customers from out of town due to her disdain towards Mantlemine's gangs.
Purpose / Function
To provide a place where the gangs of Mantlemine can talk without the threat of violence and get their gang-affiliation tattoos. They also provide non-gang related tattoos to those who want them, and for a premium price, Urab-Gun-Durr is said to offer tattoos with magical properties.
Alterations
The Inkwell used to be a church dedicated to Erathis that's construction was ordered by Maltrani Bretscotch during the founding of Mantlemine (before it became a criminal haven that spits on Erathis' name). Thanks to Urab-Gun-Durr, it hasn't changed much. One notable change is above the main door carved into the stone of the building are the words: "The Inkwell". Also, the inside has been renovated for a more business-friendly environment while keeping some of the religious iconography.
Architecture
The church is a huge intricately carved stone building with a worn red roof. Huge windows are set on the building's sides, each shining golden light into the building's interior. Above the large wooden door carved into the church's stone are the words "The Inkwell".
Directly inside the large door is the counter, which is located where the nave used to be. Separating the nave and aisles are two waist-high stone dividers built into the floor, behind which are the client seats where they get tattoos. This way, potential customers can see the tattoo artists hard at work as they enter to get an appointment, which is usually given immediately as long as an artist is available. Atop the alter is where Urab-Gun-Durr usually does his tattoos, and is shadowed by a large run-down stone statue of Erathis (depicted as a cloaked woman with her hood up wearing a blindfold. She extends one arm and used to hold a scales of justice that has since fallen off and has not been replaced). The entire church is lit by the natural light coming from the huge windows.
The north and south transept are blocked off by noticeably newly-built walls with large wooden doors. The doors to the north transept are almost always locked, and leads to Urab-Gun-Durr's personal quarters where he sleeps. He also stores his rarer inks and tattoo supplies that he has specifically imported at very high prices. The southern transept is usually unlocked and is used as storage space for anything related to business.
Defenses
Nobody in the city dares make a scene or act on any violent impulses within The Inkwell. Due to the services provided by The Inkwell, it is considered highly taboo for both members of The Crimson Knives and The Emerald Claws to pick a fight in the building's premises, often ending with the aggressors "mysteriously disappearing".
Tourism
The Inkwell is one of the only tourist destinations within the city of Mantlemine.
Rules for tattoos
Unofficial rules for tattoos in D&D 5eBasic services
There is an extra 7 GP charge for colored inks. All tools are properly sterilized- A small tattoo for 1 GP
- A small intricate tattoo for 5 GP
- A medium tattoo for 5 GP
- A medium intricate tattoo 10 GP
- A large tattoo for 10 GP
- A large intricate tattoo for 20 GP
Advanced services
These services are given by Urab-Gun-Durr himself, greatly increasing the cost. All tools are properly sterilized- A small tattoo for 15 GP
- A small intricate tattoo for 30 GP
- A medium tattoo for 30 GP
- A medium intricate tattoo 60 GP
- A large tattoo for 60 GP
- A large intricate tattoo for 120 GP
- An Absorbing Tattoo in green, blue, red, white, black, silver, or gold for 24,000 GP (the ink of the tattoo is made from the blood of a dragon matching the ink's color, administered through a magic emerald needle, counts as a large tattoo)
- A Barrier Tattoo for 1,000 GP (uncommon, counts as a small tattoo), or 6,000 GP (rare, counts as a medium tattoo). The ink for this tattoo is made from ground-up silver dragon scales, and the purity of the mixture determines the rarity (administered through an adamantine needle)
- An Eldrich Claw Tattoo for 500 GP, the ink for which is made from nothic blood (counts as a small tattoo, administered through a needle made from a nothic spike)
- A Ghost Step Tattoo for 4,000 GP, the ink for which is made using essence from a banshee or other ghost (counts as a large tattoo, administered through a needle fashioned from a bone devil's claw)
- An Illuminator's Tattoo for 500 GP, the ink for which is made out of ground-up magical stones, making it sparkle on the skin (counts as a small tattoo)
- A Masquerade Tattoo for 500 GP, the ink for which is made out of the blood of a doppelganger, administered through an onyx needle (counts as a small tattoo)
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