The Artifactorium

There is a place, lost to time now, that once gathered the greatest minds in artificery together in order to advance the skill and knowledge of all. Each year the initiated would receive an item or a trinket made of brass cogs, wheels, springs, and coils that, once manipulated properly, would teleport the holder to the meeting place in between worlds. This place would come to be known as the Artifactorium.

Summary

The Artifactorium was created as a pocket dimension for the gathering of the strongest and most gifted artificers of the known worlds. The creator was Zook Bafflestone, a gifted and self-absorbed gnome artificer and founder of the gadget company called STONE (think apple, but clockwork and gnomish). The pocket dimension held a single island that floats in a sea of stars. Upon the island is a walled garden and gathering hall. When created, the garden was lush and filled with fountains, statues of Zook, and flowers and trees which Zook found pleasant. The gathering hall was built in the style of gnomish dwellings of repute and housed a reception area, two minor showrooms, two gathering areas which housed food distribution and souvenir/product sales, a large, open-air courtyard with presentation stage, and a backstage area which also served as a workshop for Bafflestone. Initially, the Artifactorium was operated by gnomes and other humanoids of the artificer persuasion. Eventually, Bafflestone perfected automatons and replaced all of his workers.
Once Bafflestone passed, some hundred years ago, the Artifactorium fell out of favor, deteriorated, and was lost to time. However, once might be lucky enough to discover an lost key to his realm where the last of his greatest works wait to be rediscovered.

Historical Basis

Think of this location as an Apple product presentation run by Gnomes and lost to time.

Spread

No one should know about this place unless they are a Gnome or artificer and then only with a good check and then only as a myth lost to time.

In Literature

The Artifactorium is mentioned in journals from Bafflestone's contemporaries and competitors. The references decrease steadily in the years after Bafflestone's death.