- JCastaway-Ahmed Usta, the Gunsmith of Istansar.png (659.31 KiB) Viewed 5091 times
Ahmed’s weathered hands, calloused from years at the forge, tell the story of a man who lives for his work. His simple leather apron, stained with soot and metal shavings, contrasts with the intricate brass inlays he adorns his weapons with—floral arabesques, geometric patterns, and a lion motif symbolizing the empire’s might. Known as “the Gunsmith of Istansar,” Ahmed’s reputation draws clients from across the realm, but his social skills are lacking, his conversations often drifting into technical tangents that bore or confuse others. His workshop is his sanctuary, a cluttered space filled with sketches, tools, and half-finished projects, but his lack of combat prowess makes him a liability in the dangerous streets of Istansar, where rival guilds and bandits lurk.
Ahmed’s brilliance shines through his creations, but his obsession isolates him. He believes that a well-crafted weapon can change the course of history, a conviction that drives him to perfect his Shishana Pistols, even at the expense of his own safety. His small Eldritch Cannon—a tripod-mounted device resembling a miniature Shishana—fires force blasts to protect his workshop, a testament to his ingenuity but also a reminder of his vulnerability. In a world of magic and warfare, Ahmed Usta remains a paradox: a genius artificer whose creations arm heroes, but whose own lack of martial skill leaves him dependent on others to wield the weapons he so meticulously crafts.
Fast-Facts
- Name: Ahmed Usta (Master Ahmed)
- Classification: #Historical-Fiction
- Roles: Master Gunsmith, crafting magical firearms for the Janissar Guard
- Artificer, specializing in arcane weaponry
- Background: Guild Artisan, born into a family of craftsmen in Istansar (~1720 in a fantasy timeline)
- Age: Early 40s, active during a fantastical version of the Ottoman Empire’s 18th-century peak
- Appearance: Weathered hands, calloused from crafting; short, neatly trimmed beard; wears a simple leather apron
- Wearing: Leather apron over a linen tunic, carries a prototype Shishana Pistol and smith’s tools
- Personality: Brilliant but socially awkward; obsessed with his craft, often neglecting his own safety
- Leadership Style: Not a leader but a respected artisan; his creations inspire awe, but his lack of charisma limits his influence
- Delusion: Believes his weapons will shape history, sometimes overestimating their impact
- Social Skills: Poor; he’s more comfortable with tools than people, often boring others with technical talk
- Combat Skills: Minimal; relies on his Eldritch Cannon for defense, lacking skill with melee weapons
- Epithet Origin: “The Gunsmith of Istansar,” earned for his mastery of magical firearms, though whispered with a mix of admiration and pity
- Human Artificer (Artillerist) 5
- STR: 10 (+0) | DEX: 12 (+1) | CON: 14 (+2) | INT: 18 (+4) | WIS: 13 (+1) | CHA: 11 (+0)
- HP: 38 (5d8 + 10, average roll)
- AC: 14 (leather armor, DEX bonus)
- Weapons: Shishana Pistol (1d10 force, 60/180 ft., loading), Dagger (1d4 piercing, thrown 20/60 ft.)
- Proficiency Bonus: +3
- Alignment: Lawful Neutral. Ahmed’s dedication to his craft and guild aligns with order, but he’s not driven by moral crusades.
- Flaw: “I’m so focused on my craft that I neglect my own safety.”
- Bond: His workshop in Istansar, a sanctuary of creation.
- Ideal: “Craftsmanship is the highest form of art; a well-made weapon can change history.”
Strength (STR): 10
- Ahmed’s work as a gunsmith requires some physical effort—hammering steel, carving wood—but he’s not a fighter. His Strength is average, reflecting his ability to handle the physical demands of his trade without excelling in combat or heavy lifting.
- His nimble fingers are adept at crafting intricate inlays and assembling delicate mechanisms like the miquelet lock, giving him a slightly above-average Dexterity. However, his lack of combat training means he’s not particularly agile in battle, relying on his Eldritch Cannon for defense.
- Years of working in a hot, smoky workshop have made Ahmed resilient, and his Constitution reflects his ability to endure long hours at the forge. He’s hardy enough to withstand the physical toll of his craft, but not exceptionally tough compared to seasoned adventurers.
- Ahmed’s brilliance as a gunsmith and artificer is his defining trait. His high Intelligence reflects his mastery of arcane crafting, historical knowledge of weaponry, and ability to innovate with magical firearms like the Shishana Pistol. This is his highest stat, showcasing his genius.
- Ahmed has a practical wisdom born from years of crafting and dealing with clients, giving him some insight into the world around him. However, his obsession with his work limits his broader awareness, and he often overlooks dangers or social cues.
- Ahmed is not particularly charismatic, often coming across as awkward or overly technical in conversation. His focus on his craft leaves little room for social graces, but he’s not as abrasive as someone like Kaspar—his Charisma is average, reflecting a neutral presence.
- Class: Artificer (Artillerist subclass)
Ahmed’s role as a gunsmith who blends craftsmanship with magic makes the Artificer class a perfect fit. The Artillerist subclass, which focuses on creating magical firearms and turrets, reflects his historical role as a maker of Shishana rifles, adapted to a fantasy setting where his weapons fire force energy instead of black powder.
- At Level 5, Ahmed is a skilled professional, reflecting his status as a master gunsmith in his early 40s. This level grants him key Artificer features like Infuse Item and the Artillerist’s Eldritch Cannon, which mirrors his ability to craft and deploy magical firearms. It also keeps him at a mid-tier level, comparable to Kaspar’s Level 7 Fighter but emphasizing crafting over combat.
- Reasoning: Levels 5–10 represent skilled professionals in D&D. Level 5 gives Ahmed access to 2nd-level spells (e.g., Thunderwave), the ability to infuse items with magic, and the Eldritch Cannon, which fits his role as a creator of magical weaponry. It also keeps his combat abilities limited, as requested, since he’s not a fighter.
Proficiencies and Features
Skills:
- Arcana (+7, INT-based): Reflects his knowledge of magical crafting and arcane mechanisms.
- History (+7, INT-based): His understanding of historical weapon designs, learned through his Prodigy feat.
- Investigation (+7, INT-based): For analyzing and designing complex mechanisms.
- Insight (+4, WIS-based): Some ability to read clients, though limited by his focus on work.
- Saving Throws: CON and INT (Artificer proficiencies), reflecting his resilience and mental acuity.
- Weapons: Proficiency with simple weapons (dagger) and his custom Shishana Pistol (treated as a reskinned firearm: 1d10 force, 60/180 ft. range, loading property).
- Armor: Light armor proficiency (leather armor).
- Magical Tinkering: Can imbue small objects with minor magical effects (e.g., a glowing inlay on a weapon).
- Infuse Item: Can infuse mundane items with magic (e.g., +1 to a weapon’s attack roll).
- Artillerist Spells: Knows spells like Mending, Magic Missile, Shield, and Thunderwave.
- Eldritch Cannon: Creates a small cannon (e.g., a miniature Shishana) that fires force blasts or flamethrowers (1d8 force or fire damage, 60 ft. range).
- Guild Artisan Feature: Guild Membership (provides access to resources and contacts in Istansar’s crafting guilds, reflecting his historical status in Istanbul’s artisan community).
Weapons Utilized by Ahmed Usta, the Gunsmith of Istansar
Shishana Pistol
- Description: A magical firearm inspired by the historical Shishana rifle, featuring a miquelet-style arcane lock that ignites a burst of force energy instead of black powder. The barrel is adorned with brass inlays—floral arabesques, geometric patterns, and a lion motif—reflecting Ahmed’s Ottoman-inspired craftsmanship. In D&D terms, it’s a custom weapon: 1d10 force damage, 60/180 ft. range, loading property (requires an action to reload).
- Use: Ahmed uses the Shishana Pistol for self-defense, though his lack of combat skill (low STR and DEX) makes him a poor shot. He relies on its magical properties to compensate for his inexperience.
- Fantasy Context: The Shishana Pistol is a fantasy adaptation of the historical Shishana, blending Ottoman aesthetics with D&D magic. It represents Ahmed’s pinnacle creation, a weapon sought after by the Janissar Guard.
- Description: A simple, short blade carried as a utility tool and last-resort weapon. In D&D terms: 1d4 piercing damage, thrown 20/60 ft. range.
- Use: Used for practical tasks (e.g., cutting materials in his workshop) or desperate self-defense if his Eldritch Cannon fails. Ahmed’s low combat skills make him ineffective with it in a fight.
- Fantasy Context: Daggers are common tools for artisans, and Ahmed carries one as a practical necessity, reflecting his historical role as a craftsman.
- Description: A small, tripod-mounted device resembling a miniature Shishana, crafted from steel and brass with glowing arcane runes. It can fire force blasts (1d8 force damage, 60 ft. range) or flamethrowers (1d8 fire damage, 15 ft. cone). Ahmed can deploy it as an action, and it acts on his turn.
- Use: Ahmed’s primary defense mechanism, compensating for his lack of combat skill. He deploys it to protect his workshop or himself when threatened, relying on its magical firepower.
- Fantasy Context: The Eldritch Cannon is a D&D adaptation of Ahmed’s historical role as a gunsmith, representing his ability to create small, powerful weapons that mirror the Shishana’s design.