Description
The exterior walls are windowless by design, preventing both weather intrusion and unauthorized viewing of the arsenal within. The only entrance is a heavy double door made of layered ironwood planks bound with decorative iron work featuring wave patterns and shark tooth motifs. The doors are fitted with three separate locking mechanisms including a massive iron bar that slides into reinforced brackets on either side of the frame. Above the entrance, a carved lintel depicts crossed spears behind a traditional Vaitafe shield, announcing the building's martial purpose to all who approach.
Inside, the weapon cache is a model of organization and preservation. The walls are lined with custom-built racks and storage systems designed to house the full range of Vaitafe weaponry. Long spears and fighting staffs stand upright in floor-mounted holders along the back wall, their hafts oiled and their points carefully wrapped to prevent dulling. Traditional clubs hang from pegs at various heights, with everything from short patu clubs to longer taiaha staffs arranged by type and size. A dedicated section holds sharktooth-edged weapons, each carefully maintained and stored in protective leather wrappings that keep the teeth sharp and secure.
The center of the storehouse features several large tables where weapons can be inspected, maintained, and repaired. Oil lamps provide illumination for detailed work, while barrels of weapon oil, whetstones, replacement leather wrapping, and spare weapon parts line one wall. Climate control is maintained through clever ventilation slits near the roofline that allow air circulation while preventing rain intrusion, keeping the interior dry enough to prevent rust on metal fittings and rot in wooden components. Clay vessels filled with desiccating salts help absorb any ambient moisture.
Perhaps most striking are the ceremonial weapons kept in a place of honor on special wall-mounted displays. These beautifully crafted pieces, adorned with intricate carvings and inlaid with shell and bone, serve as examples of the Vaitafe weapon-crafting tradition and as inspirational symbols of warrior heritage. While too valuable for regular combat use, they remind all who enter the cache that these weapons are not merely tools but sacred objects connecting warriors to their ancestors. The Weapon Cache stands as both a practical military asset and a repository of cultural martial heritage, ensuring that when the war drums sound, every defender can arm themselves with the finest weapons the settlement can provide.
Benefits
The settlement maintains a ready arsenal of 100 weapons of various types (spears, clubs, staffs, etc.). During emergencies, defenders can be fully armed in half the normal time. All weapons stored in the cache receive expert maintenance, granting a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls with any weapon drawn from the cache (this bonus lasts until the weapon is damaged or requires maintenance). The cache can equip up to 50 warriors simultaneously during a crisis. This upgrade generates 3 Prestige, demonstrating the Duke's commitment to maintaining a well-armed and prepared defense force.