Terra Incognita

Alquimia de Barrio

for GURPS Technomancer

by Paul Stefko

In the world of GURPS Technomancer, while the business of alchemy is dominated by huge pharmachemical companies like Hermes Technology, small businesses still have a place locally. In ethnic communities, small towns, and especially among the criminal element, private alchemists maintain a healthy if diminishing trade.

In El Paso, Texas, one such small alchemist is Alejandro Espanoza, founder and proprietor of Alquimia de Barrio ("neighborhood alchemy"). Alquimia be Barrio opened 23 years ago, and business was good for quite a while. Eventually, though, many of Espanoza's staple elixirs began showing up on shelves at pharmacies and chain stores at vastly lower prices.

Mr. Espanoza has turned to other sources of income to supplement his dying business, leading him into the arms of the Juarez Cartel, who badly needed someone to brew combat elixirs for their enforcers. Now Alquimia de Barrio could easily become the location of adventure as PCs (be they law enforcement of criminals -- Cartel or otherwise) stumble across the shop in the course of other pursuits.

Setting

Exterior: Alquimia de Barrio is located in a three-story brick building with an adjacent alley. Walls are 6 inches of brick over 8 inches of reinforced concrete (DR 16*, 67 HP and DR 96*, 80 HP respectively).

Windows and Doors: The building has two exterior doors -- the public entrance in the front and a service door on the side of the . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: October 5, 2007

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