Blacksmith of Love

A young man comes home to take over his missing grandfather's forge, and quickly learns the job involves more than hammering metal into shape. The town runs on a cast of odd, specialized locals, and staying on their good side matters as much as the crafting itself.

His grandfather's disappearance is the reason he's back, but the real work is settling into the role: firing up the forge, meeting the people who keep the village running, and figuring out how they factor into his climb toward becoming the best blacksmith around.

Day to day, that means working the forge and dealing with the village's residents, several of whom are more monster than neighbor and none of whom are shy about it. Progress ties craft and character together rather than keeping them separate. This is an early release, so the world and its cast are still filling in.