i read that i can upgrade my D/C grade weapons at a blacksmith of mammon like i could for my no grade weapons in the starter towns , just wandering where is the closest blacksmith of mammon to gludin ?
this is part of 7 signs quest. Collect the seal stones through this by joining Dusk/Dawn sides.
That can all be read up on the site for further info. You need the seal stones to get ancient adena which is the only way to upgrade through the blacksmith.
He appears randomly in the catas at the end of the collection period. As far as I'm aware there is no timetable. Best option is just to send a shout out in the villages.
aditionally the rates are apparently not that good early on. The best exchanges/upgrades are said to be medium c grade.
I do it usually to upgrade shop D weapon to top D, it costs 480.000 Ancient Adena. It's not that hard to get, I was farming sealstones in Necropolis of Sacrifice, she was in brig armor without helmet and tarbar. Took few evenings, so it's not that hard.
Also if you aim to catacombs, get some seeds with you, 4x HP mobs there are excellent for seeding. Of course when you join some party ask the first, but usually academy alts just go there leveling and do not care about drops or seeds at all.