Iron & Gold
Credits
This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.
Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originally) Iron Gauntlets by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, Iron & Gold, also by Precis Intermedia Games. Where necessary, I use Mythic Game Master Emulator by Tana Pigeon, published by Word Mill Games.
This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)
As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes. The italicized subtitles after the chapter title are prompts from Mythic Game Master Emulator; I try to work the intent into the scene. I am not always successful, but it keeps me a bit more honest.
“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.
12 - The Refugees
As Uthrilir was waking Ninefingers for change of watch, he heard something in the woods. He put his finger to his mouth and moved past the embers of the fire, then looked out.
The dark vision of dwarves is not as keen as that of goblins, but he was able to make out more than a half-dozen goblins: not warriors or scouts, but dressed in the remains of tinkers or carpenters’ clothes: craftsmen dressed in rags. One wore a bandage that covered her head and one eye; two were children.
Uthrilir asked, “Ninefingers? Do you see them?”
Ninefingers had been getting the sleep from his eyes.[80] He stretched once and nodded. “Cover me. In case.”
He didn’t put on armour because they probably weren’t a trap, but he did strap his sword on. He headed off to one side, then came at them from the side. Didn’t matter; the goblins were fixated on the embers of the fire.
Ninefingers could be stealthy, but once he was to their side, he stopped trying. He kept his hands out and palms open so he obviously didn’t have a weapon ready, and he spoke in a low voice.
He wanted their attention but he didn’t want attention from anything else.
“What’s the deal?” he asked them.
“Slavers, they came to our nest. We’ve been walking for…three days. You have a nest near here?”
“Not really close.” He sized them up. Seven adults, two children. The bandaged one was not the only wounded one, but at least her head wound had been bandaged. Slashes on the forearms, mostly: defensive wounds.
Not a threat.
He hated that he had to judge on that.
“Come with me. We have a priest who might be able to help.”
“We cannot offer much,” said the bandaged one. His good eye fixed on Ninefingers.
“We do not ask much,” said Ninefingers. If these goblins were like Aprak, they were fussy about life-saving. He did not want them bound to the group like he felt bound to Felewin (Felewin’s objections aside). Some kind of payment, no matter how small, might avoid that life-debt.
“I am Ijalis.” Her accent was unlike Kagandis’ and she said the first “I” so it was closer to “ee.”
“Call me Ninefingers. Try to be quiet, and come this way. Single-file.”
“There are bad things in these woods,” agreed Ijalis.
Felewin and Kagandis were both awake, but Hrelgi was not in sight. Ninefingers guessed she was watching from above. Uthrilir had traced out a crude temple to help him but it hadn’t helped. “Not enough adherents,” he explained.[81] “But I’ll do my best to intercede with the Lady on yout behalf.”
“Payment first,” Ninefingers said.
Uthrilir made a scoffing noise, but Ninefingers said, “We cannot guarantee success. For that reason, we settle for less.” This was against all bargaining protocol—telling the other party you were willing to settle? Blasphemy, his father would have said. “Now, what can you offer?”
“We were driven from our home. We have only what you see.”
Uthrilir started to speak, but Kagandis (who had figured out what Ninefingers was doing) shushed him.
“And?”
“Dirontis?”
One of the goblin women sighed, and removed a medallion from her neck. It was about the size of the one they had taken from the orc scout, and had similar markings: the same words but by a different hand. “Dirontis offers a magic medallion that might protect you from the nightmares.”
“It is good for a family huddled together,” she said.
Ninefingers looked at it like a pawnbroker assessing its value. Finally he said, “It is worth the attempt on all of you.”
The goblins looked relieved.
“Ijalis, we will begin with you.” Ninefingers guided him over to Uthrilir.
Felewin had been talking to Kagandis, and she said to them, “Are you hungry?”
The adults lied, but the children said they were hungry. Felewin smiled. “I understand enough goblin for that.” He had nine leaves set out before him. On each one, he set a ninth of the cheese he had been keeping and a ninth share of fowl left from dinner. There were some greens which were edible if tough, and he had pounded them with a rock to soften them.
All of this he had been saving for breakfast, but this seemed more important. Besides, Odend will surely help us.
The goblins ate their meagre portions after approval from Ijalis, who was now healed.[82] They ate like hungry horses, but there was not enough for them to founder.
“Kagandis, the route we must take is the start of the route to your nest, is it not?” said Felewin. Ninefingers translated.
“I think they must walk with us until we cross the river,” she agreed. “We need to get to the petrified orc before we part ways; we can be there by noon tomorrow, if they’re willing to walk by daylight.”
“I’m happy to have them for a bit,”said Felewin. “If they’re willing.”
“Look at them,” said Ninefingers. “I suspect they’re ready to drop to sleep right now.”
“But,” said Felewin, “we need to warn them about humans.”
“Funny hearing you say that,” said Ninefingers, “but yeah.”
By this time, Ijalis had returned to the group, with the other two who had been injured.
Ninefingers spoke to them, and once Kagandis knew what he was talking about, she joined in. Felewin caught the goblin-ized version of his name, and tried to look non-threatening.
Finally Ijalis came over and put his hand on Felewin’s shoulder.
“It’s a kind of blessing,” explained Ninefingers. “She’s allowing you into the nest as a guest.”
“Tell her I am pleased and I will try not to dishonour her kindness. And then tell them all to sleep. We will guard them until we part ways.”
Ninefingers explained that to them. Kagandis stepped in to say something, which Felewin noted to ask Ninefingers about later; he didn’t want to slow this down by constant translating and re-translating: these people were tired and hurt. One of the children had already fallen asleep against the log.
He donated his bedroll to three of them, and settled in for a series of uncomfortable naps. Ninefingers took his watch, letting Kagandis sleep. Uthrilir helped guide folks to the shallow pit they had designated a latrine.
Felewin’s sleep was uncomfortable, indeed: he had a series of nightmares, similar to the ones he had as a child, but worse.
Game Mechanics
[80] He rolls a 5 on investigation, which he has at 9-
[81] Sacraments: rolled 7, needed 6. Blessing: needed 9, rolled 6.
[82] Didn’t do so well on the others, though, with rolls of 11, 9, 8, and 12. So one got healed but the others didn’t.
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