Iron Gauntlets
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.
6 - A Change Of Direction
Antagonize Magic
Their names, it turned out, were Hrelgi of Căled and Uthrilir (“Some call me Uthrilir the Cursed; I can’t say they’re wrong”) They had not come looking for adventure or the bounty on goblins; they were seeking Odend.
“Remind me who Odend is,” asked Felewin, while they waited for soldiers to open the door to the tower. “I imagine the cleric of the tower can do something about your axe wound.”
“Viltae might help,” replied the dwarf.
“If you say so, but you’re bleeding.”
“I will ask Viltae for help.”
Felewin didn’t know what to say to that; his people had had no clerics touched by the gods, only lay preachers.
When they got in, Ninefingers and Kagandis were waiting at the door. Ninefingers gave Felewin a small hug. “You are so stupid,” he admonished the man.
Felewin managed to smile. “Really?” He pulled off the helm and gloves and handed them to Burl.
“Stupid as a knight,” Ninefingers said. “Thank Kagandis, by the way. She managed to hit orcs with her bow when the crossbow men couldn’t.”
In goblin, Felewin said, “You are good, and it is an earned thing.”
Kagandis smiled, showing dimples. She said something to Ninefingers, who told Felewin, “She says you are too big to die easily. Also thank you.”
“But I was muchly outnumbered,” Felewin said, “and I thank these two as well. I present Hrelgi and Uthrilir.”
Hrelgi seemed nervous, and Uthrilir nodded. “Greetings.”
The seneschal and the sergeant-at-arms walked in. Brede had a small smile, which Felewin was starting to recognize as effusive joy for Brede. “Decent,” Brede said. “Thought you might be trying for better ground when you ran into the inn.”
“You thought right.”
“You’d have been in the nightsoil if they’d gone over the walls.”
Felewin shrugged. “I was already in the nightsoil out in the open. When you start at the bottom, nearly every direction is up.”
“Why don’t you use a shield? Are you an idiot?”
“Lost it months ago, haven’t had a chance to get a new one.”
Brede tsked. “Take one from the armory. Not a battlement shield, something smaller. Tell them I said you could.”
The newcomers were swept into the courtyard. Felewin saw the curate come to greet the dwarf.
No one dared disturb Brede, and soon they were alone except for the guard posted at the door.
“I want to take advantage of the window you’ve given us. Send someone for supplies.” Felewin sighed. “No, not you. You’re hurt. I’ve got healthy men who can go.”
“It’s just a bruise,” said Felewin, but really, he was not looking forward to seeing Baron Coodna.
“And it will take a couple of days to heal. I want someone to leave now, while it’s still clear. You can help guard them on the return.”
“Too bad there are no birds so we can come meet you.”
“Yes.” Brede thought for a moment. “Dogs. We will take a dog; there are four or five in the tower. Mother Pudding is best at getting home; she’s guided me when I’ve been lost in the forest. We’ll set her free when we’re a day away, tell her to come home. If you see her in less than four days, something bad has happened.”
“We?”
Brede nodded. “Yes. I’m going. Losdur can have temporary command while I’m away; he didn’t lose his head during the Goblin Folly.” He grinned. “Yes, that’s what I’m calling it. We have simple signals of things to tie around Pudding’s neck, if there’s time. Losdur knows the signals. Maybe you won’t be going in blind.”
“And us?”
“Get better. Don’t do something foolish. Help where you can. Orcs can’t breach the tower, and the men know what to do.” In a low voice he added, “Maybe help these new people so the men aren’t distracted.”
Something about the way he said it made Felewin think that the “distractions” involved unwelcome attentions to the wizard woman. “The wizard seems like she can take care of herself.”
“Even worse; I don’t need my men on sick list because they approached her wrong, especially if I’m not around to keep them in check.” He scowled. “There’s almost certainly going to be a group of orcs to stop us on the way back.”
“I’ll go, Baron or not.”
“You’re hurt, and, no offense, but I don’t know you. You acquitted yourself well out there — I think you killed four of them — but someone with more experience wouldn’t have got in the chamberpot. If those two hadn’t shown up, you’d be dead.”
“Probably,” Felewin admitted.
“On the plus side, you seem to be lucky, which trumps everything. But I’ll take four men I know over eight I don’t. There will be six of us, counting Burl. We’re leaving before the sun climbs two more hands-widths. Talk to Losdur about anything you need. Help keep the new folk out of the way. We’ll be back in four days to a week.”
Felewin nodded, accepted Brede’s backslap of approval, and walked into the courtyard. Kagandis and Ninefingers were in shadow there, to protect their eyes. Felewin walked over.
“Saw you talking with Brede. What’s the bad news?”
“He’s taking the mule and some soldiers to town for supplies. Losdur’s in charge of the remaining soldiers, we’re not to get in the way, and to keep anyone from forcing themselves on the wizard, because apparently women are rare here.”
Ninefingers translated for Kagandis. She replied. Ninefingers translated back. “She saw what the wizard can do, and pities anyone who tries something with her.”
“Me too,” said Felewin. “Brede’s concern is less that they’ll hurt her, and more that she’ll kill or injure her assailants.” He shrugged. “In better times I’d say good for her, but we do need the people.”
“Well, yon dwarf is asking about Odend.”
“Remind me who Odend is, again. I can’t remember.”
“We’ve met so many people that we’ve filled your memory to overflowing?” Ninefingers grinned. “Hermit, lives in the woods. We’ve never actually met him, just heard about him. Kagandis and I were talking about him. What you probably didn’t know is that he was one of three heroes who came here about a half generation ago — Odend, Mord, and Umathes. They got rid of the orcs, and Umathes was made Margrave. No idea if they diced for that or if Umathes took the credit or maybe it was deserved. Umathes called Lady Anwen here after her mother died, she married Onomaclus. Title is legit through her mother’s line. Mord and Odend kept adventuring in the Ironwood, but about five years ago, Odend met something that left him weakened and less right in the head. He felt he was holding the others back, so he became a hermit to try and get his mojo back.”
Kagandis interrupted to say something.
“Yes, Uncle Odend according to Lady Anwen. Then Mord disappeared. The jester — they have a jester, did you know that? — has most unpleasant names for them. And then a year ago, the Margrave got ‘sick’. He stays in his room at the top of the tower.”
Kagandis spoke again, at length.
“Lady Anwen is sure that Onomaclus knows what happened to her father, but he, Onomaclus, has forbidden her to go see him.”
“She did anyway, didn’t she?”
“Of course, but the Margrave wouldn’t see her. And about three months ago, the Margrave stopped seeing anyone. Before, he’d at least go along the battlements at night or see the prisoner, but now…. Pffft. Nothing.”
Kagandis made the same sound, and said “Nothing” in goblin.
“So if Odend is broken and a hermit, why does the dwarf, Uthrilir, want him?”
“Good question. Let’s ask him. He’s in the chapel.”
Game Mechanics
No game mechanics this chapter.
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