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.
2 — It’s a Siege
Ninefingers asked Felewin, “You okay?”
“Couple of times I thought they had me,” Felewin replied. “Leg took one bite.” As the adrenaline faded, he started to topple.
“Lean on me,” said Ninefingers. He helped Felewin away from the door, almost to the back. They could hear the whooping and hollering of the orcs outside, and the constant crackle of the burning inn. “Is anyone a chirurgeon?”
Kagandis came running down from the battlements. “Orcs! I loosed a few arrows but don’t think I got any of them.” Then, in the common tongue, she said simply, “Orcs! I shoot and miss.” The time communicating with Felewin had already improved her command of the common tongue.
The seneschal followed her. “The men on the battlements have powerful crossbows, but they only got one dog.” To another guard, he said, “Everyone will sleep in the tower tonight. Ask the warden to find space. Not the dungeon, and the Margrave is not to be disturbed.”
A man in a prelate’s robes spoke up. “We can fit a half-dozen in the chapel.” The man looked like he was still barely a youth; Felewin suspected this was his first charge.
Onomaclus nodded. “Yes. Yes, Adeod, that might be best. Burl and Losdur have spaces; the other newcomers can go in the chapel.” He smiled as best he could. “I shall ask Lady Anwen to let Officer Kagandis stay with her. Please take the people from the inn.” Felewin said he would be along later, and Adeod took the three others with him.
“Lady Anwen is your wife?” asked Kagandis. The seneschal insisted that she have some kind of honorific, and had settled on “Officer,” which amused her.
His smile faltered. “We have separate chambers, so you are not discommoding us at all.” Turning to the others, “Burl, Losdur, you have spaces in the barracks.”
They snapped to attention. “Yes, sir, seneschal.”
An older man came forward. “Burl, I know that leg is bad but you can manage a shift at the loopholes. Your archery needs work but we can use every returning man. Losdur, you have your duties. Tell Meliam to put you on rotations around the palisade.” The tower had been extended by a palisade, but the only way in and out of the area was a set of collapsible stairs to the barracks on the third floor.
“Yes, sir.”
Kagandis said haltingly, “I watch too.”
The seneschal said, “That is not necessary, Officer.”
“I see where you see dark,” she pointed out.
“So can this beast,” the man said, indicating Ninefingers, “and I’m not putting him at the loopholes.”
“We’re guests, and I’m not an archer,” said Ninefingers.
“They are guests, Brede,” said the seneschal. “This is our sergeant-at-arms, Brede of Gons. He’s in charge of the military men, but he works closely with Stadano, the tower warden. Officer Kagandis, we appreciate your help but I do not want an emissary being hurt.”
Kagandis was visibly put out. Ninefingers said to the seneschal, “If I may?” and he spoke to her in goblin. “He thinks the men will kill you, but he doesn’t want to say that in front of them.” He went on, “The man only heard that goblins aren’t evil today. The other men might not have heard, yet.”
“He would just tell them not to!”
“He will, but he’s afraid you’ll have an ‘accident.’” Ninefingers looked at the men, who were regarding the goblins with distaste. “I don’t think his command is as secure as he’d like.”
She digested that for a moment. “They are bloodthirsty.”
“They don’t know us. It might not seem like it, but the seneschal is looking out for you. He said we’re guests, but ‘accidents’ happen.”
“I had gotten comfortable with you and the big one, so I forgot that humans want to kill us.” In the common tongue, she said, “Yes. I do not watch.”
“Excellent,” said the seneschal. “I shall escort you to the Lady’s room. Ninefingers, if you would accompany us in case of translation issues?”
“Go ahead,” said Felewin. “I’ll be straightening out a place to stay and then standing watch.”
“No need,” said Brede. “We have men; let’s make sure you didn’t take an injury out there.”
“If you want,” said Ninefingers. Ninefingers figured Brede was suspicious of Felewin too; he was, after all, a man who stayed with a goblin by choice. They left.
Felewin looked at Brede. “It’s a bruise, that’s all.”
“The cleric might be able to help you,” said Brede. “Chapel’s over there.”
“I saw.”
“Then you should go.”
Felewin shrugged and passed to the other side of the iron gate protecting the foyer. Then he said to Brede, “Ninefingers has saved my life more than once. I have saved his. He helped bring the people in tonight. If that’s a lot of orcs out there, you need all the help you can get.”
Brede was not listening. One of the guards made a face at Felewin.
Felewin kept his face composed, as he did for some of his father’s less savoury guests, and headed for the chapel.
Game Mechanics
No game mechanics in this chapter.
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