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.
4 - Plan For Reconnaissance
Delay Danger
They ate breakfast in the chapel. The cook, Guermill, brought bowls of glop for everyone. It was a surprisingly tasty glop, but it was glop. Guermill apologized profusely. “So many more people and since Vengis was ousted, I have almost no supplies.”
Egren, over by the altar, bristled. “Of course, Goody Egren brought some grains, but it takes time to grind them and prepare them. I will have bread by tonight, but for now? There is almost nothing for lunch.”
“We need to get food,” said Felewin. “Are the orcs still watching?”
“You want to go out and see if dogs attack you?” asked Ninefingers.
“If that’s what it takes,” said Felewin.
“You are such a midnight sundial,” Ninefingers said.
“If you’re going out,” Ubert said, “please look at the Villain. See how she survived.”
Egren said, “That’s the woman you love, not me.”
Ubert sat there, miserable and scared, while she stood over him. Finally she made a disgusted noise and turned away.
“If the Sergeant-at-Arms will let me out, I will look,” said Felewin gently. “Ninefingers, you don’t have to go.”
“You need someone to watch your back.”
Before they were finished, Kagandis found them. They followed her into the courtyard, where she spoke to Ninefingers in low tones, in goblin. “I hope you slept well.”
“The floor was lovely,” said Ninefingers. “I hope things were well for you.”
“The beds are entirely too soft.” She glanced around. “The Lady Anwen is lonely and no longer trusts her husband. She is certain that her father, the Margrave, is missing or ensorcelled. They have a thief imprisoned, alongside Vengis. Beware him. He was working with Erdwain; while Erdwain gained trust by pretending to be a great hero, the thief — Culwich the Black — would find valuables.”
Ninefingers quickly translated this.
Kagandis continued, “The Lady is also an amateur historian, and I learned much about the history of the area before the Margrave came here.” She said to Ninefingers, “Incidentally, what is provillilioh?”
“It’s an Aprak dessert,” said Ninefingers. “I haven’t had it since I moved from the nest.”
“Lady Anwen has had it, and she has fond memories of it. I had to admit I never heard of it.”
“It’s very good. I loved it as a child.”
“Can you get some? I think she would like to taste it again.”
Ninefingers shrugged. “Associated with Felewin, I don’t exactly burrow with other Apraks.” She looked at him. “I know roughly how to make it. I will check with the cook and we’ll try to come up with something.”
“What are we talking about?” asked Felewin.
“Dessert,” said Ninefingers. “She has a suggestion for a dessert for Lady Anwen.”
“Sure,” said Felewin. “She’ll appreciate it, and you are trying to establish diplomatic relationships. Good idea.”
“You humans do things very differently than we do,” Kagandis said.
Felewin smiled. “Some things. Not everything. Let’s see Brede, the sergeant-at-arms.”
Brede was on the third floor, which was almost all barracks. There were two small rooms off it: one had the door open, and it was obviously someone’s quarters — presumably Brede’s. The sergeant-at-arms was helping Losdur gather spears
“Since we’ve got Daerdun, I was thinking we’d get these spears sharpened,” he explained. “Didn’t know if I could ask you for help or not; some of the adventurers that come through get offended.”
Felewin took a bundle of six spears. Ninefingers was too short to take more than one spear, and Brede waved him off. “Height difference means it’s more trouble having you help than not having you. Also, you’re a goblin. Onomaclus told me that that you’re okay, but not everyone believes that.”
Felewin followed Brede down the stairs. “We’re willing to go out and see if the orcs are out there. Make a target of ourselves.”
Brede made no comment while carrying the spears. Once they were in the courtyard, where Daerdun had set up a flame and bellows, Brede said, “I’ll have Losdur cover you from the loopholes.”
Felewin nodded, then asked, “Where’d you get a second anvil?”
“Tower’s had it for years; belonged to the previous blacksmith. Wouldn’t sell it to Daerdun because sooner or later we were all going to be trapped in here.”
Daerdun already had one spear off the pile and was examining the point. “The poxy Margrave rented it to me until I could bring my own poxy anvil,” he said. “And it’s still not a dwarven anvil, but couldn’t get that here.” He threw the spear in one corner. “That haft’s cracked; we’ll make this pile the spears that I have to take apart; you can’t heat a wooden haft. Any that just need filing go in second pile.” To demonstrate, he threw the next one on his opposite side.
Brede nodded at him and started to walk away. Felewin and Ninefingers followed. “If you want to help, you can escort the wagon to town. We need supplies. Take Dopkin; he’ll be our agent there. Vengis has given me some names of suppliers. Dopkin has the list. I’ve got a letter of proof, because I want you to get four message doves from Baron Coodna, too.”
“I’ve been trying to avoid seeing Baron Coodna until I could make a case for knighthood,” Felewin blurted out.
“What are you worried about? You’ll probably never see the Baron; they have a man who keeps the doves, you will see him instead of the Baron. And if you do? Better for you if he sees you multiple times. But come back: If I were the orcs, I’d ambush the cart on the return. Then they get the supplies, too.“ He thought for a moment. “’Course, if they kill you now, there’s no chance of reinforcements.”
“Give us a bird and we’ll loose it if we run into trouble.”
“Good idea and I’d do it if someone hadn’t strangled every one of our doves.” He tapped his head. “Someone has been planning this for a while.”
He stopped at the base of the stairs before he headed back up. “Warden will have a list of supplies. Can either of you read?” Felewin held up his hand. “Make a copy. I don’t trust you, I don’t trust Dopkin. You’ll go with Burl. If Burl wants to stay in town, he’s released from his service. I’ll tell him that, but you should know.” Brede laughed. “Burl will ride. Dopkin needs the exercise, I think.” He laughed.
Felewin said, “I’d really rather not see Baron Coodna’s place until I’m ready. Do you have anything, anything else that you’d like done?”
Brede looked at him. “Anything? You would rather face death than Baron Coodna?” Then he waved the question away. “I’ve got one of my men who would gladly face a hundred orcs rather than be asked to escort the Lady Anwen to a social function.”
Felewin assured him, “I will eventually face him. When I have something worthy.”
“Of course, and Garbin will go to court eventually. If the orcs don’t kill him first.” He slapped the wall. “Let’s see what those orcs are doing out there, and then we’ll discuss the rest.”
Game Mechanics
No game mechanics in this chapter.
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