Black Cinders - Ironsworn: Entry 12
Session 4: Until Nothing but Embers Remain - Part 3
Hello folks, thanks for checking out this week’s entry of my Ironsworn Campaign, Black Cinders. Today, Kanno and Kalidas venture out to Scaldvann to discovered how it is tied to the Scorching of Cliffell. As always, check out the Journal Index to read this campaign from the start.
Entry 11: What the Flames Reveal
Before:
Kanno and Kalidas arrived in the Circle of Cliffell and quickly discovered it was suffering from a strange blight — The Scorching. Seeking answers, they were directed to the settlement’s Black Iron Temple, where, through a vision, Kanno was shown another Circle tied to mystical hot springs somewhere in the Cloven Hills. With this fresh lead, the pair spent the night in Cliffell and prepared to set out in the morning.
Until Nothing But Embers Remain
4th - 8th of the 5th (Third Bloom) 394.IL
Move: Undertake a Journey - Cliffell to Scaldvann | Troublesome (Short distance)
Miss: 3 vs 9, 4 | Burn 6 Momentum > Weak Hit: 6 vs 9, 4 | Mometum Reset, Mark Progress, -1 Supply
Cliffell to Scaldvann - 3/10
Kanno and Kalidas woke up shortly before dawn, and departed soon afterwards. Under the watchful eye of the Wardens, Cera saw them off from the southern gate as the sun began its ascent. The warmth of the upcoming Short Bright was growing and the air lacked the typical morning crispness one would expect, even this far north. The trails through the Cloven Hills were once again flocked with herds of rooving goats. Their eyes lazily watched the pair hike through the hills while chomping on the thick brambles. Other than the occasional shepherd spotted across the valleys as dark blots on the hillside, no other Ironlanders were found upon the trails.
The hardy heaths soon faded into rockier terrain. Hiking grew more exhausting as the trails disappeared and the goats were fewer in number. At one point a large chasm blocked their path, costing them much of the late morning as they navigated around it. By the time they stopped for a spot of lunch, Kanno was famished and ashamed to admit he ate a little more than he should.
Move: Undertake a Journey
Weak Hit: 6 vs 5, 10 | Mark Progress, -1 Supply
Cliffell to Scaldvann - 6/10
The chasm cost them several hours of travel. Kanno blamed himself for his poor navigation of the hills and valleys though Kalidas never voiced any concerns about his friend’s skills. By the time night fell and the pair of them were forced to make camp, they had not made as much process as they would have liked. Around the warmth of a small fire, they spoke little of their journey, and gazed at the stars above them. Starlight glistened in the men’s eyes.
The following day proved slightly more promising. The uneven rocky terrain levelled out, though it remained dry. Very little game to be found in these gentler hills. In fact there were very little signs of life at all. After he devoured his meagre lunch, Kanno had come to regret his ill-advised feasting the day prior.
During their travels, Kalidas was typically on watch. He watched their backs and kept an eye for unexpected dangers — be it Ironlander, beast, or even a horror. He performed the task dutifully while Kanno found the paths forward, though he did have the bad habit of pointing out things that he thought looked beautiful or magical. The trouble was, Kalidas found lots of things beautiful and magical in this world. Be it the glistening waters of a cascade, the calming tranquillity of a blue sky, or the pops of colour from flowering meadows, there was much for him to draw attention to. Kanno always humoured his friend as it never failed to keep spirits high during their travels.
After two days of hiking, Kanno determined that they must be close to their destination. Large cliffs began to loom over them, ones that seemed in keeping with the ones he saw in his vision and Cera’s limited directions. However, they hindered their movement through the terrain, forcing them to climb a large, exposed and steady hillside made of loose stone and shingle. Overhead were the gliding forms of buzzards hoping for their next meal in the two men, or hawks searching for smaller creatures to feast upon. Kanno attempted to strike a few down with his sling many times during their journey, but they mocked him by flying just out of his range. When he eventually gave up, they dived down with a gloating caw, before flying eastwards. Paltry trail rations would have to do.
Move: Undertake a Journey
Weak Hit: 8 vs 10, 7 | Mark Progress, -1 Supply
Cliffell to Scaldvann - 9/10
Move: Resupply
Weak Hit: 8 vs 9, 1 | +2 Supply, -2 Momentum
From Cera’s muddled retelling of Aric’s directions, Scaldvann’s main defence was its hidden location within the hills and cliffs. Not only was it sheltered from the winds, but seldom would the roaming undead pay the Circle a visit. Those that did found themselves hindered by the mysticism of the steaming hot springs. Work of the Old Powers, the Wild, and the world. As a result, finding the settlement was proving harder than expected and taking longer than Kanno desired. They were already nearly a day behind schedule and their food reserves were running low. Not to mention their water skins.
By chance, the pair stumbled across a slow moving river that flowed down from greener hills in the horizon. Their water skins were refilled, though Kanno took better vigil over his friend this time round. The men discussed their predicament and elected to remain by the river for the morning. Kalidas would fish, a past-time and skill he took great pride in, while Kanno would range out in search of clues pointing towards Scaldvann. He would hunt and forage as he travelled, should the Ironlands feel generous to provide him opportunity to do so.
Kanno returned a couple of hours later with sadly little to show for his efforts. A pouch filled with soft, purple berries was all that he had found out in the wilds. He cursed the gloating buzzards soaring overhead. Meanwhile Kalidas beamed when he presented his catch. Three large, trout-fish and a handful of minnows. He was most pleased. They cooked and dried them over lunch, then set off in search of Scaldvann.
Move: Reach Destination
Strong Hit: 9 vs 5, 5 - Match | +1 Momentum, +1 Momentum due to match
Fortunately, they did not have to travel long before they stumbled across this seemingly fabled Circle. Despite Kanno’s previosuly scouting effort not yielding any results, the one direction he hadn’t travelled yet proved to be the correct path. The entrance was found nestled under a steep gorge with cliff edged that bowed over it. A twising channel carved through the rock, barely wide enough for the two of them to walk two abreast. Once through, the Circle revealed itself almost exactly as Kanno had been shown in his vision back at Cliffell.
Enclosed by rising cliffs on all sides, this sheltered settlement had been built on the several rocky shelves in tiers. Like an amphitheatre, these tiers surrounded a central pool which served as the focal point of the Circle. Nearly each tier featured a small spring of water. Wooden structures had been constructed on the largest of these stone shelves.
In contrast to Kanno’s vision, this settlement laid in ruin. The rock and earth were scorched dark black and filled with ash. The once proud homes were now charred husks, with any sign of habitation consumed by fire. Little still stood. Steam no longer rose from those hot springs, leaving behind cool, lifeless waters. Indeed the central pool had suffered too — the bubbling geyser was tamed and its surface tranquil. The two men surveyed the devastation from the entrance passage.
“Kan. Is this... what you saw? What could cause such a catastrophe?” Kalidas asked. He gazed up at the cliffside and noted the char rising up and out, as if the entire Circle had been a funnel for this great and terrible fire.
Kanno struggled to form his words, too stunned to speak. Finally he weakly uttered, “Nay Brother. Nothing like this...”
Move: Gather Information, (+1 Spirit-Bound)
Weak Hit: 4 vs 1, 8 | +3 Momentum, -1 Supply
Move: Endure Stress
Weak Hit: 4 vs 2, 8
Oracles: What does Kanno find?
Action/Theme: Release, Corruption | Isolate, Horror, | Obtain, Negotiation
From his previous vision at the Spear in Cliffell:
Action/Theme: Hunt, Desolation | Shame, Cowardice | Wreck, Agreement
Action/Theme: Destroy, Warning | Resolve, Sickness | Disrupt, Blessing
After gathering their composure, the pair cautiously began to explore the ruins of Scaldvann. There was little to find at first glance; much had been lost to the fire. What remained was in terrible condition. They were careful not to disturb the fragile, burnt out structure that once served as family homes. Places that were once full of joy now rendered empty and dead. More than once they had to dart out of the way as their disturbaces caused a sudden collapse. Carved into the walls were symbols whose meaning were a mystery to Kanno, but he recognised to be associated with the Old Powers. Symbols of the land and the natural world. Symbols of power.
The worst things were the charred remains of the dead. It seemed like no Ironlander escaped the devastation. Kanno and Kalidas found their scorched bones and half-burnt bodies all over the settlement. Most were half buried in ash and soot. Many seemed to be caught by surprise, found around the geyser. Others were caught in their homes that later fell upon on them. A handful were clearly rushing to escape but were consumed quickly by the fire.
Kanno sat perched up by one of the smaller pools above Kalidas, who was still dutifully sifting through the Circle. Kanno’s search had lacked swift results and frustration began to bubble within in him. The spring beside him was dirty with ash and soot. His thoughts turned to their true quest as his figures danced across the water’s surface. They were wasting time here and all the while, the man that cost Elva her life still breathed. He frowned and thought to himself, We should be heading to Crowcrest. But this vow now shackles us. To this disaster. Why did we -
A glint of light down below sundered his train of thought. A piece of metal or jewellery, likely a small bracelet, hung off the arm of a poor lost soul claimed by the inferno. Whereas everything in the vicinity was smothered in a thick layer of char, this trinket appeared to be in pristine condition. Kanno hopped down off his perch and made his way over to the corpse. He found a small silver bracelet on a chain. The bracelet was adorned with a symbol, similar to the ones found on the cliff faces around him. It swayed in the gentle breeze. Kanno squinted but couldn’t discern the engraving upon it. He reached out and tried to gently pry the jewellery off its late owner.
A lighter touch was required. The chain snagged on one of the corpse’s charred fingers. As carefully as he could, Kanno gave the chain another tug. The finger yielded and broke off, crumbing to ash. The disturbance rippled down the blackened arm, which begin to crack and fall apart in a similar fashion to the fragmented digit. “Pig’s Iron!” Kanno gasped, “My deepest apologies, you poor lost soul.”
The ash settled in a long, heaped pile beside the skeleton. A soft glow began to leak out of the ‘wound’ Kanno had created. It was thick, like molten metal and dripped out on to the stone beneath. One drop became two and rapidly a small stream of liquid heat was leaking from somewhere within the body. Startled, Kanno stumbled back and fell, landing with a thud and kicking up ash. The embers continued to flow and build. They began to take on a swirling, fiery form that hissed to life. The skeleton beneath lurched upwards and was pulled to its feet by the coalescing flames. Under the roar of the fire were a chorus of ghastly screams and shrieks. The heat licked painfully at Kanno’s skin and fire whipped up around the charred corpse.
Somewhere, Kalidas shouted but Kanno was transfixed with horror at the sight in front of him.
The blackened body stood hunched over and ill balanced as if puppeteered by some unseen force. The entire corpse was wreathed in flame. The heat was immense and stung Kanno’s flesh. Its eye sockets glowed with a maddening, wrathful light. The jaw, once sealed shut by heat, tore itself open as a haunting scream bellowed across the destroyed Circle. A choir of agony and rage.
Post-Session:
Not much to comment on for this entry. I quite enjoy writing the travelling elements as they let me expand on the world, the environment, or on Kanno/Kalidas themselves. It did take me so long while I was playing to establish just what Kanno found at Scaldvann. I think I even had to stop playing for a few days to mull it over.
Next entry is a real fun one, where Kanno learns just what happened in Scaldvann and how it ties to Cliffell. Check back next week! If you’ve enjoyed this, or my previous write ups, consider subscribing.