Black Cinders - Ironsworn: Entry 13
Session 4: Until Nothing but Embers Remain - Part 4
Good Monday everyone! Welcome back to a new entry of Black Cinders, my current solo Ironsworn campaign. Please us the Journal Index if you'd like to read from the beginning.
Content Warning: There is some body horror in today’s entry.
Entry 12 - Until Nothing but Embers Remain
Before:
Kanno and Kalidas departed Cliffell, searching the Cloven Hills for a small Circle named Scaldvann. They hoped that they could find clues as to the cause of the Scorching, a mystical blight that is slowly reducing Cliffell and its Spear to ash. After a few uneventful days of travel, they found the hidden village, only to discover it had been destroyed in a great inferno. While their initial investigation yielded very little, Kanno disturbed one of the charred corpses, inadvertantly animating it life as fire spilled out of it.
The Embered of Scaldvann
8th of the 5th (Third Bloom) 394.IL
Previously:
Move: Gather Information, (+1 Spirit-Bound)
Weak Hit: 4 vs 1, 8 | +3 Momentum, -1 Supply
Oracles: What does Kanno find?
Action/Theme: Release, Corruption | Isolate, Horror, | Obtain, Negotiation
Goal: Avenge a Wrong
From his vision at the Spear in Cliffell:
Action/Theme: Hunt, Desolation | Shame, Cowardice | Wreck, Agreement
Action/Theme: Destroy, Warning | Resolve, Sickness | Disrupt, Blessing
An embered soul writhed around the Ironlander’s husk. The heat was unrelenting and licked at Kanno’s hands and face, stinging his flesh. Around him, he could feel the fiery rage of other anguished souls gathering. Their wrathful gaze directed entirely towards himself. Panic bloomed in his chest. The searing hot air cut at his throat as he struggled to breath. The figure began to lurch forward and somewhere nearby, Kalidas cried out.
An icy coldness rose up within Kanno, to clash against the growing heat. Kanno’s heart beat slowed to a crawl. With each pulse he felt the fires pushed back and, though they were not quelled, they were given some otherworldly reason to pause. As the frosty presence within his chest beat back the fire, Kanno observed figures briefly revealed by the fading fires. They had him utterly surrounded and glared down at him with hateful eyes. Kanno had moments.
Move: Compel, (Heart)
Weak Hit: 6 vs 7, 2
Action/Theme: Endure, Possession
A cold hand pushed him to his feet. He held out his own and beseeched the horror before him to stop, “Great spirits, forgive my trespass on your land, on your bodies. We only seek to aid your unrest and determine the link between this tragedy and Cliffell. Help us and we can leave you to your rest.”
The corpse, consumed by fire, ceased its advance, though the maddening light in its eyes did not. The charred jaw unhinged itself from the burnt flesh and a rasping, wrathful voice spoke through the flames. “Imbibe our wrath. Our hate. Our pain.”
Flames billowed in the silence, waiting expectantly. Kanno bobbed his head in thought, before giving an uneasy nod. He did not truly comprehend what the spirit required of him, but thought back on Cera and Cliffell. Of the vow he made. The figure stumbled forward, accepting his submission. Behind it, Kanno spotted his friend rushing fowards like a charging bull. His shield out in front of him ready to knock down the animated corpse.
Move: Compel, (Heart, +1 Bond)
Strong Hit: 9 vs 4, 1 | +1 Momentum
“Wait Kal, just wait! Don’t interfere. These spirits wish to tell me their plight,” Kanno called out. His friend halted his charge and an expression of conflict rose on his face. Kalidas stared into Kanno’s eyes, searching. Reluctantly, he nodded, trusting his friend knew that he was doing. Regardless, the fires buffeted him back and he had to brace himself against them with his shield.
The body continued to lumber forward with one arm outstretched. Fire swirled around the arm and slowly took on a vaguely humanoid form pulling itself out of the palm. This ‘fire spirit’ stretched and reached out towards Kanno. The heat was overwhelming and it felt like his own skin was bubbling off his flesh. The fiery hand grasped Kanno’s arm and used it as leverage to pull itself out of the burnt husk and rise up over him. Another hand materialised in the flame and with both arms, it reached up towards Kanno’s face.
Searing pain engulfed his head. The too many hands gripped the corners of his mouth and his jaw, pulling them open. The pain spiked again but any tears Kanno had to give were boiled off before they could even gather under his eyes. The spirit pried his mouth open further, as if to tear his jaw off. It stopped and, to Kanno’s horror, it began to climb into his mouth.
The heat was excruciating and overwhelming, until his nerves were completely burnt out from the trauma. The fire snaked its way down his throat and the pain flowed with it. The persistent and hidden coldness within his chest rose to meet this invader, which provided a modicum of relief. The inferno settled in his core and then grew upwards. Not through his throat, but through his entire torso until it reached the base of his skull.
Kanno screamed silently and he lost all sight of the world around him in one blindingly hot flash of light.
The history of Scaldvann unravelled before his eyes. It began with living fire. Agademaden. A Primordial of the flame, ensnared by the rituals of the Draoi and bound beneath the earth. They were people of nature and of the Old Powers. They caged Agademaden’s spirit and only released it in a controlled fashion. Its ancient elemental power rose through the prison and flowed into the waters of Scaldvann, giving rise to the hot springs and the geyser the Circle was known for. Draoi mysticism, empowered by Agademaden imprisonment, gave birth to the water’s healing properties and sheltered the area like a Spear’s Shadow.
Such blessings came at a steep cost however. No Primordial can be caged for long. The bindings required maintenance and sacrifice. Power always has a price. Each year, one unfortunate soul with be given as tribute to maintain the Draoi bindings. Often chosen by lottery, they would be marked with ritualistic tattoos. During the annual ceremony, they would be thrown into the boiling waters of the geyser. Their life force acting as fuel to empower the binding ritual. Should it fail, then Agademaden’s destructive power would break free and burn Scaldvann to the ground in its rage and exodus.
Yet it did fail. An Ironlander was chosen. A young man, shaved and marked against their will in the ritualistic tattoos. Nearly head to toe in ink. But this man fought against his fate. He fled the Circle and, with no time to prepare a new sacrifice, the mystic prison collapsed.
Agademaden’s rage was an inferno. It erupted out of the earth as a pillar of hateful light and fire. The Ironlander’s barely had time to react before they were consumed by it wrath. Its time in confinement had taken its toll however. The elemental power had waned and as its warden’s died, so too did the Primordial. Its fire dissipating over Scaldvann and disappearing into the ether.
The spirits of the Scaldvann remained. The one who betrayed them had fled but he was still bound to this place. Through the old rituals, the markings upon his skin also marked his soul. Finding him was like finding a bonfire at night. It led the spirits, the Embered of Scaldvann, to Cliffell. Like most spectres, the Spear’s Shadow rebuffed their efforts for entry. Denied their vengeance, the Embered lurked, probing the Spear’s Shadow and waited for an opportunity to present itself.
The light faded but the searing pain did not relent. Kanno felt the Embered spirit crawl its way out of his throat. The fire emerged and partially pulled itself free of his mouth. A figure of flame turned towards him with wrathful eyes and rasped through the roaring fire, “Find him. Find Oddvarr the Coward. Avenge this wrong. He cowers were we cannot tread but our connection burns him as much as it burns the Spear’s Shadow. He and us are bound by ritual and we shall not relent. We’ll break the Spear, break the Circle until we have our justice. Flush him out and lure him where we can strike, only then shall we rest.” It stared down at Kanno expectingly.
Through tears of pain, Kanno could only strain a nod of affirmation. He glanced around and in this state he saw other spirits. Other wrathful flames. The one possessing him appeared satisfied with his answer and pried itself out of Kanno’s body. The fire was just as painful leaving as it was entering. He was left with the lasting impression that he would not find mercy should he fail his promise.
-1 Health, -1 Spirit
Move: Endure Harm, (Health)
Miss: 6 vs 6, 7 | -1 Momentum
Move: Endure Stress, (Spirit)
Weak Hit: 7 vs 6, 10
The spirits receded but Kanno could still feel their eyes upon him. He coughed violently and hacked up blood. His throat was agony and breathing was like sandpaper through his windpipe. His jaw ached though it had been set back into its place. Despite his pain, it didn’t feel like lasting damage had been inflicted. He would have to take it slow.
Kalidas rushed to his side and pulled him to his feet. “Brother! Rust and blood why would you willingly let such horrors befoul you!?” he cried.
“They showed me,” Kanno croaked against the pain, “Showed me the cause. Oddvarr. We must find Oddvarr.”
[Mark Milestone] Resolve the Scorching of Cliffell - 2/10
“Determined the cause of the strange phenomenon.”
[The Embered of Scaldvann. Extreme]
The rage and grief of those who died in Scaldvann, after the release of Agademaden. They seek the one they deem responisble for their fate — Oddvarr. Currently they cannot reach him due to the Spear’s Shadow, but slowly they are burning away that protective power.
Move: Resupply
Weak Hit: 4 vs 4, 2 | Burn 5 Momentum > Strong Hit : 5 vs 4, 2 | Mometum Reset, +2 Supply
Though eager to leave, Kanno and Kalidas gave the destroyed Circle one final pass over. Supplies were running low. During the search, which was almost entirely led by Kalidas, Kanno recounted what he was shown and their steps forward. He did not discuss his own thoughts on the matter, fearing the prying eyes of the Embered around them. Kalidas silently took in his words, but remained quiet.
A cellar was found to have preserved food that had mostly survived the inferno. Ironically, it held mostly smoked mutton. Kalidas wrapped what he could and shoved it into his pack. It was time to leave and Kanno was happy to be rid of this village.
Move: Secure Advantage, (Wits)
Strong Hit: 8 vs 4, 2 | +1 to Next Move
Move: Make Camp, (+1 Bonus)
Strong Hit: 7 vs 3, 4 | +1 Momentum, +1 Spirit
The two men moved with purpose. Kanno, despite his injuries and wheezing, led the way. Creating as much distance as possible between himself and Scaldvann before nightfall was his only goal. Fatigue and injury were taking their toll on his body and mind. As evening drew in, they searched for secure place to camp for the night. Fortunately the rugged cliffs and hills provided ample opportunity. A narrow passage in the rock led to a cosy cave to rest in for the night. Kalidas bid his friend to rest while he gathered firewood. Kanno was too weak to complain and closed his eyes.
When he next woke, he was unsure how much time had passed. Kalidas sat close to a small fire by the entry passage, soaking in its heat. His face was starkly illuminated by the flickering glow. Kanno rasped and his throat felt only mildly better. Kalidas noticed and handed him a small skin of water. “Slowly now Kan, take little sips,” he said. Kanno followed his advice, even thought the water felt like lava going down his throat. He caused him to cough once or twice. Kalidas waited patiently for his friend to finish before he said, “So, we are to aid Oddvarr right?” His tone was firm and Kanno knew his friend well enough that that was a statement more than a question.
“Aye, if we can,” Kanno replied weakly, “A man should not be punished for his desire to live. What other choice could he even make?”
“Indeed. Of course, such action will no doubt draw their ire towards us.”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes. There must always be a solution right?”
Kalidas smiled down at his friend, “My friend, of that I am certain. Our Iron is strong. Together, nothing could stand against us.”
Kanno nodded and rolled onto his back. His breathing was sluggish but he felt comfort in Kalidas’ words. The pain of Scaldvann and the coldness latched to him faded as he fell into a deep sleep.
Post-Session:
So ends my fourth Ironsworn session and I really enjoyed this one. It took me so long to figure out just what happened to Scaldvann, the Spirits, and how it all tied to Cliffell. However I really like the ideas I came up with. I really enjoyed writing this entry too. I hope the description of Kanno’s possession wasn’t too much for you.
The Embered were based on the Ember from the Ironsmith supplement, though modifed a little. The collective wrath of the Scaldvann are known as the Embered, with Extreme Rank, while I would say the single walking corpse would just be an Ember as per Ironsmith.
I really wanted to sketch up the Embered possession before this write up was posted, but I could not find the time to do so. Hopefully in the future I will edit it in.
Next entry is the start of my fifth session overall, as the pair return back to Cliffell with news of their findings. If you enjoyed reading this weeks write up, consider subscribing or reading the adventure from its beginning via the Journal Index
Catch you next week, as Kanno and Kalidas return to Cliffell with news of their findings.