Black Cinders - Ironsworn: Entry 3
Session 2: Keeping One's Friends - Part 1
Hello and welcome! It’s officially the second session of Black Cinders, which I have once again split into many, many parts because it was getting far too long. I didn’t realise how much time I spent playing in these first few sessions. If you’re new here, please check out the journal index below to start our tale from the beginning. Consider subscribing if you like the vibes here! Without further ado, lets see if Kanno and Kalidas can learn any clues at the ambush site.
You can read the previous entry, Dredging up the Dead, here.
Check out the Journal Index for the rest of this story!
Before:
Previously, Kanno fought off an undead creature called a Dredged that had been unearthed from the mud. During the fight, he realised that this Dredged had once been part of the armed guard for the trade caravan they were searching for. After disposing of the horror, he reunited with his trusted companion, Kalidas, and the two of the pressed further through the Flooded Lands in search of their friend, Zhan of Thorns. Late in the afternoon they found themselves at the site of a wrecked and plundered caravan, littered with several corpses.
Under the Tower’s Shadow
15th of the 4th Moon 394.IL
The shadows of late afternoon cast themselves over the carnage that stood before Kanno and Kalidas. A rocky ridge shrouded much of the scene from the afternoon sun. Tossed about the road were wooden debris, torn canvas, and, indeed, numerous bodies. Some were seen partially buried in water logged soil or tangled up in briars and roots. The larger corpses of the pack animals lay were they fell, still leashed to their wagons. Many were torn open by gnashing teeth and undead hands.
Move: Gather Information
Weak Hit: 8 vs 10, 3 | +1 Momentum,
Move: Resupply
Weak Hit: 5 vs 2, 6 | -2 Momentum, +2 Supply
Kanno drew a deep breath and nodded to his friend before they walked over to investigate. Kalidas’ hulking form set to work digging out the fallen Ironlanders for inspection, while Kanno surveyed the wagons and carts. It took the better part of an hour to sort through the mess that was left behind.
Eight bodies had been excavated from their earthen prisons. All Ironlanders. Some Kanno recognised, some he did not. Judging by their heavy leathers and owl pendants, many of them were Free Wardens. To their relief Zhan was not among those who perished, though Kanno did argue that his corpse could have washed away in the storm. Lacking the time and an adequate dry firewood to burn the bodies as per Ironlander custom, Kalidas elected to entomb the dead under rocky cairns. He hoped that in the event the bodies were to rise once more, then the Undead would find themselves trapped inside their graves.
Kanno’s search did not fair much better. He managed to find a few supplies to replace his own sodden provisions. It took time to sift through the scattered affects and debris. The floodwaters had taken what they could and left little behind. From what he could summarise, Brynn’s account of the ambush was accurate. Multiple drag marks indicated the Undead assailants had heaved themselves out of the waters and onto the nearby road, before attacking. It was only after Kanno widened his search of the area that he uncovered a lead.
A little further down the trail, heading off-road, was a series of drag and wagon marks. They ventured eastwards, deeper into the Flooded Lands. The thick groves of the wagon’s wheels were flanked by the shuffling footprints of a multitude of figures. It had to be Lio and the Accursed Mystic. It had to lead to Zhan.
The day was waning and, although they still had plenty of light, it would fade fast as evening approached. Every second counted and the Ironlanders had to act fast. Kanno whistled sharply to catch his friend’s attention. Kalidas had just finished placing the final few stones atop the makeshift graves, and jogged over. He noted the track marks and nodded. “Fine work my friend. We’ll catch these brigands soon enough,” he remarked, before taking point.
Move: Face Danger, (Edge, +1 Kindred)
Strong Hit: 9 vs 3, 1 | +1 Momentum
Though Kalidas started as the trailblazer, Kanno proved more adept at navigating this marshland. A silence clung to it. Their sloshing footsteps through the waters and mud seemed to echo across the wetlands. Kanno mused to himself that perhaps the beasts here knew horrors prowled their lands and hid themselves away for safety. He did worry about just how much attention they were drawing to themselves. Kalidas had no such concerns. His ever present smile was a great comfort when Kanno glanced back to his friend. Day was fading fast.
The trail snaked its way through the higher and dryer spits of land within the marsh. Occasionally the tracks would be abruptly cut off by flood water, causing Kanno and Kalidas to spread out and search for the other side of the trail. Their pursuit took them into early dusk. The reeds and few trees hear began to cast ominous and grasping shadows under the waning sun. They had just crested over a small rise when they discovered the trail’s terminus.
The tower was the first sight to greet them. An old, crumbling vigil had sunk into the earth and tilted slightly towards the north. A fire could be see flickering within its shelter, greatly contrasted by the darkening sky behind it. Kanno and Kalidas stooped down low, and crawled up the rest of the rise. The dilapidated tower sat in the centre of a dilapidated hamlet surrounded by an equally dilapidated wooden palisade. At first glance, this dreary settlement looked predominantly abandoned. As is the case with many smaller Circles. The Ironlands is a hard realm to conquer and many collapse before their roots can be secured.
A Circle such as this could only support a handful of families. Many of the wooden structures had been reclaimed by the marsh, or claimed by something worse. Kanno needed to get closer to assess the town before they approached the only sign of life they could spot. That lonely fire flickered in the tower’s peak.
Kanno slid down the hill. The mud sprayed out around him. Kalidas followed his wake and the pair of them found themselves pressed up against the palisade wall. The air was fouler here with the thick stench of stagnant water pervading the whole area. Glancing upwards, Kanno noticed that part of the moss covered wall had collapsed into the Circle, bending at a slight angle. He turned to ask his friend for a boost, but Kalidas was already prepared, squatted against the wall with his hands clashed together.
Move: Secure an Advantage, (Iron)
Weak Hit: 5 vs 2, 8 | +1 Momentum,
With a soft grunt, he lifted Kanno up to the slanted wall. It was slick with wet moss and rainwater, forcing Kanno to scramble several times before he managed to pull himself up. He kept low and crawled forward until the structures of the town came into view.
Long shadows were slowly enveloping this hamlet. A collapsed pier sat on the northern side of the settlement, with several structures partially consumed by the marsh’s endless greed. The rest of the Circle was in a similar state of decay, with the once proud stone tower at its centre. Kanno scanned the settlement for any signs of life.
Oracle: Does Elva’s Spirit aid him? | 50/50
Yes
Move: Gather Information, (+1 Spirit-Bound)
Miss: 5 vs 6, 7 | -1 Spirit | Pay the Price - A surprising development complicates your quest
Move: Endure Stress, (Spirit)
Strong Hit: 8 vs 7, 7 - Match | +1 Momentum, +1 Spirit
As his gaze drifted over the half-swallowed structures, he felt a cold grasp in his chest. Like a hand gripped around his heart. His heartbeat slowed, almost painfully beating against the pressure. He let out a small wheeze and steam softly billowed out of his mouth. The world was slowing. Seconds were being dragged out. His eyes, still set on their previous task and yet to react to this otherworldly sensation, pulled themselves towards the shadows of a dilapidated house.
Kanno felt himself fading into a world beyond his own. Everything felt still. That deathly cold grasp around his heart tightened and for the briefest of moments, his heart did not beat at all. His eyes focused entirely cloak of umbra within the hamlet, despite them twitching in panic. He felt a chilling resonance as something resolved into his vision. Nearly bathed in a spectral blue light and mist, was a figure lurking. Skin with a touch of death. A undead Remnant. As the mist spread further out from this creature, Kanno spotted several other such creatures stumbling in the growing darkness. Familiar whispers slipped into his head.
Kanno blinked.
His world came rushing back. His heart thumped against his chest and he gasped, before sliding of the slanted wall. Fortunately Kalidas was there to break his fall as Kanno landed in the arms of his friend.
“That bad?” asked Kalidas.
Kanno blinked. He staggered slightly on his feet and gasped for breath once more before spluttering, “Brynn. He- he was right. Someone here dabbled in dark in dark powers. An Accursed mystic.” He paused for breath before continuing, “Must be half a dozen, maybe more Remnants. My gaze could not linger for longer.”
Kalidas bent down slightly and placed a gentle, large hand on his friend’s shoulder before he spoke again, “Kan, breath. We’ve crossed iron with Remnants before. We shan’t struggle here if we play it smart.”
“Its not that, I...” Kanno began before trailing off. His mind raced and he tried to make sense of the experience he had just faced. Kalidas tilted his head questioningly. “Its nothing,” Kanno continued, “Zhan needs us and we can’t waste time.”
Kalidas’ brow furrowed a fraction as he looked his friend up an down. He opened his mouth as if to say something, before closing it again and giving Kanno a firm nod. “Any plan?” he asked.
“There is a lot of cover and shadow. Using both, we could creep past them to the tower. That has to be where they have Zhan. That has to be where the Accursed is laying low, no doubt using the Remnants as sentries.” Kanno replied.
“By your lead, brother.”
Move: Face Danger, (Shadow, +1 Kindred)
Weak Hit: 4 vs 3, 8 | -1 Spirit
Move: Endure Stress, (Spirit)
Weak Hit: 8 vs 10, 4
The waning sun proved to be both a blessing and a curse for their approach. The long shadows cast by the fading light created ample opportunity to mask their movements, as least from the gaze of the watchtower. Kanno wasn’t so sure about the Dead. However, it did make navigating the hamlet difficult. Their progress was slow and careful. Much as the darkness shrouded them, it obscured the path before them. Far lighter steps were required. Kanno watched the path forward, Kalidas kept an eye out for any Undead sentries.
At one point, they found themselves trapped in one of the fallen structures. An old house that had sunk nearly vertically into the boggy earth. It reeked of damp and earth.A dinner table sat partially made with long rotten meals that were never finished. Outside, one of the shambling Remnants blocked their path, so they hid. Their breath was still as they listened to the gurgles of the undead creature. Minutes passed. Kanno held himself like a coiled spring. His sling in hand, loaded with its deadly payload. From his vantage he watched the light crawl down the Remnants face, revealing a slack jaw and glazed over eyes. Its skin was taunt and stretched thin over its body. Kanno recognised this figure too. Another Free Warden. Kanno bowed his head and murmured a small prayer to the Shepherd. As Elva would do.
Kanno’s heart tightened with a cold grip.
The two Ironlanders let out a breath of relief when Remnant stubbled onwards. Kalidas lowered his club and urged his friend to lead the way.
By the time they reached the tower itself, the sun dwindled into the fading light of dusk. Night would soon be upon them. A sturdy structure made of patchwork stone, clearly of Ironlander make, stood before them. It had tilted northwards slightly, and proved to be a difficult meal for the marsh to consume. The scent of death was thicker and flooded the nostrils. A single wagon stood abandoned outside the entrance. No sign of the stolen goods were visible in the gloom. Drag marks led into the tower. From within, mutterings of an unfamiliar tongue filtered out of the darkness. It sounded like gibberish to Kanno.
Move: Face Danger, (Iron, +1 Kindred)
Weak Hit: 8 vs 6, 10 - Match | -1 Momentum
He pointed his finger towards the tower and then upwards, gesturing to several protruding sections of stone brickwork. Kalidas nodded and the pair prepared to climb. It was a slow effort once more. Each foothold needed to be tested. An ambush was their only advantage here and they were desperate not to lose it. The effort was worth it, as they reached the top without an alarm raised or even a crumbling stone sent tumbling below. From within the bottom floor, that gibbering occasionally grew violent and guttural. Like the sound of hacking up phlegm. Kanno and Kalidas split up, with Kanno rounding one of the corners so they could strike from both sides.
Oracle: Is Zhan up here? | Likely - No
Oracle: Is Lio up here? | Almost Certain - Yes
[Lio]
Role: Bandit | Powerful, Harsh, Moody | Goal: Obtain an Object
Currently: Creating
A woman sat by a flickering fire. Dressed in rough leathers and hides that were worn and dirty with a little age. Her boots were scuffed and caked in dried mud. Her hair was shaved close on one side of her head. The rest was swept back into a loose bun, though a handful of stray curls danced in front of her face. She had her head bent downwards with her hands scrambling in her lap. Something scraped against wood. Beside her sat a pile of arrows in various states of construction. A bow was proudly resting on the stone floor, bathed in the warmth of the fire. In contrast to the woman before them, the weapon was well-maintained. She had her back angled slightly towards Kanno, obscuring the finer details of her face.
Move: Face Danger, (Shadow, +1 Kindred)
Miss: 6 vs 7, 8 | -1 Spirit | Pay the Price - Current situation worsens
He glanced in the direction of his friend. The top of Kalidas’ head peeked over the wooden railing. His eyes glistening in the glow of the fire. Kanno met his gaze and pressed a finger to his lips. Kalidas nodded his head and the pair of them began to quietly clamber over the railing and into the tower. Kanno had to shimmy across to the corner to find better purchase.
Kalidas meanwhile heaved himself up, grabbing the railing for support. His foot slipped on a loose piece of stone and he dropped suddenly. His hands desperately scraped against the masonry, inadvertently pulling more rock out of the structure. The woman, presumably Lio, darted her head in the direction tumbling stone and rock. Cursed under her breath, she picked up a bow and lightly knocked an arrow. Cautiously, she paced towards Kalidas at the edge of the tower. Her stance was hunched, ready to spring into action at a moments notice.
Move: Secure an Advantage, (Shadow)
Miss: 7 vs 10, 10 - Match | Pay the Price - The current situation worsens + You are separated from someone or something
Kanno had to act fast. He could still get the drop on Lio if he acted quickly and quietly. Unbeknownst to him, Kalidas was dangling precariously off the exterior wall of the tower. Kanno finished shimmying across the cold stone and vaulted over the wooded railing. Unfortunately for him, he misjudged the landing and hit the stone floor with a thud. Some of the loose, half finished arrows crunched beneath him.
Lio whipped round and her gaze met Kanno’s. Her face was marred with numerous nicks and cuts from battles past. Part of her lip was torn and scarred over. Her eyes were dark and sunken, with heavy lids that barely exposed the iris beneath. The pair stared each other for a single moment and she glowered at him, before opening her mouth.
“LEECH!! GET YOUR ARSE UP HERE! SOMEONE GOT PAST YOUR PATHETIC PUPPETS!” she barked, pulling the arrow back and taking swift aim. Below, a croaking roar bellowed up the tower in response, followed the frantic movement of something climbing the tower.
Post-Session:
Ooooooh another cliffhanger. Literally in Kalidas’ case. Its hard to find a good place to put a break in the entry, but I think I nailed it here. That last miss with a match was too perfect. I’m trying to keep the reading time at roughly 10 minutes or so.
Looking back now, I probably should have set up a scene challenge for creeping past the Remnants, but that wasn’t on my mind back then. Given the match on the Gather Information miss, it makes more sense. Shamefully, I didn’t really use much the necromancy aspect of this mysterious mystic in the fight next session.
I wanted the Spirit-Bound asset to be something that Kanno discovers in the fiction of the campaign, as he doesn’t know about Elva yet. So far (and in the future too) I have been rolling Orcales when I make Gather Information or Secure an Advantage moves to see if she manifests in some way and she did so this session. It was perfect even despite the miss! Keep an eye out for cold heartbeats in the the future. That is sort of how I am flavouring it for now.
I’m not going to draw a piece of art for every session, but I will try to draw scenes or settings on occasion. I had the vision of the leaning watchtower fixed in my mind for ages.
Next session, Kanno stands alone against Lio and Leech. Will he win? Will our tale end right here? Tune in next week to find out! Thanks for reading!