Ep 3: Ramia & The War Dogs (Ironsworn Actual Play Adventure)
The third episode of my Ironsworn actual play follows Ramia as she saves an injured man from the deep wilds…yet she may have unknowingly fallen into a strange clan feud!
The third episode of my Ironsworn actual play follows Ramia as she saves an injured man from the deep wilds…yet she may have unknowingly fallen into a strange clan feud!
Name: Ramia Karth
Stats: | Edge: 2 | Heart: 3 | Iron: 2 | Shadow: 1 | Wits: 3
Tracks:
Health: 5/5
Spirit: 4/5
Supply: 4/5
Momentum: 6/10 (Reset: 2)
Gear: Leather Armor, Iron Sword, & Shield
Assets:
Path: Commander - You lead a warband with +4 strength. Roll +strength when you command your warband. War Dogs / Companions: Sidan the kindly warrior & his dependable brother Ghalen, the bold and loud archer Masais, and finally Jebran the cruel yet effective skirmisher. Advancements - Warband may scout, and bond forged
Companion: Hound - Your hound is your steadfast companion (name: Freya)
Empowered: There is value to your lineage/title/bloodline - Daughter of First Blade Hagarr, the chief of Clan Kuron
XP/Spent: 2/2Setting Info:
The Ironlands are a harsh, perilous frontier where survivors of the Old World fled after the Skulde clans destroyed their kingdoms. They now live in scattered settlements called circles, ruled by petty clan-chiefs whose rivalries threaten their fragile peace. The land is dotted with strange, indestructible iron pillars, each Clan Circle is built around their own Iron Totem. Wardens defend these communities from raiders, beasts, and darker things that prowl the forests and waterways. Though rare, magic exists—wielded by the gifted—and the people cling to prayers and old gods in a world where ancient fey races, feral remnants of fallen men, and unspeakable horrors still linger.In her last adventure, Ramia and her War Dogs warriors returned home after their successful battle. Now fully made a warrior of her clan, she still seeks to earn the title of First Blade by hunting and defeating a Varou wolfman in the Deep Wilds
She decides to continue on—it would be too dangerous to even consider setting up camp in the deep wilds.
Delve > Miss & Match > NPC in danger > Entangling plant life
She hears a cry of pain and follows it to see a terrible sight! A massive tangle of vines seems to be consuming an Ironlander man alive. Thick greenish vines move and writhe as they slowly surround the unfortunate adventurer, who tries desperately to pull away from them.
Enter the Fray > WH > Initiative: Ramia
Strike > Weak Hit
Ramia quickly jumps into action. She tries to distract the vine monster by stabbing its closest tendrils, severing several of them.
Clash > Weak Hit
The mass of vines writhes toward her as she fights it with iron. She hears a horrible choking sound behind her as one of the vines wraps around the man’s throat until he passes out. The vines begin drawing the unconscious figure into themselves.
Clash > Weak Hit
The vine monstrosity tries to wrap its snake-like arms around Ramia, pulling at her equipment (-2 Supply).
End the Fight > Strong Hit
Ramia pushes past the grasping arms and runs straight toward the creature. She swings her sword with all her might and cleaves the core of the vine monstrosity in two. The writhing vines snap once more, then fall still.
She walks over and drags the unconscious Ironlander out of the vines. She pulls him away from the clearing and finds a small shaded area to lie him down. Freya sniffs at the man’s wounded leg, making anxious yelps.
Heal > Weak Hit
She tries to stop the bleeding and keep him breathing, using what medicinal herbs she brought from home (-1 Supply, -1 Momentum). She spends some time binding his leg with a splint as well.
Make Camp > Miss
She has no choice but to try and camp here while the man recovers, but with her alone to keep watch, the constant anxiety of vigilance starts to wear her down (-1 Spirit).
The man wakes up after a few hours, groaning in pain. Ramia looks up and cries, “Finally awake!” She asks him who he is and how he ended up in the situation she found him in.
Torgan > Coordinate Pursuit > Collect a Debt
He says his name is Torgan, and he’s been tasked to collect a debt from a man named Hearn. He says he had been chasing down the outlaw with two companions when Hearn ran straight into the deep wilds to escape.
“It was stupid of us to follow him, but the silver reward would’ve lasted us months!”
He shakes his head.
“What happened to your companions?” asks Ramia gently. (Oracle > No)
He looks away, unwilling to speak. She leaves the question alone.
“What now? You’ll die out here alone with that leg. You need to get back into Haven lands at least.”
Compel > Weak Hit
He agrees begrudgingly.
“I must ask for your aid again, then, to escort me safely out of the wilds and into Clan lands.” He promises his circle, Clan Breda, will reward her for his safe return. She knows he speaks true—any clan would honor those who had saved one of their kin. As a warden, she must protect the people of the Clanholds from the dangers of this dark land. Her hunt can wait.
Swear an Iron Vow: I will safely escort Torgan back to Clan Breda > WH
Escape the Depths > WH > (-1 Spirit)
Gritting her teeth against the exhaustion, she helps them carefully navigate back the way she came until they safely leave the forest again. She spots the tall hill from earlier, now barely visible in the moonlight. Torgan is too weak to talk much, focusing all his energy on trying to move with Ramia. She asks him what direction to reach Clan Breda lands, and he weakly points northeast.
Milestone: Escape the Deep Wilds
Undertake a Journey > Strong Hit > Relationship Steading
As they slowly make their way into the Havens, they spot a waystation along the dusty road. These dot the Clanholds and are considered safe spaces for all travelers. No matter what feud or war between clans is happening, none are allowed to break the peace and neutrality of the waystations.
Oracle > Distract, Family
They enter the waystation, finding it very busy. The family who seems to run the place is running around distractedly, serving food and cleaning up after the rowdy clan warriors. Ramia spots the runes and colors of a half-dozen clans currently in the waystation.
Anyone from Clan Breda here? Yes, but > Betray Faction
Upon seeing the two of them enter, a warrior from Breda immediately stands up. He points to Torgan and shouts:
“You coward, you traitor, you left us to die!”
(Oracle > Friendly)
Torgan raises his hands immediately.
“Renn? You’re still alive?! I thought those elves had killed you both!”
Oracle > Uphold Peace
Red with rage, Renn almost pulls his blade but stops as everyone in the waystation turns to look at the commotion.
“He betrayed us and left us to die in that forest! As soon as the elven bastards attacked us, he was nowhere to be seen!”
Oracle > Preserve Honor
Torgan shakes his head and cries:
“No, no! The elf rider on the gaunt ambushed me and I had to run! I tried to get back to you two, but the rider damn near killed me! I had to throw myself down the side of a hill just to get away—and broke my leg!”
He jabs his finger toward his splint.
“I hit the bottom hard and was knocked out. When I came to, I tried crawling away but some damned vine beast grabbed me. She can attest to this, she saved my life!”
He shouts, pointing towards Ramia.
Oracle > Breach Innocence
“Lies! He didn’t even try to fight or hold his ground like an honorable warrior. He abandoned his clanmates to die and ran like a coward! The elves killed Garna, and I barely managed to escape with my life!” Renn shouts, tears glistening in his eyes. “I demand the right to kill this coward!”
Ramia finally speaks up.
“I am Ramia Karth, of Clan Kuron. My father is First Blade Hagarr, Chief of Kuron. I have sworn an Iron Vow to deliver this man safely to his Circle. I demand you leave us be and bring up your grievances before your own Chief, in accordance with clan law!”
Compel > Strong Hit With a Match
The stillness in the suddenly hushed waystation stretches thin. The mood in the room sours against the Breda clansman starting trouble in a waystation, and he senses it. More than a few other clan warriors stand up and move behind Ramia to silently show their support. She spots the black crow rune of the Dun-Hallows and the silvery stripes of Clan Jahanni, both longtime friends of Kuron. She says nothing but gives them a nod of acknowledgment. Freya growls anxiously, sensing the tension.
How does Torgan react? > Avoid, Power, Cooperative
He turns to Ramia.
“I have no idea why he would say such a thing!”
He moves back from Renn’s incensed gaze, halfway hiding behind Ramia.
“Even if we return to the clan, Renn is a great warrior of noble birth, his word will surely outweigh mine. Will you speak up for me before the circle? You are the daughter of a great chief. Surely they will listen to your wise counsel,” he whispers.
Ramia doesn’t know whether to trust Torgan or Renn, and the third companion can no longer confirm anything. She asks Torgan to stay there and goes to talk to Renn quietly.
As she walks, she thinks to herself that Torgan doesn’t really look like much of a warrior, and yet Renn wears a full set of chain and carries a longsword, likely a nobleman of great wealth. If their trio had been ambushed by that same Elf war party she had seen coming into the forest, they would’ve had no chance at all, even with Torgan’s help. Why hadn’t Renn ordered them to escape?
Compel > Weak Hit > Find Weakness
Ramia asks, “Do you swear before the Iron Gods that you will neither hinder nor harm us in our journey?”
“Only if you swear not to get involved in Clan Breda business,” says Renn darkly. “The truth of it will be found by the Clan Circle. They will see his weakness.”
“Unless your clan chief asks me otherwise, I will not speak of your business,” Ramia agrees.
Renn grumbles his assent.
Sojourn > Weak Hit > +2 Supply
They stay at the waystation briefly, gathering some supplies, then decide to head back out tonight and get to Clan Breda as soon as they can.
(Did Renn leave? > No)
As they walk out of the waystation, they observe Renn still drinking and playing dice with the other warriors inside.
Journey > WH > -1 Supply
(River, Decay)
They come to a wide river, but the rope bridge across it has long since decayed away.
They stop briefly to eat some rations and then continue heading north.
End Journey > Strong Hit
After a long detour around the river, they finally arrive in Clan Breda lands. Ramia spots the large banner over their Great Hall, twin axe runes painted in black strokes. What happened from here on was up to them…
End Session - Tune in next week to see how the story develops! I’m enjoying writing some more dialogue-heavy scenes to flesh Ramia out as a character :)
Rania seems to have gotten herself into a troubling situation.
No good deed goes unpunished haha. It does seem like there is more here than meets the eye, but hopefully Ramia doesn't get too wrapped up in it, clan feuds are always messy!