Ep 4: Ramia & The War Dogs (Ironsworn Actual Play Adventure)
The fourth episode of my Ironsworn actual play follows Ramia as she navigates a challenge from another warrior.
Name: Ramia Karth
Stats: | Edge: 2 | Heart: 3 | Iron: 2 | Shadow: 1 | Wits: 3 |
Tracks:
Health: 5/5
Spirit: 5/5
Supply: 5/5
Momentum: 5/10 (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 found and saved an injured man from the deep wilds…yet she may have unknowingly fallen into a clan feud!
They walked into the Clan Circle as dawn broke. She turns to Targon and says, “I have fulfilled my vow to see you safely to your clan.”
(Oracle > Desperate)
“I cannot thank you enough. You have saved my life more than once now,” says Targon.
“But please, stay, speak for me at the Clan Circle, or I may be branded a coward and a deserter!” he adds desperately.
(Did Renn get here first? Yes)
They see Renn standing near the Iron Pillar that the Clan Circles are built around. He’s talking to a small crowd gathered there.
Oracle > Coordinate Idea
Renn points them out to the crowd as they approach.
“There he is, Targon the Coward!” he shouts. Ramia notes the disapproving look on many of the crowd’s faces.
Oracle > Explore Strategy
Targon limps up as confidently as he can to the crowd and says,
“Who are you to say anything of the sort? ‘Renn the Fool’ here tried to attack an elven warband.
We ran into a half dozen Elf warriors, led by a dread rider! We should have been smart enough to stay out of their way and escape, but Renn foolishly tried to fight them all!”
He shakes his head sadly.
“The gaunt horseman almost rode me down, but at least I survived to make it home. Poor Garna died because of that foolhardy decision!” he cries, pointing to Renn.
Renn bristles and replies,
“What nonsense! I only held my ground like any true Ironlander, on my honor as a First Blade!”
The crowd immediately starts to whisper and argue over what they’ve heard.
(Is the Clan Chief around? No)
Oracle > Restore Greed
They find out Chief Ferren was leading a warband north to deal with raiders and capture back their stolen wealth. They would not return soon.
Ramia could not afford to wait long, and she had sworn to Renn not to speak up on behalf of Targon.
She sighs and says,
“I cannot speak to anything but what I myself saw, on my honor as a Warden of Kuron. I witnessed only that Targon was being attacked by a vine monster and sported a broken leg after falling to the bottom of the hill.”
After a moment, she decides to add,
“I also saw a large Elven border patrol in the area, and only a fool would have thought to fight them.”
Renn > Oracle > Swear Blood
“You question my honor and the honor of Garna, who died fighting them with me! I swear on his blood and mine, I will avenge this insult,” he says in a cold voice, controlling his obvious anger.
He draws his blade and slices across his arm, sending a small band of blood running down. All knew what it meant — it was a challenge to duel, clan warrior to clan warrior.
Renn was a First Blade of Clan Breda. If she could defeat him in single combat, she would earn her own First Blade title right here and now. She doubted her sword arm could compete with his, but surely she could outsmart him.
“I accept your challenge,” she says, and draws her own blade to do the same, cutting a thin line into her upper arm. (1 Harm, +1 Momentum)
The clan moves to give the fighters space. A young man runs out and draws a large circle in the dirt around the fighters. The first warrior to draw blood or force their opponent outside of the circle would win the challenge.
Battle + Wits = Weak Hit
She watched how Renn moved. His thick arms were powerful, and his slices were brutal, but his footwork was weak! That would be her opening.
Ramia lets Renn charge her and barely dodges his massive blade. She keeps him moving and striking air as she carefully positions them near the circle’s edge.
Seeing her opportunity, she feints her sword to bait him, and he strikes, taking a large step to the side and slashing her!
A thin stream of blood runs over her face as her forehead throbs.
“Going for the head? The bastard would have killed me!” she thinks.
“I win!” he crows, pointing to her bloody face.
Ramia grins and silently points to the ground. Renn’s leg was several inches outside the circle. He had lost!
Oracle > Manipulate, Truth
Renn’s face turned red with embarrassment.
“Trickery! The whelp fights with no honor at all. This battle was a sham, and I demand a rematch!”
The gathered crowd hisses their disapproval. They had all seen his mistake. He had no argument at all.
Seeing no one swallow his excuses, Renn angrily rips one of the iron rings from his necklace and throws it to the ground. By tradition, First Blades had to remove a ring from their necklace if defeated and present it as a prize to the winner. Renn walks away from the field, shoving his way through the crowd.
His own clan members shook their heads in shame at the disrespect he showed to the warrior who had bested him…
A wizened old man decorated in regalia of crow feathers and beast hides steps out from the crowd.
“He must be the Draoi of Clan Breda,” Ramia thought, and fell to her knees in obeisance. The Draoi, or Druids, were the bridge between their world of dirt and iron and the realm of spirits and Gods.
Regardless of clan ties, all respected them, and to harm a Draoi was punishable by death.
The Draoi placed a withered hand on Ramia’s head.
“What is your name and clan, my child?” he asked in a thin voice.
“I am Red Ramia, of Clan Kuron, daughter of Chief Hagarr,” she responded, looking up at the milky white orbs of his blind eyes.
He nods and raises his ashen staff in the air. Ramia quickly looks down at the dirt and screws her eyes shut. All around her, the people of Clan Breda kneel and close their eyes as well as the ritual begins.
The Draoi then begins to chant in the ancient tongues, his thin reedy voice drifting through the morning mist like birdsong.
Oracle > Has Ramia earned a title as First Blade? > Yes
As he continues chanting, the Draoi reaches into a pouch and pulls out a handful of carved bones and throws them into the air. He then bends down and runs his fingers over the fallen bones, studying the runes that revealed themselves.
Seemingly satisfied, he stands and ceases his chanting. Everyone gathered looks up at him, but none stand yet.
“The Iron Gods and the ancestors have found this young pup worthy. She has ventured into the deepest wilds and safely brought home one of our Circle. She risked life and limb for one not even kin or Clan to her. She has bested Renn Skullcrusher at his own challenge and conducted herself with honor.
I, Draoi Ancrath of 78 winters, name her Red Ramia, First Blade!”
Oracle > Community
The crowd stands to cheer and whistle their approval, and Ramia looks up at them with a smile. Targon was cheering louder than most, still teetering on his broken leg.
She stands and accepts a silver chain from the old man. She slips her newly won ring onto the chain and puts it around herself. Ramia thanks the Draoi for his wisdom, then her curiosity gets the better of her and she asks,
“Why was Renn called Skullcrusher?”
Ancrath shakes his head and sighs.
“The man is stronger than a bull yet foolhardy to a fault. He had fought a Varou hunter in his youth to earn his own title. Despite being disarmed mid-battle, he managed to crush the Varou’s head with his bare hands, leaving only the jawbone intact.”
Ramia laughs in wonder.
“A Varou jawbone… just as Grum had pulled from the fire a few nights ago. The gods truly worked in mysterious ways,” she thought to herself.
Sojourn > Weak Hit > Uncover Nature
The people of Clan Breda extend what hospitality they can. They have little to offer by way of supplies — their harvest was greatly harmed by a sudden flooding of the White Horse River last month. But they do offer her rest and the attention of the clan healer, a frigid old woman who binds her wounds wordlessly. (+1 Health)
With her injuries healed, she considers the way back home. Truth be told, she missed her War Dogs and longed to return to battle with them. But under that feeling, she could sense a deeper need — a desire to wet her blade with the blood of Arensom and his raiders…
End Session - Tune in next week to see how the story develops! I’m trying to set myself a goal to post every week!
Link to Table of Contents to see other episodes in this and other series:
Masterfully handled by Raima. Two birds with one stone getting her First Blade title and publicly embarrassing a jerk. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes next, I really like the dialogue for this one!
Solid footwork and quick wits wins against rage and brute strength every time. I do wonder if Renn might come back to haunt Ramia, though. Great entry.