Ironsworn Session 9: A Duel with Shadow

Valryc's status: Momentum: 6; Health: 5; Spirit: 5; Supply: 3
Undertake a Journey: Return to Wrennsfall: Progress:6
Vow: Find the ruins, discover what the Shadiri are seeking and return to Wrennsfall: Progress:4

---

Valryc moves on silent feet deeper into Rockmark. His gaze shifts back and forth, scanning the streets for any signs of the shadow creature he’s been charged with defeating. “Gods, what am I doing…”  He thinks to himself as he continues moving towards the town square. He looks to the sky and sees Strieg making tight circles overhead a short distance off. From their many years training together, Valryc knows this signals danger ahead. “Well nothing to do now but face the damned thing.”  He tightens his grip on his sturdy bastard sword and continues moving until he finally makes it to the edge of the town square. He spots the thing well before though, a hulking figure standing at least 8 feet tall. The creature is hard to look at, as the dark shadows that make up its form seem to writhe and swirl. Its two massive arms end in dangerously sharp claws, the shadows seeming to come to an unnatural point. Valryc puts his back to a wall, peering around the corner at the creature. It simply stands motionless, as if waiting for something. Valryc takes a deep breath and prepares himself to enter the fight. He looks around the ground for a stone, finding a decently sized loose cobblestone. He picks it up, turns back to the square, and hefts it into the air hoping to draw the creatures attention away from where he is and gain at least a slight advantage on his initial approach.

Secure an Advantage- Valryc attempts to cover his approach by distracting the shadow beast
Roll + wits to outmaneuver the creature
Strong hit w/ a Match: Action die 6; Challenge die 4/4
+2 Momentum
Match: Valryc discovers a weakness of the creature, reduce the foes rank

He hurls the stone to the other side of the square with ease. As it makes contact with the wall of a building, clattering to the ground, the beasts head raises and it charges. But unexpectedly, it stops halfway to the other side of the square from where it had stood. Valryc studies the creature, confused by its sudden stop. Then he sees it…. He looks up to the sky. The sun still hangs low to the east in the early morning. The eastern buildings in the town square cast long shadows. The beast has stopped suddenly where the shadow ends. “Ahh, looks like your not much a fan of the sun my friend. I might have to circle around and come at you with the sun on my side then. See how you like that kind of fight.” Valryc backs down the street and repositions towards the western side of the square where the sunlight shines brightly. With his final moments, he steadies his nerves and strides into the light of the square. “Alright you bastard, lets see what you’re made of!”  He yells and charges into the square with his blade held high.

Enter the Fray- Valryc charges into the fight with the creature
Formidable foe reduced to Dangerous as Valryc takes advantage of the creatures weakness
Roll +heart
Strong hit: Action die 6; Challenge die 4/5
+2 Momentum; Take the initiative

As Valryc charges forward, the shadowy creature immediately reacts to his presence. It looks as if it is readying to charge, but seems hesitant to step into the light. Valryc holds in the light, taunting the creature with his blade held aloft and yelling a mighty battle cry. Finally its bloodlust overcomes its fear of the light and its steps forward. Immediately the creature seems to shrink as shadows all but burn away from the creatures body. Valryc grins grimly, knowing the fight got much easier and yet will still be a challenge. Gritting his teeth and gripping his blade he strides towards the creature to meet it head on. The beast makes a slash towards him with its razor sharp claws, but Valryc is ready. He steps to the side and brings his blade down on its outstretched arm with a mighty blow

Strike- Valryc strikes at the beast; Roll +iron
Miss: Action die 5; Challenge die 5/9
Burn 10 momentum for a strong hit; reset momentum to 2
Inflict +1 harm; retain initiative
Swordmaster asset: Burning momentum on a strike, Inflict +2 harm and add +1 to next move
Valryc inflicts 5 harm to the creature; Progress of the fight is 10…

At first the swing felt off as if it would miss the mark, but at the last moment Valryc adjusted his swing. He pulled the blade down on the creature's arm with all his might. And he sliced clear through. The beast howled an unnatural cry as the arm fell to the ground, the shadow quickly dissolving in the light. Valryc took the moment to continue his momentum. He stepped forward, swinging his blade down on the creature's sturdy leg and caught it right at the thigh. It stumbled. Off balance, the creature attempted to swing its other claw down at valryc, but the trained fighter easily stepped back out of the claws range. Again he swung his blade, this time catching the creature across its chest. As the blade cut, wisps of shadows seemed to burn away from the creature's body. It wailed out in pain, as if gasping for air as its body slowly burned away in the light. Suddenly it turned its back on Valryc, attempting to retreat into the shadows. Valryc saw his opportunity and took it. He took to long steps towards the creature, thrusting the blade towards its back, his body carrying the momentum of his movement into the tip of the blade. He aimed to kill, not allowing it to retreat to the shadows of the eastern side of the square.

End the Fight- Valryc strikes for the killing blow as the shadowy figure retreats
Roll against the fights progress of 10
Strong hit- Progress 10; Challenge die 5/2
The foe is killed

Valryc’s blade pierces through the back of the creature. He presses on, his momentum carrying him forward as he pushes the blade deeper and deeper into its back. It pierces through the front. The creature howls in pain, falling to its knees. Valryc pulls the blade from the beast, swinging it high overhead. A last strong swing cuts through the creature’s neck. The body slumps to the ground as the head falls beside it. And in the daylight, the shadow lays motionless. Still, the body begins to slowly dissolve, as if burning up in the light. Wisps of shadow curl away from the mass of its body, dancing in the air for a moment before being lost to the light, disappearing. Valryc’s heart beats hard in his chest. He takes a knee, leaning on his sword for support, as he watches the creature slowly disappear. The fight took just a few moments, and yet everything could have ended differently had he faced the creature in the shadows. Valryc steels his mind against those thoughts, taking solace that it ended the way it did. He kneels motionless as he watches the body burn away. By the time it has completely disappeared, the sun has risen and lights the square with its warm rays. Valryc nods to where the body once lay, rising to his feet and sheathing his blade across his back. He takes one last breath to calm his nerves and begins his walk back to the encampment in the forest.

As he emerges from the village, a stunned Euros stands watching. His pack leans against a tree next to the watchman. As Valryc nears, the man begins to stammer questions about what happened. He mentions the howling screams that could be heard coming from town, the unnerving feeling that Valryc would not return. Valryc simply walks up, shoulders his pack, and places a hand on Euros’ shoulder. He nods reassuringly to the man, “It is done, my friend. The beast is slain. You won’t be guarding this forest any longer.” Euros is stunned silent as he searches for the words to respond. Finally the watchman flings his arms around Valryc in an embrace. “Thank you Captain. Thank you.” Euros releases Valryc, clapping him on the shoulders before nodding towards the forest. “Best we get you back to the Elder. She’ll most assuredly want to speak with you again. This is the best news this town has had in a long time.”  He turns and leads Valryc once more deeper into the forest. Back to the camp and back to the meeting tent at the center. Again Euros nods to Valryc, once more thanking him, before turning and making his way back to the forest edge.

Valryc stands outside of the tent for a moment, thinking about what he could possibly request from these people. Sure, they have been freed from the threat of that awful creature. And yet how could he deprive them, a small village on the outskirts, of any of their valuable resources. After a moment of thought, Valryc steps back into the tent. Elder Kayu sits at her desk, writing another letter as he enters. She looks up and meets his eyes, “Captain, I am surprised to see that you are still here. I was sure you would take one look at that creature and move on, leaving us to wait for aid from Wrennsfall. Surely my answer to your request was firm enough that you aren’t here to continue pleading your case. You know my terms. Meet them. Or leave us…” Valryc stares at the woman silently for a moment, gathering his words. Finally he nods. “It is done. Your beast is slain. Your terms are met.” The elder stares back at him, disbelief and a tinge of hope cross her face. Finally she scoffs at him. “Surely you don’t expect me to believe such a ruse. And I’d think a man of your station would not take to swindling those in need so quickly.” She retorts. And he continues to stare back at her, unwaveringly. After a moment she falters, “You… Are you serious? It cannot be. So quickly you’ve slain that beast?! I don’t believe it.” Her voice wavers slightly, emotion surges in her voice as her breath catches in her throat for a moment. Valryc finally breaks his silence, “It was no easy fight, but it is done. The creature is no more. It’s body burned up in the early morning sun. I sat and watched it wither away with my own eyes.” She takes a breath and composes herself before continuing. “If what you are suggesting is true, I’ll have to verify it. I’ll send a number of my scouts to investigate the town. If there is no evidence of the creature in town then you have my promised aid. The terms are met and the agreement will stand. But so help me, if any of those scouts are harmed because the beast remains… your life will be forfeit.”  She ends solemnly and sternly before motioning to her assistant, standing vigilantly in the corner. He steps over and bends down to her. She speaks softly in his ear several orders and the boy runs off to complete the task. Valryc finally eases himself down in the chair across from the elder as she motions for him to sit. The two remain silent, the elder seemingly eyeing him up, trying to find the break in Valryc’s composure, trying to see the lie in his words.

After a long silent period of waiting, a man suddenly bursts into the tent. “Elder!! The beast, there is no sign of it! The village is liberated!” He yells out excitedly. A crowd can be heard outside of the tent now, hushed whispers grow into loud yells and cheers. A voice sounding much like Euros can be heard yelling out, “It was the Captain! Captain Valryc of Wrennsfall! He’s freed us from the shadow! We are saved!!” Elder Kayu sits motionless for a moment, trying to contain her own composure as the news spreads through the encampment. “Thank you Mordain, that is all. Please leave us now.” The man who had burst in quickly bows to the elder and retreats as her gaze falls back onto Valryc. She suppresses a smile as she finally begins to address him again. “Well that is quite unexpected. But it seems you have upheld your part. Whatever it is, name it and we shall give freely to aid you on your return to Wrennsfall.” Valryc pauses for a moment, mulling over his thoughts from before he stepped into the tent. “A horse. That is all I require. Your fastest horse. And in return for your generosity, I will arrange for 3 to be sent back in return, with a small retinue of Wrennsfall guards to ensure the safety of Rockmark for the time being. That is all I ask.”

Elder Kayu sits stunned for a moment. She had been expecting him to take half the village's food supplies, a cart, maybe some guards. Something much more than the request he put forward. She stammers slightly before composing herself once more. She nods, a wide smile finally spreading across her face, “Those terms are acceptable to me. You shall have as you ask and I’ll be watching for the horses return shortly. You are a true protector of the realm Captain Valryc, Shadow’s Bane!” Her smile and thanks turn into a yell of celebration as she steps around the table and out of the tent, yelling out over the celebrating crowd. A hush falls as Valryc hears her voice ring clearly, “Euros! Fetch the fastest horse and saddle it with supplies for Captain Valryc! An agreement has been made! He wishes to continue on his journey quickly and we shall see him on his way with haste! Quickly now! For Captain Valryc, Shadow’s Bane!” A loud cheer goes up and a chanting carries through the forest of Shadow’s Bane. Valryc smirks as Elder Kayu returns to the table and takes her seat, “Shadow’s Bane, eh? Seems a bit overblown for one simple fight.” The elder’s face turns serious once more at his jest, “You have done a great deed today Captain. You risked your life and your mission to aid those in need. Shadow’s Bane hardly covers all that you’ve done here, but I will proudly yell it out to honor you and your actions. You will not soon be forgotten in Rockmark, you may count on that.” The smirk falls from Valryc’s face as he nods in understanding. He has given hope to people who had none just mere moments ago. He stands and leaves the tent, joining the celebrations. The villagers thank him and celebrate around him as the horse is prepared. Finally Euros brings the saddled horse to the center of the encampment. People make way for Valryc as he mounts the horse and with a final yell he rides off to the cheers of the villagers of Rockmark.

Forge a Bond- Valryc has stood for the Village of Rockmark in their hour of need. The villagers celebrate him as a hero. This moment will be remembered by all for a long time to come…
Strong hit w/ a Match: Action die 8; Challenge die 6/6
+2 Momentum, +1 on the bond track; Mark Bond with Rockmark village

Reach a Milestone- Valryc has garnered aid from Rockmark by defeating the Shadow beast. By giving him a horse to complete the journey more swiftly, Valryc has reached a milestone on his vow of finding the ruins, discovering what the Shadiri seek, and returning to Wrennsfall. +1 Progress

Making his way out of the forest, Valryc finds the road towards Wrennsfall on the outskirts of the forest where a short day ago he had first encountered Euros. He turns the steed towards the south and begins the final leg of his long journey home.

GM Note: 

Now that Valryc has obtained a horse to complete his journey much faster, I have chosen to downgrade the journey back to wrennsfall from Formidable to Dangerous. He has made his way out of the mountains and back to more familiar territory. With the aid of the horse to speed his journey along, Valryc truly has reached the end of his journey and nears the conclusion of his first vow!

---

Valryc's status: Momentum: 4; Health: 5; Spirit: 5; Supply: 3
Undertake a Journey: Return to Wrennsfall: Progress:6
Vow: Find the ruins, discover what the Shadiri are seeking and return to Wrennsfall: Progress:5

Ironsworn Campaign 1: Session List