Ironsworn Session 12: A Cavern Delve

 
Valryc's status: Momentum: 10; Health: 5; Spirit: 5; Supply: 4
Vow: Find the missing boy and bring him back to Wrennsfall: Progress 3 

Valryc holds his torch high above his head as he hefts his bastard sword and makes his way into the cave system. He searches the ground, looking to find tracks that Pendry might have left as he retreated into the caves. “I don’t want to find out what the boy was running from… Hopefully we both can avoid it before the end of this.” He makes his way into the cave opening, the large mouth of the cave quickly closing into a narrow entrance. The cave reeks of rats and other foul creatures. Valryc looks grim, unsure if he’ll be able to find the boy alive in such a dangerous place.

Delve the Depths- Valryc makes his way into the cave, searching for tracks to point him in the right direction. Roll +wits as he searches for the tracks left by the boy
Strong hit- Action die 4; Challenge die 1/3
+2 progress; Find an opportunity

Find an Opportunity- Roll 87; Locate an interesting or helpful object; +1 on next action and +1 momentum on a hit

Valryc quickly finds the trail in the dirt of the cavern. A hasty retreat made by human bootprints head down a tunnel to the left. Valryc cautiously follows, knowing that danger lurks around any corner in these caverns. The tracks lead through a winding set of tunnels into another opening. He continues searching for more footprints, hoping the boys trail is easy enough to follow
Delve the Depths- Valryc continues following the boys trail. Roll + wits
Miss- Action die 4; Challenge die 5/4
Burn 10 momentum to make a Strong hit!
Reset momentum; add +1 momentum from the previous opportunity
+2 progress; Find an opportunity

Find an Opportunity- Roll 76; Get the drop on a Denizen of the Caverns; +1 on next action and +1 momentum on a hit

Valryc continues following the trail of the boy deeper into the caves. For a moment he thinks he’s lost the trail, but quickly finds them again leading down another twisting tunnel. He sighs as he prepares himself to move deeper into the cave system. The footprints lead to an opening with a small pool of water. Stalactites hang from the ceiling of this small room in the caves. From the exit of the tunnel, Valryc sees several other tunnels winding away. But he also sees a creature lurking in the darkness. It appears as if the creature is unaware of his approach. The scaly frog-like creature has its back turned, slurping hungrily at the pool of water on the other side of the opening. It has razor sharp claws and spines running up the length of its back. Valryc quickly recognizes the creature.  “A trog eh? Well, I best make quick work of this thing and press on. Hopefully its friends haven’t found Pendry before I do.” Valryc thinks to himself. He takes a moment to study the creature's movement, hoping to ambush it before it knows what is happening.

Secure an Advantage- Valryc studies the creature that he has spotted, hoping to make a quick end to this fight; Roll +wits +1 from previous opportunity
Weak hit- Action Die 9; Challenge die 10/2
+2 momentum

Valryc knows the boy moved through these tunnels. There isn’t a moment to lose. He thinks he sees an opening as the Trog has its back turned away from the tunnel, unaware of his approach. He charges forward, raising his bastard sword for a killing blow!
Enter the Fray- Dangerous Foe; Valryc ambushes the creature; Roll +wits
Miss- Action die 4; Challenge die 4/8
The foe has initiative; Pay the price
Pay the Price- Valryc has lost his opportunity to end the creature quickly. His ambush has failed and the fight will continue on with him and his opponent on equal footing.

The Trog was not surprised at all by Valryc’s sudden charge. The light from his torch gave away his approach and the creature only appeared to be unaware of him but knew danger was coming. With a suddenness that Valryc wasn’t prepared for, the frog-like creature turns from the pool, brandishing its razor sharp claws and a menacing maw of sharpened teeth. The trog hungrily watches as Valryc charges forward. Valryc quickly stops in his tracks, knowing his opportunity is lost. Cursing under his breath, Valryc takes a defensive stance holding his sword in front of him. He circles around the cavern looking for an opening in the creature's defenses. He thinks he spots a weakness in the Trog’s stance and steps forward with a swing from his sword

Clash- Valryc presses the attack, hoping to gain the initiative in the fight.
Weak hit- Action die 6; Challenge die 10/3
Inflict 2  harm (4 progress); Foe has initiative; Pay the price

Valryc steps forward with a mighty slash, but the creature's claws divert most of the blow. He is able to score a slash across its forearm, but it seems to phase the creature little. It bares its fangs at him, hissing loudly. Suddenly the creature moves away from Valryc. It breathes in deeply and begins to make a deep bellowing croaking sound. “It must be calling for its friends! If I don’t end this soon, I’ll be overrun!” Valryc worries over the possibility of being chased from the cave by a hoard of Trogs. He’ll have to make a different way into the caves, risking the chance of finding the boy if he doesn’t end the fight with this trog quickly

Pay the Price- The trog begins calling for its brethren. If Valryc does not end this fight soon, a swarm of these frog-like beasts will swarm the cavern and cut him off from Pendry’s trail.
4 part clock- Each time the Trog has initiative, it will continue to call for aid. Each round this will tick one part of the clock. If it is not killed before the clock runs out, more of these creatures will swarm the caverns and chase Valryc out and away from Pendry’s trail.
Clock- 1 of 4 parts filled

Valryc senses that he doesn’t have much time to end this fight. If the creature has taken the time to begin calling for aid, there must be more of these creatures nearby. If he doesn’t end the fight soon, he knows he will need to retreat and find a different way through the cave system. His only hope in finding the boy alive is to finish off the Trog and hasten his way down the tunnels.

Clash- With a renewed sense of urgency, Valryc charges forward, hoping to open up the Trog’s defenses.
Weak hit- Action die 8; Challenge die 7/8
Inflict 2 harm (4 progress); Pay the Price; Foe has initiative
Clock- 2 of 4 parts filled

Valryc swipes desperately at the creature, but it easily avoids his sword. A sense of dread fills Valryc, as he feels time running out. “I cannot let his friends get here before I’ve finished this creature off! The boy’s life will be forfeit if I don’t end this now!”

Pay the Price- Valryc’s sense of dread begins to wear on his spirit. Fearing that he will be overrun before he can continue his search, his spirit is broken and his resolve begins to weaken.

Endure Stress-  -1 Spirit; Roll +spirit
Strong hit- Action die 10; Challenge die 3/8
+1 momentum

Valryc is shaken for a moment, but continues to press on knowing that one swift blow will silence the creature and allow him to continue his search. He grits his teeth, putting his fears to the back of his mind before raising his bastard sword and stepping forward again, bringing a mighty swing down towards the trog’s head.

Clash- Valryc makes a desperate swing, knowing that Pendry’s life hangs on the balance of silencing this creature before it is too late.
Miss- Action die 9; Challenge die 10/9
Pay the Price; Foe has initiative
Clock- 3 of 4 parts filled!
Pay the Price- Valryc misses the trog, but this time the trog strikes back as its sharpened claws slash out towards him.

Endure Harm- -2 health; roll +iron
Weak hit- Action die 5; Challenge die 10/3
Press on!

Valryc’s blow misses the trog entirely. His blade hits the stone floor of the cavern, ringing out loudly through the tunnels connected to this small cavern. As Valryc’s blade strikes the cavern floor, the trog lithely steps to the side. It slashes a clawed hand across Valryc’s side, opening several long cuts in the warrior's shoulder. Blood seeps from his torn clothing as the trog moves to bring its other clawed hand towards his throat, looking for a killing blow. Valryc’s instincts kick in. He lays his bloody shoulder into the creature’s chest, pushing it off balance for just long enough that he can bring his sword in between his body and the razor sharp claws. In a desperate move, Valryc stabs forward into the trog’s chest, knowing that this is his final chance to end this fight before more of these creatures appear. He hears distant croaks beginning to answer the calls sent forth by the creature he faces. It’s now or never. His sword moves with an unnatural quickness, hoping to find a home in its chest.

Turn the Tide- Valryc takes initiative in a desperate move; Roll +2 and +2 momentum on hit due to his Honorbound asset.

Strike- Valryc drives his sword forward as the trog reels from the sudden charge of Valryc’s shoulder
Strong hit- Action die 7; Challenge die 4/5
Inflict +1 harm (6 progress); +2 momentum from turn the tide and honorbound; Valryc has initiative

Valryc drives his blade forward towards his off balance foe. The strike is true, as the blade skewers the trog through the chest, leaving a mortal wound on the creature. He pulls his blade free and in a grand overhead swing, he brings the edge of his blade down on the creature’s shoulder to end the fight.

End the Fight- Valryc’s desperate move hopes to end the fight and buy him some time to continue his search for Pendry
Strong hit- Progress 10; Challenge die 8/6
This foe is no longer in the fight!

Valryc strikes true, as he brings his heavy blade down on the creature's collar bone. The blade cuts deep, severing an artery and leaving the creature bleeding out at his feet. The fight is won, but the croaking from the other tunnels continues to press forward. Valryc has little time to celebrate his victory. He quickly picks up Pendry’s tracks and flees down the tunnel that they lead. Once he has followed the tunnel for several minutes, he pauses and listens. The sounds of approaching croaks have died down. Whatever was coming for him has lost the desire to chase him down at the moment. He finds a small alcove in the passageway, hidden from view of anything passing through the tunnel. Blood drips down his arm from the deep gashes that the creature made with its dagger-like claws. He pulls his pack from his back, quickly fishing out some bandages and ointment to stop the bleeding and the throbbing pain that the cuts have left pulsing through his arm.

Heal- Valryc takes a moment to bandage his wounds.
Miss- Action die 3; Challenge die 4/10
Burn 8 momentum to make a weak hit
+2 health; -1 supply

In his haste to bandage his wounds, Valryc has applied too much of the salve and uses more bandages than necessary. His supplies are running low as his haste costs him his medical supplies. He curses under his breath, quietly to not attract attention of the trogs that might be coming after him any moment now after finding their ally. “Damn! You fool, you use too much of your supplies in your haste. You’ll strand yourself and Pendry here with no way to make your way out of these cursed caves…” With a heavy breath, Valryc calms himself. The fight was more tense than he thought, and his anger and impatience has cost him some of his medical supplies. He can only hope that he will quickly find the boy and extract him from whatever danger he has found himself in quickly. There's little that he can leave up to chance at this point. Both of their lives rest solely in his ability to follow Pendry’s tracks and leave this place quickly.

Delve the Depths- Valryc continues on Pendry’s trail; Roll +wits
Weak hit- Action die 7; Challenge die 4/10
Table- 64; Mark +2 progress

Valryc picks up the trail again after seeing to his wounds easily enough. The winding tunnels continue to lead deeper and deeper below as he continues. The damp, wet air hangs heavy as he moves through the maze of a cave system. He is moving slowly, being careful that he doesn’t miss anything. Time is of the essence at this point. With the trogs and other creatures in the caves, the sooner Valryc finds the boy the more chance he is still alive when he finds him. Sweat beads on his forehead as he presses on following the tracks.

Delve the Depths- Valryc is on the trail and he continues following the tracks deeper into the cave system; Roll +wits
Weak hit- Action die 7; Challenge die 4/10
Table- 80; Mark +2 progress

The tracks continue deeper and Valryc continues to follow. He makes sure that he remembers every twist and turn the footsteps take so that he and the boy might make a speedy exit when it comes time for them to leave. The less time they spend in these caves the better.

Delve the Depths- The tracks continue on as Valryc presses through tunnels and cave openings and tunnels and cave openings. Roll +wits
Weak hit- Action die 3; Challenge die 1/7
Table- 70; Mark +2 Progress

The tracks appear fresher as Valryc continues to follow. He spots leaves of herbs left behind along with the footprints. The damp earth holds the tracks well and Valryc is thankful that he has not lost them so far. His pace quickens as the tracks grow more and more recent. The boy must have been through these tunnels recently. He can only hope that around the next bend he’ll find Pendry and they can quickly make their exit.

Locate Objective- Progress 10; Challenge die 1/2
Strong hit- Locate objective; +1 momentum

Valryc enters another opening. He begins searching for which tunnel the tracks continue down when he quickly realizes that they stop here. Pendry is huddled in a small alcove in the cave, clutching a large bundle of herbs tightly to his chest. The boy almost shrinks into the wall as Valryc steps from the tunnel, but quickly his eyes widen at the sight of another person. Tears immediately begin streaming down the boy's face. Valryc rushes over to comfort Pendry. “It's alright boy, I’ll take you out of this place. Your troubles are over. It's all done now…” Valryc places a hand on the boy’s shoulder, lifting his chin up so that their eyes meet. “I’m going to take you back to your mother. Get to your feet and let's leave this place behind us.” The boy slowly stands, still clutching the herbs to his chest. Valryc examines them for a moment before chuckling to himself. “Ah, You were never in too much danger then! Kingroot. A strong and natural repellent. Most of the creatures down here wouldn’t come fifty paces near you with that much of a bundle in hand. And luckily you didn’t run into any of the creatures that would. Still all the same, I know this was hard for you. Collect yourself and let's get moving. If we’re quick we can get back to Wrennsfall before midnight.” Valryc knows that he’s been many hours in the cave system and with the travel back to the city they’ll be lucky to make it before dawn. But he hopes that the thought of returning will get Pendry up and moving quickly. He doesn’t want to spend any more time in this cave system either.

Reach a Milestone- Valryc has found the boy alive and well. +3 Progress on his vow.

The pair quickly begin to backtrack through the caves, avoiding the cavern with the trog’s body, hoping that they don’t run into its friends. Valryc keeps a steady pace now, remembering the route he made through the caves and not having to worry about studying the ground for tracks as he goes.

Escape the Depths
Weak hit- Action die 3; Challenge die 6/2
Reveal a danger- Twisting passages from the Domain card; It takes them longer than expected to escape.

Trying to avoid the cavern where he faced the Trog, Valryc makes a circuitous route to escape the caverns. Though he knows which direction he needs to head, the twisting passages of the cavern turn him about more and more. Though the pair do not face any more dangers on their way towards the exit, the time it takes the two to find the exit is drastically longer than the time it took to follow the boy’s trail. By the time they exit the cavern, they find themselves in the depths of night. “Well, we may not make it back for breakfast, but we’ll have you back in your mother’s home before lunch. We’ll press on from here. I know this forest well. The darkness won’t hinder our passage. Stay close though, there are dangers that lurk about in the dark that you would not find here when the sun shines.” At these words the boy quickens his pace to stay as close to Valryc as possible. He almost becomes the scouts second shadow as they begin their way back to Wrennsfall guided only by the moonlight.

Oracle- The cave system is home to a massive harrow spider. It is possible that the spider is nearby hunting now that night has fallen. Do the two run into the spider as they make their way back to Wrennsfall.
Odds: 50/50- 13; No their passage is unhindered by the hunting spider.

Though the hour is late, Valryc pushes Pendry to continue on. The two make the hours-long trek back to Wrennsfall by the light of the half moon. Luckily the dangers of the forest seem to leave them be. As dawn begins to break, the pair emerge from the tree coverage and find the main road towards Wrennfall’s main gates. The two make haste once they’ve reached the road and find the main gate before the sun is too high in the sky. Valryc enters the town with the boy, congratulated by the guards who have heard about his endeavors of the previous day. They clap hands on his back and cheer for him as the pair make their way through the gates. Valryc brings Pendry back to his family’s home, knocking on the door. Nazmi opens the door and bursts into tears seeing her boy standing next to the exhausted Valryc. He smiles as the two embrace, happy that he could be of use during this week of waiting. As Nazmi finally looks at him, he nods and grips his iron arrowhead necklace. A vow completed….

Reach a Milestone- The boy has been safely returned to his mother; +3 progress on vow
Fulfill your Vow- Strong hit- Progress 9; Challenge die 2/7 +1 Experience

Valryc leaves the two after Nazmi showers him in thanks. The only thing on his mind at this point is sleep. He returns home, quickly strips from his travel worn clothing and lays down on his bed. He smiles to himself, happy to know that his week was not wasted. He drifts off to a restful sleep, hoping that he won’t be too idle as he continues to wait for the summons of the council. The feeling in the back of his mind returns… He is not done with his work. This blade depicted in the elven hieroglyphs may be the only thing that protects them from the Shadiri’s plots. He hopes that he’ll be able to see that vow through. He finally drifts off to sleep, ready to spend the next day or two in bed resting and recovering from the adventures of the previous day.


Valryc's status: Momentum: 3; Health: 5; Spirit: 4; Supply: 3
Vow: Find the missing boy and bring him back to Wrennsfall: Progress- Complete!

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