Metal of Arkad - Chapter 2: The Iron of Blood
Welcome back to Metal of Arkad, my Ironsworn Solo actual play using Order of the Falcon! Last session saw our character Utu, an adherent of the Cult of Marduk, being sent on a mission to assassinate an Iron-Forger.
Utu was successful in her mission, distracting innocent bystanders and throwing a bronze dagger into the target’s chest.
Now we see Utu as she heads back to her chapter house to converse with her master…
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Momentum 6, Infamy Clock 0/4
I walk through the dark streets of Arkad to the chapter house of our order. My head is down, but I fear nothing at night. Only an idiot would think to attack an adherent of Marduk, and they would be in for quite a surprise if they tried.
Winding my way through the trade district, I quickly find myself among the stone buildings of the Old District of Arkad. These buildings date back to the time when the city was little more than a chiefdom. They represent when we were pure as a people, before the discovery of the evil Iron, when bronze was still worshipped.
The old square Temple to Marduk is what I’m looking for. Unassuming, it is where we keep the holiest of texts and artifacts. Compare that to the obscene churches to the false god Ashur, with their gilded towers and ridiculous costumes.
I step into the Temple and am immediately met by a silent guard in dark robes. I show them my bronze medallion, showing Marduk’s love for me. They nod and let me enter. I walk to the back, past the bronze shrine and to a dark stairwell. I go down, deep into the earth of Arkad, past veins of copper that this city was built on. Don’t the people of Arkad know? This city is literally built on top of one of the holy metals!
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| Photo by Daniel Perunov on Unsplash |
At the bottom of the stairs, I find a door, engraved in bronze. I rap once, twice, and a third time quickly. A bolt is pulled back, and the door slowly opens.
“Welcome, my child. Was your mission in the name of Marduk a success? Is the Iron-Forger dead?”
“He is, my master. Bronze has ended his life, as it should be and as it will be.”
My master is silent for a while. I know he gives prayers for all those we need to assassinate, even if they believe in Ashur.
“Well done, Utu. You’ve proven yourself to be an excellent child of Marduk lately. Now, my child, there is a new mission for you to take.”
I start to shake in anticipation. A new mission? Already? I’m only a new adherent to the Cult. It is known missions are few and far between. Only those most trusted are given mission after mission.
What is the mission? Let’s roll on the Settlement Trouble table of Ironsworn. I get Families in Conflict. Interesting. And for Action Theme, I get Swear Power… Let’s see how this plays out.
My master hands me a scroll, old and tattered. On it bears a family name, Aramdamu.
“Do you know this family?”
I shake my head. I haven’t heard of them. But the structure of their name means they are an old family.
“The Aramdamu are our targets. A family who worships Marduk is paying us to remove the Aramdamu from the equation. There has been some issue between their family that does not matter to you. All you need to know is Marduk himself will be pleased with this mission. The patriarch of the family, Enki Aramdamu, has been marked for death. Bring that death to him, Utu, in the name of our god Marduk.”
I nod solemnly.
“This mission will not be a simple one like the iron-forger. This family is guarded day and night. Getting to Enki will be a mission in itself. Good luck, and may your Bronze shine in Marduk’s light.”
I leave, excused from my Master. It is late, or better to say it is early in the day. I have not slept the whole night and take this opportunity to find my bunk and rest.
Waking up, it is past midday. I conduct my daily ritual of sharpening my bronze blades. The god Marduk teaches us that daily devotion to him is care to his bronze. The lazy, corrupt iron-users don’t sharpen every day. They are not as devoted as we are.
Considering my new task, I think about my next steps…
Take a Contract +1 with Heart, +1 for bond with master
Challenge 4,7 Vs 1+1+1=3, Miss
Formidable Contract
Infamy Clock goes up one tick, now 1/4
Understanding what I must do next is a struggle for me. I’m lost, confused with this pressure I have on me now. I speak with another member of the church, Umma, a woman I normally do not like to speak with.
“Utu, you are an idiot. Why the master picked you to do this job, I’ll never know. You're looking for a member of an old family? The best place to start would be the city library. I know you are a bit dense, but even you know they keep records of families going far back to when Marduk walked the earth? Now leave before I tell the Master how stupid you are.”
I bow my head and leave. I knew she would be rude, but I needed the tip. At least I know where I must head next. I change into my city clothes and head to the grand library of Arkad.
The library of Arkad is a grand building. Clad in bronze, it shines as if it were a beacon in the dark. Which it is, of a sort. All the knowledge in the world is hosted here, including the records of the leading families of Arkad. The problem is, while the library is free and open to all, the genealogical records are kept in a secure section.
The head librarian looks down at me with curiosity, “Young lady, we cannot allow you to see those records unless you have a signed note from a represented family or a writ from First Chancellor’s Lila’s office. Do you have either?”
“No, I don’t have a writ just now…” I think hard and fast, a story comes to mind quickly. We will see if it’s good enough to get me in. “See, my mother was a common cleaning lady, and she was seduced by one of the merchant princes. That’s how I came to be. Well, my mother is quite sick now, on her death bed really. That merchant refuses to acknowledge me or help my mother. But everyone says I’m a spitting image of him. So if I can just view the records to prove that everyone in his line looks the same, I’ll be able to secure a future for myself and help my poor dying mother.”
Secure an Advantage +3 with Shadow
Challenge 4,5 vs 2+3=5, Weak hit. +1 Momentum (7)
Advantage is short-lived
Mark Progress = 1 box (1)
The librarian considers my words. “Well, just a quick look? That shouldn’t be a problem. But only ten minutes, understand? Be quick!”
As soon as the heavy doors are closed, I start flipping through records, looking for information on my target family.
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| Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash |
Gather Information +2 with Wits
Challenge 10,10 Vs 5+2=7
Miss with Matching 10s
Here we go… Ok, matching tens are the worst roll you can get in Ironsworn, it calls for an extreme flip of the story or something really bad. Let’s do this one at a time. I must Pay the Price. On that table, I get A new danger or foe is revealed. Makes sense.
And then I’ll use the Starforged Story Complication table. Rolling on that, I get - Trap is sprung. Yep, that makes perfect sense. We will see if Utu makes it out of here…
The door opens again, I’m annoyed. It’s only been five, maybe six minutes! I say, “Hey, friend, I need a bit more time to find what I’m looking for.”
“I don’t think we are friends, and I think your time is up.”
That voice doesn’t belong to the librarian. I look up and see a man wearing the robe of the Church of Ashur, a blasphemous iron dagger in his hand.
I reach for my bronze daggers just as he lunges at me.
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Well leave it on a cliff hanger arent I? You know I love to do it. Next week we will be taking a break from Metal of Arkad. I have something really great planned!
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