December Ironhold 612

Newspaper article from Kildarian Gazette DECEMBER 24, 612 RCK.

Nevarious kidnapping plot derailed by brave heroes and the Ironhold chapter.

By: Stephanie Frondo-Melchett

Now, any and all Kildarian with a passing knowledge of armaments and weaponry knows the finest pieces are produced in the forges of Ironhold. Specifically the Mason Forge Works, home base of the Ironhold chapter of the Eldritch Inquisition is known to produce the finest articles of warfare equipment. However most if not nearly all weaponry and amour produced by the Mason Forge Works are produced to be used by the Eldritch Inquisition or custom made at a high price for those who can afford them.

The fact that they are the envy of anyone with a passing stake in any Kildarian conflict is widely known. It is said that especially the Military Guilds look towards the Ironhold Chapter with a certain jealousy and disdain. Most of us are well aware of the tensions between the Eldritch Inquisition and the Military Guilds and while no wide spread open  conflict has ever occurred, one could speculate that it was just a friendly rivalry. However, this claim no longer holds any water!

It was several days ago that a group of adventurers was summoned to Ironhold by a member of the Redwood Company (Editorial note:  a mercenary troop that holds great influence in the Mercenaries Guild which itself is a subsidiary of the Military Guilds). This gentleman only known by the name of Fritz Ironfoundersson, which in all likelihood is an alias, would petition chapter master Sevetar Mason of the Ironhold chapter to assist in searching for a missing woman, his sister.

The woman in question being Siegrid Ironfoundersdottir a prominent forge master and member of the Ironhold Chapter of the Eldritch Inquisition. Ironfoundersdottir was said to have ventured into the mines beneath Ironhold in search of rare materials and had not returned and was therefore considered missing.

As is ruled, anyone who ventures outside of the safe parts of the mines into the deeper demon infested levels, does so at their own risk. If someone wants to brave these depths, they accept all the consequences and no search and rescue party will be mounted by either the city of Ironhold or the Ironhold chapter.

“Abandon all hope ye who enter here!

Any and all who venture into the unsafe depths of the mines will do so at their own risk, they will either return victorious or accept that the mountain shall become their tomb.”

Sign at the last guard posts before entering the deep mines beneath Ironhold.

The man known only as Fritz Ironfoundersson, who bore the crest of the Redwood Company on his shield, claimed that forge master Siegrid Ironfoundersdottir was his sister and had been petitioning chaptermaster Sevetar Mason for assistance in finding her for the best part of a week. It wasn’t before 5 brave heroes hired by Ironfoundersson approached.

These 5 heroes were:

Pepper a goliath monk,

Disur a dragonborn rogue,  

Himo Lathalas a dark elf fighter ,

13 a human rogue,

Orondil a human monk.

The heroes were able to convince Mason to relinquish more information so they could venture in the deep mines and attempt to find Siegrid Ironfoundersdottir themselves that any headway was made in the search of the missing forge master. Among the adventurers as a goliath woman known as Pepper, who, when appoached after the fact gave us this statement:

“Well, we were hired by that guy from the Redwood Company, a guy named Fritz, something. He was a bit of an impatient guy. He claimed he was looking for his lost sister, Siegrid. She's from the Ironhold chapter of the Eldritch Inquisition.

The captain (Editorial note: she was probalby refering to chapter master Sevetar Mason) of the Ironhold chapter there wasn't exactly helpful. He didn't even dare to help Siegrid when she needed it. So we went down into the caves; it was very beautiful down there, a nice place for a walk. We ran into a guy named Anton there, also from the Ironhold chapter. He was much friendlier, with his sweet companion Sugarcube (Editorial note: Context clues point to this probably being a horse). He was especially sweet and brave, a companion everyone could use. But then we heard some noise further down, like fighting and such. When we went that way, Fritz stayed behind; she said something about hearing noises other than the fight. So he cowardly went to hide in a quiet corner. Because only after we defeated those demons and that big monkey (Editorial note: We are in the dark to what she might be referring to.)   did he dare come out again. And then it turned out he'd lied about Siegrid being his sister. That coward wanted Siegrid to join his faction.

Apparently, she's a guildsmith (Editorial note: probably meant to say Forge Master), very important. Then he summoned some friends through a portal, thinking he'd make them look strong. It only made him look more pathetic; the guy can't even fight his own battles. When it was clear we were going to support Siegrid and he couldn't get ahead despite all his bravado, he ran off with his tail between his legs like the coward he was. Then we went back upstairs with Siegrid, Sugarcube, and Anton. We had some nice chats and such, it was very pleasant. That was about it, yeah.”

THE RUSE:

As stated by pepper, the story of the missing sister was all a ruse in order to get to forge master Siegrid and either coax her into working for the Mercenaries Guild or kidnap and force her to word for the guild. In the wake of the incident Siegrid Ironfoundersdottir was safely returned to Ironhold. The Ironhold chapter and subsequently the Eldritch Inquisition was made aware of the ruse and the situation it created. Isolde Greystone, leader of the Eldritch Inquisition has released a statement that can be read elsewhere in this paper.

Will this development lead to more tensions or even an escalation between the Eldritch Inquisition and the Military Guilds? Only time will tell.

List of Encountered NPC's

Adventurers Involved

  • Disur, Mark van V.

  • Orondil, Darryl

  • Pepper, Stijn W.

  • Himo Lathalas, Lukas

  • 13, Sebatiaan

Dungeon Master involved:

  • Gerard

Significance

An attempt to kidnap a forge master has been derailed and laid bare. Kildar at large is now aware that the Military Guilds are building a superweapon.

Aftermath

The relationship between the Eldritch Inquisition and the Military Guilds has become more hostile as a result. High inquisitor Isolde Greystone of the Eldritch Inquisition has released a statement lining out their stance towards the Military Guilds