The holidays are upon us, and that means more time for gaming! In the last few weeks my Iron Kingdoms RPG group, the Penitents of Mardun Abbey, haven’t had a chance to adventure much. However, we have just had our first real session, and in the spirit of the season I thought I’d share the story our first adventure—a test of piety and empathy in the face of the most insidious of terrors.

Strathweald is a small city about a day’s travel from the abbey. It is home to some of Llael’s more powerful and influential nobles who fled there after the occupation. While the faith was never strong in this city, it weakened in the face of the Khadoran invasion. Amid this general moral decline, the youngest daughter of Linda MacNeil, an Ordic expatriate with considerable influence and wealth, had been suffering from violent and aggressive fits. After conducting a fruitless search for a scientific or alchemical reason for her daughter’s affliction, Mrs. MacNeil approached the local temple with a request for help.

Malorus Benoit, the temple’s Scrutator, does not have any firsthand experience with possession, so he is a bit out of his depth. Knowing that Tomas has been in charge of these sorts of investigations in the region for the last decade and seeing this as the best chance to show the fallen nobility the true power of the Lawgiver, Malorus requested his assistance in performing the necessary rituals.

Not wanting to travel the roads between Mardun and Strathweald alone, Tomas took the party along for protection. While the journey itself was uneventful, as they approached the city gates the Penitents encountered members of the Order of Illumination. After a rather tense standoff between Jean-Paul and the most threatening of these agents, it became clear the Order had also heard of the girl’s plight. These Morrowans saw it as their duty to investigate the rumors of her possession and did not appreciate what they saw as “Menite obstruction.” Thinking fast on his feet and not wanting to engender any ill-will amongst Strathweald’s population, Tomas negotiated with the Morrowan leader to let the girl’s mother decide who would determine her daughter’s fate.

At Tomas’ insistence, the two groups joined Scrutator Benoit at the temple. Though leery of the Morrowans at first, once the members of the Order of Illumination made their intentions known, the Scrutator allowed them entry. He explained that no examination had been performed since the girl’s possession began for fear that it may spread. Whichever party Linda chose would be the first to see her.

Mrs. MacNeil emerged from a sanctuary in the back of the temple. She appeared as a woman who had aged a lifetime in a day. Seeing the need in her eyes, both groups began explaining how they could best help her. All seemed at an impasse until Guillaume stepped forward. He told the desperate mother how he and Marie had come to Tomas fearing the arcane power inside themselves. How he had shown them they could be redeemed and saved. His story moved the mother and won the Menites entrance to the girl’s chamber.

This is where our session ended, and our Game Master has left us on the edge of our seats. What will we find within the room? How can we save this poor girl? And what of the Morrowans, whose pride and zealotry we’ve clearly slighted? I can’t wait to find out.

What exciting adventures have you embarked upon in your Iron Kingdoms sessions? Let us know in the Iron Kingdoms Roleplaying Game forum!

Happy new year, and see you in 2013!