Iron and Sorrow: Episode 02

***Iron and Sorrow* Episode 2** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on September 16, 2019.

## Summary

*Summary taken from Google Docs made by User:Rxvenfeather*

Having no choice but to carry on their adventure on Azengolt, the party elects to help Iron Maiden on their mission to recover the ancient generator. Iron Maiden decides to deploy them as an advance scouting party, since their training in “ancient warfare” will enable them to take a quieter approach than simply barreling the train through. Letol explains that there has been wreckage detected on the tracks ahead, tasking our heroes with scouting the area for Depthar so that the train won’t be vulnerable while the tracks are being cleared. He also warns them that the guns of Azengolt are loud, and may attract more Depthar, but implores them to hold fast to their courage despite the unfamiliar environment. The train has passed through the grassland and arrived in the wastes, a roiling, hot, dusty land where WMDs ruined the land after being used in an attempt to destroy the Depthar.

The irradiated land has sparse vegetation that appears mutated. In particular, there are cacti with moving needles that eat prey. The party comes across a train station at the side of the train tracks. There are electric lamps still lit, but nobody answers when knocking on the door, so the party goes inside to find a large bloodstain along the wooden floor. Alice finds marks of claws and gnashing teeth and concludes that there must have been a fight, but she finds no body. Lene points out that dead people probably just become Depthar. They also find some papers, including a ledger that seems to indicate times of day and types of currency as well as some “bandages” with various faces of a kind woman, stern man, an angry man, and a totally blasted man on the front. A bloody desk contains a note that is hastily scribbled and cut off in blood, but the party is unable to read it.

As they investigate further, Archibald notices something moving in another building and the rogues move to check it out, discovering that the doors are torn off and the structure is riddled with holes. Alice peeks through the window to find a horde of what appear to be standing corpses, remarking that she would not date them. As Dhax casts Armor of Agathys, one of the corpses presses its face against the window pane, gargling slightly before saying, “Help me,” in a girl’s voice. The rest of them start crowding towards the window as the party backs away. Combat begins.

Dhax launches an incendiary grenade at the wooden wall, and the creatures choose to fail the saving throw as the building begins to burn. The Fetid Warriors let out a shriek and evolve to add flaming damage to their attacks. Lene kills three of them with her magic missiles, but more race to follow as the party retreats to the train station to make their stand. One dies jumping through the window of the train station as more scramble through to take its place. Just outside, Dhax puts on the flame as the horde surges towards him, but more creatures, hounds, rush towards the fray from the other side of the station.

Horras joins Dhax outside as Archibald’s piercing shot through the broken window hits a few more. As Horras takes a few more hits, the pair retreat inside so Lene can heal him as the Infector Hounds break in, surrounding the party. A well-placed incendiary grenade takes them all out, however, earning the party a brief reprieve before dealing with the last of their assailants. The other four finish off the remainder of the fetid warriors as the last of the infector hounds rush towards before burrowing into the ground. The party gathers back to back to hide in the cover of Alice’s smoke bomb, but the hounds mysteriously disappear before launching their attack.

Our heroes find some ammunition in the bodies, but are forced out of the collapsing building before investigating anything further. They continue to the west towards some more run-down houses, trying to scavenge for ammunition. Several journals containing more unreadable language are inside, but they do contain a diagram of what appears to be a large swinging pendulum. It depicts a train track and a series of three levers, with the left one down, the middle one up, and the right one neutral. Archibald searches for alcohol, but finds none, so he sits in the corner and sobs. Fortunately, they find some dynamite and more ammunition instead. After exiting the homes, tremors can be felt beneath the ground and a looming tower bursts through the burning train station before disappearing beneath the ground again.

## Featured Characters

### Main Characters

* Alice Price
* Archibald Niles Kranebeard
* Dhax
* Horras Venril
* Lene