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RRH1: Expanding the Iron Circle
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<blockquote data-quote="Jacob Lewis" data-source="post: 8497835" data-attributes="member: 6667921"><p>Part II: <strong>The Iron Circle</strong> (cont.)</p><p><em>Threats to the Nentir Vale</em> (MVN)</p><p>This is as much a setting book for the Nentir Vale as it is a supplemental <em>Monster Vault</em>. Here we find more information about the Iron Circle, but the details focus on their presence in the local setting and the events described in <em>Reavers of Harkenwold</em>. If I wanted more information about the Iron Circle outside of the Vale, or this adventure, I would need to dig up the relevant articles buried somewhere in my digital library of <em>Dungeon </em>and <em>Dragon </em>magazines. But for this project, these four pages (72-75) will be enough.</p><p></p><p>The entry for the Iron Circle references RoH many times. It also includes some additional insights on the two lieutenants featured in the adventure: Nazin Redthorn and Val Esed. This will make it quite easy to portray these characters as villains to the party, and provide some guidance on any other villains I may want to develop on my own. Aside from that, the first two sentences of page 72 tells me everything I need to know:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>First, the Iron Circle is not native to the Nentir Vale, the region where the adventure takes place. That may seem unimportant, but its a defining feature that I can portray easily to my players. They're not local upstarts or everyday people like you and me; they're invaders from another land. If the adventurers are natives to the Vale, that might be enough motivation for them to find reasons to oppose them (assuming they're the heroic types).</p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(61, 142, 185)"><em>(Sidebar: I'm not aware of any real-world cultural references or comparisons regarding ethnicity within the setting. So I will leave that up to individual DMs to decide how they want to portray these foreigners. Just be mindful that stereotypes and comparisons might be offensive to some of your players. Do not assume, and do not be insensitive. And be open to a discussion with your players, especially if you have any doubts.)</em></span></p><p></p><p>Another key element is that the Iron Circle is relatively unknown in the Nentir Vale. Thus far, they have just recently started their operations in Harkenwold. So its not unreasonable to assume that the party, and most other common folk in the Vale, will not know a lot about this group, their presence, or even their identity. Being hidden and unknown will be a valuable asset that the Circle will most likely want to hold on to for as long as they can in order to maintain their advantage.</p><p>Secrecy, in fact, is something the Circle most likely values since people recognize devil-worshipers as being wholly evil (or at the very least, up to no good).</p><p></p><p>And finally, the Iron Circle align itself with devils, and even worships Asmodeus. This is something they may flaunt proudly in their own country, or places where they are known. But this is the kind of sign might attract unwanted attention because most good people will recognize devil-worship as being wholly evil (or at the very least, up to no good). Then again, its hard to miss the tar devils fighting alongside them in battle.</p><p></p><p>The obvious implication is that devils can be counted as potential allies and accomplices in encounters. (More on that later.) But the other, less obvious connection is that I can also include other factions who share common ground with devil-worshipers, those who align themselves with devils, or at least don't mind those that do. This gives me a much greater sample to choose for adversaries, and two groups already come to mind: The Fell Court (also in MVN), and the Ashmadai (in the <em>Neverwinter Campaign Setting</em>). I will explore those two factions in Parts III and IV below.</p><p></p><p>With this <em>Monster Vault </em>supplement (MVN), I have some updated statblocks from the adventure, and some new ones as well:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Iron Circle Brigand (level 1 soldier)(updated)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Iron Circle Dark Adept (level 3 Controller (Leader)) (updated)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tar Devil Brawler(level 3 Brute)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tar Devil Harrier (level 3 Artillery) (updated)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Iron Circle Spy (level 4 Lurker)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tar Devil Guard (level 4 Soldier) (updated)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Iron Circle Commander (level 5 Elite Soldier (Leader))</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jacob Lewis, post: 8497835, member: 6667921"] Part II: [B]The Iron Circle[/B] (cont.) [I]Threats to the Nentir Vale[/I] (MVN) This is as much a setting book for the Nentir Vale as it is a supplemental [I]Monster Vault[/I]. Here we find more information about the Iron Circle, but the details focus on their presence in the local setting and the events described in [I]Reavers of Harkenwold[/I]. If I wanted more information about the Iron Circle outside of the Vale, or this adventure, I would need to dig up the relevant articles buried somewhere in my digital library of [I]Dungeon [/I]and [I]Dragon [/I]magazines. But for this project, these four pages (72-75) will be enough. The entry for the Iron Circle references RoH many times. It also includes some additional insights on the two lieutenants featured in the adventure: Nazin Redthorn and Val Esed. This will make it quite easy to portray these characters as villains to the party, and provide some guidance on any other villains I may want to develop on my own. Aside from that, the first two sentences of page 72 tells me everything I need to know: First, the Iron Circle is not native to the Nentir Vale, the region where the adventure takes place. That may seem unimportant, but its a defining feature that I can portray easily to my players. They're not local upstarts or everyday people like you and me; they're invaders from another land. If the adventurers are natives to the Vale, that might be enough motivation for them to find reasons to oppose them (assuming they're the heroic types). [COLOR=rgb(61, 142, 185)][I](Sidebar: I'm not aware of any real-world cultural references or comparisons regarding ethnicity within the setting. So I will leave that up to individual DMs to decide how they want to portray these foreigners. Just be mindful that stereotypes and comparisons might be offensive to some of your players. Do not assume, and do not be insensitive. And be open to a discussion with your players, especially if you have any doubts.)[/I][/COLOR] Another key element is that the Iron Circle is relatively unknown in the Nentir Vale. Thus far, they have just recently started their operations in Harkenwold. So its not unreasonable to assume that the party, and most other common folk in the Vale, will not know a lot about this group, their presence, or even their identity. Being hidden and unknown will be a valuable asset that the Circle will most likely want to hold on to for as long as they can in order to maintain their advantage. Secrecy, in fact, is something the Circle most likely values since people recognize devil-worshipers as being wholly evil (or at the very least, up to no good). And finally, the Iron Circle align itself with devils, and even worships Asmodeus. This is something they may flaunt proudly in their own country, or places where they are known. But this is the kind of sign might attract unwanted attention because most good people will recognize devil-worship as being wholly evil (or at the very least, up to no good). Then again, its hard to miss the tar devils fighting alongside them in battle. The obvious implication is that devils can be counted as potential allies and accomplices in encounters. (More on that later.) But the other, less obvious connection is that I can also include other factions who share common ground with devil-worshipers, those who align themselves with devils, or at least don't mind those that do. This gives me a much greater sample to choose for adversaries, and two groups already come to mind: The Fell Court (also in MVN), and the Ashmadai (in the [I]Neverwinter Campaign Setting[/I]). I will explore those two factions in Parts III and IV below. With this [I]Monster Vault [/I]supplement (MVN), I have some updated statblocks from the adventure, and some new ones as well: [LIST] [*]Iron Circle Brigand (level 1 soldier)(updated) [*]Iron Circle Dark Adept (level 3 Controller (Leader)) (updated) [*]Tar Devil Brawler(level 3 Brute) [*]Tar Devil Harrier (level 3 Artillery) (updated) [*]Iron Circle Spy (level 4 Lurker) [*]Tar Devil Guard (level 4 Soldier) (updated) [*]Iron Circle Commander (level 5 Elite Soldier (Leader)) [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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