---
type: npc
role: "Iron Concord Commander"
location: "[[Ironheart Mine]]"
alignment: Lawful Neutral
race: Human
class: Fighter (Battle Master) 8
---

# Captain Vara Holt

## Appearance

A compact, athletic woman in her mid-30s with short auburn hair, a thin scar through her right eyebrow, and the weary eyes of someone who's seen too much combat. She wears Iron Concord officer's plate (matte gray with crimson pauldrons) and carries a longsword named *Contract's End*.

## Personality

- **Professional** — follows her contract to the letter; no more, no less
- **Suspicious** — knows something is wrong at Ironheart Mine but values her career over curiosity
- **Honor-bound** — will not betray her contract, but will not commit atrocities either
- **Conflicted** — the cult's presence troubles her, but "my orders are to guard the perimeter"

## Role in Campaign

- Arc 2 Hook 5: Ironheart Mine commander
- Can be persuaded, intimidated, or bypassed
- If persuaded: provides inside information about cult activities and stands aside during the party's assault
- If combat: fights as a CR 6 commander with 6 **veterans** (Iron Concord soldiers)
- Later arcs: If she lives and the party treated her honorably, she becomes an advocate for the Iron Concord at the [[Freehold#The World Council|World Council]]

## Stat Block (CR 6)

- **HP:** 85 (10d10 + 30) | **AC:** 19 (plate + shield) | **Speed:** 30 ft
- **Multiattack:** 3 longsword attacks (+7, 1d8+3 slashing)
- **Maneuvers (4d8 superiority dice):** Commander's Strike, Disarming Attack, Precision Attack, Riposte
- **Action Surge** (1/Rest), **Second Wind** (1/Rest)
- **Indomitable** (1 use)

## How to Persuade (DC 15, advantage if party mentions any of these)

- Mention cult involvement (she suspected, didn't want to believe)
- Show proof of the cult's larger conspiracy
- Offer to help her get out of the contract without penalty
- Appeal to her sense of honor: "Your contract says guard the mine from external threats. Cultists inside are not external threats — they're a betrayal of Iron Concord neutrality."

## Outcome Table

| Approach | DC | Result |
|----------|-----|--------|
| Demand surrender | 18 Intimidation | Holt stands down but won't help |
| Present evidence | 15 Persuasion | Holt provides intel, withdraws her troops |
| Attack outright | Combat | 1 commander + 6 veterans; Holt dies fighting |
| Bribe (500+ gp) | 12 Persuasion | Holt looks the other way (shameful) |

## Secrets

- She was promoted to Commander 3 months ago — the Ironheart contract was supposed to be her "easy first command." She knows it's her career on the line.
- Her younger brother serves in the [[Crown Concordat]] army. If she dies, he never gets her letters.
- She's been writing reports to [[General Markus Crane]] about "irregularities" for weeks. No one has responded.