2.8 KiB
2.8 KiB
type, role, location, alignment, race, class
| type | role | location | alignment | race | class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| npc | Iron Concord Commander | Ironheart Mine | Lawful Neutral | Human | 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
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.