The **Iron Sides Company**, often shortened to the **Iron Sides**, is a powerful mercenary organization operating from the dangerous volcanic waters of the **Ring of Fire** and maintaining holdings as far west as the lands near **[[thefreelands:skyfallregion|Skyfall]]**. Known for discipline, hard campaigning, and a willingness to take contracts in places most civilized armies avoid, the Iron Sides have earned a reputation as practical soldiers, stubborn defenders, and survivors of impossible ground.

Their headquarters is the fortress of **Iron Sky** on **[[thefreelands:emberisland|Ember Island]]**, a large tropical volcanic island in the Ring of Fire. The company also maintains **[[thefreelands:crimsonkeep|Crimson Keep]]**, a reclaimed and restored fortress near Skyfall, where it protects the surrounding townships of **[[thefreelands:bramblebrook|Bramblebrook]]**, **[[thefreelands:fairhaven|Fairhaven]]**, and **[[thefreelands:westville|Westville]]**.

{{ :organizations:ironsides.jpg?400 |}}

===== Overview =====

^ Category ^ Details ^
| **Name** | Iron Sides Company |
| **Common Name** | The Iron Sides |
| **Type** | Mercenary company / military protectorate |
| **Headquarters** | **Iron Sky**, Ember Island |
| **Major Holdings** | Iron Sky, Crimson Keep |
| **Known Leader** | **Taylor Reese**, rugged human commander |
| **Senior Officer** | **Hando**, veteran mercenary leader |
| **Major Allies / Contacts** | **Kaulder** of Valkenbane Academy, selected authorities of Skyfall |
| **Religious Ties** | Crimson Keep is largely dedicated to **Magnore** |
| **Recruitment Rite** | Recovery of the gold-plated sheep statue hidden on Ember Island |
| **Primary Regions** | Ring of Fire, Ember Island, Skyfall borderlands |
| **Reputation** | Disciplined, rugged, practical, hard to kill, morally flexible but reliable under contract |

The Iron Sides are not a knightly order, royal army, or bandit company. They are professional mercenaries with fortified holdings, political obligations, and enough long-term structure to behave almost like a minor military power. Their officers sell force, protection, and expertise, but they are also responsible for governing and defending lands granted to them by contract or royal agreement.

===== History =====

==== Founding Traditions ====

Much of the early history of the Iron Sides is wrapped in company stories, veteran exaggeration, and deliberately confusing internal tradition. The company is old enough that its most famous initiation rite, the recovery of a **well-worn gold-plated sheep statue**, has been used for over a century.

The sheep is hidden somewhere on Ember Island, and recruits seeking full acceptance into the Iron Sides must recover it. The rite is absurd in appearance but dangerous in practice. Ember Island is volcanic, unstable, pirate-haunted, and filled with terrain that can kill the careless.

{{ :organizations:sheep.jpg?400 |}}
==== Rise on Ember Island ====

The Iron Sides established their headquarters at **Iron Sky**, a fortress on Ember Island in the Ring of Fire. This gave the company a defensible base in one of the most dangerous maritime regions between the **Freelands** and the **Empire**.

The waters around the Ring of Fire are plagued by pirates, slavers, and Imperial warships. Unless dispatched on a specific mission, the Navy of Skyfall tends to avoid the area. This allows the Iron Sides to operate with unusual independence.

==== The Crimson Keep Grant ====

One of the company’s most important mainland holdings is **Crimson Keep**, a fortress near Skyfall. The keep was reclaimed roughly fifty years ago and fully restored by **0 AG**.

The King of Skyfall granted the Iron Sides rights to the keep and surrounding lands on the condition that they aid in the protection of nearby townships. Under this arrangement, **Bramblebrook**, **Fairhaven**, and **Westville** fall within Crimson Keep’s circle of protection.

===== Philosophy and Reputation =====

The Iron Sides believe that survival is proof of competence. Their culture rewards endurance, practical judgment, and the ability to complete a contract without relying on noble speeches or delicate honor codes.

They are respected because they hold what they take responsibility for. They are mistrusted because they are still mercenaries, and their loyalty is usually bound by contract, debt, reputation, and command rather than ideals alone.

The company’s better officers understand that a mercenary group without rules becomes a bandit army. The Iron Sides therefore maintain strict internal discipline, especially in regions where their authority is recognized.

===== Major Holdings =====

^ Holding ^ Location ^ Function ^ Notes ^
| **Iron Sky** | Ember Island, Ring of Fire | Company headquarters | The main fortress of the Iron Sides. It contains a working portal to Valkenbane Academy in Wintershield. |
| **Crimson Keep** | Near Skyfall | Reclaimed fortress and regional protectorate | Fully restored by 0 AG. Dedicated largely to Magnore and responsible for protecting Bramblebrook, Fairhaven, and Westville. |
| **Iron Sides Guildhall** | Crimson Keep | Contract and administrative center | Handles contracts, patrol assignments, recruitment, veterans, and regional company business. |
| **Portal Chamber of Iron Sky** | Iron Sky | Strategic magical connection | A working portal connects Iron Sky to Valkenbane Academy, where the company maintains a relationship with Kaulder. |
| **Crimson Harbor and Canal** | Crimson Keep | Harbor access and trade route | Created by draining part of the old swamp and building a canal to the sea. |

===== Iron Sky =====

{{ :thefreelands:emberisland2.jpg?800 |}}

**Iron Sky** is the headquarters of the Iron Sides Company. Built on Ember Island, it stands within the Ring of Fire, surrounded by volcanic terrain, pirate-infested waters, and contested sea routes.

The fortress serves as the heart of the company. It is where recruits are tested, senior officers gather, contracts are weighed, and the company’s deepest traditions are preserved.

Iron Sky is also strategically significant because of its **working portal** to **Valkenbane Academy** in Wintershield. Through this portal, the Iron Sides maintain a relationship with **Kaulder**, a senior mage at the academy.

===== Crimson Keep ======

{{ :organizations:crimsonkeep1.jpg?800 |}}

**Crimson Keep** is a restored Iron Sides holding near Skyfall. Unlike Iron Sky, which is a remote company headquarters, Crimson Keep is a regional protectorate with direct responsibilities to surrounding settlements.

The keep was once surrounded by a cursed swamp created by an ancient artifact. The artifact was eventually stopped and turned over to Valkenbane Academy. Though the unnatural taint is gone, some of the swamp remains.

Crimson Keep is also largely dedicated to **Magnore**, with a hospital and church serving soldiers, townsfolk, refugees, and travelers.

===== Circle of Protection =====

Crimson Keep’s authority includes the defense of several nearby townships.

^ Township ^ Relationship to Crimson Keep ^ Notes ^
| **Bramblebrook** | Protected settlement | Falls under Crimson Keep’s patrol network and military response obligations. |
| **Fairhaven** | Protected settlement | Owes support and taxes in exchange for the keep’s protection. |
| **Westville** | Protected settlement | Close enough to be directly affected by the keep’s road security and early-warning patrols. |

The circle of protection is both a duty and a contract. The Iron Sides defend the townships, but the settlements provide taxes, labor, supplies, and political legitimacy.

===== Recruitment and the Gold Sheep Trial =====

The most famous Iron Sides recruitment tradition is the recovery of the **gold-plated sheep statue** hidden somewhere on Ember Island.

^ Trial Element ^ Description ^
| **Object** | A well-worn, gold-plated sheep statue |
| **Location** | Hidden somewhere on Ember Island |
| **Purpose** | Admission into the Iron Sides |
| **Age of Tradition** | The same statue has been used for over a century |
| **True Test** | Survival, navigation, judgment, teamwork, and endurance |
| **Company Attitude** | Veterans treat the trial with mockery, pride, and superstition in equal measure |

The Gold Sheep Trial is intentionally strange. Outsiders often mistake it for a joke, but recruits quickly learn that any test requiring travel across Ember Island can become lethal. Lava flows, pirates, predators, old ruins, hostile terrain, and rival recruits can all turn the ritual into a real campaign.

===== Organization =====

^ Rank / Role ^ Function ^
| **Company Commander** | Overall leader of the Iron Sides. Taylor Reese currently fills this role. |
| **Senior Officers** | Veteran leaders who command major operations, holdings, and field forces. Hando is one such figure. |
| **Keep Officers** | Commanders assigned to specific holdings such as Crimson Keep. |
| **Guild Contacts** | Representatives who arrange contracts, introductions, and mercenary work. |
| **Captains of the Guard** | Officers responsible for local defense and garrison readiness. |
| **Specialists** | Blacksmiths, brewers, kennelmasters, scouts, mages, healers, engineers, and quartermasters. |
| **Full Iron Sides** | Proven mercenaries accepted into the company. |
| **Recruits** | Prospects who have not yet earned full standing, often expected to survive trials or field service. |

[{{ :organizations:hando.jpg?600 |Hando of the Iron Sides}}]
===== Notable Members and Associates =====

^ Name ^ Role ^ Location ^ Description ^
| **Taylor Reese** | Leader of the Iron Sides | Iron Sky / company-wide | A rugged human commander known for practical leadership and hard-earned authority. |
| **Hando** | Senior officer and veteran mercenary leader | Iron Sides command structure | One of the company’s significant leaders, associated with experience, field command, and veteran discipline. |
| **Kaulder** | Senior mage and outside contact | Valkenbane Academy, Wintershield | Maintains a working relationship with the Iron Sides through the portal at Iron Sky. |
| **Jacques** | Old human paladin / guild contact | Crimson Keep | A key contact for Iron Sides business at Crimson Keep. |
| **Jaron Stout** | Castle steward | Crimson Keep | Handles administration, stores, repairs, personnel, and keep logistics. |
| **Captain Aiden Forester** | Captain of the Guard | Crimson Keep | Commander of the keep’s guard, known for magic plate mail, longbow, and longsword. |
| **Askar Hogg** | Blacksmith | Crimson Keep | Male dragonborn smith responsible for arms, armor, and repair work. |
| **Kreagon Crab** | Brewmaster | Crimson Keep | Male dwarf brewmaster responsible for the keep’s brewery and distillery. |
| **Nera Spicer** | Tax collector | Crimson Keep | Female forest gnome who handles taxes, dues, and obligations from protected settlements. |
| **Barish Blackmont** | Kennelmaster | Crimson Keep | Male tiefling responsible for hounds, messenger animals, patrol beasts, and trained creatures. |

===== Company Assets =====

^ Asset ^ Description ^
| **Fortified Holdings** | The Iron Sides maintain major fortresses, including Iron Sky and Crimson Keep. |
| **Mercenary Guildhalls** | Guildhalls serve as administrative, recruitment, and contract centers. |
| **Teleportation Circle** | Crimson Keep contains a teleportation circle. |
| **Valkenbane Portal** | Iron Sky contains a portal to Valkenbane Academy in Wintershield. |
| **Harbor Access** | Crimson Keep has a harbor and canal built from drained swampworks. |
| **Arcane Records** | Crimson Keep contains a hidden library of arcane knowledge and history. |
| **Banking Support** | Crimson Keep hosts a small Bank of Gurkel branch. |
| **Religious and Medical Support** | The hospital and church of Magnore provide healing and civic legitimacy. |
| **Veteran Officers** | The company relies heavily on experienced commanders and old campaigners. |

===== Contracts and Operations =====

The Iron Sides take a wide variety of contracts, though their best-known work involves difficult terrain, military stabilization, and holding dangerous ground.

^ Contract Type ^ Common Details ^
| **Settlement Protection** | Defending towns, roads, farms, and refugee communities from raiders or monsters. |
| **Fortress Reclamation** | Recovering, restoring, and holding ruined keeps or strategic sites. |
| **Escort Work** | Protecting caravans, refugees, diplomats, mages, or valuable shipments. |
| **Harbor Security** | Defending canals, docks, and sea approaches from pirates and smugglers. |
| **Monster Hunts** | Eliminating creatures that threaten roads, settlements, or military holdings. |
| **Arcane Security** | Guarding relics, portals, libraries, or magical infrastructure. |
| **Military Support** | Serving as auxiliaries, scouts, garrison troops, or irregular forces. |

===== Culture =====

The Iron Sides value competence over pedigree. A recruit who survives, listens, and learns may rise high regardless of origin. A noble fool who endangers a unit will be treated as a liability.

Common Iron Sides values include:

  * Finish the contract.
  * Hold the line.
  * Do not abandon your unit.
  * Respect terrain, weather, and supply lines.
  * Never trust a quiet swamp, a calm volcano, or a clean contract.
  * A ridiculous order may still have a serious purpose.
  * The sheep is always funnier after you survive it.

===== Relationships =====

^ Faction / Power ^ Relationship ^
| **Skyfall** | Contractual and political. Skyfall granted Crimson Keep’s land rights in exchange for protection of surrounding townships. |
| **Valkenbane Academy** | Arcane and logistical relationship through Kaulder and the Iron Sky portal. |
| **Bank of Gurkel** | Financial presence through the small branch at Crimson Keep. |
| **Church of Magnore** | Strong presence at Crimson Keep through the hospital and church. |
| **Pirates and Slavers** | Frequent enemies, especially in the Ring of Fire. |
| **The Empire** | Tense and situational. Imperial warships operate in the Ring of Fire, creating risk for Iron Sides operations. |
| **Local Townships** | Protected dependents, especially Bramblebrook, Fairhaven, and Westville. |

===== Adventure Hooks =====

^ Hook ^ Premise ^ Possible Use ^
| **The Gold Sheep Has Gone Missing** | The famous initiation statue is not where the officers hid it. Veterans suspect a prank, but Taylor Reese worries someone has stolen a symbol older than most of the company. | Ember Island trial, company politics, theft investigation. |
| **Contract at the Edge of Fire** | Pirates, slavers, and Imperial warships are all moving through the Ring of Fire at once. The Iron Sides need deniable allies to determine why. | Naval intrigue, pirate hunt, Imperial confrontation. |
| **The Portal Misfires** | The portal between Iron Sky and Valkenbane Academy begins sending ash, swamp water, and broken voices through the threshold. Kaulder asks for help before the company shuts it down. | Arcane mystery, portal dungeon, Valkenbane tie-in. |
| **Hando’s Old Campaign** | Hando recognizes a battlefield relic recovered from the Crimson Keep swamp and refuses to explain why it matters. | Veteran secret, old betrayal, relic hunt. |
| **The King’s Terms** | A Skyfall official claims the Iron Sides have failed their obligation to protect one of the townships and threatens to revoke part of the land grant. | Political tension, settlement defense, legal dispute. |
| **The Swamp Ledger** | Nera Spicer discovers tax records proving someone has been collecting false “Iron Sides dues” from villages near the swamp. | Fraud investigation, bandit lord, corrupt officer. |
| **The Magnore Ward** | The hospital at Crimson Keep receives patients with wounds that will not close. The clergy of Magnore suspect something old is awakening beneath the remaining swamp. | Medical mystery, curse, dungeon lead. |
| **The Recruit Who Found Too Much** | A recruit returns from the Gold Sheep Trial with the statue, but also with a map carved into volcanic glass. The map points beneath Iron Sky. | Initiation fallout, hidden ruin, company secret. |