Although they appear as mere statues of metal, the ironbound of Nerekhall are in truth powerful magical constructs forged from black iron. They act as defenders of the city, detecting, absorbing, and dissipating malign magical energy. Lately, their behavior has become erratic, and the Chief Artificer, Rylan Olliven, assures those in the city that this is all quite normal and will soon be resolved.
The ironbound are the unfeeling, ever-watching eyes of the sorcerers of Nerekhall. Mechanical soldiers originally created to police against necromantic and other dark acts, they have far surpassed the expectations of their creators, and they now form the majority of Nerekhall’s military forces.
Armed with long spears and heavy shields, and covered in armor plates with special runic wards that give them further immunity to destructive magic, the ironbound are also Terrinoth’s strongest response to its magic-wielding enemies. The ironbound lack initiative and drive, though, and can often be defeated through cunning and ingenuity. This can prove useful for travelers who run afoul of Nerekhall’s many laws against uncivil behavior or its antimagic ordinances (or who merely cross the wrong noble) and face the wrath of these metal guardians.
References
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Shadow of Nerekhall
- Realms of Terrinoth