An interesting adventure with the real purpose of defending a kingdom against attack by orcish hordes. The backstory is clear and sets the scene for the GM, although the first exciting scene just sort of happens... you'll have to find your own reason for the characters to be in the right place to get involved. Once this initial contact with the adventure has taken place, several ways to get the characters to go visit Ironwall Gap are provided - they will have to be pigheaded indeed not to realise where they ought to go!

All is not well when they get there. All but one officer has been murdered, the men are on the verge of mutiny and the orcs are advancing... and it soon becomes apparent that it is up to the characters to take control of the situation and defend the realm from enemies without... and very likely within as well.

Depending on what they do - and rather nicely not just the 'what' but how they go about it as well - clear instructions are given as to people's reactions and the course of events hereafter. Once things settle down a bit, they have a breathing space to explore and investigate, in between plenty of action that will keep the most enthusiastic fighters content. Role-players will find plenty to entertain them too, with a real sense of having entered into a living world with everyone in the fortress having their own stories and motivations.

Of course the characters won't have peace and quiet for their investigations - those orcs are still on the warpath! Even that is not straightforward brawling, with opportunities for parlay, various subtefuges, a monstrous attack and a suicide charge to contend with... all crammed into the time before reinforcements are due to arrive.

Care will need to be taken with mass battle scenes, but notes are scattered throughout about how to ensure character involvement is kept to a maximum. An exciting adventure that should keep the group on the edge of its seats.