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Helja Ungar

Human • Iron Claws Leader • Primary Antagonist (Deceased)

Overview​

Helja Ungar was the ruthless leader of the Iron Claws criminal organization that seized control of High Forge following the dragon attack. She maintained oppressive rule through intimidation, high taxation, and strategic alliances until her death at Silas's hands during the Great Hall battle in Session 36.

Physical Description​

  • Human woman
  • Commanding presence
  • Leadership bearing
  • Intimidating demeanor

Rise to Power​

Seizing High Forge (Session 24)​

Opportunity: Dragon attack created power vacuum

Takeover:

  • Iron Claws filled leadership void
  • Established control through force and organization
  • Positioned as "order" alternative to chaos
  • Used dragon alliance for legitimacy/threat

Governance Style​

Oppressive Control:

  • High taxation on citizens
  • Protection money collection
  • Housing redistribution
  • Public intimidation tactics

Criminal Operations​

Iron Claws Leadership​

Organizational Structure:

  • Helja at top as primary leader
  • Lieutenants: Grimjaw, Triple C, Car, Athena, Marta
  • Multiple guard posts and facilities
  • Control of strategic locations

Criminal Activities:

  • Bounty System: $50,000 on Taco Cat
  • Violessence Smuggling: Black market trade with Eldoran
  • Protection Rackets: Taxing businesses
  • Tunnel Patrols: Controlling underground access

Strategic Alliances​

Dragon Cooperation:

  • Working with dragon forces
  • Plans involving dragon summoning
  • Used dragon threat for control
  • Mutual benefit arrangement

Eldoran Empire:

  • Suspected coordination with Empire
  • Captain Corwin turned for them
  • Lady Corwin connection unclear
  • Political maneuvering on grand scale

Personal Vendetta: Silas​

Greyport Massacre​

Silas's Crew Killed:

  • Helja responsible for deaths in Greyport
  • Killed Silas's former crew/associates
  • Created personal vendetta
  • Enormous bounty on Silas specifically

Special Targeting:

  • Silas had highest price on head
  • Personal hatred beyond general Taco Cat bounty
  • Wanted him specifically dead or captured
  • Made him primary target

The Grudge​

  • Drove Silas's actions throughout campaign
  • Motivated his involvement in resistance
  • Personal stake in Iron Claws downfall
  • Revenge plot culminated in Session 36

Major Operations​

Bounty on Taco Cat (Session 25)​

The Announcement:

  • $50,000 dead or alive on entire party
  • Coordinated bounty hunter operations
  • Active search throughout High Forge
  • Multiple encounter attempts

Impact:

  • Forced party underground
  • Required tunnel infiltration
  • Increased danger level
  • Made party celebrities in criminal world

Hostage Situation (Session 36)​

Great Hall Takeover:

  • Captured multiple hostages:
    • George (Olivia's nephew)
    • Will
    • Roscoe
    • Belvolt
    • Finnwick (actively bleeding out)
    • Lady Corwin
  • Threatened execution
  • Strategic play for control
  • Final confrontation setup

The Great Hall Battle (Session 36)​

Confrontation​

Helja's Position:

  • Command of Iron Claws forces
  • Held hostages as leverage
  • Positioned for what should be victory
  • Underestimated party's deception plan

Silas's Deception:

  • Pretended to negotiate
  • Cold professionalism hiding true intent
  • Positioned himself strategically
  • Executed her personally

Her Death​

Final Moments:

  • Killed by Silas during battle
  • Personal vendetta satisfied
  • Leadership vacuum created immediately
  • Iron Claws forces scattered without her

Impact of Death:

  • Leadership: Iron Claws command structure collapsed
  • Organization: Lieutenants fled or fell
  • Control: Grip on High Forge broken
  • Legacy: Oppressive regime ended

Leadership Style​

Ruthlessness​

  • No mercy for opponents
  • Willing to execute hostages
  • Used fear as primary tool
  • Calculated cruelty

Strategic Mind​

  • Dragon alliance for power
  • Eldoran connections for legitimacy
  • Bounty system to eliminate threats
  • Resource control through taxation

Organizational Skill​

  • Built effective criminal empire quickly
  • Maintained control through lieutenants
  • Coordinated complex operations
  • Filled power vacuum efficiently

Relationships​

With Iron Claws Leadership​

Lieutenants (Grimjaw, Triple C, Car, Athena, Marta):

  • Commanded through fear and respect
  • Effective delegation of authority
  • Loyalty maintained through success
  • Organization crumbled without her

With Taco Cat​

Primary Antagonist:

  • Hunted them actively
  • Massive bounty on their heads
  • Viewed as primary threat
  • Personal hatred of Silas

With Silas Specifically​

Mutual Vendetta:

  • She killed his crew in Greyport
  • He wanted revenge
  • Both sought other's death
  • Ended with her execution

Impact on High Forge​

During Her Rule​

Negative:

  • Oppressive taxation
  • Citizens lived in fear
  • Freedom curtailed
  • Criminal empire entrenched

"Positive" (Complicated):

  • Maintained order (such as it was)
  • Prevented complete chaos
  • Organized governance (criminal but functional)
  • Alternative to anarchy

After Her Death​

Power Vacuum:

  • No clear successor
  • Iron Claws leadership scattered
  • High Forge governance uncertain
  • Multiple factions positioning for control

Character Significance​

As Antagonist​

  • Clear villain for party to oppose
  • Personal connection through Silas
  • Represented oppression and tyranny
  • Satisfying defeat for narrative

Political Complexity​

  • Not simple monster - built functioning organization
  • Filled real power vacuum
  • Raised questions about post-tyrant governance
  • Showed dangers of criminal rule

Personal Vendetta​

  • Drove Silas's character arc
  • Created emotional stakes
  • Made conflict personal not just political
  • Revenge as motivation and danger

Legacy​

Immediate Aftermath (Session 36)​

  • Iron Claws weakened significantly
  • Lieutenants fled using teleportation rings
  • Some forces eliminated in battle
  • Organization in disarray

Long-term Impact​

  • Power vacuum she created remains
  • Question of legitimate governance
  • Iron Claws remnants still exist
  • Example of what not to become

Lessons​

  • Power seized by force unstable
  • Personal vendettas have consequences
  • Criminal governance ultimately fails
  • Tyrants create resistance
  • Silas Fairbanks - Nemesis, her killer
  • Grimjaw, Triple C, Car, Athena, Marta - Iron Claws lieutenants
  • Captain Corwin - Turned for Iron Claws
  • Taco Cat - Primary opposition

Key Sessions​

  • Session 24: Iron Claws control established
  • Session 25: $50,000 bounty announced
  • Session 36: Hostage situation, death at Silas's hands

Quotes​

"Taco Cat, the bounty is $50,000 dead or alive. My associates and I would prefer alive. It's less messy, but we're not picky. Lay down your arms, you're surrounded." - Iron Claws operative speaking for Helja, Session 25

Status: Deceased (Session 36) Killed By: Silas Fairbanks Cause of Death: Personal execution during Great Hall battle Legacy: Power vacuum, scattered organization, ended oppressive regime