This is one of hopefully many posts detailing my solo play through of the game Ironsworn by Shawn Tomkin. If any of you are curious about the game, you can get a copy for yourself FREE at www.ironswornrpg.com/. You can view all previous sessions of this play through at typhosgames.com/index.php/tag/ironsworn/.
Upon the frozen hills
A flurry of snow flies up, cast into the air by running feet. Lona’s breath freezes into ice in front of her face; small crystals melting onto her flushed cheeks. The darkness closes in around her as she runs into the trees, taking one last look back at the home she won’t see again.
With the fires of the villager’s torches hidden by the forest’s branches, Lona is soon lost in the darkness of the Folgnir Woodlands. The snow-laden branches of the cedar trees leave red marks on her face as Lona pushes through the thick brush; no longer anywhere near the typical path she and papa took to get water from the stream. After five minutes of running Lona stops to catch her breath, only to hear clattering and rustling from the trees behind her.
Panic sets in. Lona’s heart quickens and she turns to run again, pushing farther through the dense trees to get away from whatever is following her in the darkness. The storm around her grows more intense, and she can feel the temperature around her dropping by the minute. Lona’s mind is racing almost as fast as her feet, trying to figure out if she should make camp or keep running.
Lost in her thoughts, Lona doesn’t notice the ripping sound from her sack until it’s too late. More than half of the food she brought lays scattered in the gathering snow, and Lona doesn’t even notice in her panic.
The howls behind her spur Lona to greater speed (wolves or the wind, she can’t tell). In a burst of panic she decides to climb a tree to get a view or get away from whatever is chasing her. Hand over hand she scrambles up the slippery branches. 20 feet in the air, a tell-tale crack is the evidence of her mistake, and her feet slip off of the snow-coated branches. Lona tumbles down, breaking branches and creating a cascade of snow as she falls to the earth.
Lona scrambles to her feet, surprisingly unhurt. As the wind whistles around her and she finally notices the rip in her pack, Lona’s knees give way and she collapses into the snow bank. Frozen tears sting her face, but she perseveres. She sits up and starts to gather the broken branches she knocked off the tree. She’s able to build a makeshift shelter with the branches and a blanket she brought, and it might just be enough to keep the worst of the cold at bay.
As the wind whistles around the sorry campsite, a raven screams in the branches above Lona’s tent. The raven’s white eyes shine like stars through the darkness, and Lona’s restful sleep is uninterrupted until the sun rises the next morning.
Game Mechanics
Swear and Iron Vow – Miss
Lona swears an iron vow to survive in the face of the dangers of the wilderness. She takes -2 momentum and the snow picks up around her as she notices a dark shape following her through the woods. She wraps her cloak tightly around herself and attempts to press through the oncoming storm
Secure an Advantage – Critical Miss
Terrified of the dark shape and now hopelessly lost in the gathering storm, Lona begins to panic. In her frenzy she doesn’t notice that her pack is ripped and most of the food she brought with her is spilling out: -3 supply.
Ask the Oracle: Do wild animals appear? No
Lona hears wolves in the distance, but no animals appear to waylay her.
Gather Information – Miss
With dwindling supplies and no plan, Lona attempts to climb into a tree to see where she is. Halfway up, she slips on an ice-covered branch and falls the 15 feet down into the snow, breaking branches and skin along the way: -2 health.
Suffer Harm – Strong Hit
Lona can’t understand why she isn’t as hurt from that terrible fall, but she doesn’t have time to think about the consequences.
Secure an Advantage – Weak Hit
Through tears that freeze to her face, Lona starts to pick up the broken branches around her and fashion a sort of makeshift lean-to to keep out the worst of the snow and wind.
Make Camp – Strong Hit
Shivering and cold, Lona finds some small amount of rest with a watchful raven in the trees above. Lona Recuperates (+1 momentum) and Prepares for the next day (+1 to undertake a journey).
Reach a Milestone – Stay Alive
Surviving the first night despite the blizzard is definitely a critical obstacle.