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/.
The Farmer and the Preacher
The wind howled outside the cave, the snowfall having grown into a full-fledged blizzard overnight. The snow swirling outside Lona’s bedroll made it all the harder to pry her head off of the incredibly comfortable rock she’d been sleeping on. Spending a night indoors was a blessing after her disastrous first night alone, and the awful memories of the last few days came flooding back to her as the cold snow brushes her face.
Lona slowly extricated herself from the tangle of furs she had stolen from the troll’s cave to use as a bed, and poked her face outside to see what the options were. The world was a curtain of white. The trees outside the cave were barely visible, and the dim morning light couldn’t penetrate the thick clouds beyond casting a murky gloom over the countryside.
As Lona stood staring hopelessly into the distance, a light appeared over a distant hill. Swinging back and forth, Lona was able to identify a lantern. A lantern meant people, and if people were traveling in this storm, then maybe she could join them! Lona rushed back into the cave and hastily threw together her belongings, stopping only to grab a bite of the fish jerky to quiet her stomach. She managed to ready herself and sit patiently by the side of the cave mouth just as the jingling of chains and clop of hooves became audible over the deafening quiet of the snow outside.
A small cart, driven by a hooded man and pulled by a truly massive horse came rolling over the hill. The driver was calling out furiously, pushing the horse faster even as the snow piled up around the wheels. Lona stayed hidden, keeping out of sight until the wagon was past her hiding place. Under the cover of the snowfall it was fairly easy for Lona to rush over to the back of the cart and sneak underneath the burlap tarp covering the piles of vegetables in the back.
Lona helped herself to a turnip as the cart continued on its way, moving up and down the rolling hills and occasionally sliding sideways with a jolt that sent Lona sprawling into the pile of cabbages next to her. Eventually the cart stopped with a slow jostle and Lona could hear the driver stepping down from his seat. Quick as a flash, Lona poked her head out from underneath the tarp to figure out what to do.
She was in a barn. The warm smells of hay and cedar were a stark contrast to the cold snow and dirty vegetables she’d been smelling for the last hour. Thankfully the driver was looking the other way, and Lona managed to tumble out of the cart and hide behind a pile of hay before the driver could even turn around. Lona heard him grumbling and frustrated as he came around to start unloading the vegetables from the back of the cart, and Lona managed to catch a few choice curse words and “Orchard Dale bastards” amongst the mumbling.
Figuring that this was probably not the best person to talk to, Lona snuck out of the barn to try and figure out where she was. The storm was just as bad as before, but through the snow she could see the lights of a farmhouse on the other side of the road. Lona pulled her hair down in front of her mark, trying her best to hide the black spot on her forehead from no-one in particular as she marched over to the front door.
She rapped, hard, on the door and stood back, hoping that some nice old lady or kindly young man would answer. That last image got stuck, and Lona unconsciously started fantasizing about the cute boy that might answer the door when the door suddenly opened.
“Masias, what are you ohhhh….”
A tall man, probably 6 foot 2 or 6 foot 3 stood in the doorway. His dark skin contrasted with the warm yellows and blues of his cloak and the hallway behind him and his stern, piercing eyes looked down at Lona in confusion. “Why are you here child? You should not be out in a storm like this.”
“Please sir,” Lona managed to splutter out through frozen lips, “I got lost in the blizzard and found your farmhouse. Might I please wait out the storm here?” The lie fell cleanly off of her lips and Lona didn’t even know where it was coming from. She had no real plan going into this meeting and her heart sank as the man’s eyes squinted down at her.
“I don’t recognize you from any of my services,” he said, “but I will never turn away a soul in need. Come in and sit by the fire, I’ll fetch us some soup to warm you up.”
The warmth of the house could never compete with the relief that spread from Lona’s chest as she walked into the cozy living space. A crackling fire against the far wall threw warm light among the books and desks of the cluttered room. The man waved Lona toward a sheepskin rug that was draped over a bench by the fire. Lona sat down amongst the tangled wool, smelling the oily leather of the books and oaken smoke from the fire.
“My name is Tegan, priest of the Proffered Rose,” the man said warmly. “Now that you’ve warmed up, what is your name?”
“Lona,” she said, looking down at her feet.
“Well Lona, it’s a good thing you came to this house. Not many around these parts would let in a random traveler, much less one with a mark of shadow on her brow.”
Lona’s panicked face was met by a warm smile from Tegan. “Don’t worry dear, you’re safe here. This is a house of trust, and as long as you don’t corrupt me in my sleep you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” Tegan laughed heartily at his own joke, and left to get the pair of them some hot breakfast.
As Tegan left the room, Lona heard the front door open again and a rush of cold air was followed by a string of curses and a loud “Caw!” from the doorway. Lona turned her ear to listen as Tegan went to the door.
“Damn blasted crow, what’s it doing here!?” a new voice shouted from the entry hall, as the slam of the front door sent the books on their shelves rattling and shaking.
“Masias, please refrain from using such language,” Tegan scolded, “we have a guest!”
“A guest? You can’t be talking about that bird, right?”
Tegan laughed his warm laugh again. “No silly, a young woman came up just a few minutes ago and is warming up by the fire. How was Orchard Dale? You’re home quite early.”
“The Dale closed their gates to me again. Say that my vegetables aren’t worth my prices and I should sell my rotten filth elsewhere.”
“Well, I think your vegetables are fantastic and they don’t know what they’re missing.” Tegan’s voice was pointedly calm as Masias sounded as if he would burst into tears.
“You have to say that, you don’t actually mean it.”
“Of course I mean it!” Tegan insisted, “listen, why don’t you go join our guest by the fire and I’ll bring out a third bowl of soup for all of us.”
Lona quickly scuttled back into a position that made it seem like she hadn’t been eavesdropping as Masias slouched into the room. His tangled sandy-blonde hair was still full of snow, and the warmth of the room was causing it to drip down into his green eyes and shaggy mass of beard.
“You must be our guest.” Masias said, “I assure you that my husband Tegan is the best host in all the Ironlands. You picked the right house to get stranded at.” He smiled, but the smile never managed to find its way out of the tangled beard. His eyes were still cold and frozen, and Lona desperately wanted to bring them in out of the storm.
“My name’s Lona, thank you for your hospitality.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s the least we could do.”
The room fell into silence for a long while then, only punctuated by the occasional pop of the fire or howl from the wind outside.
After a few minutes Lona couldn’t take the tension anymore. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation at the door,” she said hurriedly. “Why are you having such trouble getting into Orchard Dale?”
Masias scowled and slumped farther into his cloak. “Orchard Dale resents us from Wolfhall. Been that way for as long as these two towns have existed. They won’t even let in a farmer trying to bring them extra food for the harsh winter. Bastards.”
“You know,” Lona said slowly, “I know some people in Orchard Dale and might be able to get you in. I could go with you and talk to my friends.”
“You’d do that?”
“It’s the least I can do if this soup turns out as good as Tegan keeps saying it is.”
Masias smiled–really smiled–for the first time since Lona had arrived. Just as Masias was about to say something Tegan walked into the room, precariously balancing three bowls of hot soup on his arms.
“Careful, they’re still quite hot,” Tegan said as he placed a bowl in front of each of them.
As Tegan sat down and looked back and forth between Lona and Masias (who were at this point alternating between scarfing down the soup and smiling at each other), he just started laughing.
“Miss, I don’t know what you did but it takes something mighty strong to get my husband out of moping. I think we’re going to get on like a duck takes to water.”
Mechanics
Undertake a Journey – Miss
Roll the oracle – It causes a delay or puts you at a disadvantage.
It would make sense for the weather to turn for the worse. Trapped in this cave, Lona doesn’t have the supplies or determination to push out into the storm on her own.
Gather Information – Strong Hit
Lona looks for something to get her out of this storm. A light in the distance, moving and bobbing through the snow. A wagon! Headed away from Davenza it looks like, and anywhere is better than this cave.
Secure an advantage – Edge – Weak Hit
Lona quickly packs up her things, and hides around a corner waiting for the wagon to pass by.
Face Danger – Edge – Strong Hit
Quick as a flash, Lona darts into the back of the wagon before the driver can see her. She quickly dives under the burlap cloth covering the wagon’s contents, and settles in to see where this wagon takes her.
Settlement Oracle
- Settlement Name – Wolfhall
- Settlement Descriptors – Perilous, Hidden
- Settlement Trouble – Rival Settlement
Face Danger – Edge – Strong Hit
Eventually the wagon stopped, and Lona sat quiet while she listened to the wagon’s driver moving around outside. She poked her head out from underneath the cloth and saw that they were in a barn, and the driver was occupied with the horse! Lona leapt out of the wagon and hurried to hide behind a barrel.
Mark Progress
Found a warm building with a roof! Up to 4 progress on quest to “survive the escape”
Character oracles:
- Name: Tegan
- Role: Priest
- Goal: Advance Status
- Descriptors: Armored and Clever
- Name: Masias
- Role: Farmer
- Goal: Escape from something
- Descriptors: Fervent and Active
Tegan and Masias are definitely married. Tegan is the town priest and Masias works the meager fields behind the shabby farm house where they live. Masias was out on the wagon and Tegan was at home.
Lona sneaks around to the front of the house and knocks on the front door. Tegan opens the door and looks down at the bundled up girl standing on the doorstep.
Compel – Lie – Strong Hit
(What is this string of strong hits!? Am I even playing Ironsworn?)
Lona lies and says that she got caught in the blizzard and doesn’t have a place to stay. Can she stay here until the storm blows over?
Tegan, wary but kind-hearted, lets her in under the condition that he’ll have to ask his husband before letting her stay too long. He should be on his way back from yesterday’s market in Orchard Dale, hopefully he didn’t get too caught up in the storm.
Masias comes in mere moments later and angrily storms off to a side room. Tegan glances at Lona and shrugs before shrugging and following his husband into the other room.
Gather information – Strong Hit (WTF?)
Momentum is maxed out at +10 at this point.
Masias is angry because he came back with all of his supplies and couldn’t sell anything. He was kicked out of Orchard Dale without even getting to the market, and the guards laughed at him when he had to trudge home in the snow.
Swear an Iron Vow – Strong Hit with Critical!?
Lona speaks up from the doorway, offering to help Masias get into Orchard Dale when he goes back tomorrow. Masias is so emotional and overwhelmed that he bursts out crying, and comes over to hug Lona. The two men smile at her and offer her a place to stay for as long as she needs.
- Quest: get Masias into Orchard Dale and
Mark Progress – Survive the escape
It only seems reasonable after all this success to mark more progress on this quest, up to 6 progress.
Sojourn – Burn momentum for strong hit
The section ends with Lona in a warm bed, after a big meal, with her raven perched on the bedpost.
- Provision – +2 supply
- Plan – +2 momentum