Introduction

The following tale — which will continue next week — is the first questline for one of my solo Ironsworn campaigns. It follows the Heart-based Ember Maedra’s son, told in the form of a series of journal entries.

I have included the places in the story where I rolled the dice for certain mechanics and decisions. A few quick notes to help understand their impact on the story are:

1. Ironsworn designates each roll either as a Successful roll (aka Strong), a Partially Successful roll (aka Weak, which adds a complication), or a Failure (aka Miss).
2. Ironsworn has a Momentum mechanic, which gathers points, usually on Strong rolls. The points can be used to override a previous roll to make it a Strong roll. This is called a Burn.
3. A Twist happens on specific rolls and requires a dramatic twist in the story: positive if the roll was Strong and negative if the roll was a Weak or a Miss.

I hope you enjoy the journey.

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Day 1

Before now, I knew who I was. I was a capable warrior and storyteller, who grew up in the town of Trundle on the South-Western tip of the Ragged Coast. I hunted down many a boar with my trusty spear and owl companion. And I have led the way through darkness with my Lightbearer’s spark. For the past twenty years, I have done my best to live up to my name as Maedra’s son.

She – Maedra – was a powerful mystic and the overseer of our poor fishing town. But she was much more than that. Most of the money and goods coming into town are brought from travelers who specifically come for her and her accurate divinations. But not anymore

Yesterday a stranger arrived from the East, seeking her council. He murdered her – stabbed her nineteen times – after what I can only assume was an unsatisfying divination.

Today we celebrate her life as tradition dictates: covering her in wildflowers and wine and burning her body on a pyre on an outcropping looking over the sunset sea. There I swore an Iron Vow to avenge her with the death of her murderer [Weak]. Nothing else matters now. Not even the iron pillars that haunt my dreams.

No-one knows much about the stranger, except that he came from the East and looked like a dangerous man. So I prepare to set out Eastward with my spear, my owl Avril, and the light that guides me and has done so since my birth.

My name is Ember Maedra’s son, but I no longer know who I am.

Day 2

Having gathered supplies and information, I spend the morning in meditation. My spirit is heavy, and my body feels weak from sorrow. I repeat my vow, strengthen my resolve, and use my Lightbearer Ritual to imbue my spear’s cold iron head with light from the rising sun [Weak]. I trust it to guide my way forward.

It should not be a dangerous journey, but I have not made as efficient a start as I had wished, covering only a fragment of what is needed [Weak]. I am familiar with the rocky terrain, but the spring melt has made everything slick and each morning is cold and heavy.

Sometimes I forget how difficult the roads can be since I have not traveled alone for some time. Still I reached Vildrass Lake today, whose river runs down the hills through Trundle to meet the sea.

Day 3

I have made excellent time today [Strong]. This is partially because I have taken little time to rest despite the effort of crossing streams flowing icy with the spring melt and scaling rocks as large as my house. There are easier routes Eastward, but this is the quickest way. Avril guides me true, and I wish to make this as short of a journey as possible.

Avril was able to catch a rabbit [Weak] and fresh meat has rarely tasted so sweet.

Day 4

Remember when I said there was fresh snow melt and that I was hurrying as fast as possible? It caught up to me today as I attempted to reach my destination [Miss]. I lost my footing while crossing a swift river, struck my head and have been carried an unknown distance downstream into unknown lands. Thankfully I am mostly unharmed. Fate still guides me, but I fear my journey has only just begun.

Day 9

Arrived in Bockvall today with time to spare [Strong]. I and others from my town have visited Bockvall before for trade and community. They are friendly and generous people.

A man named Gethen, who I had met briefly at a gathering last year, was willing to speak with me and was quite hospitable. He recognized the description of the man I am looking for, but he knows little more about him than I do [Weak]. Gethen shared that the man had arrived from the East with two companions.

This news is troubling to me. Who are his companions? Where were they when he murdered my mother? Did they help him escape before his deed was discovered? Had they hidden away because they had intended to murder her from the beginning?

Only time will tell.

Day 10

Thanks to Gethen, I am headed East SouthEast towards the town of Lindermill in the Southern heel of the Deep Wilds. I have not been to the Deep Wilds since my 15th year – when men and women alike are celebrated as adults and taken on a 3 month adventure to see more of the world – known as the Year of Travel.

This brings back memories. Unfortunately, I also seem to have lost my way [Miss] and wasted some supplies and a day of travel.

Day 11

We seem to have made progress today [Weak]. And now we rest in the shade of an iron pillar. It is not the one from my dreams, though I believe we did visit this one during my Year of Travel.

They all look the same: smooth iron surface, tall as two men and about as wide, tapering to a rounded top like a giant finger. It gives off cold, ominous vibes, like it knows something.

Many people fear them, though some like the iron priests worship them instead. My mother believed they hold an ancient mystical power, but if she knew more than that, she never shared it with me.

Day 15

We made it to Lindermill early in the afternoon [Strong]. It’s a mill town, and no-one here appears interested in travelers.

I attempt to speak to them and share the story of my journey, but they are suspicious and keep their secrets to themselves [Weak]. However, after spending most of the day attempting to find someone to have a full conversation with, I have discovered why they are so unfriendly.

A local ironlander has sided with an enemy in the heart of the wilds and is harassing the town with threats and the abduction of a young woman. I must speak to the overseer.

As a practiced Storyteller, I tell him of my time on the coast, of the crash of the sea, and the power of the diviners back home in the hopes that he gives me the information I seek.

Overseer Ludin appears to be a shrewd man. He agrees to tell me all he knows of the murderer I seek in exchange for my help. To prove he knows something, he shares that the murderer is called “Brine” and that the man harassing their village is an acquaintance of his called “Big.”

Knowing this is my best lead, I swear an Iron Vow to rescue the woman and deal with “Big” [Strong]. To my relief, the Overseer knows where Big’s camp is.

I will take some time to prepare and rest before I set out.

Day 16

I meditate and paint myself with the green warpaint of my village: mystical symbols of the diviner to honor my mother, and the symbols of the Lightbearer. Then I stalk out to meet my target in the early evening [Strong].

I march directly to his camp and challenge him to a duel [Weak]. Challenges are sacred to ironlanders, and it would be a great show of weakness to turn a duel down. So “Big” accepts, and as we both draw the half circle to create the arena of our challenge, I realize why he holds such a title. He is more than a head taller and wider than myself and wields a great hammer with both hands. His cronies watch while the woman is tied and gagged behind them.

Once we begin, I take the initiative and lunge with my spear [Weak]. I cut him across the thigh, but it is superficial, and he is quick. I stumble back before his hammer swings. I take a hit on a backhand that sends me staggering, and he closes in for a powerful strike [Weak]. But I channel the rage and momentum I have been building since my mother’s death and let it loose [Burn]. I plunge forward under his guard and impale him on my spear [Strong, Twist].

As “Big” falls dead at my feet, I am pleasantly surprised to find that the woman has freed herself and holds a knife to the throat of one of the cronies. I try to reason with them, to tell them to flee and never come back in exchange for the cronie’s life [Weak]. They want something in return, the body of their leader and time to gather their belongings.

The woman has other ideas and slices the man’s throat. A battle begins, though it is not much of a battle.

The woman strikes out with a hatchet with ruthless efficiency. The cronies are shocked, distracted, and dismayed from their recent loss, so they put up a rather weak front. I take the initiative and skewer a crony easily upon my spear [Strong]. I injure another, but they finally gather and charge with cries of rage [Weak]. But their anger makes them stupid, and they cannot land a hit against either of us [Strong].

The battle ends nearly as quickly as it began [Weak]. None of them are left alive, and we are left bathed in their blood.

The strong scent of copper and death invades my nostrils, and I stand, lightheaded to exchange a silent look with the woman. I am not sure how to proceed or handle myself as the shock of the moment lands heavily upon me.

I have killed men before, but this feels different: like a slaughter. I feel paralyzed as the blood drips from my beard and slips down my arms as the sun begins to set. I close my eyes and steal my resolve with the thought: They deserved this [Strong].

The woman and I head back. We are quiet as the dark settles quickly amongst the woods. The light of my spear guides us, and she walks closer. I ask her name, and after some hesitation, she answers, “Maura.”

I ask if she wants to be friends, and she asks if I can give her dignity back [Weak].

I say no, but I could teach her to fight and defend herself.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve held an ax,” she snaps.

This was obvious to me from the way she hacked the men down minutes ago, and I mutter an apology. “I did not mean to offend.” I let the matter drop.

I have Fulfilled my Vow and forged a Bond with Lindermill [Strong]. They gave me supplies, rope, and even held a celebration in my honor. In the morning, I will get answers.