Ironsworn - Solo Session #1

I started by customizing the setting, choosing randomly from given options. In my variation of the Ironlands, settlers came here for the simple reason that their homeland was overpopulated. The lands are dotted with mysterious metal pillars which are worshipped and feared in equal measure. Villages within southeastern regions are fairly well established even having well-trod roads connecting them, however the settlements in more mountainous and forested areas rely on the services of experienced wayfinders to lead trade caravans through the inhospitable wilderness. Communities are generally lead by elected overseers and don't have standing armies or even trained militias. Both magic and religion are very prominent within the Ironlands. Almost all people know a helpful ritual or two and gods are believed to secretly walk among the living. Firstborn, the original inhabitants of this land, like elves, trolls, giants, elemental primordials or wolf like Varou still hold great deal of power within these lands and conflicts occasionally arise between them and Ironlanders. Mighty beasts can be found within the wild uninhabited places however they avoid the civilization if at all possible. The horrors of the night on other hand make no qualms about disturbing the living. All kinds of undeath are roaming the lands, whether a remnant of ancient battles or more recently risen.

I created the character by randomly rolling stats. It turned out to be rather intelligent, sneaky and charismatic character but not on much for battle of any kind. I rolled a random name (Morgan) and determined she is a woman. As three starting assets I picked a Wayfinder path (which gives bonuses when traveling), Raven companion (which allows me to send messages) and a Augur ritual (which allows me to summon a flock of ravens and ask them a question). I determined Morgan wasn't ever much of a fighter, rather she used her talents as a pathfinder and traveling advisor. I envisioned her three starting bonds as her former clients. Mystic named Namba who she led to distant mines in a search for precious crystal. Forager and a fellow ironsworn named Torrens who she helped find a lost settler. And a community of Foxhollow who she saved from a violent coup by getting an important message to them in time. As my long term background vow I chose "To refute a common falsehood about the mysterious metal pillars" however I haven't yet further specified what the falsehood is. I'm still waiting for an inspiration to strike me on that one. As the inciting incident and an immediate short term vow I chose a village sending a call for military aid.

While Morgan was in Foxhollow getting some well deserved rest, overseer Chenda just got a urgent raven message from an allied settlement of Eaglespire. They were being besieged by a clan of Varou a wolf like humanoids native to the Ironlands and especially prominent to the forests where Eaglespire lies. Chenda ordered to immediately dispatch a retinue of armed recruits however they needed someone to guide them through the wilderness and do so as swiftly as possible. A wayfinder you could say. And so Morgan swore an iron vow upon the sword of Kione the leader of the retinue. Surely thanks to her recent help in the affairs of Foxhollow, everyone in the retinue seemed to be greatly impressed by her vow. Morgan then helped with preparations and made sure retinue had all the supplies they needed for the perilous journey.

They made a swift progress thanks to their dutiful preparations and soon they found themselves in a foreboding fen. Some of the men noticed discarded supplies in the marshy waters. Sign of attack on a caravan and a recent one. What's worse Morgan identified the tracks as no doubt belonging to Varou. Raiding party and this far north? Whether they're from the same clan attacking Eaglespire or not this doesn't bode well. Morgan attempted to examine the tracks further to determine how to best avoid the Varou but could not make any sense of them and the only option was to give the whole area a wide berth and veer to the east through the nearby hills. Taking such a long detour just when the time is what they have a least of burdened Morgan's psyche heavily but she gritted her teeth and pulled through. Even bonding over the experience with Kione.

Traveling through the hills they came upon a mysterious barrier. Stretch of thick impenetrable fog which turned everyone ho entered it after several minutes of walking forward. Sensing this is a spiritual matter Morgan enacted the ritual of augur. Ravens gave her a sign leading her to an abandoned ruin of the Firstborn. The ruin was a place of long forgotten battle and the animated remains of the Firstborn fought there still to this day. Morgan and Kiona formed a battle plan on how to take the ruin however they underestimated their foe and were quickly surrounded by the living dead. One bonewalker in particular made an attempt at Kiona's life. Morgan tried to reach him before it was too late but she was not quick enough. Though the battle was won, Kiona perished on that day. Understandably this disturbed Morgan quite greatly and her spirits have been substantially lowered ever since. It was not the time to mourn though. Morgan and the remaining soldiers entered the ruin and worked on figuring out what needed to be done to lift the barrier. What they discovered did not please them one bit. A price of blood had to be paid to dissolve the ancient magic. Naturally Morgan volunteered and they could finally move on from this haunted place.

Making a good pace again they come upon lush lake in a wild forested area. A perfect opportunity to fish and hunt to replenish their dwindling supplies. They were successful however they didn't want to waste too much time and as such only replenished the bare minimum they needed before moving on again.

Being fairly close to Eaglespire now, Morgan decided to send her raven Bein with a message to the overseer to expect their arrival. That out of the way they arrived at a river with strong rapids and it seemed the ancient bridge which once bridged the banks has since collapse. With no other option than to rely on their dexterity they used the remains of the bridge to hop across the wild waters. Morgan, not known for her agility, managed to trip and what's worse take one of the soldiers with her. Tumbling through the river currents Morgan was miraculously able to gather enough strength to grab onto a rocky outcrop and even save the soldier in the process. With that excitement out of the way they moved on, onto the final stretch of their journey.

Arriving near the Eaglespire they spotted the camp of Varou. Morgan took couple of stealthier soldiers and attempted to sneak into Varou camps in order to spy and on them and perhaps sabotage some of their equipment. Once again underestimating her unnatural foes, she was caught and interrogated by the Varou leader Tana. Using some quick witted lies Morgan managed to convince her they were just a group of opportunistic adventurers. Tana let them go but before that, clearly versed in Ironlander customs, she forced Morgan to take an iron vow, to investigate a if possible stop a certain Ironlander mystic in a nearby outpost. They were experimenting with a dangerous type of magic which could result in a far reaching disaster. Returning to the rest of the retinue, Morgan managed to send a final message to the defenders in Eaglespire and in the early morning a coordinate pincer attack soundly defeated the besieging Varou. As to what happened to Tana, no one knows as her body was not found among those defeated.

And with that I ended my first session of Ironsworn, by completing the iron vow from my inciting event and gaining (albeit reluctantly) a new vow to pursue. Two experience points heavier and some health, spirit and supplies lighter, I might need to recuperate for a bit before heading in the direction of more trouble.