Ironsworn: Wolf and Cat, Log 3

 This is the 3rd log of my Ironsworn solitaire campaign about Oddi Ice-Chosen. Character background and start of the narrative can be found at: Wolf and Cat, Log 1. 

Session length varies wildly. Some are multi-hour sessions in open evenings, others are 20-minute diversions over a lunch-break. 

Cast of Characters:

• Oddi Ice-Chosen, my main PC. Abducted by a Firstborn sorceress as a child, only recently returning to the world of men, motivated by a terrible prophetic vision. Wears an enchanted wolf-skin. Storyweaver and occassional spellcaster.
  
• Sammutisel: Oddi's pet Cave Lion. 150 pounds, 4-inch fangs. 
• Kasju Frystgrotta: The Firstborn (elf) sorceress that abducted Oddi and taught him magic.

Log 3 (Date of Session:7/27/2021.)

(Mechanical Note: In the previous two sessions, I had been Iron 3, Wits 2. I changed it to Iron 2, Wits 3. I had been incorrectly picturing Iron as Constitution. Now that I've made a few more rolls and read more of the rules, I figured out Iron is more about Strength and Melee. Oddi's not a slouch there, but he's been studying magic, not swordsmanship, these 12 years. High Wits, Low Heart also works with him being clever but socially awkward.)

Oddi and Sammutisel are in the Hinterwood. They aren't on the path that Kasju had lead him north on. They aren't exactly lost, as they can see Blue Eagle Mountain in the distance, but they are further west than the route Kasju chose. Oddi may not have seen much of the civilized world, but he knows a good bit about the wilderness.

Undertake a Journey - Matched Opportunity - Location: Rich Wall, theme Family

We find an old wall, from the culture before even the Firstborn. The blocks are irregularly shaped, and carved with glyphs, but carefully set together without mortar. Some of the stones have ripples of blue rock to them, suggesting they were carved from [Blue Eagle Mountain] long ago. Oddi can make out some of the script, as it matches symbols that Kasju taught him to decipher. The sigils speak of magic, and I realize that beneath the earth here is an ancient Temple or Sorceror's Den. Kasju would love to explore this. I make mental note of this place, as it no doubt has mysteries worth Delving, if I were not so worried about the future of my family. One day, I will return to the Temple of the Puzzle Stones.

We follow the wall East as far as it goes, then turn South again.

Undertake a Journey - Strong Hit - Move at Speed +1mom, -1sup   Location: Fields

The Hinterwoods give way to fields, as we are nearing to the border between [Hinterlands], [Haven], and [Deep Wilds]. Encouraged by these signs of civilization, Oddi picks up the pace.

Undertake a Journey - Weak Hit - progress but -1sup -  Location: Ancient Barrow

As we move south, we pass by an old Dolmen, a stone-capped tomb of the Firstborn. I stop there and lay out an offering from our supplies, as Kasju taught me.

Not far from the tomb, I decide to make Camp.

Ritual - Bind - Strong Hit

Wearing nothing but my Wolf Cloak, I dance around the Dolmen, and call upon the Spirits of Hunters Past. They infuse my Wolf Pelt, giving it +1 to Edge rolls until the next time a I roll a "1" on Edge.

Make Camp - Weak - Relax +1spirit

After the Ritual, Sammutisel and Oddi run around the wilds a bit, play-hunting together. Exhausted, they curl up together near the stone and sleep until the sun insists they wake.

Undertake a Journey - Opportunity -  Location: Fortified Material

We reach the town of Sword Hope. It's built at the sight of a battle where a mighty pack of Varou raiders were defeated, proving that settling this close the the Deep Wilds was an attainable goal, not suicide. Oddi had not been there since his childhood, and had forgotten the place existed. Now it comes flooding back, and he feels bolstered by the parallels between the place name and his quest. He decides to enter the town, ask if they have any news from Forgotten Despair.

Gather Information - Weak -  The news complicates his quest or introduces new danger. +1mom

The word they've gotten here in Sword Hope isn't great. Despair (for that's what the town's name has shortened to in the intervening years) has been troubled by raiders. Brutal murderers, the painted Broken Men, have struck from out of the Shatterwood.

His family are in danger, Oddi mustn't daudle! He leaves Sword Hope in a hurry.

Reach your Destination - Miss! -  I hadn't realized you can't spend Momentum on the Reach Your Destination Move. Oops!

Oddi arrives at the wreckage of what had once been Forgotten Despair. His childhood home, like so many others on the shore of the Bitter Lake, has been defiled. The thatch roof is gone to ash, and the heat was enough to crack the blackened lodge poles.  He is too late. All is lost.

Oddi sits in the shell, and faces a moment of doubt. Could Kasju be wrong about everything? She'd promised his mother that she'd see Oddi gain, in 10 and 2 when he was man full grown. Was that a lie? Is his mother dead?

Endure Stress - Formidable -3 spi before roll. I burn Momentum to make it a Weak Hit.

Reach a Milestone - It's not a happy one, but this journey was the first step toward saving my family from The Bloodsick Warior.

Oracle 50/50 - Do I find a survivor, or do the Broken come back for more? 25 - survivor

I will start the 4th session with an interaction with a survivor in the ruins.