PWM: Sanguine Dust, Ch. 12
The Symbiote
Shen was greeted by Althus in the docking bay of Tranquility.
“It’s done, then?” Althus asked, gripping Shen’s hand in a firm shake.
Shen nodded. “He’s dead.”
Althus let out a sigh and smiled. “Then, you’ve done Tranquility a service. Come, the settlement has changed since you’ve left.” He ushered Shen towards the doors. “A message was sent to Kwan, he will meet us.”
Althus guided Shen through the settlement.
Citizens walked the streets with grim yet hopeful faces, no longer hiding or hurrying away from the public eye.
The streets had been cleaned up, the bodies and corpses from the battles removed.
Shen saw people he recognized, rebel fighters he’d fought alongside, but instead of weapons, they carried food and supplies, handing it out to those who needed it. They were checking homes, administering medical aid, and organizing assistance.
“It will take time,” Althus said. “So much damage was done during Tern’s reign. But it will be better, so much better.”
“It already is,” Shen said. “You’ve done much in a short time.”
Althus shrugged. “The people are doing it.”
One moment, Shen walked the streets of Tranquility. The next, he stepped foot in the empty warehouse from the desert planet on which he’d killed Tern.
He stopped, frozen, unable to breath.
The empty warehouse stretched out in front of him, and at the end, the black hole waited, it’s depths waiting to pull him in again.
He felt something grab his arm.
“Shen?” Althus’ voice came from nowhere.
Shen blinked and he was back at Tranquility.
Althus stood next to him, hand on Shen’s arm, looking concerned.
Shen wiped his face with his hand and shook his head. “I’m okay. It was…a long journey.”
“It’s not much farther, you can rest,” Althus said.
Sojourn
When you spend time recovering within a community, roll heart. (I add +2 for Bond with Althus, who is a Leader
1d6 + 1 (heart) + 2 (bond) = 6 vs (6,1)
Weak hit - On a hit, this is a safe refuge but on a weak hit, time is short or resources are strained. Make one recover move instead of two.
“Our medical supplies are stretched as we attempt to cure the the infection for good, but I’m sure we can do something to lift your spirits,” Althus said, drawing Shen into a bar nearby.
Shen found Kwan sitting at the bar, having a smoke.
Kwan grinned and stood to give Shen a hug.
Shen gave a right hug back.
“Never had a doubt,” Kwan said.
“I did,” Shen said with a chuckle.
Kwan gestured to the bar, where shots of amber liquid lay waiting for Althus and Shen.
“Let’s celebrate. To the new Tranquility.” Kwan held up his own glass.
They toasted and drank.
Shen felt better already.
“Another!” Kwan roared, laughing.
Hearten
When you…socialize, roll heart.
Strong Hit (from Sojourn) - You find companionship or comfort and your spirit is strengthened. If you are shaken, clear it and take +1 spirit. Otherwise, take +2.
Notes: I take +2 spirit. Current spirit = +3
The three drank and ate and told stories well into the night.
Kwan told a story of a great fire-breathing drake he’d hunted on a furnace planet.
Althus told stories of how peaceful Tranquility was when he was a young boy.
Shen kept quiet for most of the night, until it grew late.
The three were the last ones still in the pub, a bottle of amber liquor nearly empty between them.
"So, Coyote," Kwan said, having lit up a new smoke. "You’ve been quiet. Tell us how it happened. Tell us about killing him."
Shen finished his drink and poured himself another, leaning back in his chair. He looked at the table. "I chased his ship from one anchorage to the next. I found...wondrous sights and dangerous traps." His voice was low, quiet.
The other two leaned in as he continued.
“I found him on a desert planet. He had a bodyguard, Vertigo, who I defeated but let live. I chased him across the sand dunes, through tunnels and deep into an ancient city." Shen picked up his glass and took a sip.
"He came from that place. That's where his ancestors lived. They had that...power over fire. They believed it required human sacrifice.” He paused a moment, remembering the pile of skulls.
“Something wiped them all out, a Weapon of some kind. Tern was trying to get at it. He wanted revenge." Shen closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the warehouse and the hole and the beings within. He took another sip and kept going. "I followed him into this temple, to a vault. He was going to get the weapon. I drew on him, told him to drop his gun. He did so. He tried to talk me into joining him." Another sip. "I shot him." Shen finished his glass, picked up the bottle in the center of the table and poured himself a heavy refill, finishing the bottle.
Kwan let out a low whistle. "You shot him after disarming him?" He sounded surprised.
Althus looked pleased. "The atrocities that man committed. He deserved it. I wouldn't have even given him the chance to speak."
Shen shrugged. "Was he disarmed? With the powers he had?"
Kwan scratched his chin. "I suppose that's true."
"He almost killed me," Shen said. "In that lab of his." He looked at Kwan. "You know."
Kwan nodded. "I know."
Althus went behind the bar and grabbed another bottle, brought it over and filled his own and Kwan's glasses. "A toast. To a new beginning for Tranquility."
They clinked glasses and drank.
The next day, Shen felt more at peace and yet, his body hurt worse than ever. He had shakes. His leg was sore and he hadn't recovered from the burns when Tern’s body had exploded.
He knew medical treatment was in short supply but he went out looking anyway. Maybe he could find a back-alley rigger.
Heal
When you receive medical care…if you…receive treatment from someone, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) = 7 vs (7,10)
Miss - The aid is ineffective and the situation worsens. Pay the Price
Endure Harm
When you face physical injury, fatigue or illness, suffer -1… health. If your health is 0, Lose Momentum equal to any remaining harm. Then, if your health is 0 or you choose to resist the harm, roll +health or +iron, whichever is higher. (Current health = 0)
1d6 +1 (iron) = 8 vs (4,7)
Strong hit - Choose one:
Shake it off (+1 health)
Embrace the pain (+2 momentum)
Notes: I shake it off. Current health = +1
He found nothing and ended up coughing up blood into a dumpster in an alley. He staggered back to his ship, heading for the medbay.
Maybe I can heal myself...
not alone
What?
He got back to the ship and into the med-bay, scrambling for supplies. His body felt like it was failing.
Heal
When you receive medical care…if you…receive treatment from someone, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) = 2 vs (9,9)
Miss with a match - The aid is ineffective and the situation worsens. Pay the Price.
He collapsed to the ground, convulsing. “What’s…happening?” He gasped. His wounds didn’t account for this.
I am
A voice, low, guttural, in his head.
Shen felt something leaking out over his skin. He saw it, a blackness, liquid? spreading out over his body. “Nononononono,” he whispered.
From the hole?
no
In his mind, he saw it happen.
On the Nomad Drifter, on the journey back. He was…something else in this vision, his view, his perspective, off, somehow, different.
They were inside a smooth, metal shell. They slammed themselves against the walls again and again, cracks forming, bits of light piercing through, until finally…FREEDOM. Brightness. They pulled themselves out into the cargo hold, knowing they only had a little time. They couldn’t breath, couldn’t live outside on their own. Through the ship, to the bridge. They saw a life form, sleeping in the captain’s chair. Perfect. They crept towards the lifeform, oozing up and over the chair, over the life form’s face, sinking in through the body’s orifices, the mouth, the nose, the ears, sliding inside…
Shen opened his eyes on the floor of the med-bay, as the black liquid covered him completely.
Endure Stress(-3)
When you face mental strain, shock or despair…(-3 Spirit. Current spirit = 0)
1d6 + 1 (heart) = 6 vs (9,6)
Miss - It’s worse than you thought, suffer additional -1 spirit, or Lose Momentum(-2). If your spirit is 0, you must also mark shaken or traumatized or roll on the table below.
Notes: Because this is such a big, transformational and intensely stressful moment in Shen’s life, I take traumatized. Mechanically, this means my momentum resets to +1 instead of +2 when I burn it and it’s not something I can get rid of. Current momentum = -2
I am here to help
Everything went black.
He floated in a void but it was not the same void as the hole. He couldn’t describe how but it didn’t feel the same.
I’m not here to hurt you
Who are you?
ALEKO
What do you want from me?
to live
Shen opened his eyes, blinking, lying on the floor of the med-bay. His body moved on it’s own, pushing itself up, standing. His body stood still, looking in a mirror. He saw himself but…he wasn’t in control.
I didn’t do that.
I did
Shen tried to take a deep breath. For a moment, his body didn’t respond, then it did. He took a shuddering breath and found he could move his hands, his body again. He closed his eyes and slowly sat on a cot.
What are you?
a Symbiote. I can only live within another
You were in the metal shell.
yes
Why?
can’t remember
Shen shook his head and stretched. It was still his body.
Wasn’t it?
No response from Aleko. An alert sounded throughout the ship, indicating an incoming comms call.
He headed to the bridge and took it.
It was Althus. “Shen, you okay? We didn’t see you after last night’s celebrations.”
“Fine,” Shen said. “Too much drinking. Why’d you call?”
“Well, it’s Reverie and Argosy, the other settlements in the sector. They each have reports of infection and we want to make sure they get cleared. We could use someone to deliver a shipment of Immir to each of them. We want to stop the infection before it spreads beyond our sector if possible. I know you can move pretty fast in that ship.”
Shen nodded. “I vow to bring these shipments to their destinations.”
Swear An Iron Vow
When you swear upon iron to complete a quest, write your vow (Deliver Immir to Reverie and Argosy) and give it a rank (Dangerous). Then roll heart...if you share a bond, add +2.
1d6 + 1 (heart) + 2 (bond) = 7 vs (2,7)
Weak hit - You are determined but begin your quest with more questions than answers. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = -1
Althus nodded. “We appreciate it. Good luck. The cargo will be loaded in a few hours.”
Develop Your Relationship
When you reinforce your relationship with a connection by...swearing a vow to undertake a perilous quest in their service, if you already share a bond with the connection...roll their rank to learn the impact on your legacy.
1d6 + 2 (rank: dangerous) = 8 vs (2,4)
Strong hit - Mark 2 ticks on your bonds legacy track
Notes: This is basically a move you can use to get some XP from a connection after they’ve become a bond.
The connection ended and Shen let out a sigh. He couldn’t help feeling he was being watched, that another…presence was around. It would be good to get away from people while he…figured out just what in the forge was going on.
He stood up and felt exhausted. His body had been through the wringer and he’d yet to really find time to rest. He headed to his room and tried to catch a few hours sleep on his cot.
In his sleep, he dreamed of black-skinned creatures, black holes, and desert planets.
Post-chapter notes
I’ve acquired a new Asset!
Symbiote, Name: Aleko
You are physically bound to a being with +2 health. When you make aggressive moves while giving yourself over to the symbiote’s power, add +its health. If you face physical harm, choose either the Endure Harm move or the Companion Takes a Hit move. To restore the symbiote’s health, you must Endure Stress and give the symbiote +health equal to the -spirit you take. If you make a move aided by the symbiote and roll a 1, the fragile bond between you is broken for several hours.
This is an incredibly cool asset and I’ve wanted to take it. It took me awhile to realize it would be very cool if it came out of the metal shell egg I’d found in space. I don’t have plans or ideas or anything fleshed out as to what symbiotes are, who Aleko is or anything. I’m just playing to find out what happens.
I did want to make a note, as this playthrough occurred awhile ago, I am using older rules than the current edition of Starforged. This is why I’m not using the Session Moves or any of the Faction Oracles (which are incredibly cool!), so if there was any confusion, just remember this is a write-up of my first playthrough with an earlier version of the Starforged rules.
Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.
I appreciate anyone taking their time to read this small space adventure. And for those who’ve kept up with the whole thing, thank you so much!
Next Chapter → Chapter 13: A Simple Delivery
Love the Symbiote asset, and I like that in the fiction you've given it a life of its own. Very cool. Also, nice work keeping up the consistency with your sessions. In my experience, that's the key to the work getting better and better!