PWM: Sanguine Dust, Ch. 14
Across the Shattered Planet
The Nomad Drifter approached the shattered planet, Vigrid.
Oracle Table: Observed from space
1d100 = 75: Swirling debris field
As Shen got closer, he could see bits of the planet that had broken off, orbiting around like clouds. He'd have to navigate through it to get to the core, where most of the planet still remained intact despite the cataclysm. He took manual control over the ship, boosting the engines to give him more speed and maneuverability.
Face Danger
When you attempt something risky…with speed, mobility or agility, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 8 vs (1,1)
Strong hit with a match - On a strong hit, you are successful. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +3. I roll on the planetside opportunity since I got a match. I get “Clear path through otherwise perilous terrain.”
He was able to easily navigate through the debris, emerging through into the interior of the planet’s broken and floating outer shell.
It was wild to be within the outer pieces of the planet, huge gaps left from the cataclysm. He could see exposed caverns down on the core surface and performed a scan to see if he could find any evidence of the vault.
He detected a lingering energy source miles away.
Could be the Vault…could be something else.
Landing, Shen noted the thin atmosphere and put on his space suit, before going out through the airlock.
Oracle Table: Planet feature
1d100 = 96: Descriptor + Focus
Descriptor + Focus = 69 + 85: “Natural” “Supply”
With the world shattered, it left gaping chasms and huge floating continents, still held by the gravity of the planet’s core. Some of these continents, Shen could see, held vast amounts of hydrocarbons or space oil that fueled starships. The difficulty of getting through the field of debris and attempting to mine it from within the shattered planet was likely a limiting factor but if someone could figure it out, they could do mighty well for themselves.
Shen made a mental note, perhaps the information would be useful for someone on Reverie.
He started heading towards the energy source.
Undertake an Expedition
“Find the Precursor Vault”, “Dangerous”
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 8 vs (3,4)
Strong hit - Reach a waypoint, mark progress.
Notes: Progress = 2/10.
Oracle Table: Descriptor + Focus
“Inhabited” “mineral”
Surprisingly, he came upon a small structure next to a deep pit, with pipes and scaffolding leading down into it. Some kind of mining outpost.
A call came over his radio. "Interloper, identify yourself."
"Ironsworn Coyote. Just passing through," Shen said, holding his hands up.
this is a waste of our time
"Passing through the core of a shattered world? I don't think so. You best turn around, head back to your ship and leave."
"I'm investigating reports of a Vault. Got a signal of an energy source somewhere beyond your camp. Didn't expect to find anyone else. What are you doing down here?"
"None of your damn business. You keep moving on, things don't have to get ugly."
"Fair enough."
maybe they know about the Vault. we should force our way in and make them tell us
No, it’s a small mining operation, nothing more. We keep on.
Shen gave the building a wide berth and kept moving.
Undertake an Expedition
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 7 vs (6,2)
Strong hit - Reach a waypoint, mark progress.
Notes: Progress = 4/10.
Oracle Table: Planet Feature
1d100 = 63: Pocket Atmosphere
He entered a tunnel, moving through and emerging into an exposed cavern.
we can breath here
He checked the suit's readings and sure enough, somehow, in this cavern, was a pocket atmosphere. Something was creating it. The cavern extended beyond his sight.
Could the vault be doing this?
He clicked off his helmet and took a deep breath. Looking out the ceiling, he could see pieces floating in space.
Perhaps this cavern held more secrets to be discovered.
Explore a Waypoint
When you divert from an expedition to examine a notable location, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 6 vs (10,3)
Weak hit - Uncover something interesting but bound up in a peril or reveals an ominous aspect of this place. Envision what it is. Then take +1 momentum. (+1 bonus from Explorer)
Notes: Current Momentum = +5. I decide to roll for an opportunity and a peril.
Oracle Table: Planetside Opportunity
1d100 = 63: “Interesting artifact or device”
Oracle Table: Planetside Peril
1d100 = 70: “Toxic, or sickening environment”
He used the suit's flashlight to better illuminate the cavern and found a side tunnel leading down.
It led to a small pool of green liquid. Within it, he could tell there was a device of some kind.
Scanning the liquid, he could tell it was toxic, perhaps even toxic enough to eat through his suit.
get it
It could kill us.
not me
It could rip the suit to shreds and then we can't make it back to the ship. Is that what you want?
allow me
Shen felt something strange, as something black and liquid oozed from Shen's skin, enveloping the entire suit and covering his own face. He felt a moment of panic but couldn’t move.
Darkness.
Shen opened his eyes and found he was taller, with a larger frame. He felt...incredibly strong. Looking at himself, he saw not a human wearing a space suit but a black-skinned creature, huge, strong and fearsome. The skin was oily, slick and smooth.
What the fuck?
we go
Shen waded into the pool, immediately feeling pain but...it felt distant, as if it was someone else's pain.
Aleko's pain.
Companion Takes a Hit
When your companion faces physical hardship, they suffer -1,-2, or -3 depending on severity. If your companion's health is 0, Lose Momentum equal to any remaining harm. Then, if their health is 0 or you choose to test their resilience, roll your companions health.
Notes: -1 health. Aleko’s current health = +1
They dove into deeper into the pool, reaching out with their hand.
Shen saw tendrils of Aleko's/Shen's/Their body extend from their hand, encircle the device and pull it into their hand.
They rushed out of the pool and knelt, toxic liquid dripping off.
Aleko relinquished their hold, the black skin pulling off the suit, melding back into Shen's body.
Shen breathed deeply. He could still feel a faint pain.
Are you okay?
what is it?
Shen looked at the device in his hands.
Ask the Oracle
“What is this device’s purpose?”
Oracle Tables: Action + Theme = “Remove” “Fear”
It was a mechanical device that held some kind of liquid within it, a drug of some kind perhaps.
Not sure, we'll analyze it when we get back to the ship.
Shen packed it away.
Aleko was quiet.
He went back to the cavern and headed in the direction of the energy signal. He started jogging. He didn't want to spend more time than he had to on this broken world.
Undertake an Expedition
…if you move…at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 8 vs (2,3)
Strong hit - Reach a waypoint, mark progress.
Notes: Current progress = 6/10
Oracle Table: “Haunted”, “Feature”
1d100 = 27: “Ghostly visions of this place in another time”
The cavern was enormous and Shen continued to travel through it.
He came to a large open bowl-shape, with descending concentric circles, down into a lower pit.
A flash in Shen’s eyes and he saw people in robes sitting along the edges of the pit, raising their hands, yelling. Within the pit, a man wrestled with an exotic creature or alien, lizard-like. Another flash and the vision was gone.
Not again.
again? what is this?
Visions of an ancient past, it's happened to me before.
this place is haunted by it's past
Shen went around the bowl, the visions coming and passing. He kept moving.
Undertake an Expedition
…if you move…at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 9 vs (7,9)
Weak hit - Reach a waypoint, mark progress, but choose one:
Make a Suffer(-2) move or two Suffer(-1) moves
Face a Peril
Notes: Current progress = 8/10. I decide to Lose Momentum(-2). Current momentum = +3. To determine the waypoint, I roll on the Chaotic table, since that felt a good fit for an area close to a Precursor Vault.
Oracle Table: Chaotic, Feature
1d100 = 22: Corrupted or warped, environment or ecosystem
They came to the far end of the cavern, a swirling duststorm in front of them, impossible to see through.
Something was causing the dust to swirl and fly, but Shen felt no wind as he approached.
Is the vault behind this? Is it close? Have I found it?
Finish an Expedition
When your expedition comes to an end, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 8 vs (5,6)
Strong hit - On a strong hit, you reach your destination…Mark your reward.
Notes: The dangerous expedition gives me 2 ticks on my discoveries legacy track, and I get a bonus tick from my Explorer asset.
Shen put his helmet back on and pushed through the duststorm, pebbles and dirt pinging off his space suit. After ten or so steps, he emerged on the other side. The site before him took his breath away.
The Vault
Scale → 52 = Typical site of limited scope
Form → 05 = Structure
Shape → 60 = Platform or disc
Material → 71 = Crystalline or glass-like
Post-Chapter 14 Notes
We’ve made it to the Vault. Next time, we explore it. Expeditions in Starforged are such a great mechanic. They introduce these waypoints that you can choose to either engage with further or simply pass on by as you go. I chose not to engage with the mining operation simply because I wasn’t that interested in it. But then, sometimes your assets will push you to do things you may not. I can get a quick momentum bonus if I explore a waypoint so at times, it’s not the story pushing me to explore further, it’s the mechanics, which then leads to cool story moments! I am still playing a game and will make mechanical choices to benefit my character. This led to a cool character moment with the symbiote, Aleko. .
As always, drop a comment or share with others if you feel like it.
Also, I’m not great at anything artistic myself, so if anyone felt like doing fan art for Sanguine Dust, I would be so appreciative and would love to share it.
Next time, things start to get…weird.
Next Chapter → Chapter 15: The Precursor Vault of Vigrid