PWM: Sanguine Dust, Ch. 19
Previously…
"It's working...we're re-establishing contact with Argosy."
An alarm went off. "The jig is up, that shuttle's coming back!" One of the scientists said, pointing at the map.
"I'll take care of it," Shen said, suiting back up. "I vow it."
Swear an Iron Vow
When you swear upon iron to complete a quest, write your vow (“Defend the station”) and give it a rank (“Troublesome”). Then, roll heart.
1d6 + 1 (heart) = 2 vs (5,7)
Miss - You face a significant obstacle before you can make progress on your quest. Envision what stands in your way and do what you must to overcome this obstacle.
He was at the door when he heard a gun safety click off. He turned.
One of the scientists, a thin, scrawny man wearing glasses, held a revolver, pointing it at Shen and the others. "Listen, it will be fine," the man said, his hands shaking a little. "We're going to let them back, break the signal and nobody gets hurt."
"Damnit, Ward, you're working with them?" Another scientist spoke up.
"Nobody gets hurt! It's fine!"
Shen's handguns were on the speeder. He had no weapons and the armed man stood a good twenty paces. He took a step forward.
The gun swung towards him. "You! Stop right there! You’re just another Queen's pawn. Her time is over. You should’ve have come..."
"Put the gun down," Shen said. "Now,” his voice cold, hard and threatening.
Compel
When you try to persuade someone, envision your approach. If you…threaten or incite, roll iron
1d6 + 1 (iron) = 3 vs (1,2)
Strong hit - They’ll do what you want. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +3
The gun lowered.
Shen strode forward, took it and emptied the bullets out of it onto the ground.
The other scientists pushed him into a chair sat in a chair and tied him down. "I'm sorry..." he said.
Shen dropped the empty gun to the ground and headed outside.
He could see the vehicle across the flat plain, red cloud of dust behind it. He grabbed his handguns and holstered them at his sides, looking into the distance. He scoped out the surroundings, looking for a good place to hide.
Secure An Advantage
When you assess a situation, make preparations, or attempt to gain leverage, envision your action and roll. If you…act with deception, stealth or trickery, roll shadow.
1d6 + 2 (shadow) = 4 vs (5,2)
Weak hit - Choose one:
Take +2 momentum
Take +1 on your next move (not a Progress move)
Notes: I take the +1.
He found a few large boulders he could take cover behind and waited.
The shuttle slowed as it got close to the temple and stopped.
The side door opened and one of the thugs got out, rifle held up, pointed at the temple doors. There was hushed conversation as a couple more figures emerged.
Shen drew his handguns…
Battle
When you fight in a battle and it happens in a blur, envision your objective ("Pin the soldiers down and keep them from advancing") and roll. If you primarily...fight at range or using your speed and the environment to your advantage, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) + 1 (Secured An Advantage) = 6 vs (6,10)
Miss - You are defeated or your objective is lost to you. Pay the Price
Notes: I decide to use a symbiote ability in this moment.
“When you make a move and heed the symbiote's guidance (decide after rolling), you may reroll any dice. Then, Endure Stress(-2).”
wait, let Us do this together. there are too many to fight alone.
You're right but…nobody dies.
Shen holstered the guns and let the symbiote take him.
Shalo emerged, leaping from the top of the boulder onto the top of the van with a roar.
Using the symbiote ability, I choose to reroll all dice on the previous move
1d6 + 4 = 5 vs (9,5)
Miss - You are defeated or your objective is lost to you. Pay the Price
Notes: How much bad luck can you get? for PtP, I decide to Suffer Harm(-1), dropping me to +4 health. I also Endure Stress(-2) for using the symbiote ability, dropping me to +2 spirit.
The soldiers were well-trained. The ones outside the shuttle immediately moved away from it, directing their fire at the target on top of the vehicle
Shalo was hit hard and fell off back onto the ground. While none of the soldiers had view of them, Shalo rolled under the van to regroup.
that fucking hurt! kill them all!
No, think, THINK! There's too many. Have to scare them, force them to retreat.
THEN KILL ONE TO SCARE THE OTHERS, YES?
…okay
Shalo came out from under the van, leaping upon one of the soldiers in the open.
Battle
When you fight in a battle and it happens in a blur, envision your objective ("Frighten the soldiers into retreating") and roll. If you primarily...fight in close to overpower your foe...roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 10 vs (1,3)
Strong hit - You achieve your objective unconditionally. Take +2 momentum
Notes: Current momentum = +5
Shalo ripped the soldier before them into pieces. Blood splattered. Limbs went flying. Guts spilled out onto the ground.
He screamed as he died.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck."
"Get in the shuttle, now!"
"We gotta get out of here!"
"We're supposed to take out the stati-"
"Fuck that, you see that thing?"
The shuttle pulled out suddenly, side door still open, one of the soldiers firing blindly out of it, as the vehicle pulled away about half a mile before stopping.
Shalo looked at the remaining soldiers who'd been left behind. They each dropped their guns and went down on their knees.
"Please, please, I don't want to die."
Shalo ignored them and turned toward the shuttle.
Apparently, it wasn't leaving. Not yet.
They’d retreated but were getting out and taking positions with their rifles.
Shalo charged across the black lava rock.
"Fire!"
Shalo roared.
no more mercy. they had their chance.
Battle
When you fight in a battle and it happens in a blur, envision your objective ("Frighten the soldiers into retreating") and roll. If you primarily...fight in close to overpower your foe...roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 7 vs (6,8)
Weak hit - You achieve your objective but not without cost. Pay the Price
Notes: for PtP, I decide Companion takes a hit(-1), dropping Aleko’s health down to +2.
They took wounds as they charged, hurtling into one soldier, grabbing another, throwing them into others. They were a force of motion, clawing, ripping, tearing, tossing.
Blood flew into the air as soldiers screamed.
Shalo heard the shuttle door close and the vehicle pull away, leaving multiple soldiers behind, bleeding and dying. They took deep, gasping breaths, their symbiotic body covered in blood. They held a soldier's head in their hand, the body still convulsing. They let it drop to the ground.
They walked toward the temple, the symbiote withdrawing back into Shen's body.
You're hurt.
a minor wound
Inside the temple, the scientists drew back, looking frightened.
Shen sighed. "They've been taken care of," he said. "You should be safe for now."
Fulfill Your Vow
When you reach the end of your quest (“Defend the station”), roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 6 vs (9,1)
Weak hit - There is more to be done...Swear a vow to complete it or take reward of one rank lower.
Notes: I take the reward of one rank lower, which means I get nothing from this troublesome vow.
"They might send more," one of the scientists, braver than her companions, spoke up.
"The queen can send you more reinforcements," Shen said, shaking his head. "I'm done."
He left, got on the speeder, and headed back to Argosy.
Shen sat with the queen in her office.
"The signal has been restored," she said.
"I handled it," Shen replied. "You should send more soldiers there, though. They may retaliate."
She waved a hand. "I doubt it. We've been putting out the recent data, reassuring the citizens that Azula is stable. But yes, I will ensure it is better guarded in the future." She handed over a security ID. “And you may go below the palace to the archives and peruse them at your leisure, ironsworn. I hope they provide you with the guidance you seek."
Shen gave a nod but headed back to the ship first. He needed to contact Althus and tell him about Kwan. He couldn't put it off any longer.
From one settlement to another, each with a strong enough network, you could generally set up a communication link.
Shen did so, bringing up Althus on the line. He reported that the Immir had been delivered and the infection all but cured or in the process of being cured, across the sector.
Althus thanked him and asked about Kwan.
Shen let out a breath, took a moment, and gave Althus the bad news.
Develop a Relationship
If you already share a bond with the connection, do not mark progress, instead roll their rank.
1d6 + 2 (Dangerous) = 4 vs (7,3)
Weak hit - Take +2 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +7
"It wasn't your fault, Shen," Althus said, afterwards."He went on that ship on his own accord. You knew how he was. You don't have to carry that."
Shen nodded but didn’t respond.
“And if he knew you were carrying that guilt, he’d hit ya upside the head.”
Shen smirked at that and let out a breath. "I've got his...him. Trying to find somewhere to lay him to rest. Did he ever talk about where he came from?"
Gather Information
When you search for clues…roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 7 vs (3,8)
Weak hit - Information provides new insight but also complicates the quest. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +9
Oracle Tables
Descriptor + Focus = “Ruined” “Fortification”
"He talked about growing up in a settlement that had been built up out of some old Precursor fortifications on a planet in Terminus space. Might be he still has family there."
Oracle Tables
Settlement name: “Koshiba”
Sector name: “Asteria Juncture”
"I think it was called Koshiba, in the Asteria Juncture sector." Althus shrugged. "It's not much to go on.”
"It's more than I had. Gives me somewhere to go, I appreciate it." Shen said farewell and cut the comms.
precursor…
I know. Keeps popping up. Maybe there's more answers there. But before we leave, let's see about those archives.
Shen headed down into the archives, deep within the settlement. Considering the atmosphere was thin, the whole settlement was enclosed, making space a priority. To get anywhere, you had go down tight corridors, climb ladders, and shuffle through crowds.
He came to big sealed doors, a figure in red robes sitting behind a console looking up suspiciously.
"Be careful in there," the robed man snapped, clearly upset at an outsider being allowed access to their 'religious' history.
Shen ignored the man, waited for the doors to open and headed inside.
There were stacks and stacks of hard drives, the constant hum of all the machines running the only sound.
Consoles were set up every dozen paces or so. There were a couple more robed figures looking at this or that.
Shen was the odd one out. He got to work.
This could take awhile. Maybe he could find some information about the void while he was here too.
Gather Information (wits)
…Vow: Discover truth of Symbiotes
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 5 vs (2,5) = Weak Hit
Information provides insight but complicates the quest. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +10
Oracle Tables: Descriptor + Focus = “Abandoned” “Energy”
Gather Information (wits)
…Vow: Find a way beyond the Void
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 3 vs (7,6)
Notes: I decide to Burn Momentum
10 vs (7,6)
Strong hit - You discover something helpful and specific. The path you must follow or action you must take to make progress is made clear. Take +2 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +3
Oracle Table: Action + Theme = “Follow” “Barrier”
Shen spent hours looking through records before returning to his ship, his mind spinning and his eyes strained.
The Precursors came here and thought they were the first sentient species.
but they were not. we were here before them
So it seems. The Precursors also found strange energy wells (“abandoned energy”) throughout the Forge and built structures around them for some purpose that is connected with the symbiotes.
we need to find one of these structures
We may have already. Are these simply the mysterious Vaults? Or something different?
Aleko went silent and seemed...distant? Is it possible for a symbiote that lived within your body and mind to feel distant?
Shen called out mentally but there was no response. If the symbiotes had been here before the Precursors and didn't seem to be around anymore...well, it didn't bode well.
But at least they had a lead.
We will find answers, Aleko.
Silence.
Shen turned his thoughts to other things he'd learned from his research. It seemed the Void, that great expanse of empty ‘space’ that surrounded the Forge was not just empty space, that if you went far enough out there, you'd come to some kind of barrier. If you followed that barrier, maybe, just maybe, you could find a way through. It was a death sentence though. Out in the void there were no settlements, no civilization. You would likely not see another person out there until you died from lack of resources or went insane from isolation.
But it might be possible….
Shen walked around the ship, stopping at the med bay, where Kwan's body was being kept cold.
Let's get you home, brother.
"Computer, calculate a route into Terminus, sector Asteria Juncture."
The Nomad Drifter chirped an affirmative and began calculating.
Shen sat in the captain’s chair, waiting, staring into space, and thinking. He was about to leave the sector where he’d overthrown, hunted and killed a dictator. Where he’d cured a sector-wide plague. And where he’d lost his best friend.
Still alive…and alone.
The computer beeped and a route to Asteria Juncture came up on the viewscreen, the first jump highlighted.
Shen pressed the button and the Nomad Drifter jumped.
Post-Chapter Notes
There it is, the end of Season One of Sanguine Dust, ending not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Those with a keen eye, attention to detail, and a good memory may notice I made a mistake during play. During that second Battle move, I rolled a 1 while using the Symbiote, which should have broken the connection but I didn’t notice. Whoops!
Mistakes happen. You’re going to forget a rule or a detail, or interpret something wrong. It’s bound to happen and it’s fine. You can retcon, you can reverse time, go back, or just roll with it. You can do this with your role-playing group as a democratic decision, and by yourself when you’re solo-gaming because it doesn’t matter. Choose whichever works for you.
The notes for this chapter will be short, as I plan on a debrief post next week about the campaign as a whole. While I could take a break for the holidays, I would prefer to finish this up before the new year. I’ll take a couple weeks before starting a new campaign to write up some non-PWM-campaign posts, including GMEs pt 2, an overview of other solo-gaming-related substacks, possibly some cross-posted posts from other substacks, and who knows what else.
Thanks for joining and reading along. I recognize this ending may not be as satisfying as you hoped. I’ll tell you it wasn’t that satisfying for me, either, which I’ll go into more in the debrief. If you have any questions about the campaign, the setting, the system or anything else related to Sanguine Dust, please drop a comment and I’ll be sure to address it in my debrief.
Thanks again!