PWM: Sanguine Dust, Chapter 8
The Overseer fled across the desert and the Ironsworn followed
Pre-session notes:
Bit of a character update. At some point in the past few chapters, with earned experience, I spent some to get my 3rd Gunslinger ability, and the other two Explorer abilities.
Gunslinger
When you Compel or Gain Ground with the threat of violence by holding someone at gunpoint, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
Explorer
When you come across a wondrous sight or phenomenon, such as an extraordinary planet, majestic creature, or dazzling stellar object, choose one: Take +1 momentum or Take it all in: Hearten, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
When you Secure an Advantage by studying a newfound place from a safe position, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit. On a Strong Hit with a Match, take another +1 momentum and envision an unusual aspect of this site.
I also purchased an exciting new asset…
Revenant: When you have Faced Death…
When you are at 0 health and Endure Harm, or Face Death, add +1. You may then reroll your action die if it is less than your spirit.
Sanguine Dust, Chapter 8
The Overseer fled across the desert and the Ironsworn followed.
Shen stood at the airlock, muscles tense, ready to embark on the desert world but unsure what he would face.
Why is Tern here? No settlements. What’s he after?
I use the “Action” and “theme” oracle tables to answer the question of why Tern is here and get “Await” “Vengeance”. Unsure what to do with that, I make a note of it and continue.
Shen pushed the button to open the door and left the Nomad Drifter, stepping out into the dunes of the desert planet, Tern’s black and red ship nearby.
Shen drew both pistols and approached. He saw no signs of movement or life.
Gather Information
When you search for clues…roll wits
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 3 vs (2,10)
Weak hit - Information provides new insight but also complicates your quest. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +10
No sign of Tern but despite the growing winds, Shen made out a trail of footprints leading away from the ship.
Tern had left his ship and headed off across the desert.
Shen holstered his pistols and followed the trail, moving quickly.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain, give the expedition a name ("Chase down Tern") and rank ("Dangerous"). If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 7 vs (6,10)
Weak hit - Reach a waypoint and mark progress but choose one:
Make a Suffer(-2) move or two Suffer(-1) moves.
Face a peril at the waypoint
Notes: I choose to face a peril and roll on the “Planetside Perils” oracle table. I get “signs of a trailing foe”. Current progress on “Chase down Tern” = 2/10.
The wind grew more forceful, sand stinging against exposed flesh, as Shen made his way over sand dunes, following the footprints of Tern.
Over the sound of the howling wind, he heard shuffling behind him. Turning to look, he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
Movement.
Not alone.
He waited, watching.
Notes: I roll on the “Combat Action” oracle table to what this foe is going to do.
Oracle: Combat Action
1d100 = 17
“Corner, trap or entangle”
He heard a sudden whirring, something cutting through the air toward him. He dove to the side.
Face Danger
When you react to an immediate danger…with speed, mobility or agility, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 4 vs (2,9)
Weak hit - You succeed but at a troublesome cost. Make a Suffer(-1) move.
Notes: I choose to Lose Momentum(-1). Current momentum = +9.
The bola whipped by, missing, but Shen stumbled and fell to the sand.
It took a moment but he stood, hands near his hip holsters, as the figure made itself visible.
They wore black armor, a faceless helmet, and a long gun hanging from a strap, one hand on it.
"Who are you?" Shen called out.
The figure stopped a fair distance away and didn't respond.
"Why are you helping him? Do you know what he’s done?" Shen tried again.
A shrug in response. "He pays well," the figure said, his voice deep.
"He's a monster," Shen said.
Another shrug. "You shouldn't have followed him."
A moment passed, wind blowing sand between them.
They both drew their weapons and fired.
Enter the Fray
When you initiate combat...envision your objective ("Defeat Tern's mercenary") and give it a rank ("Dangerous")....Then roll to see if you are in control. If you...face off against your enemy, roll heart. (My Gunslinger ability gives me an additional +1)
1d6 + 1 (heart) + 1 (Gunslinger) = 8 vs (1,9)
Weak hit - Choose one:
You are in control
+2 momentum
Notes: I choose to stay in control and get +1 momentum from my Gunslinger ability on hit (9 + 1 = 10)
Shen drew faster, firing both guns, forcing the mercenary to back off.
Shen took the moment to move over a sand dune and put his back to it, using it for cover.
Gain Ground
When you are in control and take action to reinforce your position...if you are...in pursuit, fleeing or manuevering, roll edge. I also get a bonus +1 from Gunslinger for using Gain Ground to take cover.
1d6 + 3 (edge) + 1 (Gunslinger) = 8 vs (4,8)
Weak hit - On a hit, you stay in control. On a weak hit, choose one:
Mark progress
Take +2 momentum
Take +1 on next roll (not a progress move)
Notes: I decide to mark progress. Current progress on “Defeat Tern’s mercenary” = 2/10.
Peeking over the dune, Shen fired, taking off a shoulder piece of the merc’s armor.
The merc retreated, running over another dune, blindly firing behind him.
Shen pressed his advantage, charging after.
Strike
When you are in control and assault a foe...at a distance, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 8 vs (3,9)
Weak hit - Mark progress twice but expose yourself to danger. You’re in a bad spot.
Notes: Current progress = 6/10
The mercenary popped up over the dune, taking two hits to his armored chest before tossing a small orb towards Shen.
Shen scrambled and dove to the side as the orb hit the ground and exploded, sending sand everywhere.
The merc came over the dune, rifle in hands.
Shen rolled onto his back, pistols out, firing.
Clash
When you are in a bad spot and fight back against a foe...at a distance, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 6 vs (5,4)
Strong hit - Mark progress twice. You overwhelm your foe and are in control.
Notes: Current progress = 10/10
Shen blasted the rifle out of the mercenary’s hands.
The merc fell, clutching his stomach.
Shen stood, barrels trained on the mercenary, and approached slowly.
Take Decisive Action
When you seize an objective in a fight, envision how you take decisive action. Then, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress. If you are in control, take the result as normal. If you are in a bad spot, reduce the result by one. Strong hit becomes Weak Hit, Weak Hit becomes a Miss.
Progress = 10 vs (3,2)
Strong hit - You prevail. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: I’m at max momentum (+10) so I don’t get that bonus.
“Toss your weapons away,” Shen said, as the wind whipped harder and harder.
The merc did so, before falling on his back, hand still clutching his gut. He took his helmet off, revealing his face, grimacing in pain.
“Let me check the wound,” Shen said.
The man pulled the armor off.
Ask the Oracle
When you seek to resolve questions...you may ask yes/no questions. Decide the odds of yes and roll on the table below.
"Is the wound mortal?” 50/50 odds
1d100 = 45
“No”
The armor had taken the brunt of the blow and the bullet hadn’t penetrated the skin.
It’d felt like a huge punch to the gut but the man would be fine.
“You’re not dying,” Shen said. “Not by my hand, anyway.”
The man grunted in response. He had a strong jaw and a clean-shaven face, but long ragged black hair.
"What's Tern after? Why's he here?"
"There's something Old buried out there. Precursor, maybe. He's after it. Not too happy about Tranquility."
Shen looked back at the ships in the distance. "You can probably make it back before the storm hits."
"Ship can't leave without him. If he comes back, knowing I didn't stop you, he'll kill me anyways."
Shen shrugged. "Well, it's either trust me to kill him and stay on the ship or die out here. Your choice." Shen held out a hand. "What's your name."
The man sighed, taking the hand and standing up. "Vesper, Vesper Stirling but most call me Vertigo."
Make a Connection
When you seek out a new relationship…roll heart
1d6 + 1 (heart) = 2 vs (3,1)
Weak hit - You create a connection. Give them a role (“Mercenary”) and a rank (“troublesome”). On a weak hit, it comes with a complication or cost.
Notes: I decide to give over some supplies(-1). Current supplies = +4.
“Here,” Shen said, pulling out some first aid gear and handing it over. “That should help.”
“Thanks,” Vertigo said. He started shuffling towards the ships.
Shen turned back to the trail. He didn’t have much time with the storm moving in. Who knew how long Tern’s trail would last.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 5 vs (5,8)
Notes: That’s a miss but I decide to Burn Momentum
10 vs (5,8)
Strong hit - Reach a waypoint and mark progress.
Notes: My momentum resets to +2. Progress on the expedition is currently 4/10.
Trudging across the dunes, wind whipping at his clothes, Shen came upon the remains of an old research camp.
Age and sand had long ago ruined the technological equipment and eroded most signs of life and habitation.
Shen decided to scour the place for information.
Is this what Tern’s after?
Gather Information
When you search for clues…roll wits. (I get +1 when searching a ruin with my Scavenger ability)
1d6 + 2 (wits) + 1 (Scavenger) = 6 vs (7,10)
Miss - Your investigation unearths a dire threat or an unwelcome truth that undermines your quest.
Shen found nothing of value within the camp, everything had decayed and was too far gone to be salvageable. As he searched, the clouds turned black, thunder boomed and rain poured from the sky, turning the sand to mud.
Shen struggled to climb a huge dune to get to some higher land before the ground flooded from the sudden torrential storm.
Face Danger
When you react to an immediate danger…with speed, mobility or agility, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 4 vs (2,8)
Weak hit - You succeed but at a troublesome cost. Make a Suffer(-1) move.
Notes: I choose to Lose Momentum(-1). Current momentum = +1.
He managed to get to higher ground as the rain lessened, but it would be difficult if not impossible to pick up the trail again.
As quickly as the storm had come, it dissipated, becoming a light drizzle.
Shen tried to head in the same direction he had been going, hoping to come upon Tern’s trail once again.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 5 vs (1,9)
Weak hit - Reach a waypoint and mark progress but choose one:
Make one Suffer(-2) move or two Suffer(-1) moves
Face a peril at the waypoint
Notes: Progress on the expedition is currently 6/10. I decide to face a peril.
Oracle: “Ruined” location
1d100 = 11
“Evidence of a horrible fate of others who passed by this way”
Shen found the terrain becoming...harder, sandstone?
He found himself out of the dunes and in some kind of ancient sandstone village, the remnants of stone structures, still standing, barely and a strange pyramid at it's center. He was drawn to the pyramid.
The stones shaping it were oddly shaped.
He realized they were human skulls.
Eroded, ancient, but without a doubt, a pyramid of human skulls.
He shuddered and took a few steps back.
Endure Stress
When you face mental strain, shock or despair, suffer -1,-2 or -3 depending on severity. If you choose to resist or your spirit is +0…
-1 Stress
Notes: Current stress = +4. I choose not to resist.
Some kind of ritual sacrifice?
Shen shook his head and looked beyond it.
There, at the edge of the village, a tall tower stood. A temple. Perhaps that was where Tern was.
Shen approached cautiously.
Finish an Expedition
When your expedition comes to an end, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 6 vs (8,9)
Miss - Your destination is lost to you or you come to understand the true nature or cost of your expedition. Choose one:
Abandon the expedition. Envision the cost of this to you and Pay the Price.
Return to the expedition: Roll both challenge dice. Take the lowest result and clear that number of progress boxes.
Notes: Attempting to finish with only 6 progress was perhaps foolish. Abandoning this expedition means abandoning my vow to kill Tern so that’s not happening. I choose to return to the expedition. I roll both challenge dice and get (1,3), so I erase 1 progress box. Current progress = 5/10. I raise the expedition’s rank by 1. Dangerous becomes Formidable. This means I’ve lost progress and progress will be even harder to accumulate.
The temple rose in front of him as he strode toward it.
It held no evidence of erosion, solid sandstone, tall, foreboding, pillars rising up, two great doors above a fleet of stairs.
But as Shen approached, mere moments from reaching the first step, the temple faded in front of him.
Where it had once been, only more sand dunes. Behind him, the village was gone, replaced with sand.
Mirages? Was Tern doing this? The planet itself? What’s going on here?
Shen closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
Find the trail, keep going. He opened his eyes and kept moving.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 4 vs (1,6)
Weak hit - Reach a waypoint and mark progress but choose one:
Make one Suffer(-2) move or two Suffer(-1) moves
Face a peril at the waypoint
Notes: Progress on the expedition is currently back to 6/10. I decide Lose Momentum(-2). Current momentum = -1. This means if my action die is a 1, the action is automatically a miss.
He found a way leading off, away from the mirages. As he marched, he could see other illusions in the distance appear and then fade.
Are these visions of the past? Tricks of the eye? What’s wrong with this planet?
He found the trail leading towards a towering mesa.
The sand led to cracked, dry ground, baking in the sun, leading to the temple he'd witnessed before, now standing before him.
Was this the true temple, then?
Finish an Expedition
When your expedition comes to an end, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 6 vs (6,7)
Miss - Your destination is lost to you or you come to understand the true nature or cost of your expedition. Choose one:
Abandon the expedition. Envision the cost of this to you and Pay the Price.
Return to the expedition: Roll both challenge dice. Take the lowest result and clear that number of progress boxes.
Notes: I really thought I’d manage at least a weak hit but alas, the dice were unforgiving. I rolled the challenge dice, (3,10) and erased three progress boxes, leaving me at 3/10. The rank went from formidable to extreme, which would make progress very difficult. Things are not going well!
This temple too, vanished before Shen could reach it, leaving only the tall mesa behind it.
One foot in front of the other. That was all he could do.
He felt tired, drained. How many hours across the sand? Did night ever fall on this planet?
He approached the mesa.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 7 vs (7,9)
Miss - You are waylaid by crisis or arrive at a waypoint to confront an immediate hardship or threat. Do not mark progress and Pay the Price.
Notes: Sometimes the dice are truly punishing.
The dry ground became sand again. He put one foot, in front of the other, until one step, he sank deeper than expected. He heard a rumble in the ground, as it started to give away underneath him, a sinkhole opening up.
He struggled to move quickly, grabbing for a rocky outcropping and pulling himself out.
Face Danger
When you react to an immediate danger…with speed, mobility or agility, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 9 vs (8,6)
Strong hit - You succeed. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +0.
He got out and away, onto a rocky ledge above the sand. He lay on his back, gasping for breath, looking at the red sky. He could see a blue point of light, the star he'd passed on his way here. He sat up, looking out over the sand. “I don’t like sand,” he muttered. “It’s coarse, and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.”
He struggled to stand and keep going.
One foot, in front of the other.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 7 vs (9,2)
Weak hit - Reach a waypoint and mark progress but choose one:
Make one Suffer(-2) move or two Suffer(-1) moves
Face a peril at the waypoint
Notes: I decide to face a peril and roll on the Planetside Peril oracle table and get “a trap is sprung.” Looking for more information, I roll on the Story Complication oracle table and get "technology or device is shown to have unexpected effects."
The mesa was close, towering above and even providing blessed shade.
The ground became a mixture of rocks and shale under his feet.
He closed his eyes for a moment and what he saw was not what he expected.
The metallic egg in darkness. A tapping noise. It came from within. Something was trying to get out. A crack appeared on the metal shell.
Shen stumbled and came to, opening his eyes, feeling the warmth of the blue sun, hand catching the rough wall of the mesa.
What was that? Was the egg some trap left for me from Tern?
I decide to Endure Stress(-1) and not resist. Current spirit is now +3.
He shook his head.
The heat and the sun were baking his mind. Heat exhaustion. Dehydration. Sun stroke. The dangers of the desert were many.
He took out his canteen and drank, resting in the shade for a moment.
Looking at the bare rock face of the mesa, he noticed that although it looked flat, from an angle, he could see an opening, a way within, a tunnel.
He put the water away, took out a flashlight and moved forward. He made his way into a narrow corridor, when he felt a plate shift under his foot. He threw himself back as the passage exploded.
Face Danger
When you react to an immediate danger…with speed, mobility or agility, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 9 vs (8,6)
Strong hit - You succeed. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: Current momentum = +1
Chunks of rocks and dust flew into the air.
Shen’s ears were ringing and he coughed, standing up and brushing himself off.
The tunnel remained, a bit wider from the explosive, but solid.
Tern left that, which means he went this way.
Shen picked up his flashlight, turned it back on, and started moving through the tunnel, cautiously.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...stay vigilant, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 4 vs (8,8)
Miss with a match - Waylaid by crisis, or arrive at Waypoint to confront immediate hardship or threat. Do not mark progress and Pay the Price.
The tunnel started off as rocky, craggy, and natural, but it soon changed to smooth, hard metal, obviously man-made. This split off into more tunnels and more tunnels, a veritable web, making it difficult to navigate.
Shen turned the corner to face a grey and silvery mist floating in the corridor. It seemed to react to his presence, moving back and forth, and he heard a loud shriek as if the wisp itself screamed. The being, if that’s what it was, swept forward at him, passing through him. He could hear deranged whispers, gibberish, language of the mad...and then it was gone.
He fell to one knee, breathing hard. He'd never been one to believe in spacer's mad stories and legends about ghosts and haunts, but he couldn't deny what he'd seen.
This place is haunted by tortured spirits.
Once more, he thought there was something deeply wrong with this planet.
Endure Stress(-1)
Current stress = +2
He stood, looked back once, didn't see anything, and kept moving through the tunnels, looking for signs that Tern had come through here.
Undertake an Expedition
When you…journey over hazardous terrain…If you...stay vigilant, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 4 vs (3,3)
Strong hit with a match - You reach a waypoint and mark progress.
Shen found a tunnel that opened into a large room.
It was empty though there was evidence that large pieces of furniture or machines had one been located here. A hole in the ceiling must've gone straight to the top of the mesa, letting light filter down and illuminate the room. The walls were solid steel.
Having light and being out of the confining tunnels for the moment felt good.
Shen took a stretch and sat with his back against the wall. He ate some rations and drank water. He would've slept but the thought of the floating ghost he'd seen kept him alert.
He decided to leave the majority of his gear here, as good an outpost as any for the time being and investigate the tunnels nearby.
Explore a Waypoint
When you divert from an expedition to explore a notable location, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 7 vs (2,7)
Weak hit - You uncover something interesting but it is bound up in a peril or reveals an ominous aspect. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: I take another +1 momentum from Explorer Asset ability. Current momentum = +3. I rolled a couple times on the "Ruined" theme oracle table to get my 'something interesting' and 'ominous aspect'. I got "insight into what brought this place to ruin" and "graves and corpses."
A short tunnel nearby led him to a rusty door. It would've been locked at one point but time had not been kind to the mechanism.
With a bit of shaking and pulling, Shen yanked the door open and walked through.
He came into a hexagonal room, maybe thirty paces across. The walls consisted of stacked glass cases, each case the length of a...coffin. Each case held an ancient corpse, withered, shrunken, wearing ragged clothes.
In the center of the room was a narrow pillar, five feet tall.
Stepping close, the pillar shifted, sliding and revealing a control screen.
Using it, Shen accessed ancient historical records.
This was a holy place and these figures were deemed holy. They had power over fire and claimed to be gods. They ruled over this planet, requiring human sacrifices, believing this is what gave them their power. They believed, being Gods, the Forge and beyond was theirs to control. They created an extremely powerful weapon but something went wrong. The weapon went off, annihilating almost everyone on the planet.
Shen stepped back from the console, his hands shaking.
Tern was a descendant from this place.
He wasn't making human sacrifices...but were his experiments for a similar purpose? To create more like him, perhaps? Why had he come back here? Does he want the Weapon? For revenge on Tranquility?
Shen left the tomb and gathered up his gear. He'd thought he was just chasing down a man on the run, but no, Tern had a darker purpose in mind, vengeance.
There was no time to waste.
Post-Chapter Notes
I used Oracles quite a bit in this chapter for perils, features, and opportunities, which was fun. I realize now I didn't have a great idea of what kind of terrain there would be on a desert planet besides sand dunes and when I initially played through, I wasn't very focused on details. The combat with the mercenary went well, I think, but one thing to keep in mind to ensure combat is not a slog is to make the terrain interesting.
I will admit, I did not expect to fail twice to Finish an Expedition, making this quite a long excursion but that’s the dice! What I thought might be a quick jaunt across the desert became an epic voyage across the planet. That’s why I play.
In other news, I’ve decided what I’m going to do once this campaign is finished in about 6 or 7 more chapters. I see this substack as sort of an introduction to solo games and after I’ve shown a playthrough of a campaign using the Starforged system, I figured it would be nice to show a Journaling solo-game, so I’ve started writing up my first Thousand-Year-Old Vampire game. I have the first set-up post ready and am planning on using a letter-writing system to give it more of a storytelling flair. Look forward to that in the future.
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Thanks for reading.
Next Chapter → Chapter 9: Other Worlds Than These