Picture from here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/illimitable-desert/ A short session. Again diplomacy wins the day. Hopefully, Kiah's skills prove strong with trolls as well. (Compel - Strong Hit With A Match) Kiah, remembering Apple Soul's warning, answered the gaunt alfar with caution, "We were traveling to Long Whick when I nearly fell into one of Glush's traps." She rolled up her sleeve to show Atani the raven tattoo on her arm. "Tauna Sky Riddle gift

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11289160476/in/album-72157638906393085/ I used Undertake a Journey for the run through the woods, however, it was odd that Kiah's supply track was reduced to zero in one day. Granted, they did feed Shush, a lot. The track enabled multiple things to happen, which I wanted. The siblings were at Long Wick's gate at the crack of dawn. They wore the forest green clothes that Bear Woman had provided them. Taylah Apple

Picture from here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/not-touch-it/ Setting Note: There's no differentiation between arcane and clerical magic in my Ironsworn. All magic is pulled down from the gods. Witches and wizards in this setting are said to have links to them and know spells to invoke their aid. A moment of silence hung after Kiah's vow. Taylah Apple Soul blinked, and then stated, "Well, I suppose you are determined." Then after a long sigh, she added,

Picture from here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/god-pan/ This session is basically just a discussion with the Overseer of Long Wick. Even though there's no physical action, there is still a tension about it. I'm no Tolkien (I'm sooo far from it) but this reminds me of Gandalf talking to Frodo about the ring. No fighting, no immediate danger, but still a wonderful scene. (Who's the Overseer? Taylah, She/Her, Successful, Generous, Stubborn ) (A Warden: Owe

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11141786875/in/album-72157638906393085/ I have a soft spot for strange places. I think I caught the 'odd world' bug from Margret Weis' Darksword Adventures . It was the first full RPG I bought and described a world where magic was treated like technology. It gave the full deets on the world. From the mana currency to wonderous enchanted cities. I honestly believe the joy that sparked has kept me making other nif

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ndomer73/2171293702 Ironsworn journeys have many twists and turns. Which makes them good. They feel very Tolkienesk. (Pay the Price: Your action has an unintended effect. ) (Oracle - What Unintended Effect? Gather, Nature ) Kiah and Gruff strode down the path and into the Deep Wilds. Soon enough they walked among the budding trees. "For once, the sea doesn't surround us Gruff." Song Hood commented. Her brother nodded. Kiah foc

Picture from here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_wild_boar_chafing_its_neck_against_a_tree_while_a_fox_seat_Wellcome_V0020721ETL.jpg It's going to be weird to write stories that don't involve boats for a while. The Ironlands are mostly landlocked. (Sourjurn: Weak Hit ) As winter retreated to green spring, Kiah healed. Her step was steady, she no longer looked haggard, and her words were filled with genuine warmth and confidence. Even so, her iron vows weighed hea

Picture From Here: https://picryl.com/media/pieter-bruegel-the-elder-hunters-in-the-snow-winter-google-art-project-chimney-13d01e I don't like complications dragging the story on. However, I've learned to let such color future stories instead. Neda Frosthide was larger than their longship, a hill of blue fur. "We'll need many to skin and butcher her," stated Tristan Toothhand. "It'll take several trips to bring everything back," considered Ishana, one of the Eight. Gruff gla

Picture found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/31895780460 This is the 2nd Arc. Overseer Kiah and Great Mount during the hard winter. (Is Tristan Able To Get Ranna Death Sister On His Side? 50/50 - No ) (Is Tristan Able To Get Aid From The Overseer of Stone Mark? Unlikely - No ) (Does Trtian Successfully Hunt Along The Way? 50/50 - Yes ) (What Kind Of Dream Does Kiah Have? Reveal Faction, Oppose, Possession ) Kiah found herself seated on a rug in her grandmothe

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11149264234/in/album-72157638906393085/ This is short but I felt it right to keep it such. The next session will deal with Tristan's return and possibly Kiah's trip to Long Whick. Note: An All Thing is a meeting of towns, it's a celebration of sorts but many legal cases are also attended to. "Wake up, Overseer." Kiah was gently shaken awake. As she blinked sleep from her eyes saw Reema's most trusted servant befo

Picture from here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/silence-sea/ (Sorjurn: Strong Hit ) A great blizzard hit Great Mount a day after Kato Steel Path's funeral. Kiah and her people stayed in their halls and weathered it just fine. The next morning they dug out. The work brought some cheer. Clearing snow was something substantial the people could do. Honest labor keeping at bay fear of starvation and war. Kiah was not idle. She had the servants account for eve

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11230894045/in/album-72157691107046960/ Back in the day, I loved WEG D6 Star Wars because, if, as a GM, I described some bizarre alien jizz-wailer (that's Star Wars music by the way) my players latched onto, I could immediately write up stats for them. No classes to worry about, no advantages, disadvantages, feats, traits etc. Just stats and skills, easy peasy. This sort of simplicty is essential in a journaling

Picture from Here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/became-mad/ Kiah wasn't part of this fight, as such everything was done with Oracles. In some ways they were very kind, in others... (Do Tristan and Reema avoid the Thin Ice Trap?: No ) (Do They Escape With A Viable Invasion Force? Yes ) (Does Reema Survive? Yes ) (Does Tristan Survive? Yes ) ( Does Kione Dream Talker Survive? Yes ) (Is the Weather Horrible? Yes ) The following morning Great Mount's warb

Picture from here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/12458915605/in/album-72157659990533249/ A struggle of magic. I am rather concerned with what will happen with Reema and Tristian, in the next session. (Priests who serve Reema: Amara Deep Laugh, He/Him, Incompetent, Generous, Obsessed Kato Steel Path, He/Him, Bitter, Armored, Connected ) (Swear and Iron Vow: strong hit ) The next morning Kiah stood before the Great Hall, flanked by Reema's preists, Amara Deep L

Picture from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11105001204/in/album-72157639804554423/ And so the name of this actual play has dropped. Not in the way I expected, but that's the joy of Ironsworn. (Is the Weather Bad? Yes ) An hour later Kiah, Gruff, Keyshia, and even Shush, sat on the polar bear hide in the Great Hall. The wind howled outside. Snow and hail hammered on the walls. "I suppose, I should explain," stated the Overseer. "We are curious," admitted Kiah.

Picture from here: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/shepherdess/ Some journalling games offer a series of paths and guide your character down them. Like a ball drop, where your PC bounces between different pegs, to finally rest in a number of set-out endpoints. Other journalling games start with nothing, and you build the narrative based on random draws or charts. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Orboboros the Brick Kingdom will take a mixed approac

Image from: https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/ring-upon-hand/ Battle is perhaps the most exciting move in Ironsworn. One roll leads to victory or defeat. It's exhilarating. (Sorjurn - Miss - It Wastes Resources) The wolf-skull woman directed the siblings to a Hall to the east, which was nestled to the island's rock. Between the dock and it was a long boardwalk. The entire town was crisscrossed with them. (Are The Sentinels fine with Shush tagging along? No) K

The form of Serene's curse is not what I expected, but still pretty cool. She's jumping to using it right away because of Kayan Ghostbeard's preemptive raid. I imagine she doesn't expect her curse to wipe out Great Mount, but she hopes to at least cause damage. She will then move to the next stage of her plan. A previous set of oracle checks revealed to me what the sentinel's deal is. Such will be revealed later. The real fun is that Kiah doesn't know, and I hope what foll

Most of this was Oracle Checks, it's neat how a handful of rolls can reveal threads in the game that I never expected. (Did Solana Survive? No) (Did all of the Wardens Left Behind Survive? No) (Did any of the Wardens Survive? Yes ) (Is Reema There? Yes) As soon as the ship reached dock, it was pulled in by many hands. Handsome Eleri regarded the three with sorrow. "Tristan, Kiah, Gruff, I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" Tristan asked cooly. Maya, a Great Mount warden Tristan left

I'm happy Kiah met with her father and brother. She might not have, if so, the later part of this session would have been finding a boat. A roll a few sessions ago lead to what happened in the last part of this session. Making those oracle checks had me on the edge of my seat. After gathering herself, Kiah considered her options. It would take four days to reach Broken Helm, let alone Great Mount. Four days, by herself, with limited supplies. (Gather Information: Miss ) The b