I took a day off*, and now I'm ready to get started making my character for Ironsworn: Starforged.
*I still agonized over potential Paths for a bit.
When I'm playing TTRPGs in groups I usually have an easy time making characters. But making a character for a solo game is so much more pressure! I'm basically flagging interests and setting the shape of this story all by myself! Ahh!
I'd better roll on the character inspiration table to calm me down.
Character Inspiration Roll: 70 - Prophet
OK yeah, this is the part where Starforged campaign prep can really start to feel like homework. I thought about skipping sector prep and jumping right into the first quest, but since Adne is a Navigator it would seem to be valuable to know where they will be navigating to. And I'm really trying to fully meet Starforged on its own terms, so... let's go!
Oh, this map was made with Stargazer, by the way! It's a really cool online character/campaign keeper for Ironsworn: Starforged.
Starting Region: Outlands
Scattered settlements surrounded by uncharted and perilous navigational paths.
All we need to do now is define what's going to send Adne and Buzzard into action. Let's use that idea about a corporate ship getting caught in a balefire (even though I ended up taking a Sidekick instead of a Grappler module). The ship's experimental black iron escape pod deployed successfully but is running low on life support.
Trip Ambly gave us the job, with promises that if we can deliver results he'll send a good word along to Selfra HQ. I think Selfra's legal research department is headed by a pioneer in the field of weaving contracts, so that would get Adne one step closer to their goal of finding out how to break NDA. Time to roll our first Move of One Move a Night!
Swear an Iron Vow: Strong Hit!
Action Score 9 (rolled 5 + 3 Heart + 1 for Connection) versus Challenge Dice 3 and 1.
Adne pokes their index finger at a blank spot in the local chart. "There," they say.
Buzzard tries to tug down the collar of her new EVA suit to look, then gives up and bends at the waist. "Keeps dropping out, but yeah. I guess that must be the point of origin."
"Mmhm. It's close to the edge. As long as we move at the right moment, getting to that pod will be like walking through an open door."
The balefire twists and lurches in space before them, scattering the sickly green rays of the nearby star.
Face Danger: Strong Hit!
Action Score 8 (rolled 6 + 2 Wits) versus Challenge Dice 1 and 3
Everything's coming up Adne so far! We get to add another momentum thanks to getting a Strong Hit on Face Danger, which brings the total to 5.
Adne drops back into the pilot bay, taking a moment to buckle up for safety then steering the Guiding Star along the barely perceptible edge of the balefire. All they can see at first is the wreckage of the prototype Selfra ship. A few intact chambers remain, instrument lights still blinking calmly, at random points within the denuded black iron exoskeleton.
Then they see it. The pod hangs at the aft, still connected to its armature. It must not have been able to launch before the ship started tearing itself apart.
They'll need to go in and decouple the pod manually.
Reach a Milestone: Bring the stranded Selfra exec to safety
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(Yes, I've already diverged from the letter of One Move a Night by doing Two Moves a Night. But I'm remaining in the spirit of the name by doing one decisive, proactive Move here. Reactive Moves such as reaching milestones or Paying the Price don't count---that would be too slow and separate action from consequences too much, IMO.)