For this addition I have decided to post a direct transcript of a play session. I will look through my other chapters to see if there are other entries that are good as they are. Yes, the effort involved to change it all into a narrative (and more readable) form are a large factor in my decision. This might be helpful for some as a way to record their Ironsworn journeys. It was also a really enjoyable Delve that surprised me and fleshed out the lore of my world.
Chapter 6 – The depths of Corrupted Tanglewood
Delve – Corrupted Tanglewood
Delve the depths weak hit w/ wits – The first day was spent in a dense thicket at the edge of the area. A strange nothing energy placed its puffy hand on me, pushing and stretching but with so little force. It was unnerving, but not enough to unsettle.
Delve the depths – Miss w/wits – Day 2, it isn’t good. I found my way to an overgrown structure. I decided to make a new camp in the area each day, less some twisted creature catch a hold of my scent and visit in the night. This structure didn’t alarm me on first sight, unknown architecture, unlike what I had seen in any elven villages. It had to be something of the elves, as it was utterly ancient.
Reveal a danger – I stupidly decided to make camp inside the structure. Figured it would protect my fire light from prying eyes in the night. How wrong I was. The warmth seemed to bring some kind of sick mold to shed its spores and I began to wretch like poison was taking a hold.
Face Danger – weak hit with edge – I manage to grab my things and rush out of the ruin, but the toxic fumes seem to follow me like a guided tendril. I need to get away from this place and whatever spectral eyes seem to know of my presence.
Face Danger – Weak hit with edge – I make my way, dashing through the tangled, dried and dead trees and bramble. A knick here, little ankle twist there and I am clear. But looks like I wasn’t as thorough in my mad grab as I thought. some of my supplies have been left behind in the toxic mist.
Delve the depths – Miss with shadow – I try to find some sheltered space, but it seems whatever had sensed me continues to follow me in this dead place.
Reveal a Danger – You face a perplexing mystery or tough choice. A specter stands before me, as I look up at the dead sky, past the rocks from my grotto, I see its glowing form standing there. White, transparent and glowering at me. A hand extends forward, then motions for me to come. The creature turns and begins to walk away. There was no question that this was a demand; I packed quickly again and climbed up the rocks. As my hands grasped the last dry rock I could see the figure standing with its pale back to me, looking deeper into this place. silently, I followed the being as it led me ever deeper into the dark.
The being, clearly an elf, walked in silent leadership for an hour. As we walked, the stars became strangers and the trees took on a new form. Their lifeless habit was replaced by fat, swollen trees of ebony wood, with equally blacked leaves. Finally, we came to a tree surrounded by a shallow pool. If the other trees were bloated, this was about to burst open. Hugely misshapen, swollen and dark. Another figure, an elven man with a spectral stag, stood at the trees base. His face cast down to look at the still reflection in the water.
“You bring the warmth of life to this place, but you are not one of us,” it said without lifting his eyes to see me. “I can guess why you have come, but would like to hear it from you.”
“I have come at the request of Queen Ilsit. She wishes me to spend 5 days here, in return for a request I made of her”. I didn’t see a reason to lie here. Whatever this being was, I had not desire to incur its mistrust, or worse, its wrath.
We spoke briefly, then the being came out with the reason it had summoned me here. “It would seem that my subjects have forgotten me, that they believe me to be some faded memory.” He had finally come to meet my gaze and straightened up to his full height, which was impressively tall. “There are many Han around these parts, the Tishetu Han being the most prominent of them at the moment. I want you to undermine Queen Ilsa, I want you to promise me that you will go from this place and work against her, poison her.”
“How do you propose I do that?” I asked, perplexed. Did this guy think I was in with the Queen, I was here as a desperate attempt to suck up to her highness.
“This creature, it will accompany you. Bring it to the queen, and all the rest will take care of itself. Simple”.
“Sure, I don’t have a problem with that at all.” I lied. “Would you like me to swear a vow or do you elves have other rights you follow?”
“A vow will do, this way I will know of your intentions, and allow you to leave here, unmolested.” The voice was steeped in assuredness. This was going to be tricky. I had no intention of doing what this unknown elf wanted, not in the slightest.
Compel W/SHADOW – weak hit – I get what I want, he believes me. But he asks that I stay here until the sun rises. By the tree, inside the ring of the water. Well, not much for it, He bought my lie and I didn’t want to undo that. The ghostly elk by his side joined mine instead. It just walked around behind me a few paces. Like it was tethered to me by some unforeseen force.
Delve the depths – wits – weak hit – I sleep by the tree, my dreams were twisted this night. Uncomfortable visions of war, sacrifice and the tapping of power from the spirits flooded through me. They were human, dressed like we were, but in the Ironlands. Maybe my mind conflated the images with what I know best, my own kind, or it could have been kind Lothgar, after all. He was the ultimate reason all this had come to pass.
Make camp weak hit – The fact that I woke up alive and the spirit elves were no more buoyed me. Here I wondered if I’d be possessed or some other fate. +1 SPIRIT.
TWO DAYS DOWN – LET’S SEE HOW THE REST OF MY TIME HERE GOES WITH
Delve the Depths – Weak hit w/wits – As I awake and make my way carefully out of the blackened grove, the spectral dear still invisibly tethered to me, I discover something interesting. An Opportunity presents itself.
Find an opportunity – 43 – aspect of the history or nature of this place is revealed. I find a villa, surrounded in break vines, like a wall of woven bramble. Te deer tries to move on from the place, encouraging me to do the same but it cannot lead me, only follow. I cut through the branches and discover a quaint villa. One that might be used for a romantic sojourn. Inside is a journal, written in elvish and maintained over millennia from some kind of magic.
Gather information miss COMPLICATION – As I attempt to decipher the text (why i bothered when Elven is a complete unknown to me) a voice comes from behind. The figure from the grove stands in the doorway, his eyes survey the room, but he does not enter.
“put that down.” He says calmly but forcefully. “Nothing in there will help you with Ilsit, only bring her wroth.”
“What will I find in here?” I reply.
“As I said, NOTHING!” his demeanor was the same, but I could feel a pounding in my head. My hand grabbed for the table edge to steady me.
Face Danger w/Iron – As the blurred edges of the spectral deer come closer, I feel my shirt tug tightly around me. The ground is smooth under my skin as the beast drags me forth from the villa. Through dulled senses the spectral elf looks at me, with sadness. (NOTE: The spectral elf was king of the Tishetu Han and husband of Ilset. She betrayed him on their wedding bed (deception rolled) and the reason Ilset wanted Sibilia here is to try and banish / kill the spirit.)
The area around me has changed as I wipe my brow and peer up through the trees. Darkness has descended once again, the moon should be visible but no light penetrates so low. I rub my woozy head and pick the dry blood from my nose, which comes away with a mild sensation of pain. He really didn’t want me there did he?
Make Camp SH – +1 health and spirit – My dear companion is still with me and it is time to rest. My legs wobble beneath me as I grab at a nearby tree to steady myself. No point continuing in the darkness, maybe this stag is actually some kind of protector and not the ill beast I assumed it was at first.
Delve the Depths w/ wits – I need to find this elf again and ask him once more what is going on. I search around for signs of the dark grove but there is no trace. The ground seems to have swallowed any signs of me being dragged along.
MISS – RAD – 36 Denizen lairs here. I find what looks to be a path towards a valley and make my way forward. The grove of giant trees seems welcoming at first, until one comes to life and its gnarled, massive foot attempts to stomp me.
Face Danger w/Edge – SH – I dive out of the way. The deer, which had been so tentative to follow, dragged me to the side. I have stumbled upon the treants lair, who knows how many of these things could come to life and crush me.
Oracle Roll – Is there more than 1 treant – 50/50 – 24 – NO
Face Danger w/Edge – miss – I try to flee, this treant is far too large for me to deal with, especially in its own environment. As I turn on my heel and dash back the way I came, another large foot slams down in front of me. The only thing I can think to do is to call out to the deer, or the Elven specter of the forest to try and get some aid.
Compel w/heart – WH – I scream at the deer, and at the my surroundings, with my shield above my face. And I thought this place would send me mad, as Ilset had warned. Looks like it was just a bloody pile of gore for me. A giant hand of grooved bark swept down and caught me in its grip. This was it, I would be crushed. But that is not what came to pass. Instead, with the same detached countenance upon his face, stood the spectral elf. He was perfectly and unnaturally balanced (he was a ghost after all) on the shoulder of this giant treant.
“You search for me, when I have given you my demands for safety already. Leave here now, take my gift to Ilsit immediately, and I promise no harm with befall you in this realm.”
Looks like my lies may have come back to bite me. The way he looked at the journal, the way the deer has ‘cared’ for me during my stay here. Perhaps I should let go of the quest, and return to Tishetu Han instead of lingering.
“Look, if you get this tree’s mits off me I’ll go! Fine! I promised Ilsit 5 days here, I’ll spend the two. What is this deer going to do when I take it back to the Han?” I questioned.
“Nothing more than reveal a truth long obscured,” he replied with a self-assured grin.
Escape the Depths – w/ wits – SH – Seems the nameless elf was right. I made my way out of the corrupted tanglewood with no problems at all. The deer, always padding 10 paces behind like a metronomic companion.
Fulfill your vow – 4 – WH – It seems that I have something other than 5 days experience of the tanglewood but a memento which should prove quite interesting once I return it to the queen, the spectral deer.
RPG Downtime 