Ironsworn Session 1: The Inciting Incident

Last time, we created the world of the Ironlands and the character of Irsia, the veteran, fortune hunter, and wayfinder. She is the daughter of Sigvor the Brave, one of the greatest warriors in the Ironlands' known history. We know her community, her friends, her motivation; now we must begin her journey.

To start, I roll on the action and theme oracle for a prompt for this inciting incident. 

(Action: Endure, Theme: Fellowship)

Irsia must endure fellowship. Perhaps she doesn't enjoy spending time with certain folks. Perhaps there is a community event which she must attend, given her family history, but it's too stuffy for her. I like that, so I decide that the fellowship she must endure is a dinner party hosted by Ravenbarrow's leader, the Overseer.

I am sitting at a dinner hosted by Overseer Anlaf of Ravenbarrow, representing my mother among aristocrats who owe their continued prosperity, at least in part, to Sigvor. The conversation is a bore, and I try to at least look engaged.

To spice things up, I ask the oracle if my thief friend, Styrkar, is present at the dinner party.

(Is Styrkar present? I think it's a 50/50 chance, and I roll a result of yes.)

As I am bored out of my mind, I notice a shadow in my peripheral vision. Styrkar's signature spiked dark hair catches my eye as he, dressed as a servant, refills the Overseer's cup with mead. I catch his eye, and he sends a wink my way as he attempts to swipe some silverware.

(Does Styrkar successfully steal the silverware? 50/50 chance, I roll a no; Do the guests notice that he was attempting to steal, rather than just accidentally dropping it? 50/50 chance, I roll a yes. This is about to get spicy.)

The fork clatters to the ground as conversation halts. The attention of everybody in Ravenbarrow with power is on this petty thief. 

The Overseer, a skilled warrior named Anlaf, glares at the rogue. "Styrkar, is that you?"

Styrkar bows his head, remaining silent, and as the silence builds I speak up. "Overseer, if I may be so bold as to speak, Styrkar has obviously made a mistake." The heads of all of the guests swivel towards me. I swallow the lump in my throat, "Perhaps this is an opportunity to rehabilitate this poor fool," I try to say nonchalantly.

[I roll to compel Anlaf and the guests. This roll adds my heart stat, which is 3. On my action die, I roll a 2+3, for a total of 5. On my challenge dice, I roll a 5 and a 2. Since my action die roll is greater than the 2 but not greater than the 5, I score a weak hit. According to the compel move, on a weak hit they'll do what I want but ask something in return.]

Anlaf's glare doesn't leave his face. "Irsia, I know you are... friends with this thief. Normally, in this circumstance, that would be enough to justify throwing you both in the dungeon." Anlaf pauses.

What does Anlaf want in exchange for letting Styrkar leave? (Oracle: Find Structure) Perhaps there is a ruin or something that has been lost to time, that Anlaf wants found.

Anlaf sighs. "However, your mother has done many great services for this community. As such, I will take your suggestion into account, given that you follow in her footsteps."

I nod. "I would be happy to serve Ravenbarrow."

Anlaf offers a small smile, the first of the night. "Good." He turns to one of the guests, the court mystic of Ravenbarrow, aptly named Ingvald the Ancient. "Ingvald, would you mind telling Irsia about your research?"

"Of course, Overseer," Ingvald rasps. "There is a ruin within these mountains, remnants of the Ancient Ones who came before the Firstborn. We believe that there is a trove of information—and treasure—lying in wait."

I perk up at the mention of treasure. Before I can say anything, Anlaf interjects. "You can keep a portion of what you find, and you will receive additional payment upon your return with knowledge of the location."

Ingvald nods. "We do not have the manpower to send scouts searching for where it is, based only on a primordial tablet which mentions that 'the site of power is within the Veiled Mountains, at the joining of the Void Riverside,' and that is unfortunately all we have for you to go off of."

Anlaf's steely gaze pierces my soul. "So, will you do it? Will you find this ruin for the prosperity of Ravenbarrow?"

I touch my pendant, a small iron cylinder covered in ancient runes, and close my eyes. "I swear upon the iron, I will find the ruin of the Ancients at the Void Riverside. I will return the knowledge of its location to Ravenbarrow, along with the treasures and wisdom found within."

Anlaf nods approvingly, before turning to Styrkar. "If you attempt to steal from me again, you'll be put in the stocks for a week."

Styrkar grins. "I promise, you won't catch me trying that again anytime soon."