This will be the final chapter in my Sworn by Ghostlight series. The original, Ebon Wood Effigies, and the sequel, Wings of Rot, were based on my playthrough of Yuigaron’s amazing one-page games. The end of Wings of Rot was based on information Yuigaron had given me about their plans for the next case. Sadly, that case never materialized. I decided that I would use Starforged and play the last of the trilogy without the aid of an SbG game.
I am using the Starforged reference guide, Sundered Isles oracles, and Starsmith by Eric Bright.
Selma Belright, Occult Detective
Personal Case Journal
2 August, 1937
1015
The Path, Grave Hill CatacombsThe narrow, skull lined corridor sloped deeper into the earth as we walked single file, with Hunter in the lead. The torchlight flickered over the dirt-caked skulls, casting deep shadows beneath hollow eyes that made the already unsettling surroundings seem alive and angry. There was no way to tell how much time had passed since we started down the Path, but eventually the incline leveled out and the tunnel widened to a small chamber. The Path continued straight ahead into the gloom.
“What’s this?” Hunter said quietly.
“Looks like a vine. Careful, those thorns look like they might hurt.”
“Not the vine, ghosthunter,” he said, offering me a small smile. The orange glow of the torch turned the kind gesture menacing. “Look here.”
Hunter brushed aside the vines, using his leather covered forearm to ward off the razor sharp thorns, to reveal another passage. This one was somehow narrower than the one they had used so far, but smooth sided as if meticulously carved out. Something sparkled in the darkness ahead.
“Do you see that?” Hunter asked, extending the torch further into the crevice. “There’s something back there.”
“Some kind of metallic object, I think.”
“We could see where this passage goes. It was hidden for a reason, after all.”
“Perhaps.”
Undertake an Expedition: 5 (+4 wits) vs 3 | 8 = weak hit (Peril at Waypoint)Expedition - The Path (Troublesome): 3/10 progressAsk the Oracle: Is the peril the Riven? 50/50 = 77, no
Descriptor: 70, obscured
Focus: 77, shortcut
Ruin Peril (Sundered Isles): 49, improvised booby trap
Trap Trigger (Lodestone v2): 54, lure
Trap Component (Lodestone v2): 24, fallHunter started to move into the passage, but I grabbed his arm to stop him. Something about the tunnel struck me as wrong. His questioning eyes locked with mine and I almost pushed aside my misgivings, trusting him to know what to do in situations like this. Almost.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Something about this feels wrong. Remember what the Matron said about not seeking the treasures of old?”
“Right. I wouldn’t have considered whatever that is a treasure but maybe you’re right.”
“Point the torch toward the ground,” I requested on a hunch.
Hunter did as I asked. There was nothing to see but dirt-strewn stone for the first few feet. Hunter stepped inside and stretched his arm to its limit, revealing an unfathomable darkness where the floor should have been.
“Looks like you were right, ghosthunter,” he said, stepping back into the corridor. “We should keep an eye out for other shiny objects, and watch our steps carefully when they are near.”
“Good idea. Shall we continue?”
Face Danger: 10 (+4 wits) vs 3 | 6 = strong hitThe skull-lined Path began its descent once again, leading us deeper into the earth and, hopefully, closer to the resting place of the portal stone. The oppressive atmosphere was rapidly eroding my confidence in this pursuit, but it was my only lead. If there was a way to access the time before the Crack, it’d be this stone.
“What do you think the chances are of us finding this stone?” I asked.
“The Matron said it's down here, so it must be. I don’t think she’d lie to us, though I couldn’t tell you why I have that impression. Whether or not it’ll be the key that you hope, I can’t say.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, Selma. No need to undermine our efforts before we know the facts. You’d think a detective would know that.”
He offered me a smile over his shoulder, taking the sting out of his criticism. I didn’t think he was being critical, knowing Julian as well as I do, but the smile sent a warmth flowing out from my chest that helped more than he could ever have guessed. A flickering image ghosted across the path in front of us, taking my focus from Hunter’s grin.
I watched as three figures hurried down the corridor with a slab of gray granite held between them. A woman with raven hair flowing like tendrils of shadow in her wake led them, her billowing white gown a stark contrast to the gray-dark of the Path. One of the figures carrying the slab bore a striking resemblance to Detective Remus, but I pushed that thought away. It was impossible, anyway. Two hunched figures with pointed ears atop angular heads stalked after them, bone-tipped spears in their wrinkly, fleshy hands. Whip-like tails lashed the air as they made their way after the fleeing people.
I watched as the pursuers caught up with their prey and a battle broke out. Two of the three figures carrying the stone slab kept going, racing past the woman in white and disappearing into the gloom. The third figure, a gray-skinned ghoul with a familiar face, drew twin knives and engaged the rat-like humanoids. The flash of iron and the clamor of blows echoed in the tunnel as Gannis ducked and parried blows from the crude spears. One spearhead drove its way behind his guard, digging into the flesh beneath his bare breast. Gannis screamed and slashed one of his foes across the throat. The wound must have been superficial because both rat men pressed their attack. Suddenly a blinding orb of light grew in the hand of the woman, and lashed out at the attackers with a blast of pulsing energy. The radiance slammed into one of the attackers, sending it flying into the darkness. Gannis finished the other with his whirling knives, and slumped to the ground. The vision faded as the woman in white crouched beside the wounded ghoul and pressed her hands to his wound. The flash of white energy from her hands wiped the vision from my eyes, and I found myself being gently shaken.
“Ghosthunter,” he whispered frantically. “Selma! Are you ok? Say something!”
“Huh? Oh, Julian, it's you.”
“Who else would it be?” Julian’s eyes were filled with concern.
“What happened, Selma? You looked about to say something, then froze still as a statue.”
“I…I think I had a vision.”
I explained what I had seen in the vision, and how the woman in white seemed to radiate power and presence. The thought occurred to me as I recounted the vision that the woman’s aura reminded me of the Matron, but even more unsettling was how much she reminded me of Julian. They had the same nose, and their eyes were similarly shaped with the same intense gaze. I didn’t mention the latter observation to Julian.
“The way you describe her power reminds me of the ghostlight phenomenon you conjured against that demon.”
“Do you think the Matron is ghostbranded?”
“Possibly, but I doubt she’d submit to a physical examination.”
“No, I suspect not. There’s something more going on here than I can put my finger on. I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something important.”
“You’ll get to the bottom of it, Selma,” Hunter said with a warmth to his voice I haven’t often experienced. “There’s no one better for the task.”
His fingers brushed the back of my hand, sending electricity skipping across my skin and warming my vision-chilled body rapidly. My breath caught in my throat, and I must have gasped because he gave me an odd look before.
“The—the stone shouldn’t be too far now. If the vision is accurate it should be somewhere just beyond that corner.”
Undertake an Expedition: 6 (+4 wits) vs 2 | 10 = weak hit (-1 Momentum; -1 Spirit)
Momentum = +7/10
Spirit = +4/5Expedition - The Path (Troublesome): 6/10 progressDescriptor: 95, volatile (Starsmith)
Focus: 61, parallel world (Starmith) → translated to “vision”We turned the corner and followed the passage ahead until it ended abruptly in a wall of carved stone. A dragon was etched into the rock, its snout pointing to the right. Hunter picked up on the symbol’s purpose a second before I did and turned the torch to the right. The light revealed an incredibly narrow opening, barely wide enough for us to side-step our way through. I went first, holding the torch so that Hunter could have hands free to work his broader frame through the crack.
When I wiggled free of the crevice, my eyes struggled to process what I saw. A large, shadowy form wrapped itself around the granite headstone that I saw the ghouls carrying in my vision. The massive shape heaved a deep breath, and two gem-like eyes fluttered open.
“Ah, you have come at last, Ancient One, Ghostbranded.”
Finish an Expedition: 6 progress vs 3 | 3 = strong hit w/ matchInvestigation — Mystery of Grave Hill (Formidable): 5/10 progress
Great story and I love your format. Well done
I really like how you are sharing the rolls and the oracles. As someone who is intrigued by solo play and wanting to make a go of it, you really 'show your work,' helping a newb see how these tools might be flehsed out into an interesting narrative with unexpected turns.