Pilgrimage of the Sun Guard - Journaling One-Shot
Alright, and a big welcome back to me after a nice, sunny holiday. I do love lounging by the pool, but it's good to get back to the blog. I'll be playing a one-shot of a game I've heard great things about and have wanted to play but haven't had the chance.
Pilgrimage of the Sun Guard is a solo journaling RPG by Amanda P. Pilgrimage is about going on quests and achieving lofty deeds. It's also about learning from mistakes and not sinking into despair. We will see if I achieve those goals!
Check it out on DriveThru here
Now, with character creation, I need to pick a person to be. I'll make it random as I like to do. There are four options, so I'll roll a D4. I get a 1, so I'll be an Apprentice!
Code: To prove myself to others through great deeds.
Traits: Eager, curious, and immature (that will be hard to roleplay, haha!).
Cherished Item: Something handmade, let's say a wooden horse.
Now I'll roll 2d6 and split those amongst my stats of Might, Guile, and Honour. I get a 7 and split them up as below. I feel this character is honorable but not very strong. Time starts with 6 units.
Might: 1
Guile: 2
Honour: 4
Time: 6
Now, some character-building prompts. These are random.
Why did your character join the Sun Guard? Educational pursuits reasons, let's say to further their education in technology.
What do they look like? Fresh as new snow.
What is their greatest gift? Agile, swift of feet.
What do they wish for under the stars? To keep a great love. Interesting.
Their name will be Mirabel the Uncouth. How'd they get that name, I wonder?
Alright, let's start the game!
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The messenger has come. The signs are here.
The clear voice of the Swordsaint Azor sings out as his blade presses heavily down on my shoulder.
It is time to reclaim the ancient rite of the Sun Guard, to pilgrimage to our ancient shrine in the Frost Cliffs, to declare the Deeds done in the light of Sun.
I take a deep breath. It is time to leave this place and take up my own journey in the name of the Sun Guard.
Go. Ride the ancient roads. Do right by all you meet, be valiant, be true. Hold to your code!
The holy oil anoints my forehead as the Swordswait declares in song the visions and signs for my journey.
I see strengthening and girding, and I see Petal dancing.
What do they mean? I may never know, but I will keep aware of my travels for any clues to what they mean. The deed is done, everything is ready, and I now must travel the roads in search of my own deeds. Many felt that I wasn't old enough to take up the trip, but I will prove them all wrong.
The Desert
The desert lies before you and across the edges of your memory, the wind, sand, and heat consuming your thoughts. You remember your last crossing, the grit and danger, and steel yourself.
Mark 1 time.
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| Photo by Juli Kosolapova on Unsplash |
Now it is time to roll on the prompts and see what Mirabel comes across.
Howling on the horizon…
The desert trip is one of repetition. There is nothing along the road but sand and a few sad trees. There is life here, if you look for it. Lizards that are as quick as lightning, hawks that fly far above, and the coyote, the most clever of the creatures of the desert.
I have been followed for two days now by this coyote. They look to be hungry, and it seems to be more and more brave when approaching. I am afraid I will have to fight the poor thing off sooner than later.
But one night, by my meager campfire, I decide on a different path. I lay out some of my provisions and put them by the fire. The coyote is suspicious at first, but eventually, hunger gets the better of it, and it comes to eat.
After it has eaten, I swear to the gods it bowed to me, in a coyote sort of way. I am now a friend of the coyotes, I guess.
Spend a resource - 1 Honour.
Deed Gained: Friend to the Coyotes.
You awaken to rustling and curses…
I can see the end of the desert and the great forests beyond. Just one more day's travel for me, and I'll be there. I rest for the night and prepare myself for the final push out of these blasted lands.
As I lay sleeping, I hear rustling and cursing. I wake up and see a thin and gaunt man going through my bags. He stops when he sees I've awakened.
"P-p-p-please… I'm so hungry and thirsty. I have not eaten in days, and water is so scarce. I am not dishonorable, but am too desperate and feared you'd say no to my pleas."
I consider this for a moment and say to the man, "My friend, for you are my friend. Just ask, and you shall receive. Please take what you need from my bag and go in peace. Next time you come across a traveler, ask them before taking from them."
The man breaks down into tears and thanks me a hundred times.
Spend a resource - 1 Honour.
Deed Gained: Friend to all that need.
Under the Shadowy Pines
The air is clean and smells of sap. Drips of yesterday's rainfall fall slowly down onto my head from the trees. The sun seems far away now through the tightly woven boughs.
Ah, the forest! Such a more hospitable place than the desert. My journey progresses, day by day and foot by foot.
Mark 1 Time.
The trees stand proud…
The forest is so thick I cannot see the sun at all. It is easy to get lost, and surely I become mixed up. The trails look the same, dark, overgrown, twisted. Am I going in the right direction, or will I be lost forever, my quest failing?
Then I see it. The most majestic thing I've ever seen! The Stag King itself. Antlers wide and broad, filled with flowers and twinkling stars. I immediately bow to him, so I have heard stories of his generosity and this wrath. He looks down at me, wanting. What can I do to appease this nobility of the forest?
The first idea that comes to me is silly, but something tells me to do it. I take out some items from my pack and start to juggle. A simple trick for children that my father taught me. I normally can only juggle four things, but in the presence of the Stag King, I can do 6 then 8 then 10! It is as if the magic of the forest propels me to greater things.
After the king bows his head to me just slightly and walks off, before me, I see the forest path open, and I can see the way out! I have been blessed.
Spend 2 Guile.
Deed Gained: Stag King's jester.
Speed to the next location.
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Ending Stats:
Might: 1/1
Guile: 0/2
Honour: 2/4
Time: 4/6
Deeds: Friend to the coyotes - Friend to all that need - Stag King's jester.
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Well that’s it for this week. I really like Pilgrimage of the Sun Guard and perhaps I’ll get a chance to continue my play along. But it’s been a busy week here! Next week will be the conclusion of my Ironsworn short campaign using Order of the Falcon!
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Check out Queenless today - Bee the hero you always were meant to be.
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