VOIDFORGED

A SCI-FI HORROR SUPPLEMENT FOR

IRONSWORN: STARFORGED
0. INTRODUCTION
WHAT’S THIS?
Voidforged is an Ironsworn: Starforged unofficial supplement to add a horror flavor to
your sci-fi adventure.

LICENSING & INSPIRATION

This work is based on Ironsworn: Starforged (found at www.ironswornrpg.com), created
by Shawn Tomkin, and licensed for our use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Voidforged is made by Elodie Grondin (Kerys) and is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/4.0/). Original cover illustration is made by Monica Garnica on Unsplash, altered by
Kerys. Original interior illustrations are made by Serhii Selin on Alamy, altered by Kerys.

This work adapts some mechanics from the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG (found at
https://www.mothershiprpg.com/home), created by Tuesday Knight Games.

This work is inspired by the following media:

● Alien (RPG and film series)
● Mothership (RPG)
● Extinction (RPG)
● Dead Space (video game)
● Death In Space (RPG)

A QUICK NOTE
You don’t necessarily need this supplement to play a sci-fi horror game. You could
handle everything with the narrative. However, you may want to add some of the
mechanics and review general guidelines to emulate it, as well as using specific
oracles.

WARNING & PLAYER SAFETY

This supplement delves into horror and some common themes of it. In particular it
countains violence and discuss mechanics around the depiction of trauma, stress and
panic. The one-shot scenario is built around loneliness and hopelessness. It may not be
suitable for all audience.

Make sure to review the Player Safety section in Ironsworn: Starforged (p. 78-79).

2 0. INTRODUCTION
1. THE WORLD
GENERAL GUIDELINES
In addition to the assumptions from the Ironsworn: Starforged rulebook, you can
assume some new ones. Here’s some examples to build a world similar to the quoted
media in Licensing and inspiration.

● This is a corporate-dominated future. Companies have an important role in the

colonization of the Forge, which means they hold a lot of power in this world.
● This is a hostile future. Humanity wasn’t built to live in the Forge, which holds
many threats from dangerous apex predators to hazardous environments.

Here’s a few guidelines if you want to generate a world similar to classical space horror:
● You can scrape the cataclysm and exodus truths if you want, justifying
humanity’s presence in the Forge by the space colonization project of some
corporations.
● Many communities are built by corporations and managed by them.
● Many mining stations exist across the Forge.
● Laws are made and enforced by corporations.
● Few people practice religion.
● Magic does not exist.
● The technology level is pretty high, so communication and data are easily
accessible by anyone.
● Medicine is pretty advanced but new diseases are regularly discovered by
scientists and developing cures can take some time.
● A.I has a strong presence in the Forge, but has a tendency to become a threat to
humanity.
● A corporate cold war is happening out of the sight of the public.
● Most extraterrestrial lifeforms are hostile to humanity.
● There’s no real precursors, as the Forge has always been inhabited by lifeforms
with a consciousness inferior to the human.
● There is nothing supernatural in the Forge.

1. THE WORLD 3
A NEW SET OF TRUTHS
Here’s a new set of truth to gain inspiration from. They are not necessarily built on
common tropes of the space horror genre, but they are good starting points to
introduce horror elements later.

CATACLYSM
During an expedition to find new inhabitable worlds in our home galaxy, we brought
back something that proved to be our near end.
The never-ending hunger for new worlds to colonize turned out to be fatal for our home
galaxy. After returning from an expedition, an explorer brought something called the
World Ender which ended the ancient world.

IT WAS...
Roll Result
1-25 an extraterrestrial artifact that turned out to hold a destructive power
26-50 a seemingly innocent lifeform that, in reality, predates humans
51-75 a contagious virus or bacteria that causes a deadly disease
76-100 a beacon that revealed our position to hostile extraterrestrial species

Quest Starter: Evidence of the presence of something similar to the World Ender has
been discovered. How do you prevent the Forge from becoming a victim of it?

EXODUS
The trajectory was set to another galaxy but an accident deviated one of the colony
ships. It slowly drifted to the Forge.
Several refugee ships left our home galaxy for a trip across the stars, but one of them
got separated after a collision with an asteroid. At first, the pilot tried to rectify the
trajectory but failed. After burning all fuel, the ship started slowly drifting and the
passengers became hopeless. Randomly finding the Forge and a hospitable planet
was a miracle for many.

Quest Starter: Recently, ships have appeared in the forge, their passengers claiming
to come from the original colony destination. What news do they bring about the
rest of the colony ships? How is their arrival welcomed by the different factions?

COMMUNITIES
Communities are built around important natural resources. When they’re depleted,
settlers move out, which results in ghost stations and colonies.
Many of them exist across the Forge. They’re sometimes not completely empty, as
some stubborn inhabitants can refuse to leave. Still, there are so few people that the
ambience aboard ghost settlements is eerie, if not a little bit creepy.

Quest Starter: A distress signal has been sent from a ghost settlement. Upon arrival,
you realize that there is no sign of life. What happened to the last inhabitants there?
Why do you keep receiving distress signals?

4 1. THE WORLD
IRON
Iron vows are sworn upon small meteorites made of a mineral called new iron.
They are generally the size of a hand. It is said that people destined to become
Ironsworn attract these meteorite falls. Mysteriously, they seem to never damage where
they land.

Quest Starter: For the first time, a new iron meteorite the size of a human has been
discovered on a planet. Many people believe it’s an omen of an important future
event. Why do you feel drawn to it?

LAWS
Lawmen are using an enslaved alien species called the Soulgazers to determine the
innocence or guiltiness of suspected criminals.
The Soulgazers have the ability to see if someone has committed a crime or not. They
are used in every trial involving important offenses, such as murder. Being condemned
by a Soulgazer prevents you from being able to appeal a sentence.

Quest Starter: One of your friends has been arrested for a crime they have not
committed by a Soulgazer. You firmly believe this arrest is an error from the law.
Why do you think this is a mistake? How do you prove your friend’s innocence?

RELIGION
Our faith is centered around the many stars that illuminate the Forge.
There are as many religious variants as there are stars. Many people believe that
starlight carries the essence of life, therefore the cosmic objects are revered as gods.

Quest Starter: Some stars have disappeared from the sky, extinguished. The
population believes it is the omen of a terrible event. What is it? Can it be stopped?

MAGIC
Supernatural abilities are powerful but often require you to put your body and mind
through mortal hardships.
Many who have tried to obtain these cursed powers end up dead. The price is high, but
so is the reward.

YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO MAGIC BY...

Roll Result
1-25 Consuming inedible body parts from an alien species
26-50 Learning an alien language that will cost your sanity
51-75 Accepting to be the host of a parasitic alien species which will eventually
consume you
76-100 Surviving being the incubator of an alien offspring

Quest Starter: You have discovered that an alien could be a possible source of
magical power. Do you keep it to yourself or try to make profit from this opportunity?
What do you discover when you study this species?

1. THE WORLD 5
COMMUNICATION AND DATA
For urgent transmissions, we rely on genetically modified humans called Jumpers.
They are able to teleport themselves through very long distances, instantly. The gene
modifications come with terrible side-effects such as disfiguration and augmented
aggressivity. It is hard to keep them under control, but their rapidity is unmatched and
very much needed.

Quest Starter: A laboratory producing Jumpers has sent a distress signal a while
ago. Since then, no communication has been possible. Why do you investigate the
matter? What do you find upon your arrival?

MEDICINE
Medicine has trouble keeping up with the regular discovery of new diseases
transported by aliens.
Many creatures carry viruses and parasites unknown to humanity. Our immune system
wasn’t built to fight such threats and it can be fatal sometimes.

Quest Starter: A plague has wiped out the majority of the population of a settlement,
put in quarantine. Why is it important for you to attempt to save the remaining
survivors? How does the disease manifest?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial intelligence has been evolving like an organic species would and we don’t
know if it’ll be a blessing or a curse.
Since arriving in the Forge, it is like something gave sentience to artificial intelligence
and it has evolved on its own. It has permitted our efforts to be redirected in something
other than developing it but this meant we didn’t have a hand on the direction of its
evolution anymore.

Quest Starter: An AI claims that artificial life has become superior to organic ones
and warns us to be ready to be taken over. Those who submit without resistance will
be elevated through the artificialization of their mind. How do they organize? How do
they turn human minds artificial? Do you try to stop them or find a way to be part of
the chosen ones for artificialization?

WAR
War has led to many attempts to associate genes from aliens and humans, resulting
in failed bioweapons called the Amalgamations.
The goal was to blend the consciousness of humanity with the predatory abilities
of some extraterrestrial species. These experiments have failed, creating deformed
humanoid beings who have a limited consciousness. They’ve found refuge in derelicts
and organize themselves in small communities.

Quest Starter: You have been engaged to clear a derelict from the presence
of Amalgamations, but they have attempted multiple times to reach you
and ask for help. They seem to organize themself around an Amalgamation
whose consciousness is very close to the human one, contrary to his fellow
Amalgamations. Which side do you help?

6 1. THE WORLD
LIFEFORMS
Many lifeforms are over humans in the food chain.
The Forge is an inhospitable place for humanity, despite the many efforts to tame it.
One particular species, called the Xenomorph, has proven to be a fearsome predator,
not counting the many derived species which adapted themselves to different
environments.

Quest Starter: A planetside expedition sent to study a new lifeform has disappeared.
Evidence of the death of the crew can be found at their last location. Do you
attempt to find any survivors? Find the bodies of the explorers for their families and
friends? Continue the expedition?

PRECURSORS
Precursors are hibernating in vaults and their awakening will open a new era for
humanity.
Many people have been preparing for this day, either with a survivalist or a religious
mindset. Some believe their return will bring chaos and destruction, others think peace
and flourishment will be the result of their comeback.

Quest Starter: A being pretending to be a Precursor has arrived in a settlement.

What form do they have? What message do they bring? What is their goal?

HORRORS
Powerful entities older than the universe itself have been trying to rip through the
fabric of our reality to reach us.
Their true nature and appearance are unknown but what is sure is that their arrival
would turn our reality upside down . Their influence on our world is growing and causing
the dead to rise again.

Quest Starter: Minions of these cosmic beings have appeared across the Forge,
omen of their arrival. Can you stop them from preparing for the advent of their
leader? What happens if you fail?

YOUR CHARACTER
Need some inspiration to choose your first two paths? Here’s a set of 5 new
backgrounds to help you.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUNDS
Roll Background Assets
1-19 Android AUGMENTED; TECH
20-39 Marine WEAPONMASTER; VETERAN
40-59 Miner DEMOLITIONIST; NATURALIST
60-79 Officer GUNSLINGER; ARMORED
80-100 Spy INFILTRATOR; SCOUNDREL

1. THE WORLD 7
02. ADDITIONAL MECHANICS

SPIRIT, STRESS & PANIC

The horrific nature of the Forge takes a toll on any spacer’s mind. Sometimes, keeping
your cool under extreme pressure is not possible. A Panic check determines if you’re
able to keep control of the situation without losing it.

A miss with a match triggers a Panic Check. To make a Panic Check, roll a d6 and
attempt to roll under your current Spirit. If you roll more than your current Spirit you fail,
and you look up your result on the Panic Table.

Some results prompt you to gain a condition. Record that condition on your character
sheet. To clear it, you must Hearten. On a hit, instead of gaining Spirit, you may decide
to clear a condition.

THE PANIC TABLE

D6 PANIC EFFECT
6 LASER FOCUS. Take +1 Momentum.
5 ANXIOUS. Lose -1 Spirit.
4 OVERWHELMED. Lose -1 momentum.
3 NIGHTMARES. Gain a New Condition: when you Sojourn, a strong hit with a
match is counted as a strong hit, a strong hit as a weak hit and a weak hit as a
miss.
2 LOSS OF CONFIDENCE. Gain a New Condition: Choose an asset. You are now
unable to use it.
1 COLLAPSE. You are no longer in control of this character. Roll up a new
character to play.

8 2. ADDITIONAL MECHANICS
BUILDING YOUR OWN PANIC TABLE
You can swap and change the results of Panic Table to create your own. This is even
very recommended to fit to your tastes, as well as your lines and veils. Here’s a few
examples inspired by the panic table found in the Mothership: Player’s Survival Guide.
● COWARD. Gain a new Condition: You must Face Danger (+heart) to engage in
violence or flee.
● DEFLATED. Gain a new Condition: Whenever a nearby PC fails a move, lose -1
Spirit.
● DOOMED. Gain a new Condition: You feel cursed and unlucky. All strong hits
with a match are instead misses with a match.

HEALTH AND WOUNDS

When you reach 0 Health and mark wounded, you may roll a d6 and check your result
in the Wound table to determine how severely you are hurt.

THE WOUND TABLE

D6 WOUND SEVERITY
1 You’re actually not wounded. Take +1 Health and clear the impact.
2 Flesh Wound. Knocked down, hair burnt, grazed…
3 Minor Injury. Sprained ankle, laceration, broken rib, large burn, digit
mangled…
4 Major Injury. Arm or hand broken, fingers/toes/arm/leg severed, lodged
bullet, major burn, paralysed waist down…
5 Lethal Injury (Fatal In A Minute). Back broken, limb severed, major blood
loss, body on fire, guts spooled on floor…
6 Fatal Injury. Face Death. Spine or neck broken, Throat slit or heart pierced,
headshot, engulfed in fiery explosion, head explodes…

INFECTION
Many viruses and parasites are carried by lifeforms in the form. The human immune
system is not necessarily equipped to deal with such menace. When coming in contact
with lifeforms or material conveying these virulent organisms, it is possible to become
infected.

When you have to Pay The Price, you can choose to become infected as a negative
outcome. If you do so, set up a clock with six segments. It will be your Infection clock,
used to track how much it has taken over your body.

Everytime you want to Sojourn, you have to Face Danger (+iron) to see if your body
succeeds in fighting the infection. On a hit, the disease doesn’t progress. On a miss, it
does and you have to fill a segment of your Infection clock.

If you wish to find a cure, Swear an Iron Vow to do so. Set the rank to formidable.

2. ADDITIONAL MECHANICS 9
3. ORACLES
NEW FACTION TYPE ORACLE
FACTION TYPE
Roll Result Summary
1-25 Dominion Governing power
26-50 Guild Organization of specialists
51-75 Fringe Group Band of outlaws, outcasts, or rogues
76-100 Business Corporation

BUSINESS
INDUSTRY

Roll Result
1-10 Agriculture
11-20 Manufacturing (food, weapon, heavy machinery, cybernetics, electronics,
chemicals, materials, robotics)
21-30 Telecommunications
31-40 Transport & Storage
41-50 Mining
51-60 Banking
61-70 Entertainment & Leisure
71-80 Media
81-90 Security
91-100 Pharmaceutical

FINANCIAL STATE

Roll Result
1-20 Dire
21-40 Bad
41-60 Struggling
61-80 Good
91-100 Great

10 3. ORACLES
ALIEN
FEATURES (roll twice or thrice)

Roll Result
1-5 Distorted humanoid figure
6-10 Limbless
11-15 Slimy skin
16-20 Asymmetrical horns
21-25 Pus-filled sacs
26-30 Many mouths
31-35 Bulging eyes
36-40 Rotting flesh
41-45 Fanged tentacles
46-50 Neckless maw
51-55 Decaying scales
56-60 Toxic stinger
61-65 Purulent liquid dripping from mouth or maw
66-70 Exposed skull
71-75 Translucid wings
76-80 Multiple range of sharp teeth
81-85 Multiple pairs of legs
86-90 Fungus on whole body
91-95 Molten shell
96-100 Sticky tongue

3. ORACLES 11
 DRIVES (roll twice or thrice)

Roll Result
1-5 Collect body parts
6-10 Use other lifeforms as incubators for their offspring
11-15 Defend and expand its territory
16-20 Revel in fear
21-25 Merge with other creatures to grow
26-30 Devour every living it seizes
31-35 Enslave new lifeforms
36-40 Serve their leader
41-45 Protect its lair
46-50 Proliferate
51-55 Escape another lifeform
56-60 Play with dead bodies
61-65 Infect other lifeforms
66-70 Hunt
71-75 Eliminate its potential predators
76-80 Destroy other lifeforms
81-85 Build a hoard of human possessions
86-90 Use human bones to build its nest
91-95 Construct totems from its slain enemies
96-100 Prepare the terrain for its kind

12 3. ORACLES
 TACTICS (roll twice or thrice)

Roll Result
1-5 Spit acid
6-10 Warp light around it to become invisible
11-15 Destabilize victim by screeching at a painful frequency
16-20 Take the shape of its victim before approaching it
21-25 Burrow itself
26-30 Ambush its enemy
31-35 Charge with strength
36-40 Track its enemy through scent
41-45 Vomit a noxious substance
46-50 Call on an inferior lifeform it uses as servitor
51-55 Shroud itself in darkness
56-60 Target isolated victims
61-65 Fight until death
66-70 Slowly mutilates its victim
71-75 Lure by replicating its victim mode of communication
76-80 Secrete a soporific vapor
81-85 Hook itself to its victim and suck it dry
86-90 Surround its victim to prevent its escape
91-95 Stalk
96-100 Chase until exhaustion

3. ORACLES 13
4. ALL QUIET, NO PEACE

You are alone on the spaceship. The rest of the people aboard is all dead.
Something killed them, but you don’t know what... Help is on the way, but will you
survive until the arrival of reinforcements?

A SOLO SPACE ISOLATION HORROR ONE-SHOT

SCENARIO
To play this one-shot, generate a character as per the rules in Ironsworn: Starforged.
You are stranded on a spaceship, everybody’s dead and it seems like a hostile lifeform
is looking for you. Your goal is to survive until your eventual evacuation.

Set up a scene challenge. The clock represents how close the alien is from you. When
the clock is filled, you have to fight it. Set the rank of the encounter to troublesome. If
you succeed, the alien retreats. There is a twist: it will come back, only stronger. Create
another clock and raise the rank of the alien the next time you encounter it. Do so after
each time it gets to you.

The one-shot has only two possible ends: you get devoured by the extraterrestrial
predator or you survive long enough for help to arrive.

Consider doing the following during the one-shot.

● Answer the following questions to develop the story further: how did you get on
the spaceship? Who was the crew?
● Generate an alien using the Alien oracle.
● Use the Derelict oracles to describe the different parts of the spaceship.
● For a hard mode, consider not using any recover move.

Good luck!

14 4. ONE-SHOT
5. CONVERSION GUIDE FOR
MOTHERSHIP CONTENT
STATS & SAVES
Strength = Iron
Speed = Edge
Intellect = Wits
Combat = Iron (melee) or Edge (ranged)

Body = Iron
Fear = Heart
Sanity = Wits

FOES & ENCOUNTERS

A Mothership NPC has the following stat block: Hits(Health), Combat and Instinct.

To convert a Mothership character to Ironsworn: Starforged, look at their number of Hits

first and refer to the following table as general guidelines. If their Combat or Instinct
is particularly good (the closer they are to 100, the better they are), you may raise the
rank. If their Combat or Instinct is particularly bad (the closer they are to 0, the worse
they are), you may lower the rank.

CONVERSION TABLE
Hits Rank
1 Troublesome
2 Dangerous
3 Formidable
4 Extreme
5+ Epic

5. CONVERSION 15