A RPG group meeting, some planning sessions and a character creation session finally culminated in beginning the game last night. I think the first session went really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I hope the rest of the sessions continue on like this.
It's the first game I have run in quite a while without using published materials. It's kind of weird but it actually feels like it is less work to plan a game on your own. I didn't have to read and familiarize myself with an entire adventure before first session. Just a basic overarching shape, a few initial encounters and knowing how NPCs would act and it all fell together nicely. I think because of this it feels a lot less rail-roady. The players were very active and recognized obvious hooks so were cooperative with getting everything off the ground, but there wasn't really any 'I do this cause it's obviously an adventure.'
Player breakdown goes like this;
Matt- Durgan 'Oddnoggin' Stoneskull, Dwarven cleric of the drunken God. Played as an inquisitive energetic Dwarf that celebrates the finer things in life (the major part of the drunken God's ethos)
Dana- Pyotr Burmond, Human rogue. Played somewhat dour and stoic. Immediately interested in helping others despite wrestling with some inner demons.
Thomas- Wilks Greenriver, Human Druid. Played as a traveler and beneficent guardian of Nature.
James- Kreigen Brightmoon, Human Barbarian. Played as a bombastic outgoing rough around the edges adventurer.
Liz- Kahina Star-song, Human Sorcerer. Played as an aspiring Pathfinder member, looking to prove herself and advance within the organization.
Kurt- Arfelith, Elven Wizard. Played as a traveler trying to find his place while helping others.
Jason- Ivan of the clan Hurt, Dwarven Ranger. Jason, unfortunately, was unable to make first session.
It is definitely a lot of players but we have a pretty tight-knit RPG group here in Kona so pairing any players off means someone doesn't get to play any games. We agreed on some basic table rules though so it doesn't seem at all unmanageable (no phones or distractions at the table, keep side chatter to a minimum, players as well as the DM policing tangents, etc.)
The first session opened with everyone arriving in Sandpoint one way or another. Arefelith and Pyotr by caravan from the south, Kreigen and Durgan walking in from the north carrying disturbing news, Kahina having recently moved to Sandpoint and joined the Pathfinders there. Wilks was roaming the wilderness outside of Sandpoint and would come across the group mid-day.
Pyotr and Arfelith's caravan had heard reports of theft from Caravans approaching from the South but encountered no troubles in their own travels. Kahina noticed that the Pathfinder guild leader, Brand, had been agitated recently so was expecting that something would go down soon. Arfelith met with an acquaintance in the city, Arvus Whitebeard, and was asked by him to catch up with a merchant that had left the city previously and double check if the merchant had received his goods (Arvus seems to have either misplaced them or sold them and forgot about it)
Ivan, Kreigen and Durgan, however, came across a grisly scene on their way to Sandpoint. A wrecked cart, badly lacerated horses and a mutilated pile of corpses. Ivan rushed to nearby Windsong Abbey to inform them of the scene while Kreigen and Durgan continued on to warn Sandpoint. Informing the sheriff, a man named Hemlock, they agreed to be deputized and reconnoitre the scene in exchange for room and board while in Sandpoint. Checking in and fueling up at an inn in town they came across Pyotr and Kahina discussing the state of things in Sandpoint and the Pathfinder guild there. Overhearing each other's conversations and realizing a mutual purpose, the four decided to team up and investigate. Shortly after Arfelith, on recommendation from Sheriff Hemlock, approaches them in the inn about traveling together for safety.
The group sets out from Sandpoint, travels north and encounters Wilks on the way there. Wilks noticed the disturbance in the area and decides to travel with them.
They return to the scene of the carnage and notice a bit of a pall over the area, the bodies decaying rapidly. Physical examination implies torture and robbery while a faint aura of illusion is noticed by Arfelith. The bodies are buried and set to rest by Durgan (a prayer and the sprinkling of ceremonial beer) and Wilks (the planting of a sacred seed) which lifts the pall. The party follows a faint trail further into the wilderness and encounter discarded bits of food and ratty disgusting clothing. Pursuing the trail they make camp at dusk and are ambushed by a small party of goblins. Dispatching them without too much difficulty they come to the conclusion that it was a raiding party and that at least some of them had taken part in the cart massacre (2 of the goblins were wearing human sized silk clothing)
The bodies were hastily disposed of and session one ended.
