First off, I really wasn't sure whether to put this post here, in Advice, or in Homebrew. I decided on here because the largest congregation of CC DMs will see this, I expect. If someone deems my post more appropriate for a different board, please let me know and I will comply.
Here's the rundown of what's happening and what I'm trying to figure out. On July 15th, I'm introducing two friends to Pathfinder for the first time. This session is intended to place them in Ustalav and lead into the next full session of Carrion Crown, in which the party is
In this intro session, the two new players will be in a party of 4 at 6th level. They are planning to be a Druid and an Oracle; the other two players are just one shot characters.
Does anyone have some input or ideas that I could percolate?
So what you're needing is a one-shot adventure leading into the second book?
I might have an idea in the back of the head. can you tell me something about the background story of those characters? the best one shots for such cases are those that use the character's backgrounds
Well... They don't have a backstory as of yet. As far as I know, at least. What's your idea, though? Also, I agree: this kind of session works best if it focuses on the main PC's backgrounds.
it's still in the back of the head and I can't put my finger on it yet. but maybe we can get there step by step.
not having background stories is a pitty though and makes turning that vague idea into aworking story a bit harder.
so, let's see. we know where we want them to be at the end of the session, right? Vorkstag's and Grine's basement. Or at least nearly there, so that the can join the team the next session.
So how do they get there and why?
The why is the bigger problem. Without backstory we have to provide them with motivation. I'd tie it to the trial and the Beast of Leipstadt itself and start from there. But at the moment I don't know how. It has been a couple of moths since I read that book, luckily I have it here. I'll take a look at the plot TotB, maybe I can come up with something fitting for a Druid and an Oracle.
The how is very straightforward once you have the motivation set.
Ah, i knew there was that little village somewhere in there!
Morast!
So, the one shot starts in Morast, which is rural enough for the Druid. A couple of days before a group of strangers came to the village to investigate the boneyard with the village elder called Lazne, the same Lazne who now turns to your new players with a request. A young child from Morast, [insert name here] found something, a couple of hours after the strangers from Lepistadt left: A precious ring that later in the one shot might be traced back to Grine. But not yet, because the child went missing shortly afterwards and that is the hook for your one shot: find the missing child.
He was last seen in the outskirts of the village. Investigating that place will lead to a couple of quick encounters until the scared kid is found and retrieved. The ring should lead the group to Grine somehow, maybe because a name is engraved.
Or, of course, Lazne realizes that the ring might be evidence in the trial and sends the group off to Lepistadt to meet with the strangers that went to the boneyard with him.
The adventure is far from perfect, but it's a possible starting point to work with. And for first-time-players it is straight forward enough
Yeah, that sounds awesome! Thanks!
I did this for the journey from Ravengro to Lepistatd. Don't know if any of it is what you're looking for, but hopefully some of it helps.