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So I love character backgrounds and backstory and lucky for me at least 3 out of my 7 players do as well. Sadly even though I have asked for a write up from each concerning their tie in with the Good Professor Lorrimor, I have not gotten it, nor character sheets or min stats and other things a DM likes to have so we can speed up game start and make combat quicker.
So anyway, I wrote a pre into for the party as I was not real happy with just saying "OK... you all start here and this is what is up"
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Your trip to Ravengro has been an uneventful one as you have traveled a long time over many dusty roads and made many stops along the way to Ravengro to attend the funeral of Professor Petros Lorrimor. You know little as to why you where called accept that your friend has died suddenly and his daughter as sent you a letter requesting you to come to his funeral and the reading of his Last Will and Testament.
For most of the travels the weather was seasonal until you came to the borders of Ustalav and then the weather seemed to grow darker and more unsettled and matching the mood. Fog and rain seem to have been a common theme and making the roads sloppy and slow with mud. You have hoped you where not late to your friends funeral.
On your travels you have heard tales that Ravengro lies in the county of Canterwall. It is said that Canterwall is the bread basket of Ustalav growing more than half the crops that feed the country. The land has defended the border with Balkzen and more recently the haunted mountains of Virlych. In past years however, several hamlets in Canterwall have been deserted without explanation, the people seemingly swallowed up by the mists. You have heard that Canterwall itself is ruled over by nine council members that overseas their homeland administration, and that in Marian Leigh women outnumber the men 10 to 1. Rumor has it that something worse than ghosts haunts the Saffron house.
As you near the Cemetary of Ravengro, you notice the weather has relented only slightly giving a very dark overcast feeling with little sky and sunlight showing through, but at least it is not raining.
You have had no chance to change into other clothing, other than the clothing and armor that you have traveled in these many long days and weeks. But your mind is digging at you on why you where mentioned in the will.
As you approach the cemetery you see a few others waiting to start as well as, a young woman dressed in black who looks rather sad, and by a good guess you know this to be Kendra Lorrimor. Along with her are three other gentleman, one who is well dressed, rather squat and rotund with many rolls of fat about his face and chin, the other also stout standing over 6 feet tall with broad shoulders, a large round nose and a handlebar mustache. The last being tall and slim and a bit older looking than the other two and by guess in his late 50's with grey hair with what is left. A woman in her late 40's by guess with her hair piled high on top of her head and rather astute looking but dressed rather plain in a solemn black dress. And lastly a young boy in his early teens, with his slicked back hair.
You can see resting in a cart drawn by a rather old looking horse a coffin that to most is rather plain, but to you seems ornate and worth while for your old friend. From the looks of everyone, especially the younger woman, they are all somber looking and seem to be waiting for you to finally arrive to lay to rest a man you once knew and had become friends with in your own way.
You have come to Ravengro on the 13th day of Pharast 4711 nearing the hour of 5:30 PM as the sun is just ending it's last rays of the day, and by the time it sets the last rays will have vanished for the day and your friend will be a his final rest
You mind still wonders as to why he might have mentioned you in his Last Will and Testament, for it has been many years since last you saw him. But alas as you approach the opening to the cemetery you can see a few other arriving as well, and you can only guess, that these other's where friends with him as well. And maybe after all is done, you might share a drink and a tale of how you came to know the Good Professor
Lorrimor
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One of my characters responded with this
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Raenulf slowly walked up the overgrown cart track towards the assembled mourners. He silently thanked Gorum the sky was overcast today. It would be disrespectful to wear his hood up to shield his sensitive eyes. His lips suddenly twisted into a small wry grin at the absurd thought. As if Gorum would actually care about his comfort. A pebble from the road worked its way through the hole in his boot moments later as if to drive that point home.
The graveyard looked just like many others he had seen in towns throughout Ustalev. Dour and lasting. Just like the people buried there. Dark gray stones stuck up from weed choked earth, like some grim forest, punctuated by the occasional marble marker to proclaim that someone was still important even in death. Raenulf knew the danger of such boastful gestures. He knew well the lure of wanting lasting fame, the promise of immortality in legend which could drive a person to become a monster. Evil and twisted like his father.
The professor knew those things as well. He had no illusions of grandeur even as his fame grew during his lifetime. He never let it go to his head, at least not that Raenulf had ever seen. In fact the good professor taught him that achievements were to be savored in the moment and then let go. Wisdom was the true payment for a man's works, not fame.
Raenulf could picture the professor's face even now, his eyes sparkling with mirth in the firelight as he shared wisdom, stories and laughter during their brief work together. An ache seized his chest at the thought that he would never have that opportunity again.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself and nodded somberly and respectfully to those gathered around the professors coffin. For once he was grateful for his disguise, hiding the depth of his grief over one of the precious few people whom he never needed it for.
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One thing this player who is also our DM for SS is if a character takes time to write a good back story we issue a few XP and possible HP. We also both will give a few XP for journeling the adventure since in our group no one but three of us will do that including track treasure found. We hope this gives insentives to others to at least put forth some effort and make characters more real instead of cookie cutter.
Sadly ouf the 7 players 2 never even put forth even a mental background, the other 2 at least do that.
Oh and we start playing Saturday after we finish book 2 of SS
I like your intro a lot. I was planning on starting the adventure with the players holding the coffin at the start of the funeral, in order to avoid delays in town, etc., but your approach seems even better because it gives the back story but still gets the action started right away.
I totally sympathize with having unevenly responsive players. I've asked each for a detailed backstory and promised 1 HP to those who provide it, but I'm still concerned I won't get it from everyone in time for me to customize certain details like I would like to.
Thanks so much for sharing your intro.
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I like your intro a lot. I was planning on starting the adventure with the players holding the coffin at the start of the funeral, in order to avoid delays in town, etc., but your approach seems even better because it gives the back story but still gets the action started right away.
I totally sympathize with having unevenly responsive players. I've asked each for a detailed backstory and promised 1 HP to those who provide it, but I'm still concerned I won't get it from everyone in time for me to customize certain details like I would like to.
Thanks so much for sharing your intro.
It makes it fustrating when you have players who give it there all, and then others who do nothing. And it's funny the one's that give it their all in my group work 40+ hours a week, and those that do not are either unemplyed or are part time college students
I've pretty much decided that if they cannot give me tie ins, they are not mentioned in the Will and thus will forgo the rewards.
I look forward to the game and the journels I know 1 of the players will keep.
Glad you like the intro. To me the start of the adventure just seemed blaaaah and needed a bit more. But then again what DM doesn't do that to canned adventures.
This is the first canned adventure/campaign I have run in over 20 years. All the other times I did all my own, but my time and desire to do that is getting less and less.