Setting the Stakes - Florin, Flashbacks and Fiascos

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

I always find it best to ensure that characters have a strong drive to care about the stakes at play. Whether the party is jumping straight into the AP at level 5, or want to elide the travellogue from Grayce to Bastardhall, I think it might be fun to provide an additional element to connect the characters to the fate of Florin, and flesh out the friendship.

The Set Up
When the players wake up groggy in area A1 with only the memory of Florin's spirit being dragged to Bastardhall tell the players that their memory of the intervening journey to Bastardhall is ragged and incomplete. They remember setting out from Grayce, and Florin's abduction but the journey in between seems hazy.

Flashbacks

Any time the players set up camp, or stop to take a long rest they can try to talk to each other to see if they can piece together details of the journey from Grayce to Bastardhall.

Have one player roll on the below table, and ask them to read the scene description and the appropriate skill checks, along with the DC (Easy Medium or Hard) (The DC is based on the DC by Level Table, Easy adjusts DC by -2, while Hard adjusts the DC by +2 . The reader character can call on Florin's help to add a d4 to their check and the GM can narrate how Florin aided them.

The players then narrate from lowest check to highest how they contributed to resolving the event.

Critical Success: As success, and gain a +1 bonus on one Recall Knowledge attempt within the next 24 horus as the discussion jogged your memory.
Success: Gain a hero point.
Failure: No Effect
Critical Failure: Your recollection of failing your friends leaves you nervous take a -1 penalty on your next initiative roll as you become hesitant to act lest you doom your allies again.

1. Crossroads:

I remember we found ourselves at a crossroad with a fallen sign, and we were discussing which was the right direction to travel
DC Easy Checks: Bluff, Survival, Society, Nature, Lore (Ustalav)

2. Night Watch:

I remember we were in a forest, watching for danger because we were being followed by a pack of wolves.
DC Normal Checks: Perception, Intimidate, Survival, Stealth

3. The Local Bullies:

I remember the night we stopped in a tavern, and some local toughs came in, took one look at Florin and thought she was an easy mark.
DC Hard Checks: Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Attack, Lore (Criminal).

4. The Travellers:

Do you remember when the Varisians asked us to camp with them, and we ended up partying like crazy?
DC Easy Checks: Bluff, Fortitude, Thievery, Society, Lore (Games)

5. Stuck in the Mud:

Remember when our cart got stuck in the mud, and we couldn't get the horses moving again?
DC Medium Checks: Athletics, Nature, Thievery, Survival, Lore (Labor)

6. Bandit Encounter:

I think I remember when we had to fight those bandits and their sorcerous leader.
DC Hard Checks: Athletics, Intimidate, Attack, Fortitude, Reflex, Will

Hopefully as your flashbacks build you'll be able to flesh out the character's relationship with Florin a little more, and have your party build a relationship and backstory dynamically through play.

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Feel free to add additional vignettes to add to the table for GMs with larger parties!