Session 0

Session 0 - 10/22/2021

This session covered some world building and character creation.  We also went over basic campaign concepts and guidelines (they're also in the player guide).  In short:

• We are not using the flanking rule
• Expect encounters to be difficult
• XP rewarded will generally be doubled
• You'll have two characters, though you'll only play one at a time.  When your active character gains XP, you can also apply 1/2 of that XP to your inactive character (in addition.  So if you get 100 XP, your active character will receive 100 and your inactive will receive 50)
• All races are allowed except those indicated in the player guide
• Players will control their own organization.  (In our case, we chose a trading company)

Characters:

• Randy: Goliath Barbarian & Tabaxi Monk.  Both characters fought in the conflict (that saw the western half of the empire fall apart into individual nations).  After the war, they were separated until they met up again traveling to the players' home town - which they heard was in better shape than most of the western nations.
• Diego: Dwarf Paladin & High Elf Rogue.  The relationship between them is like Pinky & the Brain.  The elf is able to put food on the table, and the dwarf is dependent.
• Lorenzo: Gnome Artificer & Harengon Bard.  The two were a traveling duo putting on show and spectacle for towns they visited.  The bard supplied the gnome with his pyro goods.  When one was conscripted to fight against the empire, the other came.
• Cat: Harengon Wizard & Human Fighter.  The human is a minor noble who found a small rabbit.  He/she took care of it as though it were a pet until the Harengon got older and the human realized it was sentient.  There is some resentment on the Harengon's side, but they have remained friends.
• Mike: ?

Plot & Lore established - as decided by the players

• The players chose to run a trading company called Ichthys.  Its campus is in a town they reside in, which they named Hare Nostrum
  • The company deals in day-to-day basic supplies, and has flourished now that the western half of the empire has splintered and no longer able to provide everything they need on their own
• The current emperor - Marcus Vestilia II - decreed that he was a god & equal amongst the pantheon of gods.
  • At the same time, a series of natural disasters struck the western half of the empire.  This caused structures to be damaged, roads ruined and crops to fail. 
    • These disasters were largely seen as punishment from the gods as a result of the emperor's decree.  It was especially a bitter time, as the eastern half of the empire was not experiencing the same issue.
• The combination of the unpopular decree and natural disasters led to a near overnight revolt across all of the western empire.  Given the overwhelming uprising and lack of resources due to the disasters, the imperial armies were forced to withdraw to the east
• After the war, a rival nation emerged which has caused the player's city & company (Mare Nostrum & Ichthys) problems.  Fiercely anti-imperial, they have begun harassing Ichthys' trading caravans due to the company's willingness to trade with anyone, even the empire.

Player's Town: Mare Nostrum
Player's Company: Ichthys
Rival nation: Tumulta