Written by Peter Weilnböck
Published on: 2023-04-22
Some background information and introduction of the characters, generated in session 0
I recently managed to gather enough potentially interested people to form another table top role playing group. Two of the players are completely new to ttrpgs, one has some experience, and one plays more or less regularly for over five years.
At the first meeting, not yet with the full complement, the choice of system fell on Forbidden Lands.
This suits me just fine, since, while interested, I never had the chance of trying it out so far. The setting is a bit darker than what I usually run, and I am also used to using prepared adventures. The randomized approach of Forbidden Lands does look intriguing, though a bit daunting as well.
Yesterday evening we met for session 0, including generating the characters. We decided to use the alternative option from the “Legends & Adventeurers” booklet, because it provides some basic backstory automatically. With all of us being new to the setting, this seemed like a good idea. It was interesting to see the various approaches of generating with those tables - from simply rolling everything to carefully weighing and choosing each option.
The inspiration provided by those random tables also made sure that we ended up with a rather colourful group. My plan is to log the (mis-)adventures here, inspired by the way my last GM does it on his Blog.
So, without further ado, those are the results of our session 0:
The orc grew up as a brigand in the Arina forest. However hard this life was, Hröd was kissed by a muse and could not help becoming a minstrel. But also his life as minstrel was not without conflict. One of his most formative experiences was, when he had to duel a rival. After loosing the duel Hröd decided to leave the forest and finding his luck elsewhere.
The halfling was born in the Moldena plains. But he did not see much of it, since he spent almost his entire childhood in the kitchen. However, when the time came to stand on his own feet, he felt that beeing a peddler was a more efficient way to get to other people’s money than to cook for them. And so he decided to join a caravan to get filthy rich.
The goblin grew up as a wanderer in the Shroud. Never having a fixed place to live and her life of travelling caused her to form a deeper bond with her mount, a wolf called Groms, than most and she became a rider. But even after her childhood the lands called, and she continued to travel the land on her own.
Growing up as a acrobat on the edges of the Arina forest trained the half-elf Viverva to become nimble and agile. Having a devious streak they decided that property is more of a fluid concept, and they became a rogue. However, at one time they stole from the wrong person, and so they had to flee their home.
When Viviva fled from the repercussions of her thefts, she joined the same caravan as Hröd who had just decided to lick his wounds after the lost duel. During the travel the unlikely pair became friends.
The caravan travelled through the Moldena plains, where they encountered Percival. The halfling made some snide comments about the singing of Hröd, while the orc moked Percival for his pittiful appearance. The only way they saw fit to settle the conflict was by trial of combat. Both fought bravely and were wounded. And somehow during the fight they gained each others respect.
A short while later, the small group captured Solga sneaking around, looking for food. However, having not enough to eat themself at the time, they did find her understanding of herbs and other plants useful. In the end Percival convinced Vivirva and Hröd to set the goblin free and to travel the lands together.
Now the group somehow finds themselfs on the north eastern end of the island of Maidenholm, sceptical of what the future holds for them and hoping to just survive.