Campaign Starter

Festival of the Rusty Pipe

The campaign is taking place in the world of Alana (overview here) on the Western Continent of Boresia, in the human founded Farenian Empire. The current location is the trade city of Bridgeport, the capital of Bridgeport County.
It is the fourth month of the year, and the summer is just trying to build up the heat. Nights are still getting cold.
The citizens of Bridgeport are preparing for a week-long carnival-like celebration called the Festival of the Rusty Pipe. The city is overflowing with people, it is noisy all day and most of the night, and even more people are arriving every hour either by boat, by cart from Holinda or by foot. A few lucky people with enough money in their pockets have taken an airship of the Royal Airship Company of Farenia, arriving from Farenia's capital Queenshaven or the elven capital Olena Ora.
Moving through the streets is hard work, as people cover every square of it. Merchants are selling their wares, shouting above the noise, beggars see their chance for acquiring a little bit of wealth, and numerous people are losing some possession to thieves who happily cut off purses unseen in the crowded city.

Bridgeport County

Open full size

Most southern part of Farenia.

Everyone without a place for the night is trying to get one yet, but there is not much hope. Outside the city, people have started to set up tents bought for horrendous prices from witty merchants. The Black Guard has only allowed one area for camping, all other areas around the city are off-limits, and groups of soldiers try to ensure that people stick to the designated area, but they are way outnumbered by the arriving masses of people. A circus, the Cirque de Solani, has also opened its tents outside the city.
It is going to be a busy but peaceful day in Bridgeport. Probably.

Dramatis personae

That is you! You arrive from your village nearby to watch what this fuss is all about. Everyone is talking about it, but no one has ever seen it, as it only happens once in 50 years.

Default character creation rules apply.

1. Choose your species.
2. Show me 5E Player content Show me Conan Player content
3. Also, think about the following topics. Those will flesh out your character and help other players to build proper relationships and help the DM to construct stories and plots around your hero.
   • Whom do you know, friend and foe? Family? Allies? Spouse?
   • What happened in the past?
   • Do you have any quirks? Examples, more examples
   • Three short term goals: Want a stronger armour? Want to learn how to lockpick? Those should get filled up again, once done.
   • One to three mid term Goals: What would you like to do? Become a great fighter? Invent a machine never seen before? Find the woman of your dreams? Those should be resolvable after a dozen or more session, to be replaced by new ones. Examples, more examples
   • One to two long term goals: This is what drives you. Do you want to cleanse the world from all evil? Do you want to become a god? Overthrow a crazed king?
   • Describe your character a bit. Here are some examples, choose a handful of them: character creation questions
   • Do you have a connection to another character of the party already? Ideas for that see the two tables below. For some things, you might want to talk to the other player first (you cannot just set "xy is a murderer and I saw him do it" for someone else)
   • Do you have any secrets you do not want to share publicly? Murdered someone? Stole something? Got falsely accused and arrested? Fled from your spouse?
   
   Important note: that information is mostly for YOU so YOU know who your characters is. Bring up your background during gameplay, don't forde the GM to do it for you.
   Two more things:
   
   • We are playing to have fun. If certain things get boring for you or if you have ideas how the story could/should develop, or if there is anything you might be interested in, tell me. Things can get adjusted. :)
   • Important: Consent in gaming! Is there anything you do not want to see happen at all in the game, that enrages you to no end or triggers you? Tell me. I will keep it secret and avoid the topic in the campaign..

Also have a look at 5E House Rules.

Connections between characters

These are just examples. If you have your own ideas, make them happen (with the consent of the GM and the other player(s) involved).

A relationship where your character has influenced another character

You think _ is not the sharpest tool in the shed and working on enlightening them.

You do not trust _ and for good reason. What is the reason?

You have stolen something from _. Ask them was it was and how they felt about it.

You think _ is woefully misinformed about the world and you have decided to teach them all you know.

You believe that _ will play an important role in the future. What will they do?

You helped _ at a critical point in their quest for revenge. How?

You grew up with _. Where was this?

You have a nickname for _. What is it?

You and _ have a con running. What is the plan?

For some reason _ often does what you say. How come?

You betrayed _ once before and they still have unresolved emotions with you. What happened?

You failed _ once before and they still have unresolved emotions with you. What happened?

You think _ is misguided and you are working on converting them to your faith and views. What faith or views could that be?

You know _'s secret and you are watching them. What is that secret?

You have heard rumours about _ and do not fully trust them. What rumours would that be?

You saved _ from doing a huge mistake once. When was this and what mistake was it?

You often make fun of _ in your jokes. How come?

You saw _ lose it and go berserk once. What happened?

_ owes you a favour, whether they admit it or not. Why?

_ came to you for advice once. What advice was that?

At some point, _ has sworn to protect you. Why and what happened?

_ lost control one time and almost killed you. How did you stop them?

_ owes you their life, whether they admit it or not. How come?

_ knows incriminating details about you. What details are these?

You and _ lost a mutual friend or relative. Who was it and what happened?

_ stood between you and what you wanted. What was it and why did you do it?

You think that _ is a liability and not an asset to the group. How come?

You think _ is soft but you will make them hard as you. Why do you think they are soft?

You respect _'s hard-earned knowledge and often come to them for advice.

You met _ in another adventure before. When was this?

You saved _'s life in a tight spot once. What happened?

_ and you fought together against the odds and prevailed. In what situation was that?

You saw _ use their power for selfish or vindictive reasons. Who was the victim and what did they do?

You and _ have shared the same vision. What vision was this?

A relationship where your character has been influenced by another character

_ thinks you are not the sharpest tool in the shed and is working on enlightening you.

_ does not trust you and for good reason. Ask them what the reason is.

_ has stolen something from you. What was it and how does that make you feel?

_ thinks you are woefully misinformed about the world and they have decided to teach them you all they know.

_ believes you will play an important role in the future. Ask them what they think you will do.

_ helped you at a critical point in your quest for revenge. Ask them how.

_ grew up with you. Ask them where this was.

_ has a nickname for you. Ask them what it is and why.

_ and you have a con running. Ask them what the plan is.

_ often tells you what to do. Ask them how come.

_ has betrayed you once before and you still have unresolved emotions with them. Ask them what happened.

_ has failed you once before and you still have unresolved emotions with them. Ask them what happened.

_ thinks you are misguided and they are working on converting you to their faith or views. Ask them what faith or views these are.

_ knows your secret and is watching you. Ask them what secret it is.

_ has heard rumours about you and does not fully trust you. Ask them what these rumours were.

_ saved you from doing a huge mistake once. Ask them when this was and what mistake it was.

_ often makes jokes about you. Ask them why.

_ saw you lose it and go berserk once. Ask them what happened.

You owe _ a favour, whether you admit it or not. Ask them why.

You went to _ for advice once. What did you need advice for?

At some point, you have sworn to protect _. Ask them why and what happened.

You lost control one time and almost killed _. Ask them how they stopped you.

You owe _ your life, whether you admit it or not. Ask them why.

You know incriminating details about _. Ask them what details these are.

_ and you lost a mutual friend or relative. Ask them who it was and what happened.

You stood between _ and what they needed. Ask them what it was and why they needed it.

_ thinks you are a liability and not an asset to the group. Ask them why.

_ thinks you are soft and they want to make you hard as them. Ask them why they think you are soft.

_ respects you for your hard-earned knowledge, and often come to you for advice.

_ has met you in another adventure before. Ask them when this was.

_ saved your life in a tight spot once. Ask them what happened.

You fought together with _ against the odds and prevailed. Ask them in what situation this was.

_ saw you use your power for selfish or vindictive reasons. Ask them who the victim was and what you did.

_ and you have shared the same vision. Ask them what vision this was.