Welcome to The Valley

Let me introduce you

If you want to participate in this mysterious world known as The Valley as a player, then you have come to the right place.

Here we go over what you need to know, and what your humble GM expects of you to play. This is so that you, and EVERYONE else who plays can have fun. But also so you can know if this is the right game for you: As you might read this and realize "this isn't for me" and that is fine.
Below, we go over the following.

1. Campaign Specifics: What kind of campaign you would be signing yourself up to join.
2. Expectations: Mainly around behaviour.
3. Preparing to join: What you need to do to jump in.
4. Opening: How the opening session of the game will play out.

Campaign specifics

Let's outline some of the key features of what kind of story you're getting involved in.

• Multi-one-shot: The hope of the GM, is to run multiple one-shots (3-6 sessions per one-shot, 3-4 one shots in total, with 9-24 sessions total). The situation you find yourself in will be determined by previous player's choices. The choices you make will influence the situation the next set of players find themselves in.
  • Joining multiple one-shots: You may get the opportunity to participate in multiple one-shots with the same character. But favour will most likely go to new players so the GM can really test the interconnected story of these multiple one-shots.
• Take iniative: This campaign is a very "sandbox" campaign. A HIGH amount of iniative is expected from the players (you).
  A great way to do this is to follow rumors. And as you uncover the truths or lies behind these rumors, you can decide what you want to do with them.
  Perhaps the boy really did cry wolf, and is now dead because no one came. You might decide to enact vengence. You might decide to scold the town for not listening. You might decide to leave it.
  • Patience with a stretching GM: This is the first time the GM will be doing a truely sandbox campaign, and consequently, have done a lot of work to prepare. That said, making a truely sandbox experience can be tricky, so please be patient as they develop the drama with you.
  • The clock is TICKING: You will not get to explore every rumor and location. The GM has a rough end point in mind, where you will get to make a major decision, which will have consequences for the next one-shot the GM runs in this world. So choose carefully where you will go.
• Physical and social exploration: This campaign is estimated to be about 25% combat (ie. Less combat than a typical role playing game), and 75% exploration. Whether that exploration is physical (traveling to a location) or social (asking NPCs questions) will be up to you the player.
• 70% Serious 30% Silly: The design of this campaign is aimed to be more serious than silly. Though don't let that stop you doing silly/fun things with your characters if you so wish.

Of course, if you have questions, or unsure, contact the GM to ask about these.

Expectations

The following are expectations of your behavior at the table, and what sort of game you are getting yourself into. Some of these are specific to the GM that will be running this game.

Behaviour

• Be respectful: Hopefully this is self explanetory
• Have fun!: While respect comes first, we're here to have fun! So do what is fun for everyone in a respectful manner.
• Arrive on time: Of course, you can't predict things going wrong, that's understandable. But this GM values being able (where you're able) to get the game started at a reasonable time, so a session can also end at a reasonable time. Arguably it is also respectful to the other players at the table. If you can't be on time, do your best to let the GM and other players know as soon as you are reasonably able to.
• Know your character sheet: The more you know what your character can or cannot do, the easier it is to remain focused on roleplaying, being your character, and having FUN! Do your best in what free time you have to make sure you know your character.

At the table

• Balance banter: Being in character and totally focused on the world you are in can take a bit of energy, so talking "out of character" and making jokes with the other players can help keep things light and fun. Remember, you're there with other PLAYERS, so have fun with THOSE people.
  That said, it can be easy to get carried away with just joking around, making the game slow down, which is sometimes UNfun for other players, but definitely for the GM. This GM will make jokes and join the banter. BUT this GM also doesn't want to become your teacher just to keep the game moving.
• Push back on the GM, but respect their decision: I promise, you won't always like and/or agree with decisions GMs make. But hopefully you can choose to move on, however that looks for you, so that it doesn't spoil your fun, or the fun of those around you. That said, this GM would rather have a conversation and disagreement (at an appropriate time), rather that you to not say anything. But it's your job to speak up (again, at the right time).

Triggers and boundaries

If you have any triggers, boundaries, or anything you overly feel uncomfortable with (such as descriptions of nudity, horror, obsence violence, spiders), please let the GM know. Regardless, there will be a discussion around this in the first session.

Preparing to join

Read all the above? Maybe had a look at The Valley? Still keen?
Next, let the GM know. RIGHT NOW! However, there is no garuntee you will get to join. You will have a chat with them, just to confirm that you and the GM understand each other, and lock in that you're well suited for what is ahead!

Reading/Primer

Familiarizing yourself with the world you will be entering will go a long way to helping you immerse yourself into your character at the table. Don't panic! You don't need to read everything, and your GM won't expect you to. Just read enough that you feel confident you have a basic grasp of the feeling of the world so you can build your character. Your GM will remind you of details, and fill you in on the world as you go.

1. The first article you will want to read is Rumors.
2. Next The Valley is worth reading, to get a large overview of the world. From there, you can just explore to your heart's content. (As you read, it might be worth noting down any rumors that your character might want to investigate)
3. Villages of The Valley will be worth reading, as your character will need to come from one of these three villages.

Creating your character

Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God.

— Pythagoras

Now the great question! "Who are you!?" Well, it's really up to you. But here are some "must haves", and some "considerations" for you to include. While considerations are encouraged for you to think over, there is a underneath an "inspiration" list if you need help fleshing out your character.

Must haves

These are non-negotiables.

• You must have a DC20 level 1 RPG character. (Ask GM for help on this)
• Your character is human. (Though you may still use DC20 ancestries)
• Your character must come from one of the villages of The Valley.
• Your character knows the following things well: Your home village, the people who live there, and the land your village is in.
• You have loyalty to your village (to a lesser or greater extent) and care about the people who live there. Both of these can change, and you can go against this, but it shouldn't be a simple switch.
• You (and everyone else in your village) consider/think the Elder of your village as representative of the entire village itself. (Which should tie in with your loyalty)

Considerations

These you're considered encouraged to add to your character.

• You most likely respect the Elder of your village.
• You are most likely one of the Guards for your village, which is the reason you have your character class.
• You and the other PCs most likely know each other well and are friends to a lesser or greater extent. (Or perhaps family?)
• While you can pick any class, consider carefully the asthetic of your character to fit in this world. For example, your wizard probably won't have fancy robes and a tower, but perhaps each spell is carved onto small pieces of wood with arcane sigils. Or the cleric is calling upon spirits of the land, instead of worshipping at a holy temple.
• You probably had a mentor who taught you your art of combat (and perhaps taught others as well). If you do write up a mentor, add as much or as little detail as you like, and send it to the GM.
• How do you and the other PCs know each other? If you are from different villages, how did you become friends?

Inspiration

These are optional ideas for you to consider when developing your character.

• You may want to consider how your character contributes to their village. (What is their job other than being a Guard?)
• Metal armour and weapons DO exist, and your character may have them, but they are uncommon. You might want to consider how to tie that in with your character's story.

Opening

Once you have prepared your characters stories, and DC20 state sheet, the journey will begin. And the GM will narrate the start of the game before handing it over to you to do as you wish.

Setup
The adventure will open with another Festival of Restoration, where you and your friends (the other players) have decided this year that you would all contribute to one of the villages together as a single group.
Sharing stories!
At the beginning of the session, you will all be gathered together in the hall of one of the villages, eating and recounting stories to each other of how you drove a creature away from your village. This might be an energetic joyous retelling, perhaps a more sombre story of losing someone, or perhaps something else?
Journey onwards!
Afterwhich discussion will move on to "which village you are all going to help as a group?" You all know that which village you choose will dictate which Elder you must seek out, who will tell you what kind help of they need. (You will have the option of creating a task for you to all do, that is thematically in line with the Elder you help). And when ready, you may set off!

Who will you be?

Be inspired as you read through The Valley, so your character can feel right at home. Perhaps you are from the village Naia?

A guard of Darnell

Perhaps your player character is a Guard from the cold and snowy Darnell?

A wizard of Cardian

While cold steel weapons and armor are to be found in The Valley, you will more commonly find residents wearing brown leathers and furs. Such as this wizard from Cardian.

What do you hope for?

What are your aspirations? What are your fears? There are many things you could consider when creating a character. As long as it answers the question of: "What do you want to do?!"

Get quirky

Not everything goes smoothly. Perhaps you lost the ability to speak, and now a parrot speaks for you?

Don't forget your day job

But you won't always be guarding your home. Most of the time you work to help the rest of your village. Such as this farmer from Cardian.