The place to discuss sharing bonds, and anything else you might want group input on.

I was going to save this for when the game officially begins, but then it occurred to me that it might work better as a group discussion, so I'm going to put it here.  The game will start in media res, as follows:

The sounds of shrill voices and chomping teeth remind you that the goblins are closer than you'd like as they chase you through the forest.

Why are you here?  And why are there goblins chasing you?

You can all work together to find a satisfactory answer to those questions while you also work together on the rest of your setup things.  I'll just be here, waiting patiently, trying to keep a straight face...

If we are running from goblins, it can't be just a few of them, or we'd turn and fight. We must have stirred some shit and have a whole horde on our ass.

Hey I just noticed, is everyone going human? That might open some interesting stuff as to what the barbarian is.

Also, we've got all three of the d10 heavy hitter classes in this party. What are the rest of you prioritizing? I'm thinking Constitution highest, Strength maybe third actually.

I'm human as well.  It'd be a disservice to everyone if I didn't go high charisma.  I'm probably going to second wisdom, and either DEX or Intelligence third.

I'm probably gonna be a human? Or half-elven (with the move). I'm not really sure the importance of rations vs the value of Undertake a Perilous Journey, so the mechanic side of things hasn't really factored into it.

And it's looking like tracking and archery are probably my niche, so I'm thinking Wis and Dex will be my high scores. Probably with strength or con as a third?

Also, this hoard of goblins.... For them to chase us like this, I'm kinda thinking we took something of theirs. Or maybe freed a prisoner who they thought was looking particularly tasty?

Ooh ooh Noric is the god of freedom... he super hates slavery and/or imprisonment. Istvan would always totally want to intervene in anything like that.

...any votes for "Bard slept with the Goblin Chieftain's wife", in addition to the other reasons why they're chasing us?

Bard slept with the chieftain's Fury Road-style slave-concubine before/during/after we freed them? Best of both worlds :)

Oh deities this raises so many more questions... which is perfect for a game like this ;)

I'm okay if people want to toss out some other ideas before we settle on this one, but I'm also happy to stick with this if that's the consensus.

Thinking of going as human for Otto, with a focus on strength as my top score followed probably by constitution.

Also I'm personally in love with the idea of crazy goblin war-boys chasing our band due to our rescue of their prisoners, totally 100% on board for it.

I'm human with no choice in that regard. I'll go charisma first and strength second.

Working on my initial bonds, and I want to pose a question to you all for them.  Feel free to impose upon me in turn.

• This is not my first adventure with Istvan.
  What shenanigans have we done previously, or what quest did we undertake?
• I sang stories of Hawthorn long before I ever met them in person.
  What deed have you performed, that your reputation precedes you? 
• Istvan is often the butt of my jokes.
  What happened that I will never let you live down, even if just as an inside joke?
• I am writing a ballad about the adventures of Otto.
  What makes Otto a role model for those aspiring to greatness?
• Auberyn trusted me with a secret.
  What is something I should never tell anyone, or should only tell if something terrible were to befall you?
• Lucius does not trust me, and for good reason.
  What did you catch me doing, or when did I fail to keep my word?

There's no wrong answer; I will roleplay ANYTHING you guys respond.

@Jon,

He has seen you hit on a barmaid, promising a life of adventure (it was super effective), only to sneak out of the room in the early morning after a night of fun.

This kind of dishonesty doesn't sit well with the young paladin. Though it might also explain why he's not as successful in flirting...

Back to you guys, I figure I'll also ask about bonds. Let's work them out together.

Jon’s misguided behavior endangers their very soul!
Do I need to say more?

Otto has stood by me in battle and can be trusted completely.
Who or what did we fight together?

I respect the beliefs of Hawthorn but hope they will someday see the true way.
Pretty self explanatory IMO. Lucius is curious but taken aback by Hawthorn's exotic ways.

Auberyn is a brave soul, I have much to learn from them.
As a worldly ranger, Auberyn has Lucius' respect. Especially because his sheltered life left him less than prepared for the hardships of wilderness.

Istvan is a man of faith - I trust them without question.
After all, people of faith can't be bad. Right?

I like your set up Jon, so I'm going to shamelessly steel it! As to your question... after a night of drinking together, a very tipsy Auberyn told you about the den of goblin pups that she found after killing most of their clan. Unable to massacre them, she went against her vows to relocate them someplace further from humanity. Since then, she has doubted the moral clarity of her mission to slay all threats to humanity without question.

---

As for my bonds...

I have guided Otto before, and he owes me for it.
Auberyn usually spends her time hunting monsters rather than guiding strays. What was special about Otto that she was willing to guide him?

Istvan is a friend of nature, so I will be there friend as well.
Is there any connection between the followers of Noric and the servants of the Gray Mother? There seems to be some synergy in the gods' domains.

_______ has no respect for nature, so I have no respect for them.
This seems like a bigger thing to decide about another character, so I wanted to give someone a chance to claim this on their own rather than assign it.

Lucius does not understand life in the wild, so I will teach them.
Do you appreciate the guidance? Or is it more like nagging?

If you don't feel like one of the starting bonds would be applicable to your character's interactions with a party member, you could always apply it to a some reoccurring villain from your backstory.  After all, bonds can be used not only to aid allies, but also to interfere with the actions of someone you are familiar with.

Or you could write a new one, like you would when resolving a bond.