It’s been two weeks since Session One. You’d think I’d be fully ready. I’ve had time. I’ve done work. I built a a dungeon I won’t even need for weeks. And still I feel like I’m sliding into Session Two sideways.
My goal is to get the players through the rest of the intro quest, the prologue, basically, and maybe, just maybe, make it to the moment that changes everything. If I get there, I can finally say “yes, we’re in the campaign now.” But I know this group. We move slow. We care about NPCs in hazmat suits. We get distracted by waffles. We love it, but it’s slow.
Syb’l is still here, up to something. I’m no longer worried about him being too transparent. The fun’s in the replay, and I’m looking forward to the day they see him again for the “first” time. If they get through this mission, if they confront him or turn on him or get turned on, I’ll be happy. I even have backup plans. If they don’t fight the elf for the wizardball, maybe Sybil sends some Mephits after them. It’s not elegant, but it’ll get the job done.
I’m excited for them to meet a new NPC named Advantage. He’s a tiefling in the marks hotel room at just the wrong time, and I have no idea how they’ll react. Probably with suspicion. Probably with love. But as long as I get to say groan heavy lines like “who doesn’t want to roll with Advantage” it’ll be worth it.
This world is still mostly mine, but I’m starting to feel it loosen. They’re pushing. Asking questions I didn’t expect. And I want more of that. I want them to leave fingerprints on everything. Part of me has the reflexive desire to create DnD worlds like an author creates a novel, but, that’s just not the medium. We make the playground so that our players can shape it.
Here’s hoping we make it to the end of the prologue tonight.