Session Zero

Session Zero Session Zero is a game about characters. It is the story of the life they have already lived before your story with them begins. It is who they are, who has helped them, what has benefited them, and what has caused them harm. Acknowledgements Thank you to Lauren for opening my eyes to theworld of solo ttrps. Thank you to Q, Jason,and the No Chill fam fortheirimmensesupportand encouragementas Iwrotethis. Icouldn't have doneitwithout you all, I love you.

Using eithertheSession Zero cards orastandard deck of playing cards (Jokersremoved) separatethefoursuits, shufflethem,and placethem face down in four piles. Drawa hand of 5 cards,with at least onecard from each pile. Heartsarethesuit of Happiness Clubsarethesuit of Bonds Spadesarethesuit ofSadness Diamondsarethesuit of Character. *Though the minimum hand is 5 cards, you are welcometo draw alarger hand* One by one, flip overthecards,answerthe prompts,and createthestory of your adventurer. How To Play

2 - A certain sound always makes you smile. What sound is it? Howdid itcometo be ofcomfort to you?Is it something you still hear nowthat you have begun to travel? 3 - You carry alucky charm with you everywhere you go. What is it? Howdid itcomeinto your possession? Why do you considerit lucky? 4 - Notall failuresareruinous. What failure did you learn something from? Howdid failing make you stronger? Do you rememberit with fondness orembarrassment? 5 - Your hometown was famous fora great festival. Whatwas thefestivalcelebrating? Whatkind of festivitieswerethere? Howdid this shape you growing up? 6 - There wasa birth you remember with great happiness. Whose birthwasexceptionally meaningful to you? What do you remember mostabout them being born? Whywerethey so important to you? 7 - You had astalwartcompanion growing up. Describe yourchildhood pet. Howdid they cometo be yourcompanion? Arethey still your pet? 8 - Before you werean adventurer, you had other pastimes. Whatwas yourfavorite hobby? Were you always good at it? Do you still practiceit nowthat you are an adventurer? 9 - Everyone has theirtales of triumph. What story from your preadventuring daysare you most proud of? Why? Do you still tell it? 10 - Birthdaysareacause of greatcelebration. Describe your most memorable birthday. What birthdaywas it? What madeit so memorable? J - While on theroad, you havea memory that keeps yourspirits up during tough times. What is your happiest memory? When did it take place? Whatabout it makes it staywith you through the years? Q - An advantageous meeting has stuck with you throughout the years. Who did you meet? Whywas it so significant? Do you stillcorrespondwith this person? K - Everyoneremembers theirfirst kiss. Whowas itwith? When did it happen? Whatwerethecircumstancesaround it? A - There was someone with whom you shared your heart. Describe yourfirst love: Did they feel thesameway? Whatabout them did you love most? Hearts

2 - You remembersomeonefrom yourearly days ofadventuring. Whowas thefirst person you befriended on yourjourney? Underwhatcircumstances did you meet them? Are you still in touch? 3 - Regardless of what life brings, you willalways have yoursibling. Howmany siblings do you have? What is yourrelationshipwith them like? Nowthat you have becomean adventurer, howhas thisaffected them? 4 - Yourearly days wereshaped by the presence ofa guardian. Whowas this guardian? Howdid they cometowatch over you? Was is yourstrongest memory about yourtime together? 5 - A friendly shopkeeper once helped you prepareforan adventurer’s life. Whowerethey? Where did you encounterthem? Whatabout yourinteraction has stayedwith you? 6 - A formerloveis still part of yourlife. Howlong agowere you in love? What did you love mostabout them? Howdid itcometo end between thetwo of you? 7 - You willalwaysremember yourchildhood best friend. Howdid you cometo befriends? What is yourfavorite memory together? Howdo you keep in touch nowthat you aretravelling? 8 - Early in yourtravelsa barkeeper offered important information. Why did you need theirassistance? What information did they provideto you? Did itcomeatacost? 9 - A mentor orteacher helped shape yourchildhood. What did they teach you? Howlongwere you undertheirtutelage? Whatwas the mostvaluablelesson you learned from them? 10 - You havefond memories ofaformerclassmate Howlongwere you classmates? Whatabout them helped shape your days beforeadventuring? What became of them? J - You are no strangerto rivalry. Who is yourrival? Howdid they cometo bethat? What makes yourrivalry so important to you? Q - At onetimean authority figure had a greateffect on you. Whowerethey? Where did you encounterthem? Whatabout thisencounter has stayedwith you overtime? K - You willalways beareflection of your parentage. Whatwas yourrelationshipwith your parents like growing up? What is it like now? A - A powerfulentity once madeitself known to you. Whatcircumstances led to this meeting? Whowas theentity? What did this meeting entail? Clubs

2 - You cannot let go of what you consider your greatest failure. What did you failat? Whowasaffected by it? Why can’t you let it go? 3 - Betterto haveloved and lost… Who is yourlost love? Whywerethey lost to you? Do you still lovethem? 4 - A natural disastertook something from you. What type of disasterwas it? Whatwas lost to you?Is it likely to happen again? 5 - Death steals from all of us. What family member did death takefrom you? When did it happen? Whatwerethecircumstances surrounding their death? 6 - Even theclosest of friendships is not safefrom death. Who did you lose? Howdid you knowthem? Could you have prevented their death? 7 - You mentor met with an unfortunateend. Whowerethey? What did they teach you? Howdid they die? 8 - Yourcountry was notastrangerto war. Howlong agowas thewar oris it still beingwaged? Howclosely did it battlescometo your hometown? How did itaffect yourlife? 9 - Your hometown oncefell underattack. Howlong agowas thisattack? Who launched theattack? Whatweretheconsequences? 10 - A misstep in yourearly adventuring dayscost you dearly. What happened? Whatweretheconsequences? What did you learn asaresult? J - You left someone dear behind when you set off on youradventure. Who did you leave? What did they do to try and stop you from going? Do you regret leaving them behind? Q - Notall beliefs last forever. What do you no longer believein? Whatcourse ofactionscaused you to lose your belief? Whywas that belief important to you? K - Inaction is not without itsconsequences. What didn’t you do that needed to be done? Why couldn’t you actwhen you needed to? Whatwerethe consequences of yourinaction? A - You can neverforget what was stolen from you. Whatwas taken from you? Bywhom? Will you ever beableto get it back? Spades

2 - Even the bravest ofadventurers havefears. What is your greatest fear? Whatcaused you to fearit? Howdo you copewhen facedwith it? 3 - Everybody cries. When did you lastcry? Whatcaused it? Does itcause yourshame or prideto haveshown emotion thatway? 4 - Weall have oursecrets. What is your biggest secret? Howlong have you been keeping it? Whatwould you do if itwerefound out? 5 - Old habits die hard. What is yourworst habit? Howlong have you had it? Have you evertried to break yourself of it? 6 - There’salways something… What is your biggestregret? Whatabout it leaves you unableto move on? Aretherecircumstances inwhich you could forgive yourself? 7 - Just onething. If you could change onething about yourselfwhatwould it be? Why? Howwould thischangeaffect yourlife? 8 - Head in theclouds? Orfeet on the ground? Are you arealist oran idealist? Howdid this shape you growing up? Howdoes thisaffect you in yourtravels? 9 - A chink in thearmor. What is your greatestweakness? Has italways been thatway? What do you do to compensateforthis weakness? 10 - The pen? Orthesword? Do you usewords oractions to fight?In your mindwhy is that the moreeffective option? Do you everwaiver in yourchoice? J - Everybody has theirreasons. Why did you take up thelife ofan adventurer? Was ita hard decision?What did you leave behindwhen you left? Q - Scarsarestories. What is your most notablescar? Howdid you get it?Is it brandished asa mark of pride or hidden asa mark of shame? K - Nobody’s perfect. What is the biggest lie you evertold? Who did you tell it to? Why did you do it? A -Morethan anything… What is your greatest desire? Whatwill it taketo achieveit? Whatwould you give up to seeitrealized? Diamonds