The Fallbacks are the band of Adventurer protagonists in an upcoming intro novel from Penguin Press in a few months, "Bound for Ruin". Apparently the characters were designed by the D&D design team and given to Penguin to make a novel as part of some broader campaign.
PR stuff:
"Licensed by Wizards of the Coast, The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin introduces a new Dungeons & Dragons adventuring party, The Fallbacks, whose encounters with classic Forgotten Realms locations, villains, and monsters will be chronicled across multiple publishing initiatives. Someday, The Fallbacks might be Faerûn’s finest adventuring party. Right now, they’re the backup plan."
"Designed by the Dungeons & Dragons team, these five adventurers and their monstrous mascot honor the game’s founding classes while putting a contemporary spin on fantasy archetypes. They’re the perfect party for newcomers looking to explore the Dungeons & Dragons universe and for fans seeking new escapades in a beloved setting."
"“We’re so excited for fans to discover these compelling and innovative characters,” enthused Paul Morrissey, publishing lead at Wizards of the Coast. “With The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin, Jaleigh Johnson wrote a blockbuster novel that serves as a brilliant introduction to The Fallbacks, and a fantastic on-ramp to the world of Dungeons & Dragons.”"
And the book summary:
"The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin
Tessalynde is an ambitious young rogue who dreams of leading Faerûn’s foremost adventuring party. While the crew she’s gathered isn’t the stuff of legend yet, she’s confident her guidance can get them there."
"The team: Anson, a fighter too stubborn to stay down, even when the odds are stacked against him. Cazrin, a self-taught wizard determined to test her theoretical mettle against the real world. Baldric, a cleric who refuses to tie himself to a single deity when he can trade favors with them all. Lark, a bard with as many secrets as songs. And, of course, Uggie, a monstrous pet otyugh who loves giving hugs and eating trash."
"Their first job: recovering a mysterious spellbook from a lost temple for a hefty payout. Tess hopes this assignment can turn her group of fledgling freelancers into a true team. But when their client is killed, their coin and his murderer both vanish, leaving the party to take the fall."
"Stuck with a sentient, bloodthirsty grimoire and pursued by mercenaries and the undead, this is hardly the mission Tess envisioned. Her crew must save the day, get the gold, and clear the party’s name—which they haven’t even agreed upon yet! With the threats against them mounting, a single mistake will see this party over before it even begins."
"Can this band of mismatched misfits stay together in the face of danger? Or are they bound for ruin?"
Meet the newest Dungeons & Dragons party in the first epic adventure of The Fallbacks ... Can a band of misfits stay together? Or are they bound for ruin?
nerdvanamedia.com
