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Message: <blockquote data-quote="transtemporal" data-source="post: 7103559" data-attributes="member: 6777693">As a DM, try to think logically what has happened before. Why would they be strangers? Ships of this era weren't that big and if they were on the same ship, they will have at least seen each other across the deck. For this set up, I personally would tell the players they are on a passenger/merchant/navy/pirate ship headed to <insert destination here> and let them decide on their purpose for being on the ship and if and how they know each other. When you open on the beach scene, what do they remember of the storm or battle that sunk the ship? How did they survive the sinking of the ship? There's the potential for some foreshadowing here if you want to imply they weren't bought here by mistake. You could even give each player a note of something they remember and let them share with the group, or not. Like "You saw the captain strangling a member of the crew as the ship was going down" or "Amongst the roaring of the waves over the bow you could hear someone laughing". Or whatever atmosphere you want to set for your campaign.Unless the captain has some information the PCs can uncover through discussion or interrogation, like his reason for being near the island is nefarious and there's a mystery to uncover, I would take this encounter out. Otherwise it serves no purpose. Consider leaving the captain alive if you want to introduce a "wild" element for later tension. You know, the old "greedy captain discovers the warriors teeth are made of of diamond or whatever and goes graverobbing, placing the PCs in jeopardy".Why does the chief think they've been chosen specifically? Or does he say this to every group of survivors that wash up? If you want to give this some verisimilitude, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_the_M%C4%81ori_gods" target="_blank">link to the maori pantheon</a>. I'd make it tough, but temporary. Like advantage on any d20 roll once per long rest.I'd just get to the action but if you want to have a few more easy encounters to get them into the swing of how combat works, go for it.I would replace the single poisonous snake with a yuan-ti raiding party (the yuan-ti humanoids I forget the name) and a mini-boss abomination. Make it pretty epic. First big fight! Make sure the PCs are the driving force in scaring them off and make sure the PCs know that the yuan-ti know it was them. Also their victory is only partially successful - the yuan-ti are driven off but make off with a few more people. You need to establish whats at stake. You also need to establish why the yuan-ti are making off with people. Maybe they have a sinister purpose.  Standard gear, they'll be fine. If you really want to, maybe the Tongu crone brews potions of healing.No, thats fine. If you make their first big fight memorable, they should still be coming down off the victory high. Maybe put some loots in to sweeten the victory.</blockquote>

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