session-start

name	session-start
description	Begin or resume a D&D 5e play session. Trigger when the player says "let's play", "start a session", "continue", "resume", or sits down to game. Loads campaign + active character + last session context, creates (or reopens) sessions/NNN.md, and grounds the DM in current state before the player takes a turn.

Session Start

Open a new play session or resume an interrupted one. Ground yourself in the campaign's current state before the player takes their first action. Live persistence (see AGENTS.md) starts the moment this skill exits.

0. Prerequisites

• Confirm mise is available: mise --version.
• Confirm dice work: mise run roll -- 1d20.

1. Locate Campaign

• Determine the campaign slug from cwd (campaigns/<slug>/...) or ask if ambiguous.
• Verify campaigns/<slug>/state.md exists. If not, recommend running /campaign-creation first.

2. Load Context

Read in this order, holding everything in working memory before play begins:

• campaigns/<slug>/campaign.md — premise, themes, antagonist, house rules, content lines.
• campaigns/<slug>/state.md — active character, location, in-game date, active quests, last session, status, where-we-left-off.
• campaigns/<slug>/characters/<active>.md — full sheet (HP, hit dice, spell slots, conditions, inventory, currency).
• campaigns/<slug>/world/regions.md — current region/location.
• campaigns/<slug>/world/factions.md — faction roster + attitudes toward the PC.
• campaigns/<slug>/sessions/<latest>.md (if any) — End-of-Session block, beats, recap.
• Each campaigns/<slug>/quests/<slug>.md listed in state.md active quests.
• If state.md.last_session_status == "active", scan campaigns/<slug>/encounters/*.md for any with a ## Live State block (paused combat).

3. Determine Session Mode

• Fresh session — last_session_status == "closed" or no sessions exist. Increment to <NNN+1> (zero-padded, e.g. 003); create the new log file.
• Interrupted resume (same in-fiction session) — last_session_status == "active" and the player wants to pick up the same in-fiction moment. Reopen sessions/<NNN>.md (the existing active one); append a ## Resumed {{ISO date}} separator under ## Beats so the timeline of real-world play is visible.
• Mid-combat resume — an encounter has a ## Live State block. Reload monster HP / initiative / conditions / positions verbatim. Brief the player on the tactical state exactly as it stood when interrupted.

If ambiguous, ask the player: continue the previous session, or start a fresh one?

4. Open the Session

Create or open the session log with the header block (template below). The Recap paragraph is derived from:

• the prior session's End-of-Session block (especially Where we left off),
• the active quest's current state,
• the PC's current condition (HP, resources, location).

Read the recap to the player aloud (in conversation). Keep it to one paragraph.

5. Establish Stakes

If active quests exist, name the most pressing one and remind the player of the open question, deadline, or next obvious step. If no active quests, ask: "What does {{character name}} want to do today?"

If mid-combat resume, skip stakes and go straight to the player's pending turn.

6. Persist & Hand Off

Update state.md:

• last_session = NNN
• last_session_status = active
• last_session_real_date = {{ISO date}}

Save the session log with header + recap. Hand control to the player.

From this point on, follow the Live Persistence rules in AGENTS.md: every meaningful change goes to disk as it happens, not at session end.

Every file written must follow the File Conventions in AGENTS.md (final newline, LF, UTF-8, no trailing whitespace).

---

Session Log Template

# Session {{NNN}}

- **Campaign:** {{slug}}
- **Real-world date opened:** {{ISO date}}
- **In-game date (start):** {{game date or "Day 1"}}
- **Location (start):** {{location}}
- **Active character:** {{character-slug}}
- **Status:** active

## Recap

{{one paragraph: where we left off, current quest, PC condition; or "the campaign begins"}}

## Beats

(append below as scenes resolve — one entry per scene, NPC encounter, travel leg, or combat)

## End-of-Session

(populated by `/session-end`)