In the previous adventure, the characters left on bad terms after the Monk betrayed the other two party members by trying to take their captured criminal back to her (equally criminal) monastery instead of to the city guard, and knocking unconscious one of the party members.
However, I think all three characters involved in the story have a great dynamic and I think all of the players would love to play their characters again, but I'm not sure how to go with reconciling this. And in thinking about it, I realise I've no experience with reconciling opposing characters at all, because I'm used to player goals aligning (a sort of expectation in most other RPGs I've played so far)
So what are some good methods to reintroduce a party of characters who are at this point strongly opposed to one another and making them work towards a common goal? Should we jump ahead in time and come up with some backstory for why they hate each other less now? Should we dedicate a large amount of the next session to getting them to agree to work together? Or should I introduce a dire threat that forces them together despite all of their differences and dislike? And how should I introduce it? During the session, or before it starts as the starting point for it?
Just to clear up: the players have no problems with one another, they liked their characters and really enjoyed the story. Just looking for a way to have more stories that doesn't require glossing over the results of the previous session's betrayal.
Also I don't necessarily need advice that's linked directly to this situation, I am more interested in general approaches to reconciling these characters. We are playing Fate, if that matters, but the problem I'm facing isn't about mechanics. If the question needs to be edited further (by removing the example, perhaps?) please let me know.
Best Answer
This is a great premise for some brilliant character dynamics and interaction and skipping ahead in time might see you lose most of it.
I would either go with
ANSWER: I would probably go uniting the team by first having them meet at the said monastery, with the betrayed party trying to get back at the monk but ending up helping her fight off her ex-monk buddies to save her aunt/daughter/brother/other organic plot device the other monks are holding captive/planning to sacrifice etc. And onwards to another tale of high adventure. Maybe this kidnapping or sacrifice was just a small part of something bigger?
Acting under duress allows for the monk to plausibly retain her criminal nature without too much of a schism with what has happened before.