Each PC should be 4th level.

Each player should choose a background from those listed on pages 38–39 of the Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook. LANGUAGES Inform the players that three languages— Auran, Gnoll, and Ancient Osiriani— might open up additional role-playing or investigatory opportunities in this chapter, and that they have access to those languages. However, knowledge of these languages isn’t required to complete “In Pale Mountain’s Shadow.”

Each character begins with one 3rd-level item, two 2nd-level items, one 1st-level item, and 300 sp to spend on additional items. As the GM, you determine which items the PCs can start with, but they should have access to at least all common items of their level or lower. The characters already know each other, so they can pool their money to buy items.