Hi all,

I previously posted some warts-and-all email summaries of the ‘Curse of Strahd’ campaign I ran in 2017-18, the ‘Tomb of Annihilation’ campaign I ran in 2018-19, the ‘Out of the Abyss’, a campaign I ran in 2020, the ‘Phandelver’s Pact’ campaign I ran from 2020-21, and the ‘Shadows over Saltmarsh’ campaign from 2021-22. CoS was the first campaign I sent summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that), which is why I could use them for this column.

Here are the session summaries from my first Pathfinder 2e campaign which I started running in 2023 after WoTC stunned the TTRPG community by deciding to be dicks about the OGL (remember that?). Like many who progressed to PF2e, we commenced with the Beginner’s Box, progressed to Troubles in Otari and then to the Abomination Vaults campaign.

I apologize in advance for the writing in these summaries – they’re a bit raw, and not fancy at all (I don’t have time for fancy writing when typing them up late at night after each game lol). The campaign continues, and we’re still learning as we go!

Steve 🙂

Session 6 – Fishing for Adventure (Troubles in Otari – Part 1)

The party spent some time recovering, shopping and crafting. While Ezrin the Wizard made some potions of healing, Corny the Cleric, Lob the Goblin Alchemist and Gunnar the Fighter returned to the dragon cave for the wyrmling’s body in an attempt to recover its hide (they heard at the market the skin was valuable). Unfortunately, some Xulgaths got there first and were feasting on the corpse, so the party decided it wasn’t worth a fight and headed home.

The next day they headed off to the fishing camp promised to them by Tamily Tanderveil. On the way they fought a boar which didn’t seem to want to die. Gunnar suspected necromancy, but it seemed the boar was simply a ferocious bastard.

At the fishing camp, Lob ran foul of several giant centipedes, Ezrin revealed his sleep spell’s great potential, and Corny showed off a few nifty divine spells.

Gunnar charged up the 6 ft. high porch, fell down through some rotting planks and landed underneath the building. Inside a side shed: giant rats, which were quickly dispatched and buried while Ezren repaired the broken boards with gear scavenged from the newly cleared shed (Lob realized repairs were not his strong suit). Gunnar found a +1 Dagger as he buried the rats.

As the sun went down, the party roasted boar over a fire on the beach. Two crocodiles were drawn by the delectable aroma, but Ezren’s sleep spell once again proved its worth. The crocs were dispatched easily and the party settled down to a wonderful feast…

Session 7 – Fishing for Adventure (Troubles in Otari Part 2)

After a refreshing night’s rest, the party investigated the small sheds to the south of the main building. The first two contained fishing tackle. The third was a fish smoking shed occupied by 2 Sewer Oozes, which Gunnar the Fighter accidentally disturbed. The Oozes streamed vile effluent everywhere, then were taken out quickly. Back to the north of the main building and another 4 giant rats were dispatched.

The party entered the main fishery building – Lob the goblin alchemist crept through the corridor as he and Gunnar opened a few doors. Ezren the wizard entered the room of Blue Finley, the ghost Tamily told them about, but Finley exited through the wall – apparently in no mood to talk.

Meanwhile, Gunnar was attacked by 2 giant spiders, and as the battle raged, they were joined by many more, plus a Web Lurker! Lob was the first knocked unconscious, but everyone took turns as the spiders and web lurker savagely attacked. Ezren used sleep to knock some of the spiders out, but each woke up over time as the noise of the battle persisted. When all seemed lost, Corny the cleric dragged Lob outside to revive him. Ezren was webbed to the wall and used his summoned eagle to attack the web lurker from behind. Grease caused a slipping hazard, and the web lurker took some time to rise to the occasion. One by one, the intrepid party took turns being knocked unconscious. Eventually, after much impromptu healing potion drinking, Gunnar managed to send the web lurker fleeing.

As Gunnar headed down the corridor in pursuit, the lurker attacked from the shadows, destroying the fighter’s shield and knocking him out. Ezren eventually dispatched the creature with magic missiles and Lob took out the final giant spider as Corny lay unconscious.

The party rested in a room for the night, praying there were no more spiders in this place…  

Session 8 – Hell Hound Hassles (Troubles in Otari Part 3)

The party checked out the rest of the building, clearing rooms and determining how long it would take to make the place habitable. On the way they met Olli, a Scalliwing, who turned out to be very friendly. She even offered to look after the place for the party while they were away on adventures (for a good supply of fish, of course). Ezren the wizard crafted an automatic fishing rod for Olli to gain her trust (after he rudely said he’d charge her rent). Lob the goblin alchemist tried to reverse engineer an antivenom he found, but unfortunately was unsuccessful.

Corny the cleric made friends with Blue Findlay the ghost over some weed (Gunnar the fighter failed to make an impression – again), discovered the ghost’s magic sword under the floorboards and persuaded him the party would use it for adventuring. Satisfied that his grandmother’s sword would be put to good use, Findlay faded away.

It took 7 days to clean up the place, with the party realizing they needed to buy some locks to secure the building. Unfortunately, good locks are expensive, and the party was dirt poor. They headed into town to get some cheap locks, and were intercepted by Oloria Gallentine, owner of Gallentine Deliveries. Narala the centaur, Oloria’s courier, was missing and Oloria asked the party to find her and ensure her packages were delivered.

After interviewing some of the package receivers, the party headed up the Granary Road, encountering a farmer who was worried about Jala Highstepper, head of the Farmer’s Guild, who hadn’t returned from a farm up the road. She was investigating incidences of arson in the area. The party promised to find her and went to the farm up the road, where they discovered a Hell Hound and 2 wolves ransacking the place. After a violent battle, the party emerged victorious. Jala and the farm owner thanked them for their help and, after a brief rest, the adventurers moved on to see if they could find the courier and perhaps the summoning source of the hell hound arsonist…

Next: Stone the Crows!

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