Introduction

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 started playing PF2e, we commenced with the Beginner’s Box, progressed to Troubles in Otari and then to the Abomination Vaults campaign. The players, calling themselves the “Otari 2600s” (it’s amusing if you’re old enough to remember lol), are still currently playing the campaign every Sunday night!

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).

Steve 🙂

Warning: These summaries contain spoilers for Paizo’s Abomination Vaults campaign

Session 58 – The Devil’s Quandary

Ezren the wizard finally woke up from his narcoleptic slumber, and after drinking and eating ravenously, decided to reconstitute his missing familiar, this time as a lemur called George (used bird stats modified with bite only, move 20 ft. climb 20 ft.). He gave it the special ability to change into a child form with the intention of using it for laboring work(!).

The Otari 2600s headed back to the dungeon, down to the teleportation circles and finally back to the level where they fought the devils and Vydar the ranger lost his life (albeit temporarily). There they found several open doors, and following the path (with the exit doors locked behind them), were confronted by the fact the huge, red, pentagram-inscribed doors they had passed before were now open.

A ruggedly handsome devil stepped forward, the long rolls of parchment hanging from his horns curling up, then unrolling again. “Friends, friends! Weapons away. Truly, I am happy to see you.” The devil turned to its two bearded devil bodyguards. “Stand down, you two. I doubt they are arrogant enough to fight us. I am Urevian, phistophilus and contracted agent of Belcorra, but I assure you I am no enemy of yours. You seek to vanquish her? Put an end to her murderous spirit, the threat she poses to mortal life, et cetera, et cetera? Then perhaps we can broker a deal—one that greatly benefits both of us with a minimal number of precious lives lost.”

Urevian invited the party into his lair and sat behind a grand desk. Gunnar the fighter was understandably cautious, shield and warhammer at the ready. Vydar the ranger was surprisingly nonchalant, considering his recent brush with death at the hands of devils. Corny the LG cleric was very uncomfortable, while Lob the goblin alchemist was interested in what the devil had to say.

Urevian continued. “Simply put, you are the third-party agents I need to get out of this dreadful place and return home. You see, there is something I want but am not allowed to go and get myself, nor can I employ any infernal agents to retrieve it. No, the hands of a mortal foe of Belcorra must deliver me my prize. My devils are valueless in this regard, as are my fleshwarp soldiers.

“The contract was written with the intent that Belcorra alone could give me the prize as my payment. Which, of course, she will not until I have given her the full measure of service the contract requires. However, a very technical reading means any of her foes can also provide it—and you have thus far conclusively demonstrated that you oppose her.

“I require the soul of Carman Rajani. In his living body, if possible, though I can make do should he… perish. I can return his soul from the River of Souls via a ritual if he is killed.

“I say it is a lesser evil to turn over the soul of one corrupted individual than to allow an entire town’s destruction. Far less bloodshed on all sides. I do not want to raze Otari, and I don’t want to kill you. However, the contract I have with Belcorra requires that as long as I remain within her employ, I must pursue the domination of the surface world and the destruction of her enemies. Once my contract ends, so does my obligation to her. All I need is the soul of Carman Rajani to fulfill the contract.

“His soul is already damned for lying, cheating, theft, vandalism, destruction of property, arson, abuse of power, blackmail—even a murder. It is quite clear where he shall go in the afterlife. You would simply cut out the bureaucracy by giving him to me directly.”

“In return I will give you peace for Otari. I will leave, taking all of my devils with me. And when I go, the barrier preventing you from getting to the lower level will disappear. If you would like, I can direct my fleshwarp minions to clear away the blocked staircase, giving you a second way down.”

The party discussed the offer at length amongst themselves: Gunnar was hesitant to help out any evil creature, especially by giving them someone’s soul, innocent or not. Corny realized the greater good might be served but was still in two minds. Lob had no problem with it and Vydar agreed with the goblin. Ezren wanted to know whether he could summon Urevian any time he wanted as part of the deal, but baulked at signing a contract for it.   

Two Erinyes and a Barbed devil hovered around the proceedings while the party talked, reminding them of just what they were up against.

The party decided to head back to town to find Carman. Lob, Gunnar and Vydar went to Blades and Glades, Rajani’s shop, finding it looted, boarded up and empty. A receipt book indicated Rajani was in debt and frequently drew down money from the business.

Corny spent some time in the Dawnflower Library asking for guidance from Sarenrae, but the best advice he could get was “follow your heart”. Vandy Banderdash noted she didn’t like Carman and the damage he had done to her library, and would quite happily to turn over his soul if it were her, however it was Corny’s decision and one he had to live with.

Vydar spent some time at the Rowdy Rockfish, drinking and asking about Carman. Even though Rajani was not well liked and was linked to gambling, brawling, bribery and black mailing, it was hard to confirm any of it as most people didn’t know Rajani all that well. He was referred to the mayor and the thieves’ guild for more information.

Eventually everyone met for dinner. Gunnar sat outside the Rowdy Rockfish nursing an ale, and Valeros (the party’s original fighter who was killed by a green dragon wyrmling) appeared to him in a vision. Unfortunately, the two were so alike that confirmation bias simply confirmed what Gunnar already believed.

Lob, Gunnar and Vydar headed to Rajani’s house, to see whether he might be holed up there. Corny and Ezren headed to the Dawnflower library to buy some holy water. On the way Ezren pointed out he agreed with the fact it was incredibly difficult to weigh one man’s soul against thousands of others. Vydar picked the lock on the back door to Carman’s house. The three entered and Gunnar called out. Carman, still a fugitive because of the fire at the library and for stealing the sword of his ancestor Vol Rajani, came forward and answered questions about the relationship of the devils to his family and why they might want his soul. He had no idea why. With nothing achieved, the party left him alone and headed back to the inn for the night. Gunnar stood watch to see if Rajani might try to escape that night.   

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