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), have now finished the campaign after 85 Sunday night sessions!

I apologize in advance for the writing in these summaries – they’re a bit raw and not fancy at all (I didn’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 74 – Yldaris

Nyzuros led the Otari 2600s down the spiralling path known as the ‘devil’s sphincter’ until they reached the bottom (forgive the pun!). Here, they entered the Drow outpost Yldaris. After leaving their weapons (much to Gunnar the fighter’s chagrin) with the Drow guards, Nyzuros took them to meet the Drow leader, Quara.

Quara radiated calm command and curiosity. She was joined by the stern-looking Salaisa Malthulas, commander of the outpost’s wardens, and the strange twin drow cavern seers, Bhazrade and Klathor, who remained quietly at a distance. Quara did the talking, speaking Undercommon.

“You have the look of surface dwellers. I’ve never met any of your kind, but I’ve seen artwork. Strange, you are not nearly as ugly as our art makes you out to be. I am Quara Orshendiel, leader of this outpost. Let’s figure out whether or not we can help one another.”

Ezren the wizard and Lob the goblin alchemist were the only members of the party that could speak Undercommon, and Lob preferred to keep his language skills secret, so Ezren introduced them all and outlined their adventures up to that point, embellishing where needed (and where not). Quara nodded along, smiling during the humorous bits and sympathizing with the hardships (especially those Gunnar had faced along the way).

At the end of the conversation, Quara said, “You’ve given me some things to think about. Thank you.” She invited the heroes to stay in the outpost’s overflow lodging while she considered their story. Quara spent a few hours thinking while the party discussed their plans and any questions they might ask her when next they met.

A few hours later Quara called the heroes back. “I believe you’ve been truthful with me, so I’m going to be truthful with you.” she said. “Yldaris only exists at Belcorra’s pleasure. It was here when she first created her vast dungeons; at the time, my grandfather was its leader. Belcorra made allies of several groups, including drow, the urdefans to the west, and the deep gnomes above, who have embraced undeath. To each, she gave a large magical lens with strange powers. For safekeeping, I believe. Ours was the Ochre Fulcrum Lens and it could manipulate emotions.

“But there was more to the lens. My grandfather told my father, Larathols, who became Yldaris’s leader after him, but my father never told me.” Quara sighed. “I was never meant to lead. My older sister was to succeed my father. They both embarked on a secret expedition a few years ago. On an island in the great lake, the urdefhan warlord Khurfel caught and killed them. Their expedition had something to do with the lens, I believe, and I suspect my father had it with him. Perhaps he hid it someplace; perhaps Khurfel took it. I don’t know.

“Belcorra came to me as a ghost shortly afterward. She insisted I swear Yldaris’s support and aid in a surface invasion that drives her even in death. For the good of Yldaris, I renewed the vows my grandfather made. But I’ve never felt bound by mere words. I won’t help her. I’ll help you. You’re welcome in Yldaris as long as you’d like.”

Then, Bhazrade and Klathor spoke. “There is more…” one of the twins said, their mouths moving in unison making it hard to tell which was speaking. “…you should know,” the other drow continued. This plainly piqued Quara’s interest, and she motioned for the brothers to go on. “The ochre lens lies in a dark and wet place. Khurfel didn’t claim it. Larathols dropped it in the water to deny it to his enemy. He died attempting to learn more of its purpose, more than the partial truth we know,” one twin said. “We have seen in a vision that the stones both empower the ghost queen and hold the key to her demise. They are slivers of something ancient, alien, evil, and hungry,” the other continued. “We saw eyes of Empty Death!” they cried in unison. “She separated the lenses because, together, they draw the baleful attention of the Empty Death. Even the Ghost Queen cannot withstand the Empty Death when their powers are joined within her. The secrets to the lenses are in the old treasure vault, which overlooks the lake. Find the lenses and the answers Larathols sought.”

The twin seers fell silent again, and Quara looked back to the heroes. “I would say you get used to Bhazrade and Klathor, but one never does. Let me assure you that when they do speak, it’s important. This is all news to me, but their words benefit Yldaris, and you as well.”

As the party asked questions, Quara stood closer to them and mentioned she wanted Khurfel killed and his rhoka sword brought to her as a trophy. As pragmatic as Quara was, she carried the common drow vice of vengeance. She emphasized to the heroes that Khurfel would never part with the lens while he drew breath, so defeating him was necessary in any case.

Having now formed an alliance with the party, Quara gave them free reign of the outpost and returned their weapons (with a warning not to start trouble). She advised they could trade and rest in Yldaris while exploring the Vaults. The party sold numerous items and bought more magic items to help their cause. Corny the cleric cast continual flame on some dull gray aeon stones – the party now had ‘hands free’ lighting options. 

After two days they were prepared to re-enter the Vaults to find the other fulcrum lenses. Nyzaros led them to a secret door to the Hunting Grounds, past a cavern full of fungus and wild giant lizards, to a massive cave filled with 30 ft. tall mushrooms and thick fungi undergrowth. Dark shapes moved through the forest to the north. “The caligni have a tower over there,” said the scout, pointing northwards. “They have summoned demons that wander the fungi, guarding it. Steer clear of them by hugging the cavern’s eastern wall until you reach the far north, then turn west to travel to the lake. This will save you heading directly to the lake and drawing attention…”

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