Introduction

I previously posted some warts-and-all email summaries of the ‘Curse of Strahd’ DnD 5e 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, the ‘Shadows over Saltmarsh’ campaign from 2021-22, and my current Pathfinder 2e campaign, ‘Vaults of Otari‘. 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 can use them for this column. Now, I post summaries to Roll20 after each session.

Here are the session summaries from my first Dragonbane campaign which I started running in 2024 after buying the Dragonbane Starter Set. It includes adventures from that set, plus homebrewed content. We recently finished the campaign, after 38 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). Some will be more detailed than others.

Steve 🙂

Spoiler Alert: This summary contains spoilers for the adventure Draaken’s Heart, available on DrivethruRPG at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/534002/draakenslund-adventures-5-draaken-s-heart

Session 32 – The Return of the Key

The return of Kris the brave halfling and Kalgrim the artisanal dwarf from the dead had left the party in a state of shock. Kris appealed to Orla Moonsilver the elvish hunter, still despondent from the loss of her friend Astra. After some discussion, Orla accepted that Kris and Astra had combined into one person with shared memories. This consoled the angry elf somewhat, and the two bonded again.

Kalgrim had returned without any armor or clothes, just his beard to cover himself. As he searched for his weapons (and the others averted their eyes), he realized he was quite fond of his newfound freedom. Henceforth, he would be Naked Kalgrim!

The party decided to search for treasure on top of the blood demon’s cliff. Kris climbed to the top with Naked Kalgrim not far behind, and the two recovered some treasure from amongst the many bones scattered across the clifftop. Naked Kalgrim realized the bones that formed the skeletons they fought earlier must have been swept off the top of the cliff by the blood demon.

The party headed north to find another cave and another cliff face. Kris scaled it easily, attaching a grappling hook and rope for the others. Atop the cliff were piles of bleached and worn bones. Archmaster Aodhan the mage correctly guessed this may have been the demon’s previous lair – perhaps she had moved because of the dragon’s presence in the main chapel?

As Kris and Naked Kalgrim searched the bones, several meter-long albino centipedes sprung forth from their hiding places, biting both Kris and the dwarf. Poison rushed through the halfling’s veins as she fled to the rope and slid down to the cave floor. Aodhan suggested a nearby pond might contain water tinged with Waajina’s healing magic, so Kris stumbled for the water. The mage wrapped a tourniquet to slow the poison as the halfling drank from the clear spring. She passed out, but managed to rally herself soon after.

Zog attempted to summon his power fists but his spell backfired, leaving him somewhat despondent.

Aodhan climbed the rope to help the ailing Naked Kalgrim, but as the mage’s head reached the top, one of the meter-long centipedes’ mandibles tore his cheek open. Poison coursed through his veins as he slipped down the rope.  

Orla’s lithe form scaled the cliff easily and she set herself up on the far lip, taking pot shots with her bow. Unfortunately, her first few arrows missed the centipedes. Zog struggled to the top to find Naked Kalgrim’s unconscious, poisoned form. Orla fired a masterful twin shot through Zog’s legs to take out two of the insects, and the rest scuttled away.

Kris fed Aodhan some water, then shimmied up the rope with some more spring water and fed some to Naked Kalgrim, who had been healed by Zog with the aid of some strategically placed bandages. With Kris, Aodhan and Naked Kalgrim all exhausted from the centipedes’ poison, and everyone drained or injured, the party rested for a short while. Unfortunately, the three poisoned party members could not shake their exhaustion – a good night’s rest was required.

The party opted to go to Venge to return the key they had recovered. Zog got stuck in the narrow twisting tunnels (as usual) as did some of the others, but a short tug of war with the party and he was finally through.

The huge dragon seemed even more anxious and sweaty than before. Kalgrim provided Venge with the key, which the dragon snatched and cradled like a baby. Kalgrim gained the silver Fellsword on behalf of the party, as well as the final missing piece of Eledain’s statue.

As the party members made their way to the exit, Venge headed to Waajina’s central temple room to bathe in the light of the statues. Kris wondered what ray he would use and why he had been going through withdrawal.

Outside, dark, roiling clouds gathered. A red mist arose from the Lake of Mists and spread across the land… 

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