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).

Cheers

Steve 🙂

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

Session 76 – The Island & the Vault

The Otari 2600s crept carefully through the tunnel with Lob the goblin alchemist and Vydar the ranger leading the way. Around the corner the pair spotted a set of massive doors with an ornate lock at their center.

Vydar scouted ahead, spotting two more tunnels. He passed an area of curious dried black ooze and avoided it. The tunnel to the west led off into darkness; the tunnel south led to the lake’s edge with waves lapping against a slimy, moss-covered stone bridge.

Vydar returned to the group to find Lob checking the door lock. Joining the goblin, they realized the lock had possibly the trickiest tumbler mechanism they’d ever seen. Perhaps a key might lie within the vault they had been told about? Or perhaps this was the vault? The party elected to move on to the south tunnel.

The dilapidated stone bridge arched over the water to a small island, covered with foul smelling fungi. Ezren the wizard strode across to see if he could find any useful mushrooms. Reaching the other side, an overpowering stench almost knocked him over. A giant mound of moss, fungi and offal rose from the ground, growing in height to almost ten feet. The Ofalth punched the wizard, almost knocking him off his feet.

Gunnar the fighter leapt over the bridge to the island shore and lunged at the monster, striking deeply with his scimitar. The Ofalth slammed the big fighter’s shield. Vydar peppered the creature with arrows. Lob tossed several bombs and Corny telekinetically projected several stones. The creature flung disgusting wads of offal at the party, knocking Ezren unconscious. Finally, Corny dispatched the creature with a projected rock. It collapsed into a pile of refuse and fungi.

An investigation of the island proved fruitless. Gunnar frowned as he noted dark shapes moving in the water offshore. Lob’s darkvision allowed him to see a stone structure emerging from the cliff face in the distance to the south. Noting a sliver of ledge in front of the structure, he launched a magic bolt line over to the far wall across the water. It magically changed into a secured rope, which the little goblin shimmied across, keeping clear of the lapping waves. 

The ledge was extremely narrow and covered with lichens. An iron, vault-like door in front of the stone structure appeared to be locked, but when Lob eyed the keyhole the tumblers were all open – it was unlocked. The little goblin called to the others. Gunnar crossed the rope, dipping dangerously into the water when he reached the midpoint. The others elected to wait while Lob and Gunnar checked the door.

Without checking for traps, Lob swung open the vault door. A massive blast of force energy sent the two adventurers hurtling into the water. They quickly recovered, pulling themselves up onto the ledge as dark shapes shimmied through the water towards them. With the door open, the two rushed into a stone room with a clay statue of Belcorra by the south wall and several exit doors across the room. The statue was actually a clay golem – it stepped menacingly towards Lob and Gunnar, pounding them with powerful clay fists. Gunnar struck back, realizing his sword had only limited effect. Time to retreat!

Ezren and Corny the cleric shimmied over the rope. Upon seeing the golem, Ezren decided to dimension door back to the island in a hasty retreat. Vydar reached almost to the end of the rope as Gunnar and Lob rushed from the room, slamming the vault door behind them. The golem didn’t follow.

Somewhat relieved, the party made their way back to the island. While Corny treated their wounds, the Otari 2600s discussed their plans to take on the creature. Ezren recalled some things about a clay golem’s strengths and weaknesses, and so the group planned appropriately. They decided to rest up before attacking the monster and made their way to the tunnel the gogitheth had attacked from, in the hopes they might find a secure cave. The gogiteth’s body had been dragged away into the fungi forest, but the tunnel to its lair revealed a spur off the main cavern that would suit the party’s needs. Ezren cast an alarm spell at the entrance, and the weary adventurers settled down to rest, contemplating their plan for the next morning…

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