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After successfully running Savage Tide for a group of seasoned vets a year or two ago, I have taken on the strange and sometimes frustrating task of teaching Pathfinder to a bunch of new gamers("Isn't D&D that game where you dress up and stuff?" new, not "Oh yeah, I played that back in high school" new). The campaign of choice? Savage Tide.
Perhaps you're reading this because you're a fan of Savage Tide. Perhaps you're just curious what happens when completely inexperienced players attempt the long and arduous journey to save the world from Demogorgon. Either way, read on.
The Players:
Radascot, also called Orky - a Kitsune rogue disguised as a Human
Obediah - a Human barbarian whose endless rage was born the day he saw his village destroyed by the Crimson Fleet
Soupy, real name unknown - a dour Human ranger, trained in the military arts
Zuran - a Human sorcerer who draws his arcane power from an undead ancestor
Slurry - a Dwarven cleric of Gorum, who revels in destruction, strength, and precious metals
Session 1
Orky, Soupy, and their anger-prone comrade Obediah answer Lavinia Vanderboren's invitation for adventurers and make a drunken spectacle of themselves in her mansion(the equally drunken but more charming Zuran escapes disgrace). The Jade Ravens are less than impressed as they leave for their own mission, certain that they will not be replaced any time soon by these pathetic losers.
Despite their uncouth manners, Lavinia is confident in their reputations. The trio thwarted a Meravanchi family land scheme that would have wiped out a small and relatively harmless tribe of goblins, and only recently removed a corrupt mayor from office in a backwater town. Zuran has likewise distinguished himself by protecting a traveling noble from a gang of brigands. She offers them 200gp each to board her impounded ship and locate her father's signet ring, which they accept.
Orky, secretly aided by his Kitsune ability to assume any humanoid form, investigates the Blue Nixie and proposes disguising himself as Soller Vark, the scurvy scum that pocketed Lavinia's slip fees and continues to hold her ship for the harbormaster. The group agrees and observes Vark from afar until he has gone below for the night.
Soupy positions himself behind some crates on the dock to cover his comrades with a longbow, while Zuran and Obediah row out to the Blue Nixie with "Soller Vark." Vark's thugs are confused when their employer boards the ship with his "new associates," but Orky's disguise and acting trump their incredibly weak perceptive powers. Stealthily knocking out one of the thugs and stealing his clothes, Zuran positions himself near the wheel of the ship. Orky and Obediah make their way into the stern of the ship, the barbarian narrowly avoiding some sleeping thugs while the rogue, still disguised as Soller Vark, searches the captain's cabin. Orky pockets the 100 platinum pieces for himself, as well as the strange riddle rolled inside the Vanderboren signet ring.
Unfortunately for the party, Soller Vark emerges from below decks and the crew quickly dissolves into anarchy as Vark and the disguised Orky order them to kill the imposter. Due to Vark's low Charisma, he only manages to get one of the thugs on his side and Soupy dispatches him from afar. Zuran aims a spell at Vark and offers him a clean surrender.
Vark elects to skewer the sorcerer instead and turns his attention to Orky, rapier against dagger. The rogue is no match for Vark's skill and can do little more than defend himself from Vark's sword. Zuran, clutching his bleeding side, misses with his acid splash and fires magic missles until the barbarian has cleared a path for himself. Obediah charges and buries his battleaxe in Vark's chest. The scoundrel screams, "Burn them all! Burn everything!" and falls over, choking on his own blood.
Obediah takes a moment to cleave Soller Vark's head from his body, keeping the head as a trophy. The smell of smoke and the sound of screaming animals rises from the grate in the deck...
Wow, and I thought I was gonna have it rough. Good luck with the newbies!