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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #137 Into the Mere of the Dead Men Part 2.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8395705" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #062a: The Goat Started It.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 7 (Sidekick)</strong></p><p><strong><s><strong>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </strong></s>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong><s><strong>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</strong></s> RETIRED</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Servants/Familiars</strong></p><p><strong>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</strong></p><p><strong>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 62a, we had a week off last week because my brother (Kev playing Ram) and his Mrs went off-grid for a short while, but now we're back.</p><p></p><p>And we're still Giant Goat racing, or at least some of us are...</p><p></p><p>If you remember from the previous session last place in the race (by far) is Newt. The tabaxi was formerly riding Belphegoat, however he blasted the beast in the last session (actually Belphegoat was savaged dead by a worg runt). Anyway, Newt isn't happy, it's a default setting (at times). The warlock is at present standing knee deep in a fast running stream (water isn't his element of choice) and is being attacked by an orc warrior accompanied by a pair of worgs.</p><p></p><p>The tabaxi is taking hits, he's bloodied already.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but the other runners and riders in the race are-</p><p></p><p>Inverna rides Big Vern.</p><p>Ram rides Spartacus.</p><p>Vinnie rides Vin Van Goat, and has a four giant goat entourage.</p><p>Daktari rides Horny Pony.</p><p></p><p>But then Ram, the dare-devil hero (sorta) hears Newt's screams (he had to pass a check to do so), and then manages to slow, stop and turn Spartacus. He dashes back towards the fray. The rogue arrives just in time to sink an arrow into the back of the orc warrior slicing the warlock.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]143569[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Ram's here to save the day. Note Newt is, as usual, surrounded by death. Nice.</strong></p><p></p><p>Then Newt gets blasting, and the orc warrior and one of the worg runts die- and once again all is well with the world.</p><p></p><p>Newt has some more temporary hit points and the fight is all but over- just one more mangy worg.</p><p></p><p>Then however yet another orc warrior emerges from the trees and buries both of its handaxes in the tabaxi.</p><p></p><p>Who is back to swearing and shouting again.</p><p></p><p>I think I've mentioned this before- Newt rants, or else Bear playing Newt rants. The great thing about Newt's rants are that the volume of the oratory wavers constantly- so he'll start off with something whispered and hissed.</p><p></p><p>“I will not succumb to your pathetic efforts you loathsome stinking pile of foetid...”</p><p></p><p>All low register- threats.</p><p></p><p>Then suddenly he'll start shouting...</p><p></p><p>But here's the thing- when he goes top-end his microphone can't handle it and it cuts out- it's as if the audio is censoring Newt's ranting shouts.</p><p></p><p>“I WILL [----] YOU, IN THE NAME OF [----] AND ALL THAT IS [----]! YOU [----]! [----]! AND ON FIRE!”</p><p></p><p>Most amusing.</p><p></p><p>But back to the what happened next...</p><p></p><p>The fight is pretty nasty (if your Newt- the worg takes another bite out of the tabaxi) but the outcome is never in doubt, although when the fracas comes to an end- with all enemies dead, Spartacus (Ram's ride) has also, alas, fled the scene.</p><p></p><p>Giant goats love to run.</p><p></p><p>[More orcs and worgs die 500 XP]</p><p></p><p>The rogue however manages to swiftly coral the beast, and then climb back aboard.</p><p></p><p>It's at this point that Ram spots the half-burnt and all-blasted remains of Belphegoat, “What happened?” He foolishly enquires of his tabaxi colleague.</p><p></p><p>“It broke, or... I broke it, we had a disagreement and we fought! I was victorious- as always!” Newt replies with a hiss.</p><p></p><p>“You killed your own goat? Belphegoat?” Ram's eyes widen, as Newt describes his new low.</p><p></p><p>But, “Yes! What of it!”, Newt will not be questioned.</p><p></p><p>“I bet I know who started the fight.” Ram adds as he walks Spartacus through the fast running stream, and then away from Newt.</p><p></p><p>“It started the fight!”, the tabaxi points accusingly at the shattered remains of Belphegoat, “When it threw me in the river!” Newt makes this very clear, and then adds- “Let me climb aboard, your beast can carry us both to the portal.”</p><p></p><p>“Nope.” Ram replies, as the rogue and his giant goat dash off back along the track, leaving the cursing and shouting tabaxi very quickly behind.</p><p></p><p>[Always pleasant chatting with Newt 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>Ram finishes the race second to last, Newt finishes ten or so minutes after the rogue.</p><p></p><p>He's not happy.</p><p></p><p>Surprise, surprise. </p><p></p><p>But the winner of the giant goat race is...</p><p></p><p>Well, it goes down to the wire- there are a few more hazards for the three front runners (Vinnie, Daktari & Inverna) to overcome, including a series of rock slides and tumbling boulders set loose from the scree sloped sides of the ravine here.</p><p></p><p>There's also an old rotten wooden cart parked on the bridge that signifies the end of the race, and yet remarkably- even with Vinnie so far ahead, its Daktari who has it within his grasp to finish first (initiative is the barbarian's friend). </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]143570[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Vinnie just has to get across the bridge, and he's employing his goat entourage as blockers for the home straight. He really does want to win this- they all do (Did = Newt, and Ram).</strong></p><p></p><p>[Goat Race hazards 200 XP]</p><p></p><p>Alas, at the vital moment the Sky Pony barbarian fails to keep control of his mount- Horny Goat, and even after spending an inspiration point to attempt the check again.</p><p></p><p>Daktari ends his turn only ten feet short of the finish line, and mere seconds later- of course, is swiftly overtaken by Vinnie and his goat train.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]143571[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Initiative, it can be a bugger- not controlling Horny Goat costs Daktari the win, ten feet further (off the bridge) and that's the finish line. Note Inverna is in second here, she too will pip Daktari to the post.</strong></p><p></p><p>The druid, and his entourage, win the race.</p><p></p><p>[Vinnie FTW 1000 XP]</p><p></p><p>More remarkably Inverna with a glorious last minute sprint in which she aced every check manages to also pip Daktari to the post, the hired help comes in second- and she had the worst Ride: Giant Goat skill.</p><p></p><p>There is much rejoicing- and the paying of 10gp from each of the adventurers to Vinnie.</p><p></p><p>Except for Newt, the tabaxi doesn't pay, and after close questioning the reason is revealed. The sum total of the warlock's wealth is, well... I'll let him do it-</p><p></p><p>“I have one gold coin, 11 silver pieces and nearly 150 coppers. Don't worry Vincenzo, I'll pay you the full amount, when I have it. I always honour my debts.” The tabaxi hisses- part promise, part threat.</p><p></p><p>I love this guy- at least one of the other PCs has over a thousand gp salted away, but Newt- well, later on he finishes the condemned gnome- Arty Swell's, dinner (we'll get to this), he barely has money for food.</p><p></p><p>So, Newt turns up- eventually, and then guided by Sgt Dibbledob and Cpl Fiddlesticks- the gnome guards, remember, the Dark Squad et al head into the depths of the forest, and there discover the secret portal to Squabblepot.</p><p></p><p>The two gnomes ensure that each member of the Dark Squad first swears never to reveal the location of the portal. Although, none of the PCs know where the location actually is on the Dreadwood map anyway. That was, after all, the purpose of the race...</p><p></p><p>And then we tele-portal to Squabblepot, leaving the giant goats behind.</p><p></p><p>Although... the portal, it's an odd looking device- and so, as always, the members of the Dark Squad have questions, and furthermore they desire to make various skill checks.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]143572[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Squabblepot Portal.</strong></p><p></p><p>Eventually, and it takes a while, Newt recognises the symbol- although he's no idea what the design represents, it looks like an image that was woven into the blanket he slept in when he was a child back in his family home. A blanket that his parents brought with them when they escaped from bondage in Chult.</p><p></p><p>Most odd.</p><p></p><p>[The Squabblepot portal 100 XP]</p><p></p><p>But that's all for now, session 62b and the Dark Squad's investigation is next up, see you there.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Save Arty Swell.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><p style="text-align: left"> To the Moon Pool.</p> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><p style="text-align: left"> Goblins in the Dreadwood.</p> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><p style="text-align: left"> Nightshade in the Dreadwood.</p> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><p style="text-align: left"> To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.</p> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><p style="text-align: left"> Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame.</p> </li> </ol><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8395705, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #062a: The Goat Started It. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7 New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7 NPCs Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 7 (Sidekick) [S][B]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/B][/S]RIP* [S][B]Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard[/B][/S] RETIRED *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Servants/Familiars Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar[/B] This is session 62a, we had a week off last week because my brother (Kev playing Ram) and his Mrs went off-grid for a short while, but now we're back. And we're still Giant Goat racing, or at least some of us are... If you remember from the previous session last place in the race (by far) is Newt. The tabaxi was formerly riding Belphegoat, however he blasted the beast in the last session (actually Belphegoat was savaged dead by a worg runt). Anyway, Newt isn't happy, it's a default setting (at times). The warlock is at present standing knee deep in a fast running stream (water isn't his element of choice) and is being attacked by an orc warrior accompanied by a pair of worgs. The tabaxi is taking hits, he's bloodied already. Oh, but the other runners and riders in the race are- Inverna rides Big Vern. Ram rides Spartacus. Vinnie rides Vin Van Goat, and has a four giant goat entourage. Daktari rides Horny Pony. But then Ram, the dare-devil hero (sorta) hears Newt's screams (he had to pass a check to do so), and then manages to slow, stop and turn Spartacus. He dashes back towards the fray. The rogue arrives just in time to sink an arrow into the back of the orc warrior slicing the warlock. [ATTACH type="full"]143569[/ATTACH] [B]Ram's here to save the day. Note Newt is, as usual, surrounded by death. Nice.[/B] Then Newt gets blasting, and the orc warrior and one of the worg runts die- and once again all is well with the world. Newt has some more temporary hit points and the fight is all but over- just one more mangy worg. Then however yet another orc warrior emerges from the trees and buries both of its handaxes in the tabaxi. Who is back to swearing and shouting again. I think I've mentioned this before- Newt rants, or else Bear playing Newt rants. The great thing about Newt's rants are that the volume of the oratory wavers constantly- so he'll start off with something whispered and hissed. “I will not succumb to your pathetic efforts you loathsome stinking pile of foetid...” All low register- threats. Then suddenly he'll start shouting... But here's the thing- when he goes top-end his microphone can't handle it and it cuts out- it's as if the audio is censoring Newt's ranting shouts. “I WILL [----] YOU, IN THE NAME OF [----] AND ALL THAT IS [----]! YOU [----]! [----]! AND ON FIRE!” Most amusing. But back to the what happened next... The fight is pretty nasty (if your Newt- the worg takes another bite out of the tabaxi) but the outcome is never in doubt, although when the fracas comes to an end- with all enemies dead, Spartacus (Ram's ride) has also, alas, fled the scene. Giant goats love to run. [More orcs and worgs die 500 XP] The rogue however manages to swiftly coral the beast, and then climb back aboard. It's at this point that Ram spots the half-burnt and all-blasted remains of Belphegoat, “What happened?” He foolishly enquires of his tabaxi colleague. “It broke, or... I broke it, we had a disagreement and we fought! I was victorious- as always!” Newt replies with a hiss. “You killed your own goat? Belphegoat?” Ram's eyes widen, as Newt describes his new low. But, “Yes! What of it!”, Newt will not be questioned. “I bet I know who started the fight.” Ram adds as he walks Spartacus through the fast running stream, and then away from Newt. “It started the fight!”, the tabaxi points accusingly at the shattered remains of Belphegoat, “When it threw me in the river!” Newt makes this very clear, and then adds- “Let me climb aboard, your beast can carry us both to the portal.” “Nope.” Ram replies, as the rogue and his giant goat dash off back along the track, leaving the cursing and shouting tabaxi very quickly behind. [Always pleasant chatting with Newt 250 XP] Ram finishes the race second to last, Newt finishes ten or so minutes after the rogue. He's not happy. Surprise, surprise. But the winner of the giant goat race is... Well, it goes down to the wire- there are a few more hazards for the three front runners (Vinnie, Daktari & Inverna) to overcome, including a series of rock slides and tumbling boulders set loose from the scree sloped sides of the ravine here. There's also an old rotten wooden cart parked on the bridge that signifies the end of the race, and yet remarkably- even with Vinnie so far ahead, its Daktari who has it within his grasp to finish first (initiative is the barbarian's friend). [ATTACH type="full"]143570[/ATTACH] [B]Vinnie just has to get across the bridge, and he's employing his goat entourage as blockers for the home straight. He really does want to win this- they all do (Did = Newt, and Ram).[/B] [Goat Race hazards 200 XP] Alas, at the vital moment the Sky Pony barbarian fails to keep control of his mount- Horny Goat, and even after spending an inspiration point to attempt the check again. Daktari ends his turn only ten feet short of the finish line, and mere seconds later- of course, is swiftly overtaken by Vinnie and his goat train. [ATTACH type="full"]143571[/ATTACH] [B]Initiative, it can be a bugger- not controlling Horny Goat costs Daktari the win, ten feet further (off the bridge) and that's the finish line. Note Inverna is in second here, she too will pip Daktari to the post.[/B] The druid, and his entourage, win the race. [Vinnie FTW 1000 XP] More remarkably Inverna with a glorious last minute sprint in which she aced every check manages to also pip Daktari to the post, the hired help comes in second- and she had the worst Ride: Giant Goat skill. There is much rejoicing- and the paying of 10gp from each of the adventurers to Vinnie. Except for Newt, the tabaxi doesn't pay, and after close questioning the reason is revealed. The sum total of the warlock's wealth is, well... I'll let him do it- “I have one gold coin, 11 silver pieces and nearly 150 coppers. Don't worry Vincenzo, I'll pay you the full amount, when I have it. I always honour my debts.” The tabaxi hisses- part promise, part threat. I love this guy- at least one of the other PCs has over a thousand gp salted away, but Newt- well, later on he finishes the condemned gnome- Arty Swell's, dinner (we'll get to this), he barely has money for food. So, Newt turns up- eventually, and then guided by Sgt Dibbledob and Cpl Fiddlesticks- the gnome guards, remember, the Dark Squad et al head into the depths of the forest, and there discover the secret portal to Squabblepot. The two gnomes ensure that each member of the Dark Squad first swears never to reveal the location of the portal. Although, none of the PCs know where the location actually is on the Dreadwood map anyway. That was, after all, the purpose of the race... And then we tele-portal to Squabblepot, leaving the giant goats behind. Although... the portal, it's an odd looking device- and so, as always, the members of the Dark Squad have questions, and furthermore they desire to make various skill checks. [ATTACH type="full"]143572[/ATTACH] [B]The Squabblepot Portal.[/B] Eventually, and it takes a while, Newt recognises the symbol- although he's no idea what the design represents, it looks like an image that was woven into the blanket he slept in when he was a child back in his family home. A blanket that his parents brought with them when they escaped from bondage in Chult. Most odd. [The Squabblepot portal 100 XP] But that's all for now, session 62b and the Dark Squad's investigation is next up, see you there. The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this- [LIST=1] [*] Save Arty Swell. [*][LEFT] To the Moon Pool.[/LEFT] [*][LEFT] Goblins in the Dreadwood.[/LEFT] [*][LEFT] Nightshade in the Dreadwood.[/LEFT] [*][LEFT] To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.[/LEFT] [*][LEFT] Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame.[/LEFT] [/LIST] Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #137 Into the Mere of the Dead Men Part 2.
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