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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8385570" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #061: The Wild Goat Race (with PICTURES).Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7NPCsInverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 7 (Sidekick)<s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*<s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</s> RETIRED*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.Servants/FamiliarsGerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New TricksOwly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiarThis is session 61, we started at about 7.45 PM,  and finished at nearly 11.30- with a couple of short breaks and... we've still not finished the Wild Goat Race. We're seventeen turns into the event, which has been fairly hilarious throughout, maybe two or three more turns to play out next session- and then we'll be done.I did say it would take around twenty turns to play through, in the previous write-up.It's been great so far.It wasn't D&D, well- not really, it used D&D 5e rules (sorta) of course, but it was just car wars- only with giant goats, and a bunch of orcs, and a handful of zombies, and a myriad of other hazards.Grab a coffee, here we go.But first a little recap of the rules(-ish).Giant goats move forty feet, left to their own devices- they move and then dash (move again), that's eighty feet in a turn.PCs can, if they wish (which they all did- every turn), make a Ride: Giant Goat check at the start of their turn. If they pass this check (DC 15) then the they can 'control' their goat (including steer the beast). Additionally PCs in control of their giant goat can use their action to cause their mount to speed boost and dash again- total move 120 feet/turn, nice.Hang on to the horns!There are a bunch of hazards that need to be avoided, or else... well, you'll see. These hazards are much harder to avoid (or whatever) if the PC is not in control of their mount.Charging giant goats, and they're pretty much always charging, can make a free attack against any creature that stands in their path, if this attack hits then the target must make a DC 13 strength check or else be knocked prone. At which point the giant goat gets a free trample attack against the prone enemy. The giant goat then rushes on (continues with their move). Note the giant goat can make multiple attacks during its move, i.e. ram and trample as many folk in its path as it can get to.Note, regardless of the outcome of the goat's ram and/or trample attacks it continues to race, and dash on- generating, of course, plenty of opportunity attacks.All opportunity attacks however are made not against the giant goat but against it's rider, these attacks however are all at disadvantage. Keep in mind the dynamic is these giant goat's are really moving fast.The PCs are mostly just hanging on.I think that's it really... that's pretty much all of the rules that I've made-up/bent to fit, obviously there's a few other considerations for when the PC falls off the goat, but nothing extraordinary.Oh, but the runners and riders are-Inverna rides Big Vern.Ram rides Spartacus.Vinnie rides Vin Van Goat.Daktari rides Horny Pony, and last but by no means least-Newt rides Belphergoat.Also, probably worth mentioning that the race, sorta, has four parts to it, four sections to the track- I'll explain as I go on. I figure I can best tell this story using the screenshots that got taken at the time.Also worth reminding you that Newt has conjured his Mirror Images, atm Belphergoat looks to have three tabaxi's riding him.Here goes...[ATTACH=full]142907[/ATTACH]The first section of the race track (starts top left), as you can see Route #3 (top) is a doddle, while Route #1 (bottom) is a bit of a bugger, although there's also plenty happening on Route #2 (middle). Don't worry, the three Players and their PCs are all on different routes- but the guy on the easy route (#3) is going to get the hard route in part three of the race, and vice-versa. You'll see.Ram, on route #3- top track is having it easy.[ATTACH=full]142908[/ATTACH]Ram's giggling like a loon (top right), his fellow riders are a little less relaxed, they all really want to win this.Vinnie & Vin Van Goat charge on!Note, whenever the PCs come to a point on the map when there are multiple directions the goat can go they need to make another check to convince their mount to head in which ever direction they (the PC) are steering the beast. This check is much more difficult to do with an out of control giant goat.On the map these are marked as "Goat Which Way?"[ATTACH=full]142909[/ATTACH]Alas Vinnie charges around the corner and spies Zombies on the track, you can see Vin Van Goat has already trampled one.Vinnie's dice are mostly on fire, also he and Daktari (Sky Pony, remember) have got the best Ride: Giant Goat skills.Alas Ram's dice checks are less convincing.[ATTACH=full]142910[/ATTACH]The Druid is moving fast, and catching up with Ram- note the Goat Which Way? pictured here, and beyond (to the north east) represent Part 2 of the race.But keep in mind that Inverna has got the worst Ride: Giant Goat skill.Also, Newt and Daktari- both on the lower, longest route are also being hassled by orc archers, a pair of them generated when Newt rolled a '1' last session.Any '1' brings orcs- them's the rules.Newt gets shot twice (once a Mirror Image, the second hit's for him), and so slows enough to blast an orc archer to smithereens- just to get the temporary hit points.Daktari is having other troubles, he wrapped his goat (Horny Pony) around a tree trying to drift around a Goat Chicane, show off. The barbarian then fails to control the goat and/or extract it from the vegetation. A little later he takes to carrying Horny Goat along the track- rushing past a bemused looking orc archer en route."It iz my turn ride next time." He informs the confused orc.[Daktari carries Horny Pony 100 XP] [ATTACH=full]142911[/ATTACH]The largest pool of light (top) is Ram leading Vinnie. The smallest pool of light (middle) is Inverna and Vern Goat in the process of trying to mow down zombies. The other (lower) pool of light is Newt & Daktari, they're rushing through a canyon and avoiding rolling boulders. Clearly this pair are in last place.Here's Inverna...[ATTACH=full]142912[/ATTACH]Note, two of these zombies have been run over twice now- keep in mind this is comedy we're doing here.Then Vinnie goes for the nuclear option.[ATTACH=full]142913[/ATTACH]What's going on here? Vinnie has summoned four more Giant Goats, and while all the Giant Goats have got their headlights on- two of the summoned four are sporting blue flashing lights. Vinnie has a police-goat-style escort.[Vinne has a Giant Goat entourage 200 XP]This hazard (picture above) is called- 'When the Wind Blows", basically there's a gale blowing along here (from the circle to the circle). All riders must make a check for every ten feet their Giant Goat moves forward, failure and they're blown back ten feet.Vinnie gets bonuses because his entourage are sheltering him from the howling wind.He's catching up on Ram still.However...[ATTACH=full]142914[/ATTACH]Newt, who has been riding angry for a while now is further unimpressed- Zombies in the road ahead. Daktari in the meantime has gone off-road, trying to cut a corner, alas he then rolls a '1' and generates some orc warriors for him to play with.And here's what part two of the track looks like-[ATTACH=full]142915[/ATTACH]Why's the middle of the lake blacked out- well, all of the PCs got to make a perception check to spot the easter egg in there, but all of them failed roll. Note, this bit of the track is just a run around the lake, part three starts bottom right. But what's that? There's a log jam across the river exiting the lake at the very bottom of the map?So, here's the big picture-[ATTACH=full]142916[/ATTACH]Newt is riding over Zombies (middle left), with Inverna just ahead of the (now mostly furious) tabaxi. In the lead are Ram (on the right) being followed by Vinnie and his Giant Goat train. But what's this... Daktari is attempting to steer Horny Goat across the log-jam, the barbarian has found a short cut.[Daktari takes a short cut 100 XP]Note, all of the PCs except Daktari have used up their inspiration points.Which causes problems when Vinnie rolls a '1' and more orcs come out to play.[ATTACH=full]142917[/ATTACH]Look! There's Daktari, the Sky Pony barbarian has caught up with Vinnie. Keep in mind Ram is still ahead of this pair...Ram surges back into the lead...[ATTACH=full]142918[/ATTACH]It's all going so well for the young pretender to the Giant Goat Riding crown.Inverna & Newt?[ATTACH=full]142919[/ATTACH]Right back at the top of the lake, fighting the wind to get around- and look, there's a bunch of orcs on the track ahead of the pair.Newt is really not happy.And when I say Newt, I of course mean- Bear, who plays Newt.Back at the front...[ATTACH=full]142920[/ATTACH]Ram's across the ford (left), Vinnie's following on but there are more Orcs on the track. Daktari looks to be on a much easier route.And here's the big picture-[ATTACH=full]142921[/ATTACH]Just for info that's Inverna all the way at the back (top).But then things get a bit webby, or else spidery, for Ram.The rogue, who was on the easiest route previous is now on the most difficult path.[ATTACH=full]142922[/ATTACH]Route #1 (Ram) has three Giant Spider webs blocking the track, and an actual Giant Spider shooting fresh webs at the rogue and his ride- Spartacus, and then there are the water jumps. Route #2 (Vinnie & Inverna) is down the river- it's slow going but there are very few hazards here. Route #3 is the real easy route, only there are Tangle Vines that need to be burst through, or else...[ATTACH=full]142923[/ATTACH]It's all going off- Vinnie (with Giant Goat train) is heading down the river, but he has lost a summoned Giant Goat (killed by an orc). Ram has at last broken through the webs and is looking to jump the river again. Inverna is just above this pair- just about to join the river route. Daktari, unable to burst through the Tangle Vines is trying desperately to hack his way through them... but that's Newt behind him.The tabaxi is catching up- he could go from last to first![ATTACH=full]142924[/ATTACH]Vinnie is heading further down the river- he's banking on there being another way out of the stream, keep in mind the players/PCs can't see what's ahead of them (much) on the map. Note bottom right, Newt didn't stop for the Tangle Vines, he just launched a Fireball into the mess (but avoiding Daktari & Horny Pony), to clear the way. [Newt fires his way through the Tangle Vines 100 XP]Newt takes the lead, although seconds later Daktari remounts his goat and races on... but then fails to steer the creature south, the barbarian is now heading in the wrong direction.But then lots more bad rolls (for some of the PCs) and now we're just about to enter the final part of the track.[ATTACH=full]142925[/ATTACH]So, part four- the last stretch of the Wild Goat Race is everything beyond the river shown here, the finish line (a bridge) is to the left (but still a few turns away). Note Vinnie's in the lead, but just behind the Druid is Newt on Belphegoat. Alas Belphegoat has just refused to jump the river. Oh, and that's Ram all the way back in last place now- bad rolls.But then Belphegoat fails again to jump the river, even tips the tabaxi over its horns and into the wet. Newt really isn't happy, particularly as Daktari has just dashed past him, and look... there's Inverna.[ATTACH=full]142926[/ATTACH]Then Newt rolls another '1' and a few more orcs, with a clutch of worg runts, come out of the woods and start attacking the warlock and his ride.Even Ram is back in sight.And here's the last picture, and believe me it tells quite a story.[ATTACH=full]142927[/ATTACH]From left to right: Vinnie has shot out into the lead with his entourage/escort- the bridge/finish line is maybe 2-3 turns further on and around the corner. That's Daktari in second, following on are Ram and Inverna- side-by-side, racing for the third spot. Oh, but what's that island of misery all the way to the right?Newt?Belphegoat?So, here's the thing- Newt, after being thrown by Belphegoat (into the river) for the second time has finally had enough. Therefore he repeatedly Fiery Blasts Belphegoat, but not quite to death.Belphegoat is killed a few moments later by a worg runt, but not before the giant goat rams Newt right back.[Newt versus Belphegoat 200 XP]Newt (& Belphegoat) were stuck at the stream for nearly three turns, he made (and failed) eight checks to get his mount to leap the water.Just as Belphegoat dies another worg and an orc warrior exit the forest, and start attacking the tabaxi, who's Mirror Image spell has since run its course.The tabaxi warlock is now bloodied and in trouble.So, the question is- will he figure a way out of this situation?Will any of his colleagues stop to help?Although even if he shouts very loudly then there's only a chance that Ram and/or Inverna will hear.Oh, and here's a thing Bear (playing Newt), the tabaxi spots another orc warrior that's just about to exit the woods.It's getting busy.But that's all we have time for this evening.[Wild Goat Race, hazards faced this session 2080 XP][Wild Goat Race, Zombies and Orcs (so far) 750 XP]The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Win the Wild Goat Race.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Save Arty Swell.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To the Moon Pool.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Goblins in the Dreadwood.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade in the Dreadwood.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame.     </li> </ol>Stay safe and well you lovely people.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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