Fenri also mounts her beast after giving it a hug.
"Let's go big guy!"
Fenri will also attempt to dash.
Initiative:
The race starts. The crowd cheers and clap as Saphina, on her dinosaur, is the first to move.
Nanbu streaks ahead of the Green Vipers and the well-trained riders move as one. They all try to dash! Unfortunately, they all get into each other's way!
Nanbu and his mount surge confidently forward. Adrian strikes one of the Green Vipers and he is flung off his mount! Rakdon taunts one of the Vipers but he yells back "What did you say?
Sashah and Fenri manage to get their mounts to move forward, but not as quickly as Nanbu.
-----
Each rider starts on the course at their starting point (Position #1). The first rider to reach the Finish Line (position #5) wins the race. Once the race begins, each rider may move up one position and take one action per turn. The available actions are:
Dash
If the rider makes a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, they urge their mount to move two spaces instead of one. Each mount may successfully dash twice during the race. Failed dash attempts do not count toward this number.
Jab
A rider may use their pole to jab at any other rider so long as they are at the same position number (Example: any rider at position #3 can jab any other rider at #3).
Make a normal attack roll as you would with a quarterstaff versus the Armor Class of the rider. On a hit, instead of taking damage, the opponent must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. If failed, the rider is knocked off of their mount and loses a turn of movement to mount up again.
Taunt
A rider may taunt or distract any other rider so long as they are within up to one position away from their own. (Example: any rider at position #3 can taunt any other rider between positions #2 and #4).
The rider makes a Charisma (Intimidation) check against the opposing rider’s Wisdom (Insight) check. If the taunting rider wins the roll, the opposing rider is at a disadvantage on any checks made during the next obstacle (see “Obstacles” below).
Trip
This action may be used on another rider so long as they are at the same position number (Example: any rider at position #3 can trip any other rider at #3).
Using their pole, the rider attempts to trip up another rider’s mount. Make a DC 14 Strength (Athletics) check or a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If successful, the opposing rider must then make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw.
If the saving throw is failed, the rider’s mount stumbles and they lose one position rank.
--------------------------------
There are also obstacles throughout the race course that will obstruct and delay participants.
5:
4:
3: Nanbu
2: Green Vipers 1/3/4, GV2 (dismounted) Fenri, Sashah, Adrian, Rakdon
1: Saphina (?)
-----
Waiting on Saphina's action. Don't roll for your next move yet as it depends if you come upon an obstacle.
Initiative:
Saphina/Nanbu
Green Vipers
Rest of party
Saphina races out right next to Nanbu.
Adrian and Fenri see a net coming towards them.
Nanbu can make out a mud pit in front of him.
The crowd shouts "Come on Green Vipers!" cheering on the hometown favourite.
5:
4:
3: Nanbu, Saphina
2: Green Vipers 1/3/4, GV2 (dismounted) Fenri, Sashah, Adrian, Rakdon
1:
Fenri powers through the net, snatching it out of the hands of the people holding it. It was now draped across the front of her tunic, with the loose sides flapping in the wind.
Fenri will attempt to spur her mount onward to victory!
Sir Adrian wobbles, but by his training is able to stay in thd saddle of thd beast. As he advances, he again jabs at an opponent even with him.
Looking back over shoulder briefly Saph grins and urges her Dino faster Yip Yip!
EDIT:
Saphina and her Dino have developed a bond, and possibly it's the halfling's lightness that gives them the advantage. Saphina and the dino just race away and pass the finish line, to a stunned crowd. The Green Vipers are mostly still stuck near the start.
"It's a new record! For... who is that halfling anyway? The Bladefangs win!" the announcer shouts.
The Green Vipers get off their mounts and bow to the crowd as they are pelted with rubbish.
Go, go, little one! Nanbu calls as Saphina bursts forward for the win.
As he pulls up, he slides off the young allosaurus and give him a pat on the neck, Worry not, my friend, I will still give you a fine meal!
Sashah is obviously happy to be off of the dinosaur.
Sir Adrian dismounts and motions for his squire and groom to bring his armor for changing.
Well done, little one!
Fenri gives her mount a hug as she comes in moments after Saphina, then dismounts and gives the reins to the attendants.
"Well, that was a blast! What are we going to do next?"
Saphina raises her hands to the crowd as she crosses the finish line. A look of pure exhilaration on her face, she looks back to see how her teammates finish. woohoooo! We won! She continues celebrating until someone reminds her there is more to the competition. That seems to sober her jubilation somewhat but there seems to be a perpetual smirk on her face. So what’s next then?
After Saphina receives her accolades, the group is led to a resting area.
"We will call for you soon. The arena must be prepared," the assistant says.
As you are resting, there is a knock on the door and a human woman in her mid-20’s with dark hair, green eyes, and brown skin opens it.
"Greetings. I am Nerissa. We do not have much time so I shall get straight to the point. That was quite a showing out there; you are frontrunners to win the Oracle's Eye. The metallic piece of the trinket that holds the Oracle’s Eye gem is very important to my noble cause, and I offer you 30 gp for it should the party win. They may still keep the gem itself, which is what your sponsor had asked the party to get for him.
What do you say?"
"Hmm...," Sashah thinks for a moment, "I zink I vould see object before making blind deal."
Nanbu, never one to read intention, looks at the lady, Jade Eye only wants the trinket? Nanbu sees no reason why not. What do Nanbu's friends think?
As he speaks to her, the vines that form his cuirass writhe ever so slightly...
Saphina scoffs slightly. How much is it really worth if your trying to make the offer sight unseen? I’m with Sashah, I don’t think it would be smart to make that deal. Besides, we don’t even know who you are or what your intentions might be.
Saph can’t get a good read on her to tell whether she is trust worthy or not.
"I am Nerissa, as I've said. My intentions are to stop the death Curse. I believe the shell of the trinket will help my faction. Trust Nanbu," she says.
The woman does not appear to be lying.
The old helf-elf's eyes narrow, his bushy eyebrows almost enveloping his vision.
"And vat you know of death curse? Hmmm..?"
Nanbu knows little... Oh, Wise One meant Jade Eye! the warlock looks a little sheepish.
"The Death Curse has doomed those who have been raised by death magic. Now, the fallen too are affected, and the creatures in the jungles of Chult have been driven wild. It has also led to the arrival of many, many adventurers from the north to fertilise the soil here," Nerissa says.
Come and see Nanbu and friends after competition. No sense getting carts before dinosaurs, Nanbu flashes a grin.
"I shall visit you after the next event. Perhaps you'd have come to a decision by then," she says, as she leaves.
"The dead are rising in the jungles? Neat! Maybe we can go check it out after the competition?"
Still glaring as she leaves Sashah says under his breath, "Maybe zen you vill give useful information." He then straightens and gives a look of impatience as he begins tapping his foot, "Let us get over vith zis 'arena'."
That lady was sure full of herself. She mentioned a faction. Anybody figure out which one it was? If not, I’ll ask her after we win. Speaking of winning, I wonder what our next challenge will be.
So, does anyone know what is required of us in the arena portion of these events?
"Time to find out," the bouncer asks. He leads you out of your dressing room to the arena.
The event takes place inside an iron cage, the bars of which are covered in semi-sentient poisonous vines. From your journey into the jungle in the previous adventure, you recognise them as much smaller versions of the Matabo patches encountered in Malar’s Throat; the poisonous vines that attacked you before you reached the Grung clearing.
The party faces off against a kenku mercenary named Slicer, and his pet dinosaurs, two raptors and one deinonychus.
Reminder damage should be nonlethal, and spells that inflict damage are banned.
Initiative:
Fenri
Slicer
Saphina
Rakdon
Dinosaurs
Adrian
Nanbu
Sashah
The crowd yells as the combat begins.
Map
Nanbu slides sideways to the side closest to the deinonychus and says, Hello, buddy. I am sorry to do this to you...
"I'm surry bird man, but you're in our way. I'd ask you to give up, but you probably don't wanna, which is fine by me." says Fenri as she rages and moves into melee.
Good luck guys! Let’s win this thing!
Fenri tries to go around the dinosaurs but fails to. He ends up next to the large dinosaur and his blow fails to connect.
The Kenku says in a female voice "Rid the vileness!" He pulls back his bow and shoots an arrow at the Bladefangs champion Saphina. The arrow penetrates through her armour.
The two raptors run forward and attack Saphina and Adrian, while the Deinonychus targets Fenri. Both Saphina and Adrian are clawed (4 and 3 points of damage respectively), while Fenri is bitten and clawed by the ravenous Deinonychus, who seems angry that the dwarf does not go down. (9 points reduced to 4)
Everyone to act. Unfortunately with the sound of the crowd Nanbu is unable to speak to animals. With the change in situation I'll allow you to redo your move.
Initiative
Fenri
Slicer/ Dinosaurs
Saphina
Rakdon
Adrian
Nanbu
Sashah
Although prepared for battle with shield and weapon drawn, Saphina’s attention was momentarily focused on inspiring the others and she missed the arrow flying at her shoulder and the raptor was just too quick to react.
Steadying herself and taking a quick breath befor counter attacking.
Remembering her training she doesn’t let the initial blows sway her resolve, after all its the one last standing, not the first to strike that wins. She places her feet slightly different to allow her to adjust her defense faster and lunges the top of her rapier at the small raptor in front of her.
Saphina's attack strikes the raptor and knocks it out. The crowd lets out a cheer at the Halfling's spunk.
Sir Adrian attacks the Raptor that wounded him.
Okay reworking, Nanbu runs up to the deinonychus, still invoking his shillelagh, swings at the creature while circling around it to end adjacent to both the deinonychus and the kenku!
The old half-elf casually strolls to behind Fenri and says a familiar short prayer to Mystra. All the while looking extremely unimpressed.
Adrian's strike fails to connect the agile raptor. It lets out a mocking caw.
Rakdon's spell goes off. The kenku looks dizzy for a moment, then topples to the ground, asleep. The crowd lets out a cry of disappointment.
Nanbu moves swiftly and places himself next to the Deinonychus, striking it. It lets out a confused gasp.
Sashah steps behind Fenri and his spell closes some of the dwarf's wounds.
The vines reach out to strike Nanbu, Rakdon, Saphina and Adrian.
Make a Dex saving throw against DC 13 with advantage, as you've encountered these vines before.