Greetings, fellow gamers! Our session on February 16th took an unexpected and chaotic turn with an adventure we'll fondly remember as “Dibs Wagon of Doom“. Our party of brave (and perhaps slightly foolhardy) adventurers found themselves in a seemingly ordinary town square in the middle of a bustling day. Merchants were hawking their wares, and townsfolk were going about their business – a picture of mundane tranquility soon to be shattered.
As we made our way towards the center of town, a cacophony of noise erupted from a nearby street. Our attention was immediately drawn to a most peculiar wagon. It was clear that this was no ordinary merchant's transport. This wagon had been heavily modified with crude, slapdash additions. Atop the main structure sat a shoddily built wooden turret, patched together with old boards and rusted shields, riddled with gaps. The carpentry was atrocious, but the intent was clear: this was a mobile fortress of some sort. Adding a touch of the bizarre and unsettling, small dead animals were nailed to the sides of the wagon, their tiny corpses rotating as the contraption lurched forward.
This “Dibs Wagon of Doom” moved with an erratic and unpredictable nature, speeding up, stopping suddenly, and lurching onward, seemingly without rhyme or reason. It wasn't horse-drawn; instead, we could see some sort of axle contraption with gears extending up into the wagon, suggesting that it was being cranked by individuals inside.
As the wagon continued its chaotic journey towards the north of the town circle, even more alarming features became apparent. Ten-foot poles jutted out from both sides, and to the ends of these poles were lashed short swords. As the wagon moved, these makeshift weapons attacked the terrified townsfolk, turning the once peaceful square into complete pandemonium. The wagon seemed to be deliberately crashing into vendor stalls, adding to the destruction and chaos.
Amidst the pandemonium, our GM hinted (directly into our minds, no less!) that this was our chance, as a brand new group of adventurers, to make a name for ourselves and save the town from this menacing vehicle.
Our party, composed of at least two clerics, a monk, a paladin, and a rogue, didn't hesitate for long. Initiative was rolled as we positioned ourselves to intercept the wagon. One of our members, with a tent pole, had the clever idea to shove it through the front wagon wheels in an attempt to stop its progress. Another character, a rogue, targeted the wagon with a dagger attack, attempting to breach its defenses.
Combat ensued as we tried to disable the mobile menace. We learned that the wagon could be targeted, and our attacks began to show some effect, though it would clearly take multiple rounds to significantly damage it. From within the wagon, we could hear the occupants speaking in a non-common language, further adding to the mystery of their intentions.
Eventually, a hole was created in the side of the wagon, and the occupants began to reveal themselves – goblins! One goblin jumped out wielding a scimitar and immediately attacked the closest party member. It became clear that this wagon was not just a destructive vehicle but also a transport for hostile creatures. More goblins began to pour out of the damaged wagon.
Our healers were kept busy as the goblins swarmed us. One cleric used healing word to aid wounded allies and even managed to cast a cantrip and make an attack in the same round, demonstrating impressive efficiency. The fighting was intense, with goblins falling and new ones emerging.
One of the more memorable moments involved a party member flipping off the wagon in defiance. Despite our best efforts, the goblin leader, known as Dib, proved to be a persistent foe, even disengaging as a bonus action to reposition and target our weaker members. Flanking tactics and sneak attacks became crucial as we worked together to eliminate the goblin threat.
After a hard-fought battle, utilizing everything from tent poles to divine magic and well-placed dagger thrusts, we finally managed to defeat the last of the goblins, including the tenacious leader Dib. The chaotic “Dibs Wagon of Doom” was finally silenced.
In the aftermath, the townsfolk, initially panicked, began to recognize our bravery. The guards, however, were less enthusiastic, perhaps miffed at being upstaged. Nevertheless, the townsfolk showed their gratitude, with one innkeeper offering free lodging and a barkeep promising free drinks for a week (with a humorous caveat about toes!).
Upon searching the wagon, we discovered a modest reward of 25 gold pieces. While not a king's ransom, it was a tangible sign of our victory and the end of a truly memorable and bizarre encounter in the town square. The “Dibs Wagon of Doom” will surely be a tale we recount for adventures to come!