How to Eat a Doom Goat: Nightmare over Ragged Hollow and Cairn PbP

11 Jan, 2025

DoomGoat

Life got busy in the new year and the play-by-post slowed down a bit, but we’ve kept up the minimum daily posts. The party managed to slip the magical short sword Veinseeker away from the “dolorous ichor” without killing it. Not for want of trying, but they couldn’t find its vulnerability and when the clearly magical sword only dealt impaired (d4) damage they decided to cut their losses and bolt.

They then went into the part of the tomb complex that went into the mountain. Here they encountered a gang of Kobolds who were unfriendly but curious enough to not immediately attack. The party was able to negotiate the elimination of the two bugbears preventing the kobolds returning to their warrens, elsewhere in the mountains, in exchange for a magical grappling hook. They bartered for a magic ring in exchange for a dragon themed dagger and “magical” snakeskin boots of kingship taken from Olias’ hut. Neither are magical and the exchange where Noa (Jason’s character) convinced the kobold leader of his lordship after donning the boots was pretty great. The party departed in peace, agreeing to return with the bugbear’s ears as proof of the deed and to get the grappling hook.

Back on the trail, a roll of the die yielded an encounter with a “Doom Goat,” which is now a favorite DnD creature. Here is the description and special ability from the OSE stat block:

DOOM GOAT. A shaggy grazing animal with twisted horns and three rectangular eyes. Moves silently. Rams creatures off cliffs or into ravines. Uncanny, merciless. Ensnaring Stare. Save vs spells or be enthralled by the goat. You are physically unable to look away, but can otherwise move and act normally. For the next hour, you must always face in the direction of the goat (even if it is out of sight and far away), and all actions are impaired.

I decided that Wren (Matt’s Character) being from nearby Ragged Hollow had heard rumors of these from those who had ventured into the Bleak Mountain before. I armed the party with a pretty full picture of the risk. Wren decided to play her reed whistle that prevents a hostile act without a WIL save, while Noa and Reed (Jack’s Character) used their rope to tie themselves to their mule, Gert. Everyone was very careful to avert their gaze from the goat. Everyone that is but Gert…

The goat makes its save, so its merciless nature is undeterred by Wren’s tune. Noa, realizing they are about to be attacked gives Gert a whack on the rump to get him moving, Noa and Reed struggling to keep up. Gert is enthralled by the Goat and starts pulling up the steep, rocky, slope, while Wren looses a bolt from her crossbow (3 of 4 HP lost). As the goat charges Wren, Noa and Reed realize their mistake in tieing themselves to a panicking animal. Luckily both succeed in undoing the knots without being dragged behind Gert (DEX Saves).

Wren is saved by her armor from the goat’s attack (rolled 1) and as the goat turns to attack her again prepares to jump out of the way. Reed throws a net to try to entangle the goat (goat makes its DEX Save) and Noa attacks with his sling. The bullet strikes home dealing critical damage and causing the goat to tumble down the slope dead. Everyone agreed it was a fun and very tense encounter, before the question came up.

“Should we eat the Doom Goat?”

Thanks to Skerples’ excellent Monster Overhaul and its fantastic “Menu” tables, and the popularity of Delicious in Dungeon I probably should have seen this coming. Aggressive three-eyed goat with psychic abilities…who wouldn’t eat it?

I suggested there are rumors of those who eat the eyes of Doom Goats gaining certain abilities…which spawned a long parade of Palpatine memes and gifs (Thanks Jason). Once that played out, Wren and Reed drew straws for the honor of consuming the eyes. I quickly came up with the following effect, hoping to keep it roughly balanced with pros and cons – eating a Doom Goat should have some cost and risk. I think it also provides a little insight into Doom Goat psychology that pleases me.

If Doom Goat eyes are eaten:

Once a day, at will, a third, red, rectangular, eye emerges from your forehead. At other times it is only noticeable on close inspection (a small slit that blends into the wrinkles).

On emergence, roll a d6:

4-6: Subject succeeds a WIL save or is enthralled and must face you, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from allies (enhanced) or in social situations may become more cooperative (though any onlookers may notice and be disgusted).

1-3: You see that the true intention of the subject is to kill and eat you. Make a WIL save or attack them immediately, and recklessly, with whatever is at hand (lose HP for this turn). On a successful save you still bleat loudly, like a goat.

Reed ate the eyes and I revealed that he understood intuitively the change that had been made. I Think we’re all looking forward to the first time he rolls that d6…

CairnNORH