Page 34 - Tomb of Annihilation

BETTING event is more likely to become a straight-up dinosaur
Characters can bet on the dinosaur races to help fund a fight than anything resembling a race. Raising a dino-
jungle expedition or earn some extra cash. The racers, saur to be a racer is difficult and expensive. Most own-
the available odds, and the chance to win are listed in ers aren'c willing to lose one-especially a fast one- in a
the Betting on Dinosaur Races table. Bets can range weekly bloodfest.
from 1 cp to 500 gp. Once bets are placed, roll a die for
each bet. Losing bets cost the full amount of the wager. FINDING A GUIDE
Winning bets pay out according to the table. Bets can
Guides can be retained in Port Nyanzaru or Fort Belu-
be for a dinosaur to win, place, show, or do something
arian. All Port Nyanzaru guides must register and serve
specific during the race (like attack another racer or
under the auspices of Johal, who takes a princely cut of
throw its rider), so many bets can win in the course of a
their earnings and findings. The Zhentarim also have a
single race. black market network in the city that provides guides.
Losers are expected to pay up in a timely fashion. Jobal is aware that this network exists and makes it
Those who don't are visited by a debt collector backed abundantly clear that guides who fail to register with
up by Chultan legbreakers (ld4 + 1 thugs or gladiators, him will be beaten, blinded, or beheaded.
depending on the level and reputation of the bettor).
Guides working for Jobal leave their contact informa-
Port Nyanzaru bookies never forget a debt; even a year tion on message boards outside inns and taverns or at
away on an expedition into the jungle isn't long enough the harbormaster's office in Port Nyanzaru.
to erase an unpaid gambling loss.
Several guides are described in this section. Some
will work for free if characters agree to certain con-
RACING
ditions. Otherwise. guides charge 5 gp per day, and
P layer characters might get involved in a dinosaur race,
payment for 30 days up front is standard, even if the ex-
either through their own interest or because they're
pedition is expected to be shorter than that. A success-
approached by a racing team. In this case, you'll need
ful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check negotiates the
to play out the race. This can be quite a bit of fun, espe·
price down to 4 gp per day, or 3 gp per day if the check
cially if you let players whose characters aren't directly
succeeds by 5 or more. Alternatively, guides might forgo
involved take over at least some of the NPC racers. En-
wages in exchange for an equal share of treasure.
courage everyone to race hard, even if it's in the group's
You can roleplay preliminary meetings and conversa-
best interest for a particular dinosaur to win.
tions with guides, or simply describe all the available
A race runs a length of 300 feet; this is abstract, as
guides to the players and let them choose. To help the
a race actually covers a lot more ground. Every round,
party select a guide, you can give players copies of hand-
each rider makes a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check;
outs 2 througti 10 in appendix E. These handouts give
the DCs for different types of dinosaurs are listed in the
players a sense of each guide's personality. You can give
Racing Dinosaurs table. With each successful Animal
the players severa l handouts at once, or provide hand-
Handling check, the first number listed as the dino-
outs only for the guides they track down.
saur's speed is added to its "running tally." If the check
fails, that dinosaur's tally doesn't increase that turn. AZAKA STORMFANG
When a racer's tally equals or exceeds 300, that dino- Were tiger (Port Nyanzaru)
saur crosses the finish line. A racer can try to move at
When the characters meet Azaka, give the players a
the higher listed speed by lashing the animal furiously;
copy of handout 2 in appendix E.
in this case, the Animal Handling check is made with
Azaka (NG female Chultan human weretiger) works
advantage, but the dinosaur must also make a success·
out of Port Nyanzaru. She conceals her lycanthropy
ful DC 10 Constitution check at the end of this round or
from the characters for as long as possible and will
its speed is halved for the rest of the race.
guide adventurers for free if they agree to help her re-
No initiative is involved. Riders can make their An-
trieve an item that was stolen by the pterafolk of Firefin-
imal Handling checks in any order, or all at the same
ger. If questioned about the stolen item, Azaka responds
time. If two or more dinosaurs cross the finish line on
only that it's a family heirloom: a wooden mask carved
the same round, the one with the highest tally wins. If
to resemble a tiger's face. It is actually a mask of the
the tallies are the same, the racers tied. In the event
beast (see appendix C).
of a tie, brawls are likely to break out in trackside bet-
Azaka has wandered far and wide through the jungle
ting pools.
in tiger form. She is acquainted with Saja N'baza, the
In the unchained event, dinosaurs can attack other di-
powerful and wise guardian naga of Orolunga, and
nosaurs if their tallies are within 50 of each other at the
gladly leads characters to the naga if they're looking
end of a round. Each dinosaur's pertinent combat statis-
for guidance.
tics are listed on the Racing Dinosaurs table. If a dino-
Azaka stands 6 feet tall and weighs about 150 pounds.
saur has half or fewer of its starting hit points, the rider
She will not willingly spread her lycanthropic curse.
makes Animal Handling checks with disadvantage.
She is also afraid of heights and will not willingly put
For simplicity, riders can't attack or be attacked, but
herself in a situation in which she's in danger of falling
DMs with a cruel streak might be tempted to relax that
more than 60 feet. Azaka's damage immunities do not
rule.Just be aware that if rider attacks are allowed, the
protect her against damage from falling.
CHAPTER. l 1 PORT NYANZARU
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