RRoooott ooff tthhee PPrroobblleemmOne potato, two potato,

three potato, four!Five potato, six potato,

seven potato, WAR!

A human nobleman has become frustrated with all thegoblins hunting his knights and eating their succulentsteeds, so he has ordered his druid adviser to create ahorse that tastes so bad not even a goblin will eat it.

This initially appeared to be an impossible task, butthen the druid discovered the one thing goblins won’teat...vegetables!

Meet the ChiefThe player characters have gathered in the chief’s tent,where he is busily devouring a bowl of horse offal. Hefinishes eating, belches loudly, and then starts yelling,showering the characters with spittle and punctuatingeach sentence by slamming his fist on the table:

“Yesterday, one of our border patrols was ambushed by asquad of human knights! Guess what? Those small-headedthugs have gone and replaced their delicious warhorses withfoul war horseradishes! This abomination must be stopped!

“The druid responsible for these vile creations resides in atavern at the edge of a human town, where he’s grown fondof their fermented drinks! You must find and kill him beforehe can create any more of those horrible-tasting mounts!”

The chief leans back and rests his feet on the table,rummaging around in one nostril with a pudgy finger.He continues in a more measured tone:

“But first, we shall hold a contest of skill and daring, tomake sure you are worthy of the honor of butchering the olddrunkard. The challenges will take place this evening, andI’ll be watching, so you had better make it entertaining.”

The chief then dismisses the characters with a wave.

Trial of TubersThe news rapidly spreads, and a crowd gathers as thecontestants prepare themselves. Each player draws acard for each event. A Joker means someone helps theboss cheat, while Clubs indicate a complication (–2 tothe roll, suffer 2d6 damage on a failure). Whoever hasthe highest roll wins the event; a tie is a joint win.

1. Walk the Beam: The bosses cross narrow beamsbetween the trees, while the crowd below taunt themand hurl turnips. This requires an Agility roll to avoidslipping and falling into the brambles below. Clubsmeans someone hurls a rock. Joker means the woodenbeam is slightly wider than it should be.

2. Stacked Odds: The bosses must escape a maze ofhaystacks, while goblins shoot flaming arrows into thehay. Finding the exit requires a Smarts roll, failureindicates the boss smashes their way through burninghaystacks to escape. Clubs means the path in front ofthe character is on fire. Joker means someone slips theboss a map of the maze before the event begins.

AA SSaavvaaggee WWoorrllddss OOnnee SShheeeett ffoorr SSaaggaa ooff tthhee GGoobblliinn HHoorrddee

Root of the Problem version 1 © 2016 Richard Woolcock.

Permission is granted to print this document for personal use.Electronic distribution of this document is strictly forbidden.

Page background and goblin head by Lord Zsezse Works.

Vegetable rider illustration by Matt Morrow.

This game references the Savage Worlds game system, availablefrom Pinnacle Entertainment Group at www.peginc.com.Savage Worlds and all associated logos and trademarks arecopyrights of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Used withpermission. Pinnacle makes no representation or warranty as tothe quality, viability, or suitability for purpose of this product.

3. Hot Potato: To prepare themselves mentally andpsychologically for their foe, the bosses must try to eata full plate of potatoes! This requires a Spirit roll; on afailure the goblin projectile vomits, to the enthusiasticcheers of the crowd. Clubs means the boss eats a veryhot potato – some prankster roasted it! Joker meanssomeone slipped in some juicy slugs, much tastier!

4. Basket Bearer: To test their strength, each bossholds a wicker basket while goblins slowly fill them upwith potatoes. This requires a Strength roll, a failuremeans the boss drops the basket embarrassingly early.Clubs means the basket is filled with rocks instead ofpotatoes. Joker means they use hollow potatoes.

5. Spud Gauntlet: To test their endurance, each bossruns the gauntlet between two rows of goblins whilebeing pelted with rotten spuds. This requires a Vigorroll; on a failure the boss is knocked to the ground.Clubs means one of the goblins uses a club instead of avegetable. Joker means the goblins hold back, eitherout of fear, or because they’ve been bribed.

Reward: Whoever wins the most challenges earns 2Bennies. On a tie, each joint-winner earns 1 Benny.

On the TrailThe goblins head through Twilight Wood on the firstday, then spend the next two days crossing HightreeRidge and entering the human lands. The crew makesgood progress, and each player can run an Interlude,as the bosses brag about past exploits during the trip.

Reward:AnyonerunninganInterludegetsaBenny.

Carrot and StickThe goblins reach an old bridge crossing the NorthernRiver, and spot a group of knights camped on theother side, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers.Four more soldiers are on guard duty, with two on thebridge, and two more on the goblins’ side of the river.

The bosses can try to assassinate the guards withoutraising the alarm: Resolve as a Stealth-based DramaticTask, a different player should take the lead each turn,and each success eliminates a guard, but five successesare required to avoid raising the alarm. Success giveseach player a Benny, and lets them start the battle withSurprise and the Drop (only bosses get the Drop, butboth the bosses and gang members receive Surprise).

There’s two knights and two soldiers per player onthe other side of the bridge, and the knights are ridingwar horseradishes. Remind the players that the chiefexpects them to kill the knights, and will shower themwith praise for doing so, but will punish them severelyif they avoid the fight. Such is the life of a gang boss!

If the goblins don’t deal with the knights now, theymay also be ambushed on their way back home.

Meat and PotatoesThe goblins finally reach the tavern. It is outside thetown palisade, but has a protective wall of its own, asit was once a guardhouse. Scaling the wall requires asuccessful Climbing roll, with failure resulting in d6+1falling damage (doubled on a critical failure), but thereare no guards, so once the first goblin is over they canopen the gate and let the rest of the crew in.

The druid isn’t the only person in the tavern, thereare also several other hardened drinkers, who leap totheir feet as soon as the goblins burst through thedoor. These men and women are no match for thetribal goblins, however, and can be dealt with usingthe Quick Combat rules. The druid flees during thefight, using the distraction to escape into town; thepursuit can be treated as a Dogfight Chase.

An ancient catapult is mounted on the tavern wall, areminder of the building’s past. As the goblins clamberup the wall, they have the option of using the catapultto hurl themselves into the town. Those who use thisunconventional option receive a +4 bonus to theirmaneuvering trait roll in the first round of the Chase,but suffer 2d6 damage from the impact (although theycan spend a Benny to divert this damage to a gangmember if they wish, using their lackey as a cushion).Don’t roll falling damage or make maneuvering traitrolls for gang members, just assume they’re taggingalong, and focus on the player characters.

Enemy CombatantsListed here are the foes the players will face.

SoldiersTraits: Everything d6Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6 (1)Gear: Short sword (Str+d6), shield, leather armor (+1)

KnightsTraits: Everything d8Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 9 (3)Gear: Long sword (Str+d8), shield, breastplate (+3)

War HorseradishesSame as War Horse (see Savage Worlds), but less tasty.

A DruidTraits: Everything d8Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 7 (1)Edges: Arcane Background (Miracles), Great LuckGear: Staff (Str+d4; +1 Parry; Reach 1), hide vest (+1)Special Abilities• Spells: The druid has 20 Power Points, he knows bolt(lightning), entangle (roots), and havoc (whirlwind).