And Go!

After the players choose their power-ups the parties all gather at the "starting line" and Regis gives them some quick pointers before counting down the Challenge

"Wwwwelcome back to the arena where our players have decided on their boons and are now raring to get this show on the road. Players, we wish you all luck on your journeys and look forward to rewarding the winning group. 

I hope you got a long rest in, you're gonna need it! No maps have been provided, but rest assured the townsfolk are well aware and happy to help. This is true of all fey you meet, always looking for a good deal or a fun time. As mentioned before, this challenge is specifically designed for this race and as such all inhabitants you come across are aware of your goals. We encourage you to acknowledge this and proceed how you will, but don't fall for any tricks now (another wink)! We fey love a joke more than anything!

As for the rest of this test, some final rules: participant death will be treated as a withdrawal from the game, there will be announcements documenting the progress of all parties involved for both outside observers and participants for the purposes of keeping track of your own progress so pay attention, there is not one clear path through the arena so if you find yourselves lost or stuck simply take another route, we do not encourage party to party violence and have set this up to be a defensive rather than offensive race, but if you are attacked by another player group we would expect nothing less than to show them what your group is made of! Finally, you will know you have reached the end of the quest section of the race when you reach my manor...at least what you might recognize as my manor. In your world it is a comfortable haven for my adventurers, here it is a bit more than that (mischievous eyebrow raise). If you are in fact the first or second party to reach it's gates you will find inside an empty arena, where your next challenge will be presented. No need to worry about that now though! Lets get this show on the road."

Amid cheering from the crowd Regis covers his right ear as if receiving a message

"Oh yes! How could I forget: there is one last bit of information I should mention. Something to light a fire under your asses n case you haven't acknowledged the significance with which we designed our challenge."

He flourishes a hand to indicate a space behind the players. When they turn to look, they notice bars that look far too thin to hold back the agitated monstrosity behind them. A rider in thin, sturdy golden armor covering every surface but a streak in the helmet for their eyes sits atop a Terrasque which is struggling against the confines of its spacious cage. 

"A little encouragement for those of you who would rather sit on your haunches and wait for the other parties to fall. He giggles gleefully. Our friend here will be released into the arena exactly 1 hour after you all begin the race. He has no target in mind, and rest assured the rider is there more for our bookkeeping purposes than to assert any sort of control over the beast. Should you hear the terrasque on your trail...we suggest you run. You will not be able to beat it at this level and can expect only to ruin your chances of winning if you are to engage. This is not a threat, we just reaaallly hate slackers.

With that, I ask you to turn round and face your fate. I've nothing left to say and a potluck to get to so with that:"

A tinny beeping begins with the suave voice of a female announcing "Five, Four, Three..." and the race begins