Goons in the Soup!
Well as most of the Goon Fans already know, the Goons lost the Semi Final Match... Disappointing I know, but I suppose not surprising. The Chaos Dwarves of the Uncle Crusty's Circus seem to be specifically trained to Goon Goons... but having said that the circus didn't exactly escape without paying the butcher for their shot at the BABBL Bowl.
I knew that my best shot at winning the game would involve me winning the coin toss... And of course I lost that and the FAME to boot right at the start of the match. I spread out my 3 guys on the line as much as possible in an effort to force the Circus to over commit to knocking the out so I could focus on the ball. The Kick was a Cheering Fans Roll and With The help of the Fan Favourite, Biff Shaterjaws, the Goons took an extra Re-Roll into the half... and as things played out my ST5 BoB was badly hurt right away. Worse was the fact that he didn't even use Claws or mighty blow to do it. The first Block was a Push, the 2nd was a Knock Down, 12 on AV... 10 on injury.
This became a running gag in the match. Rednick would roll AV and it was more often than not a 10+ or in the circumstances where it wasn't... it was less than 6 (preventing Claw/MB from getting me)
Although the fight was already in his favour the Goons set about the CDs like only they can. No injuries were forth coming until Andy Pipkin fouled out the better of the two Bull Centaurs. Despite only badly Hurting him, the Circus were so over confident that they would "Handle" the Goons that they used their only Apo to refresh him for the next drive. This decision would cost the circus later.
The Fight raged with the ball stuck on the wings near the LoS. An opportunity came up for the Goons when Chuck scooped up the Ball in the TZ of the Circus Minotaur and took the risky decision to stand on the Sideline with it. As a result, the Goons managed to stun the Mooing Monster, and later foul him off the pitch. BUT... Although the gamble of standing on the sideline assisted in eliminating the Minotaur from the game, the coverage to protect Chuck was a little too weak and he was blitzed off the pitch. The ball sailed towards the centre of the LoS and after a little push and shove a Hobgoblin got it and was away.
The Goons managed a Kill on the Circus MVP (from the cruel hands of Biff himself) the Hobgoblin Freaky died in Agony, screaming his dying breath as each and every organ in his body failed. (even his brain and hair protested another moment in the living world)... but the Re-roll that Biff used to achieve his greedy work was needed in the next action and a dreaded double skulls saw the Circus off toward the end zone.
The Goons were just too far out of position to affect the run despite the Hobgoblin tripping on his way to the end zone.
The Goons were suffering at the Dwarves hands but were resolute to continue to keep up pressure. Both teams were at equal strength with 12 available bodies. The Goons tried to set up a One turn effort but a miraculous kick sent the ball too far from the Goblin to allow it. the Kick off result came up with Throw a Rock and thanks to Biff being a Fan Favourite, the crowds favour was on his side. A Bloodwieser can loaded with ball bearings rocketed onto the pitch and caught the Veteran Bull centaur off guard... His resultant Brain haemorrhage was lethal and he whispered the name of his killer as he died hours later... "Piniata Head..."
Not to be over shadowed, the Circus ripped the head off the Goons Troll Swamp Donkey. The sadistic dwarves used it as a puppet for the remainder of the game... laughing wildly as they taunted the Goons with the sickening display. The laughter died away though when the headless corpse stood and walked unassisted not to the injury bin, but the reserves bench. So it appears to be true... The Donk was too stupid to realise he had died.
Another casualty on the LoS by Dr. Maddvibe brought the advantage to the Goons Favour for the kick off at the start of the 2nd. The Goons tried as they might to power off the Chaos Dwarves but Nuffle was on Crusty's side once again. He managed a near fatal hit on Biff after cleaning up his fair share of Orcs... The Apoth finally managed to earn his pay, perhaps to frightened of what could happen if he didn't resurrect the BABBL star.
Dr. Maddvibe pulled out all the stops and despite being ganged up and out numbered... Knocked down almost every turn... he blitzed and dodged his way to the end zone in turn 14. Although his season has been overshadowed by the likes of Biff and Busta, the team captain showed why he holds that title through the tenacity of his painful advance to tie the Semifinal game... Perhaps the Goons could force the game into Overtime? Perhaps a lucky Blitz or hot run through the Circus's side would bail the Goons out of a very tough game!
With only 7 players to field against the Circus's 10, it wasn't ever going to be pretty. The Goons fielded a good screen but the Circus had the bodies and the Re-rolls to march one in to the endzone.
At the end of the game Biff, Brick and Maddvibe gazed upon the pitch... The game was tough and didn't go their way, but at least the pressure was on all game. Each turn involved a tough roll for the Circus as they tried to advance to the BABBL finals for the 2nd year in a row. The three Blitzers turned to look towards the reserves box and saw Busta icing his creaky knees... Busta gave them the thumbs up that despite the painful injuries, and needing the Wandering Apothecary to help him, he'd be ready to play next game.
"Maybe next season, eh?" Said Brick
"F**king eh! We'll kill 'em all!" Biff replied.
"Hey, why don't we see if we can cram Dickie into the Donk's neck hole!" Maddvibe drew a booming laugh from the lads and they chased the Snotling around the dugout before 'The Bulk' burst forth and raged in protest.
~//~
The Goons lost their shot at the BABBL Bowl, but at least it cost them less than the Circus. Ricky Wallopnuts was injured again suffering a -AV. Added to the -MA he was just not worth keeping on the payroll. The Donk managed to learn a 2nd skill but as it wasn't Block, he was also released from the Payroll in hopes a fresh rookie would be able to instil some new life to the Goons LoS.
I Purchased a Black Orc (The Fyulaba Kid) and a New Troll (Spazmodious) and looked at the 3rd final game as not a failure to reach BABBL's lofty heights, but a chance to complete all my season goals. 3rd place isn't as high as I wanted to finish but it is still better than every other attempt I've had at a finals run!
The Circus lost their veteran Bull Centaur and also their most experienced player, the Hobgoblin Freaky. There was little doubt that they would still perform well in the finals and Honestly I wished them luck despite the drubbing they handed me. I'll see them for sure in Season V and revenge will be mine!
Season IV isn't quite over yet though... We still have a shot at silver ware and we're going to take that busted thimble home if we have to kill every Norseman in Asgard to do it...