What happens if the characters fail to achieve the Goal? They suffer the Consequences. In some stories, the characters may already be suffering Consequences as the story opens. The Goal then becomes that one thing which will bring an end to the suffering. In this case, the characters's troubles are the Consequences of not yet having achieved the Goal. Just as in real life, sometimes Goals are a reward, other times Goals bring relief. It all depends on whether the situation starts out good, but needs improvement, or whether it starts out bad and needs correction.