The Wind Badge
Written by Mike
The Frostwane adventure had been a test of endurance for the Platinum Talons, but they left the cold lands with a victory to celebrate. Among the team's successes, one particular triumph stood out: Nohki had won the highly coveted pie-baking contest.
When the announcement came that Nohki had won, it was a moment of awe for his teammates, but none more than Drez, who audibly gasped when he heard the prize. Nohki didn't just win the contest-- he won a substantial sum of gold, enough to make a significant difference for the Talons in their future travels.
But the gold was just the beginning. Along with his victory, Nohki was gifted the original, highly coveted recipe for Goodberry Pie.
After recovering from their exhausting journey in Wiltspar, the Platinum Talons were ready to face their next challenge. The team set their sights on Porta Sacura, where they hoped to find the Apocalypse Harpies-- another formidable team of warriors whom they were considering for mentorship. The Platinum Talons were eager to learn from these seasoned veterans, knowing that their journey to greatness was just beginning.
On their way to Porta Sacura, the Talons made a brief stop in Solendia to retrieve their trusty wagon. Recently enhanced with a unique magical upgrade, the wagon could now be used for water travel, making the team's journey to the coastal city much quicker.
Excitement buzzed in the air as they tested the new feature for the first time, launching the wagon from the beach into the sea. Drez, ever the expert navigator, took the helm, steering the wagon with precision and skill as they made their way to Lorecliff for a quick stop.
Lorecliff, known for its majestic Battletower, was the perfect place for the Talons to stretch their muscles and sharpen their skills before continuing their journey. Once there, Tagg made arrangements for the team to face off against Team Two and a Halfing Men in the arena. Although Tagg had been tempted to challenge a more renowned team like the Kickpunchers, a legendary squad from the highest ranks of the Legendary League, he wisely avoided being goaded into it. Instead, he focused on the task at hand: securing a victory for the Talons.
Team Two and a Halfing Men was made up of two Drow-- Jenkins and Leroy-- and a Halfing named Wade. The match began under challenging conditions as a magical gust of wind swept across the arena, forcing both teams to adjust to the unpredictable weather. The Talons found themselves at a disadvantage, as the wind swept Nohki off his feet several times, causing him to temporarily leave the fray. This was a battle where timing and control were everything, and the wind made every move more difficult.
But the Talons were resilient. After an intense battle, Xerxes managed to finish off Wade with a well-timed strike, though he too was eventually knocked out of the fight by Leroy. With Xerxes watching from the stands, the rest of the team continued the fight, with Nohki eventually taking out Jenkins in a fierce exchange of blows. The match ultimately came down to Leroy, the final opponent, and Drez.
Drez, using one of his powerful abilities, decided to "go smokey" and transformed into a smokey mist, allowing him to evade Leroy's strikes and gain the upper hand. It was a narrow victory, but in the end, Drez's tactic was enough to secure the win for the Platinum Talons. It was a hard-fought battle, but the team had proven their strength once again.
As the battle came to a close, Nohki's sharp eyes noticed something unusual about the arena. Encircling the entire battlefield was a strange pattern of gemstones, each one glowing faintly and emitting a low humming sound. The team was unsure what purpose the gemstones served, but they suspected that these enchanted stones played a significant role in the arena's magical function, and perhaps served another, more sinister, purpose. The team made a mental note to investigate further, knowing that mysteries like this were often key to understanding the bigger picture of their journey.
With their victory secured, the Platinum Talons decided to explore Lorecliff's market district. The city was known for its fine craftsmanship and magical items, and the team was eager to see what they could find. Xerxes, always on the lookout for new ways to enhance his combat abilities, purchased a Necklace of Fireballs, a powerful artifact that would give him a fiery edge in future battles. Nohki, ever the resourceful chef, found a magical chef's hat that would help him perfect his culinary skills, as well as an Ivory Goat of Traveling, which would allow him to travel with even more ease in the future. Tagg picked up a Scroll of Fabrication, hoping it would aid the Talons in crafting new tools and weapons for their adventures.
With their new acquisitions in hand, the team made plans to stop by the AGI in Lorecliff for one final visit before continuing to Porta Sacura.