Chapter 9, Part VII: Self-Esteem Bruisers
Written by Kyle
The Platinum Talons head back to the Wiltspar after deciding to not look for Vance's parents without Vance present. Tagg bonds with Chauncey over being big brothers and about his experience with death. Xerxes shows Chauncey and Aurifar the newly found Shard of Forgotten Spirit and the Shard of Forgotten Darkness. Chauncey says that it doesn't belong to any school of magic and Aurifar doesn't know of story behind these shards.
Aurifar states that there has only been one attack since we have been gone and he handled them all by using his ability. Pluveria and Aurifar catch up and we learn that Aurifar is the 4th oldest sibling and Pluveria is the 3rd oldest sibling. Nohki talks to Darien about what he has been up to lately and about his plans to search for Jimbei on Amazon Lily. Nohki uses his occultant powers to cast augury in the results of Tagg's death. He receives a weal and a hesitant woe about Jimbei and living creatures being located on all of Amazon Lily.
Teigrid harmonizes with the tree and Tagg talks to Teigrid about how Pluveria became her father. Teigrid is surprised that Pluveria allowed her to come to Centra as the tomb where their parents died is located in the jungles of Centra.
Xerxes is working with Crash to build grenades and enchanted bolts in the craftsman halls. Nohki made some burger bombs with Edwina and a legendary undead potion with Jonas. Nohki tries to find more undead ingredients from Chauncy and Ollie. Ollie rips out Nohki's heart as a party trick. Tagg discovers that Silvermist was on duty on the day of the attack, but still no documentation of Nelneth. They go back to Brimhold and get hit with a memory of BOJO as they fast travel through his tree onto the proposal hill. They head to the Grand Fortress to talk to Chieftain Ouglana about their recent victory. As they make our way to the stronghold, the entire town has been eradicated of all ORC members. Chieftain Ouglana is editing copies of the world map after losing half of the continent.
Tagg explains how ORC and the Harvest Man were involved in creating the poison veil which was no shock to the Chieftain. Out of gratitude for our service, Chieftain Ouglana is making a Talon Corp branch within their army. She also promises each Platinum Talon a quick delivery of one of two options for a magic item of their choosing.
Xerxes swings by his grandmother's tent and receives tea from Ted Butler the Tent Butler. The Talons use a Wiltspar sapling to purchase more feat books in Platinum City and sell some of their magic items and loot along the way. Xerxes sells gems to get 25,000 gold and the Talons used 15,000 of that to upgrade their Wondrously Wagon to make it a convertible boat.
Once their shopping spree was over, they head over to the coliseum in Yurdrok named the Rocktop Arena for the AGI Battle Royale. They are greeted by Crete's brother Pete. As they enter the arena with their egos through the roof, they face off against their mortal enemies: the Beefly Bruisers. The stadium is roaring as the two teams are spread across large stone platforms everywhere with a pit of sand 50 feet below. If anyone falls off the platform, then they are considered out of the battle.
The battle of strength and attrition began. Xerxes cast faerie fire, Tagg launches his javelin, and Nohki creates a wall of stone to create a bridge and cover for the party. Walloping arrows threaten to push Xerxes off the edge. The two meat heads of the Beefly Bruisers, Bex and Biff, easily stride across the platforms and over the wall of stone. Bex strikes Xerxes with a thunderous smite, trying to knock him off the platform. Nohki tries to thunderwave Biff and Bex off, but Biff hangs on barely.
Tagg and Biff begin wrestling one another in a struggle of equal strength until eventually Tagg pins down Biff by the edge of the platform. Xerxes gets a second wind from the meta gods to attack again and lands a critical hit on Bex which does not do as much damage as intended.
Bex then returns the favor with numerous critical hits against Xerxes and his adamantine armor. Nohki gets stunned and banished taking him out of the fight temporarily. Tagg tosses Bex off the ledge once again, but she catches herself again with a dexterous save. Xerxes slings guiding bolt at Brox and at Bryn to knock them out of the fight, but it is too late.
Nohki and Tagg are knocked down with no more free revives left. It is now a two versus one battle with Xerxes scrambling around the battlefield with no more spells left. After some blood, sweat, and tears the Platinum Talons were defeated by the Beefly Bruisers... or were they? In a fit of rage, the three Talons look at one another and nod their heads in agreement for what needs to be done. Be good sports and keep their heads high until their next rematch? Of course not! Reaching for the Orb of Control-Z, they send themselves back in time to when they are standing outside of the coliseum... but this time craving revenge in a one-sided grudge match known only to them.