The Crooked Wand: Best Laid Plans (Closed - Background Story)
By
Forse,
Posted on: 2009-09-20 24:55 in Roleplaying
Lights flickered on across the warehouse. It was mostly bare, with doors leading off to other darkened rooms in the background, and chains hanging here and there where once stood machinery and workstations.
“Do you like what I have done with the place...?” Chimera appeared on a balcony on the fair side, “I am thinking of heading to a small island somewhere, perhaps Atlantic way.”
“I don’t know what you...” Toppa started.
“GESTAHL! Release the clones. I hope you enjoy them Grace, they are almost complete.”
Tam was faced with his worst nightmare bursting through the doorways flanking them. He had so far been shielded from facing these copies of himself. For a moment he saw his face staring back, all rage and foam. Their bodies were misshapen, the process unfinished, and bones jutted out at odd angles, their shoulders hunched and their skin hanging on decaying limbs. They were savage and chaotic, erupting over one another in a vicious assault upon the team. Any resemblance to Tam ended at their physical form.
“TAM! Snap out of it!” Toppa roared as he sent one hurtling backwards with a lightning bolt. “You HAVE to fight. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, but FIGHT!”
Theo leapt into action and bounced between three of the undead trolls, picking at elbows, eyes and joints; wherever he could to weaken them with his dual Sais. Issa meanwhile had back flipped over onto a column, and pounced onto the shoulders of an approaching troll. “Darling, you’re mine now”, she purred, placing her hands across its forehead. It slumped forwards and she straddled its head to sit on the broad shoulders. Standing back up, with her fingers firmly planted upon key nerve bundles, it was a puppet at her command. She immediately grabbed a hanging chain and swung for more of them, tripping one against the concrete.
Tam snapped out of it finally, and caught one with an uppercut. He immediately swung his hammer around behind himself, catching another in the ribs with a crunch. Together with Toppa, he managed to incapacitate another two, bound in chain with enough damage to keep them down. A burst of energy soared over and sent Toppa flying back against the doorway, leaving a hefty dent. Tam's rage began to boil over as he turned to hear Chimera...
“Grace, you are holding back. You could have turned this whole room to charcoal by now. Are we hoping to fight me? I am ready for you...” Chimera dropped down from the balcony and slumped onto the floor, before standing upright with unearthly grace and strolling towards the fight.
“You’re ready alright,” roared Tam as he dived towards Chimera with his hammer raised, “GRRRRAAAA...”
Chimera immediately parried his swing, catching the hammer and swinging Tam into nearby chains. They wrapped around his wrists and Tam got hoisted upwards by some unseen operator.
“Aa..ggg.?” murmured Tam, deflated.
“I am no longer interested in you, Trollkin. Now stay put.”
Issa smashed the remaining clone in the face with a foot, before releasing her hold on her puppet. It slumped to the ground defeated. Theo joined her, ready to pounce on Chimera. Toppa held out his hand to stop them, and stood back up. His forehead began to crack under the increase in magic use, and his eyes surged with blue light. He raised his hands quickly, and ice formed over the defeated clones.
“You want me, then, I take it. To add the energy of the Graces to your own. How cliché Chimera.” Toppa realigned his glasses, and dusted down his coat.
“Think about this Toppa. I will kill the Trollkin if you do not give yourself over to me immediately. The ring will do for now, a starter if you will. I will add the power to my own uniqueness. It will serve my new world well, as will you, eventually.”
“With my family’s power as the main course, I think not.” Toppa sent a stream of lightning at the distracted Chimera, but he simply absorbed the energy.
“I will have it, or I will take it by force. Your team is a pathetic excuse for a battle, already so tired after just a quick battle with a handful of my troops. There are more Grace, many more. All of them are willing to serve my new order, and see the death of anything in my way. We will march across this world and blot out the many diplomats, the many cliques, the many groups that seek to conform to the status quo.” Chimera was met by a plume of flames from Toppa, and quickly somersaulted back to safety.
“Oh Grace, look at that, you have me ranting again. GESTAHL! Take the Trollkin away; we have much work to complete.”
Tam’s eyes widened with surprise, and Toppa motioned for Issa and Theo to flank Chimera.
“You said you weren’t...” snarled Tam.
“I LIED!” roared Chimera to interrupt him, spinning on his heels and blasting both Issa and Theo backwards with bursts of energy. They struck the far walls and both slumped down.
“I will take both.”
Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
----
Red Commissar: I'm in the Queen Mother. Only more awesome. And alive
Tam was hoisted further into the air by the chain, and he could feel his shoulders dislocating as the links dug deeper into his wrists. The pain was torturous, but he continued to stay focused on trying helplessly to struggle free by swinging back and forth. Chimera turned back to Toppa, “The Troll will die and I will have my army completed. Give over what I want, and you will get more time to prepare with him, otherwise I shall take it now.”
“Forget it Chimera,” Toppa looked over to Theo, who was helping Issa up on the far side of the room, “The best laid plans and all that...” Theo nodded in response, and Tam stopped struggling. “Toppa! No! Fight Toppa!”
“You have failed Grace. My operations are already moved elsewhere, and now I have my trophy as well,” Chimera smirked and turned back to Tam, “Gestahl is waiting for you. You will –“
A bolt of lightning hit Chimera between the shoulder blades, catapulting him to land head first. Tam continued his struggling, and cheered to Toppa, “That’s my Toppa! Go, take the shot now!”
“The best laid plans...” repeated Toppa deflated, and fished a wrapped ball from his pocket. “TAKE THE SHOT!” screamed Tam, as he neared the ceiling. Blood was now oozing down his arms, and he felt light-headed. Toppa bellowed “All on TAM!” and blasted himself upwards in a gale of wind, unwrapping the covering from the Scornfall Artifact and hurling it to Tam.
Chimera stood back up and clicked his neck, looking up at the soaring Toppa. “What is that Grace...” he was cut off as the Scornfall touched Tam’s hand and surged into a brilliant white flash. Theo leapt up the wall with Issa on his back, and pounced into the explosion of light. Everything in the blast was gone, even the chain cut off with surgical precision.
“Oh, now I understand,” said Chimera with a smirk, and bellowed after them, “I know where you are hiding Grace, I will come for you. GESTAHL! Change of plans, we move on and continue work on the gate, it will be needed after all it seems.” He threw the hanging chain aside, and stormed out of the doors. The lights flickered off again, and in the darkness: a cracking noise.
-----
Toppa caught himself and Tam in an up-draught to cushion their fall, Theo landed face down in the mud of Perez Park. They had managed to teleport with the Scornfall straight to the lakeside in Perez, the abandoned boathouse looming nearby. Straightening himself back up Theo shrugged at the scenery and turned to Toppa, “There was nothing you could do mate. No win, he’d already moved on and was just toying with us.”
“You should have taken the fecking shot Toppa” retorted Tam angrily. “You should have finished that scum.”
“There will be other chances to stop Chimera. He is not as powerful as he likes to think he is. Don’t worry Tam; you’re too important to give away to him like that.” Tam was unimpressed by Toppa’s reassurances, and slowly unbound his wrists. “Darling,” Issa swung down from a nearby tree, “Honey, you need to remember we’re a team. We weren’t about to trade you away. With us out of action Christopher didn’t stand a chance alone.” But Tam just murmured something ugly under his breath in response.
“You’re bleeding Tam, badly,” Toppa said, taking Tam’s hands and turning them over, “They’re deep, we need to get you looked over.”
“It’ll heal in a couple days, just bandage it.” Tam knelt and washed his forearms in the water of Perez Lake, “I don’t have to worry about infections, and it’s just a flesh wound. Troll-tough, remember?”, and he laughed. “Let’s head home...”
Tam and Toppa headed back towards King’s Row, Tam finally giving in and leaning on Toppa for support as they walked. Theo turned to Issa and shot her a grin, “So, movie? I bet we haven’t missed the morning showing.”
“Sure darling, it’s a date” smiled Issa.
----Fin----
((Okay, Fin for now anyway. The characters will be back at Union GG from tomorrow onwards. This was just mostly filler and background whilst I explored other character options. The cast will be expanding as well in the future, and Theo and Issa will be getting some much needed character development. I also really need to get around to putting the rest of the team on the Wiki, along with the list of artifacts and creatures/species the Crooked Wand team fight.))
Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
----
Red Commissar: I'm in the Queen Mother. Only more awesome. And alive
Note: The below is the first part of the explanation of where the Crooked Wand team have been, and what they've been up to this last week and a half. There'll be two further parts, hopefully, that'll full explain the point they're at when they return to Paragon. Done my best to keep Theo and Tam's banters PG13 - though it's an unclear boundary, so I've played it safe.
Toppas Preparation
The office was in disarray. Toppa had turned out every drawer, filing cabinet and cupboard in the building, scavenging what artifacts he could lay his hands on. Most of them were meaningless junk. A Seeing Eye stone that looked into a slab of concrete, a fizzler wrapped in a hanky, nothing useful. But then was his Gracecoil ring, and the Scornfall, safely tucked away in his satchel. It had reactivated since being bought to its home dimension. Too dangerous to use as a weapon however, as Paragon would be inflicted with whomever he used it on.
Mr Grace, theres someone to see you, shall I send him in, or amuse him with the fish tank more? A voice from the intercom interrupted him.
Alexia, you really done need to ask, send Martin in. Hes free to come and go as he pleases you realise.
Sure Toppa, just dont tell him off if he goes through your stuff. The place is a mess right now with your insistence on...
Yes yes, I promised not to say a word about it to Martin; you have my word on it.
The door swung open, and Toppa was bear-hugged by the stout looking Trollkin child. His mother was in the doorway still, surveying the office with a stern look on her face. Toppa looked down into the blond mop of hair that was staring up at him and did his best to avoid meeting Alexias gaze.
Bring your child to work day then? Smiled Toppa, And hows my favourite honorary nephew?
Issas Preparation
Issa sucked on her teeth and drifted her fingers across the keyboard. The start was always the hardest part to write, everything else would come easily enough after that. Did she start by explaining Chimeras trap, or the other dimension? It was all tantalisingly juicy gossip, and the column would lap it up. She might even write a book, a real book this time, shed mean to finish it.
Getting back was only the... she erased it and started again. There are some things... she got out the phone from her bag and glanced through the contact list. Bingo.
Malcolm? Hey darling, how you doing? Yeah, just got back, listen, Ive got a new story to write and I need a starting line. Honey youre my muse always, what do you think?
Malcolm was all she needed. She started afresh an hour later, content she had entirely caught up with her little covenant of friends and people in high places. Glancing over at the bin she spotted Theos laptop sitting on top, battery dead. She wasnt tidying it up this time, screw him, time to head out for coffee. Work well done and she deserved a break.
Tams Preparation
A steady beat of grunts and clashing metal echoed down the corridor to the gym. Tam shunted an extra twenty pounds on the bar and lay back on the bench. He had already gone on far too long, but insisted on spending every waking moment either sparring, eating, sleeping or working out.
Youre totally over doing it, grinned Theo, posed ready to help if the bar slipped, at this rate we go up against Chimera and you go sleep in the corner to rest.
No, grunted Tam, You get knocked for six, Seven, and I do all the hard work.
That was eight, not seven, and shut your trap
Aww... Nine... have I offended your delicate feel... Ten... ings?
Keep it up, Tam and Ill...
Eleven! Tam blurted out over Theos talking.
...all over the gym you bloody smelly ogre. Theo gave him an indignant stare and folded his arms.
Twelve. He pushed the bar back onto the rack and sat up. After rubbing his hands a few times to clear the sweat he turned round and matched the glare. Try me; sparringll be cake against you. Stupid lizard.
Theos Preparation
The first thing Theo did upon returning was check his email. The entire packed spam mail was dumped instantly into the waste bin, along with the laptop. Issa would fish it out later, it wasnt important right now.
Over the course of a couple of days, Theos training amounted to all of thirty minutes blade training, four nights worth of drinking, and three brawls. One of them wasnt his fault however:
The club surged with music and people, all limbs and sweat pulsing to a singular beat. The bar itself was a shouting match, all types vying for the attention of the bar staff, and the alcohol flowing freely. Theo had perched himself centre stage for the duration of the evening, and guarded his stool with silent glares. He was already quite drunk, and conversations were inevitable. It was going well with his current drinking buddy, some guy in his mid-twenties with a goatee and green T-shirt. Theo hardly paid attention to further details.
So, yours one of those guys then? slurred the buddy, A lizzy.
Yeah and... a wha?
You know what I mean right, like one of those guys. Id never met one before and then I saw you and said...
I really enjoyed talking to you.
Hu-. He went down like a sack of potatoes. Mostly due to how drunk he was in reality, but Theo enjoyed the sudden rush from decking the guy.
Do I LOOK like a lizard to you? He glared down at the lump, and prodded him with his foot. HUH?
Two bouncers crossed over at this point, and the fun began for Theo. Twenty minutes later he was removed from the club by force. He had smashed a pool cue over his knee and threatened one of the bouncers, then smashed another in the face with his tail as he leapt onto the back of the first. A brilliant show of acrobatics, however sore he now felt after the beating they gave him. It was time to head home and take it out on Tam.
Go time:
Issas convertible screeched to a halt at the gates of the dock district. The rest of the way was on foot at Toppas insistence. Hours drawing up plans and going over maps made clear there was no easy way into Chimeras stronghold, and any attempt to bust their way in would lead to unnecessary risks too early into the mission.
A few good strikes from Gorn, and Tams hammer bust through the locks on the doors, catapulting them a good few feet into the room. Theo eagerly swung the doors open on busted hinges and surveyed the darkened warehouse.
If I knew you were going to walk straight in the front door, I would not have gone to the trouble of all the cameras, traps and security systems, a voice rang out across the warehouse, I could have put out a welcome mat, or would your pets have wrecked that too Grace?
Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
----
Red Commissar: I'm in the Queen Mother. Only more awesome. And alive