The League of Doomy Doom

Location: ????

The Portal led to a lobby that adjoined a pair of hallways that stretched as far as they eye could see. The interior of this place was art deco, the style of the roaring 20s and 30s earth. In front of them were a set of glass double doors that opened to the bar.

Dabbler went inside the bar and dining hall, a dimly lit place that had seen better days but was still pristine. The lighting was off in his place, the ceiling darkened while the only light was on the floor and from behind the bar. Dabbler hopped onto one of the bar stools and patted the seat beside her, inviting Argonath to join her. Bottles of fine liquor adorned the cabinets, while another wall held many a black and white photo of... people.

A concierge bell was all there was on the bar. Dabbler tapped it.

Ding. A few seconds pass.

Ding. A few seconds more.

Ding. That was much sooner than the last one.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

From outside one's line of sight, he materialized. Not invisible, teleported, just appeared as if he was there all along. A older gentleman in a white suit with a rich crimson undershirt. He seemed a man, but the under light illuminated his face ominously. There was no mistaking his nature, and only a truly blind fool would not realize he was more. Understandably annoyed, he snatched the bell away from Dabbler and placed it out of her reach. "I would appreciate you ring the concierge bell only once, Miss Pratt."

"Heyyy. Use my made up name. Dabbler! Daaaaabbler! Come on , say it Lloyd! Dabbler!" Dabbler was being her usual irritating self, until Lloyd pulled out a glass of milk and a slice of apple pie on exquisite china, and gold utensils. Present company considered, the silverware stayed behind a glass cabinet a good 20 feet away. He even produced a scoop of ice cream to top off the pie. "Oh Lloyd, you know me so well!" Dabbler looked at the food and her attention was diverted.

Once the Dabbler was dealt with, only then did Lloyd turn towards the newcomer. He spoke with impeccable manner and decorum, offering respect and expecting it in turn. "And good evening to you, Lord Belzenlock. How would you like to start your evening? Food? refreshments? Please feel comfortable here. You're with... like minded company."

The Trickster’s portal led to a very strange tavern. The only reason Argonath was able to understand this was a tavern of some sorts was due to the alcohol that lined the wall behind what he assumed was a counter or ‘bar’ as it was called. This was not the God of War’s usual resting grounds as he needed no sustenance like mortals did to survive. The old saying ‘food of the Gods’ was completely false. Why would a god need to eat? What reason would an immortal being born of nothing, created under the divine will of the original creator even need let alone want for hunger? As for drinking for pleasure? It was one of the dumbest things mortals had ever invented. It dulled their already weak senses and inebriated their pitiful minds. He did not understand the fascination.

Still he followed this ‘Dabbler’ through the portal and over to the ‘bar’ where he sat down now in his ‘mortal’ form. His previous wounds he received from the fight with the young dragon had healed at this point but the exhaustion he felt was still there. It was for that reason and that reason alone that he did not simply kill off the trickster when they rang the bell on the counter over and over. Thankfully before it could go on much longer an individual appeared behind the bar and snatched the bell away from her, placing it just out of reach as he addressed the trickster as a ‘Miss Pratt’. Her mortal name it seemed. That was useful knowledge to know. Nothing he could do with it as of now but Argonath was certain it would come in handy.

Dabbler started off with her incessant babbling only to be quickly calmed, at least for now, by a strange piece of mortal food and a liquid of some kind. It seemed mortals here actually drank cow's milk. Truly was there nothing they would not consume as food? He brushed that thought away when the demon barkeep, Lloyd (although that had to be a pseudonym), asked if he needed anything himself. “No, I do not require sustenance whether for existence or for pleasure. I was under the impression I was coming to this one’s office to speak business.” He replied with no hint of malice or disrespect towards the demon anywhere in his tone. He knew he was above such creature, seeing as he himself could summon the demons of his dimension, but when in one’s own realm a modicum of respect was warranted. “It seems I was misled.”

Dabbler loudly masticated her pie and slurped down her milk, as she conversed with present company." Thish ish mah offish short ofh- ish called a co-work space. A supervillain co-work space. gulp. No eating? wow that's pretty lame."

A second slice of pastry, this time deviled chocolate, was produced to pacify Dabbler. "Ah. So you are one of those who has transcended such needs. Impressive. But also...tragic." He poured Dabbler extra milk, if only to keep her from being too much of a pain.

"Well then. The only other thing I can offer is conversation. useful conversation."

Lloyd opened a wooden cabinet at the bar, to reveal an old timey screen. It was playing evening news, covering the Las Vegas battle... with what little footage was available. Naturally there was a bias against Argonath, the anchorman reporting the news describing him in most unflattering terms and comparing him again to Sauron. He was singing praises to Dragon Girl and the Nevada Task Force.

Dabbler herself was watching the recap with earnest. It was difficult to tell if she was cheering for Argonath or June. "BOOM POW! GET IM! YEAH! OOH RIGHT IN THE KISSER! "

"A most surprising and impressive battle against the Dragon Girl. But that's not our primary concern, no... the circumstances leading to this battle... tells me it was not an intentional arrival, given one of your skill and caliber. What brings you to earth? And if I may ask, why? "

A co-worker or supervillain co-work space? This delusional trickster spoke nothing but riddles and lies. If it were up to Argonath he would have flayed her alive. Except she would probably enjoy that and the demon ‘Lloyd’ would not care to lose a customer or have his establishment destroyed in the process. They both made comments of their own variety on his lack of need for food. Both claimed it was a loss on his part. A notion he did not agree with, just as with sleep mortals spent much of their short lives on eating. When they could be doing more productive things. Not only that but some even seemed to enjoy eating, as if it served any purpose other than providing them with the basic necessities for their continued survival. Perhaps this was something he would never comprehend as a God of Destruction.

What happened next surprised the Blackblade, his face remained stoic and showed none of this though. The strange box was like a scrying orb of some kind. Showing the recent events of his battle with the young dragon and the town crier that was retelling the story pained him in a very bad light. It mattered not what the mortals thought of him, they would soon be bowing down to him and basking in his glory. Through both fear and respect. The comparison to this Sauron being once more however caught his attention. It was what the mortal champion had compared him too. A dark god of this world perhaps? A fallen would be conqueror? If so this was someone whom he needed to research. To understand why and how their own conquest failed and how Argonath could strive to not make the same mistakes. Those who did not learn history were doomed to repeat it.

The three of them watched the recap of the battle that took place previously. Although the scrying screen was shaky and minimal at best; it allowed him a second viewing of his very minor victory over the mortal champion. It also reiterated to this world his weakness of silver. Something he would most certainly have to watch out for in future confrontations with the champions of this dimension. “You are correct. My arrival here was not planned. I was banished from my home dimension. My opposite and enemy sent me floating through the blind eternities. It was pure chance that I arrived on your plane of existence. Now that I am here though I shall conquer this ‘Earth’ as you call it and use its powers and resources to return to mine own. Then two dimensions will Kneel before me.”

Dabbler might've played the fool, but greater is the fool who thinks she is harmless, a mere nuisance or without worth. Listening to Argonath expounding his extraplanar origin, Dabbler puts down her fork and took off her witch hat.

Placing it on the table she... talks to her hat. "Hat. Open."

"GRRRRRRRR. RAWRRRRR." The hat growled back at Dabbler, trying to bite her finger off with vicious teeth.

"Stupid hat. Haven't opened it lately. Take this!" Dabbler opened her hand to reveal one of the eyes of the demon Memnon embedded in her palm. A small shock of chaos lightning zaps the hat, and it whines in pain. The hat complies with Dabbler's original command and opened its maw. Dabbler reached in and searched around, then pulled out a massive book.

It was titled the Gienus Chronicles, with an interesting artistic interpretation of Argonath on the cover. A muscular handsome man with flowing black hair, doing battle with another handsome man in white armor, with flowing blonde hair. It was all very homo.

Lloyd looked on with exasperation, as the hat drooled all over his good clean bar. "...This establishment has rules that has stood for hundreds of years. Only with Dabbler have I the need to make new ones, namely, no pets at the bar."

"...No wonder I recognize you! You're this guy! Except... where'd your hair go? Did you shave your head? Did you experience epidermal defenestration when you were exiled?" Dabbler asked with enthusiasm, showing Argonath a book that basically contained his tale.

Lloyd had to step in and offer a suggestion to give Dabbler some focus. [color=#AB0000]"Miss Pratt. Rather than showing Lord Belzenlock a book that chronicles his story, why not demonstrate your talents?" Dabbler turned to him and grinned.

"Can I... doodle on the wall?" she asked earnestly. Lloyd responded with a box of crayons. Dabbler swiped them eagerly then went to the blank wall, and perhaps as a surprise to those not acquainted to her abilities, she began writing extremely complex runes about a doorway.

"...This might take awhile." Lloyd said, changing the channel to a streaming service, choosing a show called "Chronicles of Gienus." by Tommy Wiseau... who also plays a very pale, whiny Argonath. However, Tommy's acting belied the fact he portrayed Argonath's tale very accurately, portraying him as more a tragic and misunderstood anti-villain than a straight up bad guy. This was apparent in the first five minutes of the first episode when he's walking among the people teaching them. Perhaps the only deviation is the love interest, a very young actress being very touchy with Tommygonath.

"You don't eat, you don't sleep. That means you're an excellent show binger. Dabbler should be done after this episode."

It seemed the trickster’s hat was not only a mimic, or a familiar, but also an extra dimensional space. Said trickster was also in possession of demonic powers and a strange magic that Argonath was unfamiliar with. Neither of those were the biggest surprise yet to come. That honor befel a book entitled ‘The Gienus Chronicles’ that showed a strange long black haired individual in armor eerily similar to his own fighting against a similarly sculpted blond man in white armor. Dappler then proceeded to inform him that she believed he was the individual on the cover in the black armor. “I have never had hair of that color.” True; before he fell and became the forgotten one he did have long flowing hair but it was of a stark white color and he didn't wear armor back then. Back in his younger foolish days when he was a helping and good God of Destruction.

The next few seconds were a whirlwind of actions as the trickster witch took some strange colored charcoal that looked as if it was meant for mortal children and started drawing out highly complex arcane runes. While that was happening the barkeep demon ‘Lloyd’ changed the scrying box to show a different image. Or rather ‘show’ this time detailing the ‘Chronicles of Gienus’ as the words depicted. It started off detailing Argonath’s life. From the beginning of creation where the First birthed all of existence into being, the making of the Gods and from there bringing Gienus into being. This depiction was wildly inaccurate in some places, such as the character who was supposed to be him having long flowing black hair and a mortal love interest. Yet, in others it was completely spot on, down to the smallest of details.

It was almost as if the person who made this play had actually been there for all of these events. Except there was no possible way that could have been. “This episode as you call it. How did the storyteller know these events? It is wildly inaccurate at times but at others it is as if it was written by Lowenzahn the God of Stories themself.” He paused as the first ‘episode’ finished showing the credits and who the actors were, and who they portrayed. This Tommy Wiseau made him appear a fool but he would need to be looked into. To see how much they truly knew. Perhaps they were even Lowenzahn themselves. Transported here to this dimension instead of dying in the war like he had once assumed. “How did this play come to be? Where did they gain this knowledge and what is the trickster witch doing with those arcane symbols?”

"I have a theory about that. actually it's Dabbler's theory. during her... sojourns to places even I don't recognize ... she dreamt of things. Events, places, people, removed from her own home world. It's possible that, some individuals who are sensitive to extraplanar energies can subconsciously come up with these stories as if it were their own." Lloyd shared with Argonath this interesting but only marginally useful information as he set about washing and cleaning Dabbler's dishes and utensils.

"Though... this transmission of information is hardly of much use for your goals. Unless... you need to know what's happening in your home." Lloyd speculated with him. He gestured over instead to the now completed sigils, a passageway through the realms in the shape of a standard 36" x 84" doorway. A doorway lined with writings and symbols that were native to that dimension, found no less in the massive novel.

"Dabbler's work however, might be of much greater use for you."

"It's almost done! Hey Argonath come over! I need a drop of your blood to open the way to Gineus! Just one drop right here in this circle." She pointed to a small circle about ten feet from the door, connected to it by a red line of runes.

Beings in tune with the extraplanar energies perceiving events and coming up with them as their own? Creating entire stories and plays based upon actual events the viewer perceived from an alternate dimension? If this was true, and the evidence pointed to it being so (unless Lowenzahn was somehow alive) then that was quite the discovery. It did not help him in his goals to conquer this world, use its resources and technology to then return to and re-conquer his own world but it was useful to know. Especially if as Lloyd pointed out he could use a being that could pierce the veil to find out just what was going on in his own dimension. To scout it out, plan a head and use the knowledge to reclaim his dimension in one fell swoop.

Right as that thought crossed his mind the trickster witch called him over, getting his attention. A drop of his blood to open a doorway to Gienus? A single drop of his blood in this arcane circle would finally return him to his dimension? Was it really that simple? He did not trust this trickster as far as he could throw her; and he could throw her quite far. Despite this he did not have a lot of options and he assumed that killing someone was frowned upon in this tavern. It appeared to be a safe haven of sorts. A resting place for those of ill repute. At least that was the vibe that Argonath had picked up during his short amount of time here and the few pieces of conversation that had been about the place where they were.

That decided he walked over to Dabbler and summoned the Blackblade into his right hand, using his left he ran it up along the side. Using the blade’s own edge he sliced into his palm. The golden ichor dripped down into the circle designated by the witch and watched as the runes and magic worked their, well magic. The end result was a doorway, or mirror, looking into a majestic castle. The golden castle towered above the landscape, its scope and size rivaling and even surpassing even the largest and most extravagant castles built on Earth. The planet’s sun shined bright in the sky, the grass was a perfect green dotted with trees and flowers of different shapes and colors. This gate however did not stay open for long. It flashed a light red, almost pink in color, before exploding. Backfiring onto those closest to the portal as well as those who helped in its creation.

Them being the same two people in this instance. Argonath, as well as Dabbler unless they had some sort of protection, would be blown backwards into the far wall as an explosion meant to deter and stop a certain fallen God ripped into them. His armor was the only thing that kept his mortal form alive as the force and power of the explosion ripped into the forgotten God. The Blackblade had clattered to the ground before it flew into his limp, broken hand as the Steelheart roared into his Godly Form, his volcanic wings ripping from his back. Landing on two feet, now at an impressive height of teen foot, he breathed out and cracked his neck. “It seems Lorasil, or one of his champions, has stalled interplanar travel to Gienus. A minor setback. For now.”

Dabbler was much less fortunate. She had only her teleportation as her defense, and she couldn't react in time to the trap. The force sent her flying to a pool table, her back audibly snapping, much of her upper torso burned and her head on backwards. One of her arms went flying towards the priceless whiskey on the shelf, which Lloyd would not allow and so he very effortlessly catches it.

"That was... unexpected." Lloyd said, nonchalantly, placing Dabbler's arm on the table and duct-taping back it back on. Mostly so she'd stop bleeding onto his pool table.

"...Mhh rrrnnn!" Dabbler took a bit longer to come to, though she was panicking as her head was twisted 180 degrees. She uses her intact lower arms to set her arm right, then with a swift twist, sets her head back on right.

"HNN HNN HNN! HNN! HNN!" She gestured to her vocal chords, which were ripped up when her neck was twisted. She pushed herself off the table and landed on the ground, focusing on resetting her broken spine, her legs unresponsive.

"...You were hit with Divine energies. You're probably going to have to wait awhile before your healing sets in." The so-far expressionless Lloyd suddenly broke into a very brief smile. "But I must say. Miss Pratt not speaking is an improvement. AHAHAHA!" the laugh was unexpected, but it echoed many an otherwordly voices, and thunder rumbled in the background.

Either the trickster was unkillable through whatever demonic magic they possessed or Argonath’s initial assumption that this place prevented that kind of violence was true. One guess as to which of the answers he preferred. Ignoring the reconstructing of the damaged witch, Dis Pater made his way over to the runes that were now mostly destroyed after being blasted by divine energy. There was very little actually left and it also appeared as if the wall and floor was scorched, as if it was hit by radiant fire. The runes that were left were mostly nonsense to him. It seemed even if he was able to access and use magic through the power of his home dimension that this was a different version or sect of magic that he had little understanding of. It would take him some time before he was capable of doing this or something similar. But in the end he would master this. He would use it to return home, and reclaim his universe. Because in the end All would kneel before Belzenlock.

It was not until the maniacal laughter echoed out and thunder rumbled in the bar did the God of Destruction break from his musings. Turning towards the other two people in the bar he took stock of just how destroyed Dabbler was and the sheer insanity that was Lloyd and the witch. Alienating his only two possible allies would not be smart; and it meant keeping this demi-plane as a safe haven until he could construct, or take, his own such base of operations. ”Are you two quite finished? WIth the recent information that I cannot currently return home and that this world knows who I am, my conquest needs to start quickly.” He intoned wings at rest, his hands crossed behind his back seizing them up as he spoke. Voice completely monotone and flat, devoid of any emotion.

“We shall need a base of operations in which to stage our assault, a strong and scared if not loyal army, and more lieutenants than simply you young Dabbler. As I assume this place would not be suited for such, or allowed in its use for a staging ground to conquer this universe. Is that correct ‘Lloyd’?” The final statement and question very obviously directed at the demonic barkeep. Argonath did not know a lot about this world and would need to learn and understand it before he could truly begin to conquer it. But, talking about and discussing his next steps after that would at least allow for a semblance of a plan to begin. It would also give rise to the knowledge and usefulness of Dabbler beyond her portals and distraction as a trickster.

Once the comedy routine was done, and Argonath cleaved to the bloody purpose of conquest, did Lloyd pressed a button at the pool table to reveal a map of the world.

"Of course. Land, resources, material and men. The meat and wine, you could say, of conquest. It's unfortunate you were immediately made known to the Global Defense Network. But, you are a capable conqueror, are you not Lord Belzenlock? Not just the hungry wolf but also a cunning fox. Oh yes. I'm unsure if you have a similar text in your world, but, in this one, there is one called the 'Art of War', and one passage goes, Know Thy Enemy, and Know thyself, and you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles. Let me offer you some... suggestions."

With a wave of Lloyd's hand, a certain group of countries were illuminated a pale blue. "These countries in blue are all part of the Global Defense Network. On this side of the world, Canada, North America, Parts of South America. Over here most of the European Union, some of the former Soviet states. India. East Asia- Japan, South Korea- the Dragon Girl's homeland, if that interests you- and a few of these small island nations, and Australia and new Zealand. These are Democracies, They share information, that means, these nations will identify you should make an attempt to attack them."

The GDN nations faded, then Lloyd Illuminated countries in red. "These countries however... are not. For a variety of reasons. China and Russia are the most powerful non-members... everyone else, countries ruled by despots, zealots, corrupt officials. Easy pickings. Africa has the best potential, an entire continent rich, nay, pregnant with resources, waiting for a will strong enough to unify them by force... or by cunning."

Once Dabbler could speak she couldn't resist talking again, even though her voice was still incredibly coarse. "You should invade Poland! It's a tradition here on earth!"

"I'm afraid the joke would just fly over his head, Miss Pratt. Anyway. Yes, incidentally, Poland does not work with the Global Defense Force. However, it is in a precarious position in Europe, surrounded by Russia or member states. Too many fronts to defend."

Dabbler slowly got to her feet, now that the divine energy subsided. She snapped her fingers to check her powers were in working order.

"Yeah. Conquest by stabby stabby is cool and all. But the real pro gamers defeat their enemies without even drawing sword. Like. So."

With arcane gestures Dabbler cast a glamor upon herself to transform into a harmless looking human woman. "...Oh please, help me kind sir. I'm just an innocent bystander!"

"And so!" Dabbler cast an illusion again, this time on Argonath. A fairly elementary illusion cast over his form to make him human but also, a large, extremely musclebound, form fitting black spandex wearing villain with a cape. With a big red A on his chest. "How about this! The Black Argus! Supervillain! mwahaha!"

Lloyd looked at Dabbler's suggestion and shook his head in disapproval. "No no. Far too showy. We have enough loudmouth buff gentlemen in spandex in the world. How about... Argus Black. CEO of an arms manufacturing company?"

Dabbler shrugged and turned Argonath into a very typical but fit businessman in a suit, still with a head of hair.

It appeared as if this world also had intelligent warlords. The simple passage from the ‘Art of War’ book was a sound and true line. A text the Dread Lord would most certainly have to take up the time to read. It might help him better understand how the military leaders of this world would think, giving him ample time to predict their responses or react to the moves they themselves would inevitably make. Defeat them before they even knew they had already lost. Argonath’s attention turned now towards the magical map of the world, listening intently as Lloyd explained the different nations and the factions (or alliances) that they belonged to. On his first simple foray into this world it appeared the God of War had stumbled across the biggest alliance and in the strongest nation too. Good. A fine test of his abilities but also not how he would have wanted things to go, what with this defense force learning his weakness.

Of the nations not a part of this Defense Network the next strongest were ‘Russia’ and ‘China’ two very large countries. Both of which were powerful in their own right, and in due time would fall before his might. It would not do to start his empire there though. No, he would need to start somewhere strategic, a country that he could easily dispose of the current regime and none would bat an eye. The chaos witch suggested a Poland, just as the young dragon did, but the idea was quickly rebuffed by Lloyd’s explanation of where it sat geopolitically. Not a good starting point despite what apparently old would be conquerors of this world had tried. That would not do. As those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

The next suggestion by Dabbler was actually one that Lord Belzenlock could actually get behind and understand. Subterfuge, while not the quickest way to power, was a decent enough strategy in of itself. A CEO of an arms manufacturing company in a war torn area? A presence for the people to rally behind? Someone whom they trusted to get them out of this trouble and unite them all for a common cause against a greater evil? Oh yes. Now this was absolutely something the Forgotten One could get behind. “Yes. Argus Black. A good cover.” His form would shift on its own, as his own variation of a disguise self spell was cast. An older human gentleman, with an air of superiority but a smidge of kindness, in a fantastic three piece suit would replace the one cast by Dabbler. “We shall begin in Africa. A wealthy benefactor come to uplift and protect the people. Give them new life and a promise of peace and protection. This country, this Somalia. It is a coastal nation and will be a good staging ground to spread to the rest of your African nations.” Now this was Argonath Belzenlock, God of War in his true form.

Dabbler liked role play. She liked sowing mischief and chaos, to feed on human despair when their greed and ambition were dashed to pieces. That Argonath  She spruced up her illusion some more, looking like a young wealthy middle school student. Her voice had even changed, as finding unusual degree of focus allowed her to truly get into her role.

"Behold. Samantha Black. The sweet innocent grandchild always in the public spotlight, foolishly leaving the security of her grandfather's compound to play with the locals. She is frequently kidnapped... and frequently escapes. A most entertaining means of ferreting out souls who will serve in life... or slave in death." her Dabbler laugh momentarily emerged, but she manages to keep Samantha Black in character. Her guise was imperfect though, as she could never conceal her red and yellow eyes.

"Excellent. Excellent. I am happy to have helped facilitate these schemes. You've done a great job finding another fellow lord of the night, Miss Pratt. And The 9th Circle will always welcome... Argus Black." Lloyd approached Argonath with a key attached to a red metal keychain, a simple red ring studded with 9 rubies. Exclusive membership for the 9th Circle.

((END OF THREAD. Words: 2356  / 4 xp / 356 leftover words))