Fodder Story Plan - The Original Notes Part One

 In honour of the release of The Taskmaster, the final book of my *ahem* "trilogy" the Plot Bandits, I'm offering up a little behind the scenes treat - my original story plan for a single book (believe it or not) called Fodder which was typed up circa 2007/2008 from even more original notes I'd scribbled in a recently rediscovered notebook. It offers some insight into how this beast started, which ideas were there in some form or another right from the start, which never made the final cut and which ideas, by their absence, can be shown to have invaded my brain and shot me off in a new direction at a later date. It was definitely a case of life imitating art in the writing of this - the characters completely took over in the middle! Because I'm aware people may not have finished reading The Taskmaster yet (honestly, what's wrong with you? ;p) I'm going to release this frankly massive haul of notes in two parts, saving the potentially spoilery final sections until next month's blog. I hope you find it interesting. :)

Fodder Basic Story Plan 

(Taskmaster Summary Part Three)

-Opening massacre and pick selves up after –

If there was one particular word that could be used to describe Fodder of Humble Village, it was ordinary. His face was ordinary. His nose was neither hooked nor pointed, not snub or aquiline, neither especially big or notably small. His hair was brown – no fiery reds or midnight blacks for him – and his eyes were just the same. He was neither fat nor particularly thin, no weakling but hardly of god-like physique, no towering giant but not notably on the short side. He was an ordinary man on an ordinary day, dressed in rusty, badly fitting armour as he waited on a lonely road for the chance to get on with his job.

  He could see the dust rising on the track ahead, the surge of brilliant, impossibly vivid light that cut into the ordinary, straightforward everyday grey of normal life and indicated to his companions to make ready. He gripped his spear more tightly and adjusted the rough leather jerkin beneath his mail as he exchanged brief, weary looks with his companions; Shoulders, unshaven and rubbing at his neck with a vague hint of resignation, burly Thump with the pet cudgel he’d named Ronald and stick-thin Clunny, with awkward manner and perennial fidget.

  He sighed.

  “Well,” he said with a simple shrug. “Here we go again.”

INTO ITALICS FIGHT (SEE HANDWRITTEN NOTES FOR FIRST SECTION)

MB arrive, guards order them to stop – exaggerated descriptions (weasel-like, huge and beard, scruffy and miserable looking and “lead guard”) – the fight kicks off, MB win and ride away.

 - silence – bodies – then a gurgling from a muddy puddle – Fodder, with spear through his chest, sits up and sighs. Shoulders’ decapitated body staggers to its feet and meanders over to the puddle and lifts his head out, wiping off the mud.

“Every time! Every bloody time! He doesn’t have to hit it so damned far, it does it on purpose, I swear he does! If he had a sense of humour, I’d think he was trying to be funny!” He holds up the head and moves it from side to side so he can glance around. “Where’s Squick? He should be here by now!”

 Fodder pulls the spear out and stand up, remarks that Squick will be here soon enough and they’d better have all their bits ready to be reattached. And there’s no point in moaning about Clank, he’s just doing his job. Flying heads is his trademark… Shoulders makes a raspberry sound made highly unpleasant by his still detached head. “Right. Doing his job.” Angles his head down to look at torso and sighs with plaintive irritation. “Has anyone seen my entrails?”

Fodder finds himself thinking he’s got a point – why are they always the ones fishing their entrails out of bushes and searching for missing limbs while Clank, Bumpkin and the rest of the Merry Band lord it over everyone? But thought interrupted as Squick arrives to fix them and they all troop off to the pub in Humble Village (The Archetypal Inn? Never know what it will be like – one day a veranda and taproom and a painting of a rose, the next filthy and squalid with a giant fireplace and a broken sign – it’s redecorated between Pages)– there Bard the Minstrel is reciting a stylised version of the story so far which gets heckled from all directions –

[Official Taskmaster Summary: The Ring of Anthiphion: Part One

In which:

We meet our hero, young Erik, an ordinary young stable lad who looks after the horses in his Uncle Alwin’s remote inn in the hill kingdom of Doss, and occasionally sneaks out to visit a friendly, mysterious and eccentric old man called Elder who lives in a crumbling tower in the woods behind the village and seems to know of many strange things and distant lands that fuels Erik’s longing for adventure. But one day, a group of ill-matched and mysterious strangers ride into the inn in desperate search of a man matching Elder’s description – Erik hears them speak of a mysterious theft before he is caught eavesdropping and redeems himself by offering to lead them to Elder.

  Elder introduces the men to him. The first is Sir Roderick, first knight of the Kingdom of Nyolesse and legendary for both his skill and for his tragic love of a mysterious woman he could never have. The second is Slynder, a thief renowned for his skill throughout six kingdoms. The third is Halheid, a gruff barbarian from the northern reaches, brutish, uncivilised and quick to anger. Fourth is Zahora, a quick-tempered warrior woman who dislikes Halheid for his attitude that only men should fight. And finally there is Gort, a dwarf miner with an unexplained hatred of Slynder.

  They tell Elder that they have something important to tell him and Erik is sent from the room, but from listening at the door he learns that something has been stolen and that someone called Myhessia is pleading for his aid because the age-old prophecy made by the Seeress Mydrella will soon be fulfilled. Elder agrees to come and when Erik bursts in and pleads to come, Elder looks at him oddly and agrees, over the protests of the others who feel he will be in the way. They head back to the inn to tell his uncle only to find it has shockingly been set on fire and his uncle’s body nailed to the wall.  Mysterious, deformed creatures surround them and Erik in his fury slays several with a skill he never knew he had and drives the rest away with a strange force that seems to emminate from his body. The band leave, taking only Erik’s loyal, favourite horse which fortuitously survived the fire and ride off towards the mountains.

Official Taskmaster Summary: The Ring of Anthiphion: Part Two

On the way to the mountains, they encounter a party sent by the King Cyrus of Nyolesse, lead by an official named Frein, telling Sir Roderick he must return for the wedding of Princess Islaine to Prince Tretaptus of Mond is fast approaching and he is needed to protect her against threats made by the bitter High Lord of Sleiss over being rejected as her suitor. When Sir Roderick says his current task is more important, Frein says he will return or be dragged back and they are forced to beat the soldiers away. They are also followed by the strange, deformed monsters from the inn, who Halheid tells them have been slinking through his kingdom out of the wastes to the north where, legend has it, an ancient, evil warlord once vanished thousands of years before and where Mydrella’s ancient prophecy states “great evil will rise again”.

 After days of travelling, passing via the friendly capital city where Elder was treated with unexpected respect by the King of Doss, Gregor, they arrive at a spectacular entry to a temple carved out of a cave. This, Erik learns, is the Temple of Anthiphion. Anthiphion was a great king who united the six kingdoms against an enemy from across the sea and, using a magical Ring fashioned for him by the legendary sorcerer Eldrigon that made him unbeatable in battle, saved them all. He decried that the Ring would only work for those of his blood and gave it to his noble younger son Avikhelion, for his older brother Craxis was cruel and malicious. But Craxis stole the Ring, killed his brother and tried to take over, only thwarted by Eldrigon and his daughter Myhessia, who reclaimed the Ring by means of a trick and drove Craxis back into the Northern wastes. But he had discovered evil magics and vowed to live forever, return and rule and to kill his brother’s infant son, the only other possible Ring bearer and so, legend said, Myhessia took the ring and hid it in a Temple of stone, carved by dwarves and guarded by female descendants of Avikhelion’s female bodyguard, tying herself into the stone itself to protect it. Eldrigon took the infant boy and hid him far away from his evil uncle and some said he protected him still for Mydrella’s prophecy proclaimed that he and he alone would be able to defeat the great Evil and unite the six kingdoms as one.

  At the temple, Erik learns that it is the Ring that has been stolen and is astonished when his old friend is addressed as Father by the mysterious, eternally youthful and beautiful sorceress Myhessia – he is indeed the legendary Eldrigon. He also discovers the connection of the others – Zahora is chief of the female guards, Gort is one of the dwarves who maintains the Temple, Halheid is part of the force from the north set to patrol the surrounding mountains and has reported strange and evil creatures moving in the Northern wastes and Slynder once tried to steal the Ring for the challenge and was brought in to see how it was done. As for Sir Roderick, it soon becomes painfully clear that his forlorn and tragic love is for Myhessia and she returns it, but they cannot be together for neither can abandon their duties. It was only news that she had been hurt that drove him to defy his king and join the search for aid.

Official Taskmaster Summary: The Ring of Anthiphion: Part Three

Elder and the band agree to follow to trail of the stolen Ring and Erik finds that for some reason, he can intuit which way it went. As they follow the trail, local guards attempt to apprehend them but are tossed aside. But then, while crossing a mountain pass they hear screams and ride up to find men in the livery of Sleiss [Fodder and co – this is the point at which things go wrong] attempting to abduct Princess Islaine who is riding to Mond for her wedding. With the princess rescued but her guard dead, Sir Roderick feels he must see her back to the palace and since the Ring trail goes in a similar direction and they need to speak to the king about shoring up the borders against the possible return of Craxis, Elder agrees to the detour. The princess and Erik argue incessantly as she tries to push him around and by the time they reach the palace, they hate each other. ]

Fodder expresses his opinions on the futility of it all (as reads Part Three Summary just handed round?) and how the Merry Band get all the glory while they just get their heads chopped off – most of the Disposables say that’s life and such but Flirt is on his side – says she’s sick of being a generic, pump up the bosom and change the hair colour barmaid – she wants to be a warrior woman! (when there’s a big final battle, everyone including the women join in dressed as ordinary extra soldiers in armour – but Flirt loves it!)– (remark of Flirt that she only ever has to change her hair colour – doesn’t anyone notice it’s always the same girl? Flirt retorts since when does the barmaid get described as anything other than a hair colour and a bust?) - most people laugh but Fodder says why shouldn’t she? Why should this be their lot in life? Why should the Taskmaster get to decide how they should live their lives? What would happen if they just decided to do things their own way instead? Shoulders joins in the moan – says they should just do it- but shuts up quickly as Preen arrives to hand out assignments – they are to try and kidnap Princess dressed in Sleiss livery (Preen hands it to them– all set out but Fodder’s mind is still on his thoughts and when ambush starts, he breaks with the schedule by killing Thud the barbarian and succeeding in making off with the princess (defying the page very difficult – perhaps Page events interspersed with Fodder’s thoughts – can’t think straight, like wading through treacle but some part of him finds the strength to rebel – lulls you into a kind of stupor and find yourself doing exactly what the words on the schedule said) – Shoulders is horrified – Fodder points out he supported him in the pub but Shoulders replies that was in theory! In practice this is a disaster – they’ve broken with the schedule! They’ve ruined the plan! They’ve killed a character on page who was supposed to live and kidnapped a princess who wasn’t supposed to be kidnapped! What are they going to do? Fodder says keep doing it! They head back to the pub, Shoulders moaning all the way and saying maybe if they just gave her back, they’d be okay – find Flirt, she’s thrilled by what they’ve done and eager to help – but then hear Preen and Thud screaming for them and make a run for it – realise the Page is following them – ambushed in woods by unprepared looking other Disposables who admit that Preen sent them to put the quest right (have to keep them there until MB and Page can catch up) – Fodder tries to get them to join him but they can’t accept it.

 

Fodder sighed. Thump had his armour on back to front and Clunny’s axe was clutched rather perilously upside down. It was obvious that they had been rushed and hurried into position.

 Fodder raised his arms “Now boys…”

Thump was shaking his head. “Sorry Fodder mate, I really am. But Preen came by with an emergency schedule just now and he said…”

“Preen said, Preen said!” Flirt erupted sharply. “When will you lot realise that you don’t have to do what Preen says? We aren’t!”

Thump and Clunny exchanged uncertain looks. “But… the Taskmaster…”

“Forget the Taskmaster!” Fodder tried to ignore the looks of desperate horror that crossed the faces of his fellow Disposables at such blasphemy. “We don’t have to do what the Taskmaster says any more! If we did, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“I’ll bloody say,” Shoulders muttered, as he rested his elbow on the head of the infuriated princess. “Look Fodder, you’ve made your point. Why don’t we just go home?”

 

Outwit Thump and Clunny and escape – Fodder says they have to get away from the Page – head up to the mountain trapping station and try to get trappers to help them hide, but they are a conservative bunch who insist they don’t want trouble – outside they run across Cringe who is rattling around with the ring before he has to head down to the Salty Port for his big fight – they think as a principal, he might turn them in but he sympathises – says its always the same – he sets minions on them, he lurks a bit, then he dies in a humiliating manner, usually at the hand of a comedy character. Tells them they’re asking for trouble keeping the princess though! Says if they really want to disrupt the quest, he’ll give them the Ring of Destiny… Shoulders wants no more of it, says the princess is enough trouble, but Flirt takes it and hangs it round her neck, gleam in her eye as she says they’ll have to fight her for it! Cringe wishes them good luck and also suggests why not take the princess to Grim, the Dark General – after all, the quest is that he wants to marry her – why not let him? He’s just hanging about in the Grim Fortress, being hearsay – he’d be glad of something to do.

 They head up to the Grim Citadel and with the protesting princess in tow and find Grim, the Dark General being bored and waiting for the Final Battle – he likes the idea of disrupting the quest – he’s tired of being hearsay and then dying in battle, it’s getting repetitive – but as trying to rustle up a priest’s uniform for Shoulders – Grim receives new instructions – the Page and MB are coming and are going to nobly rescue her – Grim suggests they take her and run – says he can’t defy the Page when on it, it’s like wading through treacle and he hasn’t the strength– still doesn’t know how Fodder managed it – the quest is still salvageable, they have to try harder! After a narrow escape, Shoulders declares he knows how to disrupt the quest – get Pleasance killed on Page – Bumpkin’s inevitable romantic subplot would be shot! Pleasance is fuming, says she can’t die on Page, she’s never died, it’s undignified! Fodder and Flirt reckon it might be worth a try, head up to try and see where Page is – Princess knees Shoulders and manages to get away and heads for the palace to try and get the quest back on track…

 

[Part Four at Palace

Official Taskmaster Summary: The Ring of Anthiphion: Part Four

 

At the palace, they are greeted royally by the King and Queen and then by Prince Tretaptus who has ridden in from Mond and agrees to have the wedding here. Islaine hates Tretaptus, who is pompous and arrogant and when the band leave, she hides away in their party. They leave quickly at news that the Northern Wastes are crawling with creatures who claim that Craxis is coming just as the prophecy of Mydrella foresaw and that they will be defeated – as they go, the King, Prince Tretaptus and Halheid’s cousin, the King of Sverdin are massing their forces to defend themselves. The trail goes to the wild port of Saltania where they encounter the thief trying to book passage up the Great Inlet to the Northern Wastes – it’s the High Lord of Sleiss’s brother Vagg! He has evil creatures at his command and his brother has given Sleiss, Sverdin’s neighbour, over to Craxis. He attacks them and Gort the dwarf is killed, taking a creature’s axe for Erik. Erik, infuriated, takes him on but rather than fight, he flees into the mountains, saying that Craxis will rise and his brother will have Islaine, it has been promised! ]

 

– they pursue but she’s already got back to the King and Queen in the palace (Queen turns into a gutter mouthed chav off Page!)– sneak inside through the garderobe and find themselves in Prince Dullard’s rooms – he realises who they are is eager to help – he’s sick and tired of bested, humiliated, running like a coward and killed in battle – he wants the chance to be interesting! Manages to lure Pleasance to his rooms and they smuggle her out of the palace minutes before the MB arrive! (princess ask how they got in, Fodder explains they climbed up the loo, Pleasance says a hero would never do that, Fodder says he thinks they’ve established he’s not a hero!) Dullard is clever, if geeky, (very, very talented at things but doesn’t think he is because he learned them for geeky reasons) and likes their idea of her getting killed on Page and suggests talking to Poniard the assassin, who’s in the city and try and persuade him to take Pleasance onto Page and kill her – but he’s depressed, says what’s the use? He’s a skilled killing professional in a world where no one can die of anything but old age! Bloody Duty Pixies fix every fine piece of work he does without a scratch! Why kill her, she’ll just come back to life again once the Page has gone, it makes no difference – no one he kills stays dead, it reflects so badly on his work! Fodder and co leave the morose assassin but Dullard has another suggestion – why not get a ship from Salty Port and just sail off the edge of the map? They head to Salty Port and Reel the Seadog is open to the idea but then Thud arrives leading a horde of Disposables from all over and Cringe’s AFCs (Assorted Freakish Creatures) who pursue them and try to corner them so that MB can catch up and deal with them on Page – but AFCs are actually a friendly bunch (although never know which one talking to since look difference every time you see them – friendly jobsworths) and they really don’t like being ordered around by Thud who treats them like he does on Page– “accidentally” let them go – and manage to fight their way out on Page – Flirt manages to defy the Page (finds it exhilarating) as does Dullard but Shoulder falters and Clank chops his head off – but his body falls off Page and Dullard is able to pick his head up on Page and escape!

 

And that's just what became The Disposable folks - more to come next month!