Tropic

THE BEAST

A Top Ten Adventure



Prologue


Cartoran hurried through the cold stone corridors of Oranbega, his long white beard trailing behind him. His aids struggled to keep pace with him and their feet echoed throughout the lost city.

The time was approaching and Cartoran had to make sure all was in readiness. Long had the Circle waited for this moment. From the first reading of the ancient scroll their excitement was almost a physical presence within Oranbega. Now the time was here. The moon, planets and stars all aligned in the proper order in their proper place. The chants had been prepared and the readings had long ago been completed. "Power is at our doorstep.", the mage thought as he entered the cavern the ceremony was to be preformed in.

In the center of the cavern was a large round flat stone glowing blue with the ruins and markings that had been etched with care. Five lines led away from it to four smaller stones with similar characteristics. Upon each stood a Circle of Thorns mage representing the four elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. The fifth line led to a larger stone much like the others. It was raised higher, however, and this was where Cartoran took his place. The attendants spread out around the room circling it, their green eyes glowing with anticipation.

Cartoran raised his arms and began the ritual. "We call upon the Darkness…"

"O-Wah…", was the response from the elementals.

"We call upon the Dusk…"

"Tanna.."

"We call upon the Twilight…"

"Siam…"

"We demand the Power…"

"O-Wah Tanna Siam!"

"We command you come forth…"

"O-Wah Tanna Siam!"

"We command you!"

"O-Wah Tanna Siam!"

"We Command You!"

"O-Wah Tanna Siam!"

"WE COMMAND YOU!!"

"O-Wah Tanna Siam…O-Wah Tanna Siam…O-WAH TANNA SIAM!!"

Suddenly, all light was drained from the room and a still coldness took it’s place. Then an explosion of light and there, in the center of the circle, it stood. Twelve feet tall and covered with thick slabs of muscle. It’s appearance was like a Behemoth Overlord but it was black, larger, thicker with a great forked tail that swished slowly back and forth. The demons mouth held row upon row of razor sharp teeth and atop its head sat two curling horns. Its eyes glowed red with anger and its black bat-like wings twitched and fluttered.

"Who has summoned I That Have No Name?", the demons voice grated and rasped like two slabs of concrete scraping against each other.

Cartoran stepped forward, a look of superiority on his face. "We have, Demon! The Circle of Thorns has called you forth. With you at our command, to do our bidding, the world above will tremble and the Circle will have the power!"

The demon studied the sorcerer, looking him up and down. It turned it’s head back and forth surveying the room. Finally it’s gaze again fell upon Cartoran.

"Command? Bidding? Fool! I serve no one but He Who Has Not Named Me. And the power I reserve for myself!". With that pronouncement hanging in the air it’s great fist swept Cartoran aside flinging him into the cavern wall where he fell to the ground dazed.

The mages and attendants in the room fell silent, stunned at this turn of events. Then as one they charged the demon, yelling their battlecrys which turned to screams almost immediately.

The demons sharp talons sliced one of the mages nearly in two. Another was picked up and hurled 30 yards away into the wall of the cavern and then fell 40 feet to the floor, broken and dead. It cut through the Circle like a scythe leaving blood and entrails in its wake.

Cartoran groggily rose to his knees. Slowly he took in the sight before him. The mages, the guides, masters and overlords and even slaves were strewn about. Life had fled the cavern and left behind only misery.

Suddenly the demon was before him. Cartoran recoiled in fear but the animal wrapped its two hands around his head and pulled him to his feet.

"So, fool, you wanted power.", the demon sneered.

Cartoran hung limply in the demons grasp. "I don’t understand. The ritual was preformed. You should be in our power, demon." Even now the mage could not understand his failure.

The demon laughed. "Idiot! I am no demon! Look into my eyes, little magician and see what you have brought forth this day!"

Cartoran looked into the glowing red eyes and screamed. And as the animal twisted off his head and tossed him aside the last thought Cartoran has was, "We have doomed the world!"

The demon looked about and sniffed the air. The fear was an almost palpable presence. It heard the yells and calls coming from adjoining chambers. It smiled, flashing it’s long razors of teeth and made it’s way from the cavern into the cold stone corridors

And Orenbega screamed

to be continued

Tropic

Aurora_Girl!

I shall make with the hint!!

Move your cursor around the site's home page. Perhaps Easter Egg goodness will come your way!

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Hello Capes and/or Masks (I don't discriminate)!

Just my weekly bit of shameless self-promotion to let you know what's new at the City of Heroes Writer's Guild site at www.cohwritersguild.com!

Woot! Stories!

"Ghosts: Prologue" by Mike Valcarcel

"Recurrence: The Return of the Hero: Prologue" by Josef Koelbl III

"Shadows of a Flame Chapter 4" by Myths 'n' Wraiths

New Art/Screenies!

Hero University book cover
Victor and Sage from Shadows of a Flame
Q-Rider
CoV/CoH Ladies wallpaper

And, of course, a new super special Easter Egg pic of our resident gaming goddess WillowWind. Let her show you why she has high self esteem!

You can review these and all the stories on the site by going to the Writer's Guild review forum. Just follow the links on site!

Remember, we post what we get and it looks like the offical site here hasn't updated the fanfic section since last freaking year! So send those stories and drawings to us!!

And thanks for reading!

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Hello Capes and Evil Doers!

Just my shameless bit of weekly self-promotion to let you know what's new this week at the City of Heroes Writer's Guild site at www.cohwritersguild.com, where you can find some of the best CoH fiction going today! WHOOO!!

New stories as of today:

"The Abrogator on the ETS" by Myths 'n' Wraiths

"After" by D. Heikes

"A City in Flames: Steel Canyon" by D. Heikes

"The Fall of the PhoenixHawk" by D. Heikes

"Jinx" by Lady Bastain

"Shadows of a Flame Chapter 2" by Myths 'n' Wraiths

"Vigilante" by D. Heikes

(Seems like Mr. H had a little time on his hands while the site was down for a month!)

New Art!

Shadows of a Flame Book Cover
Static Mark
Big Pimpin'
FireHawk trading card

Plus some new Poetry on the Paragon City Poetry Page in the What's New section of the site.

And, as always, a new pic of CoH's sexayist sexay gamer WillowWind! This time she shows us what the stylish superheroine wears under her supersuit!

You can review all this stuff and every other story at the Writer's Guild on our review forum! Just follow the links on site!

Remember, we post what we get. The offical CoH site and comic can't post everything they receive but we will. We believe if you put the time and effort into creating your tale of Paragon City or your artwork it deserves to be seen at least!

So fire up those pencils! Sharpen up those word processors! And send...wait...reverse that...and send us your stuff...and women!

And hey...thanks for reading!


Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Hey people! Sorry for the shouting but its been a looong time between updates! My PC died and I lost a lot o stuff. But thru hard work, coffee and the judicious use of porn, the site at www.cohwritersguild.com is up and running, redesigned for your pleasure!

Now, if you wish to see stories begining with a particular letter or have favorite Author, you can just click a letter on the stories page or author page and be taken to stories or authors beginning with that letter!

We even have a CoH Superhero poetry page!!

So, without further adieu, here are the NEW STORIES THIS WEEK!

28 Levels Later Parts 2 & 3 by Lord Nikon

150 Meters to the Ground Part 5 by Martin Tremblay

Cherry Hills by Tony Hollett

Iron Horse: The Locomotive Man by Palaquinn

Retribution Part 4 by Mike Valcarcel

Shadows of a Flame by Myths 'n' Wraiths

Static Mark: Unspoken Rumors by Daniel Maher

Twists and Returns by Josef Koelbl III

Xtreme Factor #1: Dark Intentions by Steven Scheibal

Plus NEW ART!!

Erinys Grace by Andreas N - fantastic piece of work!

Ghost Widow Power Wallpaper

Lord Recluse in full attack mode

City of Villains poster

And as always a new picture of Freedom server's hottest gaming hottie WillowWind! Find the Easter Egg and observe!!

Remember you can review any and all stories and art at our review forum! Just follow the links on site!

We post what we get! So if you have that story or piece of art that's just dying to be seen send it on!!!

Thanks for reading and being so paitent while I got this set again!!

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Thanks NyteHawk, for the kind words!

You are absolutly right. We post what we get because, well, I was sick of sending stuff in and not seeing word one about it! Updates are done on Tuesdays and new stories get a place on my review forum!

Having said that, I know some of you may go to the site and say, "Hey! This guy hasen't updated in a while! Loser!" Well, my PC died and for the past several weeks I have been reconstructing everything but my long road is almost at an end. Look for an update sooner rather than later.

And stop by and read some of the fantastic stories we have on site. And try to find the Easter Egg and see our hottest gaming hottie WillowWind!

Thanks for all the kind words!

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Odd...I went to my local bookstore and they said the book wasn't coming out for another 3 weeks!

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

War Witch? Yeah. I did her.

Tropic

From Wizard, April 2005:

"Look for the first three issue arc in May to star Statesman, as well as Freedom Phalanx menbers Manticore,Synapse, Positron and Sister Psyche. 'We get to learn what their lives are like behind the masks, and why they do what they do,' reveals Waid. 'Moreover, we'll be introducing for the first time anywhere certain key elements of the CoH universe that will come to fruition in the City of Villians game release in 2005 "

Wow

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com

Also, I wonder if the fan features in the back of the comic, like the fan fic and news stories, will continue. Any info on that??

Tropic
www.cohwritersguild.com