THE BEAST
A
Top Ten Adventure
By Josef Koelbl III
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