Coming Soon | Sky Pirates
The Long Walk | Stories of Faith

This one wasn't so much a way to get past writer's block as a project in it's own right. In Spring of 2002, I was approached by a now-defunct company named MPH Comics to write the last 4 pages of the first issue of their flagship property, Terrian Chronicles. I ended up also writing the next two (unfortunately unpublished) issues solo before the company dissolved due to lack of funds and lack of interest on the part of it's founder.

Terrian Chronicles was conceived as an ongoing action/adventure series taking place in a lush, epic sci-fi/fantasy world. The story followed Arias of the Arastas, rightful ruler of the planet Terris, and his companions J'Rael, Arias' loyal protector and best friend, and Delanna, a neophyte Summoner referred to in prophecy as The Key, as they battled the forces of the evil Emperor Phalog.

Along the way, they met supporting characters such as the shapeshifting merchant Beckian and the omnipotent, mysterious Malteese.  Terris came alive by mixing combinations of science and the arcane with exotic locales such as the Fields of Jensen and the Pinnacle of Light.

Gone but not forgotten, I put way too much of myself into Terrian Chronicles for it not to appear again in some form in the future.

Page 10

Panel 1

Another angle on BECKIAN.

BECKIAN: Who cares if you ARE the last descendant of the ARASTAS FAMILY BLOODLINE? That DOESN'T make you the rightful ruler of Terris!
BECKIAN: The ONLY thing in this world that ANYONE cares about is POWER. Of all people, I thought YOU'D understand that.
BECKIAN: When PHALOG killed your entire FAMILY...anyone even remotely connected to the ARASTAS BLOODLINE...didn't you get the hint that he'd WON? Why can't you just get it through that thick SKULL of yours that you CAN'T FIGHT HIM?!?


Panel 2

Close-up on ARIAS.

ARIAS: Because as long as I draw BREATH, there is HOPE.


Panel 3

Exterior shot of DELANNA calling down the sewer pipe. She has a set of binoculars in one hand.

BECKIAN's mode of transportation is in the background. It is a mid-sized armed and armored Land Cruiser, easily large enough to accommodate 4-6 people. It could be a wheeled vehicle or a hovercraft. 

It's important to establish the Land Cruiser in a couple panels here so what happens later doesn't come as such an unrealistic, out of the blue shock.

DELANNA: Hey, guys? I hate to break up such a TENDER MOMENT, but you better get UP here and check this OUT.
DELANNA: We've got COMPANY!


Panel 4

Back to the sewer. J'RAEL is the first up the ladder. He may not even be in the shot. BECKIAN is just a couple rungs up (giving her the symbolic higher ground she believes herself to be on), looking back at ARIAS. 

BECKIAN: You're a FOOL, Arias...and those who follow you will achieve NOTHING but their own DEATHS.
ARIAS: I do not FEAR death. The only thing I fear is NOT MAKING A DIFFERENCE.


Panel 5

On the surface. ARIAS is just emerging from the hole. DELANNA hands him her binoculars and points towards what she saw.

In the background, BECKIAN is checking her Land Cruiser.

ARIAS: DELANNA, what's going on?
DELANNA: You'd better take a LOOK for yourself. About 300 klicks THAT way.


Panel 6

ARIAS is looking through the binoculars. DELANNA is close by and J'RAEL is also in the shot. BECKIAN is no where to be seen. 

ARIAS: What ARE they?
DELANNA: CYBERMAGES. Lord Phalog's personal HUNTER-KILLER troops. They have but one mission: SEEK AND DESTROY.
J'RAEL: That's TWO missions.
DELANNA: SHUT UP, J'Rael.