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A synopsis - by AJ Malinosky:
Howard Phillips was a Mage of some ability in the crazy days of his youth. He put those practices
away with his other childhood toys and games, until he had a vision. Howard had a dream of a
corruption infecting the Universe, a disease he believed only he could cure. The question was did
he have the power to cure it. First, he needed to fill in some very important blanks in the
information regarding the ritual he must perform. Second, he needed to assemble a group of
occultists that was up to the task. Third, he needed to convince them the task was necessary. The
task was to conjure a dragon.
Dragon were not beasts of legend, they were real constructs of the human mind that had taken to
flesh. They were a form of energy that was sentient and willful. They left this plane of existence
millennia ago. Howard needed one to return. Once Howard got the dragon back to our realm, then
he would need to convince it to help him.
Howard enlists the help of a group of occultists he meets via a friend. They help him progress in
his research in their extensive library. Howard also uses some contacts at the local University of
Technology, named the Institute, to research the existence of the Dragon plane. Using the Bose-
Einstein Condensate as a model, Howard proves the existence of the plane and is able to proceed
with the ritual.
Howard informs the group of occultist that the ritual requires a sacrifice, self-sacrifice. This brings
the ritual into a new light in the eyes of the group. Meanwhile, one of the members of the group,
David, sends a demon to attack Howard’s house. The attack kills Howard’s wife. Howard is unable
to take his revenge because David is sent into a coma by the ritual of summoning. Howard’s
depression over the loss of his wife risks the ritual and the chance for humanity to survive.
One of the members, Kendel, offers to sacrifice herself and the ritual is back on track. David’s
nefarious activities prior to the attack on Howard’s house brings a police investigation down upon
the members of the coven. Howard is able to avoid suspicion because of his co-operative nature
and magical ability.
One of Howard’s friends at the institute is contacted by Howard’s old acquaintance from MIT, Roger
Prelutsky. He tells the researchers at the Institute of Howard’s history, which includes the
disappearance of another occult group. When Roger cannot convince those at the Institute he
goes to the local police. While his wild story only lands him in the drunk tank, the officer who was
investigation David, Detective Dobbs, takes an interest in Roger’s story.
The ritual is performed successfully, even though there is a switch in the sacrifice. After the death
of Howard’s wife, Kendel befriends Howard. Another member of the group, Tara, feels Howard
needs Kendel. Tara subdues Kendel prior to the ritual and takes her place. The ritual opens the
gate to the Dragon plane. Howard crosses into the plane, battles the Dragon. He returns with the
Dragon, barely alive.
In speaking with the Dragon, Howard discovers that Dragons have a prophecy regarding the
corruption occurring in the Universe. Howard now must quickly find out more information about the
prophecy. He heads to Damascus where tablets exist that mention the Dragon prophecy. Howard
returns with a complete understanding of the Dragon prophecy and confronts the Dragon with his
plan to consummate the Pact, a ritual, which will combine Howard’s essence with the Dragon’s.
When the Dragon refuses to believe the prophecy, Howard shows the Dragon his vision. With the
full understanding of what is coming the Dragon reluctantly agrees and Howard prepares for the
ritual.
Roger and his new partner Detective Dobbs investigate all the loose ends trying to close the noose
around Howard. Roger creates a device to detect magical energy just in time to catch the
beginning of the final ritual. They arrive at the house just after the Pact is consummated. Howard
and the Dragon are able to survive the ritual and can give reality a chance to survive.
A Prologue by AJ Malinosky:
Howard Phillips sat up in bed. There were beads of perspiration on his brow.
“Just a nightmare,” he thought, then the nausea returned.
“God damn it,” he said aloud.
The young lady in bed next to Howard stirred.
“What’s the matter, hun,” she said groggy, still mostly asleep.
“It’s nothin’, babe. Go back to sleep,” Howard replied.
Howard doodled some symbols in the condensation on the window. He murmured some words
under his breath and the symbols shone dimly, then faded back to simple doodles. Howard threw
on a pair of sweats and a jacket.
“Where’re you going,” said the girl sitting up from the mattress on the floor that served for their bed.
“I gotta take care of something, Ann. Please don’t leave this room for any reason until I get back,”
replied Howard.
“But, you promised,” said Ann.
“I can’t turn my back on this,” he said, as he bent to kiss his fiancé. She lay back down, obviously
very upset.
“Be careful,” she said, back turned to Howard.
Howard left the room, closing the door behind him. He took two steps and then vanished.
Howard appeared in a glen in a local park. Unfortunately for Howard he did not recognize his
surrounding enough to identify where he was. In front of Howard was the object he had used to
navigate to this spot. There was a large glowing circle hovering just above the ground. The
mélange of wailing and moaning gave Howard a fair idea of where the gate led. The one
responsible was nearby torn into several pieces. The evidence was clear enough to Howard. The
Mage had tried to conjure something well beyond his power to control. He had used an improper
spell to open the gate. Now, there was a rip in the fabric of the multiverse that was starting to ‘bend’
both planes. The beast this novice had brought forth was not some projection, but the whole being.
This demon was now raging out of control on this plane. Fortunately for Howard the putrid trail of
the foul invader was easy to follow.
Howard appeared before the beast. He was not altogether ready for the sight of the creature. It had
a dog- like face that was covered with weeping boils. The head was crowned with horns of various
sizes. Its body was basically bipedal, although it had an extra pair of upper appendages. The body
was a mottled gray color with patches of thin hair. There were wounds and decay about the chest
and thorax. Some form of carrion devouring insects was resident in the wounds, furthering the
maddening visage of the monster. Its hind legs were shaped like a dog’s would be standing
upright. The four other appendages were huge and muscular. Two ended in clawed hands. One
had a huge lobster-like claw and the final was a tentacle of sorts.
Howard had been stunned by the demons horrific appearance. This gave the demon the first
attack. It flayed at Howard with its tentacle and then its lobster-like claw, sending Howard reeling
backward. The beast pressed the attack, rushing forward and clawing at Howard’s face and chest.
Howard had magically augmented his strength and now he grabbed the demon by the throat.
Using its inertia, he rolled and threw the beast toward a nearby stand of trees. The demon crashed
into the trees knocking several down and howling in pain. Howard began speaking the words of the
spirit wrack to bind the demon, but he was too slow. Energy crackled around the demon’s hands.
As he extended them a burst of light and energy hit Howard, blasting him backward and breaking
his concentration.
“So, you want to dance,” thought Howard, smiling grimly.
The demon mistook Howard's inactivity as its chance to finish this Mage, and drink its essence; a
thought that please the demon. It approached Howard grinning carrying a tree to beat him. Howard
sprang up in an explosion of light. The lights blinded the demon and burned its flesh. It dropped
the tree and started swatting at its body to put out the non-existent fire. Howard gathered his next
blast, pelting the demon with ice. The burns on his hands from grabbing the beast told Howard
cold would annoy the demon the most. His thoughts were rewarded as the demon cried in pain.
The ice burned and tore its hide. Howard then completed the spirit wrack. The demon was horrified
to discover the Mage knew its true name. As the spell took effect, the living horror let out a new
form of wail. This did it little good as Howard returned to the gate with demon in tow.
The bending around the gate had increased while Howard was subduing the demon. Parts of the
hell that spawned the demon were spilling into this plane. Howard first bound the demon against
returning to this plane and cast it back through the gate. Then, Howard summoned as much
energy as he could and attempted to close the rift. The strain was tremendous, but slowly the
bending lessened. When the gate was completely closed Howard fell forward unconscious.
When he regained his senses he realized people were approaching. Using the last bit of energy
he could muster, he returned home. He passed out again, safe inside his apartment.