Blood From a Stone is a comic set in a world of technology and magic, on Earth... but an Earth where humans learned the arts of magic. Witches and warlocks of the Middle Ages had animal companions, and gained power by their very presence. They used that power to shape their pets and companions into sapient humanoid beings that they hoped to use as servants and as vessels for their power. The result was a race of humanoid animals known as Familiars, beings with a natural affinity for magic. Eventually the Familiars rebelled against their human masters, and many humans were killed. Later the Familiars decided to create their own race of servants. These were known as the Mythicals, beings created out of pure magic. Soon the Familiars realized that these new creatures had powers far greater than their own, and remembering the folly of their former human masters, the Familiars hastily stopped creating these magical beings, and granted them the full freedom that they themselves possessed.

As time passed, it was discovered that there was one spot on the earth that could be used as a linking point for the flow of magic. Normally, when someone used magic, he had to rest to replenish his energy. The linking point, known as The Keystone, made this unnecessary. This point was used by many who sought power, causing war and death. Finally it was obliterated. Every last trace of it was wiped out.

One thousand years have passed since those days, the year is 1998. The remainder of Humanity is slowly fading away, the Mythicals are greater in number than they once were... but are still vastly outnumbered by the Familiars. Our story takes place when Kryst, a detective, investigates what he thinks is a simple case of harassment, and he finds himself plunged into events that could change the world as he knows it.

Kryst is a detective. He's quiet, and rather cynical about life. He was abandoned at birth by his mother, and was adpoted by human parents, and through them he learned how to live by his intelligence... and not by magic alone. He makes financial ends meet with his detective work, mostly by sniffing out illegal magic use. But he also takes on smaller cases if it allows him to make the rent.

Amber is a singer and musician. She mainly works out of a nightclub called the Purple Phoenix, but quite often takes outside jobs with the band when she can. The nightclub scene has made Amber tough: she's not one to try and squabble with unless you're willing to give up a lot of skin and a few pints of blood. On the outside she seems a bit like an airhead, all bubbly and giggly, but she's a very practical woman and has never gotten herself into a problem that she can't get out of herself... up until now that is...

Esma has been pampered and primped all her life. She's been told that she's superior to everyone else in the world so many times that she's finally decided that it's true. Like all unicorns, her natural ability for magic is far superior to most of the Familiars and most Mythicals as well. She's quite young -- only nineteen -- but she's sharply intelligent, and cunning. Like most unicorns, she's well off in life... but she wants more. Esma has dreams of power and control. And she's recently acquired a bit of information that might turn those dreams into a dangerous reality.

Zoltan is a halfbreed. Part Mythical and part Familiar, he is the result of a union between a gryphon and a horse... a hippogryph was the result. These halfbreeds usually turn out to be crippled in some way, be it in the body, or the mind, or sometimes in magical ability. Zoltan appears to be quite strong, but extremely stupid. He speaks in hoarse choppy sentences, and bathing is a foreign concept to him. He seems much happier to simply follow the orders Esma gives him than to make his own decisions. But what makes Zoltan dangerous is that he is not what he seems.

Shekels is another of Esma's henchmen. He once worked at the Purple Phoenix as a bouncer, then Esma took an interest in him and he decided to quit his job there. Chimeras are the most rare of the Mythicals. The heads don't get along very well most of the time... which makes getting TWO chimeras together next to impossible. Shek, however, is in perfect tune with himself. Each head has its own distinct personality, but they harmonize instead of clash. His lion head is ruthless, and can put fear in one's heart with just a word or a glance. The goat head has a silver tongue, and can convince anyone to do just about anything, and can pull secrets out of the tightest lips.

Uriel is a priest. The old Christian religion is not too terribly popular in modern days; many people view the old human God as nothing but a super-powerful magician. Kryst is sent to Uriel's church to investigate a robbery. Churches are robbed on a regular basis by people who hope to find some link to the secret of "eternal life." Uriel is rare for his time, a Familiar who follows a human religion... one who has devoted his entire life to it in fact. (Uriel is © 1996 Scott Whitmore, used with permission)

The Altarstone. This is the cause of all the trouble: a slab of marble. I'd tell you more... but I don't want to ruin the story! For those of you who don't know what an altar stone is, every church with an altar has one; they look much like the one here and are usually located in the center of the altar. They're made of polished stone, and not typicaly as rugged-looking as this one.

There's a whole host of other characters in the story, but these are the guys that make up the backbone of the project. I hope to pitch it to a comic company some day... but probably won't. If you'd like to see the finished project, keep an eye on the Stuff For Sale page I have here. As soon as it's done I plan to sell it as a collected book. Or you can catch it in Huzzah!, a fanzine where my artwork is published.

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