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Crimson Hawk, Hawk's Log, Keyoshi, Max Norton

The minutes turned into hours, the hours into days, and the days into months. Each day I awoke to the sunrise, grateful for a new day, a new discovery, and a new opportunity to build upon the work that had already been done. I didn’t know if I would ever remember my past, and that was a thorn in my side. But if felt good to make new memories everyday.

The tales that Pops had shared that night in front of the bonfire made an undeniable impression on me. Sure, I had lost my memory. I had lost my past. But I didn’t know what I’d lost. My life may have been good, or bad, or somewhere in between. Yet these two beautiful souls, who had poured so much into me, a stranger, had lost everything they knew, and everyone they loved, except for each other.

Pops and Likka carried the knowledge of their past with them everyday. Yet they persevered, and were still committed to helping save the world. They were dedicated to fulfilling their destiny. It was their peace and drive that helped motivate me through the most trying of days.

As my mind became clearer, and my body stronger, Likka filled my hours with lessons about the ancient ways, prophecies, and their mission (now our mission) of fighting off the powers of Darkness. She shared so much with me, that I couldn’t possibly write it all here. I’d be writing for years, trying to keep a record of everything. But one thing is for certain, the task ahead was no easy feat. Likka did her best to keep things simple for me, which was a challenge for her. Her mind seemed to be moving a hundred miles per second. I did everything I could to keep up.

“I know we are teaching you so much, young man. I hope it is not too much for your mind right now. You have grown and healed so quickly, but I do not want to overwhelm your mind or body,” she said to me one morning.

The sun was making it’s way across the sky, but the heat was not unbearable. I welcomed the sunshine on my face as I wondered what Likka and Pops had in store for me today. Sometimes I’d spar and train with Pops to build my strength. Other days I would sit with Likka and learn about, well, everything I guess.

“I don’t feel overwhelmed at all Likka. I’m always excited to hear more from you. Some of this stuff is pretty wild, but I know its true. I know it’s real. I just wish I could know more about myself,” I replied.

She smiled knowingly. “Well, I do not have the answers about the life before your time here. However, I believe I have many clues about your future.”

This caught me a little off guard. I knew that Likka knew ,any, many, many things about the universe, and the history of it all. But how could she have any clues to my future? This was definitely a curious conversation.

“My future? What clues could you have about my future? You didn’t even know me until a few months ago?” I asked in confusion.

She just looked at me silently with a smile, then turned her eyes to the sky. There we stood quietly for a few moments before she said another word.

“Each and every human has a destiny that is laid before them. However, it is not a guaranteed destiny. It is not etched into the tablets of Divinity, unless we work to manifest it ourselves. Throughout the ages, there have been certain people who are called to greatness. Now achieving this greatness takes hard work, dedication, and absolute faith. However, the reward is greater than you can ever imagine.”

She turned her head from the sky, and looked me in my eyes. Her green eyes glowed in the sunlight. The wind picked up, and began to swirl around us. For a split second, it even seemed as if the sun shined even brighter.

I could think of only one word to say, “Yes.”

To be continued. . .

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Adroit Comics, Crimson Hawk, Hawk's Log, Max Norton

As we sat in front of the burning campfire, I gazed into the dancing flames. The chirping crickets and howling monkeys echoed through the air. For a long whole it stood still, cloyingly warm against my skin. But as Pops continued to share their story, it began to pick up more and more. It was as though the very wind was feeling his pain.

“Things were moving in a wonderful way. Likka and I had recently been married and she was now expecting our first child. As the new leader of the clan, I did my best to make sure everyone was taken care of, and that all of our warriors were training. It was also my responsibility to hold all families of the clan to the highest standard of morals and actions.”

At this point, I could only nod to let him know I was listening intently. I’d never seen this side of the man who had begrudgingly took me in. He was always so stern, serious, and resolved. He continued to speak.

“I knew that we could only continue our legacy if we followed the path ordained by Divinity from the dawn of our creation. But it was not long before the seeds of Chaos began to sprout within our clan.

One day, some years later, there came a challenge. My brother Mako’a had decided that it was unfair for me to be declared the leader over him. Being the eldest, tradition dictated that he should be the leader. That had indeed been the principal tradition. However what he didn’t want to acknowledge, was the fact that the leader must be pure of heart and unblemished in spirit. If it was found by the tribe council that the eldest’s heart held even hint of darkness, he would be disqualified.

My father had already confided in me that Mako’a would be enraged over not being appointed leader, and I knew it would be so. At a very young age, he saw a flame of greed in the eyes of Mako’a. From that moment he knew that it was I who should lead and not my older brother.

He’d warned me about what might happen. I thought I was prepared. But I was gravely mistaken. Our family was growing, our tribe was prospering. Life was good. Perhaps I had been so full of love and joy, that I did not pay enough attention to my brother’s plots and schemes.

On that fateful day he came alone, demanding that I relinquish my position to him. Of course I refused. A terrible argument ensued and it ended badly.

The argument turned into a physical confrontation. I was victorious in battle, but I could not bring myself to kill him. The way he came against me, I should have ended it then. I saw the Darkness in his eyes, but he was my brother. I just couldn’t do it. And that was the biggest mistake of my life.”

To be continued . . .

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Adroit Comics, Crimson Hawk, Max Norton

The knock up on the door, but sure and certain. Yet it was also soft and gentle with the head of femininity. Max looked up at the door and saw the silhouette of a petite figure. His ears had been correct. Yet, for a split second, he was on edge. It wasn’t often that folks came knocking on his door unannounced. Junk yard offices didn’t get too much traffic.

Of course that was just a cover. But he often wondered what his life would be like if he did simply run a junk yard and towing company. Though some might consider that a simple, unrewarding life, Max wouldn’t have minded the simplicity at all.

But alas, it was not meant to be. Max’s tension began to relax as he made his way to the door. This was because a soft, sweet, and familiar fragrance wafted in from the outside. He shook his head and sighed as he opened the door.

“Likka! Pops! Why didn’t guys call? You had me on edge wondering who was at the door,” He said with a sigh and chuckle. “You know I’m always ready for action!”

Likka rushed right into the small room talking quickly, holding a newspaper in her hand. Pops made his way in behind her.

“My apologies Max! We just had to march right over. This is a very big deal. Well, no. Big deal is an understatement. This is a huge, giant, immensely, big deal. I’d heard about this long, long, ago. But I’m sure it’s become obvious to all of us that these so called myths, are actually quite true. . . Have you read today’s newspaper?”

Before he could answer, Pops chimed in.

“Max, you know how she can be. When she gets her mind locked in, there’s no stopping this woman. It’s no wonder the whole realm hasn’t already been saved, simply by Likka’s sheer willpower and stubbornness. We were out running errands. She sees the newspaper headlines, and declares that we absolutely, had to rush right over.”

He shook his head and moved to take a seat.

Max looked at them both, and laughed. “You two are hilarious. Yes, Likka, I did read the newspaper today. Which article you talkin’ about? And yes, Pops, I do know Likka.” He replied with a smile.

He went to sit behind his desk as Likka continued.

“Did you read the front page?” She asked.

“You mean the breaking news article about that expensive and rare gem being stolen?”

Likka’s face lit up with a smile from ear to ear.

“Exactly. This gem is very important, Max. We have to find it!”

“Wait a minute!” He said calmly. “What do you mean we have to find it? What is so important about it? Not to mention the fact that its theft is being called an impossible crime. What am I supposed to do with that?” He asked with a laugh.

Of course he knew what was coming next. But he couldn’t keep from asking. In his heart, Max wanted help stop every single injustice that was happening in the realm. However, he was only one man.
“Believe me Max, this mystery is one we must solve. The fate of the very realm could depend on it!” She answered with flourish of her hand.

“And that my dear Likka, is exactly what I’m afraid of.”

Max could only sigh and prepare himself for what was coming next.

To be continued . . .

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Capital City, Crimson Hawk, Hawk's Log, Max Norton

As the days passed by, I tried to focus my thoughts on rebuilding my health and fulfilling my destiny — whatever that might be. Likka was very adamant about me being the answer to their prayers, and the manifeStation of some prophecy. I can’t say that I really knew what she meant, but I went with it. Though it was a long while until I truly believed it. But the truth is, even now, after all we’ve been through, I still doubt myself.

No matter the pains I felt in my healing and training, none of it compared to the anguish of having no memory of my former life. But after some time, I became resolved to let it go. A new life had begun in the jungle with the rescuers who had become my family.

After more time passed, Pake’lika began to trust me. I even gave him a little nickname – Pops. With mouth that could barely move, that name was just too much for me. Though he still had his moments of uneasiness, he became like a gruff but caring father. However, Likka, the kind little lady who was fighting for me, acted like a mother from day one.

She nursed me with all the love and affection any mother could have, but I always saw sorrow in her eyes. I longed to ask her what made a sweet woman like her carry so much sadness. But I was afraid of the answer.


Slowly my speech came back fully. It took a while, but bit by bit, it got better and better. I was also able to walk, then run, and eventually fight. Before long I was running and training with Pops. Let me tell you, not one moment of that journey came easy. But it was worth every ounce of pain.

I had so many questions that I wanted to ask. But I wasn’t sure how. Then one day, I got more answers than I bargained for. It was a warm muggy night. Pops and I sat in front of the fire after Likka had retired for the night. He was staring at the fire, almost in a trance. Before I knew it, my mouth flew open and questions about their past flew out. I asked Pops about their life before they found me. I had no idea about my history, but at least I could know something about their’s. It was like I needed the past, even if it wasn’t my own.

Almost as soon as I asked the question, I wished that I hadn’t. His eyes became cloudy as he recalled their troubled past. I could see tears welling up in the eyes of my adoptive father. Instantly, it felt as though I’d over stepped my boundaries, but he reassured me.
“Do not worry Max. It is not your fault. It is time that you knew our truth.”
Slowly Pops wiped away his tears and took a deep breath. As we sat in front of the fire, it felt like I could see Pop’s face age just a little bit more. It was almost like the pain of the past was drawing on his very life force.

“As the years pass, you learn to live with your sorrow and to allow your heart to heal. The sun and the moon keep circling on their destined paths. This is the same for us. As time moves forward, so must we. To stand still is death to the spirit and death to our divine purpose. Many pains and trials come across our path. What must we do? Do we stop. Do we give up? Do we fall to our knees in surrender…”

“No! Of course not,” I replied.

“You are wise and brave young man. You have a fire that will do much good for this world. Of course you are no stranger to trials and pain . . . and loss.”

It was then that Pops voice trailed off as he stared into the flickering flames. I wanted to say something. But the silence of the jungle seemed to echo the pain in Pops’ voice. So I simply kept my mouth shut. When he began to speak again, his voice sounded different, in a way that I don’t know how to explain . . .

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Adroit Comics, Max Norton, New Sienna

There was a legend
Told long ago
About a Flower
Made of glowing gold.
But of course,
This was no
Ordinary stone.
For it many have died
But it has also saved
Many Souls . . .

Many centuries ago, The Great War raged across Nuzar’Eil as the forces of Light and Darkness battled for control of our realm. There was a brave man named Aapo Gabor who fought with valor against forces of Darkness.

When the war was won by Divinity’s greatest warriors, they lauded the valiant humans who fought on the side of Light. Because of his righteousness and fearlessness in battle, Aapo Gabor was appointed a king of his land.

The Heavens bestowed upon him an intricately carved stone that glowed an enchanting shade of gold. It’s shine beamed like the sun. I was encased in a beautifully crafted amulet on a golden chain.

The newly appointed King Aapo could feel the warmth radiating from the glowing amulet as the Guardian’s leader placed it around his neck.

“This amulet will always radiate the truth of the heart of whosoever wears it. As long as the bearer lives a life of truth, love and benevolence, the land will prosper and radiate hope throughout the world. But if the heart of the bearer turns towards Darkness, the stone will slowly turn from gold to silver – casting a cold and toxic light on all within its reach.”

King Aapo vowed to remain steadfast and true to The Heavens for the rest of his days, and that he would teach his future heirs to do the same. And he did. King Aapo remained true to his word. He taught his sons and daughters to live a life of truth and righteousness. As the years passed on, the Sungold Gem was passed on from generation to generation, until fourteen generations and had come and gone. It was then things began to change.

The Young King Ishtak’s now held the throne. He was different. Ishtak’s heart that was different from his father’s, and his father’s before him. His thought’s concerned only himself, his comfort, and his power. He began to make decisions that were not in the kingdom’s best interest so that his riches could grow. Then came the year, of the terrible tragedy.

A deadly plague consumed the kingdom leaving many dead. One of the lives lost was Ishtak’s beautiful queen. In sorrow and rage, the heart of King Ishtak turned even darker He became untrusting and vengeful. The bitter cold that resided in his heart was passed on to his son, and so on, and son for fourteen more generations. With each new king, the land grew darker and the people’s despair grew thicker and thicker.

What were once bountiful fields overflowing with crops, had now become barren land. The crystal river that once flowed through the kingdom, providing fresh water and an abundance of fish, now murkily trickled across the devastated land. And all of the creeks dried up. It seemed as if the very rain had ceased to fall.

As the land stopped producing, the people’s suffering continued to grow. The royal family had fallen far from their patriarch King Aapo Gabor, who had taken the oath to serve The Heavens and care for his people. Their kingdom had turned from one of peace and prosperity, to one of war and hunger.

With no crops, the newest heir, King Cadmael, had turned to mining and weaponry to attack other kingdoms for the food and goods he needed. But when things became unbearable, the people decided they had had enough and it was time to leave.

Hoping to find a new place to settle and forge a life of freedom, many people anxiously began their exodus. However the dark-hearted King knew that his subjects were the only assets of any value he had left. With the lands barren and creeks dry, the people had to stay to work his mines and make his weapons.

So he refused to let them leave. Those hoping to escape were met by the King’s army. The one’s brave enough to fight were either killed or imprisoned. Terrified, the families returned to their homes and cried out to The Heavens for deliverance from the cold-hearted King Cadmael’s reign of darkness.

Their cries were heard and Divinity sent Thirteen Adroit Warriors to set the good people free. The Warriors made their way into the kingdom under the cloak of night. With the speed, finesse and powers of The Light, they quickly bound the kings army and transported the people to safety.

With the subjects now safely away from the dark kingdom, the warriors turned their attention to the king’s palace to take back the amulet that the Guardians had gifted to his ancestor centuries ago.

The king’s guards fought tooth and nail to protect their leader. But they were no match for The Warriors of The Light. In a final attempt to save his life and the amulet, the wicked King called on the Forces of Darkness to fight for him.

Unbeknownst to his kingdom, King Cadmael had fully turned to Darkness and lost all sight of The Light his forefathers had pledged their lives to so very long ago.

A ferocious battle ensued as The Thirteen fought their way to complete the mission.The Warriors’ leader retrieved the amulet by swiftly ending the king’s life with one bold slash of the sword.

Immediately their leader signaled for The Warriors to retreat. They followed his order and only a few moments later he activated the amulet’s self-destruct mechanism. A piercing explosion of light that erupted from the amulet destroying all evil in its path. Their leader was lost in the explosion. But the twelve warriors who remained never forgot what happened that day. Neither did the people who were rescued from the earth of the wicked king Cadmael.

The legend goes on to say that the glowing stone that lied at the center of the amulet was known as the Sungold Gem. Many believe that it could never be destroyed. It was too important and too powerful. It is believed that upon the explosion, it flew high into the sky and landed far, far away. Now hidden, it waits for a soul that bears a heart of gold to be its next keeper…

Max Norton sits at his desk contemplating what the day would hold in store. There was always an adventure waiting and another mystery to solve. But honestly, he wouldn’t mind just a bit of peace and quiet.

Perhaps today would be that day. A day filled with nothing but the New Arkton bears game on television tonight. Shoot, he might even spring for a pair of tickets. He hadn’t treated himself to any fun in a while. He went to pick up the phone, going to the game didn’t sound too bad. Maybe they still had a few tickets left.

Just then, a knock came at his door. . .

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Capital City, Crimson Hawk, Hawk's Log, Max Norton

Capital City: “The City at the Center of the World”

Some say it’s the greatest metropolis on the entire plane. I’m not sure about all that. But I do know that if you want to get into somethin’, you can find it in Capital City. By the way, if you didn’t know it yet, my name is Max. . . Max Norton. In my free time, I run my own towing service with my main man Pops and his wife Lika.

You know, at this point in my life, I would love to just sit back in my chair and simply rock most of the day away. At most, I’d like to catch a baseball game or two. Maybe work on my cars. . . But I can’t, something is happening to this city. The crime is oozing into the streets. With each second, the politicians are becoming more corrupt. And the citizens are becoming more afraid. The darkness is spreading and I can feel it festering in Capital City. I’m going to do whatever I can to help stop it.

“How?” you might ask. Well, the Almighty Creator blessed me with some, I guess you could say “gifts,” that can help me along the way. I can jump farther, shoot better, fight better, heal faster. . . (you get the picture) than most. I have yet to meet the man that can whoop me in a foot race. But, I know he’s out there.

Earlier I mentioned my business partners, Lika and Pops. Well they’re more then just partners, they are also my family. The only family that I’ve known.

You see, about 10 years ago they found me half dead, with no memory, in the jungles of Keyoshia. Ever since that day, we’ve been side by side. They nursed me back to health and helped me gain a sense of normalcy in my life. It was a little rocky between Pops and I in the beginning. But we got through it. Though it wasn’t easy, I could understand. If you had seen the destruction that was unleashed on their land, their home, you could see why he was so suspicious of me. I certainly could . . . I thank the Father they didn’t just leave me there to die.

Once I gained Pop’s trust, they began to train me. And not only did they train me in their ancient ways, it seemed like they knew something about everything! I guess that’s what happens when you’re one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the modern realm. I’m not just saying that; it’s written in the history books.

Together, we’ve become a pretty formidable force against folks who, in my opinion, are trying to destroy our world. For awhile it seemed like we could never stay in one place too long. Either we were being chased, or we were the ones doing the chasing. With all that we’ve discovered, there are still so many mysteries to solve . . .

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Adroit Comics, Capital City, Capital City Gazette, Capital City Mysteries, Crimson Hawk, Curtis Perry, Eboni Stone, Guardians of New Sienna, International News, Local Government, Max Norton, National Government, New Sienna

The year is 3073.
The nation is New Sienna.
The city is, you guessed it, Capital City – “The City in the Center of the World.”

This metropolitan epicenter is renowned across the realm for its sights, industries, and sophistication. However, there is a darker side to this fair city.

The authorities are overwhelmed with all the calls reporting crimes of all kinds. It’s simply far too much for the Capital City Police Department to handle. Many people are realizing that they must do something to change things. And there are a select few who have what it takes to truly make a difference.

In such a huge city, there are many stories we can follow, but there are three that stand out from the rest: Eboni Stone, Curtis Perry, and Max Norton. Each of these detectives are on a mission to uncover the truth and bring the bad guys down.

Join us as we explore their tales, and discover what secrets the streets of Capital City hold.

Eboni Stone

Each and every person has their own tale to tell, many of which are filled with challenges. Some people fold in the face of adversity. Others might crawl into their shell, hoping that everything will get better. Eboni Stone is not one of these people. She’s been through so much in her life, yet she’s never given up.

A former CCPD officer, she left the force years ago after a tragic loss. Brave and dedicated to serving the community, she soon became frustrated with the ways things worked in the system. After turning in her badge, Eboni set her sights on serving the people in a different way. That’s when the Eboni Stone Private Detective Agency opened its doors.

She spends her days and nights searching for clues to solve her clients’ cases. With all her years on the beat, you’d think she’d seen it all. Ha! Not even close. Missing persons, stolen property, corporate espionage — the list goes on and on. That’s not even touching on the craziness with Hawk and her niece and nephew. But is she ready to solve the biggest mystery yet? Only time will tell.

Curtis Perry

The streets are filled with secrets. Curtis knows this to be true. He’s uncovered so many, he just can’t stop now. Everyday he beats the pavement, chasing down the clues to his biggest story yet! Tirelessly he does his best to expose the truth. Unfortunately, he and his editor don’t always see eye to eye.

Curtis is obsessed with fighting against Royal conspiracies, governmental, military, and corporate wrong-doings. However, the publisher of his newspaper could care less. The Capital City Gazette existed to please the advertisers . . . period. Furthermore, they would never publish any stores that could upset anyone too powerful . . . Or dangerous.

Curtis cares nothing about that. He’s on a hunt for two things, the absolute truth, and proof that Adroits are real. Though his paper may not want to publish the hard hitting stories, he’s making them public one way or another. He’s tired of playing games with these fools. Curtis has dedicated himself to exposing the truth to the free world. There are plenty of people who want him to keep quiet. But Curtis has never been one to do as he is told.

Max Norton

While most detectives are doing their sleuthing for clients, or to break some big story, Max has a more personal motivation for his work. His very existence is riddled with riddles. His life has taken more twists and turns than even he can remember. During the day, he is Max Norton, a simple, ordinary man who runs a tow truck company. But by night, he is Crimson Hawk, an anonymous defender for the citizens of Capital City . . . and beyond.

His cases are complicated and lead to bigger bad guys than most folks would want to tangle with. At times it seems like his adopted home is under siege. With crime on the rise, its becoming harder and harder to find exactly what he’s been searching for all of these years.

One of Max’s biggest problems is that he can’t say no if someone needs help. Even if it’s to his own detriment. But while he’s helping save citizens in the streets, he’s also tracking down the past that was erased from his mind almost ten years ago. But that’s one mystery that extends far beyond him. Max knows that this is one case that could impact the entire realm and change the course of history forever. He prays and believes that he is up the the task.

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