LUCAS TELLING-STONE

Real Name: Lucas Telling-Stone

Identity/Class: Human warrior;
    magic-user ;
    Native American (tribe unidentified)

Occupation: Vampire hunter

Group Membership: Unidentified Native American tribe;
    Unidentified group of vampire hunters (Benjamin Alomii, Blade/Eric Brooks, Divinity Drake/Aamshed, Enzo Ferrara, Noah van Helsing, Michiko Watanabe)

Affiliations: Mr. Gheorghiu, Mortuus Invitus (notably Groza and Vane);
    indirectly Ion;  

Enemies: Dracula, vampires (notably the Adze, Charniputra, the Jumlin (see comments), and the Yiki Onna)

Known Relatives: Unidentified ancestors

Aliases: "Sorcerer Boy" (from Blade)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly Noah van Helsing's base, location unrevealed; mobile;

First Appearance: Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (December, 2004)

Powers/Abilities: Lucas Telling-Stone has magical abilities, including a number of psychic abilities, such as telepathy, levitation, and generation of bright light.

    He is a shape-shifter (although he did not demonstrate that ability in the stories in which he was seen) and a conjurerer.

    He can cause a number of vampires attacking him to explode. 

    Mute (unable to speak verbally), he communicates via gesture and, when necessary, telepathy.

    He is also highly-skilled with a bow and arrow. 

History:
(Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (fb) - BTS) - Native American Lucas Telling-Stone dedicated his life to hunting down the descendants of his tribe's ancient adversaries, the Jumlin vampires (see comments).

(Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (fb) - BTS) - Lucas  became known as a spiritualist, elite guide, and world-class tracker, and he was considered -- at least by Noah van Helsing -- to be a one-man occult army. 

(Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (fb) - BTS / Tomb of Dracula IV#3 (fb) - BTS) - Alongside Michiko Watanabe, Enzo Ferrara, and Benjamin Alomii ,Lucas Telling-Stone was recruited by fellow vampire-hunter Noah van Helsing (who kept secret that he was adopted), to destroy Dracula before he could complete the Ritual of Ascendance, which would grant Dracula god-like power.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (fb) - BTS /Tomb of Dracula IV#4 (fb) - BTS) - Noah van Helsing's band of vampire hunters was joined by "Divinity Drake" -- allegedly a direct descendant of Dracula, but secretly the Sumerian sorceress Aamshed, who had been forced to create the ritual by ancient vampire lord Varnae but had twisted the ritual to prevent Varnae from utilizing it -- who secretly wished the others to bring her to Dracula so she could follow through on her plan to destroy him.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#1) - At an undisclosed location, Lucas attended Noah meeting alongside Benjamin Alomii, Enzo Ferrara, and Michiko Watanabe. After reviewing each member's history and qualifications and noting that Lucas brought to the team the requisite mystic prowess, Noah discussed the Ritual of Ascendance. 

    As Dracula would be vulnerable in a chrysalis while undergoing the ritual, Noah announced that as they knew exactly where Dracula would be, they would have him at their mercy. 

    Interrupting after having tracked Divinity there (and arriving at the meeting shortly before her), Blade advised the other vampire-hunters that they were seriously underestimating Dracula's abilities as a strategist and assured them that Dracula would have gathered a massive vampire army to stop them. 

    Blade further advised Noah and his allies that Dracula was a much more dangerous threat than they could ever imagine.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#2) - During a training exercise, Lucas sparred against Enzo Ferrara, each armed with battle staves.

    Later, Lucas was present alongside the other vampire-hunters as Noah detailed the Ritual of Ascendance and then discussed his interpretation of "the smallest part of the greatest fire" that could thwart the ritual as being the uranium atom. Noah then clarified that the plan was to carry a nuclear weapon into Dracula's crypt a mile below Castle Dracula, which would protect the surrounding environment and people from the nuclear explosion. 

    Blade subsequently met with Ben, Lucas, and Michiko, warning them that Noah's plan was a suicide mission, but Ben and Michiko confirmed that they knew this and that the risk of Dracula gaining the power to take over the planet was worth the sacrifice. 

    Pleased that they were on the same page, Blade advised them to back him up when he needed backing, as he may be able to finish off Dracula without the nuke and get them out alive. Blade concluded by warning them not to trust Divinity, as she could turn at any moment, and to watch him, as he could not trust himself around Divinity Drake.

    As Noah detailed the "suitcase" bomb they would use while he and the group traveled by car to a private jet, they were ambushed by a group of vampires, sent by Dracula, who at this phase could sense their plans. After the vampires caused the vehicle to crash, Lucas, wielding a bow and arrow, followed Blade's lead in exiting and confronting the vampires. Lucas fired a number of arrows to destroy a number of vampires. 

    When a group of vampires surrounded him, Enzo cast a spell that caused the vampires to burst into flames, and they perished screaming (see comments).

    The vampire hunters were on the verge of being overwhelmed when they were rescued by the Mortuus Invitus, led by Vane. 

    Lucas and the rest of the Noah's group subsequently flew by plane toward Bucharest. En route, Lucas eyed Divinity suspiciously, which she noticed, but he declined to explain his behavior to her. As they crossed the Carpathian mountains and into darkness, the Dracula-sent Charniputra approached their plane.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#3) - As the Charniputra tore through the plane's hull, Blade dove out of the plane (without a parachute) and engaged the Charniputra, taking most of them out before passing out from the lack of oxygen.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#3 (fb)) - With the ship badly damaged, the rest of Noah's crew at least had time to jump out and engage their parachutes before the ship crashed. 

(Tomb of Dracula IV#3 (fb)) - Ben rescued Blade and got him safely to the ground in Romania.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#3) - Blade subsequently led the group across the Carpathian mountains towards Castle Dracula, during which time Lucas telepathically communicated concerns about Divinity. Blade told him to keep probing her mind, as whatever involved Divinity could be vital to the mission. 

    Ben spotted a transport, and the group convinced the driver, Mr. Gheorghiu, to give them a ride into town where they met with Noah's contact, Ion. However, a pair of Yiki Onna vampires then arrived and slew Ion. Lucas then generated light, which might be refracted by the Yiki Onna's ice crystals.
    Michiko sacrificed herself destroying the Yiki Onna, while Noah was captured and later brought before Dracula and slain.

(Tomb of Dracula IV#4) - As a massive force of vampires descended on them, Lucas fired his crossbow until the vampires tore it out of his arms and shattered it, after which he levitated into the air.

    After Enzo fell to an Adze vampire, Divinity subsequently departed with Noah's suitcase nuke, seemingly intending to carry out the intended mission, after Ben disappeared, having been bitten by an unspecified type of vampire whose bite instantly transformed their victim into a vampire. 

(Tomb of Dracula IV#4) - With only Lucas and Blade left against overwhelming odds, the local Mortuus Invitus (led by Groza) slew the attacking vampires. Noting his regrets in leaving them to the fight, Blade departed to confront Dracula, and Groza invited Lucas as a friend to do what they could to save this town from the vampire lord's scourge. 

    After Divinity/Aamshed and Blade destroyed Dracula, at least temporarily, Lucas watched alongside the Mortuus Invitus as the energies she unleashed -- the six hundred thousand souls of those who had died at the hands of vampires since Aamshed had corrupted Varnae's spell -- rushed over them, destroying Dracula's servants as well as the Mortuus Invitus, who praised God and considered themselves redeemed in the process.

Comments: Created by Robert Rodi, Bruce Jones, Jamie Tolagson, Tom Palmer, and Jay Leisten.

    There was some confusion between Lucas Telling-Stone and Enzo Ferrara in Tomb of Dracula IV#1-4. 

• In Noah's introduction of everyone in Tomb of Dracula IV#1, while discussing Lucas, he shows a picture of the guy with the thicker hair and glasses. He goes on to note that Lucas is mute, but he can speak telepathically. He's the one with the magical powers, etc.. However, the character with glasses is then shown lecturing to a crowd -- odd for someone who is mute -- and wielding a cross against vampires.
• In Noah's introduction of everyone, while discussing Enzo, he shows a picture of the short-haired guy with the facial tattoos. He goes on to note that Enzo is the one with the encyclopedic knowledge of vampires. However, the character with the facial tattoos is shown using a magical spell to destroy a group of vampires
• After Noah discusses Enzo, the speech balloon containing the reply discussing Noah's expertise points to Lucas.
• In re-re-re-reviewing this story, I am certain that the text and images for Lucas and Enzo in #1 are reversed. 
• In subsequent issues, Blade calls the guy with the facial tattoos "sorcerer boy," he is shown using magic and telepathy, and he never speaks. 
• The guy with the thicker hair and glasses speaks just before dying in #4.
• However, in Tomb of Dracula IV#2, the character pictured as Enzo voices a spell that causes the vampires to burst into flames and perish screaming. 
• See the images to the right. In this close comparison as I write this profile, I wonder if they tried to make the correction at the last minute. 
• While the two images show the guy in virtually identical posture, outfit, weaponry, etc., their faces are a little different
• Slightly different hair
• The one on the left is definitely wearing glasses, the one on the right is not clearly wearing glasses...it looks more like the facial structure and tattoos when you blow up the image.
• The one on the right looks like it may have facial tattoos, like Lucas, rather than Enzo.
• Regardless, however, Lucas should not be speaking. However, perhaps he is projecting his thoughts...and maybe he is using his shapeshifting ability to mimic Enzo and keep the others off guard...
  
• Based on all of the above, I believe Enzo is the former priest with the knowledge (although he failed to appreciate one of the Adze vampire), thicker hair, and glasses, while Lucas is the mute sorcerer with the short hair and facial tattoos.
• The Vampire Hunters entry in Vampires: The Marvel Undead confirms the above assessment.
  

    According to Tomb of Dracula IV#1 and 2, the Ritual of Ascendance can take place every thousand years, and that Varnae attempted to use it around 0 AD and then again in 1000 AD. However, in Tomb of Dracula IV#4, Aamshed states that by foiling Varnae she kept humanity safe from the coming of the vampire lord for two thousand years. References from #1 and #2 were coming from copies of old texts, while the info from #4 comes straight from Aamshed directly.

    All of the vampire hunters in this story were interesting and have long history of vampire-hunting, so it would be nice to see them in some flashbacks.
    Lucas Telling-Stone is the sole survivor of the group, beside Blade (and Divinity/Aamshed, whose fate is unrevealed), so it would be nice to see him in future stories. 

    I don't know why they only included the upper part of his face when van Helsing went over his profile.

    Per the Vampires entry in Vampires: The Marvel Undead:

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Lucas Telling-Stone should be distinguished from:

• other "Telling," "Stone," or "Lucas" characters, groups, items, events, races, or places...

Appearances:
Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (December, 2004) - by Robert Rodi & Bruce Jones (story), Robert Rodi (script), Jamie Tolagson (pencils), Tom Palmer and Jay Leisten (inks), Warren Simons and John Miesegaes (editors)
Tomb of Dracula IV#2-4 (January-March, 2005) - by Robert Rodi & Bruce Jones (story), Robert Rodi (script), Jamie Tolagson (pencils), Tom Palmer and Scott Koblish (inks), Warren Simons and John Miesegaes (editors)

Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic (2007) - David Sexton & Jeff Christiansen (head writers/coordinators), Madison Carter, Michael Hoskin, Eric J. Moreels, Ronald Byrd, Chad Anderson, Al Sjoerdsma, Mark O'English, Chris Biggs & Stuart Vandal (writers), Michael Short & Cory Levine (assistant editors), Mark D. Beazley (associate editor), Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

Vampires: The Marvel Undead (December, 2011) - Jeff Christiansen, Mike O'Sullivan, and Stuart Vandal (head writers/coordinators); Markus Raymond & Mike Fichera (assistant coordinators); Markus Raymond, Patrick Duke, Ronald Byrd, Roger Ott, Patrick Ryall, Sean McQuaid, Madison Carter, Kevin Garcia, Eduardo Freyre, & Seth Johnson (writers), James Emmett & Joe Hochstein (editorial assistants), Alex Starbuck & Nelson Ribeiro (assistant editors), Jennifer Grunwald & Mark D. Beazley (editors, special projects), Jeff Youngquist (editor)

First posted: 02/22/2023
Last updated: 02/22/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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