“A long time ago, the universe was created. The universe was fine until intelligent life began to bloom. Life soon began to realise that maybe the universe wasn’t as good as it seemed. Of course, blame was sought.
“The Serpent of Space wanted nothing to do with blame. She after all only created things. So she blamed the Serpent of Time.
“The Serpent of Time didn’t like this. He only made sure that time flowed forward. So he blamed the Serpent of Life.
“The Serpent of Life was angered by this blame. She directed both her blame and her anger towards the Dragon of Decay. It was clearly the Dragon’s fault, after all, he maintained decay and entropy within the universe.
“The Dragon took all the blame and anger and tried to bury it. The Dragon tried to do anything and everything to avoid the blame and anger that the entire universe was now thrusting upon him. But the pain was too much. The Dragon began to lash out, hurting the Serpents the way they had hurt him. The Dragon of Decay became the Dragon of Death.
“Unable to stop him, the Serpents called upon their Mother. The Mother offered compromise, a chance for all to speak to each other and discuss their pains. The Dragon accepted that chance and spoke at great length how he helps the Serpents with their duties. The Serpents reluctantly agreed, but spoke of how they felt fear and how they wanted to be safe. They tricked the Dragon into becoming aggressive, taunting and hurting him to prove their point.
When the Dragon lashed out, the Mother lashed back, subduing the beast. She understood the Dragon but could not allow him to harm the Serpents.
In exchange for declawing the Dragon, the Serpents promised to back away and let the Dragon resume its duties.
The Dragon though had felt a new sensation, one of power, one of fear.
“As he slowly began working with the Serpents, the Dragon put those feelings to use. Knowing he could be stripped of those emotions, the Dragon had those feelings placed within a new race, a race that would later become the first Banikans.
“The Banikans are thankful for the Dragon, and understanding in his duties…”
“Excuse me, but what does this have to do with us?”
“We’re not Banikans at all.”
“The traditional story of the Banikans contains many a secret. But there are many re-tellings of the story. One of which explains how the Dragon was subdued and captured.”
“So?”
“You say so like that, mate, but I think they’re onto something. The gods are getting aggressive because they think maybe our buddy the Thantophor is a threat again.”
“Yes, you are beginning to understand. But one thing you cannot understand is how we commune with the Dragon.”
“You chat with him?”
“No, not in that sense. But we speak and he listens. We know he is there. Most of the time.”
“Wait you don’t know where he is sometimes? I thought he was everywhere?”
“There is a place where his influence cannot truly reach us. That was where the Mother took his claws.”
“That’s where the Thantophor is now.”
“I’m still confused. What do we have to do with the Thantophor and why do the other gods want to hurt us?”
“They don’t want to hurt you. They are trying to provoke the Dragon again, so that he loses more than just his claws.”
“Yeah but I still don’t get it. We’re just… Like, she’s a really old Ksithan, she’s powerful. He’s a Kronospast and we all know they have cool powers. But us two, we are just kinda normal…”
“The universe is a strange, complex place that makes… just enough sense for it to continue existing. The Serpents may hate the Dragon but they cannot exist without each other. They have attempted to destroy one another in the past, and we believe they are repeating their mistakes. The Dragon’s missing roar, coupled with the sudden rumbles of war… Well, it all points down a very dark path.”
“Yeah but… we’re not warriors. We’re not even like the Dessaron, who were warriors…”
“Warriors who were helped by the Thantophor himself…”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing… But he’s got a point. They’re not warriors.”
“Yes, but you are. A warrior, a tank, a bard and a diplomat. No one said that you have to fight your way to victory.”
“Well, when you put it that way… The Thantophor did really seem to like me. Maybe we can talk to the other ones as well? Convince them to, uh, not be dicks?”
“That’s the spirit, little one!”
“Hang on! We’re still missing a lot here! Like, how do we even get to wherever the Thantophor is supposed to be?”
“It is not coincidence that you landed on this planet.”
“She’s about to say that this place is the way to some sort of spiritial realm or the land of the gods or something, isn’t she?”
“Kohra, shut up!”
“She is though! Aren’t you?”
“Um… yes… you’re pretty much correct. This planet is the closest planet to the Lands of Kinigi, the realm in which the Mother resides.”
“Do you have a ship so we can get closer?”
“We do.”
“Nice. Phovos, Timik, Kayen, shall we get going?”
“Sure, but I want some of that badass Banikan armour first…”