36th of Mauj

Along the coast a storm was brewing magnificently, from so high up Tom could see everything as plain as day: the Gilded Reach and the many demons that desire to devour the riches inside of it. Of course it was not the Shadow Beasts that worried him, but the soon to arrive Spawn of Chaos. If that creature managed to implant itself here, then most hopes of obtaining the Lordic Artifact hidden within the Gilded Reach would come a part like dust.

"Get in, befriend Beah the Dragon of Sound Distortion, get out- simple plan right Shelia?"
"I am beginning to recognize your humor Tom, it lifts my spirits to know that you think you have a chance to succeed without error."
"Thank-you- Shelia!"
"You're welcome Tom."

Down, down, down the feeling of falling he could never shake. Fortunately he was reminded of the stability of "two-feet-on-the-ground" when the space pod slammed into the cursed Earth. Tom's route was a simple one. He liked to keep things simple. That is why he decided to land just a few meters away from the mouth of Beah's lair. That is why he decided to come down in a deep-space capsule without much care and let the shock waves reverberate within Beah's lair. He had no intention in waking Beah the Dragon Feared for His Unpredictable Nature. How Fortunate.

"Lok, tov, who dares to awaken Beahmenteh the Feared One?"

"Dragonkin Beahmeneth, Tom Thunderblade calls upon your aid in the finding and relinquishing of the Lordic Artifact, Confident Banner to Rally"

"Finding? Relinquishing? Foolish human, do you know who you speak to? It is I, Beah the Loud, the only dragon whose voice can cripple and split atoms where they float. Tell me, boy, why should I aid you?"

"Because I am the son of Leon Thunderblade and sent from the Lord of Lords Himself! A Spawn of Chaos makes its way here as we speak. Though its power matches your own, its influence on the land surpasses all that you could gain trust from. If you do not entrust the banner to me it will be lost to the enemy."

"I see my name has also been infringed in your eyes, perhaps I would have helped you had you not brought up the what you expect. "

"I expect only what is expected of dragons that carry an aura power with them, and that is greatness and courage."

"Then you too mark me as a coward, since I will not help you! As for greatness, I will fight against this 'enemy' with ease for there is nothing that can withstand the might of my voice!"

Rejection, this was something Tom was accustomed to. Throughout his life doors were always closed in front of him. Why this moment reminded him of his childhood, he did not know, but as Beah returned beneath the ground Tom looked intently down the tunnel carved from the powerful roars Beah heavily relies on; he was not amused by the dragon's immature pride. It began to rain.

A rooster crows his ominous ballad in the distance from a near by farm, and once again Tom is reminded of his childhood years when he was lost and searching for something greater.

"Shelia, let us go home, I am not wanted here."
"Right away Tom." the AI responded in a solemn tone.

As he departed from the cursed Earth in a swish of particles whizzing in near incomprehensible concepts, he heard it once more- the rooster's crow forever to haunt him until he reached his ultimate destination. As he pondered his decision, he knew that he was not to come back empty handed. His orders were to obtain the banner, he did not have the freedom to return without it.

"Shelia.."
"Yes Tom?"
"Let us remain in orbit."
"Acknowledged"