Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

It hits a shield around a few of the siege engines, but it also attracts attention.
With only a sniper and four shots, it might be a good idea to fall back instead of letting the mech get scrapped...


"O-oh, wow... that sounds like a lot... won't I need to make more paintings to get all that?" She asks, nervous.

 

"Guess I'll go have a talk with the centaurs. They can talk atleast."
He walks up to the centaurs.
"Hey."

 

Shadow Stephanie gets back in her mech and quickly back inside, trying to find somewhere to hide.


"It's up to the royalty's consideration, though your works have attracted much attention and many fans." The guard says.

 

They seem a bit startled.
"H-hi... a bit c-cold up here, huh?"

A railgun shot disintegrates as it hits the mech's shield. Retreating is the best course of action, though if she goes back towards B2, they might pay more attention to that side.


"I... visited the gallery once. Someone asked for my signature, but... I don't know how that makes it more valuable."

 

Shadow Stephanie heads back to B2, looking at her map.


"Proof that they've met and interacted with you." The guard says.

 

"...Yes, actually."
I crouch down, and lower my voice.
"I need you to search for Mantis remains. Start in the respite, and find anything you can, not including the armblades at the merchant stand."

 

The blast doors are almost breached, but B1 seems to be doing (relatively) fine, at a standstill.


"How does that make it worth more?"

"M-mantis remains?! Did one of them get killed too?"

 

"A bit, but my fur is keeping me warm."
He moves closer.
"So... how are things?"

 

"Really bad... I haven't found any of my siblings yet, or any shelter from the wind."

 

"Your home got burned down, didn't it?"
He sits down.

 

Shadow Stephanie waits a while, before heading back the way she came and scoping out the portal again.


"Not everyone can say they own the artist of the Shadow Palace's signature." The guard says.

 

"Possibly. The stab wound on the king is identical to a stab from a Mantis armblade. However, nobody in the respite owns a Mantis armblade, save that merchant stand, and those are untouched. Although, the Matriarch mentioned that one of her guards has gone missing."

 

I'll look out the window.

 

"Yeah, so did just about everything down there."

"I'll let you know if I see anything." The raptor nods, trotting off.

There's a few mechs that have just swept by on patrol, but if she's quick, she should be able to take a shot and get out before anything else notices her.


"But I'm not the artist of the Shadow Palace, I'm just a queen of a ruined forest who paints to forget the misery surrounding me."

________________________________

As expected, you see a fishing boat crossing the lake. They don't head for the island, so you seem to still be unnoticed.

 

I nod back, then continue on my way.

 

Shadow Stephanie quickly lines up a shot, making sure it's clear before firing.


"You've donated a lot of art to it though, and people have quickly noticed your talent. You are an artist, and your art hangs in the Shadow Palace." The guard says.

 

"What do your siblings look like. Or maybe got any names?"

"Maybe they can stay in the cave? Don't know if the dragoness likes that." He thinks.

 

The group's still all back at the castle.

"Bira, Tuer, and Mona. They all pretty much look the same..."

"We won't know until we ask."

It's not clear, and it doesn't seem like it's going to be clear.
However, an extra slider appears as she tries to line up the shot: "Detonate After X Hits"
If only it'd tell you how many things it'd have to cut through to get to the portal...


She blushes.
"...Don't you have artists that actually work for the palace?"

 

Shadow Stephanie tries to gauge how many times the sniper shot would hit, based on what's in front of the portal.


"The royalty has paid quite a few to do artwork, custom or otherwise, and a creation of the king's has had it's artwork featured, though most artists in the palace do not produce artwork on a consistent schedule. They are asked to, or they create and are featured if it is worthy." The guard says.

 

"And where did you last see them? At home?"

"I'll ask it later. But if they can come, all the other animals want to come too."