Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"She was. She might not be dead, however. I can't look, though, because the humans have their suspicions about me, and want me to bring back a dead Eklir. A corpse that looks remotely like Eklir would work as well."

 

"Well, you aren't getting the real one as a corpse. I could ask if you want to bring him to the corpse pile of bodies we haven't eaten yet."

 

"I wasn't planning on killing any raptors. And it'd be nice if you could show me the pile."

 

"I'd love it!" Artemis says happily.

 

"Great, then consider it a welcome to our... home... gift." She says.
"I guess you may have overheard, but everyone calls me by my title. I'm the Mantis Matriarch, and I've been called that so long, even I've forgotten my old name."

They nod.
"Keep up." They say before running off along the edge of Akli'il territory.

 

"It's nice to meet you, Mantis Matriarch," Artemis says with a fanged smile, "What do you do here?"

 

"I paint, sleep, call for my servants... well, actually this room specifically is for meditating and painting. I sleep pretty much anywhere." She shrugs.

 

"Isn't that dangerous with the Ruin?" Artemis asks.

 

"Not at all. I don't know why, but all it does is choke off the foliage. Indirectly it's killing my people, but it doesn't seem to be directly harmful to us."

 

"That's...strange. Perhaps it's effects are much less visible? It's laying dormant within you?" Artemis suggests, "Or...maybe your immune system is able to easily fight it off?"

 

"I don't know, but I don't mind. I just wish that all the dye-bearing plants didn't croak. Until Thirteen came along, I've been bored since I had to cut back on painting."

 

"Ah, and you have a name, I presume?"

 

I run after them.

 

"It's...worrying to see all the plant life die here. Nature is so delicately balanced that even the tiniest change can cause massive problems." Artemis says.

 

"Mare, ironically."

"Well... this was no tiny change."

You end up chasing them to a pile of flesh, bones, and blood near the edge of the cliff.
"If there's something passable, it's here."

 

"Obviously. I worry that even if you can rid this world of the Ruin, if it will even be enough. So much damage has been done here, it's quite saddening to see." Artemis says, shaking her head.

 

"Well, to be fair, it's been so long since we lived outside the ruin, I'm not sure if we can survive in the respite."

 

"Perhaps that's why you're unaffected. Your bodies have evolved to be immune to the Ruin. Thirteen isn't affected either because he's a robot, and I'm not affected as I'm immune to disease and the like." Artemis theorises.

 

"Maybe. Speculating won't get us anywhere, though."

 

"Of course, sorry." Artemis apologises.