This is a collaboration piece for the second round of GoldenSun-club’s contest. Voting hasn’t started yet because there are still two teams who need to submit, but I really like our entry and wanted to share it with you! Voting should start within the next week or so, in case anyone wants to see the other entries.
Piyu and I did this together as a part of Team Mercury; Piyu did the lineart and made it look gorgeous with all the coloring and I did some of the base coloring and wrote the introduction (below). We obviously referenced some of the art for the game in terms of color and layout, and used this texture. Piyu really carried the team this round, so I’m hoping to be able to contribute more next time. (Work got in the way this round and I kind of put us behind schedule. It worked out in the end though!)
"I think this is a good enough place to rest," Piers said, rolling a log up against the snowbank that had formed over the bushes. Rief and Amiti immediately went to finding branches with which to make a fire, and Mia searched their bags for their mugs. The group had been traveling through the Northern Reaches, somewhere between Prox and Mars Lighthouse. Night had fallen and Rief, Piers, Amiti, and Mia were growing weary,
"It's a quiet enough night," Mia mused, brushing dirt off of one of the mugs with her gloves. "I think this camping trip was a great idea, Piers." She produced a saucepan, chocolate, milk, cinnamon, and marshmallows, and made her way to the fire.
Piers smiled and took the branches from the returning boys. "Thanks! I've actually never been camping," he explained, "at least if you don't count our travels, which weren't exactly relaxing. Growing up, there weren't really a lot of chances for enjoying the outdoors on a partially submerged island."
"Well, I hope you like it better than I am so far," Rief quipped, rubbing his hands together as Piers started the fire.
Mia laughed. "I'm sure you'll feel a lot better with some hot chocolate in your belly." Mia knelt in front of the fire and placed some chocolate and milk into a saucepan. As the chocolate melted, she stirred it, allowing the chocolate and milk to blend together into a creamy, aroma-filled concoction. After about five minutes of this, she stirred in a touch of cinnamon and removed the pan from the heat. "Almost done," she announced to no one in particular.
Amiti was making a snowman, on which he placed a brown hat and green scarf. Rief laughed, and made a smaller snowman and placed it near his seat on the log, careful to not place the snowman too close to the fire. He reached in the supplies bag for a red hat and golden scarf, which he used for decoration on his new friend. Rief made himself comfortable on the log and stretched.
Piers chuckled as Mia filled the mugs with hot chocolate. "Missing someone?"
Mia glanced at the snowmen and smiled. "Of course! I almost wish we'd invited them, but I like that our group is small this time." She stood and handed the men their mugs. "Besides, if we'd invited them, then Garet would have to come, and he'd attract all sorts of monsters with how clumsy he is." She handed the bag of marshmallows to Amiti, who filled his cup to the brim with them. Amiti handed the bag to Piers and sat down on the log a little ways from Rief. Piers placed a handful of marshmallows into his mug and handed the bag back to Mia, who placed a couple of the sweet treats in her own mug.
"Not that fighting monsters can't be fun," Piers responded playfully, and Mia giggled. Piers and Mia joined Rief and Amiti on the log. Mia handed the marshmallow bag to Rief, who followed his mother's lead. The group quietly sipped on their hot chocolate until Piers interrupted the silence. "Actually, that reminds me of this great story. Felix, Isaac, Ivan, Garet and I were traveling across Indra, when we ran into this giant--"
Crunch.
Mia gasped, interrupting Piers. "Wait, did you hear that?"
