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memestertrucks2025-01-01 12:01 am
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Entry tags:
JANUARY TDM
After tumbling through shadow you find yourself in a shrouded, ruined garage. It’s full of shattered windows and broken mechanical equipment; watch out for shards on the floor, in between the strange symbols scrawled into the ground. Outside the daylight is fading; night is rolling in, and there’s just a few dying lights flickering on and off. It’s going to be hard to see in here and avoid bumping into things and people, if you don’t get outside soon.
Beyond the rundown garage is an overgrown gas station surrounded by thick, wetland forest. Starlight is streaming through the trees, along with light from a broken moon. The one thing that isn’t overgrown with plants is a large Convoy of vehicles, parked right underneath the station canopy.
01: START UP
The Convoy looks like a cross between a semi truck and a train; there’s no one at the front, but there’s still power humming through the entire Convoy. It’s also the most hospitable thing in sight. Why not make yourself at home a little? You just have to chase that eerie, empty feeling since there’s no one else present.
Alternately, there are the cars scattered around the Convoy; all of them in better shape than the gas station. And some of them looking and feeling almost like they might belong to you. That feeling is only increased, when you see there’s a key to the car nearby. Perhaps the key is already in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on your person, ever since you woke up in that garage. Either way, you have the keys to the vehicle now.
…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
Alternately, there are the cars scattered around the Convoy; all of them in better shape than the gas station. And some of them looking and feeling almost like they might belong to you. That feeling is only increased, when you see there’s a key to the car nearby. Perhaps the key is already in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on your person, ever since you woke up in that garage. Either way, you have the keys to the vehicle now.
…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
02: RUIN EXPLORATION
The ruined gas station and garage are the only man-made structures around, and have seen better days. The store still holds packaged food, and tepid drinks of all sorts. The garage has old mechanical equipment for working on cars, along with that strange summoning circle.
There's also a giant tree bursting through the gas station roof. And clinging to its branches, half melted into the surface, are metallic bodies. Graffiti is spray painted onto the tree, reading ‘avoid the Husks.’
Those who ignore the warning and get closer hear a faint hum coming off those bodies. It’s almost like whispers, though it’s impossible to make out any clear words. Some Husks are clutching supplies in metal fists. For a few unlucky new arrivals, those Husks might even be holding the keys to their vehicles.
Making direct contact with the Husks intensifies the hum, and the whispers begin to form into pained cries, and give the impression of something rummaging through their thoughts; trying to pry out things that hurt Drifters, and reflecting those hurtful things on the bodies of the Husks for anyone to see.
There's also a giant tree bursting through the gas station roof. And clinging to its branches, half melted into the surface, are metallic bodies. Graffiti is spray painted onto the tree, reading ‘avoid the Husks.’
Those who ignore the warning and get closer hear a faint hum coming off those bodies. It’s almost like whispers, though it’s impossible to make out any clear words. Some Husks are clutching supplies in metal fists. For a few unlucky new arrivals, those Husks might even be holding the keys to their vehicles.
Making direct contact with the Husks intensifies the hum, and the whispers begin to form into pained cries, and give the impression of something rummaging through their thoughts; trying to pry out things that hurt Drifters, and reflecting those hurtful things on the bodies of the Husks for anyone to see.
03: MONSTER ATTACK
The night grows darker, and the shadows grow deeper. And from those shadows comes the glint of something moving across the Husks, rippling over the metal… And breaking it apart in a flurry of too sharp claws and teeth. That’s when the radio chooses to come on in another mess of static.
Be careful- Keep your fear and rage in check- Calls the monsters- We need the shield up-
The warning comes too late as monsters arrive. Some human-like but with razor teeth mouths that stretch from face to groin; others resembling alligators with bloated proportions and jaws that spit lightning; and still others where the vegetation has come to life, sporting thorn covered appendages.
The Pisaca monsters act as shock troopers, wearing the Convoy down with venomous bites and debilitating howls, before the heavy and brutish alligators bull in, using their bulk and electric attacks to obliterate what’s left. The capparwires scurry in the periphery, taking cheap shots with thorny vines and sparking electricity where they can. It’s a task to keep the monsters at bay until the generator fires up. Especially when one last enemy makes an appearance…
Be careful- Keep your fear and rage in check- Calls the monsters- We need the shield up-
The warning comes too late as monsters arrive. Some human-like but with razor teeth mouths that stretch from face to groin; others resembling alligators with bloated proportions and jaws that spit lightning; and still others where the vegetation has come to life, sporting thorn covered appendages.
The Pisaca monsters act as shock troopers, wearing the Convoy down with venomous bites and debilitating howls, before the heavy and brutish alligators bull in, using their bulk and electric attacks to obliterate what’s left. The capparwires scurry in the periphery, taking cheap shots with thorny vines and sparking electricity where they can. It’s a task to keep the monsters at bay until the generator fires up. Especially when one last enemy makes an appearance…
03-A: MIRRORMIC
There's as a metallic shiver along one of the remaining Husks, and a strange ringing whisper in the ears. The next moment, the Husk breaks open in a gleaming pool of quicksilver. That quicksilver catches reflections, and molds itself into a darker copy of a Drifter.
The mirror monster whispers faults and secrets at the reflected Drifter, and anyone close by. It tries to goad Drifters into an attack. And when struck, the mirror monster plays its second trick; whatever damage it takes is reflected back onto the Drifter as a transformation. An injury to the arm transforms the Drifter's arm, and so on.
It's possible to banish this monster through direct lights shone on it from a car, flashlight, or magic… But such action needs to be swift, before the Mirrormic completely changes its Drifter.
03-B: BOMBADGY BOMBARDMENT
Before, during and even a little after the monster attack, there’s an extra presence scurrying around the vehicles, snuffling and barking when startled. A band of chunky, raccoon-esque monsters known as the bombadgy are raiding anything that looks like it could be food storage… And this includes vehicles!
The bombadgy’s claws are deft and sharp with tearing through windows and door seams. These creatures are a touch skittish and won’t attack unless provoked. They also can expel a flammable gas… And this means they can explode if sufficiently spooked or stressed. This also means that they can be treated as living bombs, and be lobbed at other threats if needed.
04: WIND DOWN
During the monster attack, there’s changes gripping the Convoy, and especially the people in it. It might feel like your control is getting worn away by the second… At least until something in the trucks starts to whirr to life. It’s a soft enough noise, little more than a hum as something blooms out of the engines. It fast turns into a shield that envelops the Convoy in a shimmering, glowing dome.
And while it might not be enough to reverse those changes, it can at least stop them from growing any worse. Give you a moment of breathing space to adjust to everything that’s happened, and give you some measure of clarity and control. There’s time to breathe and mend now. Take stock of one’s injuries and changes.
But there’s a few strange surprises still waiting, it seems. Because the corpses of the monsters begin to disintegrate, like they are bleeding out motes of sickly light. Light that you quickly absorb; it has the side effect of lessening pain, even mending wounds… Though it might make you feel a bit off. Maybe a little more excitable, maybe a little more irritable, or maybe expressing a certain odd psychological quirk. Still, that sudden surge should pass in about an hour or so; just need to keep it together until then. Perhaps with a little company.
And while it might not be enough to reverse those changes, it can at least stop them from growing any worse. Give you a moment of breathing space to adjust to everything that’s happened, and give you some measure of clarity and control. There’s time to breathe and mend now. Take stock of one’s injuries and changes.
But there’s a few strange surprises still waiting, it seems. Because the corpses of the monsters begin to disintegrate, like they are bleeding out motes of sickly light. Light that you quickly absorb; it has the side effect of lessening pain, even mending wounds… Though it might make you feel a bit off. Maybe a little more excitable, maybe a little more irritable, or maybe expressing a certain odd psychological quirk. Still, that sudden surge should pass in about an hour or so; just need to keep it together until then. Perhaps with a little company.
05: CAMP
A screen in the Convoy flickers to life. The image isn't visible through a snowfield of static. Same with the audio:
“Still… Alive? Good. Connection- Can’t hear you. Can't talk. Convoy will- take you closer to Nirvana.”
After that, the connection is dropped, leaving a collection of text:
I’m sorry. I have no answers for you. But you’re still alive. You’re not as broken as the rest of the world. When the sun rises, this Convoy and all the cars around it will start moving North towards Nirvana. If you want answers, and to stay as close to human as you can… I suggest you stay with the Convoy. Good luck.
A last alert flashes across the screen: “TESTING LOCAL NETWORK CONNECTION.” And then… Music starts to play on the speakers. Mellow guitar and brass music that’s at odds with all the weird that’s happened recently, but perhaps just the thing to relax to.
“Still… Alive? Good. Connection- Can’t hear you. Can't talk. Convoy will- take you closer to Nirvana.”
After that, the connection is dropped, leaving a collection of text:
I’m sorry. I have no answers for you. But you’re still alive. You’re not as broken as the rest of the world. When the sun rises, this Convoy and all the cars around it will start moving North towards Nirvana. If you want answers, and to stay as close to human as you can… I suggest you stay with the Convoy. Good luck.
A last alert flashes across the screen: “TESTING LOCAL NETWORK CONNECTION.” And then… Music starts to play on the speakers. Mellow guitar and brass music that’s at odds with all the weird that’s happened recently, but perhaps just the thing to relax to.
MICRO ENCOUNTERS:
PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.
Race Track: There’s a race track that winds around the gas station! It’s a bit threadbare in places and little more than a mossy and muddy trail. But it’s still a race track that weaves under and over trees, and seems like a good place to test new wheels.
Gone Fishing: The gas station area eventually turns into the start of a swamp; that explains where the alligators came from. It may be possible to do a little bit of fishing, though the fish are just as weird as everything else. Still edible though. Swimming in the swamp is not advised. The alligator monsters and fish tend to bite back.
Spray Paint Messages: The paint on the trees and gas station is starting to fade and wash out, but can still be legible; most of it contains messages warning about the end of the world, prayers to the heavens for mercy, and dire warnings about husks and something called “moon warps.”
V (+ M-Bot) | Songs for the Dusk OC | PLEASE SEE OPT-IN/OUT | Weretiger(?)
Awakening (Narrative)
Above all, it's dark - but they're not in the Bay anymore, they can feel that right away. Tumbling to the floor - flickers of light, all around them - their toolbelt is lighter than normal, which is bad - M-Bot's not supposed to be with them, but it's better than not knowing where he is-
"Run diagnostic", V whispers. Their answer comes with a jolt of awareness - warmth and a flash of light - on their own skin.
That is not a diagnostic. And, raising one hand to their neck reflexively, it's not anything they recognize. The skin feels different there; wrongly-textured. About the right shape for a simple circle-
And that's about all they process at the moment. The phrase 'seeing red' still exists in Tamaris, but instead for V it's like seeing Red.
They've been marked. The only reason they'd never had one from the Empire was because they'd never bothered-
And then it goes from 'seeing red' to seeing black; V rushes for the door, what's left of daylight, so long as it means out. M-Bot is left to pick up an old-fashioned looking key, but he's quick to follow his person out into the wild.
[Takeaway: Feel free to mention having seen V leave, or nearly been hit by them on their way out, without having to tag them.]
Monster Encounters | M-Bot Encounters
Due to their
not entirely monstrous in naturespeed, they were a fair bit away from the convoy by the time their mind returned. Which meant... mostly, a lot of alligators. And a few bombadgys, mistaking them for food. Seeing one of the latter explode due to its gas? Unpleasant, but at least they dodged the worst of the smell. But, if there's need for a quick fire, they aren't entirely reduced to trying to improvise a flint...On the other hand, there was a little drone out in the woods. If it can read enough of your body language to tell you aren't hostile, it may stop and say hello, but it's mostly trying to fly towards its person at this point. Efforts to help are appreciated!
[Takeaway: Two prompts in one, mostly because I wanted a timey-wimey way for M-Bot to make some friends.]
The Scrapper's Territory
By the time the shields were raised, certainly, V was back at the gas station, trying to calm down in a different way.
When else were they going to have a chance to poke around some genuine pre-Golden Age tech?
They could also be found at the race track at this time, putting their new ride through its paces. Or just offering a hand where needed, particularly if your own vehicle needed some repairs to be rideable.
[Takeaway: V's offer to help is, again, strictly opt-in.]
The Road Ahead
Back in the Convoy proper, some discontent flashed across their face as they read the last message. And what if we're not human?
But it's a singular thought, a wording quibble, and they were around for quiet conversation for some time before retreating to their car.
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Even worse is someone rushing up behind it. Luckily for everyone involved, being on alert means that it hears the footsteps and turns, moving it out of the way of V's direct course and turning what might have been a collision of shoulders into merely a close call, but that's more than enough for SecUnit. It's ready to take a few more steps back just in case, but the drone trailing after the stranger catches its' attention.
"Hey," it calls after the figure. "This yours?"
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But M-Bot, at least, turns enough to look back at SecUnit. It chirps, a distressed-sounding noise.
V is running, but their companion drone can be expressive enough for the both of them.
Query: assist? The message is simple, though perhaps not in a coding language SecUnit already knows. But from the way it struggles between darting ahead and trying to maintain some degree of interaction with SecUnit, the underlying message may come through anyway.
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Or it would, if this drone wasn't so obviously trying to get its' attention. The code burst doesn't come through in any proper way, with the lack of feed and (what SecUnit is starting to worry might be) some sort of malfunction of its own systems, but the message does, and SecUnit spends a full five seconds staring at the drone to make its disapproval known.
"I'm not a human mom," it says, into the aether. "Just because I'm a SecUnit doesn't mean I look after every human I come across. I'm a rogue. I don't have to."
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What matters to it right now are strength in numbers, and that it can't really get in V's way and slow them down by itself. Not with them in this state.
Reluctantly, though, it starts moving towards the treeline, after its person.
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Are there more of those strange humanoid rock formations? SecUnit isn't sure, but it's careful about the path it takes around, scanning harder every time it sees one. M-Bot has it easier, not having to deal with the soggy ground and scraping branches.
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In the distance, sounds of crashing and what have to be explosions start picking up. M-Bot speeds up, as much as the density of the woods allows.
---
Weak to fire. Weak to fire. Weak to ice. Weak to lightning/fire/ice-
The whispering, now that V's mind has cleared enough to hear it, isn't helping them concentrate on dodging the hungry-looking beasts. The urge to keep that unwanted circle on their neck covered is losing the battle, and it doesn't make that little stream of information damp down at all.
Broken-off branches are little deterrent, except for tripping the screaming Pisaca and (sometimes) silencing them. They don't have their tools, so starting a fire while keeping on the move hasn't been easy.
They've managed to slip both arms to their thinnest settings without losing either, but that's not exactly a victory-
Then they launch one of the strange not-quite-dogs off from where it's been biting their leg... aaaand it explodes.
"What."
At least an alligator is going up in flames for their trouble.
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It doesn't want to use them yet, but something about its movement here feels off, its reaction time more sluggish than it would like. Performance reliability down 5%. It's not responsible for this human. And yet.
SecUnit bursts through the trees in a blur, launching itself towards the nearest pisaca. The humanoid shape is swept down with a leg as SecUnit wrestles it to the forest floor, palm over its' face (here it's face should be what the fuck is this thing) to slam it against the ground, once, then twice, before whirling to shoot for the feet of the next advancing creature, one of the alligators.
Only then does it look at V, looking from the chewed-on leg to scanning all of them, searching for injuries and weapons. "Can you get up?" It asks (demands, really), as it turns back to watch the oncoming monsters.
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"I'm- undamaged," they manage, really wishing diagnostics worked.
"Apparently they're weak to fire. Or explosions."
Carefully - because there's probably more incoming - one hand rests on the elbow-joint of the other arm.
"And the dog-like creature explodes when startled. Or thrown."
M-Bot chireeps, an alarm that anything in the woods could hear - and one of the more distant bombadgies, started, explodes on a tree.
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Scrapper
He doesn't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time.The boy with the rifle pauses as V nears and turns his dog-nosed face towards her."Oh, um, I-I can move if you wanted, um, anything."
Re: Scrapper
Shaking their head, they reply, "No, there is no need. Just searching around?"
Their voice is scratchy, and there are a few burns on what's visible of the Synth's dark brown arms.
"Though, I suppose we all are. What is your name?"
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"O-oh, sorry. I'm Levi."
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Perhaps that just meant the fighting was over. All the adrenaline-fueled jitters had to come out somehow.
"Levi; good to meet you."
They make a sweeping gaze across the Convoy.
"Not all of these cars look that strong. Something like that will save us time later."
They tilt their head, calculating. Not all of these cars look entirely mobile, either...
"You know anything about repairing tires? Or- this setup might come with a few jacks, that could give us leverage for all sorts of things."
Including Levi's own suggestion, if they were creative enough.
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"I think I know what a jack looks like, though, I can keep an eye out."
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"I wouldn't call myself a teacher, not for driving."
Repairs, but not driving. Still:
"You'd better ask around for assistance with that, or at least a spotter."
They do have that convenient race track to practice on...
"I appreciate the help, though. Please let me know if you spot one - or you can tell M-Bot, if he's closer."
They gesture to the drone hovering beside them, who gives an acknowledging chirrup.
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"Yes, he's my friend. I... rescued them, a long time ago, rather than let him be destroyed out on the front lines."
M-Bot chirps an affirmative, bumping up against their side.
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M-Bot encounters | cw: light gore
His gaze flicks towards the drone, uncertain of what that even is, wary but not about to take any sort of action against it. If it leaves, he will follow out of curiosity and a need for more information.
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M-Bot knows of the monsters by now, and doesn't like them. So seeing someone apparently having eaten one, while a surprise, is far from a red flag.
It chirps an inquiry, ready to move away in a hurry if Serph proves hostile... but someone who's merely curious can get the drone to stick around.
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Since it sounds like it can make some kind of response -- though whether it's one he can understand it is an entirely different matter -- Serph asks it, "What are you?"
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While M-Bot could try using voice clips, it was built for stealth and spying, not conversation.
Instead, out comes V's slightly scratchy voice - not a remote connection, just a snippet - ", M-Bot-"
And so it hovered there, occasionally repeating the 'Bot' syllable, at least until Serph asked another question - or anyone approached.
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"What are you doing here?"
Scouting? Searching?
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(They're both learning things for/from this conversation!)
"Scouting for danger."
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Ah. Scouting. Serph glances over at the remains of the creatures he had dispatched. There was plenty enough danger. Not anymore.
"Who are you scouting for?"
Itself? Someone else?
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"Partner-"
And, almost right on cue, a rustling sound draws the drone's attention. Chirping again, it lowers to the ground, hovering carefully forward.
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I keep miswriting 'Radiant Era' as 'Golden Era', good job self
lmao oh no
Re: lmao oh no
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