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memestertrucks2025-01-01 12:01 am
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-01-01 12:01 am
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.”
hulkenberg | metaphor re:fantazio
[ hulkenberg isn't one to gloss over her shortcomings. to do so would be reckless and irresponsible, and those depending on her deserve nothing less than than her best.
winding through the rows of broken down machines, she can readily admit she's far out of her element. metal boxes with wheels? what are they meant to do, exactly? no doubt neuras could cut through the eerie silence with long-winded explanations, but he (as far as she can tell) hasn't arrived in this strange place. nor have strohl, heismay, gallica, and their fearless captain. for the first time in several weeks, hulkenberg is utterly alone. how odd to forget this feeling in such a short time.
dallying solves nothing. getting the lay of the land remains first priority. halberd in hand, she continues exploring the warehouse. those running into her will greeted by the business end of her weapon or find her curiously peering into a wrecked vehicle. you might also find hulkenberg examining a worn-looking key fob in the dim light. yet another mystery to unravel.... ]
b. get set.... (bombadgy bombardment/monster attack)
[ hulkenberg makes an important discovery after stumbling over a bombadgy while scavenging for food at the gass station. the local wildlife will fight for food and worse than that, explode upon impact and cause unsuspecting knights to drop their hard-won goods on the floor. quite rude, if she says so herself.
while the food is quickly forgotten once the fighting breaks out, the creatures are not. their cries and subsequent explosions are another layer to the cacophony of battle. hulkenberg's fighting her way toward the center of the convoy when she spots a picasa approaching a drifter from their blind spot. fie, the creature is just out of halberd range!
but what is in range is a bombadgy barking two yards away. there's only one thing to do. ]
Watch out! [ hulkenberg sprints past with bombadgy in hand before throwing it at the approaching pisaca. they collide with a resounding BOOM! and when the dust settles, only the bombadgy is left, flat on its back and chittering in agitation. an unconventional tool, mayhaps, but an effective one nonetheless.
she turns to them, eyes alight. more than alight, even, positively glowing. and more slitted than one would think. ] Are you injured?
c. go! (camp)
[ stay human? the phrasing makes hulkenberg frown. is the speaker not aware of what danger humans possess? if one attacked then nothing, not even the durable convoy, would be left. despite the soothing music and safety, the message leaves her unsettled. ]
If we are to stay alive to reach this "Nirvana," why put such a curse upon us? [ she murmurs. ] And who could be sending us these messages?
d. start your engines! (wildcard)
[ have another starting in mind? no prob. DM this journal or hit me up on discord at hermyish and we'll talk it out. happy to match your formatting. ]
A
I gotta find my team.
If Yang got taken, that means the others must have been too. So she searches amongst the broken down hulks to find any sign of the rest of Team RWBY, her uncle, Oscar, or Maria. She doesn't take as much care as perhaps she should, which is probably why she ended up looking down the business end of a lance when she takes Hulkenberg by surprise.
"Whoa! Hey! We're cool. I'm just trying to find my friends." She holds her hands up, one metal, one with a bracelet around her wrist. A bracelet that can easily be deployed into a gun-gauntlet if need be, but...honestly, that would take time Yang doesn't want to waste.
no subject
She glances at Yang's metal arm, but makes no comment. Questions on what extraordinary magic is at play can come after all are accounted for. "I've seen no one else as of yet. However, if you require aid in searching for your companions, I'm glad to provide it. Safety is found in numbers, after all."
no subject
The offer of assistance is frankly, one Yang is too glad to take. "Thank you, I'd appreciate your help. I'm Yang Xiao Long, a Huntress from Remnant." Normally she wouldn't feel the need to specify "Remnant" because everyone is from Remnant under normal circumstances, but there's a good chance Hulkenberg isn't.
Wow, she talks fancy. Fancier than Weiss, even, and Weiss is the fanciest person Yang knows. "So...you just ended up here too, huh?"
wildcard, lmk if this works, my sister just finished the game lmao
but she's hardly gloating over her hard-won kills. instead, she's looking at the alligator's dead body... and licking her lips. ]
The tail meat looks tender... would be a damn shame if we left all this to rot. [ she unsheathes the long knife on her thigh with her dragon-ized hand. ] You. Over there. Help me butcher this thing, we need to work quickly to get as much of it as we can dressed properly before we move on.
this rules, i hope your sister enjoyed it!!!
she eagerly steps forward. ] Of course. If we work quickly enough, we may be able to find more that are still edible.
[ not that she would say no to raw meat at the moment, bone and sinew crunched between her jaws, blood filling her mouth-- ]
a
Clearing his throat, Akechi tentatively approaches. All he has to defend himself with are his attache case (impractical, but durable), and a crowbar he dug up in the garage, neither of which are his ideal combat tools, so hopefully this won't blow up in his face.]
It's quite the assortment of vehicles, isn't it? Yet none of them are in top form.
[Let's see how this goes. Every interaction here is a chance for information, even if it's simply a matter of cross referencing the others' findings.]
no subject
Truly. They could not leave this warehouse, much less last more than an hour on the road. Are all of these meant for transportation? [ she gestures at the machines neuras would lovingly refer to as "bloody heaps of scrap metal" with her halberd. ] I've never seen carriages made of metal or gauntlet runners with wheels.
no subject
But he shouldn't jump to conclusions.
Glancing at the vehicles, he nods along.]
Where I'm from, motorized vehicles have long since replaced the likes of carriages. With the advancements of technology and engineering, it's become possible to travel great distances in a fraction of the time that it would on foot, and even seafaring vessels have advanced significantly.
Ready
Instead Hulkenberg will get an excited squeal after Ruby backs off just a step or two to be safe.]
Oh my gosh. Your weapon is fantastic!
Can I get a better look at it? Please, please, please!?
Re: Ready
hulkenberg relaxes, a pleased half-smile gracing her features. ] Thank you for your kind words. I fear my maintenance hasn't been up to par recently, but I am glad to hear otherwise. [ she presents her halberd for inspection. regardless of what she says about her lax standards, it's obvious the weapon is lovingly cared for. ]
Do be careful with the blades' edges. They are rather sharp.
no subject
Hopefully Hulkenberg doesn't mind as Ruby gets up in her personal space to examine the weapon more closely. Despite this, she's careful not to touch the edges or blade of the weapon.]
Look- It's hard to wind up a strange place like this and be in perfect tip top shape. ...I only just got a chance to clean my scythe up before I woke up here.
I had been on the road for weeks before that.
a.
And so when he comes face to face with a halberd, he meets the gaze of its owner unflinchingly. Normally his comrades would speak on his behalf, but they are unfortunately not here. So he speaks in a calm voice-]
I am not your enemy.
[The person Hulkenberg has discovered is a rather strangely dressed man with what appears to be a sigil on his face.]