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memestertrucks2025-01-01 12:01 am
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-01-01 12:01 am
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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.”
no subject
Now that's cool.
"What, these?" She raises her gauntlet and pumps it like a shotgun to load a new shell. "We drive these things off, I'll let you take a look, but I wanna take a look at yours too." A gun that shoots lightning...could she get Ember Celica to shoot lighting?
That's when another Alligator rears up and slashes Yang, the force of which sends her smashing into a nearby tree.
no subject
It makes him angry. Sure, he knows she can handle herself in a fight, but he still doesn't like seeing that. Especially with everything else he has to deal with right now, seeing a new (as of five seconds ago) teammate get body slammed isn't great for his temper.
He dodges under the swipes of the first alligator, zeroing in on the one that sent her flying. He crashes into its back and sends it staggering forward, giving an angry hiss and making its mouth gape wide open.
He's really, really hoping she has enough strength to get another shot off, while he wrestles with the thing.
no subject
As she rockets forward with a battlecry, her mechanical arm comes up, shell already loaded...and blasted straight down the Alligator's open maw. The creature's belly bursts open from the shot and Akihiko feels it go limp in his grip. That's one down.
"Thanks for the opening." Now there's only the first one left, and thanks to its dead pal, Yang's got plenty of power stored up in her Semblance. They just need to line up the right hit.
no subject
"Nice move. Going to need to learn that-
Later."
He quickly amends that when the second alligator gives a hiss. They're not out of this by a long shot, and that second monster looks good and pissed from what they did. There's electricity sparking on its front fangs, and Akihiko already knows it is going to get a shot off.
"I can handle the lightning. Can you line up a shot-?"
Looks like he's going to get his answer right now. The bolt shoots out in a crackling line, and Akihiko steps into the path of it.
It hurts. But it's also weirdly energizing for him; there's scuffs all over his skin, but the lightning is also clinging to his limbs, coiling around them. And most importantly, staying anchored to him instead of anyone else.
no subject
A shotgun strike to the face gets the creature's attention, away from Akihiko, as Yang charges. The creatures don't seem too bright, so she lets it react to see what it'll do. She can't activate her Semblance until she's sure she's got the strike. If she whiffs it, she'll have tanked that tree for nothing.
The Alligator begins to prep another shot, trying to disable Yang with another lightning blast. She's ready. A splitsecond before the lightning shoots out, she
goes Super Saiyanactivates her Semblance.Her hair seems to ignite, and trail fire as she drops down to a slide, letting the lightning pass over her, lettinng her momentum carry her under the Alligator's mandible-like jaws. Perfectly positioned for an uppercut, amplified by the power of her Semblance, right into its jaw with another cry that lifts the Alligator off its feet and into the air, its claws scrabbling furiously as the wind whips by it.
She looks back at Akihiko, still surrounded by lightning. Her eyes have turned red, in addition to the firey mane of hair.
"Don't suppose you can send that all back, can you?" If not, it's not going to like landing on Yang's other fist when it comes down.
no subject
Especially since that target is still in the air, and he doesn't want it landing in one piece. Akihiko braces, settles into a boxing stance, and then steps forward with a sweeping upper cut. His heart is still pounding from that shock he got, but somehow the cadence has switched up; its more like excitement, like he's stepping into the ring after getting just the right read on his opponent, and flowing through moves he's practiced a dozen times.
This time he doesn't need his Evoker to call down lightning. He snaps his fist out, and the lightning goes arcing up from his limbs and strikes through the alligator, clean as an arrow shot. Akihiko tries not to stare as it falls towards them. He's torn a good chunk out of the monster... But he also feels like they need to finish the job when it lands.
"One more shot, and we've got it." His voice almost crackles a little with left over lightning. And it's probably for the best he can't see his own eyes, with the little flecks of yellow in them; color that wasn't there before.
no subject
Not so long ago, she'd have blown the entire store of energy in one strike, and if it hadn't been enough, the Alligator would still be standing and she'd be running on empty. Her metal hand curls into a fist, a reminder of how far she's come in a short amount of time. She holds it upwards and allows the force of her Semblance and gravity to do the rest.
The Alligator breaks in half, falling apart on Yang's fist along with the rest of the damage she and Akihiko have inflicted upon it, dead foliage. Yang cuts her Semblance and her hair and eyes return to normal as she turns to Akihiko, thumbing her nose cheekily as she does so.
"You're pretty good. Did you know the lightning would do that?"
no subject
Akihiko shakes and rubs at his left hand as he says that, giving it away as his dominant hand. He gives his fingers a suspicious look, like he's still expecting them to give an electric crackle.
"But it's not a complaint. It helped drop that thing, and I can't argue with the results."
He glances around, and there seems to be a pause in the fighting; or maybe even it has died down completely. At least that gives him enough time to talk and gather his breath. And huff out a quick laugh.
"...Huh. Maybe I was just feeling outshone by you, and needed to find a new way to keep up."
no subject
"Hey, you were doing good!" She speaks up. "But the lightning was pretty cool." Auras and Semblances don't seem to be very common outside of Remnant, but this guy was doing good on his own even before he started spewing lightning, and he made it look pretty effortless when he brought it out.
She throws out a hand to him for clasp, since they've bought themselves some space. "Name's Yang Xiao Long. Good to be fighting with you, pal."
no subject
He's feeling a little bit more confident and at ease after hearing those words. But his smile is still on the wry side. And there's a spark of respect in his eyes, still clearly there as he gives Yang a nod.
"Ah-
Akihiko Sanada. And likewise, good to be fighting alongside you. Glad that whatever else, we've got some good brawlers here."
no subject
Yang meets that wry smile with one of her own. Yeah, she likes this guy. "Well, try to keep up, Akihiko. I'll wanna compare scores when we make it outta this."
Because they will. Yang's not come all this way just to get killed like this.
And a little bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone.
no subject
Never could turn down a challenge, this guy. And the notion does seem to perk him up a bit. Not that he was in danger of giving up, but that gives him an extra dose of motivation. And determination to survive.
"Winner gets pancakes in the morning."
The loser will ALSO get pancakes, but that goes unsaid."See you then."