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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.”
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Which is rolling with him in it. Slowly gaining speed. He scrambles, fighting to toss his crutch out of the door because it's getting tangled up in his way. Viktor could really use help getting pulled out the driver's side before he's sent careening down the hill and into the swarm of monsters-]
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But it's much better than being trapped in the car. It barrels down the hill and hits the last few monsters charging up towards them, before side swiping the Cybertruck and landing in the swamp. Sinking rapidly into the muck. Viktor turns to see his near fate with wide eyes.
Then, he looks to Levi. Words escape him, but there's some real gratitude in his his expression. When he can finally catch his breath enough to speak, it's-]
W, well done...
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A siren blares and the Convoy whirls to life, shields pulling up around them. Viktor pants as he watches that, recognizing it as similar to the protective barriers made on their Hextech tools. Protection measures, in case debris fell within the mines or factories. This... banishes monsters? Fascinating.
Another look to Levi, he should probably ask right back, basic courtesy and all-]
Are you okay?
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Y-yeah. Nothing big.
[He does have a number of wounds from the monsters, but nothing seemed too deep and some had already had make-shift bandages tied around them to stop bleeding.]
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[Viktor nods, allowing some relief to wash over him. He braces both his hands to the ground to try and pull himself up, but it's not really working out for him. With a sigh, Viktor does the best he can, which is just to roll over onto his back. Looking directly up, the shield completes the dome overhead, sealing them within.
Some room to breathe. That's a blessing. He considers Levi with an urge to talk himself through his lingering aches... that's what Jayce would do for him, chatting as a distraction from pain.]
Are you from Zaun? We have a, ah, similar... sounding accent.
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[Though just laying down now that it seemed safe didn't sound bad.]
Zaun? No...I'm from Bohemia. I don't think I've heard of Zaun...but there's a lot of places I haven't heard of.
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[Absolutely better to just stay laying down, for now. Settle in and rest and take stock of himself. His lungs are on fire, his back is stinging, but he is taking internal notes that his hand and leg are buzzing with energy. Potential.
He doesn't know what that means for him. He's too tired to understand.]
That makes two of us. I have not heard of Bohemia, either. Is that a... city or a country?
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He furrows his brow. That was weird. But none of this was normal or easy to understand.]
Its a country...well, I guess its part of the Eastern Union. Or the Bremen Empire now. I guess it doesn't matter.
Um, n-nice to meet you?
[That was what was said here, right? Or at least it would be if they hadn't just been in a battle.]
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Nice... yes. It is nice to not die. [an understatement, really. Viktor's tone is wry and exhausted, but not insincere,]
I'm Viktor. And you? [a short huff of a laugh, adding on jokingly, just to be cute in the face of all the horrors,] My hero-?
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Oh, sorry. I'm Levi. N-n-no, I'm not hero. I was just doing my job.
[Well, it wasn't his job anymore but Levi still saw himself as a solider. Maybe one day he'd get away from that.]
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Job-? Who is paying you?
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[Viktor cuts himself off. At your age-? Well, that dies in his throat. He can draw a whole lot of inferences without asking outright.]
... all is not right back in Bohemia, I take it. [A big oof, that's rough, buddy.]
cw i should have put before sorry. kids sent to war
...yeah. It wasn't. I don't know if it ever will be.
[Both sides of that war were pretty fucked up.]
you're all good with me, I play Marina in another game lol
You're a hero to me. For whatever that might be worth.
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[He wants to debate that, at least about his actions back home. But he gets the feeling that wouldn't go far, and he did help this guy out.]
...t-thanks.
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Urgh... I think... a screw is loose, on my back brace. If you happen to see a flathead screwdriver laying about, I would appreciate it, Levi.
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[he seriously needs to just lay down for a while after all that. Adrenaline, and what is probably magic, kept him going and now that's fading away from the spike necessary to survive.]
did you want to fade here or have him come back later? im good with either
[Levi stands up.]
I'll go look. There's got to be something.
[First he heads over to pick up his blade, then to start looking for a screwdriver or someone with one.]
I'd like to continue, sure! also, cw for the medical-machinery horror that is Vik's situation...
He's said "thanks" enough at this point it feels hollow to reiterate. Instead, he'll spare Levi an earnest,]
You're very kind.
[Viktor will work up the strength to roll himself onto an arm and hoist himself to sit up. When Levi returns, Viktor has stripped off his vest and shirt without a hint of self-consciousness, revealing said chest and back brace. The screws in question seem to anchor directly into his spinal column, so yeah, one being "loose" is no small inconvenience.]
Find anything-?
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Uh, y-yeah. Do you need me to tighten it?
[Viktor probably can't reach it, anyway. Hopefully the normal sized screwdriver Levi found will work in that monstrosity.]
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you good with cw: hard drugs and withdraws?
All good with me! Poor Levi...
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up to you if you want to continue or leave this here!!
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