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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.”
no subject
[Viktor isn't usually the better safe than sorry type, but there's no reason to be so reckless in this case. They have a better option, why not try it first? If it fails, then they can smash-and-grab with the crowbar. He hangs it off the handle of crutch to set it aside, approaching a lower hanging husk. Delicately, Viktor clamps the end of a cable to one of the keychains, before stepping back along the trail of the wire.
He cocks his head towards Akechi once he's at the end of it, curiously considering what attack from a distance must mean,]
You have a firearm on you? [Viktor is used to such things being pretty bulky, not something he sees on Akechi at this moment, but there is a lot of technology here that is new to Viktor.]
no subject
[It wouldn't have made for a positive impression, especially given his past actions. With his intentions to expose the root of said crimes, well...
Ha. That's a personal matter, though there's no denying the bitter edge to his words.]
Rather, my current skillset relies on a more... let's just say, "magical" means of attack.
[It's the simplest explanation, at least, especially without knowing the sort of world this man hails from.]
no subject
... let's see how this experiment goes. [Moving on.
Viktor wraps the cable around his hand in full before yanking it back abruptly. The husk, not completely lifeless, seems taking off guard as the key is pulled from it's grasp. The hand of it twitches and grasps at the empty air, the body rattling in dismay before settling down. Viktor waits for that to calm before reeling the end of cable to them, inspecting what he managed to catch with the clever method,
An insignia of a crow?
Doesn't mean anything to him, not in particular. He offers it to Akechi with an open palm,]
Seen any vehicle that might match this?
no subject
A crow insignia... How ironic. Akechi accepts the key with a nod.]
There was a motorcycle in the garage that caught my eye, with crow decals.
[A motorcycle that especially drew his eye, if only for because of his code name.]
no subject
[an easy bit of generosity, passing that along to Akechi! He looks back towards the husks. There's another in reach and... ah- it has a keyfob with a keychain like a gear...
If anything is meant to be his, it would be that one.]
Allow me to press my luck. [he's approaching the tree again, even after seeing the husk so capable of movement. Bold indeed!]
no subject
Much obliged. I'll be sure to take care of it.
[Once he figures out how to repair it in earnest, but that can wait. With Viktor approaching again, he keeps his eyes fixed on the husk, just in case. Hereward hums in his mind, ready to appear at a moment's notice.]
no subject
Which is that Viktor approaches the targeted husk intent to do the exact same trick. When he reaches to catch the gear trinket in the jaws of the jumper cable, the husk lets the key fob go and instead grabs Viktor by the wrist. Viktor grunts through grit teeth, trying to pull himself back from it, but the grip is strong and he weighs about as much as a wet paper bag.]
A- little help, here! [the grip doesn't actually hurt, despite its firmness. It had another way of harming him, whispering in the familiar voice of Sky, his assistant- his former assistant.
Her calling out his name rattles in his head, echoing louder and louder- Viktor! Viktor! Viktooor!- the last thing she said before she disappeared into a cloud of dust. He screams back at it after a moment, a maddened noise of anger and grief.]
no subject
[This is, regrettably, not a surprise outcome, but it's clear that something is wrong by the look on Viktor's face.
So Akechi rushes forward.]
Hereward, Eigaon, now!
[Ribbons of crackling, crimson and black energy fire at the Husk. He's not sure about the effectiveness, but with luck, it'll at least buy Viktor enough time to escape.]
no subject
Unfamiliar magic hits the husk and Viktor's gloved hand. He's let go, but yells in pain as he feels a sharp, electric spark of energy arch and bounce beneath and through his skin. Beneath the cloth, his hand had been changed by the arcane and it reacts whenever magic of any kind if near. Sends a current of purple energy down his arm, his torso, through the column of his leg, making it buckle beneath him. Viktor hits the ground beside the dropped key fob and despite being bleary from the magical blowback, reaches out to grasp it tight in his still human hand.
He looks up again and at least the husk cannot reach him. It struggles against it's restraints, but ultimately loses will to fight. The twisted reflection fades... and Viktor wonders if Akechi could see it or if it was a mere figment of his haunted conscious.]
no subject
So, Akechi moves closer, cautious as he approaches.]
Strange. Eigaon doesn't typically affect more than its intended target.
[He looks Viktor over for any signs of injury.]
Do you need assistance?
[Not that he intends to be overly coddling here. Pity is something he's all too familiar with, and he knows such things are often unwelcome.]
no subject
Just a hand up. [he shifts his crutch to the other side, not wanting to reach the more volatile one towards this- very young magic user? He believes it now that he's seen it, that's for certain. Getting back on his feet, both his hands grasp the crutch as he leans on it more heavily than ever. His leg on that side feels completely numb after that.]
... you don't look like any mage I've ever heard of. [a little joke, because yeah, mages in his world are generally depicted as bearded, old world-enders. Akechi just looks like any other sharp eyed student at the Piltover Academy to Viktor...]
no subject
[Akechi offers a gloved hand, waiting for Viktor to take hold before moving himself. Once they're both upright, he huffs out a quiet laugh.]
I wouldn't say I'm your conventional mage. My abilities are drawn directly from my soul.
no subject
Not from the arcane? Hah. How... fascinating. [he sounds genuinely intrigued by that, having studied the subject of magic in his world a whole lot from someone... not considered a mage. He was a scientist. Is a scientist...]
I've been bold enough for one day, I believe. Do you know how to... fix that motorbike you mentioned? [He could really use a task, a project, to put his mind away from what he just saw and heard......]
no subject
[Still, it'd be a shame to leave the crowbar and cables alone, so he reaches down to grab them before offering them back to Viktor.]
As for the motorcycle, I admit it's outside my area of expertise. I'm much more acquainted with ordinary bicycles.
[Still, a motorized vehicle has its allure, especially in a place like this.]
no subject
Allow me to take a look at it. While the technology of this world is yet unfamiliar to me, I am an engineer. I should be able to figure it out.
[a decent enough way to repay the young man for his rescue... as well as a distraction for Viktor. Win-win.]
no subject
[Akechi turns back toward the garage, but he doesn't leave yet, just in case those Husks decide to pursue. He keeps his eyes trained on the tree behind them, letting Viktor make the first move.]
happy to continue this, but if you'd rather call it here that's a-okay!
And if I can't fix it, what might it really matter? If you couldn't make use of it anyway. [a shrug, before he repeats back to the first thing he said to Akechi,]
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I'm good with it! \o/ Viktor is super neat, and this is a really fun interaction.
It's a fitting attitude, given our circumstances, and any level of mechanical expertise ought to put you at a distinct advantage.
aww thank you!! I'm glad to be doing him justice!
[Viktor responds quickly with that, gesturing vaguely at his... whole self, really. He is used to being disadvantaged physically, with his health, but his mind? His expertise? That he has in spades. Wouldn't have gotten far without it.
That and an abnormal and reckless boldness.]
Not to offend, [bad start, Viktor, but go on] but you appear very young.
[it almost sounds like he's going to tell Akechi he's not old enough to drive, but Viktor instead offers,]
A prime age to learn such skill for yourself. If you wish to pay the process any mind, I can teach. Aaand I could use the extra set of hands.
no subject
[His voice softens slightly, not quite vulnerable, but dulling its edge.]
Assuming we're to set off on our own, then we ought to know how to maintain our vehicles. And given earlier precedent...
[He glances back at the tree.]
Well, I can't imagine this will be a smooth voyage.
no subject
The only thing he lacked for was time.
It feels meaningful to pass his skills along, if Akechi is only willing to learn them. Just basics, he's not about to give the young man a crash course in mechanics, but it was something he could do. Viktor would instantly become maddeningly restless if he couldn't do some kind of useful work...]
No. No, I don't imagine it will be an easy journey. [Viktor reaches into his vest and pulls back out the "key" he took. It's a keycard with a gear keychain attached. A symbol with significance to him, which is how this works, right? They're supposed to find their vehicle. He turns it over in his hands, looks at the symbol on it. Dread sinks in,]
... this better not be for that godforsaken electric truck... [Viktor will indeed be saddled with a cybertruck,]
no subject
Are you referring to that strangely polygonal one?
[It's certainly the most... distinct truck, and one has to question the purpose of such an odd design. Something about it felt like more of a gimmick, to appeal to some strange sense of low polygon sensibilities as seen in early CG models.
Then again, perhaps there's an even gaudier vehicle he just overlooked.]
no subject
[Viktor was drawn to how it looked. The minimalism of the design screamed practicality to him. Like it must be designed that way so that it was a no frills piece of engineering! Only the necessities!
What a mistake of judgement that was.]
It became a morbid fascination of mine. The engineering is an utter nightmare I've yet to fully crack. In comparison, a motorized bicycle should be elegantly simple.
no subject
[He softly scoffs at the notion.]
Then again, we know so little about why we were brought here.
[Really, who can really say?
At least they should be able to pinpoint the motorcycle quickly enough. Crow decals just like the keys make for a simple match game.]
no subject
[He probably shouldn't joke about it, but he's gonna.
More seriously, he considers if this young man has any more information. More points of data of which to draw conclusions from. Viktor hadn't asked many others about their experiences yet,]
Under what circumstances did you arrive here? I was merely sitting in a political meeting. Next blink of the eye, I'm taken here. [it was a historical moment happening around him, or it should have been, and now he's here. Ripped from the only place he'd ever really known. Sounds like a punishment to him.]
(no subject)