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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.”
Ruins
[A pair of saucer-sized eyes poke up over the hood to see what looked to be a very dated map. She then overhears the mutterings of the red-masked superhero.]
--heh, are you trying to wind up deeper into nowhere?
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[He looks down at her, and his eyes widen.]
Aren't you the cutest little thing?
[Resisting the urge to pick her up and squeeze her. Resisting...]
If you're trying to get somewhere, but you aim for nowhere, then when you get lost you end up somewhere. No one ever wants to go to Des Moines, so I figure if I aim for it, I'll end up somewhere better. Which wouldn't be hard. A Denny's off the interstate is better than Des Moines.
[Logic!]
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[The arm comes down a bit (though she has been alerted to the possibility of being grabbed), and she instead looks over the hood to see the map, trying to find out if it even fits any map she's used to seeing.]
...actually, that just sounds looney, though I agree about the Denny's. But you also may as well just try to go East until you hit the Atlantic ocean. [She pauses hands on the hood.] Do you think we're even close to Iowa anyway? For all we know this could be Australia or New Zealand. Or maybe it's a moon and not even on Earth.
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Denny's are great. Where else do they serve you a trough of meat and cheese and keep the coffee refills coming?
[He leans to the side so she can see the map better, and Deadpool finds himself nodding along to her observations.]
I have no idea where we are. I just looked around and assumed Iowa.
[C'mon now... isn't this how you pictured rural Iowa?]
I did think it could be Australia, though. Got strong Mad Max vibes around here, although I couldn't find him or the Lord Humungus.
[Disappointed!]
What does it look like to you?
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[The question does have some merit, but it ultimately seems a bit irrelevant. After all:]
Well... I think... that trying to find out where we are isn't going to do us much good. If this is like any of the adventurers I've seen, we won't find out any information of safe places to go until we get some sort of sign or objective leading us there.
[Which is a bit strange, now that she gives it some thought. Shouldn't she have been given directions from Caine that lets her know what the point of all of this was?] ...although, for that to be true, we would need to have directions in the first place. Did... do... you have sort of feeling we're supposed to be doing something? Otherwise we're going to have to try to... ugh ...find something in this mess that tells us where we're supposed to go.
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You're smart.
[Him? He is not. He's a dumbass, and he's very aware of that and also pretty comfortable with the fact. He relies on his healing factor and barrels into situations balls first, knowing he can't be permanently hurt or killed. This is why he needs someone smarter around to do the planning, otherwise everyone gets vaporised on the first mission and Juggernaut runs amok.]
[Quietly, sadly: X-Force.]
I don't know what we're supposed to be doing, but I found these.
[He holds up a set of car keys, which have been attached to a glittery keychain.]
They're for this piece of shit.
[He slaps the hood of the car the map is spread out on.]
It's a Honda Odyssey.
[Ugh! The worst!]
If you don't know how to drive, you can ride with me.
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No no. I'm not, really. I like to think I have common sense? [Which is surprisingly not that common as far as she's concerned.]
[At the revelation of the key chain and the vehicle, Pomni looks down on it and back up to him.] Yeah... you'd think that you'd get something like a... red-mobile or something. That seems surprisingly domestic...
[Regardless, she can't help but feel a pull to the keychain herself. She'd half-expected a pop-up with "Find Keychain" next to an unchecked box to pop up. But this also didn't seem to be that sort of game.] I think I know what I'm supposed to do now, anyway. Oh, and, uh... yeah, I can drive. I know I don't really look like it like this, but I'm actually 25.
--and if you make a joke that I look good for my age, I'm going to kick you in the shin.
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[Kick! A kick for you, Honda Odyssey! Right in the tire!]
I won't say you look good for your age if you don't say I look bad for mine. [He taps his cheek and whispers.] Under the mask.
[With that bit of lore dropped, he returns to his normal tone.]
Since I've found my POS, I can help you look for yours? Maybe you'll have a map of South Dakota!
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Uh... I won't but that is also assuming I know how old you are? ...and I guess knowing each other's name wouldn't hurt. I'm Pomni.
[She extends a hand to the masked stranger. She could offer that much, at least.]
...South Dakota?
I had to google the answer to this, haha
I'm... huh. I was thirty-eight when I got cancer. And then I basically died, but I also healed, and I think I got younger? But it's been awhile since then, so...
[He counts on his fingers for a moment before giving up and shrugging.]
Let's just say thirty-eight.
[Hell yeah, a handshake! Deadpool very enthusiastically returns it.]
I'm Deadpool! But if you want to know my government name, it's Wade Wilson.
And yeah, maybe the cars all have maps for different states. If we collect them all, we can make an ubermap!
yey, I did a good thing :>
[Her gaze scrutinizes his responses going to confused, to alarmed, to resigned all in the matter of a quick flurry of responses. Were it not for her own contrived circumstances, she would have suspected Deadpool to be completely nuts.]
[I mean, he probably still is, but at least his story was believable.]
Uh... wow, I'm sorry. I had no idea. That sounds rough? You're... okay now, right? I mean... relatively?
[To the ubermap thing, Pomni just shakes her head and scoffs.] Honestly? I think that map might have been there just to
no subject
Relatively, yes. Let's just say I wear a mask to keep from scaring the kids. I went from having a rom-com money maker for a face to looking like Steve Buscemi after a three month meth bender and then an accident involving a fire.
[Are the maps here to fuck with them? Probably yes, but that's not what catches Deadpool's attention. He cocks his head to one side, his eyes narrowing, at that weird little hitch in Pomni's speech. The heck was that?]
You can say 'fuck' if you want. My delicate ears won't be offended.
[OOC: my first legit fourth wall break! Let me know if you'd rather not have him do that and I can change the tag.]
no subject
[She leans back as though Deadpool was leaning in on her, a soft smile and a shake of her head in reply.]
I would if I could, trust me. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised Caine is letting some folks get away with saying
[Which does raise an interesting question of where is Caine. It wasn't really like him to throw people into an adventure without talking about the objective at length. He did really like the sound of his own voice.]
[OOC: not to worry~ I wouldn't put those in if they weren't meant to be commented on. :3]
no subject
Who's Caine? Is he your producer? Is he aiming for those family-friendly Russian and Chinese dollars and keeping "objectionable" shit off the airwaves?
[Yes, he does finger quotes around "objectionable".]
I'm trying to get signed with Disney, but we're arguing over how many times I can say "fuck" and talk about cocaine. The current answers: many, and no.
no subject
He's.... something like that. Honestly, I'm not sure what he is, only that he's in charge of the circus and has us go on these weird adventures.
[The revelation that he's in talks with Disney makes her conclude that they might need to get back on track.]
...I think we're getting off topic. As much as I think you might be right to find my car, I don't think that's going to do much good until I find my keys. You said you just had the ones you had on your when you popped in?
no subject
Oh no, they weren't on me. They were in the car! I walked around trying doors until I found one that was unlocked and it had the keys in the ignition. Then I saw the keychain and figured they were for me.
[Deadpool: confirmed Swiftie.]
We can try doors until we find one that opens for you? Or maybe there's a car around here that looks like it should be yours?
no subject
[Not that she's judging. Considering the state the cars are in, she can't imagine that there would be anyone to complain if one of these vehicles were to suddenly drive off somewhere.]
I mean, I guess we can try? Though... [Grump.] Considering this place, it wouldn't surprise me if my car is something like... that one.
no subject
[He'll be keeping the keychain, though.]
[Deadpool looks to the car she's specifying, and immediately bursts out laughing.]
What're you talking about, that car's great! If that one is yours, do you want to trade?
[He immediately skips over to it and tries the door. It doesn't budge.]
Nope, it won't open for me. Why don't you try it?
no subject
[She's not sure what the point of all of this was, but also knew that if she didn't engage with the game that things would end up getting worse in the long run. So with the same energy as a kid being told she has to hang out with her annoying cousin she tromps over to the door and gives the handle a tug.]
[Nope.] Oh thank god.
no subject
[He wilts when the door doesn't open.]
Shit. Oh well.
[He gives the car a loving pat, far nicer than he ever treated the Honda.]
To a better man or clown than us you are destined, you beautiful hunk of upside-down Detroit iron.
[Then it's back to Pomni.]
You see anything else that strikes your fancy? Or hey, have you checked your pockets? You might have gotten keys first, instead of the car first.
no subject
And considering my luck for stuff like that, I pretty much just accepted I'm going to have to find them. Or car, I guess.
[At the question, she looks around some more. She hops up onto a hood to increase her field of view.] Oh! That one looks good.
no subject
[Or close enough.]
I'll go try it!
[Another prance over, another unsuccessful jangling at the door.]
Nope, not for me! But it has keys in the ignition. Come give it a shot!
[This is exciting!]
no subject
[The fact that the car looked cool to drive made it seemed too good to be true, but maybe...?]
[Seeing that there were keys in the car she decided to forgo trying the door and hopped over the side like a hurdle. She gives Deadpool a hopeful nod as she turned the key in the ignition...]
[And nothing happened.]
Ugh... this is getting us nowhere. I think I'm going to check out the gas station to see what we can find. Have you been out there yet?
no subject
[Which is weird, because she's got the festive look that seems like it would bestow good luck.]
Sure, let's go check there. I can see if it's got any good provisions stashed away somewhere. I could really got for a slice of Spam. And if it's locked, I've got just the thing to open the door!
[The thing is a bullet. He's going to shoot the door down.]
[Deadpool heads in the direction of the garage, expecting Pomni to walk with him. Is she keeping up okay? Would she like to ride on his shoulders? Because he'd allow it.]
So, not that I'm here to criticise anyone's fashion choices, but I've got to ask: where'd you get that sweet hat?
no subject
[Still, she keeps up fairly well with Deadpool, no need for a shoulder ride here. As outlandish of an outfit that he has on, he did seem big, strong, and capable. Even better, he seemed to like her, so she could think of worse people to explore an abandoned gas station with.] You know, Spam does go bad, right? You ever heard of a superhero not answering the call to save someone to heed the call of the trots?
[She sighs a bit at the question.] The outfit isn't really a choice I made. I actually can't even take this hat off of my head. Please don't test that.
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