monstertruckers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
monstertruckers) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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.”
B
His eyes narrow, but he refuses to budge.]
Get behind me. I'm more than capable of handling this.
[A strange archer materializes in front of him, taking aim at the monsters. He'll wait until she's out of the way before launching the attack, just to be safe.
He's also got a crowbar in his left hand, just in case those pests get too close.]
no subject
[The next moment there's a flash, drawing Pomni out from her hiding space. What. The. Hell.]
YOU HAVE A STAND??
[[Let me know if this is okay; she is a bit of a nerd!]]
no subject
[That's his only warning before Hereward lets loose a Megidolaon, a bright, spherical explosion of nonelemental magic that tears through the swarm...
But also leaves his skin noticeably sweat-licked.]
[[You're good! xD I don't mind pop culture references. Just not big on my dude being canon punctured.]]
no subject
[It was enough to prompt her to run up and next to Akechi, scanning the area for any trace of the danger. Seeing none, she looks up at him both grateful and furious.] AND HOW IS THAT EVEN REMOTELY FAIR? I DON'T HAVE A STAND! ...I mean, I'm pretty sure I don't... so... so... soso why do you get to do the big flashy explosions! Maybe I want to cast "
[[yey~ totes understandable]]
no subject
...You can't say "fuck."
[That's... Ha. My, that's a new one, and he's seen his share of oddities since awakening here.]
As for why, I simply awakened to my abilities in my own reality. It's not exactly commonplace to begin with.
no subject
Yeah. I also can't say
[The moment of bitterness passes and she returns to look over at the battlefield and absence of the shambling monsters, her eyes swivel and she returns to look up at the boy that bailed her out.]
--thanks for the assist. As you can probably tell, I'm not really cut out for the whole zombie survival thing.
[A rustle in the distance draws Pomni's attention. Timidly, she takes a step back and behind Akechi.] S-say... you wouldn't happen to have a... limit... to the number of times you can do that... right??
no subject
[At least the coast remains clear. That should at least give him time to catch his breath.
For now, he rests a hand on his hip, but that rustle is a worrisome sign, so he doesn't budge from his spot.]
Megidolaon is a rather taxing spell, but it's not my only option, assuming we aren't ambushed by those torsos with teeth.
[Pisaca are familiar enough, but their curse immunity certainly puts a snag in things.]
no subject
[Pomni, of course, is having none of it, and points and screams at the new terror.] OH SCREW THAT!! [Before she makes a tug for Akechi's hand. Should he resist she will bail back to safety of the cover like before, mindful that perhaps this Persona user had something up his sleeve.]
no subject
Time to die!
[It's his only warning before Hereward unleashes Eigaon, a powerful blast of black and crimson energy. That should at least hold it back, if not outright devastate it.]
no subject
Do... do you think you got it?
[The answer to that is a bit moot as the blast seemed to have alerted two other nearby shambling shadows, whose silhouettes were drawing ever closer...]
no subject
[But, screw it, they'll keep moving, and he'll keep his eyes trained on any incoming monsters.]
At this rate, we'd be better off seeking shelter. Eigaon can only target one monster at a time, and Megidolaon is... draining.
[But he can't just throw out Eigaon spells until he knows for sure if both targets are alligators or otherwise vulnerable to darkness. A Pisaca would simply take the blow without care.]
no subject
[Her eyes dart around and she sees some non-Piasca-shaped humanoids running toward what seemed to be the center of the convoy. It would make sense that gathering everyone together would be safer than standing out on one's own, so Pomni is going to subtly nudge them in that direction.]
[The talking was mostly to keep her from screaming and being generally less useless than she already was.]
So... just in case we're running into some kind of ambush... is there a way to quickly strengthen you back up? Do you have any ethers or bottled water or something??
no subject
[At least that takes from his physical health, rather than stamina. Still a risk, but one much more manageable in theory.
Or perhaps not.
He keeps running, casting glances to keep track of the number of monsters pursuing them.
It's a valid question, of course, and one that warrants answering.]
Ordinarily, I could recover my stamina through soft drinks, coffee, or produce, but the drinks here have failed on all counts. It may simply be a matter of rest, which is less than ideal.
no subject
[But the kid had a magical nuke so why the fuck not?]
Okay... so, we should probably hold off on using those unless we really need big
no subject
[They just need to keep moving for now. He'll strike when any monsters get too close. Individual Eigaon spells at enemies that get in their vicinity may work better, if not using his crowbar as a bludgeon.]
no subject
[It was good that he was ready, because a second crocodile came bursting from behind a broken down pick-up, clawing and striking at the two of them wildly. Pomni squealed and tucked close, feeling very grateful she ran into someone so capable.]
[Then, she saw it, in the corner of her eye, an unmistakable red and blue tiny vehicle.]
H-Hey! I think... I think that's supposed to be my car!
no subject
While the crackling, dark energy smothered the creature, he cast a brief glance to the car.]
See if it can run. I'll keep these pests at bay.
[That was the important part. He'd keep fending off monsters as they approached, as drawing them any closer to the vehicle risked lasting damage.]
no subject
[There's no time to think as Pomni pulled out the red-and-blue key that she managed to get from the husk in the tree earlier. With how much trouble it took to get, it better freaking not give her any trouble... no sooner did get to the car door did a slight tap-tap-tapping coming from the roof.]
[A lone capparwire grinned down on her, lines of electricity coursing through its thorny appendages. Crap. She really should have picked up something to swing at it...] H-Hey--! Over here!!
no subject
[Well, fine, He spins around, sending Hereward to blast it with another Eigaon, but that crowbar's at the ready to deliver a followup blow, should any more monsters crawl out of the woodworks.]
no subject
[Pomni didn't need a second longer to clue her in on what she needed to do. With a quick insert and a twist, the door popped open, inviting its occupants to sit. Taking a step in, she noticed something... strange... about the back of the vehicle.]
H-Hey! Hey you! I think... I think you might be able to fit back here! It's bigger on the inside!
[Getting around the front seat would be a bit of a pain, but it just might work out!]
no subject
[Despite how ludicrous it sounds, he makes his way for the car. Surely it can't be worse than cramming into Morgana's helicopter form with all the Phantom Thieves in tow.
As he wedges his way inside, he keeps his eyes out for the monsters. Once they get moving, that might be the time to unelash another Megidolaon.]
no subject
[Pomni squeals, but just like a classic horror movie, that seemed to be the impetuous to get the car going. She doesn't need an invitation to get out there, but turns to look at Akechi seated in the back.] HANG ON! I PLAN ON BEING AGGRESSIVE AND RECKLESS!!
[The car peels before rushing off, its momentum going insanely fast for a vehicle so close to the ground. The capparwire hanging on the windshield doesn't take long before getting flung off the top of the car hood.]
no subject
Now that's more like it!
[Oh, the mere sight of the monster flying off its perch is a sight to behold.]
I don't suppose you plan to create some roadkill?
no subject
Are you NUTS? I might be able to pick off some of those plant-things, maaaybe knock over those weird people, but you can FORGET those crocotasers!
[Despite her protests, Pomni found that she had no choice but to follow through on what Akechi suggested, as a large group of piasca started to congregate on the road, blocking the path.]
Damnit. Hang on! [The P50's tires squealed and she plowed through the group like a bowling ball knocking over fleshy pins.]
no subject
[Whoa, okay. That was a sudden jolt, but despite a startled grunt from the burst in speed, Akechi recovers before long. Now this brings back memories...]
Well, point being, Hereward can blast through any scaly barricades.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2 tw: mental instability(?)
OH NO, POOR POMNI...
She's trying her best and her best is suffering ;w;
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)