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)
memestertrucks2025-03-15 03:07 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-03-15 03:07 pm
Entry tags:
MARCH TDM
After tumbling through shadow you find yourself in a shrouded, ruined garage. It’s full of shattered windows and broken mechanical equipment, with all sorts of sharp edges to watch out for. Between that are strange symbols scrawled into the ground. Outside is cloudy weather and the beginnings of a storm flickering and rumbling.
Beyond the rundown garage is a rundown gas station surrounded by rolling, grassy hills. Close by is a Convoy of vehicles, either parked or driving up to station.
01: SUMMONING CIRCLE
This time the summoning circle and car garage is attached to retro diner, and an old wind turbine, barely still spinning and providing fading power. There’s also a broken radio playing a message about Nirvana and imploring people to head north. In fact, there’s a large amount of broken electric equipment in here and spitting sparks.
A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”
Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.
A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”
Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.
02: START UP
New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting outside for them, and a collection of vehicles, one of which feels like it belongs to them. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters 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 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.
…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 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.
03: STORM WARNING
There’s something odd in the sky; it shifts between a dark cloud, and a collection of birds. As the thing draws closer, it clearly becomes a mix of both. Car-sized, dark feathered birds and skeletal avians fly in a thundering flock, and turn the sky stormy in their wake. That alone is bad… But what’s worse is how the shiny chrome of the Convoy and vehicles draws the birds. As they dive towards the ground to snatch at the shiny metal, they pull the storm and bring a tornado with them. The Convoy does its best to anchor to the ground, but lighter vehicles and Drifters might not be so lucky.
The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.
The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.
04: WEATHERING
Once the main force of the storm hits, the following happens:
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, NAGA
This month, Drifters will have access to the serpentine Naga. On top of all Naga species traits being available, the following occurs:
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, HARPY
The storm will bring a second monster this month, in the form of Harpy. On top of all Harpy species traits being active, the following occurs:
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.
05: RAIN, SHINE, OR SALVAGE
Upon culling enough birds, the storm disperses. The monster avians dissolve as they drop into streams of energy, feeding into Drifter Sigils and providing limited healing. And handful remain intact when they hit the ground and can be harvested for meat, feathers, and possibly even talons.
There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.
There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.
06: STORM SHOT
The storm can be dispersed in one of two ways. One is waiting the storm out. The second is a battered collection of machines melted into the roof of the garage and gas station. When touched they burn the hands of Drifters, but also fire a jolt of lightning into the storm. One shot lessens the effects of the storm, repeated shots completely disperses the weather.
In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.
Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.
In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.
Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.
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.
Windy Days: Preceding the storm are gales of strong winds, enough to stagger Drifters or send them staggering into other people or other vehicles.
Diner Is Served: While the retro diner attached to the garage has only limited food stores, curiously there is a respectable amount of cooking equipment that can be plundered. Portable stoves, pots and pans, spoons, and the like are all available for the taking.
Fading Storm: In the aftermath of the storm, the garage and diner look like they’re on their last legs, barely held up by their shelving. Anyone who wants to try salvaging had better move fast and carefully, before the entire thing comes crashing down.
Sheev Palpatine | Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Arrival
Palpatine is not a stranger to places like this diner; out of the way, run-down ruins can make for useful meeting places where one is not likely to be disturbed or seen by unwanted eyes. But the locations are chosen well in advance and scouted by those he can count upon to be loyal and not ask questions (or quietly disposed of when no longer needed; oh, how the massed armies of clones have been such a boon in that regard). And Palpatine comes of his own will to them.
He is not summoned.
Centuries of planning, decades of his own careful work, the Great Plan at long last on the verge of completion...and the universe spits in his face, and wrenches him away to this...this backwater. There is something else at play, but what it is he cannot yet sense. It's been a long time since he was caught so off-guard; even his recent "kidnapping" by the Separatists was a carefully-constructed pantomime that achieved its necessary goal of removing the late and unlamented Darth Tyranus from the board. Not like this. Not to be so completely upended and himself removed like a common game piece or pazaak card.
It enrages him to have been rendered so powerless.
But he is still Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, and he will not allow his anger to control him. Give him strength, yes. Focus him, yes. But not its slave. So none of the fury boiling under the surface shows on the placid expression of the elderly man in the fine red robes staring out the shattered window of this wretched dinner, watching the storm approaching. As the light flickers, his eyes go to the ceiling, then back to the stormclouds. He waits for the distant lightning to flash, and then looks up and sees what he was expecting to see.
"How odd." He says to no one in particular, anyone at all who happens to be listening. "Look, watch the clouds. See?" He points upwards as the lights flash again. "The lights are malfunctioning in sequence with the lightning, aren't they?"
Whatever it signifies is frankly less interesting to Palpatine than who engages him on it. He wishes to take stock of his available game pieces.
Storm Warning/Downpour
Eventually, he ventures outside, but the storm comes on faster than he expected, and he is caught in the rain. The force of it bowls him over in a most undignified way. As he hits the ground, Palpatine feels a sudden, sharp pain in his jaw and his vision suddenly shifts.
Lying on the soaking ground, Palpatine raises a hand to his mouth, feels blood along his gums, and understands why...his teeth have sharpened to fangs. Then he watches his hand glow within his vision. Thermal vision...how interesting. And it makes the approaching beasts easier to see.
They would not pose a threat to him normally; his lightsabers are safely tucked away in his robes, and of course, there is always the power of the Dark Side that is his to command, but that would raise questions, and he cannot be certain that there is no one else he here it is important to keep that information from.
So helplessness it is.
As the birds swoop down upon him, Palpatine raises his arms to guard himself in an apparent panic. "No, please! Don't hurt me!" And with the smallest, most minute of touches with the Force, the harpies are prevented from doing any real damage; a talon does tear his sleeve, but the cut is light. It wouldn't do to be completely unharmed, of course.
He manages to scramble into an abandoned vehicle and crouches in the backseat, an old man (albeit one with fangs and slitted eyes thanks to the downpour) while harpies swoop and scratch at the rusted hulk.
"I think I may be in need of some assistance!" He calls to anyone nearby in the chaos, clutching his wounded arm. "Please? Anyone?"
Storm Shot
Once things have calmed down and the danger has (apparently) passed, Palpatine is able to get his arm bandaged. As he steps out of the diner once again, his gaze is drawn upwards as feathers slowly begin to fall from the sky. Reaching up, he carefully takes hold of one as it descends. "Strange. These don't look much like the feathers of those creatures from before, do they?"
Storm Warning
The next to rake claws along the roof of the vehicle, desperate to get at the delicious helpless prey inside, falls in two pieces in a long bloody smear down the back window. Masamune's reach is considerable, and Sephiroth is much quieter than someone his size has any right to be - his sudden intercession whips the attacking birds' attention around from easy-seeming target to a much more obviously dangerous foe.
The vehicle .. IS good cover. Rain's not getting in, most of the wind is being kept out, birds can't effortlessly get in... it's just a little too far from the garage, diner OR convoy to make a run for it. There's something not quite right about Palpatine's rescuer, either the deadly equanimity or the way he braces against the passenger side and shoves, driving the entire vehicle sideways in a screech of metal rims against broken pavement like it's a fraction of its true weight; gradually the entire decaying vehicle is pushed closer to the convoy and a more durable place of safety foot by foot.
Any swooping avian intent on keeping its prize will die as efficiently as the first.
no subject
Death swarms around Sephiroth, Palpatine senses that almost immediately. This is a man drenched in blood, which is promising. He reaches out with his senses to learn more, and finds...surprisingly little. Sephiroth keeps his emotions and thoughts on a tight leash; he betrays nothing, even as Palpatine subtly pushes at his walls, looking for weaknesses he might exploit to slither in. He finds none.
And that is noteworthy all on its own. It's a rare individual who can keep the Dark Side at bay; Sephiroth must have a level of emotional and mental control almost on par with Palpatine himself.
More than that, as Sephiroth begins simply pushing the car towards the Convoy, and safety. After a moment, Palpatine slides a bit closer to the window closest to him, and leans forward, though he dares not stick his head out too far.
"Thank you, my boy. I'm afraid I can't offer you more help...I praise my good luck someone with your strength came to my aid."
no subject
By necessity he doesn't yet know how badly, or not, the old man is injured. That there's no arterial spray suggests more minor, at least. "I won't need help. Please remain inside the vehicle for your safety until better cover is reached." The response is perfectly cordial, prompt, and clearly expecting obedience. As soon as Palpatine ventured outside of the steel and glass, surely the hungry predators in the sky would swoop in and do far more damage.
They're drawn to people becoming more reptilian, and the man was either also growing scales, or was simply a target because of his age. Either way asking him to run through an abandoned vehicle lot while injured was.. unacceptable.
Was it luck that meant Palpatine still had an arm at all, or something more? He'd been surprised before about the capabilities of people here, and briefly there was a distraction he couldn't quite place--
.. Later. Right now, as much as he'd rather simply slaughter the hostile creatures, getting a civilian to safety was more important. With one of the 'serpents' proving to be a very difficult target and the other inside cover, a pair of feathered monsters hovers just outside Masamune's reach as he works patiently on getting the poor, innocent old man towards safety. Not far now, the waiting convoy sturdy and untouched by bird claws or storm damage.
"How badly are you injured? Can you walk?" Presumably, but there's an implication that if he couldn't, that too would be seen to.
for the drama: Anakin *doesn't* know Palpatine is Sidious, he was on the way there!
The first cry for assistance only caught the edge of his hearing, the 'Please?' almost annoyed him for breaking his concentration, it was the 'Anyone?' that shook him to his senses, both his natural sense of compassion taking over and him recognizing the voice. He shot up, banging his head on the body of the motorcycle, ripped a scale off his skin, and let loose a string on impressive swears as he wiped the blood away, adding it to the smeers of dirt, oil, and grime on his face as well as his thoroughly drenched appreance - none of which he seemed even to notice, much less mind.
Angerily, he swiped at the bird with his clawed hand, caught one, which caused it to scream in pain and rage, and when it retaliated by diving at the wound on his forehead, Anakin went to yell at it and instead bathed it in fire. Oops - but handy. They fled, and he pulled the door open, panting a little.
"Chancellor?" Let's ignore the blood trickling down his face; he is. It's fine. He's also fair more of a dirty mess than Palpatine has ever seen him, matching the dirty, stained clothing he'd worn when they had first met