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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.
Osamu Dazai | Bungou Stray Dogs | New Character
[ Dazai looks very serious as he enters the diner and takes in the sights. The paper talismans, attached to the slowly spinning fan. The electronics periodically spitting out sparks. The broken radio, talking about Nirvana and adding a certain atmosphere to the entire thing.
He walks underneath the fan, bending backwards at the waist until he's folded safely out of the way of touching any of the paper tendrils. Then he simply hops over to the counter of the diner, dragging a finger down the counter and observing it, as if to see how dirty it is. ]
Well, I've certainly had worse service! [ He says this, cheerfully, and then simply volleys over the counter to start rummaging. Do diners have alcohol? Maybe he can find some canned meat? ]
Canned crab's probably a longshot... [ He's talking to himself, but be patient with him: he's used to having an audience. ]
04: downburst
[ Dazai is a man who is dressed like he walked off the set of a 1920s detective serial -- minus having a hat; he'd rather die -- and he is currently drenched. All those layers certainly make things more complicated when they're adding several pounds of weight. (The bandages wrapped all around him certainly don't help.)
A bird and Dazai have a brief standoff, which is ended when Dazai simply slides on his stomach for the first bit of cover he can find and wedges himself safely inside of an empty trash can, holding the lid in place from the inside.
Except -- oh, no, is he stuck? This proves inconvenient when the trash can starts to roll, and you may be witness to a trash can rolling into an obstacles and yelling: ]
Ow, that really hurt!
05: salvage
[ There's debris everywhere, and that's great and all -- everything blocking everyone's way, people falling from the skies, etc -- but Dazai seems to be up to something. Is he... salvaging? By himself? That would be strange, the pieces of metal are awfully large, and he's clearly straining himself a little pulling them into place on a little pile, and it...
It looks...
It looks suspiciously phallic. It looks like he's building a giant dick out of the scraps. ]
( 04 )
Useful, when there's an out of control trashcan rolling around. Shadow manages to get himself into a little lean-to to keep him out of the wind, and he reaches out to stop the trash can with his foot.
Then, finally, he hears Dazai inside. ]
... What are you doing?
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Rolling! Or I was, at any rate. [ Now that he has been stopped, Dazai lowers the lid and pokes his head out. He looks shockingly unharmed for someone who was just rolling out of control inside a trash can, despite all the bandages. ]
Prior to that, of course, I was hiding. The wildlife here seems quite aggressive! [ Is Shadow part of the wildlife?? Dazai has no idea. He's never before seen a Shadow, but Shadow is talking to him, which is more than the birds did, so Dazai's going to roll (ha, ha) with it. ]
I merely forgot to factor in that the wind would be as much of a danger as the birds.
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On the other hand, he's wearing shoes and gloves. And he can talk! ]
You should get inside.
[ A pause. ]
Something that's not a trashcan. Can you walk?
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You see, I've been hiding in it for quite some time and have found that I'm unable to get myself out! [ He seems so proud of this fact, is the thing. Like it's simply ingenious to have wedged himself so thoroughly in a trash can that he can't do anything to save himself. If he can't get out, nothing else can get in! Right? ... right? ]
If you could help me remove it ... and perhaps point me in the direction of a safer venue ...
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... Right. I'll wait here and—
[ But whatever else it is that Shadow's planning to do is left a mystery. His gaze snap around, his ears twitching. In the distance, the faint sound of screeching birds can be heard, growing faintly louder. ]
Put the lid back on. We don't have time to get you out of there.
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Are you a fighter, by any chance?
4
Vash thinks little of it at first, assuming it to have been knocked down by the storm and not of any particular importance until he hears a voice coming from inside, and then he is vroom vrooming his motorcycle as quickly as he can to cut off said trash can's path. He does try to catch it in his hands before it crashes into the bike at least, but the momentum is a bit too strong.]
Sorry! I'll get you out as fast as I can!
[Really is unfortunate how slippery things are when they're wet, though. Especially when one of the hands trying to pry off that lad is metal, damaged, and having some troubles with its internal wiring in the rain due to aforementioned damage.]
no subject
If you could give me a good yank-- [ Dazai wedged himself in the can quite thoroughly, which seemed like a great idea at the time, but as things progressed, proved to be rather ill thought out. He wiggles a little, bracing his feet against the bottom of the can. ] -- or give the can a good push, I think I could get out! [ Being out in the elements has its own risks, but they're considerably less dizzying. ]
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Um, are you sure? I don't want to hurt you ... maybe if I hold the can steady, you can grab onto my bike and pull yourself out? It's parked so it shouldn't fall over --!!
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It's amazing the shapes the human body can contort itself into under pressure! I just need it to uncontort itself now.
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Okay...just let me know if I pull too hard, alright?
[He braces the can between the bike and his foot, before he reaches into the can as deep as he can and tries to pull Dazai out by his underarms so the force of pulling him won't dislocate Dazai's arms from their sockets.
Unfortunately, the can is slippery and Dazai is really wedged in there, so the most Vash can manage with one damaged arm is to get him about halfway out.]
I'm sorry! I'll get you out of there soon, I promise...do you think there might be a hand-saw or something in this garage...?
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He manages a few more inches out and then drops, listless, defeated over the edge. ]
Perhaps if there was some oil. I suppose if I need to, I could just keep rolling and see if a very large jostle would expel me, but that has less than ideal side effects. [ Notably, grievous bodily harm. ]
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05
He has seen the way some boys and men conduct themselves. He knows a phallic shape when he sees one.
And so he groans, looking upon the pile with disdain. The feathers along his face and neck fluff up slightly, and he brings a taloned hand to his face. There's a large set of black wings on his back as well, but otherwise he appears mostly human.]
Is there a reason you chose that particular shape?
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It's also a shape that regularly occurs in nature, so it's easy to replicate, you see. No sense in fooling around with fractals or figuring out the exact ratio for a spiral -- this gets to the heart of the matter!
[ If your heart is in your... wait, what matter is he even talking about? It's fine. Probably. ]
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You know, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think you were compensating for something.
[His voice is dripping with sarcasm. Good grief...]
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I suppose I'm no Renaissance artist. I'll have to make a more realistic one next. I wonder if I can find tubing.
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Well, it's too late now. He has dug his own grave by even approaching the subject, so he might as well see where this goes.
So, with surprising composure...]
How juvenile, really. You must be incredibly carefree to find the time to sculpt phalli when monsters could strike at any moment.
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5!
Except... the shape of that little art project makes Apollo pause, stopping to squint at the shape for a moment before he casts a doubtful look at the man building it.]
Uh... what exactly are you doing?
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You see, when one finds themselves in an unknown situation, it's best to send a beacon to nearby allies! [ A very ... phallic ... beacon. ] It's worked perfectly! It's brought you right to me.
no subject
[Apollo's tone is just dripping with sarcasm. Even if it didn't seem like any of that junk in his so-called beacon could've possibly been useful to someone in the convoy, this was still a lot of time wasted on a... prank? That, and Apollo's pretty sure that most people in a situation like this wouldn't immediately jump to 'build a juvenile sculpture'. ]
Unless you need legal advice, I doubt I'll be able to help you out. But maybe a concerned psychiatrist will wander by if you wait here long enough.
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If anyone comes to arrest me, I'll definitely come to you for help! [ This is said like a joke, but he was actually about to be arrested back home, so... you know... ]
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[That was one of the biggest problems the convoy was facing, really. No populated towns or settlements, nowhere to get directions or even stop to rest, no creature comforts... and it also meant that Apollo's professional skills were utterly useless here.]
They do say the law has a long arm, but I think this place might be a few steps too far.
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05
Why!?
Why?
That's so gross!
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And! If those visitors can't take a hint, then you can simply-- [ Dazai grabs a piece out of the stack. It's a smaller piece that looks more or less like a particularly unwieldy lead pipe, and Dazai looks very much like he could not actually wield it in a fight. Nevertheless, he swings it gamely. ] --use it for defense!