monstertruckers (
monstertruckers) wrote in
memestertrucks2025-03-15 03:07 pm
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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.
vash the stampede | trigun stampede
[The run-down diner isn't something that would look out of place in No Man's Land. Nor is the the garage. When Vash wakes up in the summoning circle in the garage, he assumes, at first, that someone retrieved him from the Sand Steamer after he collapsed, and he starts looking around for its owner to thank them for their help, when he hears a jingle in his coat pocket that wasn't there before. Keys...? How did those get in his jacket?
Perhaps it's slightly inevitable that he ends up ah, waylaid en route to finding his own vehicle, though; many of these are in rough shape, after all, in various states of disrepair. Catch him with a toolbox he's found somewhere, a smear of grease on his cheek, and a smile tinkering with a busted axle or stuck door despite the cracks on his own prosthetic arm. It'll be fine, don't worry about it.]
Ah, sorry, was this yours? I woke up in here with these keys and thought while I try to figure out who to give them back to, I might as well fix up some of the rest of these, haha. It should be ready to go in a minute.
ii. mama hen makes a nest
[It was perhaps inevitable; Vash is driving a fairly light vehicle, and he went out into the storm to try to be a distraction for the birds, a nice moving target bothering them and drawing attention so others can shelter safely. So at some point, a couple of those harpy traits start kicking in, and he finds himself compelled to nest. Normally you'd never catch him taking anything from anywhere without asking, but the tablecloths in the dinner and any decorative cushions sure do start to disappear one by one, and then even the greasy cloths used at the garage.
He should probably be more embarrassed of his behavior, and he will be, but at the moment, if he should come upon someone cold and wet from the storm, he ushers them to join him.]
Come on, come on, you must be freezing. I know a spot that's warm and dry, alright? You'll be safer there.
iii. rain, shine, or salvage
[The storm's over. Vash has never quite seen so much water in his life, and he finds himself sitting at the edge of the puddles with a jar in one hand, contemplative. It seems like a waste not to take some along, in case there's a shortage later on. He knows how precious hydration can be, as a man from a largely uninhabitable desert.]
Do you think the stove in the diner still works? It's pretty damaged from last night, but if we could use it then we could boil some of this water...
iii
Vash's question shakes him from his reverie. It's a good suggestion. "As much of it as we can store." He agrees. "And we'll need to catalogue the exact amount we end up with." Know how much water they have stored up down to the last litre, and then it can be rationed appropriately. "We need to find containers."
There has to be space on the train for storing the reserves...
sorry for the delay!
Vash smiles, all the same, nodding almost excitedly.]
Most of the jars I found were broken, either in the storm or previously, but there are a few. Some other boxes that could work in a pinch, too.
[Even so ... hm. He looks back at the puddle, trickling off in the direction of that large parking lot, biting his lip and frowning.]
Though someone else was saying that it might be too contaminated to drink because we're so close to all these cars. I don't know if I want to take any unnecessary risks.
[Much as he hates the notion of rationing water, he doesn't want to poison anyone from getting too ambitious, either.]
ii. 😂
No one does anything nice for free. ]
...mighty kind of you. What's the catch?
sorry for the delay!
There's no catch. Ah, except my company, I guess, if you end up finding me annoying! Hahaha.
no subject
[ The pep in his tone is more grating than anything, but Len is aware of the fact that he's feeling especially pernickety right now and just about any bright-eyed and bushy-tailed demeanor would rub him the wrong way. ]
Lead on, I guess. It's pretty damn miserable out here, but at least it ain't radioactive.
( iii )
I wouldn't risk it. This close to a garage it's probably too contaminated to drink even with boiling.
no subject
[Vash’s experience with naturally occurring drinkable water is deeply limited, ultimately. Plants are required for nearly all the water that exists on No Man’s Land, after all. ]
It just seems like a shame to let all this water go to waste, is all. But if it might be dangerous, better safe than sorry, I suppose.
no subject
[ What those actual supplies are, he has no idea. He just knows they don't have them. ]
Collecting rain during the next storm's probably safer.
[ Probably. It's been a while since Qrow's done the whole 'vagabond fully living in the woods' thing, but he remembers rainwater being their best bet whenever they didn't settle next to a river or have time to sink a well. ]
no subject
Next time, then. Hopefully it'll be less, ah ... violent, than this one, haha. Were you alright during all that?
no subject
[ They don't have semi-sentient storms in Remnant or anything like that, but 'giant birds that hate you' isn't too out of place. ]
Can't say I'm mad we'll be moving on, though.
no subject
[Local hypocrite alien at your service--]
I'm just glad nobody was living here or anything, I'd feel a little bad just walking away without helping fix this place up otherwise...
no subject
[ Instead of 'giant birds that hate you' it could be 'immortal witch that hates everything'. ]
Not sure we've got the resources to fix this place even if we wanted to, anyway. If someone was living here I'd say they'd have better odds packing up and following us.
ii
The feathers along his face and neck fluff up, and he grunts in protest.]
I can take care of myself, you know.
[It is cold out there, yes. He isn't keen on the storm.
But it's his element. He even has wings now, to say nothing of his sharp teeth and talons.]
no subject
Haha, I'm not saying you can't! But wouldn't it be nice to have a break somewhere more comfortable?
no subject
Someone has to fight. I have wings and the power to combat those beasts en masse.
[But Megidolaon is a draining spell. Realistically, he knows he needs rest.
He just happens to be stubborn.]
no subject
If you rest now, you'll be better able to fight later, don't you think? It's like these cars -- they can't run on empty.
[He nudges Akechi again, very gently.]
Come on. Just for an hour. Half an hour, even.
no subject
His chest slowly inflates with his breath. He could claw, bite, and kick, but...
No. He'll tolerate this.
His breath escapes in a sigh.]
Very well. I suppose I can humor you.
no subject
[Entirely earnest, even. No trace of sarcasm.]
I'm Vash, by the way. What's your name?
no subject
[No one calls him Goro, really, and it'd be strange if they started here.
But he keeps a calm demeanor as they walk along. Such thoughts are best kept close to the chest.]
You've certainly taken initiative rather swiftly.
(no subject)
(no subject)
i
[ Vash could be forgiven thinking this one was abandoned: John has made no effort to care for it at all. He's never known how. The 1930's Ford pickup is muddy and battered, but it is very nearly all John owns, and so he advances on the man with black wings bristling and clawed hands flexing at his sides. His voice echoes with a deep, uncanny resonance. His eyes flare a hot and unsettling yellow.
He folds those wings tight and draws himself up, imperious. ]
This one is spoken for. You cannot have it.
[ Never mind that Vash said he was only helping. As a god turned scavenger, John disbelieves these things by first reflex. ]
no subject
—I’m not trying to take it!
[And then he does look, and he stares at the wings and the claws. He’s too new to understand yet that this happens to everyone, and he finds himself instead thinking of hundreds of thousands of knives circling in the air, of a town crushed into rubble, of a little boy who’s lost his arm. The wings are the the form Nai chose to cloak himself; this is not Nai, this is not the same. He of all people has no place fearing someone who doesn’t immediately look human.
He puts his hands up, steps away from the car.]
I’m not really sure what’s going on, to be honest. Or where I am, exactly.
no subject
... Oh.
[ Grudgingly, John lets his wings fall loose at his back. He stalks forward to examine Vash's handiwork, as though he'd have any idea whether his vehicle has been improved or damaged. ]
You've just arrived, then. [ There's a note of uncertainty in his voice, building towards hope. ] You awoke in a garage? Covered in... symbols?
*wings AREN'T wow that typo i missed smh
Ah, yeah, I did. Do you know what they mean? Nobody was around to ask, and then I got a little sidetracked here, haha.
no subject
[ It's awkward to admit he does not know, and that he recognizes almost none of the symbols: only the one stamped like a brand across his left eye. He moves forward and hesitates beside Vash and the truck. ]
... Why fix a vehicle if you don't plan to use it?