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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.
Pyrrha Nikos | RWBY | New Character
[Beaten, battered, the taste of blood and flame in her mouth. Pyrrha Nikos gasps to life in a dingy garage with no memory of how she got there, or even how she's still breathing.
So, the first order of business was locating... someone. Anyone. If she had enough time, perhaps Beacon hadn't been fully evacuated yet. Which just formed further worries in Pyrrha's gut, weighing her down. Did the others survive the attack? Did that girl who was after the maiden powers? Did she ruin everything?
Wasn't she supposed to die?
If you were just awaking in this garage, or perhaps one of the less-recent arrivals looking to scrounge around, a young woman dressed for battle is slowly making her way out of the filth, staggering on bloodied limbs. Crimson, like her hair, drips from her chestplate. A phantom pain stabbing into her chest makes Pyrrha gasp, bringing a hand up to find.... nothing. No wound in the base of her neck. Not even a scar. Just blood.
Just Pyrrha. The invincible girl.]
[B: Keying your car]
Hello! Excuse me?
[Wandering in, well, a general direction, Pyrrha's seeking out anyone who might listen to her woes. Or at least look at the keys dangling from one of her hands.]
Do these belong to anyone...? I-I found them in my pocket. And I don't have a car yet.
[And yet, even if she wasn't aware of it yet, there's a vehicle sitting out there. Waiting for her to realize those driving lessons are about to pay off.]
[C: Fly phoenix fly]
[The worse of the storm was behind them, but there's still a mess to be sorted out. Pyrrha's long since offered her service - helping mend the damages done to the cars, scavenging for scrap parts, and offering some battlefield first-aid to those that really need it.
In between that, though, she's brought to a pause by the shimmering feathers floating down from on high. Perhaps it was a mistake, but if she just took one for herself nobody would mind, surely...
At least before Pyrrha started to suddenly float up into the air.]
W-whoa. Hey! Wait!
[Flailing! Someone! This was outside her wheelhouse!]
A
Staggering out, she gasped as she saw the redhead human covered in blood.]
OMIGOSH, are you okay?!
[She would run over to her in worry.]
no subject
O-ooh! Oh my-
[Hands reflexively reach for... nothing. Right, there was nothing left for her, back then.]
... Are you going to attack me?
B
But he's also not an 'ignore someone directly asking him a question' sort of guy, either. He's in the middle of rummaging through one of the garage cabinets when Pyrrha speaks up, and he withdraws himself from it with mild grumbling. ]
Those are—
[ But then he turns enough to actually see Pyrrha, actually recognize her. He freezes, words dying in his throat. He's had time to get used to the idea of meeting someone he assumed he was dead, who might have been dead, whose status was unknown. And of course there's Oz, always coming back in some new form or another; and Salem, unable to be killed in the first place. And Penny, too, but she was a robot so it didn't really count.
But Pyrrha is different. Pyrrha is supposed to be dead-dead. No robotic core to retrieve, so curse of immortality keeping her in the loop. Just a normal girl who died trying to fight a war she never even had a chance to win.
Yeah, he's a little stunned right now. ]
Nikos...?
apologies for slowness
Y... [Her eyes widen, before sharply squinting.] You're... Ruby's uncle. You were there...
[When everything went wrong.]
it's all good!
[ He was there when everything went wrong. He was there when when they explained what sort of war they were fighting. He was there when they asked her if she wouldn't mind getting a dead girl's soul grafted onto hers. And Pyrrha wasn't there when they all learned they were fighting a war that could only either last forever or end in their defeat.
Oh, fuck. This is already a mess and they've barely said two words to each other. ]
Kid— Pyrrha— look, what's the last thing you remember?
no subject
The last thing...? Well... [She shifts, uncomfortable. If not from the ghost of her wounds, then the subject matter.] I was... in Beacon, fighting to... protect everyone. And, then...
I'm... not in Beacon anymore.
[That much's clear.]
no subject
Qrow's not really sure if it would be better for Pyrrha if she somehow didn't remember what happened at Beacon. He's not even sure if it would be better for him if she didn't. ]
... No, we're not. This place is, uh...
[ Man, he's not even sure where to start. ]
Not even Remnant. There's monsters here, but not any Grimm.
no subject
I... noticed.
[Some freaky beasts round here, huh.]
Not even Remnant... then...
[She's going to stagger again. This time, there's weight her legs are struggling to keep up.]
no subject
... Come on, you should probably sit.
[ He's gotta be able to offer her something better than that—wait. ]
Ruby's here, too. Have you seen her yet?
A
And immediately drops it, spilling its contents across the floor. Some nails roll as far as Pyrrha's feet.
Yang herself is dressed in an oversized black t-shirt with the words "NO FEAR" emblazoned on the front, neon black and green swim trunks, and sandals. But otherwise, it's the same Yang Xiao Long Pyrrha knows.
Except for the metal, yellow and black metal arm. And the pair of what look like yellow dog or wolf ears on top of her head, much like a certain Faunus they both know.
"Pyrrha!"
sorry for being late!!!
That relief lasts... about three seconds. Then, it's replaced with befuddlement.
"W... is that you? What... are you wearing?"
NP! Glad to see you back!
She and Pyrrha hadn't been especially close as things go, beyond the bond of general friendship and camaraderie that existed between Teams RWBY and JNPR, but Yang had always respected Pyrrha's combat skill and level-head that let her fight more effectively. And hey, there was always the chance that they'd become better friends over their terms at Beacon, right? There was plenty of time.
Until there suddenly wasn't. Until Pyrrha was gone, and a hole was torn in her team that had never fully healed. At the time it had been just one more thing, one more tragedy to throw on the pile of misfortune following the Fall of Beacon that Yang simply didn't have the energy to confront, wallowing in her own misery as she was. Ruby had never told her what exactly had happened up on that tower, only that Pyrrha had gone to fight Cinder, and hadn't walked away.
Another victim of Ozpin's endless, pointless war. Throwing lives at a wall in the hopes that someday, somehow he might be able to figure out a way to beat Salem, even though Jinn had told him to his face that he could not. And Pyrrha had paid the price for it.
But right now, in the moment, all the shock and anger Yang felt as she crossed over towards Pyrrha vanishes once she has the Invincible Girl in that bearhug, and the realization that she is actually alive again washes over her.
"Yeah...yeah, it's me, Pyrrha. I know I look a little different, but it's me." After a moment, Yang pulls away and looks down at her clothes. "Uh, that's a bit of a long story." She admits. "And one we can talk about later. We gotta get those injuries looked after first." She has some bandages in an emergency kit stowed in the trunk of Wild Rider, they can at least stop her bleeding all over the place.
C
The biggest difference between those other times and now was that she could clearly see her floating in the air before her.
This was a little new and she was pretty sure she was not dreaming.
On the bright side the call to action was enough to knock her out of her stupor and her feet started to move.]
Uh- Hold on- I've got you!
[And she's lucky that she still has use of her semblance here. She quickly shifts into burst of rose petals that sail up and clear the distance between her and Pyrrha.
She quickly moves to take a hold of the other girl, but doesn't turn off her semblance right away.
Is a little extra weight enough to bring them down?]
no subject
Between the two of them, it's just enough weight to grant a mercifully slow descent back to Earth. Enough time for Pyrrha to realize who's got her. Her mind fights the image before her, struggling to connect it to those last scant seconds in her mind's eye, back on top of Beacon Academy.
And yet, here it is. Red like roses.]
...Ruby?
no subject
Now that they were slowly descending toward the ground, Ruby's thoughts and emotions had a chance to catch up. Seeing Pyrrha here. Alive. And real. That was a lot for her to process especially because the last time she saw her... Well it was likely supposed to be the last time anyone saw her.
It takes her a moment to process this. It's a little easier because before she wound up here she had found out Penny had got a second lease on life. While Pyrrha didn't have the same circumstances, she was glad she had found a way too.]
Uh-
Hi.
Fancy seeing you here.
no subject
[There were a great many things Pyrrha should have said to Ruby. Or, rather, things she would've liked to say. There was never enough time for her fellow friends in Team RWBY. In her last moments, all that came from her lips was choked with pain.
Now, it's much the same.
Her feet hover above the earth seconds before she finds her footing again. There's a bit of a stumble.]
You look... alive.
[Older, too. Maybe.]
no subject
There's a pang in her heart when Pyrrha finishes speaking. She knew only one of them was lucky enough to be alive as far as she could remember.]
Yeah... You too.
[The words feel hollow. She hates it.]
I-
I want to ask what the last thing you remember from home is.
But I feel like we both know the answer to that question.
C:
But she heard the yelling, and went to look anyway.]
Is everything- [Just in time to see the legs waving in the air. Sorry Pyrrha, she needs a few seconds to just... work out what she's looking at.]
...Is it the wind again?
[Staying back! She didn't want to be picked up too, her back still hurt from being knocked over before.]
no subject
[Pyrrha was definitely more adept at monster fighting. But who had ever fought the wind? Or whatever this was supposed to be, because the weightlessness, while startling, wasn't particularly harmful... unless she floated away.]
What's going on?!
[Is that meant for Natsuhi? Or the general situation.]
no subject
[Natsuhi was still staying back, her hands awkwardly clutching at the tree. Like that would make a difference against a storm that'd picked small cars up.
But if it was the weather, why wasn't her skirts being caught in it? It all seemed focused on the girl. So after another second of hesitation, Natsuhi stepped out, moving closer.
But she wasn't sure if she could do anything.]
Are you alright?
[Tragically, she had no answers.]