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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.
no subject
He doesn't mean for his tail to pull tighter, but it might, just a little bit. It's like some physical lifeline, the anchor being his unresponsive brother, not that Donnie can hardly fault him.
no subject
Donnie's tail tightens on his wrist, and Leo lets his arm be tugged in his brother's direction. He wants to reach out, to say something, to seek comfort, but his body barely feels like it belongs to him anymore.
His breath hitches, and then he crumples, his face buried against his knees. His breathes come in fast pants, his body shaking. It feels like it did when he tumbled out of Raph's escape pod, what feels like a billion years ago.
He still lets Donnie hold his wrist, dangling between them.
(Is it terrible, that he doesn't want his brother to go? That he doesn't want to be left behind again? Even if it means being here?)
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Donnie lifts his head, looking over as he feels that tremble, and as he hears those quickening breaths. He's not the only one trying to keep it together. They're both a mess, but only one of them has truly been robbed. Well no, maybe that's not true, because somewhere else, three brothers have had one of their own stolen away.
...but Leo's right here. And even though here isn't where either of them should be, they're still in this place together now. Donnie's aware of the situation now, and although there's so much he doesn't know about what's going on in this place, there's one thing he does know, and that doesn't need a second thought.
His tail's grip loosens, if only because the rest of it slips him closer in a more fluid motion than he's ever managed before this point. It might be a little unsettling to be wrapped in the coils of a giant snake, but Donnie's there, easing into the space beside Leo, just as he tries to ease Leo out from the corner, collecting him closer so he can pull his aching arms around him again.
"I'm not leaving you."
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Slowly, very slowly, Leo uncurls, and leans more into Donnie's embrace. Maybe he shouldn't - maybe it's not fair, maybe it's wrong, maybe he's stealing some other Leo's Donnie, maybe it'll just lead to more heartbreak for both of them.
But he can't push Donnie away now. He's scared. He's hurting. He wants his family so bad.
Leo leans in, tucking his head under Donnie's chin.
"...Okay," he says quietly.
Maybe he can believe it, for now.
no subject
But none of them are here. It's just him and Leo. It's such a big space to fill, and while Donnie feels sorely inadequate for the job that's usually held by several people, he's all he's got.
No, that's inaccurate. He's all Leo's got, and far be it for him to walk away from the task.
So he hangs onto him, as though to try and convince his brother through the gesture alone as he curls around him. He's no Raph, or Mikey or Splinter or April...
But he's Donatello Hamato, and that'll have to be enough.
no subject
He knows this isn't Donnie's usual place, and he does feel a little bad, putting him in this position. Even though Leo really, really needed it. Especially now that he knows there's some cosmic force laughing at his misfortune. His head's still buzzing with a dark cloud of pain and despair, even though he feels like he can breathe again, with Donnie holding on.
Once he calms down enough to use his voice again, he croaks out a soft, "'M sorry. For how I reacted when I first saw you." He snakes an arm around Donnie back, finally. "This place messes with our heads sometimes. I... thought what I was seeing wasn't real."
He squeezes.
"It's gonna be okay, though. I'm not leaving you either."
no subject
And while he can't quite suppress a wince as Leo moves his arms to squeeze around him, he still doesn't complain. His own arms might protest as he squeezes back, but right now he doesn't care. Leo hasn't given up, and that's all that matters.
"No, I think I get it." He probably would've had a hard time too, although at least maybe his goggles would help, if they started working right. It still scares him to think that he might start questioning his own senses, his arms tightening with the thought. "...not gonna lie though, kind of hated it." That's something he can live without ever experiencing again, thanks.
Donnie takes what comfort he can from those words, nodding. He may not have thought too much of the reassurances earlier, but this feels different. This is Leo, and that's all that matters.
no subject
He's gotten a little too good at apologies lately. At least it seems like Donnie believes him about it being okay. Leo just hopes this place doesn't make a liar out of him.
"...Uh, so..." he starts up again, a few minutes later. "Do you want something to eat? Or just to rest here? Man, did you even sleep at all last night...?"
The storm was bad, and Donnie was just crouched in the diner...
no subject
"...sleep? When was I supposed to ever sleep?" He doesn't even have any idea how long he's been here, or how long that storm had lasted, but sleep had been the last thing on his mind.
no subject
He pulls away from Donnie so he can help his half-snake brother navigate they bunk until he is closer to the wall, Leo on the outside. Then Leo turns to the side of the bunk and leans over it, rummaging around underneath until he finds... something... ah ha!
He pops back up, holding his prize aloft: gas station beef jerky.
"Here! I've got snacks. We can just hang here for now."
He opens the bag and fishes out a strip of jerky, then holds it out in offer to Donnie.
"The convoy is usually pretty safe."
no subject
What's he... Oh!
Donnie's tongue snakes (cough) in and out at the offering before he seems to register it, and he takes the jerky strip without any fuss, gnawing at it.
"Nice to know some place is, at least. ...there anything else I should know about?" he asks, glancing at Leo as he works on the piece of jerky.
no subject
"Uuuh... Well." Leo's eyes drift up, like he's thinking. "There's a guy named Jack who offered to make me stuff to wear for when it gets colder; I'm sure he'd do the same for you. But he already told me he doesn't care about making it fashionable." Leo scowls. "He suggested socks with sandals."
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He's still working his way through the end of the first piece of jerky as he reaches for a second. "What's he even going to make things out of? The mere suggestion of socks and sandals just seems particularly unreasonable for colder climates."
no subject
Which is fair - their feet are nothing like a human’s.
“Ugh… but I hate to think I’d go through the post-apocalypse looking like a dweeb!”
This is the worst punishment of all!
no subject
Well, probably not, but it's easy to be in favor of that as opposed to a fashion faux pas when you weren't actually freezing at the moment. Not that he has feet to worry about at the moment either, which is another problem entirely, but he hopes this whole snake thing goes away soon so he can be properly annoyed.
"I think we can find a work-around for the whole shoe thing if we can find big enough ones to make use of. But failing that, just grab some old tires and we can cut out some soles. Those'd be the most important part anyway, since they'd have to be reasonably tough. I'd need like...something to punch holes through them and a needle, some cord, or at least something thicker than thread..."
no subject
He leans over and bumps their shoulders together.
“How was I surviving without you?” he asks, voice light despite the sudden display of sentimentality. Leave him alone, he’s had a rough day!
(And, maybe it’s good that he’s even using a word like “survive” for himself.)
no subject
There's the briefest hesitation, but for once he manages to hold back on something more long-winded. That's not what Leo meant, and probably not what he needs anyway. So Donnie lets out a breath of a laugh instead, bumping him back.
"Don't worry brother, I'm not letting anyone make you wear socks and sandals together." No brother of his will be a fashion disaster on his watch!
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“Scavenging is how we get pretty much everything around here, though. Good thing we’re good at that.”
Not that Leo has really been a constant part of Donnie’s junkyard runs - he usually leaves that to Mikey. But he can still help! He’s great at physical labor!
no subject
"About how long does this whole thing stay parked in one spot before moving onward?" he asks, pulling his thoughts from that spiral. He's tired and pretty sure he's exacerbated his still healing injuries more than he should have for one day...night? Whatever- but if their time's limited then he wants to see if they can grab what they can. Typical.
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And because he knows his brother well, he adds, "We won't leave right away though. Get some rest before you go trash diving."
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"...fine," he eventually concedes, flopping over on his side, if just a little harder than he means to because of the awkward position with all the coils. It's kind of a pitiful sound he makes into the bunk, but he doesn't feel like trying to adjust himself. Okay, maybe he's more than a little tired.
"Maybe by then this dumb thing will go away," he says, the end of his tail curling in.
no subject
By which he means, the tail is expressive, but he sure did pick an inscrutable way to say it.
Leo watches Donnie lay down on the bunk, then puts the jerky away and settles in. He could move to another bunk, but he really doesn't want to go too far away from Donnie just yet. Not unless he gets kicked out.
"You're good," he says. "I'll wake you up when it's time for breakfast."
no subject
It's not like he'd thought Leo would leave, but there wasn't necessarily anything suggesting he stay, either. But as Leo settles in, Donnie relaxes a little more, relieved not to be alone. He's still not sure how much he trusts this place to be safe, but Leo had said as much, and what's more important, he's staying here with him.
"...'kay," he says quietly, already feeling sleep tug at him. Hopefully he doesn't drool too badly on Leo's bunk. His traitorous and totally not cute tail slips out, seeking out his brother to make sure he's not far.
no subject
Leo stretches his hand out toward the tail, letting the tip of it wriggle into his fingers. It’s alright; he’s here.
He still has a lot of thoughts swirling in his head, most of them dark. He doesn’t know why another Leo got to go home, and he had to come here. It still feels unfair, still feels like something has been stolen from him before he even knew he had it. While Donnie is asleep, it’s easier to dwell on those things.
But… his brother is here. He’s not alone now, and he won’t let Donnie be alone now, either. He’ll get Donnie home, because he knows, if they were switched, that’s what he’d ask from the Other Leo.
Even if it means he’ll be alone again.