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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
(Maybe because Djoser did choose him in the end. And in exchange for being chosen, Apophis had done his best to push the foolishly kindhearted prince away so that he wouldn't share the snake god's fate.)]Sorry, sorry, I seem to keep doing that to you, my best friend.
[Following a whim, he reaches out and cups the side of the high priest's face before turning it into a pal-like hair ruffle.]
Sorry for making you watch me die - I promise that it won't happen again. And if this is Duat, then there's nobody I'd rather be stuck with here! So relax and head up~ There's nothing that can stop us if we're together, right?
[At least he now knows that it wasn't Imhotep who had stuck him into Djoser's body in some weird bid to preserve the prince's body due to some weird shenanigans occupying its real owner somewhere else.]
What do you mean with 'changing'? Do you think...
no subject
You're right, there is nothing that can stop us. Yet this can't possibly be the Duat. It's nothing like home, and there's a ridiculous amount of metal chariots here. Outside it looks like a - dealer-ship?
[His only real experience with that was seeing advertisements on TV, so naturally it was what he thought of when he saw the variety of strange vehicles outside. After all, this diner was too destroyed to be such a popular spot with the locals.]
Think that it is the black mark? I assumed the same at first, but it turns out that they have different markings entirely. It is not the same as the magic circle that brought us here, but I suspect it is from the same source. That, and... it is tied to the moon in some way.
no subject
Right? The Sun and the Moon, always having each other's back.☆
[Is he laying it on too thick? Hopefully not, Djoser's generally a cheesy guy. Thankfully he's already being offered a change of topic.]
Metal chariots? Cars?
[He gives Im a confused look before he glances to the window to check. Yeah, those seem to be cars. A very weird selection of 'em, though, and definitely not in a state to be sell-able. The storm and its monsters have also come closer, which isn't good.]
I'm pretty sure that this isn't a car dealership. At least not one that has actually been used for a very long time. [He offers Im his hand to let him help his 'friend' up.] Do you think that another moon god is behind this?
no subject
He takes the offered hand and climbs to his feet, casting a quick glance at the window as well before looking back to him.]
That is a possibility. I have many questions for Thoth, but I cannot ask any of them. He is... gone. My body is my own again.
[It was terrible timing, considering how much they could've used the help of a god - assuming Thoth would've been willing to help them. But he had at least forthcoming with information those times he had otherwise refused to assist more directly.]
I have been wondering if Thoth brought us here to somehow fix this problem.
no subject
I'm on my own, too.
[On his own as in minus one Egyptian prince's soul, but Apophis still dislikes to use outright lies. It's way better to let Imhotep do it by letting him fill in the blanks himself.]
You think? I dunno, that somehow doesn't seem like his style at all, but you know him way better than me. I've only got some [a slight hesitation] shared memories.
no subject
[There was no way Imhotep could've gotten used to Thoth being in the back of his head for much longer - it was like having a parent or a teacher constantly looking over his shoulder, ready to judge him for what he was doing. Thoth had mostly been the aloof type, but still. And he could only imagine how Djoser must feel to finally be rid of Apophis... despite his apparent forgiveness of the snake god. That was a fact that Imhotep hadn't had time to unpack yet.]
I cannot be certain of it. Fath- I mean, Thoth had a plan to set things right, but he needed time to prepare. ... I do not like the idea that we were snatched away from right under his beak.
[Particularly since Thoth had still been in Imhotep's body at the time. What possibly had the power to separate him from a god? That was almost more disturbing than having arrived here in the first place.]
We will just have to find a way to return home ourselves.
no subject
He probably let his guard down some once he figured all the fightin's done. The lull right after a won big battle is the perfect time for ambushes.
[It's when he would have attacked, had he still been able to. Apophis heaves a deep sight and then summons up his best playfully confident face as he slaps his hand down on the smaller teen's shoulder.]
Well! No senses crying over would-haves, could-haves! If we gotta help ourselves, then let's go do just that! Also, did you just call Thoth "father"? Duuuude~~
no subject
But being called out on his slip-up makes Imhotep start to flush, and he turns away from Djoser in a hurry,] I, uh- nevermind that! Come on, we need to get the lay of the land here.
[He starts walking for the door without waiting for a reply. It wasn't the first time he had called Thoth 'father', but it was the first time someone had called him out on it. But how much did Djoser even know about his situation, while Apophis had been piloting his body? Was Imhotep going to have to explain that whole strange situation to him later??]
no subject
Yes, yes~ I'll be right after you, pal. Unless you'd like me to take head? I don't mind that either.
[Of course that'd mean that any waiting nasty surprises would be coming at him first that way, but that's what fighters are for. Djoser's body might be slightly juvenile, but it's been trained nonetheless.]
So, what happened after I was gone?
no subject
[He doesn't know how wrong he is, but to be fair, the darkened sky outside only seems to herald the normal kind of thunderstorm. With a sturdy building like this, there was nothing to fear from the rain. Little to no worry of flooding seemed to be another benefit of the modern age, though Imhotep still thought of all the rain he had seen in Japan as a pleasant novelty.
The question he asked makes Imhotep pause, though. He stops with a hand flat against the door, looking to Djoser solemnly.]
... Khonsu died of his mark before the Ennead could execute him. The amount of people who died... the destruction of the world, it was immeasurable. In response, the gods decided to withdraw from humanity completely. Thoth chose not to end the world, but to reconstruct it and reverse the damage.
[Only one spell, Damnatio Memoriae, was capable of such a thing. Imhotep had spoken to Thoth at length about it; the task had been entrusted to them both, though only Thoth's power could do something so extreme. But they hadn't had a chance to begin the spell before Imhotep arrived here, and now he had no idea if Thoth could do it alone, without a body.]
no subject
.....Right. It would have been like that, wouldn't it? [Apophis tries hard to make himself look sad and solemn, dropping his tone and casting his eyes down as if he were imaging and mourning all that destruction. Inwardly he's laughing, though. And seething. So they stopped him, and yet he still destroyed that much that he'd cornered them into acting anyway! Haha, how about that! But that Thoth had pulled out all the stops and cheated for the humans and other gods again.... !!
Yeah. He really wants to destroy something now. Or somebody. Extra slow and painfully.]
Khonsu was one of your friends, right? I'm sorry. Even though it sounds like he got to thumb his nose at nobody less than the gods one last time. For the rest.... I knew you'd find a way. You and Thoth. But I bet you had something to do with him making that decision, huh?
[He offers him a smile that he hopes fits the occassion. Small and a little on both the proud and bitter side.]
I knew I could leave things to you, my friend. Are those others also like that one you mentioned? With the feathers?