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memestertrucks2025-05-15 04:31 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-05-15 04:31 pm
Entry tags:
MAY TDM
Things are a little stranger than usual at the gas station and garage. Namely that gravity just isn't working as it should. Objects float, pieces of the floor float... Even unlucky new arrivals can also find themselves floating! It's going to be a challenge to get around without any scrapes or scratches... Though at least there's what looks like a hospital nearby? Granted, it's an upside down hospital, but it's better than nothing.
01: SUMMONING CIRCLE
Drifters come to with an odd floating sensation hooked into their stomachs, and instead of laying on the concrete find themselves drifting a foot or two above the floor. An unfortunate few may be stuck on the ceiling. Whether they crash down hard into the floor (and the various vials, daggers, and broken glass scattered about) or remain floating in the air is a coin toss.
Still, it might be best to lend a hand with pulling them back to the ground, and hoping gravity will work as normal in another breath or two.
Once they make their way out, they can see a gas station and garage located in the midst of strange, floating rocks… And an upside down hospital close by, for those who had a rougher landing.
Still, it might be best to lend a hand with pulling them back to the ground, and hoping gravity will work as normal in another breath or two.
Once they make their way out, they can see a gas station and garage located in the midst of strange, floating rocks… And an upside down hospital close by, for those who had a rougher landing.
02: START UP
New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting 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 the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the (sometimes floating) supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
And hopefully no one's vehicle has decided to float. But one can never be sure in a place like this.
…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 the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the (sometimes floating) supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
And hopefully no one's vehicle has decided to float. But one can never be sure in a place like this.
03: HUSKS AND HAUNTS
The inverted hospital seems to have trouble deciding the exact formation of its hallways, whether the new arrivals should be walking on the ceiling, floors, or walls. But one thing that is certain: this place isn’t entirely deserted. Warnings of “Beware the Husks” have been spray painted on the walls. Metallic bodies line those same halls, some of them broken open. A wet trail leads from the broken Husks to the rafters… Where several odd monsters wait to drop down. Some look like they’ve merged with the hospital equipment, while others look like they’ve been cobbled together from different body parts. And all of them look ready to turn the newcomers into a corpse, or part of a specimen collection.
Strange, malformed chimeric creatures that are Unknown stalk the hallways. Unknowns come in three different colors, red aligned with fire, green with poison, and purple with lightning.
Adding to that are the various screens flickering on, and diagnose new arrivals as infected. The screens declare the infection seems to be contained, but requires further study… And if the monsters aren't enough to worry about, there’s also the restraint systems trying to activate and tie the new arrivals down.
Strange, malformed chimeric creatures that are Unknown stalk the hallways. Unknowns come in three different colors, red aligned with fire, green with poison, and purple with lightning.
Adding to that are the various screens flickering on, and diagnose new arrivals as infected. The screens declare the infection seems to be contained, but requires further study… And if the monsters aren't enough to worry about, there’s also the restraint systems trying to activate and tie the new arrivals down.
04: TESTING (CW: Needles)
The deeper someone plunges into the hospital, the more the building reacts to them. More defenses are deployed, treating them as thieves or intruders. Traps and monsters alike wait for them, with syringes melded into the forms of attackers, or lining places where someone might step or reach for. The syringes make a quick bite on skin… But it’s only a few minutes later where the effects become clear. Something in those syringes is now in the blood and forcing monster transformations. There might be an antidote amongst the supplies… Or the newcomers might need to rely on each other, in order to stay anchored.
The needles can also force temporary Swarm traits, along with:
+Group Mind: compelled to link thoughts with other Drifters, to share emotions, memories, and achieve cohesion.
+An increasing reliance on telepathy/empathy/etc in place of speech.
+Increasing collectivist mindset. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; this becomes more evident during high stress situations.
+Compelled to hunt and share their prey with others.
+Gravity Affinity: If possessing wings or the ability to wall climb, may freely hunt/traverse corrupted gravity areas.
The needles can also force temporary Swarm traits, along with:
+Group Mind: compelled to link thoughts with other Drifters, to share emotions, memories, and achieve cohesion.
+An increasing reliance on telepathy/empathy/etc in place of speech.
+Increasing collectivist mindset. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; this becomes more evident during high stress situations.
+Compelled to hunt and share their prey with others.
+Gravity Affinity: If possessing wings or the ability to wall climb, may freely hunt/traverse corrupted gravity areas.
05: LONG WAY DOWN
A portion of the gas station breaks away with groan and a rumble. And it is slowly pulled up and up, taking a portion of new comers with it! They (and anyone watching) will need to act fast, as gravity starts to go weird the further they rise. They’ll need to find a way back down, taking any supplies from the now-floating garage that they can grab.
What’s more, they are drifting closer to the broken moon, and that seems to be having a strange effect on those stranded on the new floating ruin. They may start to feel their control fray, and their forms shift, the higher they rise.
In terms of getting back down, there’s a handful of tow lines in the ruin that might work as ropes. There’s also a few pieces of rock that are floating up more slowly, and could work as stairs back down… Or there’s just jumping and falling fifty feet and hoping for the best.
What’s more, they are drifting closer to the broken moon, and that seems to be having a strange effect on those stranded on the new floating ruin. They may start to feel their control fray, and their forms shift, the higher they rise.
In terms of getting back down, there’s a handful of tow lines in the ruin that might work as ropes. There’s also a few pieces of rock that are floating up more slowly, and could work as stairs back down… Or there’s just jumping and falling fifty feet and hoping for the best.
06: PSYCHIC ECHOES
There's one last quirk to this area; a few scattered bits of odd plantlife, and the odd dead brain monster. While these things aren't a threat on their own (beyond being unnerving) they still pack a psychic punch; mainly in the form of temporary psychic abilities.
It's possible that after coming in contact with either plants or corpses, newcomers will find themselves gifted with either empathy (projecting or receiving emotions) telepathy, OR the ability to share their dreams with others, and having their dreams influenced by others in turn. This effect fades in just a day or so, but is still capable of causing mishaps.
It's possible that after coming in contact with either plants or corpses, newcomers will find themselves gifted with either empathy (projecting or receiving emotions) telepathy, OR the ability to share their dreams with others, and having their dreams influenced by others in turn. This effect fades in just a day or so, but is still capable of causing mishaps.
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.
Broadcast: The garage contains a few burnt out monitors. But a handful of them are playing a message over and over again on loop, filled with static. It’s a recording of important looking people in lab coats advising people to remain indoors and avoiding all objects falling from the sky. Especially “moon shards.” They insist that they are working to contain and cure the infection, but the safest action is to remain inside.
Warped Air: As seen in Long Way Down, the air overhead has strange warped pockets in it. There seem to be slightly different shards hanging suspended in the air, looking more silvery than the surrounding rocks. Almost like it could have fallen from the broken moon overhead.
Medical supplies: Most of the medical supplies found in the hospital seem to consist of healing salves and potions, a handful of healing herbs, and a few antidotes for poison or sickness. As for reverting transformations… It’s advised that new comers be careful of taking any experimental medicine. It may revert a change. It may also leave them hallucinating nightmares and fears, and they’ll be wanting someone close by to help administer the drug.
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and so he does, as a storm brews, contained around and within the hospital as wind and ice sneaks its way through every crevice. the demon puts space between them and the draugr, his eerie blue eyes alight in the dark, staggers right back into heat to cling onto his hide and bite into another part of him that's been hindered. his tongue drags where blood pops through. he seems to avoid the spots he has chilled with his touch, and much prefers the heat of freshness. but it's so cold that liquid cracks into crystal maroon. ]
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But when the ambient sound of the building is sharply pierced by a bugle, Serph answers the call and is met with howling wind and bone-chilling ice, Agni's snarls drawing his attention into sharp focus.
There is no monster he's encountered in the hospital that can do that. And he recognises that silhouette.
Serph pushes through the storm, reaches for both draugr and demon to shove them apart, heedless of how that would almost certainly result in some flesh being torn away; Heat's been through worse, he can handle being a little bitten.]
Jayce! Get a hold of yourself!
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So it's the one spot Heat aims for with those three sharp bone talons, the snap of jaws aiming to get what hold he can and prevent any kind of evasion or sufficient defense even if it costs him the pain of injury and exploited weakness.
Well, that was the goal anyway, except quite suddenly Varuna is in the way, and the bloodied two-headed demon locks up mid-swing in surprise simply to avoid hitting Serph instead of the decaying Jayce. Friendly fire isn't.]
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jayce swallows near instantly and yells: ]
Serph!
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The fact that Serph is willing to turn his back towards Agni is an indicator that he doesn't see the red, hulking demon as a threat. Of course he wouldn't, when he has known Heat for years despite the oddities surrounding his appearance in this world.]
He is a comrade.
[The words are directed at both of them, his tone as calm and even as ever, despite his demon's guttural snarl underscoring his speech.]
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The jagged, tooth filled grin of Agni leers over Serph's shoulder, as if no injury had been sustained, as if he wasn't missing several chunks and freezing his bare ass off.]
Should just eat this one. Tastes weird, you'll like it.
[Was this deer demon the reason Serph's been acting off?
He didn't feel particularly Charmed, so it isn't the utterly bizarre but interesting meat. Probably not.]
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until heat says that— jayce doesn't, perse, charge, but he does stomp his good hoof down and throw his antler rack in a way only an enraged stag would. baring his bloody teeth, jayce spits out a coaglate hanging at the back of his throat and snarls: ]
Fuck you, I was defending myself.
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(But he will have to ask Heat later what Jayce tasted like...)]
He's a rookie.
[The term has implications beyond simply being inexperienced (and maybe a little weak); rookies were people newly 'born'... and new to being a monster.
He turns his head towards Jayce, expression even more unreadable with Varuna's lack of eyes.]
Viktor was looking for you. Will you go back to him?
[Best to separate Jayce and Heat for now...]
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Rookies did indeed have implication. Naive, inexperienced.
Beelzebub had been a rookie that got a little too big for his britches; rookies needed to be kept in hand or they'd run amok, the structure of tribes and their usual intense loyalties important to prevent it. But Jayce isn't marked in orange. Or any other tribe color. The low rumble resumes, distinctly displeased.]
Fine. [Obedience didn't mean he wouldn't grumble about it.] I'll let you go this time.
[Fearless he remains, but he's not stupid; re-engaging surrounded by ice and already injured wasn't high on Heat's priority list though that didn't mean he wouldn't claim otherwise. Regaining his 'human' form in a cascade of pale light, Agni's injuries seem to disappear, no obvious wounds marring the gray and black Junkyard armor, but they ARE still there.
The cold is far more tolerable immediately.]
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no comment, but rugged features do look more melancholy, soft even, if just for a moment where he must bring his gaze downward to recompose. especially. after this? he's not going back bloodied and more wild animal than man, that was the reason he ran off in the first place.
with heat sounding off with something . . . actually laughable, jayce fixes a glare back to him with a huff of a laugh under his breath, flash of teeth like a dog's stained red. chewing on the remains stuck to his gums, he pushes past them to retrieve his hammer, his limp even more stiff now that his brace is completely frozen at the mechanical bends at his joints. even then, the cold hasn't lifted yet; jayce still feels too bitter to let it heat up again, but at least— all his wounds are healed, too. what remains are the splotches and fabric rips telling of a skirmish.
his antler rack bears pieces and ribbons of sinew like a trophy. ]
He threatens me again, [ because he fought tooth and nail to survive, because he has a reason to live, even if he's essentially dead, ] there won't be a next time.
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Besides, even with Agni's elemental weakness, Serph has no doubt who would be the one walking away from second conflict.
It's only once Jayce is long out of earshot that Serph asks Heat quietly-]
What did he taste like?
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[Ego means he just.. can't.. leave it alone, but he also doesn't actually make any move to follow, that would be a bad idea for multiple reasons and he knew it. Restraint and Heat don't exactly go hand in hand at the best of times.
But Serph has made it clear further fighting ... at the moment ... simply wasn't allowed, so he'd obey.
The quiet question jerks his head around to stare at Serph for a long silent moment, single visible eye a bit wide from surprise. Ordinarily one does not ask what hypothetical comrades taste like. He doesn't answer right away, running his tongue across his teeth, thinking about it. Thinking some more.]
... You know how if you don't eat someone right away and it's kind of dark and damp they don't just disappear they start growing all those little weird dicks all over them? [Mushrooms.] Like those, but ... tingly on the back of the tongues.
[He's actually thinking about this really hard, and it's not really certain whether he likes it or not. Even he's not sure.]
He definitely tastes like meat but it's .. old meat, and the tingly gets worse the more you chew, like it's gonna start bubbling at any moment. I think if I ate all of him I'd be able to smell colors or something after a while, it's that kind of taste. You should try it.
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Jayce is a researcher and a key holder of information.
[So no, neither of them will be taking bites of Jayce. Even if it sounds honestly enticing.]
His body is corrupted. Monsters struck by his weapon are corrupted in the same way and start to defy reality.
[Knowing that's not particularly easy to imagine, he continues-]
Killed flying enemies hang in the air, unaffected by gravity. Corpses flicker in and out of existence. He warned me against consuming monsters slain this way.
[Serph's brows furrow, looking over Heat more carefully, searching for injury.]
You're lucky to be in one piece.
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Kind of hard to eat something that keeps disappearing anyway.
[Heat's not hanging in the air or flickering in and out of existence, so surely he wasn't actually struck by the weapon, right? He wouldn't have just stood in the way, surely. Except Jayce did a lot more damage than he's willing to let on, and black underarmor hid a whole lot from sight. All the blood smell is surely just lingering from earlier.
He's not moving right for someone healthy. That's coincidence, yep. And as Serph says he's lucky to be in one piece, he makes a low disgusted sound.]
I'm not that weak. It's going to take more than zombie Bambi to keep me down.
[By the pause that follows, and the short annoyed headshake that follows that, no, he doesn't actually know what a bambi is. Sudden popup words are an endless plague.]
pretend i remembered to say Serph reverted after Jayce left...
Still, it's not that difficult to see that despite outward appearances, Heat isn't moving with the same gait he had been when they were together earlier. Serph's expression flattens, his voice taking on a stern edge to it.]
Heat.
[C'mon man, he knows you're a tough guy. But injuries that aren't tended to tend to get worse not better.]
Where did you take a hit?
Varuna's stern look is far more menacing.
Wounds ignored could occasionally be improved by finding the right tasty snack and devouring it. That'd work fine for him, he still wanted to kill something.]
It's fine, his horns are just sharper than I expected. That stupid laser didn't even hurt that much. If Dia's working when Agi isn't, fine, but I can just devour things for a while too.
[He has a strong preference for which option is superior. But Serph has the right of it to be concerned, he's seen what Jayce's power can do, and sharp antlers are not the problem. While the wounds from antlers and blunt teeth aren't exactly getting better, at least that isn't continuing to slowly spread. Heat had never bothered to learn any of the healing skills that others did, but this planet had seen fit to take care of that if he ever bothered to try. But why would he? He knows his role in a fight and it isn't healing.]
}:(
Re-opening his eyes, Serph raises his hands, a faint glow emanating from them.]
Where.
[Where did the laser hit him? Serph isn't going to let this go untreated, even if the side effects of his healing magic granted by this world will temporarily incapacitate him. And the flat tone of his voice means he isn't accepting arguments about this.]
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That's bullshit. Why don't any of my mantras still work?
[There's some logic to it. They're the only Embryon in the Convoy right now, they'd both need to stay at reasonably high capabilities for the foreseeable future. With some reluctance the side Jayce had first struck with his hammer and then torn open with antlers and teeth is indicated; armor and bodysuit neatly hide most any visible sign of injury.]
Cielo hits harder.
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It was the corruption that slowly killed Jayce.
[Yes, he looks alive and kicking now, but Serph remembers vividly standing in a pool of his rainbow coloured blood, corpse propped up in the back of his truck, heart destroyed. Cielo might hit harder, but the corruption was like a poison, slowly destroying from the inside.]
Life was forced back into him by another. I don't know how they did it. I'm not taking that risk with you.
[The glow emanating from his hands, hair and eyes grows more intense as he lays his palms on the injured side. It feels dulled to Serph's senses, healing through the thick armour instead of direct contact with the injured site, but he stays focused on mostly the corruption tainting beneath the flesh rather than the other wounds; a normal injury could be healed with devouring. Rainbow webbing is unpicked from Heat's insides, purging every corrupted thread seeking to entwine itself around flesh and sinew after a great effort from Serph.
Infection cleansed, Serph's knees buckle from underneath him.]
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[Heat's mutter is sullen at best. He'd strip if he had to but magic rarely cared about things like armor and clothing, so it's probably fine. Even with it in place he still jerks slightly at unwelcome contact, even light pressure unpleasant. He's still sure he'd heal without intervention. He's wrong.
It's very much like poison but more persistent, subtler. It's easy to tell poison's immediately harmful, ignore it for even a few minutes and it could get debilitating. They all found that out the hard way a long time ago. Jayce's arcane rot would have taken longer, maybe as much as a couple hours as it spread and consumed, but in time even his great endurance would have faltered. The rest wouldn't kill him. This would have.
There's some part of him that is suddenly pretty sure he could use that same spell if he wanted to as the dim sense of malaise is purged, but there's no time to consider it. No sooner does the feeling of injury settle into a more ordinary pain than Serph's legs give out, and Heat grabs for him immediately, alarmed.]
Serph? Hey, what--
[.. Chatting can wait. If Serph can't stand under his own weight, the wounds that remain, mere torn flesh and muscle, are not enough to prevent Heat from being able to hold him up instead. That is NOT how he expects magic to work. It's not a debilitating power.]
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He closes his eyes.]
It will pass.
[He's obviously experienced this ill-effect before. Serph generally tries not to use this healing magic while in hostile territory, but he doesn't know enough about the corruption that plagues Jayce, only its ultimate end result.
But the monsters here aren't particularly strong compared to even a partially injured Heat, so he's confident he would be kept safe from harm while recovering. There's a hint of annoyance as he says-]
This world's healing magic isn't useful in combat.
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Then you're a moron for using it.
[For all the harshness of the rebuke, he's careful to the point of almost gentleness in working on seeing if Serph can support his own weight, and if not simply picking him right up, wings and all. He's strong enough, and though it'll hurt, it's not enough to be a real hindrance.
Some things are always more important.]
We're getting out of here.
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He didn't know he missed being told off until he heard it for the first time in months.
With support from Heat he's able to stay upright, though their walking pace is slowed as he focuses on putting one foot in front of the other and not sway too much.
All this is only a roadbump on their journey to Nirvana.]
[ooc: Seems like a decent place to tie this off? Once they're out of the hospital Serph could probably sit for a bit and recover before they go back to the Convoy.]
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