monstertruckers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
monstertruckers) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
memestertrucks2025-09-15 12:18 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-09-15 12:18 pm
Entry tags:
SEPTEMBER TDM
This month, new arrivals will find plenty of sand and rocks strewn over the garage, as well as an oppressive heat. Day or night alike offers little reprieve, and the air is dry and dusty. It will be a task to keep cool, as well as keep control. There’s plenty of threats beyond just the oppressive temperature, and a chaotic, dangerous, landscape to match.
01: SUMMONING CIRCLE
New Drifters arrive with a feeling of stifling heat. The garage has been baking in the sun for most of the day on an exposed mesa, and as the sun goes down it’s only now beginning to cool. Heat stroke and dehydration are both real concerns. There’s water available in the gas station nearby… But it involves crossing a precarious rock arch, exposed to open air. Otherwise, there’s more water in a river further down, but the climb is equally risky and involves scurrying down sheer rock walls. (And dealing with territorial cactaurs at the bottom.)
There is also an oasis off in the distance, but it would be impossible to arrive there on foot. At least for a normal person.
Either way, it’s advised to find some form of hydration, both for the sake of newcomers and for the sake of the Convoy rolling up. With how the heat seems to be beating down on the vehicles, it’s questionable if they have much water to spare.
There is also an oasis off in the distance, but it would be impossible to arrive there on foot. At least for a normal person.
Either way, it’s advised to find some form of hydration, both for the sake of newcomers and for the sake of the Convoy rolling up. With how the heat seems to be beating down on the vehicles, it’s questionable if they have much water to spare.
02: START UP
There are various cars surrounding the garage. (And for a few unfortunates, parked across the rock bridge! Though the rocks should be able to take the weight of the cars. Just don’t look down.) Many of them parked in the shelter of rocks and caves to try and hide from the worst of the heat.
Some of the cars may still need to cool down from the heat, but regardless, there’s a certain connection between different newcomers and cars. Something that suggests a particular vehicle is theirs, backed up by possessing the key to that vehicle. 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 supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
Some of the cars may still need to cool down from the heat, but regardless, there’s a certain connection between different newcomers and cars. Something that suggests a particular vehicle is theirs, backed up by possessing the key to that vehicle. 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 supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
03: MOON WARP
To complicate things, the moon overhead pulses strangely. Shards of moonstone rain down as night falls over the garage and gas station. And something about these stones warps the surroundings.
A storm begins to brew overhead, with a growl of thunder. The red wasteland rocks surrounding the area begin to reflect sound of the storm, make it sound almost like song… And everyone close to the moon shard stones can feel their bodies begin to warp in turn.
New arrivals affected by the moon shower will find themselves with access to an additional monster form with two variations:
A storm begins to brew overhead, with a growl of thunder. The red wasteland rocks surrounding the area begin to reflect sound of the storm, make it sound almost like song… And everyone close to the moon shard stones can feel their bodies begin to warp in turn.
New arrivals affected by the moon shower will find themselves with access to an additional monster form with two variations:
03: MONSTER SHIFT, SPHINX
This month's monster is the Sphinx, a human-lion hybrid that may also have bird-like wings. It’s up to the player on just how leonine their facial features and bodies are. Alongside all sphinx species traits, the following also happens:
+Fluctuating Voice: voice can easily shift into a growl or a roar if emotions grow heated. This roar can also cause damage if loud enough.
+Clawing Pains: Can grow retractable claws, which may provide intense pain or discomfort. Healing magics can help alleviate this pain... Or sharpening their budding claws on just about anything, including stone.
+Compelled to speak in riddles or outright lying. This makes conveying any information found in the truck stop all the more difficult.
Compelled to guard a either people or a location. This could be beneficial for other Drifters if the Sphinx decides to protect them or the Convoy… But it could also be negative, if a Sphinx decides that they need to guard the garage and gas station, and other Drifters are intruders.
+An obsession with riddles and puzzles. And newly arriving to this place certainly counts as a riddle!
+Ambush Predator: Gains an affinity for stalking amongst the ruins, and using them to advantage when hunting other monsters. Running from or turning one's back on a Sphinx is not advised, lest it trigger the hunting instinct.
+Fluctuating Voice: voice can easily shift into a growl or a roar if emotions grow heated. This roar can also cause damage if loud enough.
+Clawing Pains: Can grow retractable claws, which may provide intense pain or discomfort. Healing magics can help alleviate this pain... Or sharpening their budding claws on just about anything, including stone.
+Compelled to speak in riddles or outright lying. This makes conveying any information found in the truck stop all the more difficult.
Compelled to guard a either people or a location. This could be beneficial for other Drifters if the Sphinx decides to protect them or the Convoy… But it could also be negative, if a Sphinx decides that they need to guard the garage and gas station, and other Drifters are intruders.
+An obsession with riddles and puzzles. And newly arriving to this place certainly counts as a riddle!
+Ambush Predator: Gains an affinity for stalking amongst the ruins, and using them to advantage when hunting other monsters. Running from or turning one's back on a Sphinx is not advised, lest it trigger the hunting instinct.
03: MONSTER SHIFT, MANTICORE
Alongside Sphinx, is the Manticore. A second human-lion hybrid, with rows of razor teeth, batlike wings, and poisonous quills/barbs on their tails. Manticores can access all Sphinx and Drakonis traits, and also gain:
+Voracious Appetite: Need to consume a large amount of meat. Husk monsters are around to feed on, otherwise may be compelled to raid the Convoy for food.
+Truth Compulsion: Manticores gain a loud, almost trumpet quality to their voice, and a need to announce truths instead of riddles. With so many books in the library, there’s lots of truth to announce.
+Guardian Compulsion: like the Sphinx, Manticores can be guards. Generally Manticores tend to be much more territorial, opting for a location and driving all intruders all of it… Or opting for one person and turning savagely protective.
+Instinct Shift: Low control of Protean form, but can subconsciously shift limbs back and forth.
+Toothing Pains: Gains rows of shark-like teeth that can chew through metal. Growing these may result in pain, and pain easily leads to berserk frenzy.
+Poison Sting: While growing the poison quills, the process can be unstable and cause manticores to shoot or shed their spines at inopportune times. The poison is still developing and cannot kill, but can cause paralysis, pain, or hallucinations.
+Voracious Appetite: Need to consume a large amount of meat. Husk monsters are around to feed on, otherwise may be compelled to raid the Convoy for food.
+Truth Compulsion: Manticores gain a loud, almost trumpet quality to their voice, and a need to announce truths instead of riddles. With so many books in the library, there’s lots of truth to announce.
+Guardian Compulsion: like the Sphinx, Manticores can be guards. Generally Manticores tend to be much more territorial, opting for a location and driving all intruders all of it… Or opting for one person and turning savagely protective.
+Instinct Shift: Low control of Protean form, but can subconsciously shift limbs back and forth.
+Toothing Pains: Gains rows of shark-like teeth that can chew through metal. Growing these may result in pain, and pain easily leads to berserk frenzy.
+Poison Sting: While growing the poison quills, the process can be unstable and cause manticores to shoot or shed their spines at inopportune times. The poison is still developing and cannot kill, but can cause paralysis, pain, or hallucinations.
04: TRUCK STOP ARCHIVES
One oddity with the truck stop this time around is just how many books are on the shelves. They hold information on the monsters here: both tales and legends, but also how to go about hunting them. There is also a section of maps, most of them worn out and illegible… But a few of them carry notes hastily scrawled into them about a place called “Nirvana.”
The following information can be gained from a quick scan:
+“Got to stay on the road. Nirvana is supposed to be a paradise.”
+“Somehow after everything we went through, it’s still standing. Still telling us to seek shelter there.”
+“It’ll take months to reach it. Doesn’t matter. Keep going. It’s the only city we have left.”
+“Crossroads Of Fate. Heard someone say it once.”
+”Only way we can make a home. Or make it home.”
+“Sits on leylines. They say that’s how the moonshards keep missing. Somehow warps time and space around it. Wonder what else it can warp.”
The following information can be gained from a quick scan:
+“Got to stay on the road. Nirvana is supposed to be a paradise.”
+“Somehow after everything we went through, it’s still standing. Still telling us to seek shelter there.”
+“It’ll take months to reach it. Doesn’t matter. Keep going. It’s the only city we have left.”
+“Crossroads Of Fate. Heard someone say it once.”
+”Only way we can make a home. Or make it home.”
+“Sits on leylines. They say that’s how the moonshards keep missing. Somehow warps time and space around it. Wonder what else it can warp.”
05: HUSK MONSTERS
There are several metallic forms around the garage and the truck stop; whenever night falls (or moonshards fall) they burst open, becoming prey for afflicted newcomers… Or threats.
First are gaunt things called Chasers that look like a cross between a human and a horse, and can easily run down newcomers on foot or in cars. The moon warp also makes something in their backs glow, before generating streams of razor wind.
Second are strange bulky armadillo like creatures. Far slower than the Chasers, these monsters prefer to roll into a ball for any form of speed and crush their quarry with their bulk. Once crippled, they tear at targets with sharp digging claws. They are often encountered with mutated moles who dig through stone like earth.
Last are the hulking chimeras shot through with poison and bad tempers, ready to pounce and tackle into prey to inject their toxins.
First are gaunt things called Chasers that look like a cross between a human and a horse, and can easily run down newcomers on foot or in cars. The moon warp also makes something in their backs glow, before generating streams of razor wind.
Second are strange bulky armadillo like creatures. Far slower than the Chasers, these monsters prefer to roll into a ball for any form of speed and crush their quarry with their bulk. Once crippled, they tear at targets with sharp digging claws. They are often encountered with mutated moles who dig through stone like earth.
Last are the hulking chimeras shot through with poison and bad tempers, ready to pounce and tackle into prey to inject their toxins.
06: CACTUARS!
Those who wander a little further from the gas station find that the landscape gets more hostile; hotter, sharp edged rocks, steep rocks... And Cactuars. These odd creatures resemble 2-3 foot high cactuses, do an odd little dance, and shoot needles at anyone who gets too close. These needles hurt a lot, but tougher vehicles (and extremely sturdy rocks) can offer protection. They are also agile creatures who require heavy fire power to bring down.
...And rather worryingly, Cactuars CAN be eaten. They resemble a vegetable or a fruit with a lot of water packed into them, or green tofu. They are disconcertingly tasty. But anyone who does eat them is suddenly, physically compelled to do the Cactuar Pose. This lasts for 30 seconds, and activates AGAIN if a Drifter eats more Cactuar. And some well meaning person has stocked the entire Convoy with Cactuar supplies, to add to the confusion: please exercise caution with eating anything green.
...And rather worryingly, Cactuars CAN be eaten. They resemble a vegetable or a fruit with a lot of water packed into them, or green tofu. They are disconcertingly tasty. But anyone who does eat them is suddenly, physically compelled to do the Cactuar Pose. This lasts for 30 seconds, and activates AGAIN if a Drifter eats more Cactuar. And some well meaning person has stocked the entire Convoy with Cactuar supplies, to add to the confusion: please exercise caution with eating anything green.
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.
Open Sky: The garage and gas station are perched on top of a mesa, with a truly massive sky stretched out overhead. Agoraphobiacs beware. Those with monster forms associated with the open sky (harpies, sphinx, wind elementals, dragons, etc) may find the open sky far more enticing than before. Just be careful when crossing the narrow rock bridges, as there’s a long drop below.
Red Hot Red Rocks: Portions of the mesa react to the heat a little too well. There are patches of rocks that can instantly burn any skin that makes contact; some of those patches are between a Drifter and their vehicle, or the convoy, or the gas station! It will be a task to either cool those patches down, or avoid them.
Vegetation: It’s sparse in the badlands, but a few plants are noticeable. First are the tumbleweeds, dried out and rolling along. These ones have sharp edges, and seem to multiply if they hit a solid object at speed. And are very flammable. There’s also a few cactus like plants; some of them even have drinkable water that won’t poison anyone! They are signified by blue fruit growing on them. And the fact that they shoot their spines at anything that gets too close.
no subject
[ It's a pointed sort of 'right'. Not really a challenge, but maybe an acknowledgement. Or a gentle suggestion that he shouldn't burden himself either. But she assumes he probably will, just like she will.
Her nose scrunches up in a mock pout. ]
Not even if the holiday was about me? I'm hurt.
[ Dramatically she puts a hand to her chest briefly. Really, it's only half in a dramatic attempt to lighten the mood and half in an attempt to do something with her hands. Something other than let them shake nervously. With that news a shadow darkens her expression, something bigger than her. She stiffens and drops her hands to her side as she tries to sift through a whirlwind of feelings. ]
Then he doesn't know...anything, does he?
no subject
[ How well he knows. But Vincent will do his best if Aerith does. Tragedy happens. And life must go on. The pout will be met with a sigh; it's a false one however and there's again a tiny smile. A twitch of the corners of his mouth if you will. ]
Too many people. But... I'd think about it.
[ He'd absolutely go. Hang in a corner and watch from a window out of the way of the streets and people and everything. But... it's okay to watch.
The humor will fade though; because he sees the shaking hands and because he has more to say that will not make that any better. But it must be said now. ]
Tifa and I... have told him about Nibelheim. About his origin. What Jenova is.
[ And he had not broke. A mixed blessing. ]
But... it's probably a matter of time before the rest comes out.
[ And here, Vincent will say something he will likely regret doing so as casually. But he didn't know. ]
There's a man here. Zack. SOLDIER, First Class. He also knows part of the tale. He was at Nibelheim too.
[ From his perspective, that was not something that came to light before Aerith's death. So how could Vincent realize the connection? ]
no subject
[ She smiles very softly, though there's definitely a forced quality to the smile now with the topic of Sephiroth. How can it not fall down with that sort of topic. Suddenly she wishes she had something to fiddle with, her garden, flowers, something she could put her hands to and distract herself from. ]
Must've been nice to be able to tell someone something big without interruptions.
[ She thinks of the Whispers and what sort of meltdown they'd have had over that. There's a pang there, something like guilt and envy. If she'd been able to remember everything exactly, if the Whispers hadn't been there, could she have had more of an effect on everything? Why do their lives seem to revolve around so many what if's that pile on top of each other?
She sighs to try to give herself some sort of center. ]
Do you think he handled it okay?
[ Obviously he must not have broken completely over it all, but there's a difference between going mad quickly and letting something fester. Before she can add anymore the mention of Zack gets her attention. Her breath catches and her eyes widen. ]
Zack's here too?
[ the other part is important, but him just being here is the part that she can't help but focus in on. ]
Not me also watching the thread of Aerith and Sephiroth meanwhile
His right hand clenches at his side. Vincent looks up. ]
Can't say for certain. [ He doesn't know how it was taken before, trapped in his own nightmares as he was at the time. ] Hard to compare. I keep an eye on him.
[ There's no library of misinformation. And Sephiroth at least eats regularly. But at the end of the day even if the man had the comparison, who would he be to say how Sephiroth is taking things? These dour thoughts are something Vincent will be startled from when Aerith speaks of recognizing the man he just mentioned. ]
You know him?
[ He rarely expresses surprise. This is one of those times. The pieces can be put together fairly soon; at least knowing that Zack was a member of SOLDIER and Aerith lived in Midgar and had unfortunate ties to Shinra. Vincent's gaze shifts to one side, guilty. ]
Sorry. Didn't know.
[ He would have broken it more gently. For better or worse. ]
oh noooo haha she's having a Time and a Half hope I'm doing alright though!
[ Differently. In a way that's hard to not notice something is off about a person. Megalomaniacal seems too excessive of a word but she almost wants to put it that way. Instead she just shakes her head, shoulders dropping ever so slightly from their previous tension. ]
I'll know if I talk to him. If there's something wrong.
[ How could she not know? In any timeline in any place she feels like she'll always know when things go...wrong with him. Which is her way of saying she'll keep an eye on him too. Even if there's a part of her that's unsettled by the idea of it. Zack's a different topic though, something that causes her cheeks to flush ever so slightly. ]
Yes. I do. Or did. We were...I knew him before he went on that mission. Then he disappeared and...
[ She tries to keep the sadness out of her voice but it seeps in unbidden. Then she didn't hear from him again. Didn't have any idea about what might have come to be other than what she began to piece together from different sources all around her. She looks up and forces a smile and another shake of her head. ]
Don't apologize! It's good news to hear he's here. I hope you've all been getting along. He can be a bit much sometimes.
[ Some might call him a puppy. ]
You have nothing to worry about!
Maybe. [ But at Aerith's assurance that she'll talk to him, Vincent gives her a sharp look. What comes out is not a protest however. There's a long look. ] I won't tell you not to. Just don't run off on your own this time.
[ There's no need for that, here. Right? Besides that part, the former Turk sounds surprisingly sincere in not having any interest in preventing Aerith from speaking with Sephiroth.
There's... some relief that it's good news to hear of Zack; enough that a soft exhalation escapes the tall man. The sound of it ends with the sort of noise one might expect of an introvert being reminded of their last encounter with a man like Zack Fair. ]
Only sometimes?
[ ...Vincent doesn't like that forced smile though. And his gaze is settled carefully on Aerith again. Those ruby eyes hold compassion and perhaps concern. ]
thank you!
[ But she's not entirely sure if she can promise not to. Not when she knows how hard promises can sometimes be to keep. One can never really know what may come, but she can at least try. Maybe it hadn't been the right choice to go off on her own in the first place, but that's neither here nor there.
All she can really do is hope there's no cause for it here. She's pretty decent at hoping.
Though she does at least chuckle more genuinely at the response. ]
Okay, maybe a bit [ she brings her hand out and pinches her fingers together. ] more than sometimes. Does that mean he's been causing problems?
no subject
Hm. That's good enough.
[ Problems? Zack? Maybe only if you're as introverted as Vincent Valentine. There's a dismissive shrug. ]
Not really.
[ He won't admit the SOLDIER once picked him up like a football because he thought Vincent was going to get hit by fallen debris. Never.
Let's face it, people like Vincent and people like Zack are like cold water coming into contact with hot oil. ]
no subject
[ Only fair, right? Then again if anyone can protect themselves she's certain it's him. Even if they only traveled together a short time she still counts him as a friend. Friends are really few and far between for her, at least real ones. Which means he's firmly on her list of people to worry about. ]
That's good. It's nice to think you've...all been getting along here. [ The 'all' including Sephiroth. Which is...rather strange to even think about. More than strange. Complicated and confusing. ] Whatever here actually is.
no subject
I'm still here aren't I?
[ One can't count the times when he's been compromised due to turning into a manticore and having his memories altered to think he was a native of this world!
But maybe one can count how much he tends to solve the issues that come up on his own before thinking about reaching out to others. ]
...Probably not ours. The natives called it Revan.
[ That much had been gleaned. ]
People in the convoy say they all come from different worlds and times. You'll find monsters here that are familiar.
[ Cactaurs notwithstanding. ]
Even some of Shinra's experiments seem to wash up. But... I doubt this is the fate of our world. Or others.
no subject
Guess we'll just have to continue being here staying out of trouble together.
[ Though she's not stupid, she definitely gets the impression that this isn't a really safe place- that things may happen here that will be out of their control. Her face visibly scrunches up in displeasure at the mention of Shinra's experiments. ]
I'm not really surprised to end up in another world and still not be able to escape them.
[ But she does sound a bit...tired there. Maybe even slightly sad. ]
So, nobody really knows what happened to this world?
no subject
As much as any place we've been together.
[ Which is to say as fleeting as Vincent's own smile. Though those trouble free moments were not so bad. ]
Monsters, too. And cactaurs as you've seen.
[ But what happened to this world... That causes the gunman to look up at the sky. If it's night, the broken moon might be glimpsed. If it's day... well, probably not. But still. ]
Hm. Calamity. Someone meddled. The moon shattered. And the world as they knew it came to an end. There's more, stored in the convoy's data files. And what we've recorded.
[ His gaze returns to Aerith. ]
...In part, our arrival here... [ He speaks of the Drifters. ] Has drawn us into the cycle. You'll find a mark on your body. A sigil. And you'll begin to change.
no subject
[ Their entire group practically draws trouble to them. Trouble magnets, that's what they are. Still, it's impossible for her to not return his smile with one of her own. It's rare to see even fleeting smiles from him, gotta appreciate them when they come.
The smile sobers as she follows his gaze up to the moon. A deep frown settles on her lips as she falls silent. Ruminating never does too much good but there is something deeply unsettling to her about hearing about a calamity like that. ]
You have to be careful when you meddle...
[ There's something distant in her voice and she trails off for another few seconds. It's something she knows a little too well. Eventually she snaps her eyes from up in the sky back to him. ]
That sounds horrible though.
[ But she would really like o see those data files sometime. ]
Change? Like ...how?