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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
What point in time is he from?
no subject
[Cloud folded his arms over his chest, pursing his lips into a flat line.]
It's... still hard for me to trust him, knowing what he becomes, but...
[...but on the other hand, that's his childhood hero back to his normal self, but he'll never admit out loud that he may be a little star struck.]
no subject
[ Though...she does have some sort of hope there. Just a spark of it that maybe things can be changed. In some manner. Does it have to go in a direction of him becoming the person they know? She bites her lower lip for a moment and then and tries to give him her best small smile. ]
But he hasn't done anything to prove he's not worth giving a chance to?
no subject
[Cloud let out a sigh at that, letting his arms drop.]
I hate to say it, but I think we can trust him. And the others stuck on this journey.
no subject
I trust you. If you think we can trust him, then I'm willing to try. Does he...
[ Wait how much does Cloud actually know? She trails off some, hand still on his shoulder. ] Does he know anything about me?
no subject
I doubt it. He didn't even recognize me, and we worked together.
no subject
That might be for the best all around. It might be better for him to not know much about either of us.
no subject
[Once they were inside the building, Cloud paused to shuffle around the old water bottles to find one that was cold, before handing it off to Aerith.]
So far, everything's been peaceful. I wouldn't hold out on it staying that way.
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[ She lets out a tiny sigh. ]
Don't worry, I think I'm pretty used to us attracting trouble at this point.
no subject
[Last thing Aerith needed was to throw up or something. The comment that she was used to trouble got a small huff of a laugh out of him though.]
Well, hopefully between Vincent and Tifa, they'll be enough to keep us out of trouble.
[He hesitated a moment, biting his lip. Would it be fair to tell her, knowing that it was likely Tifa had already told her he died? Should he let her find out for herself?]
There's... one more person from our world here too.
no subject
[ Because obviously that's a great betrayal if water makes you sick! She hesitates for a moment and studies him. He's nervous about something so she smiles brighter to try to encourage him. ]
Oh? That's a lot of us, huh? Who is it?
no subject
Zack.
no subject
Has that been okay? For you?
[ If he's here then Zack must be okay himself. In some manner. Though there's a million questions to wonder about that. If people come from different times or different timelines, where is he from? What does he know or not know? It feels like the easiest thing to focus on is how that effects Cloud himself. ]
no subject
He was my best friend in SOLDIER, and I forgot all about him. It... hurt, seeing him again.
[He can only imagine how it was going to be for her. At least she wouldn't get the headaches he got, but it still wouldn't be any easier for her.]
[...]
[He needed to say something comforting.]
If... if it's too much... I'm here for you.
[That counted, right?]
no subject
It wasn't your fault. Forgetting about him I mean and knowing him he was probably just excited to find you here.
[ Now her smile does get just a bit more genuine and a bit less sad. For him that's a pretty good offer of comfort. ]
Thank you, I mean that. I'm sure...it'll be okay. [ Somehow. I mean getting to see him again will be amazing even if it's also...a lot. ] What does he know about anything?
no subject
[Cloud's face pinked a little, and he absently rubbed at the back of his neck.]
I... uh... I-I didn't ask.
[He had just arrived! And seeing Zack alive and in one piece made him glitch really hard!]
B-but he knew that we were friends, and... he seemed really sad, too.
no subject
It's okay, I'm sure there were a lot of other things to think about.
[ Her gentle way of saying she imagines it was pretty hard for him mentally. ]
I'm glad he knew that much, but not so glad to hear about the sad. [ then again, aren't they all in some way? ] Guess we'll all just have to work on lifting spirits, huh?
no subject
Yeah; that's the best thing we can do.
[He hesitated a moment, eyes flicking away from her face, one of his ears flicking rapidly.]
I'm, uh... I know it's weird to say, but I'm glad you're here.
no subject
[ Or she'll try to be at least, he'll just be dragged along for the ride. She moves up to him, slow enough that he can take note of her approach, and playfully bumps her hip to his. ]
Well I'll counter your weird by saying I'm glad I'm here too.