NOVEMBER TDM

[monstertruckers]

code

A chilling mist and storms cling to the surrounding area. The cold and the wet pierces even the garage, making for a poor welcome. This time around the garage and gas station lurks amidst multiple farms, and a fall colored forest. The seasons have decisively shifted. And the environment is doing its best to shift the new arrivals in turn.

01: SUMMONING CIRCLE

New Drifters arrive to gloomy skies seen through the broken windows of a garage… And a large barn house looming overhead. Rain echoes on the roof, along with the occasional rumble of thunder. When it isn’t raining outside, there’s a damp and chill mist that lingers over the farmlands.

It makes the large Convoy pulling up to stop at that garage seem that much more tall and imposing: though it’s also clear the Convoy has seen some wear and tear, metal scuffed and a few gashes and dents in the cars.

The summoning circle in the garage is lined with candles that can be used to ward off some of the mist and the chill, but it’s advised to find more stable shelter in cars or in the barn. The roof of the garage leaks. And wet, cold concrete isn’t very comfortable for very long.

02: START UP

There are various cars surrounding the garage. Some of them parked directly outside, though a few of them are parked in various farm fields and vegetable patches. Drifters are advised to watch out for hostile farm life and produce (such as exploding pumpkins) if their ride is out in the farm patch.

There’s also 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 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: FARM HOSTILITIES

The farm isn’t always the friendliest place; the assorted livestock are all monstrous, and ready to fight any Drifter that looks at them funny. Cockatrices, bull gorgons, bullfango, and bicorns are all present and grumpy.

In addition, Drifters should look out for scarecrows in the farm patches. Their eyes glow with an eerie light, and anyone who meets their gaze will find their fears manifesting. At first the fears last for only a blink, and appear to be hallucinations. The longer any Drifters stay under the scarecrow’s gaze, the more their fears become real and dangerous.

Leaving the gaze of the scarecrows (or destroying them) can end the effect. Though any lingering trauma and bloodshed will need different solutions.

04: MOON WARP

Various glowing moon shards have taken root across different farm fields. Thanks to them, there’s more than just produce and livestock growing on the farm. Magic has sunk into the buildings and the soil, and is ready to work on the Drifters in turn.

The scarecrows take on a more sinister glow some nights, pulsing violently with light before exploding; moon shards lay dormant in many of them, before activating one night and forcing changes in Drifters. Along with activating other monster traits, two event monsters are available:

04: MONSTER SHIFT, KITSUNE

A fox monster possessing multiple tails. They may take the form of Kitsune, Gumiho, or Huli Jin. They may feature a full or partial vulpine transformation, and with all Kitsune traits also have:
+Trickster Curse: Anyone who steals from farms or acts with trickery/deception risks activating traits.
+Liver Eater: Begins to feel a clawing hunger that can only be satisfied by the liver from prey. The fresher, the better. Husk monsters can fulfill this craving!
+Fox Fire: can generate phantasmal fire either at will or while emotional. These fires cannot burn, unless willed to do so… Or if one’s emotions grow out of hand.
+Fox Fright: If fear or anxiety becomes too great, may become a fox (either small or giant!) in an attempt to flee and hide.
+Tails To Tell: Growing extra tails, up to nine. This may interfere with balance, or even reach out to brush against other people like they have a mind of their own.
+Thief Feet: Gains a talent for moving quietly and stealthily, even able to hide from the farm monsters and the scarecrows.
+Favored Prey: gains an appetite and a ferocity for cockatrices.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, TAURUS

Hoofed monsters who can appear as minotaurs, satyrs, and centaurs. In addition to having Taurus traits the following also occurs:
+Red Flag: several of the scarecrows carry red rags on them, which flap in the breeze… And have a way of inflaming Taurus tempers, prompting them to charge. On impact, the red fabric shreds but tries to put off one more pulse of fear.
+Eat Your Veggies: on top of a craving for vegetable, Taurus can also heal their wounds or restore their stamina when eating vegetables from these gardens!
+Horn Sharpening: when horns grow in, they can itch and ache on a Drifter’s head. Rubbing and sharpening them against hard surfaces is the best way to dull the discomfort.
+Safety In Numbers: There is a sudden pressing need for Taurus to stay close to others; being alone causes anxiety and irritability.
+Raging Bull: Threats to a Taurus’ herd invokes anger and aggression from a Taurus, and they will do whatever it takes to crush said threat.
+Digging In: Drifters should take care with their steps. Pressing their feet too hard into the ground can cause a small quake… or even compel them to charge someone, if they make eye contact for too long.
+Stir Crazy: going indoors for longer than a minute causes restlessness and agitation in a Taurus, and a pressing need to get back outside.

05: HUNTERS

Time passes, and a fog rolls into the farm lands. It obscures much of the surroundings, but one thing does shine through the gloom; red, electric lights that look suspiciously like eyes. A metallic growl echoes through the farm fields, before robot canine shapes step out of the fog. A few of them carry speakers mounted to their shoulders, and a voice echoes out from them:

“All chromehounds, set commands to seek and destroy. Any infected you find, you eliminate. Keep Nirvana safe from their taint at all costs. Now hunt.”

At those orders, the chromehounds spring out and begin to course through the farmlands, hunting for prey. A single chromehound can be handled by a Drifter on their own, but the danger is how often they hunt in pairs or in packs; in that case, a Drifter will need help to either fight or flee from them.

Those in the midst of Kitsune or Taurus changes will also need to deal with a howl the hounds send out; it is pitched at a fight or flight frequency designed to distress monsters. Either by causing intense bouts of fear, or near blinding rage. The intent is to flush any Kitsune and Taurus out of hiding and into the jaws of waiting chomehounds… Though hounds don’t account for monsters also having pack.

06: CUCCO WARNING

There's one more oddity at the farm; one that isn't immediately hostile to newcomers, though it does regard them with curiosity. It takes the form of a rather innocent (and slightly vapid looking) chicken. Many of them roam the farmstead, trying to avoid any conflict.

A few of them even gather around an abandoned pie eating booth and peck at the remarkably well preserved pies. They might even be willing to share. (And the pies themselves are still edible and tasty, somehow.)

But this good will and tolerance can swiftly come to an end if they are attacked. If agitated, the cuccos can summon more of themselves to swarm the threat, causing plenty of pecks, scratches, and assorted injuries. There's even a ruined scarecrow laying nearby, torn to death by little beaks to show how dangerous they can be.

They also don't take kindly to threats from other denizens of the farm; the robot dogs, scarecrows, and some of the angrier farm life can quickly learn that the hard way!

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.

Snow Warning: Mountains rise above both farmlands and forest, and it seems clear that the road leads on towards them. It might be wise to plunder the nearby garage and farmhouses for any winter wear, before going further.

Food Forage: The local fields hold supplies… Some of them unconventional thanks to the Moon Warps. It’s probably best not to ask why corndogs are growing on corn stalks, but they’re still edible enough.

Misty Step: Sometimes the gloom and mist can do strange things to one’s perception, and stride. Walking into the mist can easily tun a Drifter around and place them in a spot they weren’t intending to go: whether that’s back in the garage, in the middle of the approaching Convoy, the middle of a field, or maybe somewhere else entirely!

Holy Cow-Car, Batman: One last quirk of the region, is that occasionally the vehicles here (including Drifter vehicles) seem to have a mind of their own. And that mind is similar to a cow. The vehicles can be found wandering in fenced off grassy areas, flattening grass to a degree where it appears to be eaten.

The vehicles are at least fairly docile, and once they are removed from the fencing revert to being normal cars/motorcycles/etc. But until then, they retain that odd quirk.

NAVIGATION || RESERVES || APPLICATIONS

Comments

November TDM FAQ

[monstertruckers]

Questions about the TDM? Ask them here! And if needed, the game FAQ is over here!

Joseph Kavinsky | The Raven Cycle

[burnyoudown]

[ooc: I'll also match prose if you prefer! Either format is a-okay with me <3]

I. Summoning Circle

[Kavinsky had woken up in some strange places before, but this was a new one. Being shirtless wasn't going to do him any favors considering the temperature he noticed even before his eyes were open. The sweat from the heat of a Virginia summer had turned to a cold chill on his skin--pale, no scars, no tattoos--and combined with the wet, cold concrete underneath him.

Sitting up, he pushed his white rimmed sunglasses up to perch on top his head, against his dark hair. His exposed skin was flecked with small bits of black rubber, though shredded pieces of tires was the least of his concerns right now. He pushed himself to his feet, taking stock of his surroundings, and then his eyes dropped to the ground around where he was standing.]

Huh.

[Well, if someone had wanted to summon a monster...he couldn't say they hadn't gotten what they wanted. Because this sure as hell looked like something he'd seen in some horror movie or other that Skov would pick out for movie nights.

He patted the pockets of his jeans next, making sure everything that'd been there before still was. Satisfied with his discovery, he stepped out of the ring of candles--and immediately ended up under a leaky spot of the roof. Ice cold water hit his face, rolling down his neck, then his skinny chest, a few drops catching in the links of his gold chain necklace.]

Fuck.

[Kavinsky might not have been a huge fan of the sweltering summers in Henrietta, but he was admittedly better suited for them then being shirtless in this weather. He wiped the water from his face, warily eyeing the ceiling for a moment before making his way to the nearest door so he could have a look outside.]

The fuck is all this?

II. Start Up

[It hadn't been difficult at all for Kavinsky to locate his car; the white Mitsubishi Evo would be recognizable anywhere, especially with the large knife decal splashed across one side. When he circled around the back of it, the familiar license plate--thief--sealed it. Except when it made it around to the other side, he saw the front wheel on the passenger side had been slashed open. Honestly? That was the last thing he needed to see right now.

Crouching down, he touched his fingers to the edges of the long slash in the tire. It was ragged, and he didn't immediately have any ideas of what could have caused the damage. He also didn't immediately have any idea how he was going to get the tire swapped out. It wasn't like he had the equipment for it, or a new tire. There was a reason he paid actual mechanics good money to do whatever needed to be done with his car.

Straightening back up, still shirtless, he looked around, hoping someone, anyone, would be close enough for him to catch their attention.]

Hey, could I get a hand? Got a fucked up flat here.

III. Moon Warp

[At the very least, he'd finally managed to get his hands on a shirt, a plain t-shirt that was baggy on him, but it was better than having nothing at all. The rain had stopped for now, and he'd decided to take advantage of that to take a better look around outside.

The scarecrows very obviously seemed suspicious to him, but that didn't stop him entirely from wandering along relatively close to them. He just made sure to keep an eye on them as he went. So he ended up being far too close to one when it suddenly pulsed with light and then exploded. Kavinsky might have been a fan of fire and explosions, but exploding scarecrows weren't on that list.

Yelping, he staggered back from the remains of the scarecrow, tripping and landing on his ass. Right about the same time, coincidentally, that flames burst around his hands, licking up his wrists. He expected it to hurt, but it didn't, and probably the only reason he didn't set the grass on fire around him was because it was all so damp from rain and mist.

He lifted his hands, staring at them, then turned them over to look at the backs while the flames continued to dance over his skin. As he watched, they started to dwindle, dying down, but he felt...different in a way he couldn't put his finger on, exactly.]

Sure. Yeah. This is happening.

IV. Cucco Warning

[Anyone who knew him probably wouldn't consider Kavinsky someone who was good with animals. Or people. But here he was, settled in comfortably at the abandoned pie eating booth, leaning against one side of it while he ate one of the pies with a fork he'd acquired from somewhere.

The cuccos? Well, they didn't seem bothered by his presence at the moment. In fact, a few of them lingered close to him, one by his feet, another on the booth's counter, happily accepting little bits of pie crust that he'd pull off and offer to them. Maybe a chill attitude and some generosity were all they needed to be chill themselves. That said, Kavinsky was taking care not to make any sudden movements or anything that might be considered threatening--he wasn't a fool. Mostly.

And when someone approached, he gestured in their direction with his fork.]

Don't spook the chickens. Think they had a part in that.

[He waved his fork in the direction of the pecked apart scarecrow.]

You know how they say something like, a whole bunch of chickens can get together and kill a predator that's trying to pick 'em off? Yeah.

II mmm my favorite car

[purplexing]

[It's been taking more time for Donnie to shake off his creature-instincts than it used to. Staying on the ground helps, as much as the harpy part of him screams for otherwise, but the vehicles here are enough to keep his attention, helping him to remember himself and the things he can do.

He's looking for salvage, although these days he's been more prone to just be drawn to the shinier things. He's perched on the edge of the open hood of a car, claws working at the inside of the headlights to try getting the bulb loose when he hears someone call out.]

Hm?

[One final twist and he wrests the bulb from its place. He gives it a quick inspection before tucking it into the sling bag he's got, hopping off the car to make his way over to the human.]

Hmm...

[He studies the tires and the car make, and then Kavinsky himself before he turns to fly up onto one of the taller vehicles, looking around for a suitable spare.]

4 - Cucco Warning

[saisdoesmatter]

*scouting the area since the convoy came to rest in this neck of the woods is one thing, but considering that there's pretty much this tended flock of chickens that are roaming around the place and what looks like a newcomer snacking at a booth? He's curious enough to approach, giving the cuccos some space and just stepping around them*

*the downed scarecrow would have made him question it but he's seen some pretty weird stuff from ending up here before he takes a knee and offers a hand to a cucco to sniff and peck at. It lets him give it a little scritch before he leaves it alone*

I wouldn't be surprised. They might actually be the most dangerous things around here.

Michelangelo Hamato | Rise of the TMNT (post-movie) | New Player/Character

[mystic_hands]

1 - Arrival

He's cold.

The shiver that runs through him is hard enough to wake him up and the turtle blinks his bleary eyes open. He goes reaching for his blanket, thinking he kicked it off in his sleep somehow, only to find that he's actually lying straight up on the floor. Did he fall out of bed somehow?

Pushing himself up to sitting, Michelangelo looks at his dim surroundings, trying to make out what he's looking at when there's a flicker of lightening that flares through the window and throws the room he's in to stark bright contrast for a second.

This is not his bedroom...

"Where..?!" practically squeaked and the turtle is up on his feet, spinning in a circle as he looks around, wildly. There's candles around him in a circle. Oh... oh oh no, that looks like a magic circle he's in. The sound he makes is small and terrified and he bolts out of the circle to press up himself up against the wall, eyes wide in the dim. He knows what those things are! He doesn't wanna get his soul ripped out, thanks!

"What..?!" A distant rumble of thunder before another flash of lightning illuminates the building and Mikey realizes there's a door on the other side, standing slightly askew and open. He edges around the circle of candles like they're going to rise up and devour him, before he sprints, silently, across and out the door.

Straight into the pouring rain.

He squawks at it, pressing back against the building again to the vague bit of shelter under the overhang and stares out at the landscape before him. Sprawling fields and parked vehicles. Some look abandoned. Others maybe not.

He has no idea what's going on and for a moment, he's just frozen in place, staring out at what is definitely not New York city.

"Raph?! Donnie?! Leo?! Dad?!"

2 - Start Up

When he finally stopped panicking so hard, Michelangelo had wandered carefully around, exploring silently and taking everything in. There wasn't anyone trying to come after him right away and certainly nobody cackling and talking about destroying him so he'd settled down quite a bit.

That's when he sees it among all the parked cars.

Bright yellow and orange and green with the surfboard rack on the top! Laying his eyes on it makes Mikey feel a rush of excitement and he's bounded over to press his hands against the door and peer inside it. It's his dream van! The instant he's touched it, he knows it's HIS. He pulls the door open, excitedly, bounding up into the driver's seat and looking around at it. It feels almost familiar somehow?! Like he's supposed to be sitting here. He runs his hands over the steering wheel and then realizes the keys are already in the ignition.

The keychain dangling from it is the familiar shape of the Mad Dogs symbol.

He lifts the keychain up, almost reverently, looking it over as the roll of melancholy rushes through him, too. Whatever's happened, he's here all by himself. Wherever his family could be is a complete mystery at the moment. A second later, he clenches his fist around it and then sits up straighter. Well, if this is his van then he can use it to find them! He grabs the key and turns it.

The engine splutters like it's going to start... coughs... and then dies. His brow furrows deeply and he tries again. The engine turns over with a grumbling roar before it wheezes, painfully, and then stops again.

The next second comes the disappointed wail.

"Oh, come ON!? I dunno anything about engines!?"

3 - Wildcard

[ Wildcard: Do you have an idea for something you could toss at Michelangelo? Feel free! I'll happily roll with it~ Also hi there! I'm Carrie and I'm finally here to give things a try like I've been wanting to! I will match whatever format you prefer for tags, either style is good with me! If you have any questions for me, feel free to come hit me up on Plurk (CarriePika). Or even just to come say hi! I'm always up for making new friends~ ♥ ]

2

[purplexing]

The rain's let up, but even when it had been pouring, it had hardly been enough to stop him from going out. Besides, he could fly higher than the worst of the rain clouds, dipping in and out of the thick of it, riding the wild shifts of the winds. It's exhilarating, and the rolling thunder and the flashes of light below the blanket of clouds is mesmerizing.

But it eventually begins to clear up, and so as the rain lightens, Donnie dips back down beneath the cloudy layer, looking down at the sights below.

Something tugs at the back of his mind, a memory. It's been some time since they've last come across a gas station, and the parked cars is a familiar setup. But there's something else, something deeper, in that nebulous realm of feelings. It's familiar and it pulls him to fly lower.

His sharp eyesight can pick out the details of the cars, but more importantly, the little figure who's poking around the vehicles. It's been months since he'd last seen that coloring, that shell, that shape...

He dives.

It's as Mikey's wailing about engines that something lands on the top of his new ride with a light thump, a shadow peering through the windshield from the rooftop, eyes flaring with a bright purple glow.

1

[saisdoesmatter]

Once the convoy came to a stop after the whole circus bullshit and the rain rolled in, he's content to just stick around the encampment. Water didn't really bother him much, but the cold seeps into everyone's bones and he'd much rather stay where it's dry for the time being.

Also it gave him time to get used to his body again after the wild transfer that happened before - he was essentially back to normal, except for the shift of his eyes - black sclera and his green eyes have gone slitted, but otherwise he's back to being a 'normal' mutant turtle.

It isn't until there's definitely a cry - somewhere out past the safety (and dryness) of the convoy that gets his attention. That is definitely his name. And the names of his brothers. Or a set of brothers, since the ones here aren't directly his, but by rights - the turtles have banded together regardless.

He's out into the rain before he really thinks too much about it. It doesn't sound like his brother but there's only one name that wasn't called out there, so he's cupping his hands around his mouth to call out. Maybe it was a long shot but...

"Mikey!? Where you at!?"

1

[undyingcrow]

A strange blur of black and white passes overhead. If Mikey turns his gaze upward, he'll find a peculiar creature perched above. Really, he's not unlike a mutant, with how animalistic he appears. Though his eyes carry a trace of humanity, the feathers, snout, horns, and more eclipses said humanity.

"Ah, another turtle." His ears flick forward with interest. "Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo are all here, although I can't guarantee that they are the versions you're accustomed to." He chuckles. "Raphael is from a different dimension than the others."

wildcard kinda

[faceguy]

By now, Mikey has likely heard that his older brothers are here. Leo, however, doesn't have the reverse information.

It's dangerous for him to be outside during the day, so as usual he spent the days travel in the Turtle Tank, waiting for them to stop. Once it did, he portaled over to the dining car to spend a bit of time there, chatting with those who came to dinner. He'd heard from them that they'd stopped at a gas station, which invariably meant new arrivals, but he's not gone to check yet. He thinks Donnie will come find him if there's anyone important out there.

Though, he isn't properly accounting for Donnie's new and more animal instincts, or his lack of phone for texting.

So he doesn't know that Mikey is here. And that means when Mikey finally makes his own way inside the convoy, Leo stops dead in his tracks, gaping at his little brother like he's just seen a ghost.

Though maybe it's the other way around. Leo's skin is pale and sickly, his eyes a bit sunken into his face. The worst of the holes in his shell are covered up now by the battleshell Donnie made to cover his back, though there's still webbing to cover the gap in his front, and some of the shell around his shoulder is noticeably broken, as well. And his eyes have changed from dark brown to a very pale blue, practically shining.

"...Mikey...?"

Believe it or not, this is going slightly better than his reaction to Donnie showing up.

1

[burnyoudown]

Kavinsky might have had a very different reaction to waking up in a circle of candles, but he couldn't blame someone for freaking out. Even if they were a... turtle?

He'd already been out in the rain himself, just a bit, and he still hadn't found a shirt, so he was more than a little uncomfortably chilly, even under the overhang. He was pale and skinny and shivering minutely, no tattoos or marks, just the flecks of tire rubber that was still stuck to his skin here and there.

"You know, man, it might not be a good idea to run around shouting." His tone wasn't cruel, but mild and maybe a little teasing. He didn't continue right away, wiping rain drops off the dark lenses of his sunglasses before sliding them into one of the pockets in his jeans.

"People do that all the time in horror movies. Never works out." Not that he tended to watch horror movies much on his own, but he'd still seen plenty of them, thanks to Skov. "They're onto something with safety in numbers, though."

1

[propatriamori]

The rain caught Edward by surprise, and he scuttled up into the eaves of a nearby building to wait it out. Pouring rain messes with his ability to navigate himself, and with that ability already in worse shape than usual, it makes more sense to not go bumbling around on his own. He's annoyed by it, but it could be worse.

When someone comes rushing out of the building, Edward perks up. He hadn't realised anyone was in there, and he creeps closer along the rafters, pressing two of his four hands to the beams to pick up the newcomer's vibrations. They have the unmistakable, chrome-like shivers of some of Edward's best friends here, and he starts crawling down the wall towards someone who can only be the missing fourth turtle brother.

"Hello. You wouldn't happen to be Michelangelo, would you?"

His voice is polite and British, but Edward has temporarily forgotten that not everyone is used to a spider centaur dropping down towards them from the rafters of a building. He's in full drider form, his lower half an English garden spider, his top half human but featuring four arms. At least he's aware that the turtles seem to have seen spider people before, and one of them might have almost been a stepmother? Unclear on that part.

Alastor the Radio Demon | Hazbin Hotel (season 1)

[sugaronthecream]

01. Summoning Circle

Cold. ...Cold is a bit new. As the Radio Demon surfaced into consciousness again, as his bones twisted and crackled as he rose to his feet, he stared at first in silence at the summoning circle beneath him.

...Then laughed. Cold, dark, amused - someone's summoned a demon, then. Yet no one was here at the summoning circle, no offerings, only candles and the wet concrete and an old radio playing a recording instead of a proper signal. He hesitated at the edge of the circle, examining the markings and finding nothing quite familiar enough to resemble his own studies of magic... and after a moment to try, he took a step out of the circle.

...He wasn't immediately banished back to Hell or obliterated, at least!

02. Fixer'upper

Well, well... he never had a car, back in the day - not of his own, at least. Hardly a point when he was out and about. Still - there's a truck that perfectly met his tastes - an old radio broadcast truck was outfitted with more than enough equipment to appease his need for the old comforts of a station.

He could do some of the simple repairs - changing a tire, replacing a battery, whatnot... but the thing still wasn't starting.

"Hmm... SAY! You there, have you got any clue on checking an engine?"

04. A Bog Fox

When one thinks of a 'red fox', one typically imagines a vivid auburn coat, something almost autumnal. One doesn't usually imagine a very literally red fox that was deep crimson red as freshly spilled blood. Easily the size of a wolf - not accounting for the length of the four pitch-dark tails - Alastor found himself voraciously hungry.

He has no idea how anyone else particularly feels about eating raw meat - that's been a part of his diet for nearly a century by now - so the fox only sharply grins at anyone 'catching' him with a gutted cockatrice as he sorted through the organs to find the fresh liver.

"...Do you mind?" the fox asked, still sounding like a voice coming from a radio, "I'm having breakfast."

05. Chromehounds

Like hell he'd be unwitting prey again. Though the damn hunting hounds nearly caught him with that frequency, he'd retaliated and found escape by scrambling the radio waves the wretched things communicate with.

Numbers, though, seemed to be the more favorable option for survival at least for the moment. So lucky you - some help has arrived in the form of a skulking pair of red eyes in the brush nearby, in hiding up until those four tails light up with foxfire before it engulfs the hunting hound.

"Hahahaha! Look SHARP!"

4. Bog Fox

[coffinturk]

"No."

The man in the red cloak appeara not to be put off by the horror of the sight, the diet, or that potentially indignant tone.

He seemed to pause momentarily as the speaking voice the fox emits seems as though it comes from a radio. But really he's witnessed stranger things. Here and back home.

Professional eyes momentarily turn to the remains, coolly assessing what it once was. Not a cucco at least. The former Turk would have immediately vacated the area.

But Alastor's meal does earn what might come across as advice.

"Don't get petrified."

The apathy in the man's tone indicates he can't be bothered to express much concern if that does happen.

But it is still probably good advice. Cockatrice is a meal that is probably bound to make the gourmet in question end up as a statue on any given bite.

02

[propatriamori]

The crackly sound of this newcomer's voice turns Edward's head. If he didn't know better, he'd say the man's voice was being transmitted through a radio.

"I'm afraid I don't." Edward pads over, figuring if he's been spoken to directly, the full drider body must not be too disturbing. "It may be a silly question, but you've found its keys, haven't you?"

01

[undyingcrow]

Oh, what a sight. So striking. So eerie, like something out of a horror movie.

Akechi, in all his chimeric glory can't help but chuckle as Alastor departs the circle.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd almost assume you had practiced for your grand entrance."

Though the laughter could have been manic, really. It was loud enough to have drawn Akechi's attention, in part due to his sensitive hearing.

2

[trust_us_with_your]

Oh, this was rich. It was enough that he'd set aside all of his plans for the afternoon and propped himself back, leaning a shoulder against any old handy structure.

There were some grease monkey types around, but there was the issue of Alastor's aura: Had to be the scariest motherfucker in the neighborhood at all times, or at least the creepiest. It really was a matter of 'local deer has nobody but himself to blame for everything'.

So, after allowing some level of fumbling from the others' part, Vox finally got caught up in a chuckle, pushing away from the wall.

"You're not gonna find a soul that'll kick that old pile of shit back to life... not out there, anyway."

02

[cloudsenior]

Cloud had been busy closing up work on his motorcycle, having to replace the entire horn mechanism to get it to stop playing the chocobo song while he was driving, when it sounded like an old radio was trying to get his attention? He looked up, frowning as he looked around, before his eyes settled on Alastor.

"Did you say something?"

04

[solitarysoul]

The dog eared, dog-nosed and bull horned boy has his rifle half raised towards the fox when it speaks. Oh...that's a person, okay. He lowers the gun. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

He just meant to possibly take all the meat for himself but nevermind that.

Vox | Hazbin Hotel

[trust_us_with_your]

[I. The Failed Kidnapping]

He was laid out on damp, soaked concrete for god knows how long, a strange lanky man dressed in a tailored suit and sporting what looked to be a flat-screen television for a head. The screen, while he was unresponsive, gradually flickered to life from the initial gray-blue to vibrant color bars. Fingers ending in metallic claws twitched. A spark flit between the antennae jutting from the top of the television-shaped cranium.

"...Rgh..."

Color bars winked out, replaced by a pair of lines, one navy and one a sky blue. They opened into woozy, glowing red eyes as the figure stirred and pushed himself into an upright seat. The clack of claws against the concrete had a distinct metallic quality to it as he brought himself to his feet, took in his surroundings as lying for hours had left his coat looking crumpled to match the haggard expression.

But haggard didn't mean unaware. The smell here was different. Nothing here looked familiar. He'd gone to bed and woke up here, and he was THE top dog in Hell, regardless of what certain others would claim.

Electricity danced up his body, and from his back, four cords emerged like tentacles, live with power.

"Ohoho-kay, here's a freebie: Rule #1 of kidnapping: Bind your mark!" He scanned again for anyone in the shadows, fingers rolling as if preparing for a quick-draw. His lips flashed into a toothy grin as he moved for the doors.

"...Because I don't know what's more hilarious of a possibility: The fact that you were too stupid to tie me up when you had the chance, or how, SOMEHOW, you just don't know w̷ͦ͡h̺o yͩo͢ũ͈̬ f̟ͯ̽ück̭̩ͪe͊d w̮̙ͬit́h͕."

Have care. He's ready to swing at anyone right now.


[II. The White Deaths]

Note to self: The eye doesn't work on constructs, even magical ones. The eye does not work on constructs, even magical ones.

Vox finally tore his gaze from the freaky scarecrow, turned and operated on pure instinct. But the shrieking, gleeful laughter continued, unstoppable from the black and gold winged figures that circled, hunting for another sinner. The glimpses of beings he'd only watched through all of his surveillance equipment while tucked safely away in the tower were now very real... real enough that he could feel the rush of wind off of another spear of light that flew just overhead and embedded into the soft, partially-rotted earth.

The fucking exorcists... he thought he'd seen the last of them, watched them fly off with their tails between their legs. But as browned, drying shreds of corn stalks crunched underfoot, clods of dirt and mud flecked his coat and pants, he couldn't think of much else than finding some form of shelter to seek refuge in.

Vox wouldn't even spare a glance when he all but barreled past (or into, oops) someone else standing at the edge of the corn field.

"HAVE FUN, IT'S YOUR FUNERAL!"

The only warning. Thanks, Vox.


[III. The Quick Blue... Fox...?]

The announcement rang, echoed through the foggy night. 'Seek and destroy'. 'Protect Nirvana at all costs'. He'd heard the name before, but never had that definitive answer of just what they could expect from such an aptly-named place. Either way, Vox wasn't a stupid man, and was moving as quick as he could, carrying a sack of what food he'd managed to find and choice bits of salvage cannibalized from unresponsive vehicles that could really make his car purr.

But then a sensation wracked him. He felt... weird. Something felt like it was crawling beneath his clothes, and he staggered behind a massive bale of rolled hay.

A sudden and rapid body change wasn't on his bingo card, from the way his head had cracked, twisted and reshaped into something sleek and vulpine to endless wires flowing from his back, braiding into sparking tails that fanned from his back. But despite the sprays of blood, the grunts and hollers of pain, and even hitting the ground to be wracked with momentary agony that would replay in his nightmares for the foreseeable future, he gradually arose feeling... better... than he ever had in both of his lives. Newer. Sharper.

He took the food. He took the parts. But they're his now, fair and square. Finders keepers.

Vox- or whatever he was now- snapped his head to the right when he heard a rapid barking. Along the curved, mask-like screen that comprised his head, several red eyes flickered to life and crinkled with glee. A segment parted into freshly-formed lower jaw filled with jagged blue teeth.

He moved like a shot, disappearing into a neighboring field. Forget the damn dogs. He needed more things.

He caught the scent of someone else. Oh? Another mark. Maybe he can nab their things too. Come along, puppies, be a nice distraction...!


[ ooc: Keeping Vox at season 1 for now, as season 2 is in progress. Won't spoil you, either! I'll match your format. ]

I

[undyingcrow]

All things considered, a TV-headed demon is hardly the strangest being Akechi has seen here. Between the monster transformations everyone endures and the likes of the ninja turtles, there's a very high bar for absurdity within this place.

That being said, his feathers fluff at Vox's sudden reaction, wings open and ready to act as a shield, should the strange demon make any sudden moves. One would be forgiven for mistaking Akechi for a demon as well. With how bestial he's become, he certainly wouldn't look out of place in Hell.

One hand hovers over the hilt of his saber, but it remains sheathed for now. Though his ears fold back and his knees bend, he remains on the defensive for now.

"The ones who summoned us are regrettably not among us. If they were, there would most certainly have been a bloodbath."

1

[burnyoudown]

Well, this sure was a sight. Going up on his top five of weird shit--but also really fucking cool. Kavinsky was more intrigued than concerned, lingering just outside the doorway where it was somehow even more chilly--especially considering he lacked a shirt. He was pale and skinny, ribs more visible than not, and he had no marks or tattoos or anything out of the ordinary visible, just flecks of tire rubber stuck to his skin still. The chill had made the gold chain necklace he wore feel like ice, but it was just one unpleasant thing amongst many; it was nothing.

"I know, right? They're being real fucking sloppy with this whole kidnapping thing," he remarked, stepping into the doorway proper to lean his shoulder against it "I don't think they've taken the time to get all the deets on who they're fucking with." Or else he was sure he wouldn't be anyone's prime target, either. Or maybe he would.

"Can't say I know anything about what the fuck's going on, though. I'd love to point you in our kidnapper's direction because damn." The last part was undeniably appreciative. Appreciative of the energy, the threat, the everything. "I bet that'd be a hell of a show."

Haru Okumura | Persona 5 Royal | new!!!

[empressnoir]

• summoning circle + start up

[ As far as strange places to suddenly find herself, this one barely rates in the top five. It's odd, yes, but it wasn't preceded by a notification on her phone (not that that can even happen anymore, but still--), and her clothes haven't changed.

And there aren't shadows around, trying to kill her.

Haru gets up and dusts off her clothes, careful not to drop the keys in her hand. They're not for anything here, so... outside it is. She grabs a candle, and off she goes.

(If there's anyone else here with her, she'll suggest exploring together. It's safer together!

Outside, she eventually finds herself drawn to a classic VW van. It's seen better days, but it's painted light purple, and it doesn't seem to be anyone else's, so... ]

Oh, maybe I can give it a sun roof... oh! And plant beds inside! ...could I?



• farm hostilities

[ Good idea: going out in search of plants to bring into her mobile garden. Thanks for coming with her to help!

Bad idea: doing it here, where things can get aa weird as in the metaverse. ]

Does it look like they're staring at us? The scarecrows. They-- I don't like the way they're staring at us.

[ But if all they're doing is staring, then that's okay, right? Certainly, she hasn't seen anything out of the ordinary besides the scarecrows. ...yet.

Have you? ]



• wildcard

[ yolo! Haru is from the end of P5R and was not romanced. ]

farming hostilities

[phantomshow]

[Well, she’s not wrong. Those scarecrows are pretty creepy-looking and their fake eyes seem to be following them.]

I think … they’re supposed to look like that? For scaring off the crows.

[Not his best joke, Ren can admit that. The creepiness is throwing him a bit off his game. And even though he knows how lethal Haru can be in a fight, his protective instinct has him taking a step closer to Haru.]

start up

[undyingcrow]

[Akechi was scouting the area from above, but the sharpened senses from his transformations make his ears perk at the sound of her voice, and he... freezes.

Haru Okumura is here, and she's... happy? Excited?

Does she even know where she is, or is she simply that brave?

Either way, Akechi's breath hitches. After a moment, he glides down to the roof of the garage, opting for his less monstrous nekomata in hopes for a bit more clarity of mind.

This does, of course, mean that he looks like an odd fusion of Goro Akechi and a humanoid cougar with angelic wings. It's probably a peculiar sight, even without the horns and other 'sharper' features of his chimeric form.

But no matter. Best to take this one step at a time.]

Ah, Okumura-san. Already planning ahead, are we?

[This is going to be extraordinarily awkward.]

Farm!

[sugaronthecream]

[The relative ambient quiet of the area was interrupted by the pop and sound of a voice that sounded so strongly like it was coming over a radio.]

Oh, I wouldn't peek for too long if I were you.

[Alastor wasn't invited! He didn't even announce his presence before now, probably delighting if he happened to give the young lady a little heart attack - he'd been plucking at some plants himself in a patch in the meantime.

Onions, celery, and bell peppers...! It'd been far too long since he'd had the proper holy trinity to cook with - crops that grew in Hell never were quite the same.]

They've got a strange effect about them. Already saw a few people swear up and down they saw something scary and run terrified! Hah hahah!