memestertrucks | NOVEMBER TDM

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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

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The rumble of thunder in the distance sends a shiver through Mikey again. The rain is cold and it wants to seep into his shell. He doesn't wanna go back inside that building with the soul-sucking circle in it but he doesn't want to be out here anymore, either!

The figure suddenly standing on one of the cars catches his eye and he perks up. That looks familiar! At least... kinda?? Maybe it's the distance, maybe it's the rain, but it doesn't look totally right. Still, the shape of it says 'turtle' to him and that means it's gotta be one of his bros!

"Oh thank gosh! What's going on?! Where are we?!" he's calling already as he races in that direction, hopping up onto the cars himself so he can get there in a more direct line.

But he slows down and then skids to a stop on one of the car roofs and stares. That's not any of his bros!

"... w-wait, who are you?!"

When he spots the other damp turtle, he's sees the familiar orange rushing over. That's good enough to him - this turtle's definitely NOT his little brother - far too skinny, so he figures that it might be the other turtles' little brother. Or a different one entirely.

He stays put so this Mikey can meet him halfway, the rain making the top of the car slippery as waits, then hops down from his perch and hitting the ground easily. When he straightens, he gives the other Mikey a little grin, his tattered red bandanna tails sticking to his shoulders from the wet around them.

"M'Raph. C'mon - this way. We'll getcha outta this damned rain fer starters. The others'll be glad to see you m'sure."

Mikey stands where he is, staring at the turtle in front of him. The shape is definitely turtle but it's not at all like he's used to. The thick limbs remind him of Raphael butbut...

He blinks and his eyes widen.

"R-Raph?" he echoes, "B-But...!"

The red bandana is another telling sign but the shell's all wrong! The colour! The shape! He frowns.

"But you're too short to be Raph!"

He should be expecting it. Really should be.

After all he's like 80% sure that this is Donnie and Leo's actual little brother.

Annnnnnnnnnd there's the confirmation.

"...okay you're definitely Dee and Leo's bro since ya'll are used to a giant me. C'mon. Let's at least get outta the rain. Dee's Tank is nearby and is definitely warmer than out here."

Definitely the others' little bro there.

He motions for the STRING BEAN to follow him, heading back through the abandoned cars and back toward the convoy itself.

Mikey hesitates for a second, like he's unsure if he should follow Not-Raph. He perks up at the mention of Dee, Leo and the Tank, though. So follow he does but it's very clear that he's nervous.

"O-Of course we're used to a giant me--I mean you--I mean... are you really Raphael?? But... shouldn't you be a snapping turtle??" he asks but then he blinks and his eyes widen as he catches up a bit more in a scurry.

"Wait, did I wind up in another dimension?!"

Raph isn't surprised that the potential youngest of them all is nervous. He has every right to be! But there's safety at the convoy, which he motions for the string bean to follow him back.

"From what Dee and Leo have told me, your version of me is like a foot taller and a different species. Dee was really curious about it when I first got here too."

He blinks black and green eyes at Mikey when he scurries up to his side, but nods. "Yup. We all did, from what I understand about this place, it's...definitely not New York anymore."

Michelangelo watches this Raph-but-not-Raph, looking him over again rapidly and taking in all the differences. It's not just the size and species. He's shaped differently in a lot of ways. And his eyes! That almost eerie green on black is definitely not what he's used to.

"Y-Yeah... Raph, uh my Raph I guess? Is super tall. Like over six feet! And he's built like a tank. Also spikes everywhere." he says and then frowns, looking around the two of them.

"I don't get it! I wasn't even doing anything weird! I was just sleeping! And it's not like the time we wound up in Tahiti, cause Leo wasn't doing anything either! At least... I don't think he was... but maybe he was if he's here, too?"

Sorry, Mikey - this boy's a diamondback - at least that's what his brother thinks they are~ Not the giant alligator snapper that you're expecting. He nods when Mikey explains himself and his brother though.

"Yeah, that sounds right from what Dee and Leo have explained when they met me. Dee was pretty thrilled about being right about there being different versions of us Hamato out there. It was a thing. So to put it plain - I'm a Raph, just not yours, from a different world. Just like your bros and you aren't the ones I'm expecting."

He laughs a little at that. "What, like with his portals? I don't think he can portal back to your guys' world. Not sure what brings us here but...well, we're all part of a convoy that's trying to get to a place that'll let us go BACK home."

Mikey stares at Raph for a second, his eyes going wide.

"Woaaaaaaah... Different us-es from different worlds... It's like Jupiter Jim and the Ten-Thousand Jims!" he says, brightly, suddenly grinning. "So like... you have all the same brothers, still, too? Donnie and Leo and even... another ME?!"

He listens and ohs!

"There's a way to get back, then? Ohmigosh, I'm so glad! Dad's gonna be worried sick about us if we're gone too long!"

He laughs softly when Mikey gets excited about the whole 'different worlds' thing. It's not quite the same to what he expects from his own little brother, but it's close enough.

"Yeah, I got my trio of ya'll too. They're just back home, not here, obviously. It was a bit of a shock when I first got here but I got over it. We look out for each other."

The mention of Splinter makes him hesitate for a second, but he smiles. "That's the goal at least. Apparently some place called Nirvana. We've been heading toward it to try and heal up and get back to where we belong."

Mikey nods as Raph speaks, but it's clear he's super excited over the thought of multiple versions of his family existing out there.

"Well, yeah! We're Hamatos! And Hamato means family! We look after each other no matter what!" he says, brightly, but then blinks and frowns, "Uh... wait, are you a Hamato? Or do you still go by Jitsu?"

"Nirvana?" he asks and his brows furrow, "Like the band or like Buddha?"

Considering that he was the one who found Mikey and not one of the other brothers, he smiles - the others have gone through a bunch of changes already and while Mikey's going to have to deal with that, he's still pretty turtle shaped from the moon cycles that it's easier to talk this way without frightening the youngest brother.

"M'a Hamato yeah. Sensei didn't do the Jitsu stuff that your brothers have told me about your father."

He shakes his head. "We think it's a city that might be able to help with the weird stuff we're all going through," he answers, motioning toward his blackened eyes. "This isn't my natural gaze for one, but I'm still new here so...some of the changes haven't set in."

That has Mikey looking surprised.

"Your Dad isn't Lou Jitsu?" he says, "Did he use a different name, then?"

Just assuming that this Raph's dad was a movie star just like his. Mikey blinks and his brows furrow together.

"Changes? Wait, something happened to your eyes? What are they supposed to be?" he asks, sounding nervous. Was that why he woke up in that circle? They did something weird to him?! He seems to be patting himself down in a little bit of a panic, checking to see if he's still himself!

He shook his head, half expecting the question since he had this discussion with Donnie and Leo. "No, my father was just known as Hamato Yoshi before he got mutated. He didn't do the Lou Jitsu stuff that your father apparently did."

Raph wasn't going to lie to Mikey about the strangeness around here, but he reaches to plunk a hand on the thin turtle's shoulder, giving it a squeeze to reassure him. "Hey - it's okay. Deep breaths. I didn't mean ta scare ya. This place's moon is weird and being here can...well, change us. My eyes used to just be a normal green with typical whites, not this black and neon green, for example."

"Wooooooow... so Lou Jitsu doesn't exist in your world? Ohmigosh, that sucks! I mean, not to say your world sucks, but the Lou Jitsu movies are some of the best movies ever! Man, I wish I could show them to you!"

Mikey's kind of picking up a little bit on some things, though. Raph doesn't call Splinter 'dad' like he does. It's always 'father' and he called him 'Sensei', too. Mikey remembers when his dad became 'Sensei' for a while. It was... weird. He was so strict. He just kind of files it away for now, though.

For a second, Mikey checks himself over in obvious worry, patting his shell and his face and everything. He gives a little spin in front of Raph as he does.

"Do you see anything weird or different?! Do I look like me?! Oh... wait, I probably don't look like your me so I look totally different anyways... n-nevermind." He shakes his head and takes a deep breath to try and calm his nerves. He can do this! He's brave!

He glances up at the moon when Raph talks about it, though, frowning lightly.

"So... does being out in the moonlight do it? Should we be staying inside until it's gone?"

He laughs at the fact that Mikey is already trying to make things better. It reminds him of his own little brother, though not so ADHD he supposes. Or maybe that'll come out when Mikey gets more comfortable with the whole...being in a creepy monster world and everything. "Your bros said the same thing ta me. It's alright, man."

Though when Mikey spins around and asks for confirmation that he looks the same, Raph's just smirking. It could be so easy to razz him and tease him about nothing that's there - but maybe not right now when the youngest is clearly freaked out. Understandably so as well.

"You're still turtle shaped. I don't think it starts right away. Hard to say when it does since it's different for everyone. But yer good."

The question about the moon makes sense. "I'm not sure if being out in it helps or hinders to be honest. Pretty sure that it still just happens, kind of like the tides happening across the world, but we can hunker down in the Tank for a bit while you get your bearings."

Mikey tries to look himself over for anything weird but, thankfully, he seems to be okay. He heaves a sigh, looking relieved, before he looks at Raphael again, his brows furrowed.

"So... everybody changes differently, too?" he asks, "Is it... is it bad stuff? Like, you said your eyes are different but you still see just fine, right?"

Being changed like that sounds awful! He doesn't like the idea at all! Especially if it's gonna make him really different! He keeps glancing up at the moon as they go, like it's gonna come after them or something, before he huffs and then nods.

"O-Okay. It'll be nice to get out of this rain, too. I feel soggy. Yuck."

He smiles when Mikey looks relieved, nodding to him to answer the question about the differences, especially with his eyes changing. "My eyes are fine for the most part. I can actually see better than I could before. The changes aren't...bad, per se, but they take on more monster styled stuff - like we're mimicking the critters we might run into."

Raph waves him on and heads back toward the convoy, not caring that they're both damp right now. They're turtles after all!

"It's not too far, lil bro," he says easily as they head off. "Any other questions?"

"Oh... well if it made your eyes better, then that's kind of cool!" he says and then frowns a bit. "I dunno how I feel about turning into a monster kinda thing... It's already bad enough with people thinking we are monsters back home, y'know?"

He stops and blinks. "Oh, wait... is it like that for you guys? We gotta hide from humans back home." he says, following along with Raph as he leads them to the others.

"Uhm... You said there's critters like the stuff people get turned into?" he asks, "So like... monsters and stuff?"

Ah, right, there is that. He frowns at it, but nods. "It is, yeah, but...well, there isn't much we can do about it here, I guess. From what I know it's all like, tied to the moon and junk."

When Mikey slows, he glances back and nods. "Yeah, it's the same for us too. It got a little bit better over the years but everything that kept happening back home was too much for humans to deal with. Usually fell onto us to fix it for them."

He isn't going to sugar coat it though. Best to make sure that the youngest knows what's up. "Yeah. We have to fight them from time to time."

Mikey hums and nods.

"Oh, yeah, it's the same for us, too. There's stuff that humans just dunno how to and can't really deal with. So we take care of it and keep everybody safe!" he says, sounding proud of it, too. "I mean... I don't even wanna think about how bad the Krang getting back out woulda been without us there..."

He frowns a little at the mention of fighting monsters. But he just shakes his head a bit.

"Well, I'm used to fighting bad guys!" he says, but then looks up at the moon again a little warily, "Though... if I'm gonna start changing like everybody else, too, I hope it doesn't make doing that hard..."

He got some of the gist of the Krang stuff from the other brothers in the time that he's spent here with Mikey's brothers, nodding at the fact that it seems that NYC has a weirdness problem that only turtle shaped young men have to deal with. He makes a face at the mention of Krang again - knowing full well that the ones he knew of were like, nowhere near the level of insanity that Mikey's crew had to deal with.

"Yeah, your bros filled me in--definitely way worse than the ones I'm used to--I know that was rough for ya'll but like, you managed to save the day which is the most important thing."

He chuckles at the notion of fighting bad guys. "There's apparently plenty of them to brawl with here, not including the factions of potential humans out there, but...well, it might make things complicated for a bit when you gain something." Because it's not an 'if' but more a 'when' when it comes to the changes. "But you adapt, make do, and keep going. Sometimes the shifts are temporary. I had one that I had to deal with but I couldn't deny the fact that the strength was there."

"Aw, man..." he says, his snout wrinkling up a bit in displeasure, "You mean we might have to fight with humans while we're fighting monsters? Is this gonna be one of those 'the humans think we're monsters, too' dealies? Cause those suck a lot!"

He rubs at his forearms a little, nervously, like he's half expecting himself to start changing just while Raph is talking. He sticks his bottom lip out in a pout and huffs.

"If it'd make me even stronger, that might be cool, I guess. It still kinda sucks that it's just happening whether you want it to or not, though. That's not cool at all!" he says, quietly, but then blinks. "Wait, so sometimes you change but then you change back after?"

"Yeah, it does suck a lot," he answers, nodding at the fact that there's humans out there that are gunning for them. "Things are a lot more complicated than I know, as m'still kind of 'new' here to the fleet, but the Wardens have made their disdain well known with traps and the like to hurt us."

He doesn't like to think about being that damned bug thing again, but he was *strong* when armoured like it was, so he nods along. "Yeah. I got changed into one thing when we were trapped in that weird terror carnival, but it went away afterward and I was back to being me. The eye thing happened later."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

NOVEMBER TDM

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... I'm so sorry, Raphie (no I'm not)

No you're not you ass

He's not saying it to be mean! It's true! Someday you'll meet Big Red and you will understand 8C

>8C It's not my fault I'm a short king

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