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memestertrucks2025-11-08 08:19 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-11-08 08:19 pm
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NOVEMBER TDM
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
+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.
+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.
“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!
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.
no subject
"I've been to New York City a few times; I liked it." He was definitely a city kid, and not a country kid, though farms that had fences by the roads were nice. At least, when the animals wandered into petting range if someone were to pull over for a bit.
He turned to look in the direction Mikey pointed, nodding. "Looks like it. Can't hurt to poke around." It could, but potential dangers were worth it, rather than standing around.
"I'm fine," he said, waving a hand vaguely. He was not, but he was shivering subtly enough that he was hoping it went unnoticed.
no subject
"You're from Jersey? I went there once, too! And to Tahiti one time, but that one was more of an accident. I coulda stayed there forever, though, it was great. Going to Bulgaria sounds exciting!"
The turtle arches a brow at the 'fine' comment cause Mikey knows damned well there's no way. A lot of humans get cold real easy so if he's chilly, then this guy's gotta be at least a little bit! He just hums and starts heading towards the other building, looking around as he does, in case something else is out there.
"You might be fine for now, but man, if this rain gets any colder, you're not gonna be! I hope they got towels at least, I hate being soggy." The problem with being an only semi-aquatic turtle. Sometimes you just don't wanna be wet.
"It looks like it's been abandoned for a long time... I hope it hasn't been totally looted."
no subject
He didn't bat an eye when Mikey gave him that look. He knew what it was for, even before anything was said. Soggy made him snort as he followed along. "What about being moist?" There was a chance he was going to hold onto this line of thought for a while, for no other reason than he was a teenager and amused by certain things.
"Yeah, well. People can't have taken literally everything that was here." Then again, real life didn't restock like video games, so who knew. Whatever was left behind might have rotted or crumbled or- it really depended on how long things had been abandoned, he figured, and what conditions things had been subjected to.
no subject
"Yeah, see, my bro, Leonardo, can make mystical portals with his swords! And we were going to the Hidden City but something weird happened and me, Donnie and Raph all wound up in Tahiti instead!" he explains, "It was actually so great there. We wanted to go back but Leo couldn't figure out how to do it again after."
Mikey blinks over at Kavinsky and his snout immediately crinkles up in distaste at him. "Oh gross! That is the worst word in the entire world! And every other world too, now, I guess! Soggy is kinda gross but moist is just nasty!" he says, but it pulls a laugh out of him all the same.
He gets to one of the windows of the gas station and starts trying to peer inside it, pressing his nose to the dusty glass for a second or two.
"It's too dark to see in there..." he says, pushing away from the glass to head for the door. He's got dirt streaked across his snout now, completely unaware of it being there. He goes over to carefully push the door open, peeking inside warily, since he doesn't know if anybody's inside.
no subject
"What the fuck. What the actual fuck." Before anyone mistook his words for disbelief or some sort of upset, his tone made his interest exceptionally clear. "That sounds really fucking cool. God, I'd love to be able to make portals." He'd be able to go anywhere he wanted, instead of being stuck in Henrietta. "Having swords would be cool, too."
He started laughing at Mikey's reaction to moist. "Soggy's like soggy newspapers, and moist's like-" but he didn't finish, too busy laughing. He knew damn well what moist brought to mind. "Think that's a new record for me."
But then- "Uh." He had one immediate thought while watching Mikey press his snout against the glass, even before he saw the dirt. But he had to laugh again before he could say anything helpful. "Dude, you're going to be sneezing for like, hours, with all the dirt you've got on you now."
Also, they had not been quiet so far, so Kavinsky wouldn't be surprised if their presence was already known. If anyone was even inside, that was. "I think it's a little late to try sneaking up on anything."
no subject
The turtle crinkles his nose up even more and makes an over-exaggerated gagging noise. "I don't even want to think about what moist is like!" he laughs, "And this is coming from a guy who grew up in a sewer!"
When they get to peering into the building, though, Mikey doesn't seem to think about the dirt at all. He even looks confused when Kavinsky points it out to him. He looks down at his hands rather than thinking about his nose at all. He gives a careless shrug and rubs his hands against his thighs. "I'm washable!" he says, "It's kinda like working with chalk pastels and I do that a lot."
Mikey shakes his head as he peeks inside. "It's not so much sneaking up on somebody, dude. It's making sure that somebody's not waiting to bash our heads in if we just waltz inside, y'know? Or there's not a... I dunno... a bear sleeping in there or something!"
He glances around for a bit through the crack before he pushes the door open all the way, though standing back a bit as he does. "... looks like it might be okay, though! Just kinda dark... wish I had a flashlight..."
no subject
Moist was the worst of those two options, no matter where anyone had grown up. "A sewer, huh?" That sounded like...an interesting place to grow up. But anywhere could be home with the right people.
Kavinsky laughed, though not unkindly, when Mikey said he was washable. "I meant your face." But he couldn't deny that turtles were washable. "So, you're an artist?"
"Yeah. I'd been thinking about that bit, too." Sneaking up on someone and making sure no one was waiting to launch a surprise attack sounded like more or less the same thing to him. It was good to be cautious, especially when he wasn't sure what kind of dangers could be lurking. "A bear," he repeated, deadpan. "Why would there be a bear?" He guessed he couldn't rule out the possibility, though.
It was dark inside. "I've got my phone," Kavinsky said, reaching into his back pocket. "It's got a decent charge. Flashlight's pretty good on it." Or it was acceptable, anyway, when they didn't have any other alternatives. He swiped over to the flashlight option and tapped it on and- light.
no subject
There's a little pause when he remembers their original Lair where he grew up. It was gone now, destroyed by the Shredder, which still made him get sad. He shakes it off a little and focuses on the here and now, instead.
"Yeah! I love art! It's gotta be the coolest thing in the world that I can just... think of something and then actually make it exist, y'know?" he says, brightly, obviously not giving any care for the dirt streaked across his face at the moment. "And sometimes it even makes other people happy to see it existing, too! That's the best part."
When the light from Kavinsky's phone spreads through the gas station, Mikey lights up, himself. He pushes the door open, grinning broadly.
"Oh, jackpot! I don't think it's been picked over completely yet!" he says, padding inside on silent feet as he looks around at the things still sitting on shelves here and there. He looks back over at Kavinsky for a second and then shrugs.
"Dude, bears are smart! They'll totally break doors open to get inside somewhere if they think there's food. And an empty house is just like an empty cave to them, too. They'll absolutely move in and just take over if they think they're safe there. I watched an urb-ex guy one time and he talked about how he was checking out an old farmhouse and dang near got mauled cause there was a mama bear in there." he says before he starts looking through some of the stuff that's laying around.
"Oh hey! Shop towels! Thank goodness, I'm sick of being wet already." he says, snatching up the packaged roll and pulling it open. First thing he does, though, is pulls a couple off the roll and offers them to Kavinsky. "Here! We'll both feel better getting drier, I think."
no subject
"I know exactly what you mean. Being able to take a concept in your head and make it real, and see how other people engage with that thing." He hadn't thought he'd ever be able to talk to someone and have them really understand the rush of dreaming, unless they were a dreamer, too. But maybe-...maybe other people could understand, at least a lot of it.
He followed Mikey inside, holding his phone up high enough that the light didn't get blocked too easily. "I wasn't doubting a bear's intelligence, or determination." He knew bears were smart, and he also knew mama bears were not an animal to be fucked with. "Urb-ex. Yeah. That figures." People poking around where they really shouldn't, he meant.
"Oh-" He hadn't expected to be handed some towels before anything else. Looking around for a suitable place to set his phone, he put it down so the flashlight was aimed up, so they could still see. "Thanks." He took the towels and started to dry off. Honestly, Mikey was probably right. Getting dry so his teeth would stop chattering a little could only be an improvement for K.
"Glad there's no bear," he added with a bit of a grin. "I left my bear spray at home." He didn't have bear spray, but that wasn't the point. He wouldn't be 'nearly mauled' if there'd been a bear here, he would've been 'definitely mauled' and that wasn't how he wanted his day to go.