SEPTEMBER EVENT

[monstertruckers]

code

Beyond the mountains stretch red rocks, canyons, and deserts. The Badlands reach out for miles, with barely any vegetation to be seen. The road winds between rock formations, into canyons, and across long barren stretches. Ruins of the old world sometimes grow out of the rocks in place of trees. Husks are somewhat less common here, though there’s still a thriving monster population. And no shortage of dangers and complications.

01: STORM RIDER

A storm shows up clear against the red rocks, all dark shades and lit up by flashes of lightning. The storm itself twists about, sometimes looking like clouds, other times looking like a massive beast with a thunderous roar to match. There’s a charge in the air, that almost makes the blood thrum faster… And it’s a charge that can be utilized. The Convoy screens blink an alert:

“Caution, supercharged storm ahead. Be advised, harnessed lightning can power convoy and vehicles, but must be gathered with care.” Along the road are ruined vehicles with what looks suspiciously like lightning rods attached to them. Those rods can be removed and grafted onto other cars.

01-A: STORM HARVEST

When the storm sweeps over the still-moving Convoy, the lightning is wild and erratic, and barely deflected by the shield. The shield can be strengthened with jolts of lightning, which jump from vehicle lightning rod storage to the Convoy generators.

Fast cars have the easiest time of this, capable of keeping pace with the storm. But Tough cars are better at grounding the electric currents without getting fried. Because of this, it’s advised to work in pairs of cars; one to race ahead and catch the lightning and one for the lightning to bounce back and store it. Alternately, it’s advised to be supernaturally affiliated with lightning to withstand the shocks.

Harnessed lightning is capable of souping up the Convoy; the batteries are fully charged, and the Convoy no longer needs to power down electronics at 11 PM. Meanwhile, any cars that hang onto the lightning gain the Fast quality for the month. Or if they already have that quality, gain the temporary ability to Warp to any prior location and then back to the Convoy.

Those who fail to work in pairs or ward themselves against lightning receive no benefits, and find themselves especially susceptible to Event 4.

02: LIBRARY

There’s more to this biome than just sand and rocks. Buildings are half melted into the landscape, all with regal looking architecture; the sort that suggests archives and massive libraries. And perhaps a cool interior, with some relief from the oppressive heat.

Stepping inside, it becomes clear that books of all sorts are stored here, along with scrolls, and even electric tablets that still hold a charge and data. Stories of all sorts are stored here… Including tales from Drifter’s home worlds, oddly enough. Alongside the fiction are guides that can impart knowledge, and additional effects:

02-A: HISTORY LESSON

There are accounts of monsters stored here; everything from Angels to Zoanthropes, all relating to various myths… And what looks like more detailed accounts relating to speed, strength, ferocity, even weak points. It quickly becomes clear that these are hunting logs. There’s also a post-script to each entry: “May the Wardens guard the true and pure humans against corruption, as long as the moon hangs in the sky.”

Then there are the books written in more archaic script, speaking about a lost spark of divinity, taken by the moon and sealed up inside. And there are other, similar praises and prayers to the moon. Spoken aloud, they offer Drifters a vision of the moon, and a massive form stirring inside it. Drifters may realize it matches the vague shape seen inside the tunnels.

What’s more, the spells can also grant Drifters a brief clarifying touch. This bit of contact cannot reverse monster changes… But can stabilize emotions, and restore a Drifter’s mind if they’ve gone feral.

02-B: MECHANICS LESSON

Drifters may also find more recent manuscripts regarding car maintenance… And what appears to be schematics to the Convoy! Armed with this knowledge, a Drifter can make changes to the Convoy, such as adding an entirely new trailer with locations inside, or overhauling a room to their liking.
There is also a log passage relating to the Convoy. The most legible section reads:

“Wardens of Nirvana argue over this, say we can’t risk the last stronghold. But we can’t wait to persuade them; the Convoy must still be finished and sent out. Only way to save ourselves is stop the Silver Tears rituals, and get the outlanders before the cult. The Moon is already hungry, and so are the pawns of the God, they are already reaching out across worlds. At least this will safeguard those who arrive. Give them some control over their changes. And draw them back to us.”

02-C: HUNTING LESSON

The library isn’t without its hazards. A swarm of malformed creatures called Sucklers has made their home inside the library, hiding in the dark sections of the shelves. And they are very hungry; the Sucklers are ambush predators who try to mob Drifters and drain them. Sometimes one of the swarm will sacrifice themselves by exploding their head and sending shards of skull into the target, to weaken the prey for the rest of the swarm.

And to add to that, there is a complication for anyone who reads the books; the pages will burn the hands of the Drifters, and turn them monstrous if they are not already changed. (If they already are, it advances the change along a Drifter’s limbs.)

Alternately or additionally, the books change a Drifter’s eyes as they read, making them inhuman and altering their vision. Drifters will become sensitive to bright lights, but have excellent night vision.
A Drifter may begin to change into a Sphinx or Manticore while reading the books. (See Event 3!)

03: MOON WARP

A Moon Warp begins on the second week of wasteland exploration, after the storm and as the Convoy makes camp in a canyon. The broken moon gives an eerie glow overhead, before shards begin to burn through the night sky. The canyon walls and arches help to shield the convoy, but only so much. Shards of rock and moon alike rain down on the vehicles, crashing off the newly energized shield; those who stay in the Convoy should be safe enough.

By the end of the moon shower, the Warp has sunk deep into the canyon itself. Drifters who explore beyond the shield are caught up in the Warp, and feel new changes taking root in themselves. Those changes can easily be accelerated into new monster forms, which are detailed below.

03: MONSTER SHIFT, SPHINX

This month's monster is the Sphinx, a human-lion hybrid that may also have bird-like wings. It’s up to the player on just how leonine their facial features and bodies are. Alongside all sphinx species traits, the following also happens:
+Fluctuating Voice: voice can easily shift into a growl or a roar if emotions grow heated. This roar can also cause damage if loud enough.
+Clawing Pains: Can grow retractable claws, which may provide intense pain or discomfort. Healing magics can help alleviate this pain... Or sharpening their budding claws on just about anything, including stone.
+Compelled to speak in riddles or outright lying, which can make it very difficult to convey any information found in the libraries.
+Compelled to guard either people or a location. This can be beneficial for other Drifters if the Sphinx decides to protect them/the Convoy… But it could also be negative, if a Sphinx decides to guard the ruins, and other Drifters are intruders.
+An obsession with riddles and puzzles. The twisting passages and mazes of the library may become a fascinating subject to explore and map, not to mention any questions intriguing behavior posed by the other Drifters.
+Ambush Predator: Gains an affinity for stalking amongst the ruins, and using them to advantage when hunting other monsters. Running from or turning one's back on a Sphinx is not advised, lest it trigger the hunting instinct.

03: MONSTER SHIFT, MANTICORE

Alongside Sphinx, is the Manticore. A second human-lion hybrid, with rows of razor teeth, batlike wings, and poisonous quills/barbs on their tails. Manticores can access all Sphinx and Drakonis traits, and also gain:
+Voracious Appetite: Need to consume a large amount of meat. Husk monsters are around to feed on, otherwise may be compelled to raid the Convoy for food.
+Truth Compulsion: Manticores gain a loud, almost trumpet quality to their voice, and a need to announce truths instead of riddles. Qith so many books in the library, there’s lots of truth to announce.
+Guardian Compulsion: like the Sphinx, Manticores can be guards. Generally Manticores tend to be much more territorial, opting for a location and driving all intruders all of it… Or opting for one person and turning savagely protective.
+Instinct Shift: Low control of Protean form, but can subconsciously shift limbs back and forth.
+Toothing Pains: Gains rows of shark-like teeth that can chew through metal. Growing these may result in pain, and pain easily leads to berserk frenzy.
+Poison Sting: While growing the poison quills, the process can be unstable and cause manticores to shoot or shed their spines at inopportune times. The poison is still developing and cannot kill, but can cause paralysis, pain, or hallucinations.

04: SINGING ROCKS

The red rocks rise up in wave-like formations, or form arches, needles, and other strange shapes. There is also one other strange quality… The rocks sing. Or perhaps it is that they reflect any sound, whether that is thunder, engine noise, or car horns, and somehow twist it into a song.

The song manifests as something Drifters either desperately wants to hear, or fears hearing. It can also amplify the Haunting Echo from last month’s event, allowing Drifters to breathe the associated element (Fire for passion, Electricity for fear or excitement, Ice for sorrow) and also have it manifest on their hands/claws, similar to an Elemental’s abilities.

Though these echoes can easily mask the approach of savage, dinosaur esque wyverns that clamber along the surfaces. The fiery tigers that prowl the chasms are slightly more obvious.

04-A: DARK ECHO

This time, the song has a darker side to it. While it may renew the Haunted Echo (and the dragon effects!), it also causes any Drifter who listens too closely to forget themselves. This leads to two different results:
Reset: Drifters have their memories wiped back to their initial canon point where they were first pulled from, and have no recall of any of the game events or why they are now monsters. Players may opt for them to hear a radio transmission explaining that they need to reach Nirvana, or give them a very quick recap of the game premise if they wish to skip that step of RP.
Blank Slate: Drifters believe that they’ve ALWAYS been a monster, and their traits have always been with them. (Or are manifesting as a natural part of their lifespan.) On top of that, they may also believe that they’ve always been a denizen of this world, and act accordingly; wary of Steel Wardens as hunters, cagey of zealot Silver Tears, and other monstrous Drifters as packmates.

This effect can be undone by a few means: either a counter spell found in the libraries, powerful healing or cleansing magic, or through the passage of time… Though in this instance, the uncured effects will last until the end of October’s events, and the creepy carnival to follow.

05: RESTORATION SPRING

At the very bottom of the badlands is a spring and a broad river. It runs through the canyons, bubbles up between rock formations, forms oasis patches, and is the only large body of water for miles around.

Approaching it after the storm event is dangerous, due to the risk of flash flooding. It takes time and care to get a vehicle or Drifter to the bottom of the canyon… But well worth the effort. Not only does the spring contain drinkable water (and may well be a haven for those with mermaid transformations) but there’s plenty of discarded cans and tanks to fill and take back to the Convoy. The water itself has healing properties, and can restore memories.

But it’s advised to fill up quickly, or submerge into the water fast. There’s an odd rustling when anyone gets close to the spring, and it doesn’t take long to find the source. A swarm of cactaurs guards the area, and don’t take kindly to intruders. Only Fast vehicles have a hope of out pacing the cactaurs before they can shred Drifters and vehicles alike with their needles. And only Tough vehicles have a hope of standing against such an assault. Fighting a tide of angry cactus monsters isn’t advised, unless the Drifters have numbers, agility, and powerful magics on their side.

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.

Arid Land: As the Convoy progresses, water becomes harder to come by. The heat begins to spike. Cars without air conditioning have a hard time of it… And even the Convoy begins to take long breaks at the hottest parts of the day. Often sheltering in canyons, or under the shadows of the library ruins that dot the badlands. Between sun and parched conditions, it can be a battle to stay cool, and result in some odd solutions, depending on the Drifter.

Ancient Guardians: Dotting the ruins and badlands are statues that look uncomfortably familiar. Lion monsters stand guard over entrances, and sometimes even at a rare oasis. But many of them have seen better days; someone has defaced them, sometimes even decapitated them or amputated limbs and wings, carving the moon piercing sword on their stone forms. Cracked offering bowls lay at their paws, empty of everything except for sand… But those who make an offering might catch a whisper on the wind, hinting at what lays ahead.

Crumbling Tomes: One last quirk of the libraries is how the melding has gone; sometimes the shelves bleed between wood and rock. And this can even extend to the books themselves, partially petrified. And ready to fall off the shelves with a heavy impact; dodging those and deciphering stone pages can be a challenge!

Check Out: It is of course possible for Drifters to take books with them out of the library. But without a library card (curiously, off world library cards count) the defenses of the library activate. The books may ignite into flames, or become too heavy to carry.

IN ADDITION we have two extra prompts for Manticore and Sphinx monsters this month! These are detailed below:

Library binding. The library itself seems to recognize the value of these monsters as protectors, and seeks to keep them there. Various restraints try to chain sphinxes and manticores in place. Manticores have a slightly easier time biting through their restraints, but still might need help being freed, if they are collared in a way their teeth can’t reach.

Gnoll attack! On top of the Sucklers taking up residence in the library, there’s a collection of Gnolls. The hyena hybrids are slowly destroying the books, using them as kindling, or feeding for their venomous Gorger-worm pets. The gnolls also want any materials the Drifters have. If they can kill and eat any Drifters along the way, all the better. They are berserk creatures ruled by hunger, but with just enough intelligence left to use basic tools and weapons. Any interloping lion monsters are seen as pressing threats that need to be killed.

NAVIGATION

Comments

[propatriamori]

Nah, he's only around six feet tall when he goes full spider. He's over six feet as a human being, so he's actually a little shorter as a spider.

"I've seen and traveled through your portals before." Edward gets up from the table, then offers Leo one of his hands. "You'll have to guide me through it, though. I can't see them on my own."

He didn't know Leo couldn't go out in the sun, though. That's something else to think on.

[faceguy]

Leo takes his hand, grabbing his sword with the other.

“Right, you can’t see.” He’d figured that out, but it doesn’t seem to slow Edward down. He opens the portal, then tugs Edward forward.

“Alright, right through here.”

They’ll step out into the tank. If Edward hasn’t been inside, he may be able to feel that it’s a pretty open space for a vehicle, with plenty of space to stand. There’s car seats at the front, like a cockpit, and bench seats towards the back.

“Here we are! Tank sweet tank.”

[propatriamori]

This is Edward's first time in the tank, and he stomps his foot a couple of times to get a sense for its interior. It's definitely bigger than he imagined, but he supposes his view of tanks is another thing that's hopelessly outdated. They're probably all this size in the future.

"Very good." There will be space to Suddenly Spider here, and Edward turns to Leo. He looks vaguely embarrassed at what he's about to request. "Would you mind turning around while I shift? I imagine it's rather unpleasant to watch and I'd appreciate the privacy."

[faceguy]

They definitely aren't all this size in the future; poor Edward is being misled.

"Oh, uh, okay! Yeah. I'll just... go over here."

Leo walks forward to the cockpit, turned to face the front windows. He'll just admire the landscape until Edward tells him to turn around.

[propatriamori]

Too late, he now assumes all future tanks are this big and spacious!

"Thank you."

With Leo looking out the window, Edward quickly transforms. The sound effects are less than comforting; it sounds like stretching, popping, and vague chittering noises all rolled into one. At least it doesn't sound like it hurts; Edward himself is silent during the ordeal.

"All right, I've finished." He stands in the middle of the tank, waiting patiently for Leo to come back. "Now, for me to know what I'm doing, I'm going to use these..." he raises his second set of arms, "to tap along your shoulders while I'm working. I sense the world through vibrations, and those movements will help me. In fact," and he flashes that faint little smile, "it would also be helpful if you could pat on your stomach at the same time."

[faceguy]

Oh, those are some weird noises…

But there’s no screaming, so Leo assumes it’s alright. When Edward calls to him again, Leo turns back around and… Huh. He was expecting a big spider like Big Mama, so this is different.

He walks back over, listening to Edward’s instructions.

“Alright. Just… let me take off my hoodie.”

He grips the edges of the fabric, glancing at Edward again. Edward is blind, so he doesn’t feel as nervous as he would otherwise.

He pulls the hoodie over his head, tossing it onto one the of the nearby seats.

“Okay, done. So… I just pat my stomach?”

He does so, patting the lower part of his shell under the hole.

[propatriamori]

Edward is a relatively small and dignified man-spider. Only six feet tall.

"Yes, just like that." Edward waits until Leo has himself situated, then steps forward. He lifts his second pair of hands so Leo can see them, then lowers them onto the turtle's shoulders and lightly drums his fingers across them. That, combined with Leo's patting, gives him a better sense for the holes than he's had before, and oof, those are bad. If it weren't for whatever magic is changing them all, Edward is certain those would be fatal injuries.

"All right. I believe... that over your right shoulder and then under your left arm will be the way to go. Can you stop patting and lift your arms above your head now, please?"

Edward shifts his second hands to keep drumming lightly on Leo's collarbones, and drops his first hands down near where the spider body begins. At the same time, he tucks the spider abdomen between his legs so he can reach the end of it. This would be easier if he were dangling from the ceiling--or if Leo was in a web--but this is far less weird and off-putting.

"This is going to look, ah... a bit gross. It's silk, not excrement, I assure you."

Time to start spinning silk!

[faceguy]

So this is all a bit weird. Still, Leo manages not to squirm while Edward is patting him down.

He watches as Edward situates his butt (Leo doesn't know what it's really called). The clarification is reassuring, at least.

"I mean, you can't see it, but my whole heart is literally out here." Leo laughs. "I don't think you can get grosser than that."

[propatriamori]

It's a butt. A spider butt, but a butt nonetheless.

"It's not gross, Leo." Sad, far more than gross, although Edward doesn't elaborate further. Instead, he reaches down and starts pulling out a long strand of silk from his abdomen. He carefully sticks it to Leo's shoulder, then starts winding it around his chest and back, covering the holes in the shell.

"I'm using adhesive silk, but it should stick mostly to itself and not to you." No one wants spider silk in their internal organs! Except for where Edward attached it to Leo's shoulder, it shouldn't stick anywhere else. "Let me know if I'm tying it too tight."

[faceguy]

“It’s fine.”

He dutifully holds his arms out of Edward’s way, feeling more than a little awkward. Even if Edward has reassured him, he’s still a little worried this is going to feel weird when it’s done. How does spider silk against a lung feel? He doesn’t want to find out.

All this adds up to a Leo who is more quiet than normal. He’s not even making any spider puns!

[propatriamori]

If Edward isn't regaled with some choice spider pun when this is over, he'll be disappointed.

For now, though, he notices how subdued and quiet Leo has gotten, so he works as quickly as he can. He tries to keep the silk flat, so Leo can put his jumper on over the top of it, but also layers it so it'll have some heft and strength. Once he's satisfied, he tucks the last end of silk under the previous layers, then pushes down to make sure it sticks before taking all four hands back and stepping backwards.

"There. How does that feel?"

[faceguy]

“…Huh.”

Leo swivels this way and that, looking at his new silk wrappings.

“You know, I thought it would feel weirder. Give me the creepy crawlies, or something.” He grins, giving the webbing a poke. “But it doesn’t feel bad. Thanks, Spider-Eddy.”

He may not remember the nickname, but he goes right back to it.

[propatriamori]

Edward smiles, pleased that Leo likes it and that the young man is feeling perky enough to revert to the spider nickname. He wonders how Leo would feel if he knew Edward had used a similar technique to the one he uses when he catches monsters in his webs, but he'll be keeping that information to himself. No sense in giving the kid a case of the whim-whams.

"You're very welcome. If it ever gets damaged or needs repairs, don't hesitate to ask me. It wasn't taxing at all to make, and I want you to stay safe and protected."

[faceguy]

"O-oh. Heh, well, thanks!"

It's a little weird having someone he barely knows say they want him to stay safe... But then, Leo supposes they don't barely know each other. His response feels a little inadequate then, like there should be more here that is just missing to him.

Donnie told him he's been here this whole time, but his memories of their home and family are so vivid. They can't be fake. But people here know him, too...

He hesitates a second longer, then pipes up with, "Sooo, uh... You... know me and Donnie pretty well, right?"

[propatriamori]

"I like to think so, yes." Edward moves to one of the benches in the tank and carefully settles down onto it, tucking his legs in underneath himself. "I've spent a fair amount of time with the two of you, although rarely with all of us together."

His voice has unmistakable fondness in it.

"This place... it sometimes plays with our minds. I'm not offended that you don't remember me. I imagine it will all come back, with enough time."

[faceguy]

Leo walks over and sits down next to Edward. It’s nice, to hear that he has friends here. Donnie even seemed to think of one of them as a father…

But what about their real dad? Where was he?

“I think… Donnie’s mind has been messed with, too.” He rubs his hands together. “I mean, he says that we’ve always been here; he doesn’t remember anything other than this world, and the Convoy. But it can’t be right.” He shakes his head. “I remember our home, and our family. No offense to all you guys,” he adds, looking over at Edward, “because you seem cool! It’s just… I want them to be real. I don’t want to think I made it up.”

[propatriamori]

"I suspected as much. When I last spoke to him, he seemed a bit... off."

Edward reaches over and very gently pats Leo's hands. "You and Donnie have both told me about your world, and your father, and your other brothers. You introduced me to Jupiter Jim; Donnie shared a pizza made in something called a microwave with me. If your home world wasn't real, the two of you have done a magnificent job constructing its story and sharing it with other people."

He turns his face then, so Leo can see him fully instead of in profile. "I think you've both forgotten things temporarily, but that doesn't make them any less real. Your world is real; Donnie's experiences with the Convoy are real too, if on a shorter time scale."

[faceguy]

Relief causes some of the tension to leak of Leo's shoulders when he hears that. Knowing his dad and brothers are real means everything to him.

Though it also means other things that happened to him are real. He doesn't know if he can deal with that right now.

Besides, apparently Donnie's had things that have happened to him here, and it makes Leo uneasy that he doesn't know about everything.

"...Well, I did tell him the truth had to be somewhere between our memories. And I'm always right."

Leo offers up a shaky smile at that.

"Wait, you have pizza around here?"

[propatriamori]

That's the unfortunate nature of reality; it doesn't care what parts are pleasant or unpleasant. It simply is.

"You are." Edward smiles. "In my experience, anyway."

It might take Leo a more roundabout route to get to things than it does Donnie, but he doesn't lie, and his assessments are usually accurate.

"We did! Some trees were using it as bait to try and lure us in, but we managed to secure a few boxes before we escaped. You'll have to talk to Donnie about it, though; I can't make magic iceboxes so he kept them."

[faceguy]

Leo does a double take at that. His brothers never agree with him when he says something like that. That's basically the whole bit.

"W-well, that's your experience because it's true!" he says, recovering quickly. Even if he looks a little softer than usual.

(Unfortunately, Edward is quite wrong about whether Leo lies.)

"Anyway, are you telling me you ran into killer trees or something? That's so weird."

What is this place?

[propatriamori]

Edward is fully expecting the deflect, so it doesn't surprise him when it comes. He doesn't bring it up again, content to let the compliment simply be there, out in the open.

(Don't break his heart and prove him wrong by lying to him, Leo. He believes in you!)

"We managed to get away before any killing took place, but yes. It was apparently an area the convoy had gone through before, and the trees would try to lure people in with items from home."

Like boxes of pizza.

"Then they'd begin to heal monster transformations to keep you there." Edward sighs shakily; his face has gone pale in this retelling. "The trees made a mistake, though. They took away my vibrations."

[faceguy]

"Your vibe- oh..."

Leo gets it, he thinks. He hasn't known Edward long (with his current memories), but it's clear he uses the vibrations to get around. Without them, can he not see at all?

Leo would be happy to be rid of his changes, personally. But he can get where Edward is coming from.

"So you made like a tree and leaf-ed?"

1/3

[propatriamori]

"Yes, I navigate by..."

Wait a minute.

2/3

[propatriamori]

did you just

3/4 I lied

[propatriamori]

Listen here, you little shit