route666rp | FEBRUARY EVENT LOG

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FEBRUARY EVENT LOG

The Convoy begins a slow path through the forest, and a long road winding between the trees. The vegetation hangs thick overhead, with a perpetual state of dim light hanging over the surroundings. Sunlight and moonlight both have a hard time piercing the gloom. And alongside that is a sense of danger looming in the shadows.

01: DEPARTURE/MINGLE

Dawn arrives after a long and demanding night. As wane sunlight leaks through the forest, the forcefield flickers out. In its place, the Convoy hums to life. Engines thrum, breakfast appears in the dining car, and the speakers crackle with a pre-recorded, automated voice.

“The Convoy will depart in three hours. Please ready yourself for the trip. Secure your belongings, prepare your vehicle, remain as human as possible. End destination… Nirvana. Repeat, the Convoy will depart in three hours.”

The recording drones on a loop, before fading out in a crackle of static. Before departure there’s a few matters to attend to, some more pressing than others:
+Breakfast consists of bland porridge. Some might want better food, and with a decently stocked kitchen, one can make better.
+The showers have lost any hot water. Surely there’s some way to fix the heater or provide some hot water? Or otherwise grumble through a cold shower.
+There’s plant growth where the Husks have been felled. Flowering vines grow over the Convoy, and need to be pruned for departure. The foliage has an odd effect if directly touched, instilling wanderlust and curiosity. The affected feel compelled to wander… Or be curious about others!

02: HAUNTED GROVE

The trees grow into a tangle just a few paces off the road. They almost envelop the buildings, absorbing the structures until only the roofs are visible. The branches become more twisted, and almost arm-like when reaching out to you.

Vines hang like nooses from the trees. And a closer look shows moss ridden Husks draped in the branches. Still, those who ignore those ominous signs can find supplies growing and hanging from the branches; repair materials, and unnerving types of food like canned ham and frozen pizza.

And then… There’s the effect from staying in the shade of the trees for too long. There’s a lethargy that clings to you, even as it eases the changes wracking your body. Resting underneath the grove can heal a Drifter of one change, and leave them feeling soothed… But all of this is by design. The grove WANTS you to stay there and become a part of it, so that it can ensnare you with vines or absorb you into trees. It can restore Drifters, but if they stay there for too long they’re going to need some rescuing.

03: WRECK

There’s a collection of abandoned cars in the forest clearings. Some cars are better preserved than others, some even containing cargo, weapons, and ammo, with a possibility to scavenge equipment off them…

…If not for the traps, set around the wreckage in the form of steel jaw bear traps and snares. All of them are coated in something that leaves the vision blurry and sets hearts into overdrive. If exposed to too much of it, there’s suddenly a reason for that near panic; hallucinations of fears can easily flare up.

There’s also things prowling the wreckage on four metallic canine legs, with gleaming chrome teeth and red headlights for eyes. The guidance computers on nearby vehicles flash an alert as they draw close; identifying them as chromehounds, though these have seen better days. Dented, damaged, but still fierce enough. And still ready to pounce on anyone caught in the traps or drugged with fear toxin.

While the chromehounds can be dispatched, the fear toxin will have to run its course. Closer examination of the hounds and traps shows an insignia of a sword piercing the moon.

03-A: MONSTER NEST

Hostile beasts lurk in the woods. Many are cautious, nocturnal creatures that prefer to emerge at night, and hunt any Drifter who has strayed outside the reach of the Convoy forcefield.

A massive monster nest dwells in a crumbling, abandoned overpass in the middle of the forest. The Convoy does its best to give the area a wide berth, but it’s entirely possible Drifters might still stumble across it: particularly if some of the more annoying creatures like Great Jagras steal food and take it back to the den.

Many of the beasts make their dens in abandoned vehicles littering the overpass: Jagras and Slicemargl take up the better spots, while noxicaps and scavengers linger on the fringes. But the most territorial are the mutant bears, occupying the darker parts of the underpass.

04: SHRINE

The moon glows balefully overhead some nights. An eerie light glows across the sky, like a burning aurora that exacerbates any symptoms the Drifters have picked up this month. Sometimes the trees help to muffle this maddening light. But not always.

There is however a remedy that blocks out the light; dotted near the road or just off the forest paths are shrines carved from stone and wood. The aurora dims near these shrines, and offers breathing room. Small offerings dot the alters, and some are even medicines that can alleviate hallucinations, wanderlust, and the like.

But there’s a price for taking these offerings; the various candles dotting the shrines ignite, flames reaching for the intruder, and burn either a monster change, or a message into their skin. It’s equal odds which one a Drifter receives. The message fades in the span of the month, but offers cryptic words regarding the world, and can be logged in the Convoy database.

05: STASIS WARNING

Pockets of something… Wrong lurk on the road, or just off the path. Many of them are lined with Husks twisted into horrified expressions. Others are little more than a faint distortion and ripple in the air. But once a Drifter wanders into the pockets, the effects become all too clear.

The pockets are alarmingly still when stepped inside. This stillness tries to seep into anyone in the pocket, making them stiffen, their thoughts go sluggish and almost halt… But the Sigils on their skin dispel this before it can completely overtake a Drifter. Sigils disperse the field with explosive results; bursts of fire or electricity, surges of plant grown, rock explosions all burst as the field is dispelled.

The one warning for these pockets are strange symbols and the words ‘STASIS’ inscribed on rocks, trees, and signs around these pockets, warning about them. A couple crisscross the roads needed to take out of the forest. It seems that a Tough vehicle could easily wade in and survive the explosions of magic, while a Fast vehicle would be capable of outracing any trouble… While those on foot will need to hope for the best, or for fast healing.

06: RADIO HOUR

After several days of travel, and around nightfall the Convoy approaches a resting point ringed in Husks. It resembles a log cabin, with some unnerving traits; first, the trees near the cabin become more rigid and geometric, almost like pylons. Second is the large radio tower growing out of the cabin itself. Once the Convoy is in range, the radios, phones, and screens all crackle to life. Screens display a broadcasting logo, followed by an emergency signal drone. Astute Drifters can check the dates that pop up, and realize that this is an old recording.

“Attention, this is an emergency broadcast. Seek shelter immediately. A moon warp is imminent. Repeat, a Moon Warp is imminent. Impact: falling moon shards will cause destruction and distortions. Prepare by seeking cover inside shields. Those caught outside will be twisted. Seek shelter immediately.”

Outside the Husks pulse, and the broken moon shimmers. Several bright spots in the sky grow brighter… And larger, as shards of moon fall. The Convoy comes to a wrenching halt. A warning siren echoes, before the Convoy deploys its shield. Those inside are safe from the worst of the Warp, able to hide out in the Convoy. Nothing like a good time to bond with whoever you’ve been shut in with, right?

07: MONSTER HOUR

Those outside the Convoy will be in for a rougher time. The glow from the falling moon shards has a way of piercing into the brain and forcing a full transformation for as long as the Moon Warp lasts.

During the Warp, there’s plenty of trouble for Drifters. The Husks glow before bursting into a pack of violent, wolf-esque gryphons called Nargacuga, and a host of other beasts. These monsters favor scaling trees for dive attacks, or hauling Drifters up into the branches. But with their focus on the Drifters, the Nargacuga are easy prey for the chromehounds nearby, which pounce in a tangle and clash.

By dawn, the Warp has worn off. The Nargacuga are dead, while the chromehounds have been smashed. Transformed Drifters have two options in the aftermath; either they've burned off so much energy fighting they revert into an exhausted state. They will likely be suffering from disorientation and require rest, healing, and anchoring from others. Alternately, Drifters run wild ahead of the Convoy as something draws them north; they will have a chance to revert next month, in the Messages prompt!

07-A: MONSTER BRAWL

One particularly large and ferocious Nargacuga leads the pack of monsters… And seems to have a particular hatred for technology. He attacks the radio tower, doing his best to knock it down, and then strikes at the Convoy only to be deflected by the shields. Once he’s deflected, he vents his rage on the Chromehounds.

The radio picks up something from the lead Nargacuga each time he bleeds, and a patchy broadcast happens, with different fragments heard by different people:
1. “Serenith has ordered. I obey. Obliterate every trace of Wardens, cull their human flock. Justice for the packs they murdered.”
2. “Keep bleeding them until the moon Breaks, just like she ordered.”
3. “They gave me a place and a pack, where I could hunt.”
4. “Be ruthless. The Steel Wardens aren’t different, with the children they cull.”
5. “Hate… Loss… Blood. Always more blood.”

In its death throes the Nargacuga obliterates any remaining Husks, littering the area with quicksilver pools. Drifters must be careful around these pools, as contact with them will cause all pre-assigned monster traits next month to linger without special treatment.

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.

Radio Trees: A strange line of geometric trees leading towards the radio tower cabin. The closer a Drifter gets, the more they can hear faint music and old broadcasts regarding moon phases.

Hunting Grounds: An area of burnt out husks that have already burst open. There’s a few monster carcasses scattering the area, along with broken weapons and bullet casings. A symbol has been carved into the monsters, or a moon pierced by a sword.

Forest Flowers: A clearing that lacks the grasping trees from before, and instead is taken up by crystalline flowers. They give off a pleasant fragrance, and help to relax characters. Can be crushed into a medicine to help cure long lasting fear toxin effects.

Falling Trees: Drifters are advised to be careful of falling trees obstructing the road, and which may need to be hacked through. Granted, what’s knocking over the trees is another question entirely!

Lakeside: streams and rivers thread the forest, occasionally creating marshy areas. These rivers eventually feed into a massive lake that borders the radio tower cabin. The water is cloudy, and the bottom of the lake covered with the remains of destroyed chrome hounds: they’ve clearly been torn apart by the nargacuga prowling the area.

NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[V misses the initial proclamation, but the resulting clamor jolts them into action.

Which would be good, since they at least have a functional lighter to hand, and a taser for M-Bot to deploy - but the chromehounds manage to manipulate them into racing ahead into one of the toxin traps.]

Gah!

[It does good things for their fighting reflexes - and bad things for their state of mind. It's all too easy to imagine the fight as an attack by the Red Empire.

M-Bot's distress chirps are just as likely to draw attention as the animalistic growls of the fight's participants. Whatever's actually happening, V won't be captured again.]

Edited 2025-02-08 22:01 (UTC)

[Akechi gasps at the sight. That further confirms that something's amiss. Traps, and... something more?

Damn it.

Akechi growls at the surrounding Chromehounds.]

Hey, mutts! It's time to 'play...'

[For now, he'll stick to another Eigaon, summoning Hereward to his side.

His Persona nods, then fires off an arrow at one of the Chromehounds that explodes into a crackle of crimson-black energy, and a powerful one at that.

This should, at least, draw their attention away from V.]

[V's attention, in turn, is drawn from Akechi - they can't easily classify the Persona based on what they know from Tamaris, but distracting the ~~rogue fighters~~ ~~angered strike force~~ Chromehounds isn't something V expects an 'enemy' to do.

M-Bot swoops in, and even though V still flinches they at least recognize their friend.]

They're- they're weak to electricity!

[That much clarity they can retain, even through fear.]

[When another Chromehound lunges his way, he hops back, swinging his crowbar in an attempt to drive it back. Though the blow staggers the beast, it does little else, and he follows up with another Eigaon.]

I don't possess electrical skills, but I do have an attack that could sweep through the area.

[He'd prefer to save it for a more dangerous foe, but a warning at least will prepare V and M-Bot ahead of time.]

[V makes a face, trying to not just keep flinching-

There aren't any gunshots, yet. That does help them keep focus.]

Does it leave you vulnerable if you use it?

[M-Bot, doing its best to pitch in, manages to get one Chromehound to attack another by using irregular flight patterns. Then it dives in with its taser, for good measure.]

I- I can try and cover you, if so.

I can only use one Persona skill at a time, and Megidolaon is rather draining, but it'd deal far more effective damage than single-target spells.

[He swings at another Chromehound, bracing himself.]

You may want to shield your eyes for a moment.

[That's the only warning before he calls Hereward back to his side, and his Persona unleashes an explosive attack.

With luck, its damage should stagger them long enough for M-bot and V to pick off at least some of them.]

[At a different time, V would have follow-up questions about Persona... but those are going to have to wait.

V doesn't need a second warning, though M-Bot has more trouble. The bright flash throws it off-course, and V-

jumps

And before they know it they've managed to land an emphatic kick on a Chromehound. Which doesn't do much to damage the hound, but apparently heightened fear and protective instincts still have special properties even for Synth.]

... Are you still there?

[Their peripheral vision isn't working like it should. There's still threats, one of which M-Bot steadies enough to tase even as they watch, but they can't spot their surprise ally.]

I am.

[He wipes some sweat off his forehead, readying his crowbar for another strike, just in case.]

The Megidolaon seems to have dealt a fair amount of damage. With luck, it won't be too difficult to pick them off from here.

[Megidolaon is too draining to use excessively, so when a damaged Chromehound tries to attack, he has Hereward use Eigaon instead. The existing damage from the previous attack renders it just weak enough that his follow up spell finishes the job.

But that's just one down.]

[If there's a word for the Chromehounds' current status, it is probably 'dazed'.

Which doesn't make them less aggressive, just less coordinated about it. After some quick code-exchange with their drone, M-Bot steadies itself and works to down another one.

V, fast but still strained, is a little slower to completely finish off more hounds... but between the three of them, it is mostly straightforward work.

Eventually, V backs into a tree - deliberately, eyes closed.]

Something is still wrong. I must have run through one of the traps...

[Akechi does his best to pick off the stragglers. Thankfully, Eigaon requires far less stamina than Megidolaon, and with their combined efforts, the forest soon grows quiet.

But the traps... Akechi eyes V cautiously.]

Do you recall which trap it was? I noticed some snares while we were fighting, and Hereward already triggered one of the bear traps before.

[They can't hear the fight anymore - but it still feels like the fight is happening.

This is probably what vertigo feels like; V is not enjoying it.]

It wasn't that kind of trap. I heard something, but not a blow dart.

[They're not used to being vulnerable to this kind of attack...]

I see.

[That's troublesome. It's not as though Hereward has the ability to cure statuses, and he lacks any healing items to speak of.]

I believe that Megidolaon should have decimated any lingering traps, but that hardly matters if we don't have a means to cure their effects.

[But the foes are gone, and the car is more accessible.

It takes some doing, but he lumps on top of the hood of the car, fighting the temptation to smash the windshield wide open.]

[V wants to move, but mostly they just end up shivering. Overactive nerves, no doubt.

M-Bot makes a worried chirp, not willing to venture too far from its partner.]

... Killing the monsters sometimes gives status effects. Speed, or strength. Other things, as well.

[It's not a guarantee - but, in their experience thus far, it's consistent in terms of which types of monsters give which results.]

True. We could break open husks or trail monsters to their nests. It might even grant some relief.

[He pauses, looking V up and down.]

But are you sure you're in fighting shape?

[M-Bot chirrups - a reminder that they aren't actually in danger at the moment. V forces theirself to trust their partner over their current instincts.

Still not looking, one hand travels to the joints of the other arm, fiddling carefully. It's part a self-sooth, but it also notably changes the dimensions of that limb, bit by bit.]

I'm... not exactly out of tricks. Do you see any tree limbs we could use as bait?

[Some of these monsters were like proverbial sharks in water... as long as they could be made to think there was food, perhaps they could be summoned.]

Let's see...

[His eyes scan the area. Thanks to that Megidolaon, several of the trees bear scorch marks, and a few stray branches dot the forest floor.

Without getting too close to the underbrush, Akechi lifts a lengthy enough branch and extends it to V.]

Try this.

[V takes the branch, only taking long enough to ensure they won't drop it, then-]

M-Bot, see what's up above us, would you?

[The drone makes quite the series of buzzes and chirps before complying - and as soon as it does, V takes their free hand and jabs at one of the joints they hadn't messed with.
This pushes in an otherwise-invisible panel in that arm, yielding a small trickle of clear fluid. This, they dab on the branch.]

There. Now- pretend to attack me. We need sound more than action, then-

[To encapsulate the rest of their improvised plot, they heft the branch.]

I apologize in advance for my volume.

[But, as much as they still feel so high-strung, this all is distracting them, which feels... good? Ish?]

[It's not what Akechi expected, and his eyes widen a little when V jabs themself, but otherwise, he remains quiet.

They clearly have a plan, so he'll watch and wait to see where this leads.]

You know your needs better than I ever could.

[V looks briefly surprised by what Akechi says, before nodding.]

Can you make it sound like you're attacking?

[Their voice is a little quieter - then, deliberately, before they can second-guess theirself, screams bloody murder and throws the decorated tree limb.]

Of course.

[Here, he'll bang his crowbar around and slash it for good measure. Better that than to waist stamina on throwing spells about.]

[After a few moments of chaos, and some more screaming on V's part, there's an answering noise - some slithering creature, smelling prey.

V can't tell what it is, having kept their eyes closed to fight the toxin-induced vertigo, but they tense up against the tree, ready for another attack.]

What is it?

...A giant iguana. Get ready!

[That's his only warning before he jumps back, summons Hereward again, and blasts the monster with another Eigaon strike.]

[V gives Akechi a few moments to get clear - then launches theirself in the direction of the monster's answering growls.

They've managed to make some ground back up in recreating their toolbelt; two of these items are a lighter, and a sharp piece of metal.

They know how to retrieve these things by touch. But they don't do that, not yet.]

Did it get the stick?

[Akechi doubles back, looking to confirm.]

Yes. Your trick worked impeccably.

[He sees where this is going now. A lighter, a stick... How crafty, really.]

[And fortunately, there appears to be more than one monster approaching, if the sound of disturbed foliage is any indication.

Opportunists. Akechi will have some benefit from this tactic too, it appears.]

Thanks. Stay behind me!

[With that last advice, V delivers another scream, dashing forth to deal out flame towards the Great Jagras - who in turn is focusing on them, recognizing the smell of their internal fluids.]

Wreck/A bit of Wildcard, as mentioned on plurk! (cw: game-typical violence, hallucinations)

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cw: deliberate bleeding

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Great Jagras 'show up wherever there is food or prey', so hopefully this works!

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