FEBRUARY EVENT LOG

[monstertruckers]

code

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

Comments

V - Songs for the Dusk OC | Weretiger

[constantvrunning]

*Note - Permissions post is a sticky'd post on V's account, now!

Scavenging, Scrappering

(Morning, OTA)

In which V is compelled to explore

[V realizes, belatedly, that they don't have to stick to their vehicle... which gives them an excuse to recreate their toolbelt, frankly; they were far too underequipped to deal with those monsters for their comfort.

So throughout the Convoy - and even later, when they approach the Wreck of what appears to be previous convoys - one lone Synth can be spotted snagging unused parts.

Or, because they're not immune to the wanderlust-infusing plants, they're coming to you with a satchel of harvested plants to hand. "Studying these is not my specialty. I work better with the vehicles. Would you like to trade?"

And, though pointing it out makes them twitch, there's always the monstrous reflection to point out, whenever V gets close enough to a mirror.]

Evening

(Multiple Nights - finding shrines, stasis pockets, monsters. OTA)

V says this is Sus

[V isn't quite the first to hit a pocket of stasis, but their first instinct - once the pain subsides - is to pull over and warn the next person who pulls up.

Multiple times, they try going off-road entirely, finding more wreckage and things to salvage - after a few days of this the only thing they still can't fight effectively are those beasts weak to ice. It's a frustrating hole in their offensive skills, but they'll make do. Killing monsters almost becomes a way to pass the time - especially the Scavengers, which seem to be weak to everything.

Then there are the shrines, little setups they prod very cautiously, because ruins are one thing but these seem not to be as abandoned. As interesting as the offerings are, they stay away.
Which, doesn't prevent them from acquiring a message anyway, much to their disquiet. One can spot them, shifted, running away from such an occasion, if they're particularly unlucky.]

Moonrise

(Moon Warp event, Locked to those NOT in the Convoy! Potential for violence in this particular prompt.)

V wants answers, but gets transformations.

[V's been constant in avoiding the Husks - but as the Convoy approaches the Radio Tower, it hits them that there may be worse problems afoot.

"... How is this planet still here?!" they ask, as they parse the recorded message. Glancing at where they've hastily parked their vehicle, they dash past and away from the main train.

Something in them wants answers.

Unfortunately, what greets them first is the Moon Warp, twisting their form with added pain and driving away most of their rationality. With their enhanced speed, it may be hard to keep up with them to even try communicating anyway, and they're definitely not running on two legs.]

Scavenging

[serialmurderbot]

[SecUnit wasn't expecting anyone to approach it, at all - let alone approach it with weird fucking flora on hand, on top of that. It actually takes two full steps back from V, clearing into more of its established personal bubble, even though that puts it right up against its vehicle and limits its maneuvering space.]

No.

[... Okay maybe a bit brusque for someone that it saw having a really shitty time before. Maybe it could stand being less of an asshole, even when there are plants in its face, never mind that it's already got on its motorcycle helmet to keep distance from exactly this sort of thing.]

I don't know what to do with those.

Re: Scavenging

[constantvrunning]

[V visibly puts on the brakes at SecUnit's reaction, retreating to what they best guess is 'outside the bubble'.]

Could you help me look for someone to handle these, then? It seems rather inefficient to just put them back.

[The satchel is held securely, because some precautions are just obvious.]

[serialmurderbot]

[Better - it eases back out of its defensively tense posture, a subtle shift that nevertheless cools the level of unconscious threat around it at least (if someone other than it were to have a threat assessment) seven percent.]

Why'd you take them, if you have no idea what to use them for?

[It's used to biologists who are intensely interested in those kind of samples - or AgBots, who are harvesting a crop. Seems kind of... pointless, to just pick a whole bunch?

But it's not the weirdest thing its seen anyone do. Cracker wrapper in the sink incident. That's the most pointless fucking fight it's ever seen.]

[constantvrunning]

[V looks askance - they're not entirely sure of why, themselves. And hiding that by overcompensating is probably a bad idea, too...]

Something about them needed picking. They weren't exuding any odors.

[Or, like certain trees, extending vines. That reduces the threat potential, right???]

[serialmurderbot]

[The logic doesn't follow for SecUnit, who's still watching the collection of plants like they might just decide to animate and try to bite it and V anyway.]

Where were they?

[It's... weird but harmless it guesses, unless V somehow ran out into the woods alone a second time. On the other hand, they got back just fine - though you'd think the lesson would have stuck the first instance.]

[constantvrunning]

There was a copse of trees, with odd growths. I went around that, then went west from it for twelve meters.

[Because something just seemed off about those trees. Like there was something magnetic about them.]

Found them half a mile that way.

[V points with acute precision.]

[serialmurderbot]

[Its first instinct is to look for a hazards map it doesn't have. Its second instinct is to go there itself to see what exactly V is talking about.]

No fauna? [Or weird husks, for that matter, but having very sensibly steered clear of those things, SecUnit is still fine classifying them as 'fauna or flora maybe', and not 'KEEP THE FUCK AWAY'.]

Moonrise, usual cw about blood and gore etc.

[bufudine]

[Serph had narrowly avoided the effects of the Moon Warp, the uncontrolled transformation inflicted by the moon shards temporarily staved off by his own demonic one. But for how long can he keep it up? Varuna's hunger isn't so easily slaked and the urge to devour presses even more intensely at the edge of his consciousness thanks to the injuries he's sustained from fighting other Drifters and the creatures inhabiting the night, blood dripping from his semi-mangled left arm.

Which is when a recognisable silhouette sprints past him on all fours. Damn. V as well? He knows V dislikes that form. Where are they going? If they get too far away from the Convoy...

Where is M-Bot, anyway?

He needs to stop V. Sucking in a breath Serph lets out a loud hiss, pillars of ice bursting forth right in V's path.]

Re: Moonrise, usual cw about blood and gore etc.

[constantvrunning]

[There's a smattering of blood in their fur, only possible to make out thanks to the eerie light of the moon.

That ice hits its mark, sending the monstrous felinoid skidding and then tumbling off their paws.

They roar - there's no other word for the noise they make - flailing around, trying to right theirself, and freezing stock-still when they accidentally catch sight of the transformed Serph.

Familiarity pushes forth, even if they can't place who or why. The ice prevents V from making swift tracks to Serph, and that's probably a good thing for both of them.]

[bufudine]

[The ice worked out as planned. But now there's the matter of whether V is capable of listening to him. Do they have their mind? A roar doesn't necessarily mean 'no' (after all, he himself is prone to them) but they did stop. Which could mean recognition... or simply acknowledging him as prey.]

V. Do you hear me?

[constantvrunning]

[There's something off about their eyes - not the shape, necessarily. But any intelligence that could be implied from looking at them is suppressed.

Instead, they growl. Tentatively, they smack down a paw, trying to crack the ice and perhaps gain traction that way.]

[bufudine]

[A no, he supposes.

Well then.

If it weren't for Apollo telling him that killing supposedly made things worse in the next life, he wouldn't think twice about neutralising the threat. But then again, he had helped V earlier, and he thinks about how much pain the deaths of Jinana and Lupa had brought upon his comrades. Maybe there's another way, here.

Fortunately for V the ice isn't a permament fixture, the effects slowly disappearing as the magic that formed it dissipates. Serph tenses, ready for a fight.]

Are you hungry?

[constantvrunning]

[Something about those words, or perhaps just Serph's tone, manages to resonate.

Again, V roars, managing a step forward-

An unimpeded step forward, which takes less than a second to register. Affected as they are, the monster that is V looks eager.]

[bufudine]

[Well then. Serph hardly has good mobility in his left arm after he allowed Yang to tear into it. But he would do it again and again if it would allow his new comrades to return to some semblance of themselves.

His lips curl up into a snarl, sharpened teeth bared, and words that he would have heard from his second in command were he here spill from his mouth.]

Then come get me.

Scavenging

[solitarysoul]

[Levi is searching through a car when V approaches, and the bestial reflection in its rear view mirror is the first he spots them. He spins, raising his blade to get ready to fight--a person? That was weird.]

Uh...s-sorry, I-I thought...I thought I saw something else.

Re: Scavenging

[constantvrunning]

[V freezes as Levi does, not sure what he's reacting to-

Oh.]

I understand.

[They can see their own reflection, in the one intact side mirror, and only let their gaze rest there for a moment before forcibly looking away.]

Surprise fights rarely mean good things for anyone.

[But it's clear from their stance that V doesn't want a fight.]

Are you alright? ... Anything of interest in there?

[Maybe changing the conversation topic would be better?]

[solitarysoul]

No...I don't want a fight if I can help it.

[He does glance back at the mirror, though, just to confirm the reflection is this person. Weird, but things were pretty strange here.]

I'm fine...there wasn't much in this one but I've found a few good things in other cars.

[constantvrunning]

[V nods approvingly.]

See if there's a button for releasing the hood.

[Stepping around with care, the trunk was clearly open - and the innards ravaged - but the hood was still secure.]

At the very least, spare parts still have use.

[And V was capable of carrying certain unwieldy portions, if it came to that.]

[solitarysoul]

Uh...

[It takes him a moment, but Levi does manage to find the switch to pop the hood.]

Do you know how to work with these things?

[constantvrunning]

Just press it; I know how to hook the hood so it stays open.

[No one's going to be getting this car moving again...]

These are retro-type compared to what I normally investigate, but I recognize the mechanics for the most part.

scavenging

[slightlytaller]

[Waver, with a scavenged tote of spam and other canned goods that he had found looked at the stranger in surprise. For a wild moment, he wondered what had tipped his hand.

-- but he was slimmer than a reed, and he was sure that the way he stumbled on rocks and roots that jutted up from the trail definitely gave him away as someone unused to the outdoors.]


I've studied some herbalism, [He admitted, standing from where he had been searching.]

It's not something I'm an expert in, but I can see what we can do with them.

... Is there anything you want as a trade?

Re: scavenging

[constantvrunning]

[To be clear, V does not believe in destiny. They'd be more likely to chalk this up to coincidence (or, given how few Drifters there are, mere probability), but they're hardly going to complain about finding someone who can actually help.]

"If you have any scrap metal, or machine parts you can't use, that would work fine."

[Though they can't deny they are curious about how much plant-studying can be done, here. It was definitely not their specialty as far as survivalism skills went.]

"My name is V; what should I call you?"

[slightlytaller]

Mm. It's good to meet you, V. Waver is fine--

Let's see what we have in the back of the camper van.

[He gestured to the vibrantly colored, spacious looking vehicle with fades flowers painted on it's exterior. Fate or probability, the odds so far were interesting.]

In the place I came from, people who drove camper vans like this swapped supplies a lot. Food, clothes, parts for their vehicles...

[He explained as they walked, easily pulling open the back door to reveal the faded curtains and shag throw rug.]

They preferred a peaceful life where they didn't have to work or struggle too hard, so that meant there was a lot of fending for themselves. Even with repairs.

What are you looking for?

[constantvrunning]

[V looks around curiously, but makes sure not to touch things without permission.]

Anything that clearly has tin in it? Selenium or Tellurium are better, but I already know they're much harder to find, let alone isolate...

[And not always safe for humans to handle.]