route666rp | APRIL EVENT LOG

APRIL EVENT LOG

The grassland gives way to rougher terrain, green fading to cracked red earth with scraggly sharp-edged plants dotting the landscape. With no trees, the sky overhead feels massive, and almost oppressive with how the sun and moon shine down. It’s entirely at odds with the biting wind that often whips across the flatlands. The ground occasionally breaks open into crevasses or rolls along in arid hills, but it remains stark thorn brush for as far as the eye can see… Save for one strange, ominous tower on the horizon.

01:TOWER OF TRANSFORMATION

The tower looks like a giant fang, trying to bite the sky. A strange pressure emits from it and rests on the skin. Drifters can get closer to the tower, but the terrain is covered with puncturing spikes and sharp thorn brush. It will take a TOUGH vehicle to get close without getting cut. Anyone who bleeds within sight of the tower discovers their cuts are transformed; a monster’s form waits under their skin, and transforms them one injury at a time.

It takes several days to get close to the tower via Convoy, with how the road snakes and winds towards it. Drifters won’t be able to reach it without offroad vehicles until April 15th. Getting close to the tower reveals that it is formed out of a strange metal much like the Husks… And that numerous creatures have been melded into the tower’s surface. A strange red ichor seeps out from these forms. Coming into contact with it heals wounds and can revert one transformation.

Drifters can take some of the fluid with them, if they have means to carry it… But only one extra dose; any more makes the fluid unstable and neutralizes the effect entirely.

01-A: TWISTED MONSTERS

The land here is still littered with Husks, ready to break open to fight… But these monsters are more twisted than usual, and seem to be composed of multiple organisms. Prowling cat-centaur esque brutes called panthera protectors, ungainly catoblepas, reptile energy draining bloodhound dogs, and flying lion-bird anzu are all ready to attack with tooth and claw, to make Drifters all the more like them.

Given the influence of the tower, Drifters can feel their forms twisting, the more wounds they take, and the more the moon begins to form into something almost whole. By April 15th the wounds and moon are almost impossible to resist without either vials or message mementos. And those wounds are determined to drag a change out of Drifters. (Of note, Drifters who took on Harpy or Naga traits last month will find those changes can come back to them unnervingly easily, and blend with other creature changes to become a true chimera.)

These changes grow worse until the moon glow and shards reach their absolute peak on April 20th. At this point Twisted Land occurs.

02: ROAD ATTACK 

A week into the thorn brush, chaos starts at sunset. The first warning is a metallic howl echoing down from the hills, followed by a rumble that could almost be thunder… If not for the fact that the sunset stained sky is completely clear. A swarm of metal sweeps over the hills, heading straight at the Convoy.

Running at the lead are more of those canine robots. The Convoy database again identifies them as ‘chromehounds’ and these are clearly in better repair; their fangs and claws are all razor sharp, and they are swiftly closing the distance. Close behind the hounds is a scattered assortment of scrap metal vehicles. The creatures driving aren’t quite human but also aren’t quite monsters; instead they are mechanical forms with just a few remnants of flesh on them. Robot riders and raiders, determined to harry the Convoy.

The goal of the raiders is to crash their vehicles into the Convoy, to slow or halt them. Drifters will need to either fight at a distance… Or hope that their monster side is tough enough for close and bloody combat!

02-A: ATTACK AND AFTERMATH

The attack patterns of the raiders depends on who they are targeting and how transformed the Drifters are. More monstrous Drifters earn full fury, and the vehicles blare with static and a patchy message: “…Purge… Corruption… By steel.” The raiders are determined to kill monsters, even at the cost of their own lives.

By contrast, less transformed Drifters may be overlooked, or only looked at suspicion. But if examined long enough, the raiders will eventually conclude less changed Drifters as still corrupt and attack them, especially if they are associated with the more monstrous!

Afterwards, mechanical salvage can be found to bolster the Convoy vehicles. The machines display a moon stabbed by a sword. It is the same as the symbols on the trap cars from February. Several raiders also carry odd talismans that resemble a rosary formed of tiny computer screens. Many of the screens are broken, but a few carry flickering text: “Your charge: To hunt the Warped. To purify the broken land, purge all sickness that twists us. Only then can Nirvana be opened, and the world reborn without corruption.”

03: OASIS

Just off the road are scattered oases, shining like blue gems in a red wasteland. The waters run surprisingly deep, with monstrous statues submerged in the depths. These statues resemble all 13 types of monsters, some of them even coloring the water depths into shades of green, purple, and red.

The oasis waters can’t fix or restore physical transformations. But it can cure any heat exhaustion with just a few sips, and restore lost strength. Red water can heal wounds, green restores magic fatigue, and purple can stabilize mental exhaustion and strain.

The statues also create a strange resonance on Drifters’ Sigil marks, particularly when Drifters submerge in the water. The statue resonance can’t completely revert transformations but they CAN spread out the transformation between two Drifters and lessen the potency.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, CHIMERA

Peculiar flowers bloom along some of the thorn brush. Drifters who bleed from the thorns will find that their cuts turn into Traits belonging to either Chimera or Unicorns. Chimeras typically appear from red flowered plants, and become increasingly tougher as they gain more traits. The following is also available:
+Tower focus: if growing extra eyes or heads, vision becomes disorienting. Focusing on the tower will help sharpen vision and provide clarity.
+Thermal flight on new wings, as the hot air coming off the ground helps them soar.
+Territorial hunter vs other fully shifted monsters/enemies.
+Blood taste/frenzy: becomes more savage as blood is shed, whether that is their own or others. If it is their own or an enemy, more aggressive; if it is an ally, more protective.
+An increasingly carnivorous and voracious appetite. Plus a craving for raw meat, and a drive to go hunt it personally; the fresher, the better.
+Tough hide. As 3 or more Chimera traits become active, the skin becomes increasingly tougher and harder for cuts and new transformations to occur.
+A sudden roar that cuts into words, easy for conversations to turn into a shouting match.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, UNICORN

As with Chimera, getting cut and bled by flower bearing thorns will impart unicorn traits on Drifters. This typically comes from thorn plants with white flowers. Unicorns have a knack for stabilizing the more violent changes… And perhaps even stopping transformations from bleeding. The following is also available:
+Horn Resonance, a ringing in the horn or forehead the closer one gets to the tower. Can result in either disorientation, or a boost in healing.
+Shift Healing: At the cost of taking on another unicorn/current monster trait, may heal another Drifter of one active trait. This can only be used once per character.
+An increasingly vegetarian diet, including the flowers off various thorn bushes.
+Increased pain or disorientation in the forehead as horn grows in. May also experience pain in feet (hooves) or back (wings or tail) though healing magic can alleviate pain.
+A compulsion to heal the injured or protect those who can. Similarly, a compulsion to protect the virtuous and aid them.
+Fight or Flight response: more likely to bolt at the sign of trouble with increased speed. If fleeing is not possible (or others are in danger) ready to fight to the death in desperate frenzy.
+Urge to run and be outdoors, gains an almost euphoric sensation when running at full speed.

05: TWISTED LAND

Finally the Convoy draws close to the tower and the moon glows balefully overhead, signaling an imminent Moon Warp. Shards of the tower fall away, exposing something encased in the surface. A chimera monster is pierced and pinned to the tower by swords. Elemental blood streams down, glowing in reaction to the Drifters, and causing the blades to glow in turn.

If Drifters make contact with the swords, they explode in a hail of shards, causing more wounds and damaging the tower. The shed blood twists the landscape. Deserts, forests, and swamps all shift together. With them come the hazards of those environments; quicksand, falling trees or strangling vines, terrible draining heat, all blending and switching without pattern. Such twisting weakens the tower. Further fragments break off and turn into monsters, aggressive and ready to fight. The Convoy braces against the twisting, but warning screens say that the shields are low on power. The shields occasionally waver, letting in the Moon Warp and monsters.

With the damage Drifters inflict in their battles, the environment twisting, and the sword shards, the tower crumbles away. It emits a burst of energy that disperses the land twisting, and ends the bloodshed transformations.

06: SALVE

In the aftermath of the warp, the tower has cracked and broken. A column of wavering light takes its place, reaching thin tendrils up towards the moon.

The red ichor leaks out of the tower in rivers, and any Husk it comes in contact with breaks open without transforming into a monster, instead releasing another glowing shard that travels upwards. Drifters can still harness this ichor to undo one change, though the limits still apply. Submerging in the ichor does not undo more than one change… Though it will stain Drifters with red.

The ichor can also heal wounds, and repair those quite thoroughly, acting as a good salve to mend Drifters from past battles.

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.

Twisted Creatures: Local fauna (flying rabbits, jackalopes, gorgons wandering in from the grasslands, etc) gets caught in the thorn bushes and begins bleeding, and turning into a monster. The process is slow and painful, giving Drifters enough time to get away from the scrub brush and the monster if they wish; or enough time to try and dispatch the creature.

Thorn brush: Clumps of thorn brush line the road. A time or two they even grow over the road and need to be hacked through, in order for the Convoy to proceed. The brush is almost like razor wire, with how sharp the thorns are, and how ready they are to slice up skin.

Watering Hole: Rarely, one can find a small oasis in the bleached land. Unfortunately, many of the twisted creatures want a drink from this place as well; it’s a task to grab water and avoid getting on their bad side.

NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Akechi follows closely, quiet at first. The tower holds a certain mystique, a distinct allure... Yet another mystery, another clue.

He tips his head back, eyes following along the structure.]

Really now. Then, care to share your hypothesis?

Things like this don't get built to see what happens. I can't help but notice it looks like a sword pointed towards the moon. And those raiders...

[He glances down at the blue light of his energy sword. He walks forward and swings wide, carving through the thorny brush.] Purge corruption by steel...

That had the sound of a war. They seemed made for their purpose. There wasn't a mind to go Maverick. That's just what they were.

[He looks up and his eyes widen. The odd metal of the tower is one thing. His eyes focus on the creatures melding into the surface. Red ichor leaks from them, running over the metal like a film.] It has been a few centuries since I've seen anything completely new. Damn. I hope it was quick for their sakes.

You raise a compelling point...

[Yes, he can see it now. A sharp tower, like a blade, pointed at the sky... Those creatures, too, hardly present a pleasant picture.

Akechi follows closely. He has a crowbar to bat away thorns that get too close, though it's no replacement for one of his sabers.]

What strikes me is the texture. It's not unlike the shells of the Husks. So, if this tower was built in defiance of the moon, I wonder if its present state was a form of divine retribution.

Maybe. It could be a cannon. Could be a research facility. [He stares at it. His eyes flick from the creatures to the metal and-] Wait.

[He walks closer, cutting what is left near the base away. He kicks it with an armored boot and sets to clearing a space for Akechi.] There’s something written over here.

Looks etched in. Another message for the convoy, maybe?

Good catch.

[He moves closer, squinting as he looks over the messages.]

The "Tears" must refer to the Silver Tears, known for their reverence of the moon and its "blessings." Moreover, the ritual may very well be the same, failed ritual mentioned in those notes.

[He kneels down and traces his fingers over the symbols etched into the base of the tower.] Changing everything it can…does that mean?

[In the early days there was talk of containing infected reploids to study them. Until Sigma declared war in humans. He stands up.] This tower is a containment unit. Has there ever been a mention of Impacts?

A containment unit, perhaps, or a means of sacrifice...

[His eyes follow that red ichor. It's a worrisome sign.]

While I can't say with certainty, the moon entry in the Convoy database does mention "The Breaking" as a pivotal event. Connect the dots, and consider the Moon Warps, and it's possible the First Impact was simply the very first time shards of the moon fell upon this land, sowing seeds of ruin.

That kind of global event does alter the course of everything else. [He motions to the marks at the base of the tower. They’re getting crumbs but at least they are getting that much. He shakes his head and glances up at the tower.]

We need to know the details of that first impact and what followed. Maybe there’s another safe area around here we can look into. There’s no way they put this up and didn’t set up a monitoring station.

If this is containment or sacrifice…what the hell are the husks?

I'd speculated that the Husks are like us, but so thoroughly transformed that their minds are no longer intact. However, Jayce-san's findings on stasis present another possibility, given that the Husks originate as motionless shells...

[It's... incomplete, clearly. Akechi folds his arms, trying to connect the dots in his head.]

I do believe the state of the moon is at least partially at fault. The tenants within this world's religion consider stasis a great form of punishment. If the ritual failed, and that failure transformed the land, then they could be the remains of those who either failed the ritual or defied the moon in some fashion.

And thus a purge ‘through steel’.

[The picture is looking more and more like the dystopia created from the Maverick wars. An uncomfortable feeling whispers through his circuits.

Was he here because of how meticulously his creator made his agent of destruction? He shoves the thought out of his mind.

It’s not helpful. He looks at the tower and tilts his head slightly.] What else does this world’s religion say? Seems like either they were one faction…or the failed ritual split the world’s mind on whether the moon was to their benefit or not.

Based on the database, we know of two factions, being the Silver Tears and the Steel Wardens. Their views oppose one another quite strongly, and based on other evidence I've gathered, the wardens are quite merciless in their goal, even willing to kill children.

[Tentatively, he rummages through his bag to gather a small bottle. It might be worth collecting that ichor for later inspection.]

On the other hand, the religion seems to place reverence to the moon and its "gifts" above all else, even calling for sacrifices as needed. There's a cult-like underpinning that doesn't sit well with me.

[He stares straight ahead not seeing his companion or the tower anymore. His hands tighten into fists. He can think about all the implications and the rage it pulls to the surface later. They’re on investigation, but that anger flashes across his face before he stuffs it down. His voice is controlled and calm.]

And both of them are seeking or were seeking Nirvana. It’s possible the Silver Tears are trying to sacrifice us for their goals.

[The unease flickers openly across his face.] We need to know who brought us here.

We do.

[There's a sharpness to his words, matched by the beginnings of a scowl.]

I don't like the implications. They tore us from our worlds to clean up after their mistakes. None of us asked for this.

And for now, there’s no telling how many people were sacrificed before us.

[He drags a hand over his face. This is a mess. This is a mess with a scale to it that should be staggering. If it wasn’t so familiar. He sighs.] I can’t think of anything else to cover or check about this spot. Except if you want a sample. I can guard you while you grab it.

I'd appreciate that.

[At the very least, it'll help him focus on the task at hand, so... hmm.

With the bottle in hand, he slowly makes his way over.]

I'm not certain I want to touch it directly. Without knowing the effects, it seems far too risky.

Yeah, no clue what could happen.

[His arm converts to a cannon and he takes up a guard position, facing out to watch the country side. No raiders.

But he keeps his eyes peeled anyway.]

Especially with this…do you feel it too? The pressure on your mind?

I had been wondering about that...

[So it's not just him. Then again, precedent suggests that it seldom is.

He caps the bottle, one it's full, careful not to puncture it with his talons.]

Something about this tower... I felt as though I had to take a closer look, more so than ordinary curiosity.

[The tower is behind him and yet he can feel its presence. Just like-]

It reminded me of something I felt before. I had to be sure it wasn’t the same thing.

[The Maverick Virus. Call any mutation by the name it has been given, at the end of the day it comes down to one thing.]

…And the moon looking more complete lately hasn’t helped my worries.

...Another Moon Warp may soon follow.

[Though, now that Zero mentions it, his attention drifts toward the sky.]

We should brace ourselves. This world is often unpredictable, and the moon doubly so.

[He looks up at the sky. He had never felt unease looking at the moon. But now,]

…did the moon look repaired last time too?

Well, last time, shards of the moon fell to the earth. So... right now, the moon seems more stable, but if it fluctuates, if it cracks, then we may need to worry.

[He watches those shards, tension shooting down his spine.]

I believe it may be in flux, like lunar phases. Once we hit a "full moon," it breaks, and the cycle starts anew.

It would be good to confirm that. I’ll keep an eye on the moon. We’ll all be doing that anyway.

[In way more ways than they have any idea about.]

Seems like we need to be careful about bleeding around here too. What happened to those animals…I imagine it will get worse during a moon warp?

It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

[After ensuring the bottle is safely secured, he touches one of his sleeves.]

The fact that even the ordinary wildlife is so easily changed proves we aren't alone, but it raises worrying questions about the state of this world.

We’ll find out the answers. [They don’t have a choice. If they are to survive. They have to know what’s going on.]

…so far, nothing I see looks good. People possibly volunteering to become machines. The world itself twisting people around things built by people?

Bleak place. If you’re ready. Let’s head back. The others need to know what we’ve found.

Edited 2025-04-20 17:40 (UTC)

Agreed. I can't imagine we'll learn much else at this tower, but we can record our findings.

[His wings open, then shut, and he eyes a clear path amidst the thorns, well tread by this point.

At least it's made traveling to and fro on his motorcycle easier, given its lack of durability compared to other, larger vehicles.]

Your input was greatly appreciated.

[It's not quite as direct as a "thank you," but the sentiment is there.]

APRIL EVENT LOG

Tower

cw: body horror

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