monstertruckers: (Default)
monstertruckers ([personal profile] monstertruckers) wrote in [community profile] route666rp2025-05-06 05:39 pm

MAY EVENT LOG




Out of the thorn brush, the land still looks twisted and broken. And it turns a lot more jagged as rocks burst up and out of the ground like teeth… And keep reaching upwards, in defiance of all the gravity that should be pulling them down. The further up the rock spires reach, the more they splinter until the stones are free floating. The same happens to the threadbare trees, their branches and leaves breaking off and hovering in empty air. The nature of this place becomes clear: reach too high, and eventually gravity gives up.


















01: BATTLE GROUND


The ground grows rougher, pockmarked with craters and rents, like the landscape is scarred. A little further up the road is the source of those wounds. Curious Drifters will find a tangle of rock and metal reaching high up to the sky. It’s a snarl of wrecked vehicles, rock spires… And bodies.

Robotic hunters are half melted into the bones of a giant monster, and the lights have long since gone out of their lens eyes. Many of them still clutch weapons; swords, guns, and bullets by the bag-full. The hunters and weapons remain locked with the corpse of a horn crowned monster with arm length teeth, and it’s clear this tangle is the only thing that keeps the hunters or their weapons from floating off. Drifters can potentially loot the weapons… They just have to be careful about not floating off while they salvage equipment. The footing here is uneven, and the ground looks ready to break with a wrong step.

These hunters also carry prayer screen beads, but the data on them is horribly scrambled. Any attempts to tamper with them cause them to repeat a single message: “I STILL LIVE” before shorting out and shutting down.
02: HEALTH INVERSION
A building grows out of the valley; a hospital that has been turned upside down, and its foundations reach for the sky like weird tree branches. The hallways inside are all sorts of twisted up, and the building can’t seem to decide if Drifters should walk on the ceiling or the floors.

Twisted as the building is, ruins gutted by time and overgrown with vegetation… There is salvage available. Medical supplies, healing potions, healing herbs, all of it is bountiful in the hospital. The hospital is also rife with Husks, but all of them are inert… Or have already been broken apart long ago.

Then there’s the matter of the hospital screens flickering on in the wake of the Drifters. Warning lights try to flicker on, as old electronics try to scan the Drifters. The machines give up flickers of data, declaring Drifters to be “infected.” The old restraining systems of the hospital are still active, as manacles and straps alike shoot out, trying to restrain Drifters. The bonds keep them inert until they can be sedated and enclosed in what look like holding pens for violent patients. Best hope there’s someone around to help break a Drifter out.


03: SHARED THOUGHTS
The valley is overgrown with strange plants that glow with eerie light. Sometimes in camp stray glowing tumbleweeds roll through… And any contact has interesting side effects. Drifters will find they’re more aware and capable of picking up on unsaid things. These powers can the month. Each glow confers different abilities:

Blue Glow: Makes Drifters more empathetic in a psychic sense. They can register the emotions of those nearby, and may start to feel those same emotions.
Green Glow: Makes Drifters capable of projecting their emotions to other people.
Purple Glow: Gives Drifters telepathy, to hear and send thoughts to others.
Orange Glow: Grants Drifters limited psychometry. (Object reading.) Using it in the hospital or the battleground will yield unique visions and messages. Please comment to the mod/NPC thread below if your character wishes to do so!

Drifters can stack these effects, but this can overload their minds and force transformations. Those with Swarm traits will find it easier to handle psionic abilities. Additionally, ALL DRIFTERS who experience psionics will find themselves susceptible to Events 4 and 5.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, HIVE-MIND
Worryingly, extra contact with the glowing plants can not only stack mind abilities, but also force Swarm traits. The more a Drifter is overwhelmed by psionics, the more likely this is. Drifters will have access to all Swarm traits for this event, and the following:
+Psi Hunger. A need to eat psychic energy in the form of dreams, psi-infused objects (like sage brush) or even psychic minds.
+Psi Senses: luckily, Drifters can glimpse heavy psychic energy in the brush through enhanced senses, and pick out strange brain monsters. These are good eating for Swarm monsters… And there’s an unnervingly high number of them.
+Group Mind: compelled to link thoughts with other Drifters, to share emotions, memories, and achieve cohesion.
+An increasing reliance on telepathy/empathy/etc in place of speech.
+Increasing collectivist mindset. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; this becomes more evident during high stress situations.
+Compelled to spend more time in the wilds, absorbing power from plants and hunting prey in wilderness. May also be compelled to share this prey with others.
+Gravity Affinity: If possessing wings or the ability to wall climb, may freely hunt/traverse corrupted gravity areas.
05: WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
On several nights the wind picks up, and sage brush is uprooted and sent tumbling into camp. The plants trade their prior glow to something more baleful and crimson. With the wind whipping through the camp, it’s almost impossible to avoid unless a Drifter is already secure in the Convoy.

The effects aren’t immediately obvious, until the Convoy sleeps for the night… And that sleep is different. Namely the sleep is connected, showing both memories and dreams from other Drifters.

Memories from their pasts can blend together to form a strange dreamscape, that connected Drifters can travel through. But those dreams can easily turn into nightmares. Those who were exposed to the fear toxin in February will trend towards nightmares and may have their old fears make a reappearance.
If those nightmares are vivid and unsettling enough, they can force a transformation. (This may be either current monster traits, or a Swarm monster!) And then…



06: BRAIN ATTACK
It happens just before dawn, during the blue hour… Or perhaps it might be more apt to call it the red hour, with how the sky is stained crimson. It’s just bright enough to distinguish something moving in the hills. Drifters can pick out a rustling in the brush; something that isn’t wind. There’s something moving, crawling on claw tipped legs… And looking less like sage brush and more like a brain.

The Intellect Devourers numbers in the hundreds. Their claws scour the ground as they race towards the Convoy and smash into the shield. Numbers start to overwhelm the generator, along with the chaos the brain brush has sown with their psychic echoes.

The psychic echoes increase as they swarm the campsite, trying to drive Drifters into a frenzy with nightmares, fears, and strange visions. The brains are also ready to use those long sharp claws to tear anyone disoriented enough into ribbons, and start feasting on them.

06-A: BRAIN BRAWL
Hallucinations: The Intellect Devourers try to whip up more terrifying visions. Anything to disorient the entire Convoy, or drive the Drifters into a madness that leaves them transformed and too wild to easily counterattack. These hallucinations may be past trauma, or something a Drifter fears happening; the ultimate goal is to leave Drifters panicking, changed, and vulnerable.

Rally: Still, there’s one thing the Devourers didn’t anticipate: and that is how sharing a mental link has given the Drifters an anchor with each other. With all the psychic echoes spreading through the camp, any and all mental links from before can easily flare back up. Drifters who have shared dreams or some form of mental connection may still transform, but their mental link can keep their minds stable and coherent instead of growing feral.

Scars: Whether through brute force battles or mental link resistance, eventually the Convoy is able to shrug off the attack… But there is still some damage done. The shield generator has shorted out, and the Convoy itself has taken a few gashes and gouges. Not to mention any transformed Drifters will still need to be talked down. Luckily the mental links are still in place to help with that, and there’s a truck full of medical supplies to help with patching up any hurts.
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.

Disorientation: When wandering through the brush, Drifters may experience a swarm of disorientation: their thoughts suddenly scramble, they forget where they were going or what they were doing. They may also come to with a set of gashes along their legs, and a sense that they may have seen something in the sage brush move… Or maybe it was just the wind.

Float: Occasionally, parts of the road just give up their hold on the ground and go drifting skywards. Hopefully those chunks of road don’t take Drifters and their vehicles with them. Tough vehicles can likely survive the drop, while Fast vehicles can speed away before they float too far upwards. Drifters caught outside their vehicles will have to hope they have fast reflexes… Or are either good fliers or good jumpers for the leap back down.

Raining Down: On occasion, gravity will flicker and warp oddly… And that means that other odd things can fall where they used to float; rocks, plants, not to mention the odd bit of hardware and buildings. Watch for falling objects of various shapes and sizes!


NAVIGATION











faceguy: (you'll live forever as a local god)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-18 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, so they know Leo too?

Some kind of clarity is trying to break through. Leo isn’t the Joker this person is looking for, but they’re together here, wherever Here is. Leo has taken responsibility for all these people. That’s all he needs to know, really.]


I’m here to help. [He can say it with confidence now.] Just stick with me.
undyingcrow: (feral)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-19 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope you can keep up...

[With a shrill cackle, Akechi picks up momentum, as the horrific dreamscape continues distorting, and through the flickers, he can see those brain-like beasts.

Fresh prey.

Between sword slashes and gunshots, there are times where he strikes with his new scorpion tail, only to start biting those beasts. It doesn't matter. It's eat or be eaten in this place. They deserve nothing less!]
faceguy: (first in command)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-20 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Biting? Sheesh, is he sure this isn’t Donnie…?

But no… the extra, inhuman parts make it seem like a Yokai, but something is still tickling at Leo’s brain.

It doesn’t matter. A challenge has been issued!]


Keep up? Oh, you’ll be eating my dust!

[So saying, he begins his own assault, his signature portals moving him around the battlefield… and hopefully not into anyone.]
undyingcrow: (feral)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-20 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Portals... Heh. Well, you aren't the only one with tricks up your sleeve.

[He turns on a heel, crying to the heavens.]

Come, Hereward!

[At Akechi's command, his dutiful Persona unleashes a sweeping, magical explosion. Megidolaon may be excessive, but it certainly makes a statement.]
faceguy: (my testimony)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-21 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
[This again? At least it isn't hitting Leo this time...

What is that, anyway? It doesn't look human... Yokai? Wait, why would a yokai summon a yokai...?

Ugh, this is a pain to try and understand! The important thing is killing the pink brain things, and if this yokai or whatever is helping, Leo should let him!]


Ohoho, what a blast! [He grins to himself.] But I've still got this in the bag.

[With a sweep of his sword, he knocks more krang (or not krang?) aside.]
undyingcrow: (smirk)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-21 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't get too cocky.

[A sword for a sword seems to be Akechi's plan, as he lurches forward, slashing and jabbing with a dramatic flourish.

Of course, rather than just leave it at that, he spews flames from his maw.

Roast brain. Delicious...?]
faceguy: (now or never)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-23 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Ugh, that smells terrible...!

Somehow, the smell is grounding; it's different from when the Krang were attacking, and it pulls Leo further into the moment. The fear he feels transitions to uncertainty and then slowly to confidence. If these aren't Krang... maybe he actually has a chance.]


Alright, fire breath. I have my own moves!

[Spotting one of the float rocks in the landscape, he opens a portal and jumps to kick it. It spirals down, crushing a few brains on impact.]
undyingcrow: (feral)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-24 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Not bad... Spatial manipulation certainly has its perks.

[Well, Akechi can't do that, but he can soar into the air and start whipping up some gnarly air currents to disorient the brains and knock them around.]
faceguy: (first in command)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-27 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, that looks fun.]

No need to get all gust-ied up!

[Is the terrible pun he says before portaling a few more brains directly in the path of the wind.]
undyingcrow: (wtf)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-27 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
...Was that supposed to be a pun?

[Well, whatever. He'll continue whipping up some blades of compressed air, for a little long-ranged slicing.

Leonardo's just making his job easier.]
faceguy: (with the plan)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-29 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
You got something against puns?

[He shouts as he attacks more brains.]

I think they're pretty punny myself.
undyingcrow: (wtf)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-30 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
...Are we really having a debate about the validity of puns in the middle of a fight?

[Shit. Something's skittering his way.

So, turning on a heel, he faces an incoming brain and spews more flames from his maw.]
faceguy: (USDA certified lean)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-05-31 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Oh sorry, let me pencil you into my schedule for a later time!

[Leo is about to say something else snappy when another of those brains skitters up on him - and Leo gasps as it suddenly skitters on to him.]

Auuugh, no! It's on me, gross!

[Wait... will this thing start to turn him, like the Krang did? Leo's panic rises as he flails his arms to free himself.]
undyingcrow: (irritated)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-31 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
[...Well, that's disgusting.

Disgusting enough for Akechi to remember he has a gun, which he promptly whips out.]


Hold still, and I'll shoot it.
faceguy: (trust us you just fell of the bus baby)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-06-01 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Is this guy crazy!?]

You're gonna shoot at me!?

[He is not holding still.]
undyingcrow: (irritated)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-06-01 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
I'll shoot the brain and, ideally, not you, but if you keep flailing around, it'll be significantly harder to get a clean shot.

[Another brain tries a sneak attack, but his new scorpion tail whips around and skewers it.

...squishy?]
faceguy: (i guess payback is)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-06-02 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Auuuugh... fine!

[He stills and holds his breath. Please do not shoot him...!]
undyingcrow: (closed eyes)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-06-02 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you.

[Now that Leo's holding still, he fires a shot directly at the brain. Just the brain.

Isn't it nice when things are simple?]
faceguy: (for luck)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-06-03 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
Well you don't have to sound so snippy! I can't tell who you are, but you sound like an- Yeeeuuuugh, this stuff got all over me!

[Gross gross gross!]
undyingcrow: (wtf)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-06-03 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Would you rather be filthy, or dead?

[More gunshots fire, this time at incoming brains. At least it's decent target practice.]
faceguy: (whos the man)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-06-06 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Joke's on you! [Leo flicks more of the brain off him, then turns his swords back on more.] Right now I'm both!

[If he can joke about it, then it's not scary.]
undyingcrow: (steepled fingers)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-06-08 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah yes. An undead...

[Wait. Wait a sec.]

...Turtle. Which I decidedly not encounter in either Tokyo or the Metaverse.

[Clarity's slowly returning. The brains are dwindling in number with each subsequent slash and gunshot.]
faceguy: (right hand to god)

[personal profile] faceguy 2025-06-10 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Hah, yeah! Took you long enough to notice!

[Unfortunately, even with Akechi's monster transformations, he knows too many humans for that alone to ring a bell. Though...]

We know each other. So... we gotta help each other out!

[This is just math.]
undyingcrow: (feral)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-06-11 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Well then. Let's skip the pretenses and eviscerate the stragglers!

[With wild cackling, he pounces at a nearby enemy, ruthlessly tearing his way through the grey matter.

Is it gross? Yes. Does he particularly care? Not in the slightest.]