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Monster Truckers - Episode One: East of Omaha (Pt 4)

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EPISODE ONE: EAST OF OMAHA (NEW COUNCIL BLUFFS) Dragula reached up and wrapped his fingers around an ornate silver chain hanging from the roof of the cab and gave it a sharp pull. The monster's chrome maw that served as the truck's grille split open just enough for the horn mounted inside to come alive. A shrieking, metallic howl tore across the prairie. Mac had built it from a stack of battered metal discs salvaged from some forgotten pre-war technology. Nobody knew exactly what the discs had once done. Nobody cared. They made wonderfully terrible noises. Over the years, Dragula had experimented with dozens of combinations, recording different tones and arranging them into a language only he and Mac understood. Three short blasts, one long wail, a descending screech. Mac grinned behind his hockey mask and shifted the Fluffy Bunny into gear. Miles slipped beneath their wheels. The rain gradually gave way to low gray clouds. The broken remains of what had once been part of ...
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The Battle for Tarithnesti (Part 8)

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07 Deepkolt 349 AC EN ROUTE TO TARITHNESTI Kysek continues his assault on the verdant dragon. He squeezes the hand controlling the conjured fist with all his might and twists in a clockwise motion. The dragon manages to grab one of the hand's fingers and pries them backwards, breaking the hand's grip. In response, Kysek flicks his wrist and sends the conjured blade into a graceful sweep around the dragon. The magical blade slips beneath the dragon's chest, tracing a crimson line across the scales covering its belly. Raven dives back in to the fray. Nightwatcher dances across the dragon's back. The Netherese sword splits scales in a shower of emerald fragments. A second slash crosses the first. The third cut swing bites into the base of the dragon's wing where it joins the shoulder. The blade cleaves through the massive joint, severing muscle, tendon, and bone in one terrible stroke. The wyrm tumbles through the canopy, smashing through ancient branches that shat...
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Monster Truckers - Episode One: East of Omaha (Pt 3)

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EPISODE ONE: EAST OF OMAHA (WHAT'S IN THE BOX) The Last Cathedral's organ finally fell silent. Only the steady rumble of diesel engines and the hiss of tires on wet pavement remained. Behind the convoy, the singing of the Billboard People faded into the distance until it was swallowed by the rain. Mac keyed his microphone. "Fluffy Bunny to crew. Any repairs, I got parts back at the shop. Demon, you good? Leaking anything? I'll do a check on everybody when we stop." Sam glanced at his gauges. "Screaming Demon to Fluffy Bunny. Couple new scratches. Nothing major." Dragula answered next. "Drags to Bunny. Good call. Let's do a quick once-over." The convoy resumed its original lineup with the Screamin' Demon taking point, followed by the Last Cathedral, Electric, and Fluffy Bunny slotting in behind him. The convoy spread out slightly as Sam scanned the roadside for an abandoned rest area or truck pull-off. Inside the Last Cathedral, Xa...
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Monster Truckers - Corporations of the Pre-War Days

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So... when we went to create the Dragula/Electric Warlock character, he was originally going to be called Dr. Zekenstein's Monster. That ended up changing but it made me wonder who Dr. Zekenstein might have been. Dr. Z was a geneticist and surgeon who became an early pioneer of the technology that led to the creation of Zippers. And he would have made a lot of money along the way. While no one can confirm Dr. Zekenstein's fate following the war, he had inspired a lot of competition. Canonically, BeautyMax already existed, offering to preserve youth and vitality through Project Mummy ™ but I felt like there needed to be more corporate players on the field as it were. Most of them would have been subsumed by HumanCorp by now or destroyed during the Human-Monster War but, as an option, I would like to present the following for consideration. 1.  Zekenstein Biotechnics      • THE pioneer is the recombination and reanimation of the dead. They developed the technol...
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Road Trip to the Dragon Isles - Arrival in Kern

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09 Newkolt 349 AC Arthur, Agnes, Granite, Phineas, Altan, and Davaa gather at the entry tunnel to the Deep Shale Hold. Dozens of dwarves had gathered to make their farewells and offer good luck when Talan came sauntering up the tunnel with Fargain, a pack slung over one shoulder. Granite looks at the Kagonesti. "What are you about, Talan?" He asks, confused by the elf's appearance. "While you guide Arthur and his lady to the Cape of Nordmaar, I will be plotting a course to the Lastgaard Moutains," came the smooth reply. The dwarf jabbed a finger at him. "You are not walking to Southern Ergoth by yourself." Talan seemed confused, "Why not? I walked all of the way here by myself." The elf continued as though explaining something obvious. "You said you would not commit to moving the clan on my word alone. So I shall gather more evidence." Granite looked upward as if asking the gods for patience. Then he lowered his gaze to the el...
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The Battle for Tarithnesti (Part 7)

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07 Deepkolt 349 AC EN ROUTE TO TARITHNESTI Kysek stares at the dragon. Still concealed beneath the canopy, his concentration is total. His right hand closes into a fist. Above, the Bigby’s Crushing Hand closes on the dragon's neck. The wyrm thrashes, forces its claws beneath the fingers and bending them back. Kysek twists his wrist in response. The colossal hand twists with it, dragging the dragon sideways. The beast beats its wings furiously. It roars, enraged. Kysek doesn't react, guiding the fist with precision. Meanwhile, his left hand moves to an entirely different rhythm, like a conductor leading an orchestra. He fingers sweep through the air. His conjured sword answers. A flick of two fingers turns it into a diving strike. A raised palm pulls it away before the dragon's claws can intercept. The sword draws blood again, slicing across the dragon's back. Then another threat arrives. Raven streaks through the sky, following the trail of destruction and the drag...
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