riverviewlogs | exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

Entry tags:

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: exploration mingle: rescue mission!
when: June 15 - August 15
where: The River Structure
warnings: violence and/or torture; please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

captivity

One of the major and most highly-valued cultural concepts in Riverview is that of exploration, expansion. Especially now that, with the recent influx of new arrivals, as the portal kicks into high gear for reasons not entirely known, the Inhabited City, already comfortably full, is rapidly becoming overpopulated. With all the refugees from other worlds pouring in from day to day, the city's safe space and resources are being taxed to their breaking point.

Right now, exploration and expansion is key, and each month, the government has decided to focus on a particular objective, in order to unite citizens in expanding, securing, and supplying the city for everyone's benefit.

the story so far

Exploration & Expansion Progress Report ● The Guardians of the Deep ● What Lies Beneath ● Plotting & Questions

After some serious flooding at the banks of the river, the cause was discovered to be the Guardians of the Deep, creatures protecting a circular labyrinthine structure underneath the river. Residents of the city explored and mapped the structure, and dealt with a good portion of the traps and other dangers, until they found a little piece of history in the Central Chamber of the structure, revealing that it was inhabited by the first people to live on the moon.

While this news has been exciting scholars and historians in the city, something a little more pressing has been bothering the average citizen - an ever-increasing number of missing persons. People have simply been disappearing all over the city, and only now are residents starting to realize why...

how it works

● Phases: Each prompt is a different phase of the operation. Characters may partake in whichever part of the operation they choose, whether it is a large and prominent part, or a more of a backseat or support role. Characters may participate in as many phases as they wish.

● Completion: When next month's exploration mingle goes up, the mission featured on this exploration mingle will be considered complete, and game canon, providing the entry has 200+ comments on it.

● Entry Reward: The reward for completion of this month's exploration objective will be...well, the safe return of everyone who was kidnapped. And some sweet hurt/comfort.

● IMPORTANT NOTE: Having observed how the pacing of exploration mingles has been going and how they are tagged, I have noticed that posting one exploration mingle each month has been a little hectic, both plotwise and for me as a mod (writing three mingles a month has been tough!). I have decided to space them out a bit further, and post an exploration mingle once every two months, starting with this one - the next exploration mingle will be posted in August!

phase i: the abducted

People don't simply go missing, they don't disappear into thin air, they have to be somewhere. And while those who are missing people keep frantically searching, those who have been kidnapped are the only ones besides the kidnappers who do know where they are.

Abducted by a group who have taken up residence in the structure under the city after last month's exploration died down, the missing are trapped in the Central Chamber, in fear of the kidnappers. Their abductors are a group of people that is starting to slowly take on cultist tendencies, believing that the remaining spirits of the First People still live in the structure, that it is a temple, and that those First People need offerings of host bodies to inhabit so they can return and bring their wisdom and magic back to the moon. Things are getting a little hairy - there's no agreement among the kidnappers as to how 'intact' the host bodies have to be and whether or not the sacrifice is in the form of alive or dead captives. Even worse, some of the kidnappers are only with the group to enjoy having power over others and using it to hurt them.

Captives are held in the Central Chamber of the structure, with next to no amenities. Blankets, food, water, and other necessities are in short supply, and they are kept huddled together, constantly guarded and either restrained, wearing or in the presence of a power suppressor to keep them subdued. But the captives haven't lost hope - they are working on getting a message out, finding a way to contact the outside world so their loved ones can rescue them...

This prompt is to play out interactions among the captives before they are rescued, and may include violence or other character suffering. It is also to enact plotted plans for the abductees to find connections with the outside world to summon help.

phase ii: distraction and infiltration

Once would-be rescuers become aware of where the captives are being held, they start making plans to rescue them - whether someone they love has been taken, they're just a good person, or they just want to feel like a big damn hero, there are lots of people willing to take the plunge and jump into the rescue. But the cult group has been in control of the structure for a while now, they definitely have the home team advantage. They know the lay of the land and where the traps are, and have used some of them to their own advantage.

It's not going to be as easy as storming the castle.

There are two parts to this phase of the rescue: a distraction and an infiltration. Distractions are planned to draw as many of the kidnappers away from the hostages being held in the Central Chamber as possible, while those who are stealthily infiltrating will try to find another entrance into the chamber so they can surprise and surround the remaining kidnappers.

This prompt is to play out any plans for distraction and infiltration. If you have plotted something out on the plotting post, feel free to post up a header for specific groups for threading rather than an individual character top-level.

phase iii: the brawl and after

Distractions only last so long, unfortunately, and so eventually the whole thing is going to break down into a big fight. Rescuers versus kidnappers, on the kidnappers' home turf, and surrounded by traps left over from the First People, while pieces of stationary tech throw out auras and waves of power suppression. It's going to be a doozy of a fight, so prepare for an epic throwdown!

And once the dust settles, there's going to be a lot of injuries to tend to, a lot of people traumatized and hurt and frightened. A lot of hungry, suffering people will need to be transported out, given medical care, and brought supplies.

This prompt is to play out the final fight between the kidnapping cult and the rescuers, as well as anything in the aftermath of the fight.

phase iv: wildcard

Have an idea for a mission-adjacent plot, or want to make up an unexpected plot twist or problem and solve it with your character? Just write up a starter, and don't forget to give yourself props by submitting it for the Progress Report.

navigation
[Asterion - Environment Art: Ariadne's Forest by Nicolas Mendoza]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ After being sure his brothers are going to be fine, and having someone patch him up, Jyushimatsu is wandering the place in search of familiar faces. He may have spoken to some of them only once, but he's still a bit concerned about their status now that his family is out of harm's way.

He finds Teddy somewhere hidden from sight, quickly recognizing him as the guy he chatted with a week or so ago on the network. There's something weird happening to the guy's skin, but Jyushimatsu fearlessly approaches with a big smile on his face! His clothes are covered in blood, he's got burns and scratches all over him and the worst wound is on his head where a thick bandage has been wrapped all around it, but he's fine! He's more than fine! ]

Hey Teddy! I didn't know you were a hostage too! Are you okay?

[ He tilts his head, sleeves drawn to his chest in mild apprehension. ]

[Teddy quickly shifts his hand back to normal the very minute he hears a familiar voice. He's almost sheepish when he turns to face Jyushimatsu, already recognizing the voice from the network, but--

then he sees him. Blooied and bandages and-- okay. No, he's instantly worried.]

I should be asking you. Are you okay? What happened? [He takes a few steps towards him before forcing a more reassuring smile.]

I'm okay. Beat up? But I'll live, I think.

I fought the bad guys like everyone else! Didn't you see that?

[ Jyushimatsu chuckles and flails his sleeves, very much unbothered by the wounds and how much blood is on his person. He's used to much worse, frankly. ]

I'm fine! Just some scratches here and there! Those guys were tough but I managed to whack a bunch of them anyway!

I've seen so many people fighting... it's kind of amazing. And really chaotic.

[He lets out a laugh despite himself. Hey-- at least nothing gets him down, right?]

That's pretty amazing, you know. I'd hate to see what those guys look like right now.

They've all got nasty bumps on their heads for sure, and some broken bones I caused just cuz they wouldn't stay down!

[ Don't underestimate a wooden baseball bat just because it looks harmless. He would show the ones he used, but they got destroyed from overuse eventually. ]

But what was that green skin thing you had going on? Your arms looked bigger for a moment! Are you really okay Teddy?

I don't blame you... There were a lot of stubborn people in that group.

[Crazy fanatics tend to be the worst...

And hey! That's totally fine He doesn't need to see the bats, nope.

He gives a sheepish look.]

Oh-- you saw that? [Welp. He's not that bothered but some people can be a little creeped out by the powers thing...]

Sorry, yeah. I'm okay. I can change my shape... I was just testing it to make sure everything's back now that the suppressor is off.

[ Jyushimatsu is by no means creeped out by the discovery, on the contrary, he looks curious and even surprised when Teddy reveals that he's got powers. His mouth closes in a round shape. ]

You mean you can turn green and bigger? Haha! That's really cool!

[ He beams at Teddy, eyes sparkling! ]

Do you get all super strong and punch through walls with those big hands?

I-- yeah,I can.

[... Jyushimatsu is kind of amazing, okay. Teddy isn't used to being accepted quite that easy.]

I can change into almost anything or anyone... But yeah. I can punch through things.

Anyone?!

[ Jyushimatsu actually does bounce backwards in total shock because WOW that's one of the coolest powers he'd only seen fictional people do in comic books? That's awesome?! He instantly asks, pumping his fists. ]

You can turn into me as well?!

Probably, yeah... I mean, don't worry! I won't go around impersonating you or anything.

[But mimicking people is sort of one of his talents.]

No, that would be funny to see! But I've already got five brothers who have the same face as me, so that idea lacks originality!

[ He frantically waves his sleeve, sprinkling blood everywhere. Ew. ]

But I'm still unique, because I'm Jyushimatsu! Would you be able to mimic everything I do?

I can't imagine having that many brothers... are you like- quintuplets or something?

[... Ew, Jyushimatsu, please stop shaking blood everywhere... It didn't come from anywhere good, okay.]

I'm good at mimicking people, yeah. It comes in handy for a prank or two sometimes.

We're sextuplets! If you met us when we were kids, you would have never guessed who was who! Now it'd be a little easier I suppose!

[ It's mostly the blood of his enemies, it's fine. God, he needs a shower. ]

Hehe! I bet you won't be able to do specific Jyushimatsu things anyway!

Wow. What's it like having that many siblings?

[Oh god, but it's getting on him. Teddy pulls a face.]

You are a pretty unique guy, it's true... a unique guy who really needs to get cleaned up a little bit. Sure you're okay?

It feels like I died and went to Hell sometimes, but I love them all the same!

[ It's... a pretty crazy bunch of manchildren who still sleep together in the same futon since they were born.

A nice big family, yes.

Jyushimatsu chuckles at the remark, waving his sleeve again--STOP DOING THAT. ]

I'm fine! My skull almost became a broken up piñata but I got patched up and took a painkiller or two! Sure I need to clean up more but, like, the rest of us really do need a bath as well. Wish we could just go to the hot springs for mass bathing time!

I'm an only child, but I know someone with three brothers and I think h'ed say the same...

[... But okay, said person doesn't share a futon with his siblings...

Oh my god. He's going for a shower soon, himself.]

That'd be a lot of people in the hot springs, wouldn't it? Although I bet a lot of us would consider it. It was gross down there...

Hehehe, I guess anyone with a brother or sister would feel this way at some point! I guess that's normal for everyone?

[ What do you mean siblings don't beat each other black and blue everyday-

He feels sympathy for poor Teddy who was among the kidnapped, so he tries to smile and be happy for the both of them. ]

Nothing better than hot boiling water to wash all the grossness from the past days! Get those shitty cultist traces off your body and purify yourself!

... Even if not everyone goes, we should definitely give it a go! There's actually a hot springs site here, you know?

Probably so, yeah.

[... wait, what. no-- that's not normal for siblings.

And he really does appreciate the cheerfulness, even if it's coming with a side of blood splattering...

But that's still so gross.

Although he does actually laugh. The excitement is a little bit contagious.]

Really? Sure... I've never actually been to a hot springs, you know.

You really should get to meet them! They're a handful, but they're not bad people!

[ If you get on their good side, that is, but Jyushimatsu won't make a mention of that. ]

... Never? How did you never get a chance to go to one of the best places ever? Did hot springs not exist where you lived?

Sure, I'd love to.

[... he's not walking straight into getting beat up, is he?]

I don't know... I guess living in Manhattan, there just aren't very many hot springs around?

[ If you've got a girlfriend then yes, you might get beaten up by those jealous and virgin idiots... ]

We're choke full of hot springs in Japan! This cultural barrier has to be broken! Hot springs for everyone!

[ He tries not to agitate himself because of the injuries, but he's quite fired up about this. ]

[He... does not have one of those, so cool, cool.]

Hey, I'm not opposed!

[He huffs out a laugh, holding up a hand.]

But careful not to hurt yourself or anything. You're really passionate bout hot springs...

I'm passionate about a lot of things!

[ Ughhh... his head hurts. Where is the gag anime magic that heals all wounds when he needs it? ]

One of the days I'll just drag you there, okay! Be prepared!

[ It's a good thing he doesn't know where Teddy lives... there would be a kidnapping 2.0 probably. ]

I can tell that...

[He reaches out to-- well, rest a hand on a shoulder that is hopefully not too covered in blood or anything gross. Hopefully.]

But take it easy for a bit, alright? I don't want you passing out with an injury like tht.

[He huffs out a laugh at the promise, offering up a grin.]

You're totally on for that.

Hahaha, I'm super fine! [ Nope. ] But thank you for the concern Teddy, that makes me happy!

[ He flashes his widest smile, patting Teddy's arm. Thankfully his shoulder is mostly free of blood. ]

It's a promise then! Let's get a soak when we feel better about this whole mess!

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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