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

[ He uncaps the bottle and takes a long gulp from the water, shaking his head as he lowers it again. ]

No— I want to help. I can rest later. [ Victor has to understand. Being a doctor, how would he feel if someone told him to just sit down and rest right now?

He does lift his arm up, though, showing an ugly cut along the palm of his hand and down to his wrist. ] But if you could patch this up for me, that'd be a great help already.

[He purses his lips, letting out a sigh. He does understand, but he still had to say it. At least James has to sit still long enough to get the wound treated. Victor will count that as rest. He digs through his medical bag for a swab and some disinfectant]

So much for a quiet month, eh? At least we had the time to finally celebrate us moving in together.

[ He does take a seat so Victor can tend to the wound. He's not so stupid that he'd just walk around ignoring it, as it's been left untreated for long enough as it is already. ]

Christ, you're telling me. [ He lets out a faint chuckle. Never again will he say that, lest he jinxes it. ] We did— that was very nice. And we went to the amusement park.

[ That had been fun. Of course he'd have traded it all in for the possibility of this whole mess having never happened to begin with. ] Is Lucy okay?

[He smiles, keeping James's wrist steady in one hand while the other cleans and disinfects the wound. He pauses in what he's doing to glance up at James]

Physically, she'll be okay. But I'm worried what this did to her mentally, and there's no Doctor Hopper around here.

[Or maybe there's an equivalent and he just doesn't know about it]

Yeah. Figured as much.

[ He lets Victor clean up his wound, silent for a few seconds before he speaks up again. ]

There are other people here who can help. I can talk to Beverly— I'm not sure how much practice she has dealing with this sort of thing, but I trust her, and it doesn't hurt to ask.

[He nods. Beverly is a doctor and a mom, two qualities that can only help in this kind of situation. Victor finishes cleaning the wound, leaning in close to examining it]

I don't think the scar on this one will be too bad, but you'll definitely have one. I think we can avoid stitches, though.

[He sets about wrapping the wound in a bandage. He probably takes longer with this than necessary to stretch out James's rest time]

Good. [ Not that he's afraid of needles, but if he can avoid stitches, then all the better. ] As long as the hand keeps working just fine, I don't mind.

[ It doesn't even hurt that much, it mostly just stings now that Victor's cleaning it. But that might be because of the adrenaline still pumping through him. It's likely that it'll hurt a little later down the line, but for now he's not feeling too terrible. ]

You didn't go in there, did you?

[He traces his finger along the back of James's hand, then the palm. Not really a necessary thing to check if the hand is working, but who cares?]

No, the other medics and I were mostly taking care of people as they came out. I did bring that knife you gave me, though. Just in case. And I can throw a decent punch these days with all that working out.

Oh, can you? [ He smiles a little, his thumb hooking around Victor's. The touch is a little aimless, he knows, but he likes it anyway. Having Victor near him always helps him feel calmer, more relaxed. ]

I've got to admit, I would've liked to see that. [ Probably a little primitive. Whatever. ] But— I'm glad you didn't have to.

[As much as he loves their most intimate moments, it's the smaller gestures like this that really make his heart flutter]

You can watch me beat up a punching bag if you really want.

That'd be fun. [ He smiles a little brighter at that. ] If you think you're up for it by now, we could start training together, at the training facilities at the guard. I could even teach you a few self-defense tactics. Could prove useful.

[ Victor hadn't needed them now, but one never knows. And yeah, he'd think it's pretty hot, so sue him. ]

I think I'm up for it. And I do like learning new things. [A thoughtful pause] Maybe I'll be a more official member of your guard, too. If you could use me.

[ So many teasing remarks sit at the tip of his tongue, in answer to that comment about Jim using him. He manages to bite them back with a tiny little smirk, which soon turns to a genuine smile. ]

That would be great. We have a medical team, you could definitely be a part of it. [ He sure as hell won't complain about having more time with Victor. And they do make a pretty great team, after all. ]

[He gives James a look. Oh, he knows that James is biting back teasing remarks. That takes some willpower]

Okay. Well, I've bandaged your wound as best I can. You are free to run around and help more people.

[ Jim nods, checking the bandage and flexing his fingers a little. ]

It's good. Thanks. [ He tips his head at Victor. ] Don't you need any help? I make for a pretty good nurse.

You do. I just hope that I'm not too much of a distraction for you.

[He gives James a teasing smirk]

[ Jim snorts a little at that. ] I'm sure I can manage.

[ He gets to his feet, ready to follow Victor. ] Come on, lead the way— doctor.

[He chuckles, sneaking in one last kiss before going back into doctor mode. He's going to consider this practice for when he joins the guard on their missions. If he's going to be a part of their medical team, he has to be professional even with James right next to him. If he can't put his full concentration on patients in this scenario, there's no point of him joining the guard.

And he wants to. Not just because it will give him more time with James, but because of this and the labyrinth. He loves his work at the hospital but wants to be able to help the injured right there on the field, too]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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