exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

[riverviewmod]

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]

Comments

[analienprince]

Teddy hesitates before he slowly sinks down next to the man, a comfortable distance away just in case he doesn't want anyone crowding him. "I know it's hard, but-- sometimes it helps if you just focus on taking slow breaths, on relaxing as much as you can."

[bestsir]

He almost laughs at relaxing, since that's the farthest thing from his mind right now, but it comes out as a sort of strangled cough. Still—he can at least try to breathe. He nods.

In his mind, he counts—four in, four out—and tries to match his breath to the count. It's a struggle, but after a while it starts to work. He's at least able to get off his hands and knees and sit back, and he buries his face in his hands.

[analienprince]

Teddy shifts a little, tugging his knees up to his chest once the older man seems to start to relax. "It's-- a lot to deal with, I know. This isn't the first time I've been a prisoner."

And he doesn't blame anyone for freaking out...

"Uh, I read in one of my mom's old self help books one time that if you focus on relaxing each part of your body bit by bit and keep your breathing steady, it helps. Of course that wasn't taking into account any crazy cultists wanting to beat you up at the first sign you're getting comfortable, so... that's probably bad advice"

[bestsir]

Goodsir lowers his hands and gives the young man a small, shaky smile. "It is advice kindly meant and well-taken," he says. His hands are still trembling and he folds them together to hide it. "I—I am no stranger to captivity myself," he admits, looking at the floor. "But it seems that previous experience is no safeguard against dread."

[analienprince]

"No... I know. And these guys-- they're insane." He gives a wry smile, looking around idly, eyes lingering over people who seem to be just as scared and huddled as the rest of them, at the guards keeping watch.

"How can anyone actually delude themselves into thinking it's okay to treat people like this?"

[bestsir]

"I dare say men can persuade themselves of anything." Including—no, he will not think of it, not now, not while he still feels so fragile. "Do you know what it is that they propose to do? I could not understand what they were saying—something about 'hosts'?"

[analienprince]

"I guess you're right." Even that it's okay to dissect someone like they're a science project... Teddy's just glad that's not happening this time. Yet.

"From what I gather, they think they can-- sacrifice us, let... these First People take over our bodies or something. No doubt they think we should be honored they chose us."

[bestsir]

"Madness," Goodsir mutters. He looks around, finally seeing his fellow prisoners. "There are children here," he says, horrified.

[analienprince]

"I.. I know. I've been trying to keep the fanatics away from them... I figure if I'm louder than the kids, at least they won't be trying to hit or kick them..."

But it doesn't always work and the children are terrified. Everyone is. "Hopefully, someone comes for us soon... so many people missing? They have to notice, right?"

[bestsir]

“Surely they must.”

I know Lieutenant Little's nature. He'll be here by day's end with a dozen armed men.

He shivers, and repeats aloud—trying to banish the shade of Captain Crozier from his mind—“They must. And there are so many with ... special gifts, are there not? They must be better able to seek us out than anyone.”

[analienprince]

"Yeah, there are... There are some here too, but--" He lets out a sigh, motioning to the collar at his neck.

"There are things to suppress them all around here... bigger than these collars. I hope they come prepared if they do."

[bestsir]

He frowns, tilting his head a little to get a better look at the collar. "I had wondered what those were," he says. A concerned look. "Does it hurt you?" He's thinking mostly whether the thing pinches or chafes, not that there's very much he can do about that at the moment.

[analienprince]

"It's-- tight. It rubs a little, but it's okay." He doesn't want to freak the guy out too much, even if he's not used to physical damage like he's been getting here. Each punch, each kick leaves a lasting mark.

"How about you-- feeling any better?

[bestsir]

“I—yes. Yes, I am, thank you.” He’s a little surprised to realize that he actually is. He smiles at Teddy. “Thank you for—for your sympathy.”

[analienprince]

"There's nothing to thank me for." Teddy gives an encouraging smile in return. "We've got to have each other's backs down here, you know? At least until the others find us."

[bestsir]

"Yes," Harry agrees. And Teddy's words make him realise something. He glances around the room.

"I should make myself useful in the meantime, if I can. I am sure there are injured, and I ought to do what I can."

[analienprince]

"You're a doctor? I'm sure... there are a lot of people here who are hurt, or just... getting weak. They don't let us rest much." And if this guy is a doctor, he can hopefully tend to some of the people who keep getting beat up...

[bestsir]

Harry looks slightly embarrassed. "I am—well, I have been assigned the job of coroner," he admits, then adds quickly, "but I was trained as a surgeon, and can treat the living well enough. I shall do what I can, whilst I am here."

[analienprince]

"Ah-- well." That's a little strange, but-- a doctor is a doctor, right? "Any help is appreciated right now, I think. If you need me to do anything-- let me know? I can at least take a few punches for you if you need it..."

Acting as a shield is something Teddy is well accustomed to doing after all... "I'm Teddy, by the way.

[bestsir]

"Harry Goodsir." He smiles. "And ... thank you. I am happy to offer whatever aid I can in return—and perhaps we will meet again in happier circumstances outside of this place."

[analienprince]

"Huh, neat name." He returns the smile and slowly starts to push himself up to his feet. "And-- yeah, definitely. Hopefully we'll be long out of here soon."