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

[nobasisinfact]

[For Richard's part, he was frowning. It was something that could be construed as worrying for Jeff, but really he was trying not to ask Jeff if he's seen Alex, if she was alright, if they'd taken her somewhere different and he had to beat the hell out of someone until they told him where she was.

And he managed not to ask. Reminding himself that Jeff had been through more than he probably should. This situation wasn't like the coma he'd experienced when he'd first arrived, and Richard knew he could have taken this sort of thing if it were something done to him. Jeff seemed, more fragile. More likely to panic, like he was now.

When he stopped and acknowledged Richard's presence, Richard chose to speak. "Can you move?" It was a simple question, but one that was important. Richard knew he couldn't carry the other man, and honestly, he didn't want to. However, if he really couldn't move, Richard would have to find someone who could move him.

[bardish]

The sad thing is, Jeff would probably concede that he's too fragile for this kind of shit. Sure, he might put up a token protest, because whatever pride he has dictates that he should try to pretend he can keep calm under pressure, but he'd fold pretty quickly. He's just not built for high-stress, crisis situations.

As to the question, he nods. "Yeah. I can move." He feels like he's been hit by a truck-- in addition to everything else that's happened, the stone floors were really hard on his back-- but he can move. Just not as fast as usual. He pushes himself off from the wall, a bit of a stumble in his step, but otherwise, he seems... relatively okay? All things considered, anyway.

(Mainly because the main damage is all psychological, and that'll take a while to fully sink its claws into him.)

He considers Richard for a moment, because for as much a silly and frivolous person as Jeff can seem, he does have some sense. Strand doesn't seem like a fighter, and he obviously wasn't among the captives, and there's not a chance in hell he came here for Jeff, so...

"You're looking for someone?"

Which might be the shortest and most direct thing Jeff's said to Richard; there's not even a little bit of rambling! So proud of you, Jeff.

[nobasisinfact]

As Jeff raised himself to his feet, Richard carefully made sure the other man didn't stumble or fall. He was committed to this, this helping Jeff thing, and he wasn't going to do it wrong. Besides, drug questions aside, the man wasn't a bad person.

If Richard had the time or inclination he would have almost been impressed with Jeff's conciseness. He wasn't, however, in the mood to be impressed with anything. The question itself gave him pause, however. One would assume that most people would come down here on a rescue mission out of the good of their heart, because all these people were randomly going missing and, of course, they would have to rescue them. Most people were like that, Alex, was like that.

Richard might have been like that too once, but any time other than Bobby Mames didn't come immediately to mind. Even then his reasons weren't exactly altruistic.

So when Jeff asked about someone he was looking for, Richard nodded, the frown deepening, looking as if it was going to carve crevices into his face. "Alex Reagan. She has a, very distinct voice." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a personal tape recorder with 'PNWS' stickers taped to it in several places, then pushed the button. If Jeff had heard her talking, maybe her voice would spark a memory of where he'd heard it last.

"Okay, so I think we’ve got between four and six cases of-"

With a click, he shut it back off. "It sounds like that."

[bardish]

Jeff shoots the other man a quick 'Thanks,' as Richard helps keep him from stumbling like a newborn deer. And he doesn't judge Richard for it, when the other man confirms he's here for somebody. Jeff wouldn't run headfirst into a situation like this, either, unless somebody very near and dear to him was taken. His daughter, his ex (dear friend and mother of his child that she is), his family... He knows his strengths, and none of them involve storming any castles. He's the kind of guy who's better in the aftermath, helping pick up the pieces. And he figures Richard's not too different in that respect.

And then, his brows lift when he hears the name Alex Reagan. He knows her! And, as he hears the recording, Jeff's face lights up. Clarity, at last!

"Oh! Alex! You're that Richard-- her Richard!" The one who takes her rowing with him. This is good, he can just focus on this, and further put off his own impending breakdown. And-- Ow, ow, ow, okay, talking excitably isn't great for his stupid ribs. Jeff winces and gingerly rubs his side, where he can feel the bruising. "I saw her before shit hit the fan."

[nobasisinfact]

Helplessly, Richard can't do much but nod in response to Jeff's realization. He's not surprised that Jeff has met Alex, Alex, after all, knows practically everyone. It's how she is, and Jeff seemed a similar type of person. Kind, outgoing, everything Richard knew he wasn't. But that wasn't important right now. Jeff had seen Alex, recently, in fact. At least recently enough to have a remembrance of her before the rescue. It meant she was probably still here.

He could only imagine that she would have probably thrown herself into the fighting if she could. Which just meant more injuries and more trauma. This was going to be a long and heavy road to recovery, and he doubted many of the loved ones of the captives had quite realized that yet.

He let his eyes close, mentally compartmentalizing his feelings, his worry over Alex, then opened them again. Right now he really needed to look after Jeff. He'd stopped to help the man after all.

"I'll help you to the medics." He would have left it at that, but Jeff was new, and Richard didn't think many of the people here would have much interest in helping the other man's mental state, and Richard knew more about broken mental states than most. There was also a tiny, sarcastic, and annoying voice in the back of his head telling him that it was the right thing to do, and this time he didn't ignore it. "Once things have settled down you should, visit."

[bardish]

Jeff winces a little-- not in pain, this time, but in sympathy. He wishes he knew just where Alex was, that he could lend some better assurance than 'Oh yeah I totally saw her-- no idea where she is, but I saw her!' Hopefully, Richard will be able to find her soon. Far as he knows, there weren't any hostage deaths, but... that doesn't mean everyone made it out hunky dory. He's lucky, he figures; deeply painful bruises aside, his damage is mostly psychological. Others had been way bigger targets for abuse than him.

"Thanks," he nods, with a short exhale. Some relief, since he's still a bit of a mess, and moving's kind of a pain in the ass. And it's probably a testament to how Jeff's basically a Labrador retriever in human form, because once the invitation's offered, he somehow manages to get excited again, despite everything that's happening. Look, he's a social creature; he can't help it! "Yeah? I'd like that."

By the way, hope you're prepared for a compliment, Richard, because it's coming.

"You're a good guy, you know. I can see why she likes you so much."

[nobasisinfact]

"I'm not, you both have bad judgment." The reply is almost automatic. People don't call Richard nice unless they're Alex, which, weirdly, endears Jeff to him. It isn't that he likes nice people, it's more than Alex's personality seemed to have imprinted on him as one that he should be around. At least to some extent. Ruby was an easy argument; he paid her to stay around, but Alex, and now Jeff, were a different sort of thing. They seemed to like him on merit or his personality. It was strange.


Bending down, he was careful to help Jeff to his feet. "When you're ready." He didn't want to hurt or overexert him.