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]

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[The bang is loud enough for Lucy to flinch. She's scared and wanting to cling to Jim rather than cover her own ears. She tries to stay as still as possible, and trying to be hopeful that everything will be okay.

Another nod of her head, taking in a deep breath and closing her head. She's trying to think about something else--anything else but this.

The man Jim knocks out falls to the ground, but his counterpart is quick to react. However, the smoke doesn't give him much visibility, so he tries to grab at what he thinks if Jim's arm to bring him down.]

[ It's not Jim's arm. As a matter of fact it turns out to be one of Lucy's legs, and that's what really sets him off in a fit of rage.

Letting go of his now broken phaser, he grabs the man's wrist and twists hard, hearing bones crack. The man cries out, letting go of Lucy's leg, but Jim doesn't stop there. He grabs a fistful of his hair and brings his head down at the same time he lifts up his own knee, slamming it straight into the guy's nose.

He crumbles to the floor, howling in pain. Jim steps over him, picking up the handgun that fell from the other assailant's hands, and taking it with him as he starts running down one of the hallways. He's definitely going to need it, if he wants to get Lucy out of here. ]

[Lucy yelps feeling someone grab her arm and hates herself for it. Jim told her to be quiet and now she had inhaled some of the joke. It's hard to know what's going on, but she's going to keep her eyes closed and ears cover.

With one man down and yelling out in pain, it's enough to make the others look around and start acting. Some of the prisoners take advantage of the distraction, fighting to break free, while the cultists are trying to keep people back in line. There's gun fire and people screaming, making Lucy tremble with fear.

As Jim runs, there are people running behind him, but it's hard to tell if they're prisoners who are escaping, or cultists trying to get them.

The sound of gun fire aimed at them doesn't help.]

[ The confusion works to their advantage. While everyone's yelling and breaking out of their cells, and with the remnants of that smoke grenade still in the air, he and Lucy both manage to run quite a good distance before anyone even notices them.

When gunfire breaks out, some of it is definitely aimed towards them, but that only makes Jim run faster. He doesn't stop to shoot back at the men chasing after them, but when he turns a corner and comes face to face with two of the cultists, he lifts his handgun and shoots them, aiming at the chest. He doesn't stick around for long enough to see where the bullet pierced through— he's just content with seeing them both fall to the ground. ]

Hold on tight, Lucy! We're almost there!

[At that, Lucy removes her hands from her ears and holds onto Jim as tight as she can. Her face is buried in the crook of his neck and her eyes are shut tight. Her lower lip is trembling and she's still scared of what's going on.

There's more people screaming and the sound of gun shots go off every few seconds it seems.

The cultists are spread out too thin; trying to take control of the situation, but with how many men that were now dead or knocked out, it was becoming a challenge. There doesn't seem to be anyone else ahead of them, it's a clean break to get away.]

[ He takes that opening immediately, and starts running fast towards the exit. He goes faster and faster, not caring if anyone steps into his path. If any cultists were to pop up out of nowhere, he'd just slam himself straight into them.

Luckily, no one tries to stop them. Everyone seems to be too busy trying to contain the prisoners now breaking free. Other people are rushing inside to help free the captives, and Jim tries to tell them where to head to in a rushed voice, before he makes his way to the team of medics standing by. ]

I need some help here!

[The team of medics were trying their best to keep with the steady up tick of people being recused. Some in good conditions, other worse. They have to assess each case to see who needed treatment first and so on.

Two people answer Jim's call, moving over to him to check on him and the child he's carrying. Lucy only clings tighter to him.]

No! Jim, please, I don't want to go!

[The words fly out quickly followed by her coughing. She inhaled some of the smoke, but she didn't sustain any additional injuries.]

[ Jim tries to lower Lucy onto the ground so they can check up on her, only for her to cling tighter to him. He holds a hand up to the medics so they give Jim a moment. This isn't going to work by forcing her to let go. ]

Lucy... look at me.

[ His arms are still wrapped presently around her. Once she looks up at him, he smiles at her. ]

It's alright. We made it out, okay? You're safe, now. But you went through a lot, and I need to make sure that you're okay. These people— are friends. They'll look you over, and help patch you up. While they do that, I'm going to go get Victor. You wanna see him, right?

[Lucy doesn't want to look at him, she wants to go home, but she has to be a good girl. She has to be brave.

She pulls back a little to look at him. Her eyes are watery and there are tear stains on her cheeks. She understands what he's saying, but she doesn't want to let go. Letting go means something else could happen and she doesn't want to be left alone with people she doesn't know.]

I wanna see Papa, but I don't want to lose you. Please, Dad, please....

[Trying to be brave was one thing, but she was still scared of losing him. As brave as she was, she was still a child who had her limits. Regardless of calling him 'Dad,' she didn't want Jim to leave her alone.]

[ He falls quiet, his mind going back to the people still trying to get out of the compound. Jim needs to help them.

But he also can't turn his back on Lucy, not when she's practically begging him to stay. His heart clenches a little when she calls him 'dad' again. He knows he can't just leave her now, not until she's calmed down at the very least.

He lets out a sigh, and nods. ]

Alright. I'll stay. But will you let the doctors take care of you, please?

[There's a slow nod of her head, followed by her sniffling and bringing a hand to wipe her eyes.

One of the medics says he'll grab Victor to bring him over, that way Lucy will calm down a little more.

Slowly, she lets go of Jim, but she does reach out to hold his hand, unwilling to let go. The medic who stayed behind began to check her over, asking simply yes or no questions to see if she was in pain. So far things were checking out well.]

[ He holds onto her hand, sticking close as they're led to one of the medic posts. They both take a seat and Jim makes sure not to move away or let go of her hand while the doctor examines her, first looking for external trauma, then checking her eyes, throat, breathing and heart rate.

She's not doing too terribly. A bump on her head, a cut on her lip, and a sore throat from the smoke. A bit of dehydration other than that, but the doctor says it should be remedied easily now. While he fetches a bottle of water for Lucy, Jim squeezes her hand, smiling at her. ]

You were very brave, Lucy.

I don't feel very brave...

[She feels tired, and she has been crying. That isn't very brave, but she has Jim with her. Now that the doctor has gone to get water, she moves back over to him and holds him.]

I was crying when you got me out. I tried to be brave in there.

[ He squeezes her hand again, moving closer to her and letting her hold him. ]

Listen to me, Lucy: crying doesn't mean you stop being brave.

[ Crying is a natural reaction, and a lot of people would cry in a situation like that, children and otherwise. The last thing he wants is for her to think that crying is somehow a bad thing, or the sign that she's a coward. ]

You were very brave. You did very well while we were breaking out of there. So you cried, so what? I probably would've cried too, in your place.

[She places her head against his chest, holding onto him. She sniffs a little, trying hard not to start crying again.]

I don't think you would've cried. You rarely cry. [Only if Papa was sick and going into a coma...and maybe when she was in the hospital--everything that day was a blur to her.

Her hold on him starts to tighten and she asks softly:] When can we go home?

I cry sometimes. I cry when I’m worried about the people I love, or when I’m really sad or scared.

[ He may cry less than Lucy, but she’s a 9 year-old. And he doesn’t want her thinking that crying makes her weak or cowardly.

His arms wrap around her, holding her tightly. ] Soon, I promise. We can have whatever you want for dinner. Maybe chocolate for dessert?

[Lucy didn't want to think about food right now, even though she probably needed it. They were barely fed while they were held hostage and it didn't matter if any of the kids had something to eat or not. She just wanted to go home and stay with her family for as long as possible.]

...I cried at night, when I missed you and Papa. I...I tried not to cry when they were yelling at us, or when they hit me.

[Part of her knows crying isn't a sign of weakness, but it does cause her to lose focus--as it would do to any child her age. She did her best, but she hated being so small and unable to do anything.]

All I want is you and Papa when we get home--and Oona and John.

Edited 2018-06-19 21:29 (UTC)

Victor and I, too. Because we were very worried about you, and what was happening to you. But we promised each other that we’d bring you home safe, and we did.

[ Jim didn’t rest until he found out where the hostages were being held, and the moment he found someone reckless enough to go in there with him, he took the chance. It still took him a while to find her among the other hostages, but he did it. ]

You’ve got us. All of us. We’re not going anywhere, okay?

[Lucy is now clinging tightly to Jim, crying softly. She knew they would miss her, but thinking it and hearing it are two separate things. The thought crossed her mind that she may never see them again, but she clung to her hope like a lifeline.

She continued to cling to him, crying softly, not caring if her tears stained his shirt.]

[ He keeps her close and holds her tight, relieved that she’s letting it all out. Better than to try to bottle it up just because she wants to look brave. It’d do more harm than good.

All the while he looks around, hoping for Victor to show up. The moment he does, Jim will try to leave again, so he can go help the rest of the hostages and the rescuers. ]

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exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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