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

[madeupnames]

Thanks! Prefer not being dead.

And no problem, lemme just —

[He shoots some sort of little ball at the ceiling, which conveniently launches into a full web straight down at the knocked-out figure so that just about every inch of the lady below the neck is webbed up. Spider-Man pops two canisters out of his wrists and applies new ones.]

You find everyone you're looking for? I'm looking for a few, um — but I'm really worried about this kid who hangs out a lot at the park...

[She's with Peter Quill, but it's not like this worrywart knows that.]

[spellslots]

Nice. Kinda freaky, but nice.

[Why is this child a spider? The universe may never know.]

Yeah, I uh, I know where all the idiots I like are. [Magic. Which can also help with:] Do you have anything of theirs? Hair or nails would be like, the best option but if it's a toy or whatever that'd help. Or a picture'd be good?

[madeupnames]

[Look at him visibly deflate.]

... Nothing on me, no. I didn't think of that.

[But he's also got a mean case of the spider flu right now and honestly, everything in the room kinda spins when he moves his head too fast.]

... Her name's Lanie. She's got cool pink freckles all over, like paint splashed on her, kinda? She doesn't talk or anything, I think maybe because she had a crappy life before Riverview. So she's probably so scared right now, and I just... wanna get her back to her mom, you know?

[HE'S JUST. SO WORRIED.]

[spellslots]

I know.

[It's the first time he's used his Gentle Voice this whole conversation, but this seems like the moment to break it out.

Taako briefly considers using the wand he just stole, but that's potentially dangerous when he doesn't know it well, so instead he quickly unties the colourful thread from around his wrist. And then sits down.]

I'm gonna try some shit, but you gotta keep an eye out cause I won't be focused on what's around me. Kay?

[madeupnames]

[Ah? He looks confused for a moment, but the kid's smart enough to gather he's about to do some serious wizarding — or something cool like that. With that in mind, he's more than determined to cover the guy to the fullest of his abilities. His middle name is tenacity.]

You got it, man. Nothing'll get by me.

[Sure, he sounds young, but he makes up for it in earnest dedication to his work.]

Do your cool wizard mojo.

[spellslots]

[Taako twirls the thread around his fingers, almost as if he's playing with a cat's cradle. It isn't a wand but it's a piece of thread from Istus's tapestry and if that doesn't work to help him focus, he doesn't know what will.

Scrying takes a little while and it takes concentration, so Taako is out of it for almost five minutes.

And then his hand moves, pointing to the right.]

That way about five hundred feet, moving south. She's with-- oh, it's Peter? She's with this dude, Peter fuck-if-I-remember-his-last-name, but he's an alright guy.

[madeupnames]

Big Pete!

[He says it with such blinding enthusiasm and hope, he almost takes off mid-punching-someone. But then he remembers his whole task in the matter (defend the elf, Peter, don't go rushing off and bailing on your new buddy). But once the threat has been properly hung up by the leg on the ceiling, he turns to Taako and holds up a hand in the air.]

Thanks a ton, Taako, I seriously owe you one! Air five?!

[... Because your hands are hurt, so. He doesn't wanna actually slap your hand, bor.]

[spellslots]

Of course you know him.

[Everyone knows everyone in this place, but that's fine, Taako ties the piece of thread up into his hair for now, since he can't be bothered putting it around his wrist again.

And then stands u and actually high fives Spider-Man because he's not a baby.]

Don't sweat it, bubbale, I'm glad she's safe. Go get her if you wanna, I'm all good.

[madeupnames]

[Aww, bubbale, that's cute.]

That high five's got me revitalized, thanks!

If you need any back-up, I guess you know how to find me or just about anybody, yeah?

[He thwips a web across the room and goes swinging, waving once as he goes. As freaked out as he currently is (he's not gonna admit it, he's not gonna talk about how freaking scary and overwhelming this mission is, or how tired he is, just smile and wave, boys, like those weird cartoon penguins), he's at least glad there's someone here he isn't too worried about leaving behind.

Wizards are awesome.]