riverviewlogs | 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

Okay. Okay.

[That might be more for Peter's benefit than the Tetherer's, but he's got to calm himself enough to find the shape of the right forma he wants in his head. Magic requires focus, and it takes just a moment to grasp enough of it, but Peter's determined enough that he's just going to keep trying.

When he finally finds it, the collar on the Tetherer's neck twitches once, then begins to nearly vibrate under the tiny little movements Peter is forcing it into. He's moved stone with this particular spell, he should be able to manage metal. Before too long there's a quiet popping noise as whatever is powering the collar gives way under the magic and something almost like white sand pours down. After that, it's only a few more seconds before the entire thing finally just comes apart and Peter darts forward to catch it, pull it as far away as he can.]

There, is that good, are you alright?

[The Tetherer is a bit shaky while he handles the collar, white knuckled and gritting their teeth. When it comes apart and they feel their Nature come back to them, they let go of a breath they didn't know they were holding in and gasp, bringing a hand to their throat for the first time in days.]

I'm... I'm fine. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay, good. Just breathe for a moment, everything is okay.

[He twitches a little, like he wants to reach out to them but isn't sure that it's a good idea. Touching people who've just been kidnapped without warning is probably not the most helpful thing you could do, and Peter doesn't quite know the Tetherer well enough to be able to judge what their opinion on contact is. So he just hovers, watching carefully to make sure they're not about to start hyperventilating or anything.

Now that the collar is...broken or deactivated or whatever it was, it feels a lot less weird, though that strange sense of nothing is still leaking off the metal. Honestly, Peter sort of wants to just drop it, but it seems like someone might want to take a look at it. He grimaces just a little and tucks it away into a pocket.]

Can you feel everything now?

[They nod in affirmation, swallowing hard and taking deep, measured breaths.]

This is good. This is good. I can-- I can make a Tether now. To transport people.

[They have to help now. They've already failed both themself and the others that were taken by allowing themself to fail to escape in the first place -- they need to bring people to safety now.]

What was that... thing you did?

Ah.

[Peter's expression shifts to something slightly wry, even as he looks them over. They do seem alright, and he's trusting the Tetherer's opinion of themselves, but the part of him that's trained to look after people can't help it.]

It's a variation on a spell. Tiny vibrations rather than trying to move something all at once. I'm glad it worked.

[Not that he wants to admit he doubted it, but well. It was a long shot.]

I see. I didn't realize you had magic.

[It's a rare gift, where they're from. Only held by refugees from other worlds, for the most part.]

Thank you. Again. And thank you for coming.

I don't tend to shout about it.

[Well not usually, anyway. Peter's found himself talking about it more freely here than he ever did at home, but it still catches him strangely sometimes to find himself doing it.

It's hard to worry about it, though, when he finds himself summoning up a smile for them.]

Of course. Wasn't just going to leave you all here.

I... almost thought I'd never find my way back.

[So thanks for proving them wrong.]

There are others. With collars, or manacles, or other things.

We wouldn't leave you.

[ It's firmer this time, Peter trying to make a point rather than just being reassuring. But they do have a point that there are others that need help, so Peter blows out a breath and straightens. ]

I know. I'll do what I can. Are you going to be okay here?

[They nod -- his answer's been proven, after all. They lost hope a number of times, but each time other captives brought it back to them. They owe a lot to the others, which is why they're determined to help now in any way they can.]

Yes. I'll be fine. Not to pretend at being a tactician, but is there anywhere inside you'd like to be transported to? Just to offer.

[ Peter can't help but look surprised for a moment, before it shifts into something more thoughtful. They'd mentioned something about tethering people out, but it hadn't occurred to him that it would be something like teleporting.

Which is definitely something he wants to know more about, and is only barely keeping himself from getting distracted by now. ]

Maybe towards where the most people are being kept? I can try to focus on breaking them out.

I know where that is.

[Knowing where something is makes it easier to Tether the two places together, though it's certainly not a requirement. They gaze off into the distance, as if zoning out, concentrating with a few raised fingers.

A tiny pinprick of white appears before them, suddenly. It then springs forth into a little galaxy-like swirl of white, almost like a myriad of stars from very, very far away, all concentrated in one spot.

But it's just a Tether, small and shifting lazily in place. It rests before them, but not too close.]

Touch this and you'll be there.

[ He startles, just a little, eyes flicking back and forth between the light and the Tetherer themselves. Peter's almost visibly biting back questions, but he doesn't hesitate to reach out towards that light. He trusts them. ]

I'll come find you after, yeah? To check in.

[They nod, sensing he has questions but recognizing there is time for those later.]

Touch any Tether and it will take you to its sister. I'll wait for you on the other side.

[ Peter studies them for a moment, intent, then gives one firm nod. ]

Look after yourself.

[ That gets the slightest hint of a smile as Peter reaches for the Tether. ]

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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