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

[ When Harry Goodsir was younger, he made a conscious effort to file away his own Scots accent. It seemed to disappoint his father and his brothers found it risible—but he thought, not entirely without reason, that if he were to show up in London sounding like he'd just arrived from Fife, he might not make nearly as much headway with the Royal Society as he would have liked. And indeed, Dr. Stanley seemed to take him at least a modicum more seriously for not sounding like a bumpkin—insofar as Stanley took anyone of lower rank seriously, at any rate.

But Beckett's voice now is an echo of his youth, at a moment when he needs it very badly, and he thinks that he need not fear seeming weak in front of him. ]

Aye. [ It slips out and he smiles weakly. ] Y—yes. Thank you.

[ The wound at the back of his head that he incurred when he was captured is still healing, and he is covered with bruises, cuts, and scrapes from the rough handling he has endured in captivity. But there is nothing more serious than that. ]

Edited 2018-06-19 13:35 (UTC)

[ A smile breaks across Carson's face at the unexpected moment of brotherhood. ] Well, then, let's have a look at you.

[ Carson does his best to give an examination that's thorough without being publicly invasive. All in all, Harry doesn't seem too bad off, which is nice. There have been some people today that have almost made him want to break his oaths when he looked after a pair of cultists with gunshot wounds. ] Looks like you'll need a bit of stitching, but you're well enough elsewise.

[ He drags his kit over and rearranges himself, kneeling at Harry's side so he can clean the injury and get to work. He doesn't have any numbing agent left, which is an unwelcome discovery. ] This will sting a mite. Whereabouts are you from?

[ Keep the stranger talking, hopefully keep this from hurting too terribly much. ]

[ Harry Goodsir comes from an era where anaesthetic consisted largely of a generous swig of whisky and a stick to bite on. Usually he's on the other end of the needle (or scalpel, or saw), but he's probably more mentally prepared for the pain than some people might be. ]

My family's from Anstruther. [ Which he says as Ainster, as the natives do. ] Father and grandfather alike were doctors. And three of my brothers.

[ He forces himself to keep talking as Carson works, though occasionally he has to pause for a deep breath or a small noise of pain. ]

I went to university in Edinburgh. Trained as an anatomist.

An anatomist, is it?

[ Carson is getting the inkling that this man is perhaps not from the same general timeline as others he's met from Earth. ] I've cousins in Anstruther. From Stirling myself. I started at St. Andrews, then studied at Glasgow Royal before moving on to John's Hopkins in the states. Molecular biology and human genetics.

[ It's a test, really, a gauge to see when this fellow might be from without asking right out What year is it for you? That seems... rude, at best.

He sets the last suture and clips the thread, sitting back on his heels. ] There we are.

[ Goodsir lets out a long exhale of relief when Beckett is finished; it’s a moment before he can respond, and when he does, it’s with a self-deprecating chuckle. ]

It is only since arriving here that the phrases “molecular biology” and “human genetics” have become known to me, and I confess that I do not fully understand either yet.

[ Carson gives the sutured area another swab with disinfectant, and starts the wind a bandage around the whole affair for good measure. ]

I'll confess, I thought that might be the case. You want a bit of confusion--I've friends here from my home, and all of them are from my future.

[ There. Now he's actually done. ] And there's plenty of time to learn all about the medical advances you've not heard of, I should think.

[ Goodsir smiles broadly; talking of learning and science always perks up his spirits. ]

To that end, I have enrolled as a student at the university. I only hope that this—this—this misadventure does not prove to be an insurmountable interruption.

[ A pause, then he offers his hand, realising he has not properly introduced himself. ]

Harry Goodsir. The administration here has seen fit to assign me the role of coroner. [ He touches the bandage. ] Thank you.

[ Harry Goodsir. Harry Goodsir. Why does he know that name?

Carson shakes the man's hand warmly, before gathering his medical kit and getting to his feet. He offers Harry a hand up. ]

Carson Beckett. I would hope the university would be a mite understanding of your situation. Even if you've need of a break, you should have opportunity to go back when the time comes, I should think.

[ Harry allows himself to be helped up. He is aware now of his current state of disorder—unwashed, blood- and dirt-stained, his whiskers starting to get quite out of hand. He brushes himself off perfunctorily and completely uselessly. ]

I am sure you are correct—after all, these events are no great secret, are they? But I hope to resume my work and my studies as soon as I can; I fear I would be quite at a loss without work to do.

[ He'd rather be busy than not, especially since "not" means spending far too much time in his own head, with his memories of the Arctic blurring all too readily with his captivity here. ]

[ Carson doesn't spare the mess a second glance. He knows full well the way personal hygiene sometimes takes a back seat for victims of a crisis, and why wouldn't it? ]

I should think not. It's bound to be the talk of Riverview for at least a week. [ It is a smol joke.

Carson smiles sympathetically. ]

Aye, I know what you mean. It's been hard enough these past months to keep myself busy without thinking of home.

[ This whole disaster is, if not welcome, still a good distraction. ] Shall we get you out of here, then?

[ The smol joke gets an actual laugh. Not a particularly uproarious one, but right now Goodsir is taking what humour he can get.

He looks around. ]

What else remains to be done?

[ Yes, Carson, he knows you told him to take it easy. ]

Walking up through these caves, which is a hike, I will say.

[ THAT IS WORK ENOUGH FOR YOU SIR. ]

[ All right, Carson, he can take a hint. ]

I suppose I should prepare myself for it, then.

[ He extends his hand. ]

Thank you, again.

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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