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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's been a long day. A longer week. Zelda doesn't rightly know how long she's been down here, imprisoned. So she might be excused for spacing out a little, staring at the wall without seeing it, and not noticing Relm's approach until she's literally on top of her.

Zelda jumps a bit, startled, and looks down at the other woman's glowing hand before glancing at her face. She's unfamiliar; it makes Zelda slightly nervous.]

Oh, I-- I thank you, but it's not necessary. I had my worst injury taken care of already.

[Relm retracts her hand, though still looks a touch concerned.]

You're certain? You're swaying a bit on your feet there.

[She bites her lip then offers a weak smile.]

That... that may be because I lost a shoe a little while ago. [Indeed, one foot is bare and suffering for it.] And I'm quite tired.

[Relm looks down and... yep, that's a shoe missing.]

Well that's certainly an issue. How dreadful. Kidnappers, combatants, and shoe thieves. The nerve of them. [She gives the girl a smile.] I'm Hawke by the way. [She shifts to the side so she's almost standing next to Zelda. An odd move, perhaps, but there's a reason for it.] I do know a bit of healing magic, which can also help with the tiredness.

I actually... used it to hit one of them. So they refused to give it back.

[She sounds embarrassed to admit that, because in retrospect it sounds -- downright silly. It hadn't felt that way at the time though, and if the same thing happened again? You can bet she'd have the other shoe off and ready to strike.

A ghost of a smile crosses Zelda's face at the introduction, though the shift to the side still has her skittish.]

Zelda. It's nice to meet you. [There ought to be another way to say that when meeting in dire circumstances. She blinks, a bit confused, pain and exhaustion making a muddle of her understanding.] You do?

They're not polite, these cultists. But you gave them the what for, even if it robbed you of a shoe in the process.

[Hawke sees no reason to be embarrassed. She fought back with what she had. That's a brave thing to do. And it shows she has some spunk. Spunk is good.

The sudden shift seems odd at first, but Relm's done it for a reason. She turns her foot until it's parallel to Zelda's. After a moment of consideration, she nods and pulls back.] Not great circumstances to meet, but I've met some good friends through such occasions. And yes, I do. It's not much, but the spell mends minor wounds and can restore a bit of stamina. Enough to perk you back up.

[While she says all this, Hawke's leaning over and pushing off her boots. Once they're free of her feet, she pushes them towards Zelda.] Your feet are a bit smaller, but at least they'll get in them just fine. You can borrow them until you're back home and can don your own shoes again.

[Her face grows a little pinched at the memory.]

They were trying to hurt a child. I couldn't let them just... do that.

[Zelda's about to protest again that there are others who need healing magic more than she does, only... what is she doing? Is she taking off her boots? Oh, no.]

B-but now you won't have any shoes.

As one well shouldn't. That child's going to remember what you did.

[And frankly, that deserves a fair bit of praise. This place is hellish enough for a combatant who wasn't kidnapped. She can only imagine how terrifying it was for a non-combatant who was held captive down here. And yet Zelda still found the courage to fight back, even if only in a small way. Giving the woman a pair of shoes to be able to walk out of here with seems the least she can do.]

No worries, I've walked around barefoot in far worse conditions. A requisite for growing up in Ferelden. Really, I'll be fine.

[Zelda wilts a little, not truly having the heart to argue much. And her foot does sting from the endless rough stones in chamber she'd been kept in. Finally she nods, tugging off her remaining shoe so she can pull on Relm's boots.]

You're very kind. Thank you. I hope that... you haven't come down here to find someone you know, have you?

[If Relm was still looking for someone, it would be stressful. So many were taken that it must be a nightmare to look for them even once released.]

[Good, she hoped that she wouldn't have to argue with her about it. She shrugs at the compliment.]

I just try not to be shitty, most days. And I just came down because there was a listing for help in raiding this place. I can fight and heal. And why pass up the chance to shoot some fools in the face with a fireball or three?

[It's still startling to hear someone say that so brazenly. After a startled pause, Zelda smiles faintly.]

Why indeed. There was plenty of that happening, when... when everyone broke in.

[Sorry, Zelda. Hawke's not much of one for putting things delicately or tactfully. Barring certain situations, of course, but this doesn't quite call for it.]

If I recall, there was a distraction team sent in while the rest of us snuck in. There was a whole plan concocted. I mostly just followed along and hit the people trying to hit me first. [While it's nice to just talk about setting cultists on fire, she knows she's speaking with a captive and there are concerns to be addressed.] Aside from a missing shoe and exhaustion, are you holding up all right? Do you need any food, water? A stiff drink? I might be persuaded to give an awkward hug if you ask very nicely.

I mostly ran.

[It's true but it's also a slight joke. What else could she do, really? She wasn't a fighter and her wrist had been broken, leaving her reluctant to use her own powers.]

Oh, I... do probably need to eat something. [An awkward laugh follows.] I wouldn't make you hug a stranger. I am not really in the mood for it either.

Oh good, I don't know if I would have been able to fake it well enough. But food, that I can do.

[Hawke's gotten into enough unexpected situations in her life that she learns to come prepared. That includes having food on hand. She digs out a food bar. The box it came in said it contained lots of nuts, grains, vitamins (whatever those were) and a whole other laundry list that screamed "this is healthy for you". Hawke mostly bought it because it fit into pockets and didn't get in the way. She hands it to Zelda.] Might have gotten a little crushed, but it's edible still.

[Zelda takes the proffered food bar with a spark of interest. It's not exactly what she was expecting, let's say. She peers at the packet before tearing it open. Now isn't the time to ponder what's in it or what 'multigrains' actually means.]

I'm sure it's fine. Crushing doesn't do much to whether grains taste good or not.

[Best not to think on it too much, Zelda.]

Well, speak for yourself. I prefer my grains with just a touch of being crushed. But not too much, mind, it absolutely ruins the texture otherwise. [Said in a very exaggerated, haughty voice.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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