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

[angelic_archer]

Alec nodded in agreement, relieved that his head didn't throb in response to the action. After living with the pain for days it seemed strange not to have force himself to tune it out to be able to function. It wasn't as bad as some of his injuries in the past, but it had been distracting and kept him worrying that their captors had done something worse than concussed him.

Taking his stele, he let go of Magnus' hand, half expecting his husband to disappear once the contact had been broken. Alec had known Magnus would find him, but it still felt almost like a dream.

Maybe he was in worse shape than he thought.

Shoving the leg of his jeans up, he drew an iratze as close to his knee as possible, not waiting for it to take effect before drawing another on his arm to stabilize his shoulder. Once the runes began to work, he drew a stamina rune to help counteract the effects of hunger and sleep deprivation.

As the injuries began to heal and he became more aware of his surroundings, Alec took Magnus' free hand. Despite the aches that the iratze hadn't caused to fade, he smiled as he began tracing the Alliance rune. "The first time I did this, I kissed you after I finished the rune."

[appetitive]

Magnus remained silent as Alec worked, allowing him to focus on the healing runes that would bring him relief without the need to deplete Magnus' magic. Though he'd been around Shadowhunters and their runes for centuries, there was something different about watching the marks sink into Alec's skin, symbols of both suffering and of power. Each one was a brand meant for a warrior, and yet the black lines and faded scars were as beautiful as the rest of Alec.

Breath hitching slightly as Alec once again took his hand, Magnus mirrored the smile on his face. His eyes followed the lines of Alec's stele as they first spread over his pale skin and then neared Magnus' hand. Wincing on instinct as the rune began to trace over him, he fought the instinct to resist pulling away from the angelic language to mark his skin. He laughed nervously and looked up at Alec, grateful for his anchoring presence and the weight of his hand. "Are you going to kiss me again this time?" he asked, unknowingly leaning closer.

[angelic_archer]

Letting out a relieved sigh when the runes began to work, he watched Magnus through his lashes as he gently drew the curving lines of the Alliance rune. Belatedly, he realized that Magnus didn't remember the first time Alec had used the rune. It had been with a different Magnus, one that he still loved, but not the one who he had so easily given his heart.

Holding Magnus' hand, he could feel the tension holding his husband still. To Magnus, runes were forbidden. Something that would cause agony and madness. Yet Magnus still trusted him that this would work. He wanted to look up and reassure Magnus that the rune wouldn't harm him, but he wanted to be sure that it was perfect. "Karissima, aku cinta kamu." The mix of two languages sounded strange, but they were important to both of them.

When he finished both parts of the Alliance, he smiled, noticing that Magnus had shifted closer. Instead of answering, he pressed his lips to Magnus', pouring his love and gratitude into the kiss, promising more when they were both safe. "I plan to spend hours kissing you after we're out of here."

[appetitive]

Inhaling suddenly at first, he smiled at Alec's soothing voice speak words that brought with them a wave of calm. They were familiar and held layers of meaning for both of them, both from their lives before and after coming together. "Aku cinta kamu, sayang," he replied, fighting the urge to squeeze Alec's hand or otherwise move in ways that might break his concentration on the rune. As soon as it was completed, though, he easily melted into the kiss.

Though the rune seared his skin, it wasn't in an obviously dangerous way that he expected from a normal rune. As the final lines came together, he felt Alec's strength begin to flow through him, completely different from when it was borrowed. It felt as though its source was inside him, sharpening his senses and filling him with a fresh wave of energy. "Don't get me overexcited, darling, or I might not be able to wait," he said with a grin as he stood first and reached a hand down to Alec so he could pull him to his feet.

[angelic_archer]

Alec knew that the rune wouldn't harm Magnus, but he still waited for his husband to react. Even Shadowhunters worried over their first few runes, afraid of what might happen if they weren't drawn correctly or if they weren't strong enough to bear them. But Clary's rune hadn't injured any being who it had been drawn upon and Alec had the feeling that Magnus was safer from angelic forces than most beings who weren't Nephilim.

Breaking the kiss, he slipped the stele into his pocket, brushing his fingers over the completed rune on Magnus' hand. Despite his exhaustion, he grinned at Magnus' comment. "I don't want to put on a show for these crazies." Taking Magnus' hand he slowly stood, giving his body time to find its equilibrium from the different energies flowing through him. The runes were working, taking the edge off the weariness that had been pressing down on him. He'd have to rest later but for now he wasn't a liability.

Lifting a hand, he focused on the familiar warmth that flowed through him. It was similar to when Magnus used magic on him, but now it felt like it truly was part of him, not just connecting with him. Blue sparks shimmered from his fingertips. "Fire's the easiest?"