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

[ Jim reaches out to catch her as she sits down again. Thankfully she didn't fall over, though he was ready to let her weight fall against him, rather than the floor. ]

What is it? [ He glances to her foot. ] Is it broken?

Don't think so. Least, Harry didn't think so. It just hurts like hell. I haven't been walkin' very much down here.

I'll carry you, then. [ Putting any weight on her foot will only make it worse. Not to mention that they will definitely get caught if they're too slow. ] Arms around my neck. Can you hold onto me?

[~~Ooh, Captain Kirk, ooh!~~

In all seriousness, she's more frustrated than anything. Sighing, she puts her arms around him as instructed.]

So much for kicking ass, huh?

[ He can't blame her for that sentiment. He'd feel pretty frustrated and useless too, if he had to be carried around like this. Still, he's glad she's not too stubborn or proud. It'd only complicate things for them. ]

Well— I can't shoot my phaser right now, so. [ He hands her his weapon, then lifts her up from the ground, adjusting her weight. ] You might have to kick some ass for me.

[Him giving her the phaser certainly helps her not to feel so helpless. Though ah...]

How exactly does it work?

[ Jim's lips twitch slightly. Not the first time he's been asked that, so he quickly turns the gun around so Misty can hold it properly by the grip. ]

Point that end away from you, [ He gestures to the other end of the phaser, then points at the trigger. ] Squeeze that whenever you want to shoot. Make sure to keep it steady in your hand, it's easier to aim that way.

[Sorry, she tends to be more of a fists and magic sort of girl. But it's simple enough to handle, she thinks.]

Got it. Now let's get the hell out of here!

[ He can appreciate a well-aimed fist too, actually. But without her magic, those won't be of much use right now. Not when their opponents are holding weapons of their own. ]

No need to tell me twice. [ Taking a slow breath, he starts them down the corridor, pace steady until they reach a corner and he has to make sure there's no one in their way. ]

[Of course, it'd be too easy for them to get in and out without some obstacles. Just around the corner, there's a guard pacing up and down in front of a line of cells. From the angle that Jim has to hold her, Misty can't see the guard, but she noticed Jim is coming to a stop and she looks up at him with a question in her eyes.]

[ It's just the one guard, so Jim doesn't look too concerned. He glances at Misty, then nods his head towards the guard, quietly and carefully moving them so that Misty can get a clearer shot of the guard.

He nods at her pointedly, signalling for her to take the shot. ]

[Misty needs no more prompting. Without hesitation she aims and pulls the trigger. A bright beam of light bursts forth and scorches the wall next the guard's head. Misty hisses under her breath.]

Damn it!

[The guard lets out a shout and turns to face his mystery attacker, but he doesn't get a chance to fight before Misty shoots again, this time hitting him square in the chest. He crumples to the floor, alive but knocked out.]

That's better. [She whispers.] You think anybody heard that?

[ Jim focuses on keeping her out of harm's way for the most part, while still trying to keep her steady enough to take then shot. It doesn't surprise him that she doesn't manage on her first try. If anything it's impressive that she manages to take him down with her second shot. ]

Not planning on sticking around to find out. [ If anyone did hear them, they'll know soon enough. For now, he quickly resumes their way down the corridor, passing by the unconscious guard without so much as a glance over his shoulder. ]

[As they race down the corridor, Misty closes her eyes, trying to concentrate. This should be so simple, to teleport them both out right now, but she's so drained and even though her magic is no longer being blocked, it still feels distant.]

How far are we from the exit?

Just down this tunnel. [ He nods ahead, slows down so he can listen to their surroundings. ] I think the rest of the path is clear. I can't hear anything, at least.

[ He resumes their path, picking up pace, trying to reach the exit as fast as he can. ]

[They almost make it to the exit when there's a shout from behind them. Misty looks over Jim's shoulder to see two cultists moving towards them. Not confident that she can shoot over him safely, she closes her eyes and concentrates instead, summoning the magic within her.]

Come on, this time you gotta work!

[Her eyes fly open again and she focuses all her magical energy at their pursuers, who are flung against the tunnel walls by an invisible force. They crumple and she laughs in exhilaration.]

[ Jim takes her laughter as a sign that her magic's working again, and he grins too. A few more seconds and he can see the exit, empty as it was when he came inside the last time. He'd taken out the guards, and he knows that there are medic teams on standby, hiding behind the tree line. ]

We're clear!

[ He still keeps a fast pace, just in case those guys had more friends following suit. Once outside, it's not long at all before someone approaches them, recognizing Misty as one of the captives and wanting to help her to one of the medic tents. ]

exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

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