research war table assignment: strangers in the mirror.

[propulsion]

WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: STRANGERS IN THE MIRROR

It's been some months since Riftwatch's adventure into Arlathan Forest, the densely overgrown wilderness that half-swallowed the ancient elven city by which it is named. Through thorough scouting and investigation, Riftwatch eventually came to locate the ancient elven temple that both imparted to them critical information while also taking its pound of flesh in return. However, in the process, they'd also developed leads for potential investigation, and over the interim months, some light scouting has continued to ensure a minimal amount of rocks were left unturned.

And it seems, unfortunately, that Arlathan has yet more to give.

Riftwatch will be deploying a group to investigate an ancient sunken temple that some preliminary investigation suggests to have once honoured Dirthamen, elven god of secrets and knowledge. The group, for those who have yet to experience such places, will be warned of the potentiality for spirits of trickery, for puzzles and traps, and for the presence of Venatori, although there doesn't appear to be evidence of anyone having come across this territory any time recently. The mission is to search for artifacts that may contribute to future Gate-closing rituals, and try to make it out with all your eyeballs intact.

However, as the group embarks on its mission through the labyrinthine halls of Dirthamen's seat of honour, they will slowly start to wonder why they are here, and what their mission is, and also who they are with, and also who are they?

Yes, this is an amnesia plot.

This plot will be designed for hijinks and CR building, with some memory-share elements as the temple toys with the secrets it's collected and the people lost in its grasp. How it is organised will be dependent on how many people sign up, whether it be a small group or a couple of teams thrown together, with various prompts to riff off of. Make friends with your enemies or become enemies with your friends while trying to escape or work your way through a puzzle-laden temple. We'll laugh about it later.

Sign up in the comments below if you'd like to spend a few days with a group of total strangers, including yourself! Note that there is an option with sign ups that involves a memory-sharing mechanic, wherein you'll be expected to write somewhere between one through three memories to be distributed randomly. All memories will contain trigger warnings if necessary but will be advised to steer clear of sensitive topics anyway, besides violence. I am making this element optional for anyone who wants to play with memory loss with less paperwork.

Sign ups close April 4.

Comments

[elegiaque]

Player: Libbitha
Character: Gwenaëlle Baudin
Division: Forces

Memory share opt in? Y
Artifact finding RNG opt in? Y


Character: Petrana de Cedoux
Division: Diplomacy

Memory share opt in? Y
Artifact finding RNG opt in? Y

[propulsion]

Thanks for signing up! The log for this plot will be going up on April 9.

In preparation for the memory share component, please fill out this form by April 8. You will be advised on the memories you receive (and if you get artifact-finding duty) before the log goes live.

For multiple characters, you can fill out the form multiple times. Just re-click the link once you complete your answer.

[propulsion]

We are LIVE for go time.

Gwen will initially find herself in TEAM A, while Petrana is in TEAM B. This top level is for whatever you all want to do with it, whether that's one big thread or a bunch of little reactions, but I recommend chaos either way.

The post above goes on to describe other features of the temple, but you don't have to stay with the group you are in, whether that's because your character is independently exploring it, or due to the black out mechanism described in the Strangers in the Mirror header. Tag around and make your own top levels as you see fit.

As for the memories you receive, this is how it will work: for the next two weeks, you can simply indicate in your subject line of any tag in the plot log with the word 'memory' or whatever, and I will swoop in and feed you one of the assigned memories. After two weeks, I'll be DMing out the rest.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to RP out aftermath rather than the moment of receiving them, and/or want to make plans based off assigned memories and you just want 'em all now, let me know, and I'll DM them soon.

Let me know if you have any questions at all, and happy temple diving.