Event - Appalachia: Confabulation (NETWORK)

[apocalypsehowmods]

Who: Rae Hargrave
What: An IC discussion for sharing information and making plans
Username: ambulatory
Warnings: Please add appropriate warnings in subject headings!

On June 5, everyone with an ADI-issued device will be added to a group channel by Pam Ruan, who immediately transfers control of the channel to an account with the username ambulatory and an ID picture of a world-weary caucasian woman. Within minutes of the notification that they’ve been added, characters will receive the following message:

un: ambulatory
This is Rae Hargrave with a mission status update for all ADI personnel currently stationed in Wolf Pen.

First, I apparently need to remind you that it is of the utmost importance that you do not inform the locals of the true purpose behind our visit. Not only does exposing ordinary bystanders to the supernatural place their lives in danger, but you also run the risk of handing information about yourself and about our operation to an avatar, either directly or via an unwitting informant. If you are questioned directly about your reasons for being in town or asking the questions you’re asking, deflect, deflect, deflect. It’s better to look like an idiot than to feed our enemies. If I catch wind of any more of these incidents, I will literally sit on you. If you think a local has already been exposed to one of the Entities and that it would do more good than harm to bring them into the fold, bring that to the higher levels before you act.


Second, and to the main purpose, this channel has been established for the purpose of sharing intel gathered since our arrival. Learned something? Tell the group. We’ve got a deadline looming in less than two weeks, and that’s assuming our assessments are correct and the Rumble Down Under is the intended ritual. You don’t need to have things all figured out to be of help here. We’re all putting this puzzle together, together and the piece you bring to the table could click with another person’s intel that you never would have thought was connected.

I'd like to see reports on the following, along with anything else you've picked up in your time here:

• Layout and any suspicious activity in and around the Bluestone Mine: what's the situation with the concert space and where are our entrances and exits? What have you been able to get out of the museum staff?
• Ditto for the Keppler Mine: who have you talked to and what have you seen? We may be running short on opportunities for additional recon here as reports indicate that the OSHA cover story is wearing thin. If you return to the Keppler, have a contingency plan for getting back out.
• Locations and movements of Avatars in the area, confirmed or suspected. Katie Dunn and Deepthi Anand are almost certainly in the area, and we have reason to believe the Desolation Avatar known as Pyre may also be involved. There may be additional Avatars we have not yet identified. While previous experience has taught us that Avatars of different Entities don't usually play well together, there's a first time for everything.
• Supernatural sightings in and around Wolf Pen: we have not yet ruled out the possibility that reported phenomena in the woods and the dump could be related to the ritual attempt.
• Public attitudes and interactions with town leaders: who seems to be allied with whom, and what are their connections to FYRE and the mines? Additionally, have you met anyone you believe may pose a security risk to the mission?

Third, action plans. Our aim is disruption, prevention, and ultimately complete nullification of the ritual attempt and its principal actors. We can expect that regardless of the specifics of the ritual, they will plan to inflict mass casualties, and I hope I don't need to clarify that we don't want that. While disrupting the ritual once it is already in progress is a tried and true method of forcing the dissipation of gathered Entity power and thereby preventing a rebound attempt, incapacitating the Avatars before they can enact the ritual also works as long as they stay incapacitated.

Brainstorm, spitball, whatever you want to call it. Try to be constructive, but be smart and speak up if you spot a potentially fatal flaw in someone else's plan. No idea is too weird or stupid to bring to the table, but some may be too weird or stupid to stay there. Whether we concentrate our forces in one place or plan a multi-pronged attack, we will identify the best plans brought forward and implement them to make sure the ritual doesn't get off the ground.


Fourth and last, Sheriff Ron Porter is currently under evaluation for recruitment to ADI and can be considered a resource with no need to withhold darker truths about the supernatural. However, as we are still performing a background check, we ask that you not share specific information about ADI's home base and regular operations with him as of yet. Again, no other locals are to be informed of supernatural threats without going through the proper channels within ADI.

To those of you who have spoken to Cindy Parsons, the newscaster, we'll be talking later. They are not an appropriate resource and should be treated as an innocent civilian. We do not want to pull them into any further danger than they already have been. Do not speak to them or to Wolf News.

Comments

NPC INTERACTIONS

[pennedin]

[If your character has specific questions to ask Rae, Austin, or Ron, those may be posted here for response from the mods. However, the main focus of this post should be player characters collaborating with one another.

Rae and Austin may be contacted either in person or via the group channel. Ron does not have access to the group channel (or any other ADI communications) but can be contacted in person at the police station or when he occasionally stops by the Howling Moon Inn.]

un; mkblackwood, for Rae

[lowficharm]

Is there a reason we're specifically not discussing things with Cindy, but we are with Ron? Cindy seems like she's really adamant on figuring things out at any cost, which means she's much more likely to get targeted. Maybe she already has been.

un: ambulatory

[pennedin]

If I had my druthers, neither one of them would have been brought in on this. Ron's under evaluation and Cindy's not because it turns out Ron had already been touched by one of the Entities before we got here. He's also a cop, so theoretically he's already volunteered himself to be in harm's way.

We don't recruit civilians into this life by choice. The individual who gave Cindy our intel wasn't doing any kindness by it. If we can keep Cindy's nose out of it until the ritual's scuttled and we're out of town, they still have a shot at living a normal life. That ship probably already sailed for Ron.

And then there's the question of what Cindy, the newscaster, would do with that information.

[lowficharm]

Look, I know it's about keeping people out of this thing, but... people like Cindy just don't stop. They start looking and looking and before you know it something's eaten them. I'm not saying she could be a good person to work for us necessarily, because in all the stories I've read about these Entities, she's the kind of person who dies to them.

I don't feel right leaving her with nothing. If we just tell her not to and leave she won't just stop. You have to see that.

[pennedin]

I do see that, unfortunately. But the implications here go beyond what's safe for Cindy. We have a PR department precisely because half of what we do is keep this crap out of the news so it doesn't worm its way into people's brains and cause a mass panic. I don't want some small town reporter getting killed any more than anyone else does, but if we have a shot at keeping Cindy safe by turning them onto some other idea to keep them busy, that'd be the better option in the bigger picture.

[lowficharm]

Just so you don't think I'm advocating for something crazier than I am, I absolutely don't want this to be picked up as a nighttime news story. That would be really, really bad for lots of reasons I think we both understand. I'm just worried about them. I don't know how much distracting we can really do. Is there any way to... I don't know, keep an eye on them even after we leave? Give them some sort of contact to us? I really don't want to expose them or anything but I kind of feel like that ship has sailed, you know?

[pennedin]

My hope is that Ron will stay here and act as our contact for the area; if the world doesn't end we're going to want to keep tabs on this place regardless of how exactly it all goes down. I don't get the impression he and Cindy are bosom buddies, but it's a small town and we'll at least be able to keep half an eye on things that way.

Listen, I get your concern. On so many levels, I get it, and I wish this hadn't happened. For now we've got to keep Cindy totally out of the loop so they don't do something wild while we're out preventing the apocalypse. After that...maybe we reassess. Maybe. But there's not a whole lot of ground between 'tell them everything' and 'tell them nothing' in this line of work.

[lowficharm]

We don't really need him to be friends with them, I guess. Just to make sure they're... busy.

I'm just worried about them. This seems like the way someone becomes an Avatar. And not because they mean to, just because they don't know what they're doing. But I guess that only gets worse if they have a little lead and want to chase it.

[pennedin]

That's a fair concern, though it wasn't primary to my mind. I haven't actually met Cindy; you think they're liable to go down that road?

in person, Austin

[aelwyn_aberration]

[Without prompting, Aelwyn will drop in a seat in front of Austin at the Howling Moon, sometime during breakfast.]

Pretty sure ADI has a mole, you know.

[pennedin]

[Austin cocks his head.]

Figured that out when someone sent Pam a targeted TikTok. But I'm listening. You got a particular person you're pointing at, or is this just an FYI that we need to look into it more right now?

[aelwyn_aberration]

Hmmm, more wanted the clarify some things to narrow it down. It'd be massively inconvenient if our plans were leaked to the enemy and foiled immediately.

Who was let in on the Shadowcats operation? Other than the people Meredith and I invited, that is.

[pennedin]

[It's a moment of consideration before he answers.]

Me, Nia, and Neil in Security, for sure. And Reyes. Nia tells them everything to keep it organized for her and help with logistics on things. Outside that core group, no one was brought in on it that you two didn't point out. Anyone working in the office with you on the spin side might've had access, though. And that's a lot more people.

[aelwyn_aberration]

[That sparks a small smile from Aelwyn.] Yes... Can't really rule any of them out, can we? Still. Reyes, huh.

You know, it's interesting the degree of trust that's been placed in them considering they're just an outsider like us. Why is that?

From an outside perspective it almost looks like they're running things more so than Nia, at least back at the home base.

[pennedin]

Something happened on a mission when they were still helping out with field work at the start, but I never got the full details on it. Pretty sure they did something that saved her life. Reyes was also the leading voice for people from other worlds when they started turning up. We had everyone locked up at first, not knowing what was happening. They just seemed to... get it. Get everyone's side of things. Talked a bunch of different people down off ledges on both sides. You get someone like that, who's proved they can be a diplomat even when they're in a terrible position, and boost 'em up. Never had a reason to complain about them or their work on my side.

[aelwyn_aberration]

I see.

[She pauses, considering pointing out the sheer amount of red flags in that statement. Diplomat, to her, the daughter of an ambassador who was used to charming and sucking up to authorities and peers alike, means manipulative and damn good at it, too.

What kind of spineless idiot argues on the behalf of the people locking them up if not to find a way to escape? Aelwyn can respect it, really.]

If they were an avatar, would any of you have the means to tell?

[pennedin]

Could put a tail on them, see if they're doing anything overt. But if they're being careful, just feeding on fear more subtly than most could easily see, then there's not really a way to check. Apart from locking 'em up and starving them on any contact. See if they go feral.

There's a reason Nia had her talk back at the big meeting, telling people to knock it off with trying to feed in little ways and still using their powers. We know some people are sneakier than others. But Reyes hasn't ever done anything to raise suspicions. Hell, they're putting Bonnie in more danger than most if they're involved in any of the shit going on back at HQ. And everyone knows they're sweet as hell on her.

text ⌬ @stark;

[fightinginfinity]

Sure I got some stuff I can share with the class

It'll cost you though

un: allmyexes; text

[pennedin]

Meaning...?
You're being paid to work out here, kid.
Looking for a bonus?

[fightinginfinity]

[ ...'Kid'? Tony's pretty sure he misread that for a second. It's a weird thing to see for a guy who just turned forty-nine, for sure, but he won't be deterred: ]

A raise, actually. It's a long time coming if you ask me. I got your tech out of the Dark Ages didn't I? I'm your best guy even without all the resources I got back home. I should be Employee of the Month every month, really

But we can hash that out later

First things first: Where's Peter Parker?

[pennedin]

MIA.
Along with nearly ten other people.
I've got people looking in all the places we've been turning up as a danger.
At this point, I'm just hoping for bodies.

[fightinginfinity]

[ 'Typing...' appears and disappears a few times as Austin is replying, and Tony's own reply pops up immediately after his final message sends. As if Tony doesn't care if the guy has finished his thought or not. Which he doesn't. All he sees is 'MIA'...and red. ]

Hate to interrupt your flow but real quick question
Are you aware that is the most dogshit answer you could have possibly given

[pennedin]

It's the honest answer.
Don't like it, don't care.
I'm not gonna lie to you.

cw anxiety

[fightinginfinity]

[ No no no this is all wrong. If Tony hadn't been in the midst of one long continuous panic attack since Pete first went quiet, he's definitely diving nose-first into one now. His hands are shaking badly so it takes him a while to type everything out. ]

That's not what I mean kid
Why didn't any of you contact me
You know he's my s
You know that we're close. You keep tabs on all of us don't you

I tried every method of tracking that I can but there's only so much you let me doI can do
What's the profile on everyone who's missing? Is there a pattern?
I can help
Let me help.

[pennedin]

Not sure what kinda tabs you think I keep, but it's not the local gossip.
I'm sorry you lost your friend and don't actually know what happened to him.
It's hell.
Lotta people are going through it right now.
But we have work to do.

There's no pattern we can find.
People from here.
People from other worlds.
No age.
No particular place they were last.
You want to join the team trying to track people down, that's fine.
There's not an electronic trail for you to follow, though.
We found the trackers we handed out to all of them.
All in random places.