I got a copy of CoC this Christmas

[Dimthar]

Now I need time, a place to play, players and an adventure idea.

Focusing in the adventure. This is a basic description on what I have in mind:

Where: Tuxtlas Region , Veracruz, Mexico.

Being close to the Gulf, the region will be explored for Oil wells, the region is famous for their Witch Doctors in Catemaco, soul cleaning ritual Temazcal , and Nahuals . Also the region was home of the Olmec culture . It has mountains, there is a Cascade "Salto de Eyipantla" ( featured in Romancing the Stone and Apocalypto movies) and the Catemaco Lake (featured in Medicine Man movie), and of course was a rich jungle with Jaguars as the major predator.

When: 1935, Mexican President Cardenas was a socialist, and invested resources in sending Doctors and Teachers to the indigenous communities.

Who: Possible PCs: Archaeologist, Doctor (Medic), Teacher, Oil Engineer, Seminary Deacon, Hunter-Guide, etc.

I am planning on setting a small Village, close to Catemaco Town (2 day walk), somewhere in the mountains, not very high.

Now here is where I am not sure what to do, should the whole community be tainted, or just a few individuals or family. Which Ancient One Cult would be the more appropriate? Also an Evil Monastery (Nuns) crossed my mind.

I need a Plot .. so all your help is welcomed. I am in page 25 of the Book so it will take me a while at this rate.

[Dimthar]

So far, my impression is that the "Ancient Ones Cultists" are not associated with any known mythology. Although I will rule that there was an "Awareness" of the sleeping evil and Old cultures worked hard in creating Protection rituals and Prophecies.

Ok, Oil was discovered in a Prehispanic site and the original team were stoned to dead by the locals after charges of rape (Official Version).

The New group arrives right before the festivities to the "Santa Muerte" , Using the festivities as a cover, a secret ritual is conducted in parallel which include a human sacrifice. Something lurks in the lake and has mated with a local family.

Men! This is harder than I thought, maybe I should use a pre-made module.

[Mulsiphix]

What you've got so far sounds very interesting. I'd definitely like to hear more if you decide to continue to pursue this storyline. Very well done so far

[gdmcbride]

Call of Cthulhu does have some excellent premade modules. In fact, some of the best ever written for any RPG ever (Beyond the Mountains of Madness and Masks of Nyarlathotep, for example).

But to throw out an idea for a campaign:

Beneath a crumbling pyramid sleeps something ancient, something evil. The Maya (or the Olmec or the Aztec or a heretofore completely unknown ancient culture ... choose your favorite) discovered it, understood its nature and realized that it required massive blood sacrifices to keep it sated. So terrified were they of it that they fed it and fed it and fed it. Vast sacrifices of blood and human hearts. Anything to keep it well fed and sleeping.

They fed it so well that the sacrifices almost wiped out their culture, but it worked ... the god has slumbered for centuries. Now, the Mayan cult long dead, it stirs at last gasping in hunger. A new magus, a traveling professor of Mayan culture and mythology, has figured out the truth behind the earthquakes that rock this jungle land. He has figured out what must be done to keep the thing asleep. If it awakens, all the world will be consumed by its mindless hunger. Blood -- fresh and human, must once again flow into the pyramid.

The story starts with our heroes investigating the disappearance of a friend -- someone who came to that cursed land and never came back. It starts as a murder mystery. It turns into a war with a cult (the followers of the professor).

The twist comes later when the investigators realize the professor/magus isn't insane, he isn't summoning anything evil, he isn't a mad man (though he is under amazing stress) -- he's the savior of the world. And he murdered your friend to sate the waking god.

Now what?

Gary

[boulet]

Pretty interesting ideas you're gathering there. In matters of plots and in order for the investigation to be somewhat confusing in the first part of the adventure I think it's always good to have at least two sets of secretive protagonists in the plot. This way when the players are searching for clues in the disappearance of an archaeologist friend (for instance) they assume there is one evil group active in the area. Only after a while, inconsistencies and contradicting clues will point out that for instance there is both a cult trying to keep a portal/ancient god under control and a secret group of occult power mongers who actively try to cross the threshold/awaken the abomination. If your players are new to CoC, a simple plot can do the trick, and the atmosphere of fear will complete the rest. With experienced players it needs a little more sophistication, maybe be approached at some point of the story by a mad professor and be offered to share tremendous power and join an evil society.

Archaeological remnants of Olmec culture and the creepy jungle around seem very promising for the atmosphere I must say.

[boulet]

Sometimes I feel I kill threads, but I really don't understand how or why...

[Mulsiphix]

gdmcbride that is the first CoC story I have seen posted on these forums that I actually was interested in. I've found previous ones to be a little too technical for my tastes. I feel too much information can hinder the atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. I really like your setup

[gdmcbride]

Glad you enjoyed it.

Call of Cthulhu is rich with potential. I think too often it turns into kill the monster/shoot the cultist. When Call of Cthulhu is good, it makes you think. And when it is really good, it keeps you up at night.

Gary

[rabkala]

Sometimes I feel I kill threads, but I really don't understand how or why...

Maybe, your ideas are just so good we can't find fault with them and they wrap things up nicely.

Also an Evil Monastery (Nuns) crossed my mind.

I like evil nuns. Maybe evil flying nuns! (hella cool)

[boulet]

I like evil nuns. Maybe evil flying nuns! (hella cool)

Make it two headed evil flying nuns and I'll join in !

[Mulsiphix]

I never get outta bed for anything with fewer than three heads

[Dimthar]

Well, I hope my thread can survive the "Curse of the Three Headed Nuns".

Back to business

I just found that a supplement is going to hit the stores in May:

http://www.room308.org/supplements.html

Being somehow familiar with Mesoamerican history and tradition, I really hope it will give me enough linkage between CoC system and my own idea.

Currently my strategy will be to write some "Short Mini-Stories" which Players can use as the start for their backgrounds.

[Dimthar]

Currently my strategy will be to write some "Short Mini-Stories" which Players can use as the start for their backgrounds.

I will Post those in the Campaign Invitation.

[Mulsiphix]

I will Post those in the Campaign Invitation.

Campaign Invitation or Campaign Resources? Not sure if your planning on requesting some short stories from people or if you'll be writing them and providing them for other DM's to use if they wanted.

[Dimthar]

Campaign Invitation or Campaign Resources? Not sure if your planning on requesting some short stories from people or if you'll be writing them and providing them for other DM's to use if they wanted.

I have a "Campaign Invitation" technically to look for potential players, so I will post the stories there. The players of course are not limited to the characters of these stories, but I would like to have these characters as part of the "Investigators".

Mostly I am testing myself in this Genre.