As I wait for my latest DAZ Studio project to actually render (yay!), I have some more Atlantean Adventure Scenario ideas. They still follow the same format: Premise, the Twist, and the Climax.
A Princess of Atlantis
The Premise: The PCs are called to Atlantis from the modern world to deal with a problem of politics. The King's daughter has been kidnapped by the Sea Peoples (other wise called the Philistines) and they are demanding a ransom from the king for the return of the Princess Antheia, his third daughter.
The Twist: The daughter has been enslaved by the lord of this particular tribe of Sea Peoples, the Prince Thamar.
The Climax: The PCs and Prince Thamar battle it on the Sea of Tartessos (Mediterranean Sea), only to witness the extremely gorgeous Princess Antheia declare herself the sex slave of the most heroic PC of the group!
The Isle of Fire
The Premise: The Isle of Fire is a place rich in minerals. But it is colonized by monsters, and only the best heroes go to face the monsters there. The Atlanteans want to form a colony there, however the Mother of All Monsters, the Echidna, also resides there. The PCs are called from the Modern Day to go to the Isle of Fire to see how to deal with the Echidna.
The Twist: One their way to the port city of Mneusis, the heroes stumble on a twenty-five feet tall giant that is immobilized by a rock with a lead symbol burned into it. The giant is none other than Typhon, but he looks positively human.
The Climax: The heroes face the Echidna, to persuade her either by the word or by the sword to allow the Atlanteans to settle and form a mining colony here.
The Hippodrome of Atlantis
The Premise: The PCs go to Atlantis on their own accord to see the horse races at the Hippodrome. Although no gambling is allowed, the horse races at the Hippodrome is the Atlanteans' national past time.
The Twist: One of the jockeys is murdered, a rider named Hyppolytos, and the PCs are drawn into the mystery. The actual murderer is a man named Cleonastes.
The Climax: finding the clues and questioning the right people will bring Cleonastes out in the open. the PCs' solving of the mystery will cause Cleonastes to panic. The PCs must stop him before he jumps off the highest turret of the Hippodrome!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Atlantean Adventure Scenarios
Yes, I am an Atlanteologist. I was watching a lot of movies on Atlantis yesterday, and I spent hours watching different movies present their arguments about Atlantis. Some of the movies sucked (one of them was pro-Secret Society). Anyhow, I present the following scenarios for gaming in Atlantis. The world that is presented in these Scenarios can be the GURPS Romantic Atlantis (found in GURPS Atlantis), or Atlantis: The Second Age roleplaying game.
The Scenarios are presented in Premise, the Twist, and the Climax format from Feng Shui. So they are bareboned, allowing you to build your own adventure for your group.
Adventurers of Atlantis
Premise: There has been a rash of kidnappings of young women of late. Something the PCs scoff of until one of their girlfriends disappear.
The Twist: A strange old man is found by the PCs, who is actually an Atlantean Theorist. The PCs chase the wierd little man, only to enter a dimensional rift through space time and end up in the city of Atlantis.
The Climax: The PCs are told that a group of Lemurians are attacking Atlantean interests in Magan (modern day Kenya). The PCs battle it out with the Lemurians in Maganese lands.
The Closing: The PCs return home, and one of the PCs is given the feeling that the Atlanteans might call upon them again.
Heroes of Atlantis
Premise: The Atlanteans call on the PCs again, transporting them to the City of Atlantis while they dream. The Atlanteans tell the PCs that the Lemurians they fought are in the Hordelands of Eria (Modern Day Utah). The Atlanteans want the PCs to investigate.
The Twist: The Lemurians are investigating the ruins of a possible laboratory, but they themselves are attacked by Monsters. (Use any monster you like, DM).
The Climax: The PCs must band with their enemies to defeat a powerful monster.
Sorcerer of Atlantis
Premise: An Atlantean Sorcerer has gone rogue, researching the Philosopher's Stone. The Atlanteans must call on the PCs again, transporting them after they had their time in the Gym.
The Twist: The Philosopher's Stone requires living beings to be manufactured. The sorcerer wants to create a Homunoculus in the shape of his dead wife (a living human by Alchemy).
The Climax: The PCs must try to defeat the sorcerer either through negotiation or through force, before he creates his Homunoculus.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Nudism!!
I haven't posted about Nudism in a long while.
Basically, nudism is the practice and philosophy of living naked. You get naked, you live that way, its simple enough, right? Well, being nude all the time presents its challenges. People object to it because they are afraid of what people will think of them. Particularly if you are a gamer yourself: and your body is flabby.
Most people think only those with hard bodies, or thin bodies, should have the right to be nude. This is wrong thinking. Nudists come in all ages, all shapes and sizes. Hard Bodies may need not be the only ones to apply. In fact, many nudists and naturists are Christians: so any religious affiliation is also allowed.
Nudism isn't:
* About sex.
* About getting girls.
* About exhibitionism (that's different).
* About rebelling.
Nudism is:
* About body image.
* About love.
* About enjoying yourself in the nude.
* About being free.
In fact, if you want to lose weight and reshape your body, Nudism is a natural first step in the process. By accepting your body as you are, you can reshape it easily into the look you want to be. Loving yourself, being one with yourself, allows you to shape your body more easily. Naturism often distinguish themselves from nudists: they are typically nude in nature, they say. But the end result is the same. Your nude, your in touch with your surroundings, and you are part of your surroundings: whether you are in a building or in a forest. The end result is always the same.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Please, don't annoy the Lamia
Annoyed Lamia by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
A lamia is from mythology. They have been portrayed as having the body of a lion and the body of a woman merged together, they also been portrayed as very old witches that steal a star's heart and eat it. But they make great half-snake and half-woman types. Can also pass as a yaun-ti.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Battle of the Philosophers!
My own investigations into the philosophies of the Battle of the Sexes have come up with several conclusions.
1. A nation where the sexes are divided against themselves can't possibly prosper efficiently.
2. The Battle of the Sexes as we know it was never meant to be natural.
3. Women can't have both butter (a home life) and Guns (a career). A woman must give up one to feed the other.
4. I have also came to realize, unrelated at first, that sex was made so that Joy can be realized.
I have come to feel that sex is the most enjoyable thing we humans really have, and that the Battle of the Sexes is an artificial state that is not natural. The whole thing about the Battle of the Sexes has been mythologized terribly. Even the matriarchal societies of the distant past has not escaped the modern mythological pen. So, why all the smoke and mirrors?
In truth. I don't know. I can only report on what I observe and what I desire based on the observations for female friends. First of all, I'd like to say I am not at all pleased with my Sisters-in-Law in how they treat my brothers. First of all, my Sister-in-Law Crystal rules the roost around here. Second of all, my Sister-in-Law Andrea does not respect my brother Seth. So, how am I going to relate to this?
I don't desire a woman who are like either of them, simple as that. I'd rather go through life Unmarried than be treated like how my brothers are treated by their wives. I am sick and tired of so called "female superiority" and the way they throw it around. I am sick and tired to see how my brothers are upstaged by their mates.
Moreover the LORD saith, BECAUSE THE DAUGHTERS of Zion are HAUGHTY, (proud, arrogant) and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton (winking) eyes, walking and mincing (flirting) as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: (ankle bells).
Isaiah 3:16 (Greywulf and Marjorie: this is based only on an observation on where I live, not all women in general. Look closely and the key word is Zion in that passage).
I'd rather be loved and respected by my mate.
In the Lord's plan for marriage, if I read Joseph Smith's words correctly, a woman submits to her husband ideally. Consider this passage from Ephesians: Therefore as the Church is subject to unto Christ ( the Messiah), so let the wives be to their husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:24
This is only according to what I observed. According to the Gorean model, a slave does exactly this. A total power exchange. Only to an extreme (I believe John Norman wrote the books to such an extreme level in order to show his philosophical argument). In the books you have slaves submit to the commands of their Masters. Even rape is acceptable, since the slaves are treated as property. However, while experiencing Gor lifestylers, they all can be as individually different as anything.
I'd rather be loved and respected by my mate. I DESIRE a mate who will submit to me in everything, that will respect my authority (at least, over myself), and love me for who I am and not try to change me into something they think I aught to be. I am not a Bishop nor Stake President in the Church. I never am and I never will be. I never want to be Bishop, and I never want to be Stake President. I am not a door mat to be walked over, or something to be shown off. A real marriage is a partnership, where the wife submits to her husband in every thing.
In modern marriages, I see the opposite is true. I have observed this fact in my Sisters-in-Law and how they treat their husbands. Feminism, the philosophy that women have equal or exclusive rights to men, is only a symptom of a wife's unsubmissiveness to her husband. The philosophy gives her an excuse.
Aren't women the equal of men?
Yes. And no. Quick answer. Women are the equal of men in opportunity but they are not the equal of men biologically or spiritually since both women and men are different sexes. Women and men are equal in everything according to opportunity. Women cannot have a family and a career at the same time. She must feed one or the other. Men, however, can have both a family and a career because through his career he can feed his family.
What about the Economic Situation? It takes two incomes to provide everything a family needs.
This is because the Federal Reserve has been steadily inflating the money supply so that a household requires two more more types of income to provide everything the family needs. The solution is to abolish the Federal Reserve and to make our money be backed 100% by Gold. Also, we need to make sure that a open, free market exists in America to make sure everyone is able to buy and sell goods (a combination of Austrian and Chicago style money policies). But that is beyond the scope of what I'm observing in modern human relationships (actually, in truth, it's related).
Why a submissive wife?
I'm better off with a submissive wife. Really, I am. An unsub or dominate wife is not something I'm looking for. Give me a girl who will submit to me, and I'll look after my responsibility (feeding, clothing, and sheltering her). Give me a dominate wife, and I won't be married long. :)
I'd rather have a wife who will respect me and be submit to me in every thing. :)
1. A nation where the sexes are divided against themselves can't possibly prosper efficiently.
2. The Battle of the Sexes as we know it was never meant to be natural.
3. Women can't have both butter (a home life) and Guns (a career). A woman must give up one to feed the other.
4. I have also came to realize, unrelated at first, that sex was made so that Joy can be realized.
I have come to feel that sex is the most enjoyable thing we humans really have, and that the Battle of the Sexes is an artificial state that is not natural. The whole thing about the Battle of the Sexes has been mythologized terribly. Even the matriarchal societies of the distant past has not escaped the modern mythological pen. So, why all the smoke and mirrors?
In truth. I don't know. I can only report on what I observe and what I desire based on the observations for female friends. First of all, I'd like to say I am not at all pleased with my Sisters-in-Law in how they treat my brothers. First of all, my Sister-in-Law Crystal rules the roost around here. Second of all, my Sister-in-Law Andrea does not respect my brother Seth. So, how am I going to relate to this?
I don't desire a woman who are like either of them, simple as that. I'd rather go through life Unmarried than be treated like how my brothers are treated by their wives. I am sick and tired of so called "female superiority" and the way they throw it around. I am sick and tired to see how my brothers are upstaged by their mates.
Moreover the LORD saith, BECAUSE THE DAUGHTERS of Zion are HAUGHTY, (proud, arrogant) and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton (winking) eyes, walking and mincing (flirting) as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: (ankle bells).
Isaiah 3:16 (Greywulf and Marjorie: this is based only on an observation on where I live, not all women in general. Look closely and the key word is Zion in that passage).
I'd rather be loved and respected by my mate.
In the Lord's plan for marriage, if I read Joseph Smith's words correctly, a woman submits to her husband ideally. Consider this passage from Ephesians: Therefore as the Church is subject to unto Christ ( the Messiah), so let the wives be to their husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:24
This is only according to what I observed. According to the Gorean model, a slave does exactly this. A total power exchange. Only to an extreme (I believe John Norman wrote the books to such an extreme level in order to show his philosophical argument). In the books you have slaves submit to the commands of their Masters. Even rape is acceptable, since the slaves are treated as property. However, while experiencing Gor lifestylers, they all can be as individually different as anything.
I'd rather be loved and respected by my mate. I DESIRE a mate who will submit to me in everything, that will respect my authority (at least, over myself), and love me for who I am and not try to change me into something they think I aught to be. I am not a Bishop nor Stake President in the Church. I never am and I never will be. I never want to be Bishop, and I never want to be Stake President. I am not a door mat to be walked over, or something to be shown off. A real marriage is a partnership, where the wife submits to her husband in every thing.
In modern marriages, I see the opposite is true. I have observed this fact in my Sisters-in-Law and how they treat their husbands. Feminism, the philosophy that women have equal or exclusive rights to men, is only a symptom of a wife's unsubmissiveness to her husband. The philosophy gives her an excuse.
Aren't women the equal of men?
Yes. And no. Quick answer. Women are the equal of men in opportunity but they are not the equal of men biologically or spiritually since both women and men are different sexes. Women and men are equal in everything according to opportunity. Women cannot have a family and a career at the same time. She must feed one or the other. Men, however, can have both a family and a career because through his career he can feed his family.
What about the Economic Situation? It takes two incomes to provide everything a family needs.
This is because the Federal Reserve has been steadily inflating the money supply so that a household requires two more more types of income to provide everything the family needs. The solution is to abolish the Federal Reserve and to make our money be backed 100% by Gold. Also, we need to make sure that a open, free market exists in America to make sure everyone is able to buy and sell goods (a combination of Austrian and Chicago style money policies). But that is beyond the scope of what I'm observing in modern human relationships (actually, in truth, it's related).
Why a submissive wife?
I'm better off with a submissive wife. Really, I am. An unsub or dominate wife is not something I'm looking for. Give me a girl who will submit to me, and I'll look after my responsibility (feeding, clothing, and sheltering her). Give me a dominate wife, and I won't be married long. :)
I'd rather have a wife who will respect me and be submit to me in every thing. :)
A Good Cup of Atlantis!
I think I'm getting better. After reading the story synopses of 10 of John Norman novels, and waking up to thoughts of Atlantis this morning, I felt that Atlantis needed to come to life. again.
Using GURPS Atlantis as the base (the other two are far too fantastic [Twilight of Atlantis, and Atlantis: the Second Age] although fun beyond belief), I wanted to do a romance type campaign. After all, who'd want to save a family member from slavers from a parallel Universe? (hurray for the Many Worlds Interpretation!!).
Usually you get to work on PRODUCTION DESIGN. So lets work out Production Design for Atlantis:
As I said -- the folks over at Deviant Art are pretty much stuck on three aspects of Atlantis: Atlantis undersea (the technology to build an undersea arcology is a bit too high, even if we do have the capability to build an undersea arcology off the coast of Florida, the Lords of our Dystopia would say it will COST too much to establish an undersea colony), Disney's Atlantis (which was good), and Stargate: Atlantis (which is VERY good).
I imagine Atlantis to be pretty much as Plato described it (its science fiction, actually -- Plato combined several stories into one to illustrate a truth). On the North American continent (the Ancients of the Early Bronze Age knew about America, it became a "Lost" Continent when later generations eventually forgot all knowledge of America).
Atlantis itself is an Ancient Empire that devotes itself to the pursuit of Science in the manner of the Hellenic period (i.e.the so called Alexandrian Empire). It is a culture based on learning, inventing, and increasing technology. The game is set during the Atlantean 4th Dynasty. Technology equals that of Ancient Alexandria during the time of Archimedes. Atlantis is dependent on slave labor, although inventors are starting to bring about revolution (Atlantis is teetering on an Industrial Revolution, although the conditions aren't fully there yet).
There are more slaves in Atlantis than Atlanteans, although strange new inventions [off in the world of weird, fringe science] allow Atlanteans to skip dimensions to specific ones and take people for slaves.
Slavery works like the model presented in Conan the Barbarian. Both men and women can be taken as slaves. Male slaves are often used both in hard labor, and fine technical work (like cutting gears precisely), and in some instances, pleasure. Women slaves are used for a variety of other services, including pleasure as well as house work. However, a beautiful girl slave is more valuable than a muscle bound male slave.
More on this later.
Using GURPS Atlantis as the base (the other two are far too fantastic [Twilight of Atlantis, and Atlantis: the Second Age] although fun beyond belief), I wanted to do a romance type campaign. After all, who'd want to save a family member from slavers from a parallel Universe? (hurray for the Many Worlds Interpretation!!).
Usually you get to work on PRODUCTION DESIGN. So lets work out Production Design for Atlantis:
As I said -- the folks over at Deviant Art are pretty much stuck on three aspects of Atlantis: Atlantis undersea (the technology to build an undersea arcology is a bit too high, even if we do have the capability to build an undersea arcology off the coast of Florida, the Lords of our Dystopia would say it will COST too much to establish an undersea colony), Disney's Atlantis (which was good), and Stargate: Atlantis (which is VERY good).
I imagine Atlantis to be pretty much as Plato described it (its science fiction, actually -- Plato combined several stories into one to illustrate a truth). On the North American continent (the Ancients of the Early Bronze Age knew about America, it became a "Lost" Continent when later generations eventually forgot all knowledge of America).
Atlantis itself is an Ancient Empire that devotes itself to the pursuit of Science in the manner of the Hellenic period (i.e.the so called Alexandrian Empire). It is a culture based on learning, inventing, and increasing technology. The game is set during the Atlantean 4th Dynasty. Technology equals that of Ancient Alexandria during the time of Archimedes. Atlantis is dependent on slave labor, although inventors are starting to bring about revolution (Atlantis is teetering on an Industrial Revolution, although the conditions aren't fully there yet).
There are more slaves in Atlantis than Atlanteans, although strange new inventions [off in the world of weird, fringe science] allow Atlanteans to skip dimensions to specific ones and take people for slaves.
Slavery works like the model presented in Conan the Barbarian. Both men and women can be taken as slaves. Male slaves are often used both in hard labor, and fine technical work (like cutting gears precisely), and in some instances, pleasure. Women slaves are used for a variety of other services, including pleasure as well as house work. However, a beautiful girl slave is more valuable than a muscle bound male slave.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Elves can be Barbarians
Another treatment of the elvish Barbarian. This time more Sonja and less Brittany.
Barbarian Elf by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
Barbarian Elf by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Gummi Bears
Here is the intro to Disney's Gummi Bears. I suppose that Dungeons and Dragons cartoon was so successful that Disney had to have a crack at D&D, the Disney way. Yes, I totally admit that I totally liked the show. If you have little D&D players growing up in your household, this cartoon is a nice way to introduce the subject of imagination (just make sure they know the difference between reality and fantasy).
Of course, what really got me into D&D was Classical Mythology. The ancient stories of the Greeks, to explain the world they lived in, totally inspired me. When I got the Red Box, the myth and legend can come alive. And that is the point of playing D&D today. To bring your heroes alive and to live the stories. Dungeons and Dragons is good for kids, even though elements of the Supernatural and occult are introduced, a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with your kids teaches them critical thinking. Also, thinking under pressure, being cool when a crisis is created. With a bright, young precocious creative child, Dungeons and Dragons can help them develop their creativity in ways people couldn't have imagined.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Dragon Hunter in Dystopia
Dragon Hunter in Dystopia by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
Still testing out, getting ready to do that image I want to do for the DAZ Contest. If you look in the background, you see the Dystopian city block I used.
Entering the Realm of Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk Girl by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART
Cyberpunk is cool. Cyberpunk 2020 is cool, and Shadowrun has lots of awesome. But a Dystopic future isn't at all "awesome" and "cool." I bring you another character in Cyberpunk scenes.
Rolemaster Scenarios
The best thing about Rolemaster is that it was crafted for novel storytelling play (yes, I say novel as in Darkwalker on Moonshae or Hart's Hope or even A Darkness at Sethanon). Rolemaster characters are designed to be rich, strong, and alive. Whether it is Rolemaster Classic (1985-1989 edition); or Rolemaster the Standard System/Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying; you are participating in a living novel.
The combat system is as gritty as it gets because it is crafted for a Living Novel. So Rolemaster scenarios are actually the start of campaigns. Lets take a look at some to get our creativity flowing.
Invasion of the Orc Horde: simple, direct, and to the point. Take a horde of orcs and have it invade the Empire of Man. Orcs and Humans have been done in the Warcraft Universe. But if we take a look at the invasion through the eyes of characters and not through the eyes of a general ordering armies to march under the banner of the Humans or the Horde, you have lots of opportunities for roleplay. (In Lord of the Rings, Man was seen as a threat to the Dark Lord Sauron's power, so the Dark Lord mounted an army of orcs to destroy Gondor).
Lost City of Ophir: This is an Indiana Jones' type Scenario (Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Ophir!). The Player Characters are hired by an adventuring company to go explore a lost kingdom in the desert, jungle, or mountains and have them bring back any artifacts they find. The GM can go hog wild with this: competing adventuring companies (Belloque not withstanding), elaborate traps, hidden dangers, and monsters' lairs. Exploring an ancient ruin gives you an opportunity to relive the excitement of Indiana Jones, all seen through the eyes of a PC group!
Consequently, the scenario can be worked for Dungeons and Dragons, an Ancient Ruin is a dungeon after all. But it is the Roleplaying before you get the job, interviewing for the job, what the job is, getting there, meeting your competitors on the way, and finally getting in to get the Lost Gold Idol of Shakti or whatever. . . . and the consequences afterwords.
The D&D scenario usually starts like the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, get in, face the traps, get the idol, set off the traps in the process, get out, only to be accosted by a small army of gnolls and your competitor. And then lose your artifact to your competitor. "Alas, Doctor Jones, we see again that there is nothing you can get that I cannot take away."
Ladyhawke: This movie is a classic Werewolf story. By night, Nevaar is a wolf, and by day Isabel is a hawk. The two were damned by the Bishop of Aquilla to live as human beings either by day or by night, and as animals by day or by night. Although it too can be retooled for D&D, Rolemaster can be used to recreate the movie's passion. The player characters are represented by Nevarr and Mouse; with the NPCs as Isabel, the friar monk, the Bishop of Aquilla, and the captain of the Aquillan guard.
Tying the three together and you might get:
An Orc Horde is threatening the Empire of Tyrannus. The Empire of Tyrannus is ruled mostly by the Church, although the Kings ruled over small kingdoms in the Empire and were often competing with the Church for State power (this is often when nobles leave their lands to the Church or the State, and the Church would often use guilt to get what they want: while the State could use the lands to pass on to another feudal lord young and loyal to the State).
The Orc Horde are a bunch of barbaric neanderthals led by a competent leader. Their ancestral lands themselves are failing and the Empire of Tyrannus -- decadent, failing, decaying; is a source of gold, silver, and prosperity. The horde is Mid-Iron Age technology and they are going up against a kingdom of Crusades technology. But they have magic on their side: Shamanism, evil warlock magic, as well as axes and swords.
The City of Aquila is a city that is ruled mostly by the Bishop of Aquila. The bishop has his own guards and his own army. The City is a prime target for the barbarian Orc Horde and there were skirmishes and small battles between the armies of Tyrannus and the Orcs outside the city. However, in a twist of fate, the Bishop of Aquila had cursed the Captain with Lycanthropy and his lover (whom he had wanted) with therianropy (she changes into a Hawk). The captain his lover swore revenge and were never seen again.
With the Captain gone, Aquila doesn't have competent leadership. So the city hires a company of Adventurers to go to a lost ruin to find an artifact of great power, or a relic of faith to turn the tide against the invading heathen. The city hopes to use the artifact to turn the tide of battle, using firepower or faith to repel the Orc horde. The relic or artifact must be obtained before a competing kingdom, the City of Berlogue, obtains it since they are also facing invasion from an orc army.
That is where the PCs come in. :)
The combat system is as gritty as it gets because it is crafted for a Living Novel. So Rolemaster scenarios are actually the start of campaigns. Lets take a look at some to get our creativity flowing.
Invasion of the Orc Horde: simple, direct, and to the point. Take a horde of orcs and have it invade the Empire of Man. Orcs and Humans have been done in the Warcraft Universe. But if we take a look at the invasion through the eyes of characters and not through the eyes of a general ordering armies to march under the banner of the Humans or the Horde, you have lots of opportunities for roleplay. (In Lord of the Rings, Man was seen as a threat to the Dark Lord Sauron's power, so the Dark Lord mounted an army of orcs to destroy Gondor).
Lost City of Ophir: This is an Indiana Jones' type Scenario (Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Ophir!). The Player Characters are hired by an adventuring company to go explore a lost kingdom in the desert, jungle, or mountains and have them bring back any artifacts they find. The GM can go hog wild with this: competing adventuring companies (Belloque not withstanding), elaborate traps, hidden dangers, and monsters' lairs. Exploring an ancient ruin gives you an opportunity to relive the excitement of Indiana Jones, all seen through the eyes of a PC group!
Consequently, the scenario can be worked for Dungeons and Dragons, an Ancient Ruin is a dungeon after all. But it is the Roleplaying before you get the job, interviewing for the job, what the job is, getting there, meeting your competitors on the way, and finally getting in to get the Lost Gold Idol of Shakti or whatever. . . . and the consequences afterwords.
The D&D scenario usually starts like the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, get in, face the traps, get the idol, set off the traps in the process, get out, only to be accosted by a small army of gnolls and your competitor. And then lose your artifact to your competitor. "Alas, Doctor Jones, we see again that there is nothing you can get that I cannot take away."
Ladyhawke: This movie is a classic Werewolf story. By night, Nevaar is a wolf, and by day Isabel is a hawk. The two were damned by the Bishop of Aquilla to live as human beings either by day or by night, and as animals by day or by night. Although it too can be retooled for D&D, Rolemaster can be used to recreate the movie's passion. The player characters are represented by Nevarr and Mouse; with the NPCs as Isabel, the friar monk, the Bishop of Aquilla, and the captain of the Aquillan guard.
Tying the three together and you might get:
An Orc Horde is threatening the Empire of Tyrannus. The Empire of Tyrannus is ruled mostly by the Church, although the Kings ruled over small kingdoms in the Empire and were often competing with the Church for State power (this is often when nobles leave their lands to the Church or the State, and the Church would often use guilt to get what they want: while the State could use the lands to pass on to another feudal lord young and loyal to the State).
The Orc Horde are a bunch of barbaric neanderthals led by a competent leader. Their ancestral lands themselves are failing and the Empire of Tyrannus -- decadent, failing, decaying; is a source of gold, silver, and prosperity. The horde is Mid-Iron Age technology and they are going up against a kingdom of Crusades technology. But they have magic on their side: Shamanism, evil warlock magic, as well as axes and swords.
The City of Aquila is a city that is ruled mostly by the Bishop of Aquila. The bishop has his own guards and his own army. The City is a prime target for the barbarian Orc Horde and there were skirmishes and small battles between the armies of Tyrannus and the Orcs outside the city. However, in a twist of fate, the Bishop of Aquila had cursed the Captain with Lycanthropy and his lover (whom he had wanted) with therianropy (she changes into a Hawk). The captain his lover swore revenge and were never seen again.
With the Captain gone, Aquila doesn't have competent leadership. So the city hires a company of Adventurers to go to a lost ruin to find an artifact of great power, or a relic of faith to turn the tide against the invading heathen. The city hopes to use the artifact to turn the tide of battle, using firepower or faith to repel the Orc horde. The relic or artifact must be obtained before a competing kingdom, the City of Berlogue, obtains it since they are also facing invasion from an orc army.
That is where the PCs come in. :)
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