[Torg] Search for Atlantis

[Phil Dack]

Dear all,
just had a wonderfully relaxing week in North Italy, brushing up on unmeritorious fiction of all sorts. And if you're looking for Torg-in-a-novel, look no further than "The Hunt for Atlantis" by Andy McDermott, a story of no literary merit of any kind but a great inspiration for a Possibiliy-Chalice-esque adventure. A brief synopsis (trying to avoid spoilers, just in case):
Prologue: Introduces the main characters:
stereotypical beautiful female academic searching for atlantis, protected by....
stereotypical wise-cracking ex-special forces soldier, hired as bodyguard to protect female academic by...
stereotypical charming billionaire sponsor of the quest to find atlantis, with his....
stereotypical gorgeous daughter, multi-talented athlete who might have the hots for the female academic (yes, it feels like at any time this terrible author might go down the leather-clad lesbian ninja route, but fortunately manages to avoid it)
All of whom are competing against:
a stereotypical shadowy organisation (the Brotherhood) who want to stop the secret of atlantis ever getting out, led by...
stereotypical mystery mastermind, most commonly represented by...
stereotypical ex-colleague and love-rival of the special forces soldier
The blurb tries to establish the female academic as the "main" protragonist, but it's the special forces soldier who gets the main "screen-time" as a character who clearly represents the author's fantasy-self (e.g. the author previously wrote for film and DVD magazines - the soldier frequently quips film quotes; the author is from Halifax, West Yorkshire (not Nova Scotia!) - the soldier loudly exclaims that he is a yorkshireman)
Act 1: The Mystery Artefact - characters are offered an atlantean artefact (p-shard?!),
Scene 1: Exchange and double-cross
Scene 2: The rescue 
Scene 3: Raid on the double-crosser's lair / Brotherhood 
Act 2: The Hidden City - follow clues on the artefact to hidden city in depths of Amazon (space gods anyone?!)
Scene 1: Search for the Hidden City
Scene 2: Captured by Atlantean descended Indians / the Trials of the Temple of Poseidon
Scene 3: Attack of the Brotherhood / Destruction of the Brazilian Temple
Act 3: Atlantis Discovered - from clues in the now destroyed Temple of Poseidon in Brazil
Scene 1: Underwater exploration / Discovery of Atlantis
Scene 2: Attack of the Brotherhood / Destruction of the real Temple / Capture by Brotherhood
Act 4: The Final Temple / A Plot Revealed
Scene 1: Exploration of the Himalayan Atlantis / Brotherhood defeated / Real Evil Mastermind revealed
Scene 2: Attack against Real Evil Mastermind's base
Scene 3: Race to stop Evil Scheme (dramatic)
I'm planning (eventually!) on writing it up as an actual adventure, although I'm currently unsure whether to rewrite as a Torg adventure (obvious space gods link) or keep it as a pulpy generic adventure but written for the Torg system. Either way, it's got some good inspiration for a no-holds barred cinematic action adventure.
Phil


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