Horror - how dark is too dark?

[gamerprinter]

If you're going to use Buddhism as a basis, though, there is already a "rescuer" role built in: the Bodhisattva, the merciful one who postpones her own enlightenment in order to help others attain enlightenment. For example, in Japan, you have Kannon. She is also known as Guanyin, Avalokitasvara, the merciful one, the one observing the voice of the people. Allowing players to attain that role is something you could consider.

Yes, a bodhisattva is very much part of the original escape from Kaidan concept. Another possibility is going the route of Pure Land Buddhism where focus on Amida Buddha allows escape to the Pure Land at the end of one's life, and perhaps a way to escape to enlightenment or into the multiverse, as this place is outside the cosmic confines of the empire of Kaidan.

Either way it is heretical to official state doctrine with an active 'metsuki', the shogunal secret police and military pursuing traitors and heretics to the imperial throne. So though the 'saviors' are present in the setting, they remain in hiding to continue to help others on the path to enlightenment. Sting operations by the metsuki and false bodhisattva could make finding the path more perilous.

I hadn't included this means of escape within the intro adventure arc, as it was just an intro. For a larger AP to be developed and published next year, this enlightenment mechanic will be fully developed.

 

[Janx]

Since there is no 'dark powers' mechanic as in Ravenloft, the dark lords of Kaidan were determined at its foundation and consist of tragic figures in Japanese history (the losers of the Genpei War 1180 - 1185 AD). And the fictional provincial houses as branches of the Taira clan, or supporting factions of that losing side of that ancient war. The dark lords of Kaidan are already fixed, nobody can become a dark lord of Kaidan.

never say never. With a challenge like that, why wouldn't the PCs level up and overthrow the government. Once thats done, then they can focus on enlightening or letting citizens enlightenize.

 

[gamerprinter]

never say never. With a challenge like that, why wouldn't the PCs level up and overthrow the government. Once thats done, then they can focus on enlightening or letting citizens enlightenize.

Ah, if it could only be so simple - not all has been revealed...

Kaidan owes its existence to a powerful ancient curse uttered by the emperor's grandmother and consummated with the suicide of an entire imperial house - based on real world events that occurred on April 24, 1185, at the Battle of Dan-no-ura at the end of the Genpei War. A curse binding the boy emperor to the throne of Kaidan for 1000 years - its been 714 years so far.

If the PCs could find some way to remove the boy emperor from the throne, thereby ending the curse, then the PCs and all within the empire would be sent into entropy and be annihilated. While a worthy act to end such a vile curse, it would mean the end of the PCs as well.

Its probably better and easier to attain enlightenment, escape Kaidan and wait for 286 years to go by and the curse will end on its own, and annihilation will come to pass on its own.

Kaidan wasn't a land that became cursed. Kaidan came into existence at the utterance of a curse, enabled by some dark power, possibly the god king of Jigoku (the Japanese hell). Ending the curse ends Kaidan as well, and it will cease to be...

 

[ACreepierFolklaw]

I personally don't understand the purpose of horror that's not frightening. If you players are prepared just go all out.

 

[gamerprinter]

How is not frightening? All the reviewers suggest that the initial set of adventures released so far are indeed frightening. Tips are given to GMs for each encounter on how best to present it in the most scary fashion.

I'm not sure what you are referring to?

 

[Zelda Themelin]

I like the backstory, but I woudn't go for annihilation. I would end Kaiden and make all corrupt souls reincarnate in said Japanise Hell. PC:s too, since they became damned by destruction they brought.

In addition why would it end if 1000 years passes and path of damnation gets complited. Feels to me more like action that wouild give curse even more power and magnitude to last maybe transform boy king into demonic immortal or replace him with another heir-sacrifice. Seems like premature ending of evil after trying to help as many as possible find the enlightment and then de-throne the boy and get damned to hell but with some heroic hope to escape there.

That kinda expiration gives Kaiden more Haunted Court/Cursed Island feel. If the landscape is not that big, maybe. If it is size of actual land, though, I feel it curse has bit outgrown it's original inheritance and is growing itself to be something far worse.

What would happen with all the energy curse has gathered to during years by trapping souls, is Jigoku entite of entropy or looking forward to devourd spirits when they are "ripe" *slurp*

Waiting is hardly ever solution. Evil undead tend to get more magniture and dragons grow bigger and worse with time.

Anyhow if you are planning annihilation route, get power behind Kaiden's creation have some entropic true love. Love for seeing potential wasted and destroyed and in the end consumated into nothing. And things sucked into nothing with vengeance create imbalance. Or maybe I am thinking too much black holes now.

Waiting fixing everything is kinda boring. Magic cursed land going out in buff and whimper. It lessens value of going there in the first place. Ok fools going for spirit trap don't know that and maybe there are magic and wonders to be found too.

I think you need to add bit reasons why *annihilation* if you go that route,. And what usually happens with spirits anyhow, when not damned in your idea. Is there souls at all? Does reincarnation usually happen? Or Nirvana? How is annihilation different from Nirvana? We are speaking of this fictional world here, naturally.

 

[Zelda Themelin]

I know what is really said about Jigoku Hell earth prison, but I am assuming that you might make it different in rpg-universe.

 

[gamerprinter]

Well the endgame could be altered - it really isn't set in stone at this point, though what I've explained was the intended direction. The thing is, despite me having told you, that's how the cursed lands end - nobody in the setting is aware of this fact - its a secret. And steps have been taken to protect the emperor and his throne from this possible outcome.

However, the shogun is an epic level character, as are many of the nobles of the setting. A 20th level party in a conflict with the authorities would find it a tough thing to do even at that high a level.

 

[Zelda Themelin]

How is not frightening? All the reviewers suggest that the initial set of adventures released so far are indeed frightening. Tips are given to GMs for each encounter on how best to present it in the most scary fashion.

I'm not sure what you are referring to?

He is referring to your original topic.
"how dark is too dark?"

 

[gamerprinter]

Although the boy emperor is an innocent. He was named in the curse as he was emperor at the time. He is now one of the most powerful ghosts in existence, thus in a way, he already is a powerful demonic presence.

And regarding your point about 'are there any souls'. Yes, the transmigration of souls bound to the Wheel of Life cosmology is what drives that engine. The souls of the living and the dead are integral with what keeps the curse in motion. The reincarnation mechanic for the setting is the soul driver.

Also in Kaidan, there is a finite number of souls, limited to the number of total souls at the start of the curse (714 years ago). However recently due to changes in population, a growing number of ghosts - which are souls trapped in Yomi, and not part of the Wheel of Life itself has caused the need for an additional number of souls to feed the evil engine. It is for this reason that the borders have opened in the last decade. In an attempt to increase the number of available souls with the number of living beings at this time. Once an appropriate amount of souls have got in with their vessels passing into death, the borders will be sealed once again.

And @ACreepierFolklaw just needs to read the rest of the thread, or at least the last two pages - to get the gist that the OP is indeed not scary, at least in as far as the movie Imprint is concerned, which was where this thread started. Had the movie been more frightening and less gross, it might have proven itself worthy as a possible story direction. But in hindsight, it is not.