Adventure Seed 6: The Jerusalem Complex

Date: Tue, 25 Apr 1995 10:13:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mark Clark <markc@brahms.udel.edu>
Subject: Adventure Seed 6: The Jerusalem Complex


With the late 20th century increase in tourism to the Holy Land, esp. 
Jerusalem, there has been a marked increase in a form of mental illness 
called the "Jerusalem Complex."  Perfectly normal folks, average 
tourists, become convinced that they are a biblical figure (Christ, the 
Virgin Mary, etc.) as a result of the time they spend at holy sites.  
There is a mental hospital now outside the city that specialises in the 
treatment of the syndrome.

Here are some things to keep in mind about this syndrome.  First, those
who are victums normally are not those who are well-integrated in their
faith, but are folks who have doubts or who have sinned in the past and
seek redemption.  Second, they will be fully convinced that they are the
holy person, and will be very uncomfortable with any questions that refer 
to their real past.  Note, however, that this does not mean they will 
immediatly act like the historical figure they believe they are - a 
person convinced they are Christ might be very hesitant to speak out for 
fear of crucifiction, for example.  Finally, most individuals recover 
faster if they are removed from Jerusalem - the city itself seems to have 
an influence.

CLASSIC TRAVELLER

1) The players are hired to find a young man gone missing from his 
wealthy family.  He is on the planet where his religion originated, 
convinced that he is the returned saviour.  Since he has given away his 
money and destroyed his clothing and ID, he'll be difficult to find.

2) As 1, but the young man has attracted followers who will be unwilling 
to let him leave.

3) As 1, but the "followers" are criminals who are just pretending to be 
believers.  They plan to blackmail the young man's family.

MEGATRAVELLER

1) On a visit to a Failing world, one of the players (whose religion 
originated on this world), decides he/she is the messiah and must help 
these people.  It is suggested that the GM arrange this beforehand with 
the player involved, preferably selecting a character who has some moral 
failings in his/her past.

THE NEW ERA

1) A victum of the syndrome is the TED on a planet.  The TED arrived some 
years ago on his spaceship, and has used high tech equipment to perform 
his miracles.   The inhabitants believe in him, for the most part, and 
follow him.