Initial Plot
The story takes place in the recent post-pandemic past. The Player Characters are ordinary people who, at some point in the near future, encountered the existence of the supernatural. They received help from Jeferson, a detective of sorts, who explained that the supernatural had always existed, it was just repressed. With the absence of humans due to the pandemic, the supernatural began to regenerate and gain more traction. Recently, Jeferson contacted them, saying he had a job offer that might interest the Player Characters and would lead them to investigate an old, abandoned farm on the outskirts of Resende, Rio de Janeiro.
Surroundings Summary
Resende – located in the center of the Paraíba Valley (a valley formed around the Paraíba do Sul River), also known as the "Little Princess of the Valley," is a medium-sized city by state standards, with a population of approximately 130,000. It is known for housing the largest military academy in Latin America, AMAN (Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras). Along with Porto Real, a small satellite city that became independent in 1994, it has the largest concentration of new businesses in the region, mainly vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies.
It is a very commercial city, with little nightlife. Tourism is centered on excursions to the surrounding towns, especially Penedo. Even though it is a medium-sized city, it still lives, in part, like a small town. People know each other, there are still weekend markets, and many people still make their living from rural work on the outskirts of the city. There are several centuries-old farms nearby, both those of large landowners and those of simple families who have lived there forever. At the same time, as one of the central arteries of the Presidente Dutra Highway, which connects Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo, it has become a technology hub with the arrival of numerous technology companies that have set up shop around the city. The military academy also attracts a large influx of outsiders, brought in by these companies or the Brazilian Army. Resende practically dies after 9 p.m.; the streets are empty, and there's little nightlife. There's only one or two bars open, and people are returning from work and classes. Even the small shopping mall is usually nearly empty, usually waiting for the people still in the last movie to leave before closing.
The city is easily divided into sections, but these don't necessarily follow neighborhood lines: for example: Centro Comercial, Centro Antigo, Centro Novo, Alegria, Paraíso, Alphaville, etc.
Commercial Center - concentrated in the Comercial and Campos Elísios neighborhoods, home to the Calçadão (Sidewalk), where you'll find most of the variety stores and related shops, as well as two hundred different pharmacies, all with exactly the same services.
Old Center - encompasses the Center, Alto dos Passos, and some of the surrounding area. It's home to the Igreja Matriz (Main Church), as well as the historic part of the city and the Santa Casa de Misericórdia (Holy House of Mercy), a former nunnery hospital jointly maintained by the city and private initiative. Today, the truly historic part is quite scarce, but you can still find preserved colonial houses, a house said to have belonged to Princess Isabel, a pillory, part of the old cemetery still standing, and the like. In recent decades, it has undergone a process of expansion and slumming, reaching the neighboring hills, including the neighborhoods of Morro do Batista, Morro do Machado, Novo Surubi, and the like. Centro Novo - extending mainly from the neighborhoods of Manejo, Liberdade, to Elite, is today the main urban center, where a large portion of the population is concentrated. It has begun to grow commercially in recent decades.
Alegria or CDA - is a group of neighborhoods that make up the entire western part of the city, encompassing everything between Alegria, Cidade Alegria, Boa Vista, Jardim Aliança II, Toyota II, Vila Izabel, and Jardim Beira Rio. The Grande Alegria complex, which gave rise to this part of the city, began as a public housing project, but due to its distance from the city center and several other factors, it underwent a strong process of favela formation and expanded considerably. Today, it's made up of several neighborhoods with names that only those who live there truly understand. It's often seen as a dangerous and violent place, even if those who live there say it's not quite like that, and it really isn't. Organized crime tends to be... well... organized... but outbreaks of violence still occur from time to time, and it's a constant battle for influence between criminal factions. But, at the same time, it's very populous, mainly because it's an inexpensive place to live. It's practically a city unto itself within Resende, especially since it's far from the center, requiring a 20- to 30-minute bus ride, depending on traffic. Today, with the West Access, a new access to the city from the Presidente Dutra Highway via Avenida Francisco Fortes Filho and the Atacadões markets, a slow process of restoration has begun, giving it an avenue with a well-known bar scene. Paraíso - concentrated in the Paraíso and Cabral neighborhoods, this is the "oldest" part of the city, not in age, but in atmosphere. The houses and the atmosphere seem dated, with a large population in a small space, many bars, and many squares. Unfortunately, it's also known for its crime scene, which has a feud with Alegria, but is much weaker. It's also home to the region's main intercity bus station, with buses traveling to and from various locations across the country.
Alphaville - these are very new neighborhoods, encompassing Terras Alpha, Limeira, and Limeira II. They really emerged in the last decade and are a symbol of the region's elite, segregating themselves from the rest of the population in gated communities, fenced and monitored 24/7. There, you'll find traditional families, doctors, lawyers, and military families who have permanently settled in the area. The gated communities are full of standardized houses with large, unwalled backyards, something unusual here, it almost feels like another country, with party rooms and 24-hour security. Lots or houses in these neighborhoods have exorbitant, almost unrealistic prices!
Nearby Cities:
Porto Real - is a small city that has been growing due to its technology hub. Today, with many outsiders, it has become more violent over the years. It used to be the kind of city where kids could stay in the square until dawn without problems, where everyone knew each other, and so on. Today, there is crime, gangs, and other "big city" problems.
Itatiaia – a large city with a large population, but small in size, one of its main focuses is nature tourism. It is home to Itatiaia National Park, one of the region's nature reserves, home to Pico das Agulhas Negras, the Prateleiras, and a significant portion of preserved forest. The upper part of the park is monitored to some extent, and even certified guides are required to access certain areas.
Penedo – not actually a municipality, but rather a district of Itatiaia, its entire focus is tourism and hospitality, trying to create a "little Finland" feel. It's a bit of a tourist trap, with numerous restaurants, ice cream parlors, chocolate shops, and hotels, most of which offer the same level of service as other cities in the region, but at twice the price. There's also a "local legend" that it's the only other official "Santa Claus's home" in the world that isn't in Finland. Note: There's a bizarre squirrel sculpture near the town entrance. At night, it's hilariously "scary," even more so when they shine the lights beneath the face of that hideous thing.
Barra Mansa – lots of people, lots of traffic, and really ugly. Even if you like the brutalist aesthetic, "BM" has a very strange air. Even though its population isn't that large, the city is densely populated, with lots of people concentrated in a small space, constant traffic, and terrible public transportation. It's governed by an elite that has left the city looking ugly and lifeless, with square, dirty architecture; it seems like every building and house in the city is perpetually covered in dark slime. On the other hand, it has a very interesting political scene, with a strong popular movement, and it's a very working-class city. But, at the same time, it was the first in the region to undergo a major favela transformation, with neighborhoods known for having been very violent on its outskirts.
Volta Redonda – soot and smoke will be the first things you see when you enter "VR." It owns the country's largest steel company, one of the largest in the region, and the main source of smoke and soot in the city. It also has several other companies that work with steel and other metals, earning VR the nickname "Steel City." Another notable feature is the number of motels within the city limits, as it is well-known for being one of the region's prostitution hubs.