I guess you guys might benefit from some sort of plot for this campaign lol. Anyways, as we talked about, 1920s New Orleans, Loosely based off the vibe of the Harry potter world but I can do magic in the us better than that fucking hag. Reworking the HP lore for Europe as well cause I do not like the way it runs but conceptually its cool. Anyways, magic isnt a secret in the states as much as it would be in England because people don't really have a formal education on it, there is no ministry to tell people that it will get you killed, there isn't enough knowledge of the dark arts to really be a problem, and there are glowing eyes in the woods that will not fall back when you blast them with a shotgun. Magic is mostly untamed. American folklore of axehounds, hoopsnakes, and snipes are alive in place of unicorns and elfs. One of the players is a southern belle who can change her appearance at a whim, shes a devout baptist and thanks the lord every time shes able to pull it off.
My favorite part of Americana is the allure of the American Dream, that if you work hard enough, you can really be whoever you want and do whatever you want. Freedom and success are always earned, never forfeit. The only thing that is stopping you is truly your own abilities, and those can be increased over time.
This leads to an interesting predicament. That dream isn't a reality. People fail. People cant achieve those goals for whatever reason. Yet, they still try.
Introducing the American version of the devil. A scholar and a gentleman, a statesman, a businessman. With a suite and tie and more money and success that you could dream of he offers you a deal, something that you wont miss for a lifetime of riches and fame. The roaring 20s are going full swing. Wouldn't you like to forget the great war and start over?
Anyways! Id like to introduce you to my blorbo! Luccel Donicus! Hes a pale ass white dude who wears white linen suites, is always cold, can smooth talk, and has a book on everything (Just take one I don't mind as long as they make it back to the study eventually). He's helpful, very helpful. His antebellum mansion was his inheritance after his mother contracted TB. His father died of a broken heart shortly after her passing. Its open like a museum to visitors in the spring, summer, and half of the fall season. He throws Gatsby level parties because he loathes leaving his mansion.
The party meets on a train, meets a guy named Duke Daniel Peter Crawford who sold his soul for the world (Homeboy already had it) and needs someone to roll 3 luck checks in order to break his curse. Party breaks the curse and word gets back to Mr Donicus (The literal devil from the bible in case you haven't figured it out yet) Lucy is pissed that someones messing with his souls and sends someone to invite them over for dinner, where he picks their brain and they try to get information out of him. When asked why their here, lucy responds with a more recent news story. There's a string of gruesome murders going around the city. People are falling victim to a devil vampire cult. he wasn't able to break the dukes cures (Hes lying) and is interested in paying them in order to take them out.
Introducing the red herring.
Hamilton Bohannon (Named after the funk artist) is a leader of a vampire coven. They are devil worshipers who credit their immortality to the prince of darkness himself. Lucy hates these guys, they're doing the whole worship thing straight up wrong and kind of ruining his miracle worker vibe if you know what im saying. (this is totally a ripoff of that one xfiles episode BTW cause that shit went crazy)
Players have just got onboarded to Lucys lil manhunt murder mystery and need to learn more about magic that they no nothing about unless they want to turn out like minced meat.