Adventure Story

While searching for locations to set an adventure story (because I think the most important part will be the story as this will influence the characters and also the plot must drive the action forward) I looked on the internet for Mayan history.

I luckily found this news story which broke today on:

http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/07/15/14729146.html

I think this is the perfect choice to set an adventure tale. The location is varied and could range from long shots of the jungle and pyramid to closer details of the Mayan script and artifacts.

The King that is mentioned could provide both the treasure that the lead character could be after or an enemy that they must fight, and a shimmering god like creature could look impressive in a fight sequence.

News World
King's tomb yields Mayan secrets
By SARAH GRAINGER, Reuters
Last Updated: July 15, 2010 11:50pm


An undated handout photo shows a Mayan carving at the El Zotz archaeological site in Northern Guatemala. (Reuters)
GUATEMALA CITY - Archeologists in Guatemala have discovered a Mayan king's tomb packed with a well-preserved hoard of carvings, ceramics and children's bones that cast fresh light on the vanished civilization.
Researchers uncovered the burial chamber dating from 300 - 600 AD beneath the El Diablo pyramid in the city of El Zotz in the jungle-covered Peten region in May, but the discovery was only made public Thursday.
The well-sealed tomb -- measuring 10 feet l, by nearly 4 feet wide wide and 5 feet deep -- helped preserve textiles, wood carvings and red and yellow ceramics decorated with fish and wild boar motifs, researchers said.
"It's like their Fort Knox, their depositary of wealth with textiles and ... trade items and that's what's overwhelming about it," said Stephen Houston, the dig's director at El Zotz, who is based at Brown University in the United States.
The Central American nation is dotted with pyramids and ruins from the ancient Mayan civilization, which reached a high point between 250 and 900 AD and covered territory from modern day Honduras to central Mexico.
Archeologists said the dig at El Zotz, which means "bat" in several Mayan languages, has provided fresh insights into the civilization's funeral rites.
Adolescents were frequently sacrificed during the burial of Mayan kings. But in an unusual discovery, archeologists excavating at El Zotz uncovered bones belonging to children as young as 12 months old.
The dig also revealed evidence that the king was buried in a traditional dancer's costume, adorned with conch shells and slivers of jade, which is believed to be a first.
El Zotz is near the larger forest-wreathed ruins at Tikal, which are a popular destination for U.S. tourists.
Historians say El Zotz was often caught in the middle of battles between Tikal and Calakmul, which lies to the north in modern day Mexico.
Like many archeological sites in Guatemala's remote Peten region, El Zotz is at risk from looters, poachers and loggers trying to make a living out of the forest, as well as drug traffickers seeking to move cocaine into Mexico.

I am now going to start researching this particular area in more detail as well as starting my character designs for a possible male and female lead, and also the King character. I will see if there are any more actual images of him on the internet to make my character authentic.