Once upon a time, in a mountainous region of the United States, there was an accountant. This accountant had a dream. In pursuit of his vision, he bought a large tract of rocky, forbidding land. He provided accounting services to a construction company in exchange for a road. He traded tax preparation for the demolition services needed to clear a space for his dream. On his vacations, he toiled alone in the hot sun, sketching, surveying, even wielding pickaxe and shovel where dynamite hadn't quite finished the job.

He swapped book-keeping for help with the basic construction, plumbing, and electric work. This accountant learned how to shape stone as well as any master mason. He dubbed the place the "Mountain House," then died after enjoying his creation for less than a year.

Locale

The Mountain House can be set in any mountainous region that is near to a major city. In the American Southwest, that could be Phoenix or Tucson. Other possibilities include (but are not limited to) Denver, Colorado Springs, Seattle, Atlanta, Harrisburg, Albany, Montpelier, and Bakersfield.

This description presumes that the Mountain House is set in the Southwest.

Timeline

Construction was complete years ago -- exactly how many depends on the individual GM. In general, the land was developed and the house was built just before restrictive land- use laws were passed in the area. While suburban tract housing might be nearby, no other dwellings are in the immediate area.

Inhabitants

Who lives in The Mountain House now? That depends on the campaign. Here is a list of some possibilities:

Business Magnate

This person isn't quite Bill Gates, or perhaps is worth several Bills but is much less known to the public. He or she values privacy, may be involved with shadowy business dealings, or may be a patron to the player characters. A business magnate would of course require extensive communication facilities in order to keep in touch with his or her global empire.

Tough Vampire

This evil undead values the Mountain House for the privacy and isolation it provides. In addition, he or she has no doubt added several secret subterranean touches. The tough vampire may live in the house under the auspices of one of the other inhabitant options: everybody thinks a business magnate lives there, but in fact...

Religious Leader

The leader of a cult or a fanatical but more mainstream religion values the Mountain House for the "wise man (or woman) on the mountain" image it promotes. As such, most changes to the house for this sort of person will be largely cosmetic.

Spymaster

Either retired or still active in his or her field, the Spymaster appreciates the privacy and isolation, with an eye toward being able to keep a sharp eye out for interlopers. In addition, The Mountain House may be used as a safehouse for the most important subjects involved with the spymaster's work: high-level diplomats, heads of state on the run, recently defected spymasters from the Other Side, and so on. In addition to surveillance gear, the spymaster requires secure communications with his or her spy network.

Mad Doctor

This wacky scientist is using The Mountain House for some technologically fiendish plot to A) conquer the world, B) destroy all life on the planet, C) bring in "friends" from another "dimension," D) create a superweapon for sale to the highest bidder, E) create a super-weapon with which to hold the world's governments hostage, or perhaps F) perfecting the recipe for the world's tastiest egg salad sandwich. Obviously, the mad scientist needs a lab, and possibly experimental subjects upon which to perform fiendish experiments.

Militia Leader

The militia leader sees The Mountain House as a weapons platform, an excellent place from which to hold off Government authorities, and a bolt-hole inside of which the end of the world can be weathered safely. Obviously the militia leader stocks his house with booby-traps and weapons, not to mention a crack squad of goons who are ready to burn, pillage, and destroy at a moment's notice.

The Mountain House An American Fortress

Introduction
Tuning The Mountain House
The Mountain House
Maps and Plans