Month: June 2025

In this chilling installment, the investigators delve deeper into the heart of the Great Chamber beneath the Pyramid, confronting eerie mysteries that defy both science and sanity. As they examine the uncanny preservation of Queen Nitocris’s mummy and the swirling, inky black portal embedded in the chamber wall, tensions rise and theories abound. Magic stirs, relics shimmer, and unsettling sounds from the darkness signal that they are not alone. With each step, the line between the rational and the unknowable blurs, setting the stage for a confrontation with forces far beyond human comprehension.

Key Characters Introduced

• Queen Nitocris’s Mummy – The preserved body of the ancient queen lies on a platform behind the throne; her unnaturally pristine condition raises alarm and curiosity.
• Nyarlathotep as the Black Pharoah – The Crawling Chaos makes his presence known through him appearing on the throne as the Black Pharoah, marking a terrifying escalation in the investigators’ journey.
• Unknown Presence to the North – The investigators hear approaching footsteps and movement echoing from the northern tunnel, suggesting that something—or someone—is coming, but they do not yet know who or what it was.

Key Events

1. The Mummy of Queen Nitocris is Examined
   • The investigators closely inspect the ancient mummy on a black ebony platform.
   • Bessie notes the unnatural preservation of skin and teeth—far too pristine for a 4,000-year-old corpse.
   • Alejandro pokes the mummy’s abdomen and senses something solid inside, which should be impossible given traditional mummification practices.
   • Attempts to cut or damage the wrappings with knives fail; the cloth seems impervious.
2. Clues Suggest Supernatural Protection
   • Ezekiel recalls ancient texts about protections used in Egyptian burial rites.
   • He deduces that special rituals may be required to pierce the mummy’s wrappings.
   • Even Bessie’s attempt to collect a skin sample results in no success—the mummy’s flesh resists all efforts.
3. The Party Encounters the Inky Black Portal
   • Behind the throne, a massive swirling black circle pulses with an otherworldly energy.
   • Emerson places his hand on it and is unable to pull it away, becoming physically stuck to the portal wall; it takes the strength of multiple investigators to pull him free.
   • The portal feels cold and solid like stone, but its surface undulates with liquid-like ripples.
   • The group recognizes that the portal may be selective in its interactions with living matter.
4. They Test the Portal Using the Mummy
   • The investigators drag Queen Nitocris’s mummy to the portal to test its effect on her.
   • Multiple party members attempt to push her into it, punch her, and observe for any reaction—none occurs.
   • The mummy remains inert, behaving like a weighted training dummy, regardless of their efforts.
5. Voices and Footsteps Are Heard Approaching
   • Bessie and Ezekiel hear faint movement and murmuring sounds from the northern corridor.
   • The group begins preparing for potential combat, drawing weapons and positioning themselves defensively.
6. Nyarlathotep Speaks and Alejandro Dies
   • The presence of Nyarlathotep manifests as the Black Pharaoh, speaking to the investigators.
   • The tone, words, and timing hint at a climactic turning point in their descent into the mythos.
   • In a climactic and horrifying moment, Nyarlathotep claims Alejandro’s soul, crumpling his body and turning it into a heap of ash as the rest of the party watches in shock and horror.

Standout Moments

• Alejandro
  • Sacrificed his soul to Nyarlathotep during the terrifying climax of the session, his body left vacant as the entity took hold, shocking the entire group.
• Bessy
  • Dragged Queen Nitocris’s mummy across the chamber by herself with sheer determination, then tried to analyze and pierce the mummy’s unnaturally preserved skin despite supernatural resistance.
• Emerson
  • Got physically stuck to the inky black portal wall, requiring the group to pull him free, and later joined in comically and scientifically testing the mummy’s interaction with the portal.
• Ezekiel
  • Identified magical protections surrounding the mummy and recalled arcane knowledge that pointed to ancient rituals being required to breach the wrappings.
• Virginia
  • Lit the chamber with her flashlight, helped guide Emerson through the darkness, and kept a keen watch as events spiraled toward an encounter with Nyarlathotep.
• Omar
  • Attempted to test the mummy’s response to chemical spray (flit) and pushed for experimental interactions, adding a quirky but earnest scientific curiosity to the group’s investigation.

As the dust settles in the torchlit chamber, the investigators are left reeling from their brush with the supernatural. The mummy of Queen Nitocris remains a sealed enigma, resistant to blades, science, and reason itself. The black portal pulses with unnatural life, and worse still, Nyarlathotep has made his presence known—not with a scream, but with a whisper that stole Alejandro’s very soul. What began as an archaeological mystery has become a battle for sanity and survival.

With threats echoing from the northern corridor and a cosmic entity now directly engaged, the party faces a harrowing decision: confront what lies beyond the veil or retreat with what little humanity they have left. One thing is certain—after this night, nothing will ever be the same.

If you want to get Masks of Nyarlathotep, please click the links below. It helps the channel out if you buy from these links!

Investigators Handbook: https://amzn.to/4fHaRdi

Keeper Rulebook: https://amzn.to/4dilnpG

I use Fantasy Grounds for the automation and Virtual Table Top; please check them out here: http://affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/361781/15958

In this suspenseful chapter of our Masks of Nyarlathotep journey, the investigators descend into a shadowy, subterranean hall marked by slick ebony floors, bizarrely twisted pillars, and an unsettling red mist concealing a staircase into mysteries below. As whispers, moans, and eerie sounds drift upward from unseen depths, Alejandro boldly ventures forward, only to collapse mysteriously amidst the swirling haze, sparking frantic rescue efforts and desperate magical intervention. With strange forces at play and sanity unraveling, the group cautiously explores the chamber, confronting unnatural phenomena, hidden dangers, and the growing dread that something sinister awaits beneath the surface.

Key Characters Introduced

• The mummy of Queen Nitocris – The investigators spotted a glowing green ceremonial platform topped with an ancient casket, believed to contain the remains of Queen Nitocris, hinting at her lingering influence and the dark rites connected to her resurrection.

Key Events

1. Exploration of the Grand Ebony Hall
   • The party enters a vast underground chamber with ebon marble floors and towering columns made of the same material.
   • The room is dimly lit by torchlight in a few areas, with visibility limited by darkness at the edges.
   • Strange architecture twists into unnatural shapes, and sound echoes hauntingly throughout the space.
   • A mysterious ceremonial platform with a glowing green light and a casket is spotted—possibly the resting place of Queen Nitocris.
2. The Red Mist Staircase
   • A grand staircase descends into a dense red mist that obscures vision and emits unsettling sounds.
   • Whispers, moans, and shrieks rise from the mist, unnerving the group.
   • Emerson warns the party about possible dangers in mist-filled enclosed spaces, likening it to CO₂ poisoning on ships.
3. Alejandro’s Descent and Collapse
   • Alejandro boldly descends the staircase without proper protection.
   • The red mist irritates his lungs, but he insists it’s fine—until he vanishes below and a loud thump is heard.
   • The party fears he has collapsed or worse.
4. Ezekiel’s Desperate Use of Magic
   • To save Alejandro, Ezekiel casts a protective spell, forming a massive shimmering force barrier 100 yards in diameter.
   • The magic repels the red mist long enough to reveal Alejandro unconscious at the bottom.
   • Ezekiel suffers temporary insanity and amnesia from the strain of casting the spell.
   • He forgets recent events and is confused about why they’re not still eating breakfast.
5. Rescue and Recovery
   • With the mist temporarily pushed back, the team rushes down and finds Alejandro propped up against an invisible barrier.
   • They pull him back to safety before the mist returns.
   • Once conscious, Alejandro recalls disturbing visions in the mist—dead bodies and screaming faces.
6. Investigation of the Chamber’s Features
   • The group notices the ceremonial platform glowing green and suspects it holds the mummy of Queen Nitocris.
   • They also discover a black pool with a tethered wooden raft and a gondola-like pole.
   • The pool appears inky and impenetrable to light, prompting the group to test its properties.
   • Bessie and Alejandro board the raft; Omar spots footprints, suggesting previous use.
   • Suspicion grows that the raft is intended for ritualistic passage—or something worse.

Standout Moments

• Alejandro
  • Alejandro volunteered to explore the eerie mist-filled staircase alone, only to pass out dramatically, becoming the catalyst for a major rescue and magical intervention.
• Bessy
  • With fearless curiosity, Bessy stepped onto the strange wooden raft floating on an inky underground pool, determined to uncover its purpose.
• Virginia
  • Virginia’s flashlight and foresight to bring spare batteries helped the group navigate the oppressive darkness, and her level-headedness grounded the team amidst growing fear.
• Omar
  • Omar slipped away from the group and moved with near-invisibility, prompting confusion and concern as the rest of the party realized they had no idea where he went.
• Ezekiel
  • In a desperate act, Ezekiel tapped into forbidden magic, creating a massive force field to repel the deadly mist—at the cost of his own sanity and a temporary bout of amnesia.
• Emerson
  • Emerson clung to his skepticism until even he admitted something supernatural was afoot, delivering a chilling reminder: “If you don’t believe there’s worse stuff going on, you haven’t been paying attention.”

As the investigators inch deeper into the heart of this subterranean nightmare, the dangers become more surreal, the air more toxic—both literally and figuratively—and the sanity of the party ever more fragile. With ancient horrors lurking behind every twisted pillar and the ominous casket of Queen Nitocris pulsing with grim portent, the choices ahead are not yet clear: but one thing is they will descend further into the unknown and find a way to survive the truths already uncovered.

Session 18 leaves us with more questions than answers. What secrets lie within the coffin? What force animates the red mist? And just how far will the investigators go—physically and mentally—to stop what’s coming? The deeper they go, the darker it gets. Stay tuned.

If you want to get Masks of Nyarlathotep, please click the links below. It helps the channel out if you buy from these links!

Investigators Handbook: https://amzn.to/4fHaRdi

Keeper Rulebook: https://amzn.to/4dilnpG

I use Fantasy Grounds for the automation and Virtual Table Top; please check them out here: http://affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/361781/15958