Month: October 2025

Session 29 of Masks of Nyarlathotep exploded with humor, tension, and unexpected revelations. The investigators regrouped in Shanghai to meet Jack Brady, learned terrifying truths about the Eye of Light and Darkness, and faced off in a bizarre boxing match that left more than egos bruised. Between translating ancient scrolls, confronting cult secrets, and arguing over mayonnaise, this session perfectly balanced chaos and cosmic dread.

Key Characters Introduced

• Jack Brady: Roger Carlyle’s former bodyguard and a hardened fighter, he revealed vital details about the cult’s plans and the broken seals threatening the world.
• Mr. Mu Hsien: A scholar working to translate the ancient scrolls, his insights helped uncover the ritual of the Eye of Light and Darkness.
• Choi Mei-ling: The rescued ally from Ho Fang’s clutches, her quiet presence grounded the group amidst growing tension.

Key Events

• Reunion with Jack Brady: The investigators met Jack Brady, who revealed his connection to the Carlyle Expedition and his mission to stop the cult from tearing open reality.
• Unveiling the Eye of Light and Darkness: Through translated scrolls, the group learned the exact ritual needed to seal a portal and prevent Nyarlathotep’s emergence.
• Cult Conspiracy and the Island Map: Brady shared a marked map, pinpointing a mysterious island near Shanghai believed to host dangerous cult activity.
• Omar’s Boxing Challenge: In one of the session’s most outrageous moments, Omar challenged Jack Brady to a boxing match, wagering his camera and his pride, losing both!
• The Fight and the Fallout: Despite a cocaine boost from Bessie, Omar lost the match, earning laughter, bruises, and an empty wallet.
• Decoding the Scrolls: Percy and Mr. Mu worked tirelessly to translate the Eye of Light and Darkness ritual, discovering that it required innocent blood to be activated.
• The “Chosen One” Revelation: Virginia learned that she might be the key to performing the sealing ritual, a role she didn’t ask for but can’t escape.
• Philosophy and Madness: The party debated religion, idols, and cult symbolism, questioning whether their relics could be used, or were watching them.
• Plans for the Island: The group decided their next step: travel to the mysterious island, locate the cult, and attempt the sealing ritual before it’s too late.

Standout Moments

• Omar: His impulsive boxing challenge with Jack Brady turned into a hilarious disaster, complete with cocaine, broken pride, and the loss of his camera.
• Bessie: Attempted to “help” Omar win by dosing him with cocaine, creating one of the most chaotic pre-fight moments in the campaign so far.
• Virginia: Discovered she’s the “chosen one” destined to perform the Eye of Light and Darkness ritual, marking a pivotal turning point for her story.
• Percy: Struggled hilariously with translations and punctuation, accidentally misinterpreting sacred text.
• Emerson: Refused to believe in magic or myths, maintaining his skeptical stance even as chaos and cosmic horror unfolded around him.
• Ezekiel: Played mediator and gambler, placing bets during the boxing match and pocketing winnings while chaos unfolded.

Session 29 was a masterclass in balancing tension and comedy. Between sacred rituals, mysterious allies, and completely unhinged player antics, this episode captured everything that makes Masks of Nyarlathotep unforgettable. The investigators now face an ominous path toward a hidden island and a ritual requiring innocent blood. As laughter fades and the full moon nears, one thing is sure: the storm of Nyarlathotep draws closer.

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

We picked up in Shanghai, regrouped after Ho Fang’s manor, and faced fallout fast. First, Percy developed a new fear. Then, they nursed a mysterious woman back to health, followed a suspicious ship, and infiltrated it. Consequently, they uncovered a secret island on its charts. Finally, Jack Brady himself stepped into their hotel and connected the dots, therefore raising the stakes for everyone.

Key Characters Introduced

• Cho Ming (Mei-ling): The rescued “flower girl” they stabilized. She linked Ho Fang’s house to cult activity and later revealed ties to Jack Brady.
• Carl Stanford: A cruel visitor to Ho Fang’s, described as Ming’s torturer who came nightly. He ties London occult power to Shanghai.
• Dark Mistress Crew and Captain: Sickly, boil-skinned sailors guarding the ship. They ferried cargo frequently and looked decidedly inhuman.
• Jack Brady: The missing muscle from the Carlisle expedition. He returned, confirmed cult horrors, and outlined how to counter them.

Key Events

• Percy’s phobia ignites: After roof visions and too many failed checks, Percy gained pyrophobia. Therefore, they abandoned open flames and revised their plans.
• Triage and trust: Bessy treated Ming’s many rat bites and blood loss. Consequently, Mei-ling stabilized and began answering basic questions.
• The Dark Mistress pattern: The team tracked the ship’s frequent runs getting faster each cycle, which signaled urgency at the docks.
• Omar’s infiltration: Emerson’s disguise got Omar aboard. He passed guards, saw warped crew, and found a pulsing green engine below.
• The island on the charts: In the captain’s suite, Omar traced a nautical map showing a circled island off Shanghai, plus crates marked A-P.
• Brady’s return and revelations: Jack Brady arrived, confirmed expedition survivors, and explained the Eye of Light and Darkness and sealing sites.
• Three global hotspots: They learned that this Shanghai island is one of three openings that must be sealed to stop a coming horror.

Standout Moments

• Ezekiel: Kept the team focused on the next moves and safety, including when to question and when to hold back.
• Virginia: Read Mei-Ling’s cues and backed trauma-informed pacing, which built trust before the heavier questions.
• Percy: Translated through fatigue and confusion, guided rapport, and navigated his new fear of fire in the process.
• Bessy: Delivered deft medical care that reduced scarring and improved recovery, which consequently unlocked conversation.
• Emerson: Crafted a flawless disguise that convinced the Dark Mistress guards and set Omar up for success.
• Omar: Walked onto the ship like he owned it, braved its horrors, and returned with the island intel that changes everything.

Shanghai keeps tightening the noose. The party started with bedside care and breakfast chatter. However, they ended with a ship’s engine that glowed green, a map that pointed to a secret island, and a man the world thought was dead. Because of Brady’s revelations, their path looks clear, yet deadly.

In the next session, they will move from intel to action. They must scout the island, understand the Eye of Light and Darkness, and, consequently, decide who risks the first seal. If they hesitate, the cult advances. If they act, they might close the door on Nyarlathotep.

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