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
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