Author: Amerisun

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

In Session 26 of our Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign, the investigators pushed deeper into Ho Fang’s mansion. What began as sneaking past guards quickly spiraled into madness, discovery, and dread. From bug-eating children to locked chambers filled with rats and captives, the group uncovered chilling clues to the cult’s influence in Shanghai. Tension ran high as sanity slipped, and choices about fire, rescue, and escape shaped the night.

Key Characters Introduced

• Bug-Eating Child: A disturbing figure who hummed haunting songs while consuming insects, offering cryptic warnings about her father and the sea.
• Captive Woman: Found trapped in a bizarre rat cage, bloodied and broken, she became the focus of the party’s desperate rescue.
• Bloated Woman Idol: A shrine statue that revealed the cult’s true devotion, radiating menace and hiding a secret passage.

Key Events

• Bessie and Virginia Enter the Mansion: While the rest of the group struggled outside, Bessie charmed her way in, stalling with feigned admiration of bushes until Virginia rejoined her.
• Reuniting the Party: After failed climbs and near disasters, the group finally regrouped inside via a garage entrance.
• Exploring the Servants’ Quarters: The investigators uncovered storerooms, kitchens, and workshops, piecing together the daily operations of the mansion.
• Plans of Fire: Emerson concocted a makeshift escape plan using sawdust, lamp oil, and workbenches as a backup blaze to cover their tracks.
• Discovering the Bug-Eating Child: The unsettling girl offered cryptic phrases about “glory in the deep” and “the bloated woman,” terrifying the group and hinting at cult practices.
• The Bloated Woman Shrine: A massive idol revealed a secret door, deepening the party’s sense of dread.
• The Captive Woman and the Rat Cage: They freed a tortured woman from a horrific contraption, while the ceiling above revealed maddening cosmic visions.
• Percy’s Descent into Madness: Percy fell into a trance staring at the shifting stars on the ceiling, nearly lost to insanity until dragged away.
• Ezekiel Resists the Madness: Unlike Percy, Ezekiel broke free from the hypnotic ceiling, showcasing resilience against the unnatural.
• Escape and Rescue: The group fled with the freed woman but left the child behind, her refusal to leave preventing them from burning the mansion as planned.

Standout Moments

• Percy: Became entranced by the shifting starry ceiling, spiraling into madness and losing precious sanity before being forcefully pulled away.
• Bessy: Earned the trust of the captive woman and tended her wounds, becoming her safe anchor after the horrifying rescue.
• Emerson: Devised an elaborate fire escape plan and acted decisively, even covering Percy’s eyes to break his trance.
• Ezekiel: Stared into the same cosmic horror as Percy but managed to snap free of the madness with sheer willpower.
• Virginia: Unlocked both the garage gate and the captive’s prison, her skillful lockpicking saving the party more than once.
• Omar: Captured photographs of both the child and the imprisoned woman, preserving proof of the cult’s horrors for later use.

Session 26 delivered a chilling dive into Ho Fang’s mansion. What began with sneaking through servant quarters turned into a nightmare of shrines, tortured captives, and visions that shattered sanity. Each investigator faced their limits, with Percy teetering on the edge of madness, while others fought to keep the group together.

The team may have escaped with a rescued woman and valuable clues, but the child left behind and the looming power of the Bloated Woman serve as grim reminders. The mansion still holds secrets, and the cult of Nyarlathotep will not rest. The shadows in Shanghai only grow deeper, promising even darker nights ahead.

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 Session 25 of our Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign, the investigators regroup after the brutal firefight at Ho Fang’s warehouse and begin piecing together the mysteries left behind. With Percy badly wounded, the team balances recovery with reconnaissance, uncovering strange artifacts, rocket parts, and troubling movements of the Dark Mistress along the river. As they probe deeper into Ho Fang’s world, they risk exposure, temptation, and dangerous entanglements with cult secrets hidden in Shanghai’s shadows.

Key Characters Introduced

• The Suspicious Foreigner: A non-Chinese man frequently seen entering and leaving Ho Fang’s house, standing out from the locals and drawing the investigators’ suspicion.

Key Events

• Warehouse Escape: The team flees Ho Fang’s warehouse as police sirens approach, managing to load only one large crate and some expensive antiques before slipping away unseen.
• Rocket Revelation: At the hotel, they examine the crate and determine it contains part of a massive rocket engine, far beyond anything known in the 1920s.
• Percy’s Struggle: Percy grows dangerously ill from his wounds, forcing Bessie to secure antibiotics and the party to slow down for his recovery.
• Tightened Security: Reconnaissance reveals the warehouse now crawling with guards and police, making another break-in nearly impossible.
• Bronze Bowl: A strange artifact with handles resembling creatures from New York and Egypt sparks sanity-draining flashbacks.
• Dark Mistress Sighting: The cult ship reappears on the Wangpoo River, confirming its ongoing operations in Shanghai.
• Rumors at the Bar: Fergus shares whispers of insurance adjusters and stolen treasures, hinting at how deeply the warehouse heist shook Hofang.
• Crucial Documents: Omar’s developed photos reveal addresses in Kenya, Australia, and London, along with Ho Fang’s personal residence.
• House Surveillance: While watching Ho Fang’s home, the group notices a foreigner visiting regularly and learns that Monday nights are the least guarded.
• Operation Honeypot: On June 8, Bessie charms the gate guard, securing entry into Hofang’s house while the others prepare alternative plans.
• Inside the Walls: Bessie explores a pitch-black kitchen with only a match for light.
• Failed Infiltration: Clumsy wall climbs injure party members as the break-in stalls, and Virginia’s botched charm attempt both leave the session on a cliffhanger mid-heist.

Standout Moments

• Omar: Tried to sell his bloated woman statue at a pawn shop, nearly undercutting the group’s efforts before backing down.
• Virginia: Attempted to charm her way into Ho Fang’s house but failed, forcing her to rethink her approach.
• Ezekiel: Attempted to climb the spiked wall at Ho Fang’s compound, only to fall and injure himself, highlighting the risks of infiltration.
• Emerson: Studied the mysterious bronze bowl, only to suffer sanity loss from vivid flashbacks of past creature encounters.
• Bessie: Successfully charmed the front guard at Ho Fang’s heavily guarded house, gaining entry while the rest of the party scrambled outside.
• Percy: Struggled through a serious fever and infection from his gunshot wound, eventually stabilizing with Bessie’s care, marking his survival as the session’s most critical turning point.

Session 25 closed on a razor’s edge. With Percy barely on the mend, the group pressed forward into Shanghai’s shadows, uncovering rocket parts, unsettling artifacts, and dangerous whispers that tied Ho Fang more tightly to the cult’s schemes. The sighting of the Dark Mistress and the rumors swirling around the warehouse only confirmed their fears that something far larger was in motion.

Now, as Bessie gains a precarious foothold inside Ho Fang’s fortified home while the others risk injury and exposure outside the walls, the stakes have never felt higher. The investigators stand divided at the threshold of danger, each choice threatening to tip them deeper into chaos. Their next move could reveal the cult’s darkest secrets—or cost them everything.

Will the investigators uncover what lies hidden within Ho Fang’s house, or will Shanghai’s shadows consume them first?

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 session, the investigators infiltrate Ho Fang’s warehouse under the cover of night, only to stumble into a deadly confrontation. What begins as cautious exploration quickly spirals into chaos when guards appear armed with Tommy guns, forcing the party into a brutal shootout. Amid the danger, they uncover strange cult statues and mysterious crates filled with otherworldly metal and rocket parts, hinting at secrets far darker than they imagined.

Key Characters Introduced

• Ho Fang’s Guards: Armed cult enforcers carrying Tommy guns, they patrol the warehouse and trigger the deadly shootout.
• Bloated Woman Statues: Though not living characters, these eerie idols of a dark cult figure play a symbolic role in revealing the warehouse’s true purpose.

Key Events

1. Stealthy Entry and Strange Light: The investigators slip into Ho Fang’s warehouse during a storm, where Percy notices a pulsing green glow beneath the stairs, an omen of hidden dangers below.
2. Noise Exposes the Party: Virginia accidentally topples crates, creating a thunderous crash that draws the attention of armed guards and shatters their cover.
3. Deadly Firefight in the Warehouse: Guards armed with Tommy guns swarm in. Percy drops enemies with precision shots, but is cut down himself in a hail of bullets. The group hides, flanks, and counterattacks. Omar, Ezekiel, and Emerson strike in close combat, while Virginia and Bessie finish off the last threats with gunfire.
4. Life Saved and Aftermath: Percy is stabilized by Bessie’s quick first aid, and the team regroups by hiding bodies, scavenging weapons, and planning their next move before reinforcements can arrive.
5. Revealing the Storeroom’s Secrets: Virginia unlocks a hidden chamber glowing with eerie green light. Inside, the group finds unsettling Bloated Woman idols and crates marked “AP,” which Emerson identifies as advanced rocket parts tied to Arthur Penhew, hinting at a cosmic-scale conspiracy.

Standout Moments

• Omar: Slipped into the crate stacks and later ambushed a guard with a stealthy machete strike, proving cunning and lethal in close quarters.
• Virginia: Accidentally exposed the team with a loud crash, but later redeemed herself by helping to take out a guard and then unlocking the hidden storeroom and uncovering the cult’s secrets.
• Ezekiel: Tossed a fake Anubis statue to distract enemies, then bravely stabbed a guard in the melee, showing both creativity and grit.
• Emerson: In a rare moment of clarity, identified the “AP” crates as advanced rocket components, shifting the group’s understanding of the cult’s global threat.
• Bessie: Risked everything to rush to Percy’s side and delivered a flawless first aid roll, saving him from certain death.
• Percy: Shot multiple guards with deadly precision, but his reckless push forward ended in a devastating burst of Tommy-gun fire that left him bleeding out—only to survive thanks to Bessie’s care.

The firefight inside Ho Fang’s warehouse pushed the investigators to their absolute limits. From the deafening roar of Tommy guns to the desperate scramble for cover, the group fought with equal parts courage and chaos. They nearly lost Percy in a storm of bullets, but thanks to Bessie’s quick hands and steady nerves, the team pulled through and turned the tide. When the dust settled, the grim silence of the warehouse gave way to discovery, as eerie statues and mysterious crates revealed secrets that stretched far beyond Shanghai’s shadows.

Yet victory came with unease. The idols of the Bloated Woman whispered of cult power, and the iridescent rocket parts hinted at Arthur Penhew’s hand in something far more sinister than anyone imagined. As the investigators loaded their hard-won prizes into the getaway car, one truth became clear: the cult’s reach is greater, its plans darker, and their own path more perilous than ever. The question now is not whether they will face danger again, but how soon it will come calling.

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

The investigators continued their perilous journey through Shanghai, chasing leads that tied the mysterious Dark Mistress to a powerful cult. Their search led them to Fergus, a wary bartender who revealed the existence of the Order of the Bloated Woman and its feared leader, Ho Fang. After a brief respite of rest and shopping, the group pressed deeper into danger, ultimately breaking into Ho Fang’s warehouse, where new secrets and new threats awaited.

Key Characters Introduced

• Fergus Chum: Bartender at the Stumbling Tiger Bar who distrusts outsiders but eventually reveals information about the local cult.
• The Order of the Bloated Woman: Cult revealed during the session, feared in Shanghai and connected to sinister activities.
• Ho Fang: Powerful Shanghai figure, suspected leader of the cult, with influence tied to a warehouse on the Whangpoo River.

Key Events

1. Observation of the Dark Mistress
   • The group spent the early morning hours watching the ship. They noticed its industrial, reinforced design, very different from other local vessels, and saw it depart Shanghai. This raised immediate suspicion about its purpose and its crew.
2. Following the Crewman into Shanghai
   • Bessie, Virginia, and Ezekiel tailed one of the ship’s men to a house where he entered and extinguished the lights soon after. The team marked the address, giving them a potential lead to pursue later.
3. Meeting Fergus at the Stumbling Tiger Bar
   • At dawn, the party returned to meet Fergus, the bartender tied to their matchbook clue. After some awkward exchanges, Fergus reluctantly shared the cultist’s details with the party, being especially wary of Percy. His information confirmed their suspicions of a larger network in Shanghai.
4. Revelation of the Order of the Bloated Woman
   • Fergus revealed the cult’s name and its leader, Ho Fang. He explained that they controlled the Dark Mistress and spread fear throughout Shanghai. This marked a turning point, providing investigators with a concrete enemy and faction to pursue.
5. Link to Sir Aubrey Penhew
   • A visit to the British Consulate revealed the Dark Mistress was registered to Sir Aubrey Penhew, a member of the infamous Carlyle Expedition believed to be dead. This shocking discovery tied their current investigation back to the global conspiracy.
6. Rest and Resupply at the Palace Hotel
   • After being awake all night, the investigators took much-needed rest. This scene emphasized Call of Cthulhu’s mechanic of exhaustion and gave time for character interactions, including shopping for clothes, books, and supplies.
7. Planning and Suspicion Around Short Round (Li Wen Chen)
   • Doubts grew about their local guide, Short Round, as some investigators suspected his intentions were not entirely trustworthy. Fergus later confirmed that Li Wen was a legitimate guide, but tensions within the party persisted regarding their trust in him.
8. Staking Out Ho Fang’s Warehouse
   • The team discovered Ho Fang’s warehouse along the river. They noticed a second ship, the Luxuriant Goddess, moored nearby. Both the location and the vessel hinted at larger cult operations and wealth.
9. Breaking into the Warehouse
   • Under the cover of darkness, Omar picked the lock to the warehouse. Inside, they discovered multiple offices filled with shipping papers and documents, which Omar photographed. This party believed that cult activity was hidden behind legitimate trade.

Standout Moments

• Omar: Boldly picked the lock to Ho Fang’s warehouse, opening the way for the investigators to uncover hidden evidence of cult operations.
• Virginia: Shined her flashlight to guide the party inside the warehouse, discovered an office full of papers, and set them up for Omar to photograph.
• Ezekiel: Joined Emerson in forming a “book club,” spending downtime poring over Mythos texts, showing his scholarly focus amidst the chaos.
• Bessie: Secured valuable supplies during the shopping trip, including a new dress and essentials like batteries, proving her practicality and foresight.
• Emerson: Stood guard and kept a watchful eye outside and inside the warehouse, embodying his role as the party’s protector during their risky infiltration.
• Percy: Ventured upstairs alone, uncovering a loose stair with light glowing beneath it. His discovery closed the session on a tense cliffhanger, making his moment the most significant.

Session 23 in Shanghai took the investigators deeper into the city’s shadows, where whispered cult names and hidden ledgers hinted at a larger conspiracy. Fergus’s uneasy cooperation confirmed what they had feared: the Order of the Bloated Woman holds sway in Shanghai, with Ho Fang and his warehouse at the center of its influence. Each step drew the party closer to danger, yet also closer to the truth.

The session ended on a knife’s edge, with Percy alone upstairs, discovering a loose stair hiding a strange glow beneath it. What secrets lie beneath Ho Fang’s warehouse, and how far will the cult’s influence reach? The answers await in the next chapter of their perilous journey through Masks of 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

The investigators finally arrive in Shanghai, following the tangled trail of the Carlyle Expedition and Jackson Elias’s clues. Guided by a new contact, they settle into the city and begin unraveling its dangers. Their search quickly leads them to the Stumbling Tiger Bar, where hidden eyes watch their every move, and then to the docks, where they discover the mysterious ship Dark Mistress. With tensions rising and cult activity lurking in the shadows, the group edges closer to uncovering Shanghai’s dark secrets.

Key Characters Introduced

• Li Wen-Cheng (“Short Round”) – A young Chinese comprador sent by Carlton Ramsey, he meets the investigators at the Shanghai docks with a letter of introduction and offers to act as their translator and guide.
• Fergus Chum, Bartender of the Stumbling Tiger Bar – The cautious and nervous owner who pretends not to know anything about Jackson Elias or the Carlyle Expedition but secretly arranges a meeting after the investigators press him.
• Suspicious Patrons at the Stumbling Tiger Bar – Several shadowy figures scattered through the bar who watch the investigators closely, with one feigning drunkenness while observing the group.
• Guards of the Dark Mistress – British-looking men with unsettling appearances who stand watch over the ship at the Shanghai docks; Omar notices their strange, almost poisoned or unnatural eyes.

Key Events

1. Recap and Arrival in Shanghai
   • The Keeper reviews the journey so far, including the Carlyle Expedition, Jackson Elias’s death, and the cults tied to Nyarlathotep.
   • The investigators disembark in Shanghai, carrying clues such as the matchbook from the Stumbling Tiger Bar and the photo of a mysterious ship.
2. Meeting Meeting Li Wen-Cheng (“Short Round”)
   • At the docks, the group meets Li Wen, a comprador arranged by Carlton Ramsey to serve as translator and local guide.
   • Emerson grows suspicious, but Bessie confirms the legitimacy of his letter through her legal expertise.
   • The party debates whether to trust him but accepts his help for now.
3. Settling into Shanghai and Strange Encounters
   • Li Wen arranges rooms for the investigators at the Palace Hotel, where they enjoy unfamiliar Chinese dishes.
   • Omar discovers and panics over his embarrassing tattoo, providing comic relief.
   • The party begins plotting their first steps in the city, focusing on the clues pointing to the Stumbling Tiger Bar.
4. Visiting the Stumbling Tiger Bar
   • The group locates the Stumbling Tiger Bar using the matchbook found on Jackson Elias, they travel there by riverboat, taking in Shanghai’s bustling harbor along the way.
   • Inside, Omar insults the locals by loudly asking for “sake” instead of ordering baijiu, drawing annoyed stares.
   • Several suspicious patrons are spotted: three individuals scanning the room without drinking, and one man faking drunkenness while watching the party.
   • Emerson and Percy step outside to draft a note, then return to discreetly slip it to the bartender. Percy flubs the roll and Omar distracts one of the watchers by showing off his ridiculous tattoo, which unexpectedly works.
   • The bartender, clearly frightened, whispers a secret meeting time to Ezekiel: 5:00 a.m. the following morning at the bar.
5. Discovery of the Dark Mistress
   • After leaving the bar, the group notices a ship docked nearby with the name Dark Mistress, matching the photo they carried.
   • Omar approaches the guards on patrol at the boat and dock, looking distinctly British yet sickly.
   • The investigators split up: Emerson and Percy stake out the Dark Mistress while the others follow a man leaving the boat.
6. Following A Man
   • Omar spots the man that left the boat slipping into a side street, and the pursuing group follows him to a suspicious house at the edge of Shanghai.
7. Session Close
   • The rain begins to fall as the group debates their next move.
   • The session ends with the investigators poised between two dangerous leads: the guarded ship Dark Mistress and the mysterious house tied to its crew.

Standout Moments

• Virginia – Casually sipping whiskey, she keenly observes that suspicious patrons are watching Bessie and Ezekiel, helping the group spot danger inside the Stumbling Tiger Bar.
• Percy – Joins Emerson in writing and delivering a secret note to the bartender, risking exposure to get vital information.
• Bessie – Uses her legal expertise to confirm the authenticity of Li Wen’s letter, convincing the others that he is a legitimate ally.
• Emerson – Tries to bribe the bartender for information on Jackson Elias, triggering the man’s nervous response and alerting the group to hidden dangers.
• Ezekiel – Receives the whispered message from the bartender, securing a secret meeting time that propels the Shanghai investigation forward.
• Omar – Distracts a suspicious watcher in the bar by flashing his embarrassing tattoo, turning ridicule into a clever diversion that prevents the group from being exposed.

The investigators’ first night in Shanghai proved anything but simple. What began with a cautious welcome from their new guide quickly spiraled into tense encounters at the Stumbling Tiger Bar. Surrounded by hidden eyes and shadowy figures, the group had to rely on sharp instincts, bold improvisation, and even questionable tattoos to avoid disaster. Their persistence earned them a secret meeting and confirmed that Shanghai holds both answers and new dangers.

With the sighting of the mysterious ship Dark Mistress and the trail of a suspicious figure leading into the city, the stakes have risen once again. Shanghai is alive with secrets, and every step could draw the investigators deeper into the web of Nyarlathotep’s cults. The coming session promises confrontation, discovery, and perhaps the unraveling of truths better left hidden.

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 session of Masks of Nyarlathotep, the investigators made a daring escape from Omar’s Egyptian plantation after looting his library and safe for critical clues. Their flight led to a tense, though comically inept, encounter with armed guards before they regrouped at their Cairo hotel. With new leads pointing toward Shanghai, the group secured passage aboard a month-long ocean voyage, where they recovered from injuries, studied forbidden tomes, and stirred up trouble among the passengers by the time they docked in China, madness, obsessions, and uneasy alliances had set in along with the suspicious welcome of a stranger claiming to be sent by an old ally’s lawyer.

Key Characters Introduced

• Short Round – A young Chinese boy who greets the investigators upon arrival in Shanghai, claiming to be sent by Jackson Elias’s lawyer to escort them to their hotel.

Key Events

1. Escape from Omar’s Plantation
   • Guards spot them crossing the grounds, but a series of fumbles leaves the enemies tripping over each other.
   • The party flees back to their Cairo hotel without further incident.
2. Reviewing Clues in Cairo
   • They examine a matchbook from a suspicious bar and a blurry photograph showing a vessel marked “DAR.”
   • Papers reveal Egyptian artifacts being shipped to Ho Fang Import & Export in Shanghai and Randolph Shipping in Australia.
   • Debate ensues over which lead to pursue next, with Shanghai chosen as the destination.
3. Securing Passage to China
   • Mahmoud arranges ship tickets for the party.
   • A booking error nearly sends Percy to Japan instead of China.
   • Percy manages to switch tickets after some fast-talking, though at an extra cost.
4. Life Aboard Ship – Four Weeks at Sea
   • Percy studies Cantonese and tries (unsuccessfully) to charm a passenger.
   • Omar charms the crew, discovers a hidden drug stash, and throws a wild party.
   • Bessie experiments with mysterious substances, improving her pharmacy skills and reprogramming Percy to stop calling her “sir.”
   • Virginia reads Life as a God, uncovering dark lore about the Black Pharaoh and developing a troubling obsession.
   • Emerson studies the Pneumonic Manuscripts, learns a dangerous spell, and suffers a bout of madness.
   • Ezekiel attempts to regain sanity but instead develops a new compulsion.
5. Disappearance and Recovery of Emerson
   • Emerson disappears for several days toward the end of the voyage.
   • Omar and Ezekiel eventually find him hiding in a ship’s bathroom.
   • Emerson emerges with a new mania, Amaxomania, A compulsion or over-desire to be in vehicles, such as automobiles or buses..
6. Arrival in Shanghai
   • The investigators disembark and are approached by a young man named Short Round.
   • He claims to be sent by Jackson Elias’s lawyer to escort them to a prearranged hotel.
   • The session ends with the party following him, uncertain if he is friend or foe.

Standout Moments

• Omar – Discovered the ship’s secret liquor stash, unlocking a trove of booze and other contraband, then hosted an unforgettable party that became the voyage’s highlight.
• Emerson – Immersed himself in the Pneumonic Manuscripts, learned a forbidden spell, and spiraled into a bout of madness that left him hiding in a ship’s bathroom for days.
• Bessie – Conducted bold chemical experiments with mysterious samples and heroin, honing her pharmacy skills while successfully reprogramming Percy to stop calling her “sir.”
• Ezekiel – Tried to restore his sanity through reflection on his archaeological roots, but instead developed a troubling compulsion that will haunt him in future sessions.
• Virginia – Delved deep into Life as a God, uncovering disturbing lore about the Black Pharaoh’s throne room and gaining a new, potentially dangerous obsession.
• Percy – Nearly ended up on the wrong ship bound for Japan, then salvaged the mistake with fast-talking, securing his place on the China voyage alongside the rest of the team.

With their month-long voyage behind them, the investigators arrive in Shanghai carrying more than just luggage. Each member of the party has been transformed by the journey, either acquiring hard-earned skills, making unsettling discoveries, or suffering mental scars that may shape the battles ahead. The camaraderie forged over Omar’s legendary party contrasts sharply with the shadows cast by cursed tomes, creeping obsessions, and bouts of madness that hint at the dangers still lurking on the horizon.

Now, in this bustling and unfamiliar city, a mysterious stranger offers them guidance, but his true intentions remain uncertain. Whether Short Round is a much-needed ally or the opening move in yet another deadly trap, the next chapter of their investigation promises intrigue, peril, and the ever-present influence of Nyarlathotep. The road or rickshaw forward is set, and the fate of the party may hinge on the choices they make next.

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

After a long hiatus, our investigators plunged back into the black heart of Egypt’s mythic dread. Deep within the pyramid’s cursed chambers, the group faced the terrifying consequences of awakening an ancient power. In the last session, with the ominous arrival of Nyarlathotep in his Black Pharaoh guise, Alejandro met a dramatic and final fate, his body reduced to dust, leaving behind only a mysterious girdle and a lingering sense of betrayal.

As the remaining investigators struggled with grief and confusion, they scrambled to collect Alejandro’s remains and interpret the cryptic warnings about three ritual sites that could spell the world’s end. But there was no time to mourn, dark cultists closed in, torches flickering in the gloom, and steel clashed in a deadly confrontation. The fight for survival in the tomb had begun..

Key Characters Introduced

• Cultists in Robes – A group of five hostile figures encountered near the pyramid entrance, emerging with torches and swords, demanding answers and quickly engaging in battle.
• Percy – Introduced at the end of the session, a marine and old friend of Jackson Elias, who arrives through the tunnels to reinforce the investigators.
• Omar al-Shakti – The elusive and powerful head of the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh, finally confirmed as a major antagonist.
• Armed Plantation Guards – Described as patrolling with guns and flashlights near the main building, likely cultists or loyal to al-Shakti, they present a real threat to the investigators as they stealthily approach under the cover of night.
• Mysterious Workers – Though not named, the plantation staff are implied to be either cultists or deeply fearful locals, hinted at in their eerie silence and disciplined movements. Their subdued behavior adds to the tense atmosphere.

Key Events

1. Return to the Pyramid and Recap
   • The session begins with players reconnecting after a break and reorienting to the story.
   • The group is reminded that they activated a portal in the pyramid, resulting in the manifestation of Nyarlathotep as the Black Pharaoh.
   • They are reminded of three ritual sites associated with Nyarlathotep’s arrival.
2. Alejandro’s Transformation and Death
   • Alejandro merges with Nyarlathotep, giving himself entirely to the malevolent deity, crumbling into a pile of dust, leaving behind only Queen Nitocris’ girdle while his gear, weapons, clothes, and even his backpack are entirely consumed.
   • Bessy gathers and stores what remains of the “Dust of Alejandro” in one of her alcohol containers, uncertain whether it’s ash, powder, or whatever it is has some other worldly properties.
3. Emotional Fallout and Mourning
   • Omar mourns Alejandro with a symbolic liquor pour and makes the sign of the cross.
   • Emerson jokes and muses about Alejandro’s transformation, creating a contrast between grief and dark humor.
   • Several investigators reflect on whether Alejandro’s final act was noble, foolish, or damned.
4. Mysterious Cultist Movement to the North
   • The group hears shuffling and movement to the north, the same direction from which cultists previously approached.
   • Flashlights are checked, torches are improvised using bones and cloth soaked in alcohol.
   • A battle ensues where Percy show’s up to shoot 3 of the cultists dead.
   • Percy shows the party an escape route, and they run from the pyramid.
5. Arrival at Omar al-Shakti’s Plantation
   • After escaping and regrouping, the party arrives at Omar al-Shakti’s plantation.
   • They observe armed guards with rifles and flashlights patrolling the grounds.
   • The investigators plan a stealthy infiltration and debate splitting up, sneaking in, or observing first.
6. Discoveries Inside Omar al-Shakti’s Plantation
   • Business records, including a log book, showing the last 5 years of shipments of ancient Egyptian artifacts sent to Ho Fang Import/Export in Shanghai and the Randolph Shipping Company in Australia.
   • 250 Egyptian Pounds.
   • Edward Gavigan’s business card, identical to the one found in Jackson Elias’ New York hotel room.
   • A receipt with initials’ A.P.’ regarding a scarab brooch.

Standout Moments

• Emerson – Accidentally launched his magical sword across the chamber while trying to be stealthy, triggering combat with the cultists.
• Virginia – Tried to bluff the cultists as a lost tourist, got slashed in return, then shot her attacker point-blank and disappeared into the darkness.
• Ezekiel – Landed two clean shots in the firefight, nearly dropping a cultist in a controlled and efficient display.
• Bessie – Tried to support Virginia’s bluff, failed comically, then panicked and shouted “I choked!” while fleeing mid-gunfire.
• Omar – Delivered a solemn ritual farewell to Alejandro with a liquor pour and cross, then questioned the fallen’s salvation, while taking a short nap in between various parts of the session, in Omar’s signature style.
• Percy – Dramatically entered mid-session as a new investigator, bringing military energy and discipline to a team in disarray.

With the death of Alejandro still lingering heavily, and the echoes of cultist blades fresh in their minds, the investigators have narrowly survived another brush with the Black Pharaoh’s influence. The tomb’s darkness gave way to gunfire, loss, and the sobering confirmation that their enemies were not only numerous but also deeply entrenched in the world above. Omar al-Shakti’s plantation revealed the cult’s reach into the daylight world.

But there’s no time to grieve. With clues in hand and the girdle secured, the investigators now turn their eyes eastward to Shanghai, China. What awaits them there is unknown, but with cultist networks spanning continents and the pieces of Nyarlathotep’s Great Plan falling into place, the stakes are climbing faster than they can run. The descent into madness or triumph against Nyarlathotep has just started to heat up!

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 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