Our party returned this week to delve deeper into Cairo’s winding alleys and cryptic lore. In typical fashion, they stumbled upon street toughs, helpful children, suspicious shopkeepers, and half-whispered references to ancient cults..
Key Characters Introduced
- Mahmoud – The quick-witted street urchin offering his services as a “Drago man” (guide). He has a knack for fading into Cairo’s crowded bazaars and reappearing exactly when needed—especially if a bit of money is involved.
- Faraz Najjir – A burned, wary shopkeeper once possessed important occult “curios.” Terrified of the Brotherhood, who scarred him, he initially fled at the mention of the Carlisle Expedition but later shared details of his dangerous past dealings.
- Uwayid (Nuri’s Son) – Scarred in the same attack that left Nuri speechless. Protective of his mother and initially wary of strangers, he ultimately allowed the group to see Nuri once she spoke again for the first time in months.
- Nuri – An elderly wise woman, catatonic after a vicious supernatural event. She briefly became lucid upon meeting Virginia, handing her a fragment from the Red Pyramid at Dahshur. Her sudden awareness vanished just as quickly.
- Omar Al-Shakti – Mentioned as a powerful local businessman tied to the Brotherhood. While not encountered face-to-face, his influence looms large.
Key Events
- Mahmoud, the Resourceful Street Guide
- Early on, the group discovered they were being tailed by a mysterious figure who turned out to be a boy named Mahmud.
- Though initially suspicious, the investigators decided his street smarts and knowledge of Cairo would be invaluable. Mahmoud quickly became a sort of guide—who demanded plenty of payment in exchange for his help and local intel.
- Encounter with Faraz Najjir
- Determined to find Faraz Najjir, the investigators tracked him to a new location in the Street of Potters.
- Their first attempt to chat about the doomed Carlisle Expedition ended badly—simply mentioning Carlisle triggered Najjir’s terror. He abruptly closed his shop and fled.
- On a second approach, the more diplomatic members of the group managed to gain Najir’s trust. Faraz revealed that he once sold “singular curios” to Warren Bessart, acting on behalf of the Carlisle Expedition—an act he now gravely regrets.
- He also warned the party about a cult known as the “Brotherhood,” who burned half of his face in retaliation for crossing them.
- Najir spoke fearfully of relics tied to a mysterious figure called the Black Pharaoh. He believes these relics (including a crown inlaid with a large zircon) point to the legend of an ancient queen known as “Necrotis.”
- Hints emerged about a stolen mummy from a major archaeological dig in Giza from the Clive Expedition. Najir seemed convinced that the Brotherhood orchestrated these thefts.
- Visiting Nuri, the “Wise Woman”
- Seeking more information about Necrotis, the investigators paid a visit—by way of Mahmud’s guidance—to an old wise woman named Nuri in a quiet quarter of Cairo.
- Nuri, apparently catatonic from a devastating supernatural attack, momentarily sprang to life at the sight of Virginia, calling her “the one.” She offered (in a brief moment of lucidity) a fragment of a pinkish limestone tablet said to be from the Red Pyramid at Dahshur.
- Having done so, she relapsed into silence, leaving the group with more questions than answers.
- On the Trail of Warren Bessart
- With Faraz Najir’s leads—and Mahmud’s sleuthing—the group set out to find Warren Bessart along the Street of Scorpions in Cairo.
- Following winding directions past small clothing shops and local stalls, they ended in front of a bright red door. If their intel is correct, this is where Bessart can be found.
- The session ended right as they stepped inside. What revelations, or perils, await behind that red door remain to be seen…
Standout Moments
- Virginia – Named by Nuri as “the one,” given a mysterious fragment that might hold great significance.
- Alejandro – Ever the Wild Card jokes about boxing a walking mummy and has a knack for making social situations…unpredictable.
- Bessie – Her medical background provided insight into unusual scars and relics—though her bedside manner can be a tad intense.
- Omar & Ezekiel – Quietly collecting every clue, steering the group, and handling the stealthier aspects of tailing or avoiding local cult watchers.
The Brotherhood’s influence grows more ominous daily, and the name “Necrotis” now hangs over the party like a dark cloud. Could these newly revealed relics be the key to returning an ancient power from the grave—or the only hope of stopping it?
Stay tuned for the next session to see what lies behind the red door of the Street of Scorpions and whether Warren Bessart can illuminate more of the Carlisle Expedition’s dark history before the Brotherhood tightens its grip on the group!
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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