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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Investigators Handbook: https://amzn.to/4fHaRdi
Keeper Rulebook: https://amzn.to/4dilnpG
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