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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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