Cthulhu Thursday: The Masks of Nyarlathotep

My first encounter with the Cthulhu Mythos was via the role-playing game Call of Cthulhu – still a favourite of mine.  Of the many adventures that you can get for the game (and there are lots) one of the stand out ones is the amazing Masks of Nyarlathotep.

Nyarlathotep is a scary and cool creation.  He is a god that walks the earth and has a thousand forms – or masks.  In the adventure the players are drawn into a global conspiracy run by a cult of Nyarlathotep.  As the adventure unfolds, from London to Egypt to Australia – each episode gets darker and darker (though for my money the bit in Egypt is the best bit).  A classic!

Masks of Nyarlathotep is a Lovecraftian exercise in horror and mystery. This Call of Cthulhu roleplaying classic is a series of linked adventures forming one long and unforgettable campaign. Horrifying deeds and dangerous sorcery dog those who dare attempt to unravel the fate of the Carlyle Expedition.

Set in 1925, adventures begin in New York, then move overseas to England, Egypt, Kenya Colony, Shanghai, and western Australia. Such extended globetrotting requires wit and planning by the players. Their investigators must have steady finances, good language skills, and a willingness to persevere despite governmental interference and cultist harassment. Meanwhile the keeper must bring to life different exotic locales, recreate the sensibilities of other cultures, and balance non-player-character foes and friends to allow each investigator to earn his or her own destiny—ultimate triumph, perhaps, or perhaps madness and agonizing death.

Masks of Nyarlathotep

(Cthulhu Thursday is a dose of Mythos to brighten darken your week. More on the idea can be found here and a list of posts thus far, here. Also for more Cthulhu news, sign up to the cthulhuHQ twitter feed. Enjoy!)