Masks of Nyarlathothep

Friday, 13 Dec 1924

Invitation (see handout) arrives for Nicholas to open exhibit “Magical Oddities and the Occult” at New York Metropolitan Museum at 7pm, 14 Jan. Telegraph acceptance and book passage on liner to New York (NY). The adventure begins….

Monday, 5 Jan 1925

Sail from Southampton on the liner “Aquitania” (Cunard), due to arrive NY on 9 Jan.

Storms during crossing delay arrival by 1 day.

Saturday, 10 Jan 1925

Check into a suite of rooms at the Metropol Hotel. Weather is snowy and freezing.

Telegram (see handout) is awaiting our arrival, forwarded from England. It is from Jackson Elias, a friend of Nicholas and an author specialising in investigating / exposing death cults. He wishes to talk about the Carlyle expedition and will meet us in NY on 15 Jan.

Nicholas remembers that Roger Carlyle was a wealthy New Yorker, whose expedition stopped off in London about 5 years ago on its way to Egypt.

Arrange by telephone to meet with Jonah Kensington, owner of Prospero Press (Elias’ publisher), at his offices on Lexington Avenue / 35th Street at 2pm on 12 Jan.

Investigate when Elias might arrive NY. Check into liner arrivals from England, which arrive on 15 Jan. There are two. AM – the “Berengaria” (Cunard). PM – the SS Columbus (Nordeutesha-Lloyd), originally to be called the “Hindenberg” but renamed after the Great War.

Arrange reservations for evening of 13 Jan at Taylor’s Restaurant for 6:30pm and tickets for the latest Broadway smash “Alone against the Crowd” at 8:30pm.

George locates a “speakeasy” near the hotel, the Marlboro Club on 15 East 61st Street. Challenged with the words “You aren’t supposed to be here ‘til Tuesday.” Respond with “Yeah, but it’s the old lady’s funeral Tuesday.” Inside they offer entertainment, along with a wide-range of “coffee” (Irish, Scottish, Kentucky … etc.). There are a bunch of well-dressed heavies near the stage drinking “milk.”

Sunday, 11 Jan 1925

Go to church in the morning. Then spend a restful afternoon in Central Park.

Monday, 12 Jan 1925

In the morning, Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, visit the NY Public Library to research into the ill-fated Carlyle expedition (see handouts).

5 Apr 1919 – The expedition left from NY, via the Penhew Foundation in London (to perform research), onward-bound for Cairo, Egypt in May 1919.
Jul 1919 – They departed the “dig” in Egypt, for a “well-earned rest” in Kenya (East Africa). Once in Mombasa, they are hosted by the British Under-Secretary Royston Whittingdon, before heading inland for Nairobi and a hunting / camera safari near the Great Rift Valley.
Oct 1919 – Kenyan police appealed for public assistance, after two months without word from the expedition.
Mar 1920 – In response to clues, Erica Carlyle arrived in Kenya with a search party to hunt for missing expedition. Her friend Victoria Post accompanied her on the voyage.
May 1920 – Kenyan police confirmed the massacre of the missing expedition; acting on information from Kikuyu tribesmen, several concealed gravesites were found containing expedition members and bearers, but not the white leaders.
Jun 1920 – The ringleaders of the massacre, five Nandi tribesmen, were executed after a short trial.

In the afternoon, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, visit the offices of Prospero Press, staffed by a keen and efficient secretary, Dorothy Grey (mid-20’s). Ushered in for an appointment with Jonah Kensington(early 50’s), who is friendly, direct, and clearly a workaholic. He is very interested in our news about Jackson Elias, as he is working for Kensington on his latest book, in his usual secretive manner:

8 Aug 1924, he sent a letter from Nairobi along with a collection of working notes (see handouts). He believes that not all members of the Carlyle expedition died. Discounting the official version of events, he notes that the massacre site is believed by local tribes to be cursed by the God of the Black Winds, whose home is on the mountaintop. In an interview, Johnstone Kenyatta, said that the murders are believed to have been performed by the Cult of the Bloody Tongue, led by a high priestess who is part of the Mountain of the Black Winds. Local tales include creatures with great wings coming down to carry people off. The cult’s god “Sam Mariga, rr-sta,” is not of Africa, and is unknown to folklorists. Elias considers the Cairo-based portion of the expedition to be important, as the Nile holds the reason for the Kenyan side trip. In an interview, Lt. Mark Selkirk, said that he led the party who found the bodies of the bearers, systematically torn and pulled apart, as if by animals. The corpses were scattered across the barren plain. Elias spoke to Nails Nelson in the Victoria Bar in Nairobi, who told him that he had been in Hong Kong in Mar 1923 and seen Jack Brady alive. Other members of the expedition may be alive too!

19 Sep 1924, he sent a telegram from Hong Kong. Asked for money.

16 Dec 1924, he sent a telegram from London. He had been to Africa and China. Talked about a monstrous global plan, working to a timetable! He needed to find the missing pieces. Had seen unbelievable things. Asked for money.

In the afternoon, George runs errands, tracking down occult books and a variety of American Indian items for Nicholas’ collection.

Tuesday, 13 Jan 1925

In the morning, Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, visit the NY Public Library to research further into the members of the Carlyle expedition.

Roger Carlyle (Leader / Wealthy Playboy)
Sir Aubrey Penhew (Assistant Leader / Archaeological excavations)
Dr. Robert Huston (Freudian Psychologist / Researcher of pictographs)
Hypatia Masters (Photographer / Archivist)
Jack Brady (General Factotum)

Returning to the Metropol hotel, are informed that Kensington had left a phone message. Jackson Elias had been into the office. Head over by cab to Prospero Press immediately.

Upon arrival, meet with Jonah Kensington who is visibly shaken and upset. Elias didn’t stop when he visited the office, but had left behind a package:

Book (Small, Colour? Paper-boundhardback, Handwritten), Journal, written in English by Jackson Elias (1924).

Kensington is clearly very disturbed by the contents. On Monty’s advice, he goes home to get some much-needed rest. Nicholas takes the journal for safekeeping. Dorothy Grey, though worried about Kensington, will continue to run the office and will call the Metropol hotel if Elias returns.

In the afternoon, Nicholas reads the journal (see handout). The handwriting is Elias’ but not the clear, bold style of the notes that he sent to Kensington. Rather, a nearly illegible collection of scribblings from a seemingly troubled man:

Many names, many forms, but all the same and towards same end –
Need help –
Too big, too ghastly, those dreams…Dreams like Carlyle’s –
Check that psychoanalyst’s film…All of them UNK UNK! –
They’ll open the gates. Why? …as the power and the danger is real. They –
Many threads beginning –
The books are in Carlyle’s safe –
Coming for me. Would the ocean protect? –
UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK. Most talk, and makeUNK UNK.Should IUNKfor them?UNK UNK together –

In the afternoon, George checks out all hotels within a two-block area around Prospero Press for signs of Elias, but with no luck. He stops to check with Dorothy Grey before the office closes.

In the evening, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, dine at Taylor’s Restaurant at 6:30pm. Thanks to Tom, the Tea Waiter, are well supplied with “tea.” Then on, to view the show “Alone against the Crowd” on Broadway at 8:30pm.

Wednesday, 14 Jan 1925

In the morning, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, visit the NY Metropolitan Museum and meet with the curator Charles Wentworth (mid-50’s), who though helpful, is preening, pompous, and quite taken with Anna. He gives a tour of the exhibition and the museum. Checking the guest list, verify that Erica Carlyle was invited to the opening but discover that she will not attend. Anna talks to Wentworth’s assistant, Edward Peters(late-20’s), who is meek, bookish, and also quite taken with Anna. He is unwilling to give up Miss Carlyle’s address / telephone number. But when he leaves the office, Anna sneaks in and looks up the information (Carlyle Estate, Westchester, Westchester County, NY). On her way out, Anna bumps into Peters who asks her if she would like to go for a coffee after the exhibition opening tonight. She accepts.

During the late morning / early afternoon, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, visit the NY Public Library to research further into the nature of the ill-fated Carlyle expedition.

In the early afternoon, Nicholas sends a telegram to Erica Carlyle, “Looking forward to seeing you at the exhibition. Would like to discuss mutual interests in Egypt and East Africa. Nicholas de Richlieu”

In the afternoon, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, visit the offices of Prospero Press and talk to Jonah Kensington. He is feeling a little better but is still quite shaken by yesterday’s events.

In the evening, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, attend the NY Metropolitan Museum. Nicholas opens the exhibition to the delight of the assembled guests. The evening is a great success! Anna manages to avoid the attentions of both Charles Wentworth and Edward Peters. Afterwards, attend the Merry-Go-Round Club until 2am, for suitable entertainment and refreshments.

George spends the day keeping watch on Prospero Press. No sign of Elias.

Thursday, 15 Jan 1925

Woken by a ringing phone. It is Jackson Elias. Nicholas speaks to him. Elias is both agitated and excited. He cannot explain anything until we meet with him, tonight, at 8pm in Room 410 at the Chelsea Hotel on 8th Avenue / 23rd Street.

During the morning / early afternoon, George visits the NY Public Library to research further into the nature of the ill-fated Carlyle expedition.

Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, spend a restful day at the Metropol hotel.

In the evening, Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, take a cab to the Chelsea Hotel. Arriving at 7:45pm, George waits downstairs in the lobby while Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, go up to Room 410 in the elevator.

Approaching the room, Anna hears some voices inside and picks open the locked door. Monty readies his .445 Webley service revolver.
Nicholas opens the door and is confronted by two men (one black and one white), wielding large knives. A third man (black) is opening the window and climbing out.
Nicholas throws his cane (swordstick) at the first man and closes with him. Monty follows him into the room, keeping the second man at bay with his revolver. The third man exits through the window and onto the hotel’s fire escape.
Nicholas is slashed across the stomach, a deep wound. Monty turns, and shoots the first man, killing him instantly. The second man runs for the window but is tackled by Anna.
Monty chases the third man, climbing through the window and onto the fire escape. Anna grapples and holds the second man. Nicholas draws his sword, moves over to him and says, “I don’t suppose you are going to answer any questions, are you?” The man replies with a rather blunt refusal. Nicholas kills him with a single thrust of his swordstick.
Monty is unable to catch the third man, but from the fire escape sees him jump into a waiting car (its engine running), and speed off down the alley. He notes its license plate though, NYL7.
Back in the room, Nicholas, Monty, and Anna, make a gruesome discovery. The mutilated body of Jackson Elias lies on the bed. He appears to have been ritually disembowelled! On closer inspection, he also has a strange symbol carved onto his forehead (see handout).
Monty tends to Nicholas’ knife-wound.
The assailants carry no identification or documents, other than some items that probably belonged to Elias. They are dressed in poor quality clothes. Each was armed with an ornate, ceremonial-style dagger.
A search of the room and the bodies reveals the following items (see handouts):

Box of matches from the Stumbling Tiger Bar in Shanghai.
A flyer for a lecture by Prof. Anthony Cowles, Ph.D., fellow at the Miskatonic University (Arkham) about “The Cult of Darkness in Polynesia & the Southwest Pacific” from 8pm at Schuyler Hall, NY University (date unknown).
Business card for Edward Gavigan, Director of the Penhew Foundation in London.
Business card for Emerson Imports in NY. On the back of the card is a handwritten name, Silas N’Kwame.
Photograph (blurry and grainy) showing a large yacht anchored amongst Chinese junks (possibly Hong Kong?). Only the first three letters of its name are visible, “DAR.”
Letter to Mr. Carlyle, dated 3 Jan 1919, from Faraz Najir, in Cairo. Offering for sale “singular curios” of interest for a “goodly sum.”
Letter to Mr. Elias, dated 7 Nov 1924, from Miriam Atwright, in Harvard University. Informing him that that the book he inquired about was no longer in the collection.
Book (Size?Colour? Binding? hardback, Printed –Where?), “History of Warfare, Science and Theology in Christendom” Volume VII, written in English by Andrew Dickson-White (Date?).

Anna goes down to the lobby and brings George up to the room; meanwhile Nicholas and Monty wrap up Elias’ body in bed sheets.
Anna and George speak to the desk clerk in the lobby about “some trouble” upstairs. For a “fee” of $50 he agrees to arrange for the room to be “cleaned” with no questions asked.
Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, leave via the fire escape and take a cab back to the Metropol hotel.

Back at their suite, Monty carefully treats Nicholas’ wound. Nicholas, resting in bed, starts to read the “History of Warfare, Science and Theology in Christendom.”

George calls the NYU to check on the Cowles lecture. It occurred two weeks earlier. Returning to the Marlboro Club near the hotel, he “tips” a waiter with $5 to check up on the license plate of the getaway car. It is a 1915 Hudson (Black) registered to Thomas Witherspoon. Currently listed as stolen, it was taken from Lennox Avenue.

Friday, 16 Jan 1925

In the morning, Anna phones Harvard University and speaks to Miriam Atwright, who works in the Widdener Library. She is helpful and apologises; the book Elias inquired about was called “Africa’s Dark Sects,” but it disappeared from the library several months ago. The day it disappeared there was a terrible smell in the library. She will call back if anything turns up.

In the morning, Nicholas sends another telegram to Erica Carlyle, “Sorry you couldn’t attend the exhibition. But very important we meet. Urgently need to discuss events related to your late brother. Nicholas de Richlieu”

In the morning, receive a phone call from Dorothy Grey, who is very upset. The offices of Prospero Press have been ransacked and Jonah Kensington is missing! Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, take a cab there immediately.

Kensington’s office is in a mess, papers scattered everywhere. Someone was looking for something. Kensington has not come into work and there is no answer to phone calls to his apartment on 3rd Avenue / 42nd Street. Offer to help search for Kensington, recommend that Miss Grey not contact the police until our return. She agrees.

Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, take a cab to near Kensington’s third-floor apartment. George goes up first and finds the door unlocked. Monty, Anna, and George, search the place.

The apartment is empty.
The bed has been slept in, although there are signs someone left the bedroom in a hurry.
There is a wall safe behind a framed set of cuttings in the living room. The combination is hidden on a piece of paper found in the writing desk. Inside the safe are the following:

$1000
Kensington’s personal chequebook
Prospero Press’ company chequebook
Pocket-watch
Pair of cufflinks

George removes the money and chequebooks, and then locks the safe.

Return by cab to Prospero Press. Dorothy Grey has started to clean up the office. Nicholas recommends that she call the police to report the break-in and the disappearance of Kensington. He informs her that we will continue to search for him.

In the late morning, Nicholas and George retire to the hotel. Nicholas continues to read the “History of Warfare, Science and Theology in Christendom.”

In the late morning, Monty and Anna go to the NY Metropolitan Museum. Anna asks Charles Wentworth about Wednesday night’s exhibition opening and if Prof. Anthony Cowles, Ph.D., attended. He didn’t, as he had returned to Arkham the previous day. As Anna wanders the exhibits at the museum, she recalls something from her past studies:

The strange symbol carved onto Jackson Elias’ forehead reminds her of a rune from a cult, which was banished from Dynastic Egypt.

In the afternoon, Monty, Anna, and George, take a cab to Emerson Imports on 648 West 47th Street. It is near the waterfront and the cab driver tells them to be careful, especially the young lady. Monty and Anna talk to Thomas (?) Emerson(early-50’s), who is burly, straight talking, and friendly. They ask him about a package sent by a friend, who deals with Silas N’Kwame. Emerson explains the following:

His firm imports shipments from Mombasa to NY for Ahja Singh, a registered exporter. This has occurred on a regular basis since about 1919 or 1920.
Singh’s only agent in NY is Silas N’Kwame. His address is Ju-ju House, 1 Ransom Court, Harlem.

Monty and Anna return by cab to the Metropol hotel. George takes a different cab to Harlem, discovers that Ransom Court is in a very rough part of town. He pays the cab driver to wait nearby while he takes a look around. The Ju-ju House is a shop selling African artefacts and occult items. He returns by cab to the Metropol hotel.

In the evening, Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, take a cab to Harlem. George leads the way, sneaking down the dark alley leading to Ransom Court and over to the Ju-ju House.

Ransom Court is poorly lit. The only light comes from a few of the windows in the apartment blocks above. One of these windows is on the third floor above the Ju-ju House.
There are several African artefacts behind an unwashed display window; one of the items is an ornate, ceremonial-style dagger, identical to those carried by the men who killed Jackson Elias.
The ill-fitting door is locked and Anna is unable to pick it, even after several attempts. Monty and George are able to force the door open though, by lifting it within its frame and inserting a penknife into the lock. Fortunately, not much noise is made.
The door opens into a hallway. Stairs lead up to the apartments above; to the right another door leads into the shop. The door is open.
Nicholas, Monty, Anna, and George, enter the shop, closing the outer and inner doors behind them. Using an electric torch, Monty finds some candles around the room and lights them. The shop contains a variety of African artefacts and occult items. The effect is quite disturbing.
Nicholas takes the ornate, ceremonial-style dagger from the window. Searching the room, George discovers a trapdoor located under a rug behind the shop counter. Nicholas examines the shop’s accounts book, which is found on the counter, but finds no useful information. George opens the trapdoor to reveal a set of stairs leading down to a corridor.
Monty remains on watch in the shop, as Nicholas, Anna, and George, descend the stairs. The bare-walled corridor leads to a dead end; on the right-hand side is a heavy, solid metal door. It is locked.
Anna picks the lock and George opens the door to reveal a large basement. Lining the walls are 20 sets of large African-style drums. The walls themselves have strange runes carved into them. Opposite the entrance is a door-sized curtained opening. On the right-hand side of the basement, in the corner nearest the entrance, is an 8ft wide and 6in thick stone slab. Possibly a cover for a well. There are chains attached to it, running through a winch mechanism on the wall nearby. Several large, stout, wooden poles are propped against the wall near the slab. The poles have leather straps at one end. Are they used to lower things down into the well?
Anna and George examine the drums. They appear to be made of wood and animal skins, but are otherwise unremarkable.
Nicholas pulls back the curtain, behind which is a smaller room. There are the dead bodies of four men (two black and two white) hanging from chains in the wall. The bodies are bloodied and partly skinned; they all have the same cult rune carved onto them, just as Jackson Elias did. Opposite the opening, on the floor is a leopard-skin bundle.
Nicholas draws his swordstick and thrusts it into the bundle. There is no obvious effect, so he starts to examine the bodies.
George moves over to pick up the bundle; as he does so, three of the bodies animate and attack. They’re zombies!
George grapples with the zombie nearest Nicholas, allowing Nicholas to use his swordstick against the other zombie. The third one moves into the large basement, towards Anna. She draws her .20 Derringer pistol and shoots twice at the zombie, but misses.
George pulls on his brass knuckleduster and pummels the first zombie. Nicholas uses his sword to strike at the second, but the zombies prove highly resistant to damage. The third one stalks Anna around the large basement. She is grappled and bitten.
George puts the first zombie down with repeated blows to the head and then grapples with the one attacking Nicholas. It suffers repeated damage to the chest and collapses.