Masks of Nyarlathotep | Global Horror & Ancient Secrets

Creating your character

Characters will be created together during Session 0. This campaign uses Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition with select Pulp Cthulhu options to support long-term character development and globe-spanning adventure. No prior Call of Cthulhu experience is required. During Session 0 we will: • Create investigators together. • Establish relationships and connections between characters. • Discuss personal goals, motivations, and backgrounds. • Determine why the investigators are willing to risk themselves in pursuit of dangerous mysteries and discoveries. • Review campaign themes, expectations, and safety tools. Investigators will begin as competent and capable individuals drawn from a wide variety of professions. Archaeologists, explorers, journalists, academics, doctors, military veterans, pilots, scientists, adventurers, detectives, and other curious or ambitious individuals all fit naturally within the campaign. Character backstories matter. Allies, rivals, mentors, former colleagues, family members, and personal ambitions may all become meaningful parts of the story as the campaign progresses. Characters will be created using Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition rules. Select options from Pulp Cthulhu may be available and will be discussed during Session 0. Additional material may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Curious, proactive investigators who enjoy exploration, discovery, problem-solving, and uncovering ancient mysteries will have the most opportunities to shine throughout the campaign.

Preparing for the session

• Create a free Discord account and join the campaign Discord server. • Have a reliable internet connection and a quality microphone/headset for voice communication. • Create or have access to a Roll20 account. • Review any campaign primers, setting information, handouts, or character creation resources provided before Session 0. • Come to Session 0 with a rough character concept, even if it is only a starting idea. • No prior Call of Cthulhu experience is required, but familiarity with the 1920s setting is helpful. • Characters will be created together during Session 0 to establish connections, shared history, goals, and reasons for becoming involved in the investigation. • Investigators with backgrounds in academia, archaeology, journalism, law enforcement, medicine, exploration, the military, or the occult are particularly well suited to the campaign. • Most importantly, bring curiosity. Masks of Nyarlathotep is a campaign built around investigation, discovery, ancient mysteries, and following clues wherever they may lead.

What Ashley brings to the table

I focus heavily on storytelling, immersion, investigation, exploration, and meaningful player choice. While Masks of Nyarlathotep contains memorable horror and dangerous confrontations, the heart of the campaign is uncovering mysteries, pursuing leads across the globe, and deciding what risks your investigators are willing to take in pursuit of the truth. I use ambient music, maps, handouts, character voices, journals, letters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other in-world resources to help bring the campaign to life. I strive to make every major location feel distinct, whether you are navigating the occult circles of London, exploring the political tensions of Berlin, bargaining with contacts in Cairo, joining expeditions into East Africa, investigating forgotten ruins along the Nile, or navigating the dangerous factions and hidden societies of Shanghai. Character backstories matter. Allies, rivals, mentors, family members, former colleagues, and personal ambitions can all become meaningful parts of the story. I enjoy weaving character histories into the campaign and creating opportunities for personal goals, relationships, and individual story arcs to influence the larger narrative. This campaign may use Pulp Cthulhu options to support long-term play, character development, and globe-spanning adventure while preserving the mystery, tension, and cosmic horror that make Call of Cthulhu unique. Investigators using these rules are more capable than in traditional Call of Cthulhu, but the dangers they face grow just as quickly. This will be decided at the table. Combat is meaningful and dangerous, but it is rarely the only solution. Investigation, research, diplomacy, planning, alliances, exploration, and clever thinking are often just as important as violence. Many of the most important victories are won through knowledge rather than firepower. When rules questions arise, I prefer making a quick ruling to keep the game moving and researching the finer details afterward. I generally follow the rules as written while maintaining a moderate Rule of Cool approach when it serves the story and remains fair to everyone at the table. Most importantly, this is a campaign about discovery. Every clue reveals a larger mystery. Every answer uncovers deeper questions. Every journey into the unknown changes the investigators who survive it.

Homebrew rules

This campaign primarily uses Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition rules with a small number of optional Pulp Cthulhu rules selected to support long-term play and character development. Optional rules may include: • Luck spending and recovery options. • Increased survivability for long-term investigators. • Select Pulp Talents on a case-by-case basis. • Expanded character connections and backstory integration. The goal is to preserve the mystery, investigation, tension, and cosmic horror of Call of Cthulhu while allowing characters to survive long enough to develop meaningful relationships, personal stories, and long-term character arcs. When rules questions arise during play, I will generally make a quick ruling to maintain pacing and research any unclear interactions after the session if necessary.

How Ashley creates a safe table

Player safety and comfort are important parts of every campaign I run. Before play begins, Session 0 will include discussion of campaign themes, expectations, table culture, character concepts, Lines and Veils, and any topics players would prefer to avoid or handle off-screen. A Lines and Veils document will be provided and can be updated throughout the campaign as needed. I use an open-door policy and encourage players to communicate concerns publicly or privately at any time. No explanation is required to use a safety tool or request a scene change. Players may communicate concerns through Discord, direct message, or during play. X, N, and O safety tools may be used verbally, through chat, or through private messages. If a player indicates discomfort, we will pause, adjust, skip, or redirect the scene as appropriate. Call of Cthulhu is a horror game, and Masks of Nyarlathotep may explore themes including cult activity, violence, murder, death, body horror, madness, corruption, colonialism, racism, religious extremism, manipulation, loss, cosmic horror, and moral ambiguity. However, player comfort always takes priority over the content of the game. My goal is not to shock or upset players. My goal is to create an atmosphere of mystery, tension, discovery, and horror while ensuring everyone feels respected, comfortable, and excited to participate in the story. After difficult or emotionally intense scenes, I make space for questions, feedback, and check-ins to ensure players leave the session feeling comfortable and supported.