Having met with Neris and accepted companionship(?) of her feline herald, the investigators needed to decide what to do next. A quick trip out to Memphis would be in order, although the ancient ruined city was located several miles south of Cairo on bad roads. They had the touring car, they had a full tank of petrol and a couple spare tyres. If they did not want to (say) drop the cat off at Alexander's and instead keep it with them, they could depart.

Along with the Count, Cynthia and Chi-Yin, the ex-RAF pilot Roger Bedford (armed with his Mauser pistol) volunteered to stay with them to act as driver. Salim bin Kabina (armed with a Mauser rifle) would act as interpreter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

The only thing Cynthia is looking to get is additional kitty snacks, from any available souk along the way. Her guns are in the trunk, but it won't take much to pull them out and keep them ready. (And no way she's going out to some empty camp so someone else can talk to someone else, and Cynthia is stuck in the car without even a CAT to play with.)

They followed the Nile road south out of the city, heading towards the Clive expedition dig site in Memphis.

The cat seemed to like the ride, or at least tolerate it. She sat and slept on Cynthia's lap in the sun, out of the way of the dust kicked up by their travel. She did seem to like the goat meat Cynthia purchased for her along the way.

In a couple hours travel they reached the dig site some 20 miles south of Cairo. It was heavily fortified, separate from the nearby town. There was a perimeter of concertina wire, and guard posts. Asenath hopped down and concealed herself in the shadows under the front seats. Armed guards at the gate examined their documentation provided by the Museum, and as well recognised Chi-Yin as having business there. Then they were allowed in.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 3):

Roger parked outside the mess tent. "Ok, Chi-Yin, you get your stuff and talk to your friends? I'll have a word with Dr. Clive, keep him and his cronies occupied. Salim, you stay with the car."

The Count will accompany Roger while he suggest Mr Perkins to stay by the car as well.

-

In reply to Roger Bedford (msg # 4):

"Alright ." Chi-yin said, and got out of the truck.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 5):

Roger pulled Bathony aside and whispered,

"Count, after you meet Dr. Clive and his cronies, I suggest you find Chi-Yin and assist her. That will be a much more profitable avenue for inquiry. I'll handle Dr. Clive."

While Cynthia waited in the car, Chi-Yin retrieved her belongings. After, she visited the two expedition members she was closest to: the Scottish archaeologist James Gardiner and the English mystic Agatha Broadmoor. Tea and biscuits were served.

Meanwhile, the Count and Roger met with Dr. Clive and his cronies, Johannes Sprecht and Martin Winfield. It was as fruitless as they had been warned. Dr. Clive was condescending and standoffish, refusing to answer questions and complaining about the natives. Martin Winfield was superficial and smarmy. Sprecht was icy and aloof. He did let slip something about how his studies here helped proved the existence of a supposed "Master Race", which you suspect you have not heard the last about. No tea or refreshments were offered in the austere main office tent.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 8):

Chi-yin sipped some of her tea and wondered how to broach the subject she had come here to ask them about.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 9):

She was warmly welcomed by James Gardner, the Scottish archaeologist. He complimented Chi-Yin as being the only other academic on the expedition who did not seem to be a close-minded pillock or intellectual lickspittle. "A dinnae ken how come we ur digging 'ere 'n' nae a Giza. We hud important finds in oor howk thare. Eerything is a' gaen ower a hundred times 'ere in Memphis."

Indeed they had found an undiscovered chamber there in one of the pyramids of Giza. And a sarcophagus and mummy, although those had gone missing in a very suspicious manner. Yet Dr. Clive had pulled them all out and relocated twenty miles south to Memphis, an area that had been picked clean by now. Chi-Yin had been of the same opinion as James, yet she had been asked to leave while he, a White man, had not (although Gardiner was a tenured academic).

The English psychic, Agatha Broadmoor, sipped her tea. "It is shameful Dr. Clive forced you out, my dear. It is because you are of what he calls the "weaker sex". And you are not the correct race either, according to him. But no matter."

Then she got a far-off look in her eyes and said something in a strange voice, "when the moon is dead, the Dark Pharaoh shall resurrect his bride."

Agatha then snapped out of it. "Oh! My word! Did I say something? I have these spells, you see. Everything gets so bright. Apparently I say something, but I can never remember what it is! Curious. But that is the world of the spirits."

Well at least everyone had managed to stand by the reputations they had. Given the digs leader seemed to have a problem with his local staff perhaps that would be somewhere to begin inquiries that may or may not be more fruitful.



-

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 11):

Roger and the Count were dismissed from the main expedition tent. Dr. Clive and archaeologists Sprecht and Winfield did not seem like they were hiding anything or wanted them gone, merely they found them uninteresting. An invitation to dinner was extended but in a very half-hearted manner.

The servants and workers seemed surly and did not know English. Still, although they were unwelcome no one was overtly threatening.

In the tent of Agatha Broadmoor and James Gardner, Chi-Yin continued drinking tea. Agatha seemed to not be aware she had said anything in that strange voice. Gardner teased her a little, "och, ye had one o' yer wee spells now, lassie! 'Tis the Dark Stranger ye mentioned. Come to warn ye!" Agatha sniffed. "The Dark Stranger comes and he or she says what he or she wants. I will say, they are never wrong. But sometimes the words of the Dark Stranger are hard to interpret or understand.

"Chi-Yin, dearie. Would you like for me to do a Tarot reading for you? Read your palm, perhaps?"

"Give me a minute Roger I will go and see if the driver can help with some translation." The count goes to see if he can find one of Alexander's men who  maybe able to help with the language.


-

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 13):

Even with Salim's help the Egyptians were singularly unhelpful and uncommunicative. They would walk away, pretend they didn't hear, look busy and give monosyllabic answers.

He said as a quiet aside to the Count, "it is obvious they do not want us here. I can tell no more, and perhaps it is because I am of the Bedu. Maybe this is nothing, but I can tell that none of the Egyptians are locals. This is unusual. An expedition would normally hire the people here, who are experienced in digging for archaeological expeditions and are more affordable. As far as I can tell all the help is from Cairo and the Nile Delta, which is expensive. Very unusual."

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 10):

Chi-yin had to agree with Agatha. Funny, what the other woman had just said. Hadn't Neris said something similar?

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 10):

"Thank you, James. " Chi-yin said, smiling a little.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:46, Sat 14 May 2022.

"Thank you Salim, lets take a walk regardless, Roger ?" He lead the small group towards the dig and tried to look like interested tourists as they walked around.


-

Cynthia is having a very in-depth conversation with Snowball Asenath. A mob descending on the camp will certainly be noteworthy, and therefore problematic. But she does keep an eye on the horizon for any trouble.

"Did you name yourself Asenath? Did YOU name yourself Asenath? Little baby. Come here. No no, here. On my lap... where are you... No. No! Asenath! Get out of there... That's not a good place for you! What do you think will happen when the Count tries to sit down?"

Snowball (nee Asenth) found the best shade physically possible and stayed there.

The dig didn't seem to be very diligent, even to Bathony's and Roger's untrained eyes. Chi-Yin passed the time with some pleasant but not further enlightening conversation. They could either stay and potentially wear out their welcome, or return to Cairo.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 20):

Chi-yin decided to leave at last, and stood up from the table.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 21):

There didn't seem to be much more to say. Madame Agatha promised she would write Chi-Yin every day. "I consider you a friend, dear, and should enjoy corresponding. It will take my mind off the heat and primitive circumstances."

Roger smiled and nodded, then lowered his voice. "Of course, old man. Do you have a particular reason for visiting the digs? The diggers looks as surly and unfriendly as the rest of them. I can't wait to leave." He let Bathony lead the way.

In reply to Madame Agatha (msg # 22):

"I shall do my best to write." Chi-yin promised, and left.

The Count used his plantation panama hat to fan himself as they walked, before the heat just became to much and they returned to the car and some much needed shade. The Count took some water when it was offered, "I am sorry but I was unable to make anything untoward out by simply looking over the dig."



-

"Better to try and come up with nothing than skip our due diligence. I appreciate your sweating on our behalf.

"I can't think of anything further in Cairo that will benefit us, unless we're planning to fly. We can resupply further south and continue on immediately?"

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 25):

"Me either. Who knows what these people get up to in the dead of the night? They all look a bit depraved if you ask me." Indeed, compared to the average Egyptian and Cairene, there was something "off" about the workers.

They retired to the car and quickly compared notes before leaving. Bedford offered, "I don't think we came up completely empty-handed. We heard from another source there was something awful in the works at the end of the month. We don't know where or what, but back during the War if we heard rumours of an impending offensive from more than one source we paid attention. And if it's like the foul ceremony the members of the Carlyle expedition held, then it will be terrifying indeed. That Bessart fellow who witnessed it went mad! And that Nyiti fellow that rescued him had half his fact melted off! Worse than Phosgene.

"So we maybe know when. And even have a hint at what, a ceremony to resurrect Nitocris, the bride of the Black Pharaoh."

In reply to Roger Bedford (msg # 27):

"And imagine what will happen if the ceremony succeeds." Chi-yin said worriedly.

"Is it likely to be in the pyramid where was met the thing ? Where the portal appeared ?"

-

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 29):

At that moment, Madame Broadmoor bustled out of her tent.

Coming over to Chi-Yin, she pressed a packet of letters into her hands. "I've been meaning to send these out via mail. It just slipped my mind and there won't be another chance for days. Be a dear and post them when you get to Cairo?"

She then leaned in to whisper in her friend's ear, "there is one addressed to you there. I dared not send it through the regular mail, where... prying eyes might see it. It is regarding my visions, you see.

"Ta ta! Don't forget to mail those!"

With that out of the way, they loaded up the car for the trip back to Cairo.

Leaving the camp, they felt an oppressive weight and tenseness lifting from their shoulders, that they maybe were not even aware was there.

Once they were on the gravel road leading north to the city, their feline companion hopped onto the seat and meowed at Chi-Yin, pawing at the letters she held.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 31):

"Hello." Chi-yin nodded at the cat, and unfolded the opening of the packet. She pulled out the letters one by one, looking for the one addressed to her, and when she found it, she put the others back into the packet.

Then she opened the letter, wondering what it said.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 32):

Chi-Yin read the letters on the long and dusty drive back to Cairo.

It would take some more detailed reading later, but Miss Agatha's recorded dreams (or nightmare) feature a ghostly pharaoh figure with no features, only a midnight black skin on body and face. The repeating nightmares also featured sphynx, both the giant one that lay half-buried on the Gizeh plateau, and smaller ones that could fly and pace upon the ground. These were servants of the unnamed pharaoh, ancient and cruel as he.

Some phrases were repeated:

"She is close to awakening!"

"The gate will be opened!"

"The gate is under the ground!"

Miss Agatha seemed to be concerned at first as her early dreams featured mass unholy ceremonies where she was to be sacrificed. But then those dreams stopped while the others remained.

From the newest set of dreams starting just a week ago she recorded a sketch of the statue of the Sphynx at Gizeh. Many holes and niches were shown on this detailed sketch. Being an expert Egyptologist, Chi-Yin identified these as being previously known and explored. But there was one new entrance she was not familiar with, several paces away to the north. A previously undiscovered entrance? If so, like the giant and ancient statue itself if was cut from the live rock of the limestone plateau itself.

"I suspect we have our next destination.

"Before we set out, I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile to purchase some additional tools. Electric torches, rope, chisels. Perhaps something to prevent us from becoming lost? And, if we're being frank, I wouldn't be opposed to a quantity of dynamite, although I know we'll have to be careful with procuring and handling it."

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 33):

The vision was terrifying to think about. Perhaps it had something to do with the rite that was being planned.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 34):

As a professional outfitter, Alexander would be able to get them a lot of the equipment they needed. As for Dynamite or other explosives, his Egyptian Army connections might be useful there as well.

Studying the mysterious entrance further, Chi-Yin came across an additional note in reference to is. "When Khonsu hides his face".

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 36):

Curious. Did it have anything to do with the possibly undiscovered entrance?

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 37):

Chi-Yin does think the notation did seem to indicate the mysterious previously unknown entrance.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 38):

Chi-yin decided to check out the entrance when they got there.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 39):

"Sounds good. Let's swing by Giza and have a look on the way back to Alexander's mansion. Any objections?"

"No, no that sounds like a good plan." The Count took a sip from his canteen, still feeling the effects of the sun.


-

"Indeed. Notably, I'm feeling more and more like dynamite would be a handy team consumable."

"Well we managed to secure a few mills bombs from the weapons market. I should think dynamite given it solely civilian usage might be available as well ?"


-

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 43):

"We have a Lewis gun we brought from Blighty, and a case of Mills bombs. We could be better-prepared with some Dynamite. I am sure Alexander could help!"

They took the turnoff at the El Gezira Bridge. This lead first to the island (Gezira) where Alexander's mansion was located. But it led further to the west bank of the Nike. Guarding each end was a pair of large bronze lions.

Following the dusty gravel track to the ancient pyramid site the stopped at the now-excavated Sphynx. The sun was getting low but it was not yet time for prayer. There were a few Egyptians around, some were guards and others part of the government's grounds, repair and excavation crew, but they were a distance away at the work shacks at the perimeter of the site.

Following the sketched map in Miss Agatha's dream journal they came to a spot SE from the rear of the massive edifice. But it was just an empty spot of sand.

Cynthia (and Asenath, if so inclined) will emerge from the car and pace around the area, not so much looking for clues as getting a feel for it's place in the greater context of the terrain.

"Do you know if there was anything about the time or the date? These folks do like their phases of the moon."

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 45):

"Funny." Chi-yin muttered. "Why isn't there anything here?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 46):

The cat, Asenath, had disappeared after waking when the car stopped. At that point she decided to reappear. Walking across the hot sand towards the massive edifice she soon stopped and meowed in pain, scampering back to the shade under the car. She began licking her paws.

Going over the dream guide again to see if she could pick up something they missed, Chi-Yin was drawn to the annotation by the seemingly hidden portal. "When Khonsu hides his face" Something about this passage, in particular the name "Khonsu", jumped out at her. It was the name of a God of ancient Egypt, she seemed to recall, but his role and aspect somehow seemed to elude her.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 05:33, Thu 21 July 2022.

Cynthia will follow the cat's trail, even pulling off her boots to better replicate the kitty's experience, feeling for heat or magic or any other nonsense.

"I do not look forward to experiments that involve shovels, but that would be my next guess... Do we have any other clues to follow up on? I've seen more than a few events that would defy scientific explanations."

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 48):

She decided that she would research Khonsu to remind herself what he was the god of, and any other attributes that he might have.

Cynthia is not so eager to drive all the way home with nothing to show. She intends to spend a few hours leveraging Darwin's greatest lessons of science; wander about and harass the local wildlife. She'll try drawing symbols in the sand, calling out whatever strange utterances she can recall the loonies at Penhew having said or written out, and generally being odd until she eventually tuckers out.

In reply to Wong Chi-yin (msg # 50):

The site at Giza was splendid on its own. One day, perhaps, tourists from all over the Empire, perhaps the world, would descend on it to witness the mysteries of antiquity. For now, it was fairly deserted. Small parties of academics from Cairo would visit to take measurements, occasional work teams would continue the restoration effort that had been ongoing for years. Right now, there were a few locals keeping to the shade as threy eyed the investigators, ready to offer their services as guides or sell food and water to visitors.

Something about "Khonsu" jogged Chi-Yin's memories. He was the Egyptian god of the moon, also called "the traveller". The inscription referred to when Khonsu hides his face. Could this be referring to a phase of the moon? Perhaps a time when it would not be visible? There would be a new moon about a week before the end of the month, in just over two weeks.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 52):

She decided to make notes of everything.

In particular, she circled the inscription "When Khonsu hides his face" and wrote above in small letters, " Possible meaning new moon? "

"We heard elsewhere that the new moon was special. So now we know the time and the place. It would be nice if we knew the 'who'."

Cynthia surveys the terrain. It doesn't look easy to set up an ambush here. But that also means the enemy would struggle to defend it. Still, there's no way five armed people could face off with a whole army of cultists.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 54):

Bedford, the RAF pilot who was their driver, lit a cigarette.

"It sounds to me like this mysterious door will, I don't know, become visible during the New Moon. Which is a couple weeks away.

"A new moon is also when those cultist blokes had their ceremony a few years back. Where Warren Besart went crazy and that Egyptian worker who saved him got his bloody face and body melted.

"If we don't think of anything else before then, I say we maybe kit ourselves up right and proper, come back here for the new moon, and Bob's your uncle? Maybe catch the lot of 'em with their pants down?"

"How hard would it be to put on a real fireworks display? Frankly, if this place is so awful, I wouldn't shirk and leveling the whole thing. We're not in a village, anyone within range is here for a reason."

In reply to Roger Bedford (msg # 55):

Chi-yin got interested when she heard that. "Really? Maybe they were attempting some ritual."

"Yes, Chi-Yin, I think they were conducting a ritual at that time five years ago. Dr. Khafour said the fragment that Nyiti took when he rescued Warren Besart was some kind of protective rune. Maybe that other ritual was to break or breach some kind of ward or protective spell on something. That pyramid where that, er, Nyarlathotep chap had his throne room was near where the ritual happened. I wonder if it's missing it's capstone?"

"As for fireworks, we can ask Alexander. The Old City has the Gunsmith's quarter. He said we can get any firearm made there, and war surplus weapons if we ask the right people. We have a Lewis gun and a case of Mills bombs. I wonder if we can round that out with some German stick grenades? Or maybe a 13mm Tank Gewehr anti-tank rifle? Or a flamethrower? They say nothing cleanses like fire!

"For that matter, we still have an aeroplane armed with machineguns, the "Brisfit". We could drop some petrol bombs. I and JM could take that up, although I suspect that whatever peril we face will be underground."

As a former RAF pilot, taking a plane into battle once more appealed to him immensely!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:25, Fri 30 Sept 2022.

"Precisely, if it's underground... How hard would it be to collapse or even booby trap the building with dynamite? I anticipate narrow hallways and very heavy stone. At least setting the wire should be easy. I do imagine that we need to disrupt whatever is happening there. Sealing them in just means they have a thousand pounds of limestone protecting their work. But if we're able to blast whatever their artifacts are into dust, I have no compunctions against leaving them for eternity buried with their dead gods.

Perhaps an awful question, but... did they not use some sort of poisonous vapors in the war? Is that achievable somehow?"

Cynthia lost her dearest bodyguard in the last brutal attack at the Institute, and does not look forward to losing anyone else with unnecessary valor.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 59):

"I don't suppose it would be too hard, if you knew how to use dynamite." Chi-yin voiced her thoughts on the matter. "Poisonous gases, on the other hand, sound a little too dangerous."

"I do not... but Egypt was a participant in the Great War. I wonder how difficult it would be to find a specialist. And we hardly need it to be elegant. Even if the explosives are obvious and detected, it delays and directs the cultists."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 59):

"Explosives? We could get our hands on a case or two of Dynamite, easily. Even if we don't collapse the tunnels ourselves perhaps we could see if Dr. Khafour or Alexander know someone who could? Over the last couple weeks Alexander has contracted a crew to begin dismantling the pyramid where... that godlike being you told us about has his throne room."

Indeed, the dismantling of the small pyramid housing Nyarlathotep's temple and throne room (the "Lesser Bent Pyramid") was so thorough that eventually little more than the base remained. To complete the process of erasing this abomination from history the record was changed to show this was not a true pyramid thousands of years old but a reproduction built by a French nobleman just a century ago.

"I have heard of Germans being rooted out of deep bunkers using thousands of gallons of petrol poured down into their tunnels and then set alight. That might be beyond our capabilities.

"As for poison gas? Beastly stuff! I think Chlorine and Mustard gas are both heavier-than-air. Who knows if these beings even breathe air? I know stockpiles are being kept in Iraq to use on tribesmen. We might be able to obtain some."

He then looked at Chi-Yin, "say, do you think you should warn your friends at the dig? Miss Agatha and James Gardiner? The last time these cultist bounders had a ceremony both here and in England they involved human sacrifice! I am not saying Sir Clive is a cultist, or connected to them. But still, it might not be terribly safe for your friends to remain in that camp near the new moon when the ceremony is like to commence."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:29, Thu 13 Oct 2022.

"How many of those people in camp do we trust? Perhaps better to invite them elsewhere on false pretenses. A letter indicating a death in the family, or an offer of employment elsewhere. Government documents requiring them to be in Cairo in person to sort out. A warrant issued in error, for instance. I do not wish to give the dark brotherhood any advantage they do not already possess."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 63):

Chi-Yin only really knew and trusted Miss Agatha, but she somehow felt the rough Scottish archaeologist James Gardner was also not involved.

They did know Dr. Khafour, who's department at the Cairo Museum regulated archaeological activity throughout Egypt.

The Count listened to the back and forth as he sipped the water Mr Perkins had provided. He was feeling a lot better being out of the sun at least. When the use of gas was mentions he pulled a rather sour face, his lived experience coming to the fore.


-

The count's face does not go unnoticed.

"I defer to your wisdom on the matter, sir. I know I favor vengeance against these beasts, but I have no real experience in the matter to speak of."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 66):

"Even if we could find the gas in a weaponized form that we could readily use its deployment is always hit and miss. I would say we would have to pick our "battlefield" as it were, but there are so many things that can go wrong with this stuff."

"My own input would be to see what is available first in regards to explosives and then we go from there. Egypt has be quarrying stone for thousands of years there is bound to be someone who is expert with dynamite in the city."


-

"Very well. I am prepared to go shopping, and to engage our allies on what support we can get."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 68):

The sun sank towards the horizon.

Now the heat was abating, the evening tours started to arrive. They were arranged by the luxury hotels in Cairo, Europeans could ride a camel or donkey to see the Great Pyramids of Giza, taking pictures as they climbed up the massive stone blocks or gawked at the Sphynx.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voTJvoQfjJ8

The plan now seemed to be to hole up at Alexander's estate, using the time they had to equip themselves. They would then make a foray into the mysterious tunnels they thought were located beneath the Great Pyramids through a secret entrance that only showed itself at the new moon, a time when the Cult of Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh would likely hold a ceremony which (if they were true to form) involve human sacrifice.

If so, and assuming Sir Clive (a known associate of England's now-dead Cultist high priest Edward Gavigan) was also a cultist, then perhaps those who were innocent and ignorant of the threat, like Miss Agatha or James Broadmoor, would be in great danger!

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 63):

Chi-yin agreed with Cynthia. "I believe that they have nothing to do with the cultists, but we cannot draw attention to ourselves. On the other hand, a faked letter of some sort would do well to keep them away from the danger."

Their musings over, the investigators left the Sphynx and pyramid to the much-diminished groups of tourists. Most tourists had been shuttled from the Cairo hotels in open touring cars or riding lines of camels and donkeys. But they came in the cooler mornings. There was a second wave that would come in the late afternoon to witness the sun setting in the desert to the west behind the pyramids.

Traveling across Nile on the English Bridge they turned north and arrived without incident on Alexander's Gezira island estate. If they went straight across the island they would cross the Kobri el Gezira Bridge to downtown Cairo.