“Por supuesto!,” exclaims Julio in response to Bromley’s question, and launches into a lengthy explanation of the most reliable methods of protection against monsters, barely giving Jackson enough time to translate.

You can wear an azabache bracelet to ward off the Evil Eye.

Finding a turned-over beetle and flipping it back over to save its life is believed to bring good luck.

A lady bug landing on your shirt cuff is reason to rejoice.

Stepping in dog or horse crap is also considered good luck.

El Daño, or The Damage, is a streak of bad luck inflicted by a sorcerer’s spell, motivated by revenge or envy. It can be removed by ritually passing a guinea pig over your entire body to draw out and absorb the malicious spell.

You might place an upside down broom behind the entryway door to keep unwanted guests (and demons) out of your home.

It is also possible to rid your house of evil spirits by placing a full glass of water behind the door.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:52, Thu 09 Aug 2018.

After spending a short time listening to the farmer’s tales, Larkin and de Mendoza leave the house and set up their tents near the barn, refusing to ‘sleep with the animals’. Professor Sanchez also prefers to sleep outside.

Jackson shakes his head as they are leaving and lights his pipe. “My friends. It is clear to me that there is much more to this story than meets the eye. Larkin is very keen to get us to explore the pyramid, which is understandable – but he clearly has an ulterior motive. If the things we have seen and heard so far are real – and even now I doubt my own senses – then the pyramid is somehow the source of these kharisiri.”

He takes a sip of his beer and then reaches into his backpack, bringing out the golden relic that was found near Miss Rizo. “I suspect that this piece is somehow connected to what has happened. When the warding in the pyramid was broken by the conquistadors, it seems to have awakened these monsters. Perhaps, if we put it back…?”


This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Thu 09 Aug 2018.

In reply to Jackson Elias (msg # 267):

Gustav opens a beer bottle and sits next to Mr. Elias. He leans over and tells him "Get me dynamites and we'll blast it to kingdom come".

"How about you Mr. Elias, what strange unexplainable things have you encounter when you are doing your other books? As exciting as we are having now i assume?" Gustav lets out a loud belly aching laughter but still maintaining a genuine curiosity as to what Mr. Elias would say

“I think dynamite might actually make things worse,” replies Jackson with a frown. “What if it breaks the ward further? I think our best option is to repair the broken seal.”

“As for my travels so far… with these recent events, a lot of the things I’ve seen suddenly make more sense. Some of them were quite unbelievable; cultists with superhuman endurance, mysterious disappearances, and curses that wiped out entire villages. If these dark gods really exist… my God!”

He falls silent, trying to grasp the enormity of the situation. After a moment, he stirs and stares mournfully at his beer. "I'll need something stronger than this!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Thu 09 Aug 2018.

The next day, you bid farewell to Julio and his family and travel on. It is late in the day when you finally approach the site. The ruins containing the pyramid are located on a plateau overlooking a deep, windblown valley. The surrounding land is arid and plant life is sparse. The plateau is most easily accessed from above, by clambering around the edge of a neighboring peak and down a narrow path. This path is precarious enough to make it difficult to bring pack animals all the way into the ruins. No plant life grows on the plateau. It is barren and dusty, with only the man-made structures breaking up the monotonous brownish-gray of the dirt. An eerie whistling or piping sound can be heard blowing on the wind. Despite the cold, you notice an increasing number of flies in the air as you draw closer. Jackson identifies them as blowflies, which usually feed on carrion. As you approach the ruins, the smell of rotten meat grows powerful.

From above, a few key features can be made out in the ruins. A stone wall surrounds the site; it is difficult to tell how tall it once was, as it is now partially buried by silt, but the visible portions protrude from the ground at heights of around 2–4 m. It is relatively easy to climb over the perimeter wall by scrambling up one of the banks of dirt and dropping over to the other side. Alternatively, there is a main entryway, taking the form of a rectangular doorway flanked by huge stones and topped with a weathered stone carving. The carving appears to represent a human head, but it is thin and elongated, with a grotesquely distended mouth.

The main structure is a stepped pyramid with a large, flat top, most of which is below ground level. Around this is a network of crumbling inner walls, many of which have collapsed over time. A number of these walls are decorated with archways, hinting at the remains of other structures. Smaller versions of the carved head over the main gateway are set in the walls at regular intervals. The constant wind blows over and through their distended mouths, producing the unnerving whistling sound that you heard when approaching.

The pyramid itself is mostly submerged in the earth, with only its top five steps rising above the ground. The steps of the pyramid are made of rough-hewn stone, worn and cracked with age. Each step is around 1.5 m in height, tall enough to require anyone climbing up to pull themselves up one step at a time. A long, narrow crack runs diagonally across the top of the pyramid, no more than 8 cm wide at any point. The smell of corruption is overpowering here and blowflies buzz around the crack constantly.

Jackson stops in his tracks and takes it all in. “Well, fuck!” he exclaims with passion.

Map Legend;
1 Surrounding Cliff
2 Closed Chimney
3 Open Chimney
4 Path
5 Pyramid
6 Large Crack on top of Pyramid
7 Main Gate
8 Pit


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Fri 10 Aug 2018.

Art is walking, no trudging, behind the others his head lost in thought as he watches the barren landscape pass by as they walk on. Suddenly his train of thought is interrupted as Jackson exclaims.
Looking up at the view above he can't help but be impressed, despite the smell, despite the damage of age, it's still an exciting sight.

In reply to GM (msg # 270):

Dermot Murphy is ready to press ahead to seek out fabulous riches. He is, however, on edge after the previous evening’s combat. As the path grows narrow and the mules are left behind, he removes the glove from his left hand and begins to unfasten his everyday prosthetic. He unfolds a cloth bundle from his pack until a new device is revealed: a sort of leather and metal cap for his lower arm with a gleaming eight-inch blade at the end.

To any curious onlookers:

"My arm's not so pretty, but it's ready to rip into any beasties we may come across in our ruins."

As the the group trudges down toward the pyramid walls, Murphy’s nostrils detect the familiar reek of death. What carcass could so many flies be feeding on clear out in the desert mountains?

To no one in particular:

"So much for the fresh mountain air. I'll take the smell of a briny sea any day of the week over this putrid stench. I don’t suppose this tempera the academic curiosity. Well, we'd best be getting on."

(Dermot is prepared to stride through the front entrance.)


This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Fri 10 Aug 2018.

In reply to GM (msg # 270):

Gustav's walks ahead of the pack, making sure and being vigilant that there will be no surprises here. He is currently holding his revolver at the ready as the group slowly approach what looks to be the front gate.

"So any ideas how to open that thing?"

The smell of rot and decay is overwhelming, one must thing there is an open graveyard inside.

There is some rubble around the entryway, but it's easy enough to gain entry into the courtyard. As you are about to enter, Jackson holds up a hand in caution and points to a figure that has appeared on the side of the pyramid. It appears to be an older man, laboriously climbing the tall steps to the top. His belly seems to be grotesquely swollen.

The man does not appear to have spotted you as he reaches the plateau. He walks slowly towards the crack on the stone and kneels before it, then proceeds to vomit a stream of thick white fluid into the hole.


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:13, Fri 10 Aug 2018.

In reply to GM (msg # 274):

Gustav whisper to everyone in the expedition. to prepare their weapons and aim it at the man.

"Fuck! if these here are infested with these vile creatures we better thin them out first. any more of that brandy or petrol you have there to set it on fire?"

Gustav then position himself in front. His survival instincts kicking in high gear. Aiming his revolver directly into the creature in front of it.

"If it comes charging in, blast that creature to smithereens"

The old man continues to vomit for over a minute and then clumsily stands up again. His formerly bulging belly now looks normal again. He turns around and wanders slowly over to the edge of the pyramid roof, and then begins to clumsily climb down again, still seemingly unaware of your presence.

As the man finally climbs down the last step, he starts to slowly shuffle towards the pit in the south-east corner. He's ignoring you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Sat 11 Aug 2018.

In reply to GM (msg # 276):

Clutching his gun Bromley says to Gustav in a heavy whisper "Let sleeping dogs lie I say - The sound of gunfire may attract more attention that we're ready for"

With that, Bromley rushes back to the trucks and starts unloading the jerry cans and collecting any empty bottles he can.

In his own luggage he pulls out two bottles of very fine scotch - Just in case these beasties turn up unexpected and fancy a drink...

In reply to Bromley Aveline-Edgeware (msg # 277):

"Aye, let's see how this plays out."

To the south-east of the pyramid is a large pit—approximately 5 m on each side – seemingly filled with human remains. The buzz of flies and the stench of decay is especially strong here. All of the bodies within the pit are emaciated. Many appear to have been here for some years, as they are skeletal or have only fragments of dried flesh left. Nearer the top, the corpses are fresher.

The old man reaches the edge of the pit and then walks into it, slowly sinking down among the corpses until he disappears from view…

"Jesus wept!" whispers Jackson and fumbles for his trusty pipe.

Larkin shakes his head. “The people in the area all seem to be in the grip of some madness. At least that one didn’t bother us.”

He claps his hands together in delight. “Well, we are here now, and I can’t wait for you to explore the pyramid! Unfortunately, I suffer from severe claustrophobia, so I would not be able to enter, but I trust that you will be more than capable. Think of how well rewarded you will all be if we can take more of this strange gold-work back to Lima, and how valuable it will be to museums across the world. We will all be rich and famous!”

He turns to de Mendoza. “My dear friend! Please start setting up the equipment, so we can begin immediately. We need to find an entryway into the pyramid!”

De Mendoza nods and barks orders to the terrified porters, who begin to unload the equipment from the mules and setting up lights and generators. Soon, the area around the open chimney is buzzing with activity.

Professor Sanchez and Larkin are studying the design on the pyramid with great interest, while de Mendoza hovers near them, glaring at those who come too close.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Sun 12 Aug 2018.

In reply to Augustus Larkin (msg # 280):

As Mendoza and the porters set up all their equipment, and the academic minds geek out over archaeology, Dermot strides smoothly and carefully through the front wall gate and into the complex. Keeping a sharp lookout, he methodically examines any ground-level openings(aside from the corpse pit). He wants to be aware of any notable gateways into the pyramid below. His gun isn’t drawn for the moment.

Murphy carefully approaches the chimneys. These are vertical shafts, which rise up to the surface, lined with the same type of stone slabs that make up the pyramid walls. A flagstone covers the top of each chimney, although one of these stones is broken. Peering down into the chimney, Murphy sees only darkness.

The broken chimney seems to be the only way to access the pyramid. There are no doors or means of entry visible on the actual structure.

In reply to GM (msg # 282):

Dermot tears a small piece of cloth from somewhere in his effects. He ties it around a rock with some twine.

"Bromley, lad! Let me have a dip of yar petrol, will ye?"

He pulls out a matchbook. Striking a match, he sets the ball alight and drops it down the chimney.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Sun 12 Aug 2018.

The burning ball falls straight down for about 25 meters, before hitting a slight slope and rolling out of sight.

In reply to GM (msg # 284):

Bromley continues to fill whatever sealable vessels he can find with fuel. That last encounter has put the spooks into him.

He also keeps a wary eye on his "now fine" assailant.

He distributes the bottles to any who will take them.

While Larkin and de Mendoza are preoccupied, Jackson discreetly gathers you around.

"Okay, please hear me out here," he says in a low voice. "It's pretty obvious that Larkin wants us to disturb the seals on the pyramid even more than they already are. I'm not sure for what insane purpose. But I feel it would be best if we instead restored the missing piece. I intend to head down below and see if I can put things right. Does anyone want to join me?"

"Everything alright here?" The question comes from Larkin, who has approached silently and is staring at you all with bright, feverish eyes. "This is an amazing find! We must gather as many relics as we can!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Mon 13 Aug 2018.

In reply to Jackson Elias (msg # 286):

Gustav heads over to Mr. Elias and said "We have come too far to not get anything valuable about this expedition. But you are right, I know what I saw, they were not humans. I'll help you with this"

Gustav looks as each and everyone in the group. "Anyone disagrees?" He quipped.

In reply to Gustav Schmidt (msg # 287):

Murphy's face becomes drawn as Jackson speaks. It would certainly be advantageous to eliminate any superhuman threat, and that particular piece of gold can't represent the only kind of treasure to be found inside.

"I take it as reasonable to do our best to eliminate the threat of these... things... if it's within our power. Let's replace the piece in our possession. I imagine we 'll find plenty of treasure to remove that doesn't function as a sort of seal against evil creatures... that is, if there's any stock to put in these legends and folk tales at all."

After Larkin speaks, Dermot Murphy indicates his assent to looking for artifacts. Eyeing the others, he slips a subtle directive into the conversation in Larkin's hearing:

"We of course have limited carrying capacity as it stands, so we ought to focus our efforts on whatever isn't nailed to the floor, so to speak."

In reply to Jackson Elias (msg # 286):

Offering Jackson a repurposed flip-top bottle of petrol Bromley casts a quick gaze to the body pit and nods his agreement.

Jackson takes the bottle and stores it carefully in his small backpack. He walks over to the open chimney and spends about ten minutes methodically checking all the rigging for the pulley and winch system that the porters have set up. He makes several corrections and pulls hard on the ropes to make sure they are safe.

Finally, he seems satisfied, and he puts on the lifting harness and turns on a powerful flashlight. He takes a sniff of the stale air and stench emanating from the hole and ties a wet cloth over his mouth and nose.

"Okay, send me down," he says and disappears into the dark chimney. After what feels like an eternity, you can hear him shouting from below that there are tunnels down there, and they are very narrow.

Larkin smiles delightedly and turns to you. "Who's next?"