Session Zero

Character Creation Night – Masks of Nyarlathotep

Last month we wrapped up character creation for our upcoming Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign, and the investigators are beginning to take shape.

Using the first two handouts related to the Carlyle Expedition as a starting point, everyone worked on building characters who could naturally fit into the unfolding mystery. Rather than focusing purely on stats or combat ability, the goal was to create investigators who feel like real people living in the world of the 1920s—scholars, travelers, journalists, and professionals who might find themselves drawn toward strange discoveries and unanswered questions.

The handouts helped set the tone for the campaign and provided a glimpse into the story surrounding the Carlyle Expedition and its mysterious fate. From there, players began tying their backgrounds into the broader situation, thinking about how their investigators might know one another, share professional connections, or develop an interest in events that never seemed fully explained.

Several interesting connections began to emerge as characters were discussed. Some investigators have academic ties that connect them to archaeological research or historical studies. Others have professional relationships that place them closer to the people and events surrounding the expedition. A few are simply driven by curiosity—or the stubborn determination to keep digging when something doesn’t quite add up.

With the investigators now created, the next step is preparing for the opening session. Character backgrounds have already provided a few useful threads that may help connect the group together as the story begins.

Session One is just around the corner, and the investigators are about to take their first steps into a mystery that is far larger—and far darker—than they realize.