Masks of Nyarlathotep

The most massive episode of Dark Adventure yet conceived! Based on the lavish new edition of the beloved Chaosium role-playing campaign, this is a gigantic production over seven hours in length and with more props than usual.

In Masks of Nyarlathotep, the death of a dear old friend and an investigation into a doomed archeological expedition spiral into a global investigation with dire repercussions. Can a handful of intrepid investigators make a stand against an insidious and bloodthirsty cult? Can a diabolical conspiracy be thwarted before a doomsday plan comes to fruition? Is there any hope for mankind against the machinations of an Elder God or will they meet only despair, death and madness?

The "standard edition" of the show comes on a set of six CDs, with twenty bonus prop documents. We also offer an expanded Deluxe Edition that includes 82 prop documents. And for the truly mad, we are offering a Super Deluxe Limited Edition that features all that plus artifacts. For role playing gamers, we offer a special Gamer Prop Set that includes all the props you need to actually play Chaosium's game. (Some props needed for the show are not needed for the game, and some needed for the game are not needed for the show.)

Get It!

Props

Because this episode cannot be contained in a standard jewel case, the bonus props are packaged separately in a special collector sleeve. The "standard edition" of the show comes with 20 prop documents, including:

  • A telegram from a desperate author
  • A letter from a dubious dragoman
  • Two cards from suspicious businesses
  • The matchbox of a Shanghai bar
  • A photo of a mysterious ship
  • The handbill for an alarming lecture
  • A final mystifying message from a doomed friend
  • A page torn from Africa's Dark Sects
  • A complete half page from the New York Pillar/Riposte
  • A cocktail napkin from an exotic Soho nightspot
  • Blueprints for a futuristic weapon
  • A photo of a powerful ancient artifact
  • A map of archeological wonders at Dahshur
  • A map of sinister sites in Africa
  • A complete half page from the Nairobi Star
  • A photo of untold ruins in the Australian desert
  • Four full pages from a madman's manuscript
  • The translation of a crucial passage from one of seven cryptical books
  • A note from someone who knows secrets
  • Track Listing

    1. America 1 11:53
    2. America 2 12:46
    3. America 3 9:17
    4. America 4 16:21
    5. America 5 17:41
    6. England 1 20:59
    7. England 2 23:23
    8. England 3 8:11
    9. England 4 8:12
    10. England 5 4:46
    11. Egypt 1 13:13
    12. Egypt 2 19:32
    13. Egypt 3 8:50
    14. Egypt 4 12:14
    15. Egypt 5 7:42
    16. Egypt 6 12:19
    17. Kenya 1 18:50
    18. Kenya 2 17:32
    19. Kenya 3 10:54
    20. Kenya 4 9:08
    21. Kenya 5 7:11
    22. Kenya 6 6:26
    23. Australia 1 12:36
    24. Australia 2 18:38
    25. Australia 3 14:32
    26. Australia 4 19:02
    27. Australia 5 5:18
    28. China 1 13:24
    29. China 2 26:34
    30. China 3 17:18
    31. China 4 20:45
    Total Runtime 7:05:27

    Cast and Crew

    Sean Branney...R. C. Andrews, Zeke Ford, Mortimer Wycroft, et al.
    Tom Bromhead...Insp. Barrington, Billy Burraglong, Jeremy Grogan
    Kacey Camp...Victoria Woodhull, Mahmoud, Nuri, Waitress
    Ken Clement...Lester Mayhew, Jonah Kensington, Omar al Shakti
    Dan Conroy...Dr. Mundt, Dr. Starrett, Robert Mackenzie
    Phillip C. Curry...Okomu
    Mike Dalager...Chelsea Cultist, Egyptian Museum Guard, Bundari
    Matt Foyer...Albert Wilmarth, Ali Kafour, Robert Huston
    Larissa Gallagher...Agnes Claflin, Penny O'Brien
    Michael Hagiwara...Anthony Chang, Mu Hsien
    Hollie Hunt...Millie Adams, M'Weru
    McKerrin Kelly...Berenice Buchannan, Miss Ruha, Natalie Smythe-Forbes, Gertie Wycroft
    Sophia Khan...Yalesha, Abubakar, German Nurse, Ubaid, Quivering Jade
    Nardeep Khurmi...Gupta, Opinder Singh
    Kirsten Kollender...Erica Carlyle, Rebecca Shosenburg, Hypatia Masters
    Casey Kramer...Agatha Broadmoor
    Andrew Leman...Matthew Sanderson, Cecil Watson, Nails Nelson, Ho Fang, et al.
    Dick Lizzardo...Nigel Wassif, Hakim, Fergus Chum
    Jacob Lyle...Billee, Jack, Maclean, Roger Carlyle, Mark O'Brien, et al.
    Barry Lynch...Scott Dorward, Capt. Robson, Mickey Mahoney, Ibn Tulun Nazir, Capt. Montgomery
    Rosney Mauger...Jimiyu, Eddy
    Johnny McKenna...Mason, Arthur Emerson, Dr. Turnbull, Capt. Torvak, Larry D., Chinese Souvenir Vendor
    Pip Moore...Janice Wycroft
    Grinnell Morris...Lt. Poole, Corrupt Cop #2, Ernest, Cassidy
    Mehrnaz Mohammadi...Zahra Shafik
    David Pavao...Carlton Ramsey, Neily Vanderbilt
    Shawn Michael Savage...Jack Brady
    Samir Shakur...Jackson Elias, Silas N’Kwane, Faraz Najjar, Johnstone Kenyatta
    William C. Stephens...Mukunga, Sam Mariga
    Annie Sway...Auntie Gee
    Kevin Stidham...Marcus Buchannan, Paul Fricker, Edward Gavigan, Nigel, Martin Winfield, Sgt. Bumption, Onkwani, Willis
    Marilyn Tokuda...Madame Lin Yenyu
    Josh Thoemke...Announcer, Kakakatak
    Sarah van der Pol...Hazel Claflin
    Madi Vodane...Shula Wycroft
    Time Winters...Prof. Cowles, Warren Besart, Toddy Randolph, Sir Aubrey Penhew

    Based on the 5th edition of "Masks of Nyarlathotep", a campaign for the Call of Cthulhu® role playing game originally written by Larry DiTillio and Lynn Willis. Fifth edition written by Mike Mason, Lynne Hardy, Paul Fricker and Scott Dorward

    Radio Adaptation by Sean Branney & Andrew Leman

    Original Music by Troy Sterling Nies

    “Charleston” by James P. Johnson & Cecil Mack
    “I'm Gonna Charleston Back to Charleston” by Roy Turk & Lou Handman
    “Sincerely Yours” by Bellenda, Casey & Pinkard
    Arranged and Performed by Troy Sterling Nies

    "Bub-L-Pep" jingle written by Andrew Leman, arranged and performed by Harald Lindell & Kathleen Demarest

    "Bile Bean March" composed by F.H. Fulford, arranged and performed by Reber Clark

    Vocals Recorded at The Jungle Room, Glendale, California
    Audio Engineering by Dan Viafore and Jeff Stone

    Vocals Recorded at Horse Latitudes Recording, Glendale, California
    Audio Engineering by Michael Dumas and Ellie McNeil

    Original Illustrations by Darrell Tutchton

    Prop Inserts by Andrew Leman and Sean Branney
    Research assistance by David G. Cercone II
    Warren Besart penmanship by Jay Stigdon
    Special photographic makeup effects by Dave Snyder

    Produced by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman

    Licensed by Chaosium Inc.
    “Call of Cthulhu” and “Masks of Nyarlathotep” are Registered Trademarks of Chaosium Inc., and are used with permission. Some names, descriptions, and depictions applied to this audio drama are derived from works copyrighted by and include trademarks owned by Chaosium Inc., and may not be used or reused without Chaosium’s permission.

    Script, Liner Notes & More

    The Decoder ClubBecause this episode is based on a famous game, we thought it would be fun to build a game into the episode! Join Hazel in trying to decode the messages of the Black Sphinx! Each chapter of the show contains at least one hidden key to a secret coded message. Listen carefully and you can hear the keys hidden within the dialogue. For more information, and all the secret messages, visit the Dark Adventure Decoder Club.

    Deluxe EditionThe Deluxe Edition of the show includes 82 prop documents housed in this special Providence Trust Insurance Company case file. Some of the props overlap with the ones included in the MON Gamer Prop Set, but there are 24 new documents specific to the show.

    Super Deluxe EditionThe Super Deluxe Limited Edition of the show includes all of the prop documents of the Deluxe Edition, along with seven artifacts. The edition will be limited to 99 copies. It includes The Golden Mirror from Peru, the Scepters of the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh along with a complete set of cult robes, a statue of the Bloated Woman, the Token of Bast's Regards, Bundari's enchanted Fly Whisk, and both halves of the Eye of Light and Darkness.

    Victoria Woodhull and her sister Tennessee Claflin were real people with a really fascinating history. Our fictionalized version of Victoria has a great many friends:

    Zelda Fitzgerald

    Coco Chanel

    Neily Vanderbilt

    Karl Marx

    Edith Rockefeller

    Teddy Roosevelt

    Ennie PlaqueThis episode won the golden ENnie Award at Gen Con 2019 for "Best RPG-related Product"!

    For your enjoyment, we present free PDF downloads of the final recording script and liner notes of "Masks of Nyarlathotep". Note: this script is only for use for reading along with Dark Adventure Radio Theatre; no performance or reproduction of the script may be made without written consent of the HPLHS.

    The Haunter of the Dark
    Episode 17
    The Haunter of the Dark
    The Rats in the Walls
    Episode 18
    The Rats in the Walls
    Bad Medicine
    Episode 19
    Bad Medicine
    Masks of Nyarlathotep
    Liner Notes
    Masks of Nyarlathotep