Props of Nyarlathotep: New York and Kenya, 'Unboxing'

Note from my future self (Montreal, 26th August 2024).

As I have come back to this blog as a means to rejuvenate my writing, and get back into the rhythm of blogging, I've been going through my old draft posts for inspiration on topics. One such post is this one. This post was written back on the 23rd of April, 2018, and was all but complete. In fact, I'm not sure why it wasn't posted back then. The date and time were even set

I have since then started to run Masks this year, and as such, many of the props mentioned below have actually seen use. 

I post this with no further edits except for spelling and typos, just this note from the 'future' to place things in context. I have also set the publication date to the year in question

.oOo.

As previously mentioned, I received the results of the Props of Nyarlathotep: New York and Kenya Kickstarter.

This is less an unboxing, and more a post showing off the shiny. I had the light-box out for another reason, so threw these beauties in, and took some shots.

The main reason I bought into this campaign was funnily enough for the basic reward, the transfers. This simple idea really resonated with me as an unusual prop, even though to use them in game for one NPC means I have to have the brand on me throughout the game night. If I put it in a less noticeable place than the forehead, this might work well as a reveal. Maybe on the bottom of me forearm, with the sleeve down, or just peaking out of the cuff of my shirt.

This led me to getting the latex version. As an introduction to the campaign, the carving of the symbol of the Cult of the Bloody Tongue into the forehead of Jackson Elias is iconic, and I thought this was a really imaginative way of showing this, and one that would stick with the players.

The stretch goals for the campaign included some luggage tags of the various places the campaign goes. These are some beautiful period pieces, really evoking the era. These are printed on non-sticky paper. I'm not sure how original luggage tags worked, but having to put your own gum on them seems more in time to me than to make these modern stickers, as was done with the HotOE campaign boxed set. Anyway, it's not like I'm ever going to stick them on anything, so I'm cool with them just being paper.

Finally, the larger pieces. Firstly, the Fly whisk. This is not as iconic a prop as the others in this set. In fact, I had to go back to the campaign book and search through the Kenya chapter to see what this is. It's actually one of the few props in this game that is helpful to the players. 

The simple use of the elder sign here is really rather effective to my mind

Last, but by no means least of the props from this kickstarter is the Mask of Hyama. This really will be the centerpiece to this campaign in many ways. This horrific mask prompted my better half to call me when she had opened the large box that had arrived in my name, to ask me what the fuck I had been buying now? It really is rather creepy in real life. 

This picture doesn't show the full extent of the mask, there are some feathers attached to the bottom of the mask, but if I were to make it all fit in the photograph, I would have to have set up the larger light-box, and I was being lazy.

Also not pictured here is the stench that comes off this artefact. Delphes wrote in the Kickstarter that there was an issue with the varnish she used for this piece, and really, there is. I've stuck this outside on a couple of evenings to try to get the mask air, but so far, the small has not diminished by much.

The Mask of Hayama will have a strong scent of varnish first - Nyarlathotep doesn’t smell good actually, neither Yog-Sothoth, and even worse does Shub-Niggurath) Also because I wrapped them a while ago just after they were painted, the varnish flavor will be kept inside the plastic bag.

Also included, but not pictured, is a poster with an image of the mask and the name of the campaign, this is the image that was used as the header for the Kickstarter. I'm sure that by putting this on the wall, the players will be more impressed once the mask is found.

I only wish I was able to afford the second mask that was made with this Kickstarter, the latex mask to be worn by the player who puts on the mask, showing how it melds with their face and cannot be removed. That was well outwith my budget, especially since it's essentially a one use item.

Finally, since I had the light-box out, and these props were all stored together, I took a couple snaps of the Eye of Light and Darkness which I have previously written about. 

Now, once the new version of the campaign is released later this year, I'll be using these to freak some players out!