The Black Pyramid by Dante Harrower is a role playing game supplement published by Chaosium Inc. through the Miskatonic Repository Community Content Programme for use with Call of Cthulhu, the horror role playing game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This is a 1920s scenario.
The supplement is available as a 24 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. One page is the front cover, one the front matter and one the Table of Contents. There is also a zip file which contains PNGs of all seven maps.
The Introduction explains that the adventure is set in 1920s Egypt and is intended for two or more investigators over 3-6 sessions. It is intended to take place just before the events of Lovecraft’s Nyarlathotep. It also summarises the structure of the scenario.
Keeper’s Information gives background information on the adventure and the expedition to Egypt that is its focus.
Involving the Investigators explains that the adventure begins aboard a train and it’s assumed the characters are already involved in the expedition.
Dramatis Personae gives details on the important NPCs, including descriptions, traits and roleplaying hooks.
Act One: The Train describes the train itself and has various scenes that take place on it.
Act Two: The Dig Site describes the dig site and the scenes.
Act Three: The Ritual is the attempt to raise the Black Pharoah, the scenes, escape and being enthralled.
Charaters and Monsters has stats for the various creatures and NPCs.
The final four pages of content have colour maps of the various areas.
The Black Pyramid in Review
The PDF is bookmarked, but not usefully. The Table of Contents covers the major and minor sections. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and some minor errors were noticed. Apart from the maps, there are no illustrations. Presentation is adequate.
The adventure is described a couple of times as survival horror with limited resources, and not suitable for every group. In fact, it is probably best suited for a one-shot; there is a good chance of things going quite badly, even by Call of Cthulhu standards, and potentially going up against Nyarlathotep in a side adventure is perhaps over the top. The Black Pyramid is a dangerous little adventure that is, as mentioned, best used on its own, and it can be found by clicking here.
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