Event:1925/06/22 Day in Cairo

We go to the Cairo Bulletin and talk to Nigel Wassif. He introduces himself as the editor, owner, and reporter of the Cairo Bulletin. He remembers Jackson Elias, but has no real information, though he seems to be holding something back. Quinn pushes him to give us more information, but he diverts the conversation with discussions of the history of the newspaper. Victor and Quinn both pick up on him deflecting. Victor tries to press on information about Jackson and who else might've tried following up on him, but he doesn't seem to remember anything additional. Quinn mentions Omar al-Shakti to judge his reaction, and Quinn gets the sense that Nigel is interested in the connections we're making and seeing where they go, but he doesn't have a strong reaction to the name drop itself. Quinn lays on the charm and makes a final attempt to get him to open up, but he seems to just get uncomfortable. He tells us that there's nothing more he can think of, but invites us to come back and talk to him as we discover more. Through most of the conversation, Charles and Gunter examine the back catalog and find plenty of articles that support what they already know about what's going on in Cairo. They also find a picture of part of the Carlyle Expedition - Roger Carlyle, Hypatia Masters, and Jack Brady - arriving in Egypt years ago. Wassif is noted as the reporter of record. There is also a note that Ms. Masters took ill and ended the festivities after the arrival. When Gunter and Charles return they ask about the photo, and Nigel says that Dr. Alli Kafour at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo was one of the Expedition's local contacts. Nigel says he only interacted with the Expedition enough to get the photo and found them to be dreadfully horrible people who were extremely standoffish. Gunter then asks about cats. Nigel does mention that he has noticed an explosion of cats lately, and they are often associated with an ancient Egyptian deity known as Bast, though that seems like superstition to him. He says we could talk Dr. Alli Kafour about the cats as well, as he is likely to know more. Quinn asks what Nigel knows about the Clive Expedition. He tells us that there's a big dig that's going on right now in the outskirts of Cairo and another near the Bent Pyramid. It seems like they're close to some major discovery. There have been stories of disappearances of staff or people associated with it, but that's common. He doesn't seem very impressed by Clive, and they've gone so far as to employ a medium. He believes her name is Agatha something... He says it's not Anastasia when Charles references her. Nigel does mention that there was a robbery of the Clive Expedition - a mummy was stolen, and the information was made public within the last few weeks. We also find another clipping at the Cairo Bulletin about Faraz Najjar's shop burning to the ground completely several years ago. Quinn lets Nigel know we're staying at the Shepheard's Hotel and he could contact us there. We take a copy of the latest issue of the Cairo Bulletin and see ourselves out.

In the afternoon, we go to the Egyptian Museum. We meet with Dr. Alli Kafour. Quinn notices a tattoo on his chest, but isn't able to place it. Gunter introduces us and asks about the Carlyle Expedition. Dr. Kafour says they uncovered some secret of the Black Pharaoh that led to their deaths in Kenya. Victor asks about the Black Pharaoh. He says at the end of the 3rd dynasty, a man named Nephren-ka came to Egypt. He was a powerful sorcerer. It was said he could bring madness or death to his enemies with the flick of a finger. According to legend, he was the Black Pharaoh or in other legends he was a priest of the Black Pharaoh. His symbol was an inverted ankh. Nephren-ka and the Black Pharaoh ruled for several dynasties. Nephren-ka was said to possess a huge beast similar to the sphinx in appearance. His voice was said to be a black wind that went through the lands destroying. The Black Pharaoh is still worshipped today by cults that are essentially inhuman in their behavior. The cults may have something to do with the evil Queen Nitocris. She's rumored to have been beautiful but horrible. The Clive Expedition recently opened a tomb and found a mummy that was rumored to be Queen Nitocris, but it was stolen. He confirms that the Clive Expedition has been digging in Giza. They are specifically interested in pyramids built by Sneferu. He consulted for both expeditions. He remembers Jackson Elias as nervous and driven, maybe to the point of paranoia. He also asked about the Carlyle Expedition. He left Cairo abruptly and missed a follow-up appointment with Dr. Kafour. Victor shows him the Cult of the Bloody Tongue symbol and he correctly identifies it. He believes the God of the Bloody Tongue is related to the Black Pharaoh, and that the cults have grown recently. Charles asks about cats, and he mentions Bast and acknowledges that there are a lot of cats these days. Dr. Kafour mentions Janwillem Van Heuvelen, a man he's used for translations of hieroglyphics that's had a lot of issues with cats. Van Heuvelen definitely worked with the Clive Expedition, though it seems that he had a falling out with them. We get his address. Dr. Alli Kafour mentions a legend about the Black Pharaoh that he was said to arise fingers and toes, 20 years, after the Great Good One. The Great Good One was said to possibly be Jesus though he thinks it more likely to be Muhammad. The legend also mentions man-like, inhuman creatures under the sands that would kill. He also tells us that the sphinx was a ritual site for the Black Pharaoh and especially the Queen Nitocris. He gives us a tour, and points out what he claims is the original copy of the Necronomicon. He and Quinn seem to reach a rough agreement that keeping that out of the hands of evil is of paramount importance. He assures us that it is extremely secured. Quinn pulls Dr. Kafour aside and confides that they are here to fight cults of the Black Pharaoh. He tenuously agrees that we're all on the same side. He agrees to help us make connections to people who've worked for the Clive Expedition. Quinn brings up the medium that the Clive Expedition hired, and he confirms that her name is Agatha Broadmour. He mentions other members of the Clive Expedition - Archeologists James Gardner and Johanna Specht. Asking more about the Carlyle Expedition, he notes that he met with Aubrey Penhew and discussed the Black Pharaoh, though Penhew explicitly didn't visit last time. He mentions that Penhew was very rude when Dr. Kafour visited the Carlyle Expedition. Asking about Besart and Najjar, he says they're associated with the Clive Expedition. He says that Besart is a hashish addict and will be out with the expedition, while Najjar can be found at his shop in town. The Clive Expedition has used their money and influence to ensure the government is hands-off with their expedition. We thank him for all the information and the tour, and take our leave.

We head back to the hotel and everyone, except Quinn, starts reading books recently recovered with the iron chest. Charles attempts to read Russian, but can't translate it. Victor and Gunter read books containing diary ramblings of cultists. We go to sleep.

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