The Nine Gates is said to contain within its pages knowledge to raise the devil. The author was burned upon a pyre of his own works, and only three copies survive in private occult collections. All have been well cared for and are in good condition.

For centuries, Satanists have tried to use this rare book to conjure thier dark lord while occultists have wracked thier brains trying to decipher the rich symbolism of the nine woodcuts. There is scant evidence that anyone has ever succeeded in these endeavors. The fact is that all of these deluded fools have failed to grasp the metaphorical nature of Satan within the work. The Devil is but a mask for something impossible for the sane mind to comprehend. Nyarlathotep is the real source of this enigma.

Because all of the content is couched heavily in occult terminology, no benefit or harm can be derived from this book without first making a succesful Occult skill roll. There is only one spell within the book. Encrypted by the enigma of the strange wood-cuts, it has remained elusive for centuries. In addition to the succesful Occult roll, the reader must seperately roll INT or less on a D100 in order to solve this puzzle. Of course, a PC persuing the riddle should be subjected to a far more descriptive ordeal.

The one who solves the puzzle and pledges himself to Nyarlathotep will be transported to the very Throne of Chaos, where he must sign his name in the Black Book of Azathoth. In return, he will receive a portion of Nyarlathotep's power. In game terms, this might amount to a gift of 2 points of POW along with 2D6 spells and an invulnerability to non-magical attacks. Or perhaps his deepest desire, whatever it may be, will be fulfilled.

Latin language, -1D3/1D6 sanity; +6 Mythos; Spells: See below; 6D6 weeks (average 21 weeks) to study and comprehend