The Case of Darwin - History
Contents
Synopsis
Calendar of Events
<eventCalendar> namespace = Event aspectratio = 1.3 defaultmonth = 1925-06-01 </eventCalendar>
Log of Events
Travel to Australia
May 29, 1925 thru June 6, 1925
The investigators travel by steamer from Shanghai to Darwin and review the copious notes and collected artifacts left by prior teams during their weeklong journey.
Darwin, Australia
June 6, 1925
On June 6, 1925, the investigators arrive in Darwin. We decide to stay at the Darwin Hotel (as opposed to the Victoria Hotel).
The local watering hole is named Bertram's Bar, which women go to as well. We meet Gurumarra and Edith Jackson while getting drinks. Charles had reached out to Edith before our arrival, and Gurumarra is looking for trade. We spend the afternoon filling them in on the situation. Gurumarra knew another aboriginal that, on his walkabout, said he saw the Father of all Bats and said it was the worst thing he ever laid eyes on. He's also aware of the stories of the Rainbow Snake and that corpses have been found like those described by Anthony Cowles. Lloyd overhears[1] an aboriginal man relating to a friend about shading dealings at Randolph Shipping Company that are concerning him. Edith attempts to approach them and flash some money[2], but he sits up rail straight and says he doesn't know anything. Gurumarra tries to talk to them as well[3], but also fails. Edith volunteers that Toddy Randolph is a man in his mid-40s known to frequent Bertram's Bar and the owner of Randolph Shipping Company. Chun Li gets charming with the pair that was chatting earlier[4] and learns that Randolph lives at his office.
We go back to the hotel to sleep.
Skill Checks
June 7, 1925
After breakfast, we head to the docks to visit Randolph Shipping Company. It's Sunday and the place is pretty empty. Randolph eventually comes to the door, and after a confusing conversation in which it becomes clear that the investigators didn't really have a plan, Edith mentions hearing about strange things going on at his company. He denies it and shuts the door. Looking around, Lloyd sees boxes on the dock matching the description of the prior investigators.
We head to the dockmaster. Chun Li charms[1] the man working there and gets the names of the last 3 ships that come into Randolph Shipping Company - the Poseidon (from Kolkata, India), Speckled Magpie (from Shanghai), and the Keeper's Discretion (from Cape of New Hope). Lloyd spots[2] the manifest and sees that the next shipment scheduled to come into Randolph Shipping Company is from Ho Fong Imports in Shanghai aboard the Margaret and listed as mining equipment en route to Cuncudgerie.
Charles talks to other dockworkers and learns that Cuncudgerie is a gold mining town. Seems like things come into Randolph Shipping Company, go to Port Hedland by sea from there, and then make their way inland to Cuncudgerie by rail. He also learns that the other bar in town is the Outback Inn.
Lloyd visits the local constabulary saying he's new in town and asks about the strange murders. The constabulary says that local aboriginals are talking about a cult that has awoken, but don't know that they believe that. Seems like victims were hit with club with a hook or spike on it repeatedly puncturing them. Victims come from all walks of life. Charles intimidates[3] someone into revealing that they've heard a white madman is leading the new cult.
Chun Li, Edith, and Gurumarra canvas the non-white section of the city. They hear that there's a great city buried in the desert. Buddai, a great old man, sleeps with his head in his arms and snores beneath it. One day, Buddai will arise and devour the world.
That evening, Edith rents a boat and we row it toward the Randolph Shipping Company dock. Charles ties up the boat, Chun Li unties it for a quick getaway, then eventually they agree to leave it tied and move with the group up the docks. We find crates marked with the sign of the Sand Bat that came from the Penhew Foundation. Opening one, we find a wooden statue of the great Cthulhu about 3' tall[4][5]. Gurumarra opens another crate (loudly), from Ho Fong Imports in Shanghai. This one contains engine pistons. We move to the doors and Edith gets us in[6]. Unfortunately, there's no partitions within the warehouse, and we wake Toddy Randolph. Gurumarra throws a spear at him and then stabs him, killing him[4]. Lloyd plays lookout[2], and announces that it doesn't seem anyone is nearby or coming. Gurumarra finds a key on the body that opens the desk in the room, along with a flask that he pours out over the body to make it more flammable. Chun Li checks out the desk and finds a ledger for the current year. The ledger mentions multiple shipments to Mortimer Wycroft in Cuncudgerie that are also marked with the sign of the Sand Bat, scheduled to go by boat to Port Hedland and then by rail. Other shipments marked with the sign of the Sand Bat are for Ahja Singh in Mombasa, Kenya. Additional shipments to Ho Fong Imports in Shanghai also have the sign of the Sand Bat, and earlier in the year, some shipments routed to the Penhew Foundation in London. In a newer looking, unmarked crate, Charles finds a 2' tall, 1' wide strange device made of rods, wheels, and mirrors. Edith and Lloyd check it out[7], and Edith comments that to examine this further a laboratory is needed. The group agrees to pack it away and take it with them. Planning to burn the building down, Gurumarra drags the Cthulhu statue inside so it burns too. The group takes the device to the boat, sets the building on fire, and then sails away.
We return to the hotel to sleep... as much as we can after the evening's events.
Skill Checks
June 8, 1925
The group spends the day helping Lloyd set up a laboratory in Edith's hanger. They catch some rumors around town that Toddy Randolph got drunk, knocked over a lantern, and died in the resulting fire. Edith also preps the plane with help from Chun Li, Charles, and Gurumarra.
June 9, 1925
Working together using the lab Edith and Lloyd get the strange device they took from Randolph Shipping Company working[1]. Lloyd announces that it appears to be some sort of mechanical telescope, and he looks through the aperture. The device ceases functioning very shortly thereafter, and Lloyd reports that he saw some flashes and was confused, but otherwise, it wasn't very noteworthy. Examining the device, they feel it will not work ever again. The others gather provisions for the trip (gin and cigarettes, of course) and finish prepping the plane.
Skill Checks
- ↑ Science(Engineering) check
Port Hedland, Australia
June 10, 1925
Leaving early the next morning, Edith flies us half way to Derby and we refuel in the bay, then flies to Derby, refuels, and then from there flies to Port Hedland.
We arrive in the afternoon. The aboriginal peoples of the area are the Kariyarra and Nyamal people. They give the name “Marapikurrinya" which translates to "Place of Good Water" to this place. In the town there is a small hospital, the closest asylum is in Perth, and there are no libraries or newspapers. The local bar is Chuck's. People in the town are talking about the time a few years back "that crazy American man came through with 2 dozen (mostly white) men and headed to Cuncudgerie". They describe the man as older, unsettled, and throwing money around. They recommend talking to Robert Mackenzie about going to Cuncudgerie. They also mention dead bodies with punctures all over them being found. A few days back someone said they thought they saw a really big bear. They give us Mackenzie's address.
We go to Robert Mackenzie's house. He's a stout man with a bowler hat and old but fairly nice clothes. We tell him we're looking to go on a mining expedition. He says Cuncudgerie is very dangerous; there's been a lot of strange sightings and weird goings on. He tells us that Arty said he saw a giant city come out of nowhere in the great sandy desert. He'd found some old weird stones that led him to an old city, and he took pictures using photographic plates. The pictures didn't look like they could be faked. A Mr. Huston came looking for him 2-3 years ago, and he hasn't seen him since. He believes MacWhirr's diary is with a friend, Dr. Dodge, in Sydney. Since we asked, he provides the exact longitude and latitude, 22°3'14" South by 125°0'39" East. He mentions that we'll need to be well provisioned if we want to go there, as there's a good possibility of running out of water.
Cuncudgerie, Australia
June 11, 1925
Event:1925/06/11 Journey to Cuncudgerie
June 12, 1925
Event:1925/06/12 Explore Cuncudgerie
June 13, 1925
Event:1925/06/13 Journey to the East of Cuncudgerie
June 14, 1925
Event:1925/06/14 Heatstroke Victim
June 15, 1925
Event:1925/06/15 Drive to the South
June 16, 1925
Event:1925/06/16 Aboriginal Encampment
June 17, 1925
June 18, 1925
June 19, 1925
Event:1925/06/19 Coordinates Reached
