Event:1925/06/07 Sightseeing and Murder
After breakfast, we go to the docks to the Randolph Shipping Company. It's Sunday and the place is pretty empty. Randolph eventually comes to the door, and after a confusing conversation, Edith mentions strange things and he denies it and shuts the door. Looking around, Lloyd sees boxes on the dock matching the description of the other investigators.
We head to the dockmaster. Chun Li charms[1] the man working for 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] in the manifest that the next shipment coming in to Randolph Shipping Company from Ho Fong Imports in Shanghai is listed as mining equipment on the Margret 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 make their way inland to Cuncudgerie by rail from there. 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. 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 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, we rent a boat and row it toward the Randolph Shipping Company dock. 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]. Gurumarra opens another crate (loudly), from Ho Fong Imports in Shanghai. This one contains engine pistons. We move to the doors and Edith [5] gets us in. Unfortunately, there's no partitions within the warehouse, and we wake Randolph. Gurumarra throws a spear at him and then stabs him, killing him. Lloyd plays lookout[2], and announces that it doesn't seem anyone is near. Gurumarra finds a key on the body that opens the desk, along with a flask that he pours out over the body. Inside the desk is a ledger for 1925. 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 Mombsa, 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 Foundations 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, and Edith comments[6] that to examine this further a laboratory is needed. Gurumarra drags the Cthulhu statue inside so it burns too. The group sets the building on fire, takes the device to the boat, and sails away.
We return to the hotel to sleep... as much as we can.
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