Event:1925/06/12 Explore Cuncudgerie
Chun Li notices[1] that two women are paying attention to our group. They are blonde with highlights from the sun, pretty, blue-eyed. Gurumarra notes that this area is so dry that tracks persist for indefinite amounts of time. Chun Li approaches the women and notices[1] that one of them has a Father of all Bats tatoo. One of them, a woman in her early 20s, introduces herself as Shula Wycroft, the daughter of Mortimer Wycroft, and recommends him as the only qualified guide in Cuncudgerie. She says that her sisters are Gertie Wycroft, older, and Janice Wycroft, younger, making Shula the middle child. She tries to get Chun Li to reveal information about what we're doing. Chun Li attempts to reveal little, though she does say we've talked about "craziness in the desert" and that Lloyd and Charles are in charge of the group. Then she shifts the subject to Shanghai and talks about that.
Gurumarra talks to the local aborigines. They say that, long ago (like 3-5 years ago), there was a mining disaster against the white men that came, and dozens of the white people died. They all came from Wycrofts. Everyone died, but the mining continued. They've also seen the giant birds on the horizon, but they know nothing more about them.
Charles decides to stay with the truck. While he waits, Janice Wycroft approaches and asks what we're doing. Charles says we're here prospecting and going to talk to Mortimer Wycroft about where to go. She indicates that there are golden reefs in the west, basically opposite of where we're planning to go. Charles gets the sense that she's just trying to be impressive about the town, but it's not true. She's also trying to direct the expedition's wealth through her father.
Lloyd heads to Wycrofts. Chun Li catches him along the way, introduces him to Shula. After they all chat for a bit, Lloyd and Chun Li head to Wycrofts together. Mortimer Wycroft has deep set eyes and looks unwell, like he doesn't sleep. We get the sense that he is off, mentally. Lloyd negotiates for supplies and to have Mortimer lead us into the desert the next morning.
Gurumarra prepares a traditional meal for the aboriginal people in the area. He remembers that he needs to tell the white folks to beware the dangerous plants and animals in Australia.
We get back together and compare notes. Gurumarra tries to check out the back of Wycroft's shop. Janice comes up and talks to him, and in the conversation she convinces him to go East with her, and they walk into the desert together. We only have 7 sticks of dynamite because Gurumarra carried 3 into the desert with him.
The rest of us realize that Gurumarra has gone missing. Charles and Lloyd go to look for him while Chun Li watches the truck. Shula finds Charles and Lloyd and mentions that her sister and Gurumarra headed to the east earlier. She offers to take us to the east as well and promises to find treasure. Lloyd realizes[2] that she is lying and untrustworthy. Charles attempts to question her about the disappearance, and eventually Lloyd cuts that conversation off and says that, if they return, to let us know.
Skill Checks