Arriving in Mombasa, you send a telegram to your friend in New York, Carlton Ramsey and inform him of your progress. You then book passage on the first ship to Melbourne in Australia. Your leads point you towards Port Hedland and Darwin, so you will have to take a train or plane there when you arrive.

No air service exists to or from Australia in the 1920s. The Pacific ocean is first crossed by plane in 1928, and the first direct Australia to United Kingdom flight is in 1936. Ships are the only possible way to reach the continent. Australia was well-connected by cable telegraph with the world in the early 1870s.

Gustav - you read ‘Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon’. You lose 1D6 SAN and gain +3 Cthulhu Mythos. Please see the book summary under ‘Important Documents’ on Rpol.

TJ – you read ‘The G’harne Fragments’. You lose 1D10 SAN and gain +3 Cthulhu Mythos. Please see the book summary under ‘Important Documents’ on Rpol.

Dermot – you can choose between ‘Amongst the Stones’, ‘Life as a God’, or ‘The Pnakotic Manuscripts’

Johan – you read up on Australian history. This will give you a bonus on some interactions as well as insight into the aboriginal tribes.

Art and Rachel - please let me know if you wish to read any books. Rachel still needs to roll for her improvements and SAN loss (Dodge 50, Listen 20, Occult 45, -1D6 SAN)

Once you arrive in Melbourne, you receive a letter from New York. It’s from Carlton Ramsey, Jackson’s friend and lawyer. Hearing about your new destination, he met up with Professor Cowles and summarizes their conversation;

Prof. Cowles relates that the plates shown at his lecture (see Important Documents) were made by Arthur MacWhirr and came to him via Robert Mackenzie, a mining engineer and the executor of the MacWhirr estate (MacWhirr died from influenza). Cowles also received MacWhirr’s diary. A transcript of the last pages of the diary are included with the letter (see below).

Professor Cowles’ lecture establishes that an Australian death cult of the Sand Bat once existed and links this cult to evidence of the Cthulhu Mythos. In addition, it seems that Arthur MacWhirr’s diary (and possibly further clues) can be found in Sydney.

The professor had heard of Cthulhu and R’lyeh and finds certain disturbing parallels between the tales of the Sand Bat and Cthulhu. Some Polynesian legends discuss them also, though the tales are different. Cowles has read the Ponape Scriptures, “a most disturbing and disgusting tome.” Unfortunately, the University of Sydney’s copy of the Ponape Scriptures was lent to a John Scott of Boston, Mass., and was never returned.

Macwhirr’s Diary;

Mar. 7, 1921—Jock Kuburaga says that abos are following us. Most unusual if true. Primitives have every reason to fear guns—and our bush ranger predilection for using them. In the past, I have always known them to head the other way as soon as they sight white men.

Mar. 21—We are about equally distant from Joanna Spring and Separation Well, east of an awful line of dry lakes. The heat is terrible. Our hopes are low—there is nothing here, certainly not quartz reels! L.’s notations are in systematic error. He is a complete drongo as a surveyor. Today we sighted several enormous birds flying lazily far above us. How did they get here, and where can they be going?

Mar. 22—At about noon today we found Jock, partly buried in a gully. His body was scoured and covered with hundreds of small punctures, as though somebody had sandblasted him, We buried him, of course. I shall miss his counsel, and he was an excellent hand with the camels.

Mar. 23—We have discovered what appears to be remnants of an ancient city, rising from the shifting sands! I believe I have secured several good photographs of this amazing find, though the heat has ruined all but six of my photographic plates. By the pitting of the stone, the blocks and pillars appear to be more than 10,000 years old! Incredible!

Mar. 24—Four camels killed in the attack last night. I saw at least two abos, and more must have been skulking out there. I’m sure I hit one. That ends this trip—we’ll have to head back to Cuncudgerie and report this incident. More than men were out there last night. I saw shapes much bigger than men during the attack. My evidence is the body of Old Sam the camel, punctured and scraped is the best way I can described the remains, just like poor Jock. Since the attack lasted only a couple of minutes, it’s hard for me to believe that anything human could have done so much damage so quickly. But then what was it?

May 15 – Have told Robert Mackenzie about the city. Together, we aim to return and undertake a full survey. When he saw the photographic plates, he was flabbergasted. Now as keen as mustard to work with me to realize the discovery.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:17, Sun 10 Nov 2019.

In reply to GM (msg # 2):

Johan pours over the pictures depicting the large stones, examining them in great details with a look and shock and curiosity.

After a moment without changing his gaze, “meine Freunde,  I believe we should make our way to this Port Hedland and investigate the findings of this MacWhirr with all haste....”

You manage to hire a private flight out to Port Hedland. The flight is long, hot, cramped but uneventful.

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Port Hedland is a small town (its non-aboriginal population in 1921 was 303, rising to 437 in 1933; it didn’t reach a population of 3,000 until the late 1960s). Known by the Kariyarra and Nyamal people as “Marapikurrinya,” meaning “place of good water,” it has a natural anchorage harbor. The town serves as the terminus and port facility for a small railroad which winds back into Pilbara country. Rich deposits of gold have been found among the low, flat-topped hills. The richest mines are found at the present railhead, Cuncudgerie, 150 miles (240 km) southeast of the port and terminus. Of interest may be the airfield, constructed in 1921, at the Port Hedland Race Track. It provides flights to Perth using planes owned by Western Australian Airways.

In Port Hedland, the Esplanade Hotel on Anderson Street (12s/day) is the city’s largest and oldest establishment offering accommodation. Its accommodations are reasonable enough, for the town, but do not compare favorably to those of London or New York. Those looking for somewhere more dangerous might try the Pier Hotel (10s/day), the bar of which is frequented by rowdy sailors and dock workers; brawls are common.

Asking around for Robert MacKenzie, you are directed to his house. He greets you with a friendly smile and asks how he can help you.

Robert MacKenzie is a well-dressed gentleman, his face and arms heavily tanned. Mackenzie was Arthur MacWhirr’s friend, as well as the executor of his estate, and knew of MacWhirr’s discovery in the desert. Back in 1921 the pair had planned to survey MacWhirr’s discovery but, when MacWhirr died of influenza later that year, the work stalled and did not go ahead.

Mackenzie confirms that Arthur MacWhirr was absolutely convinced of his desert discovery, and that MacWhirr, a fellow engineer and surveyor, was a respectable and upright citizen. Yes, he knows exactly where MacWhirr made his discovery: 22°03'14.0"S 125°00'39.0"E, deep in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. The site’s coordinates have remained a secret but, following the loss of his friend, he just never had the compulsion to go there. Plus, his work has kept him very busy these last few years, with no time to trek out into the desert on a whim.

While speaking of MacWhirr and his discovery, Mackenzie recalls a curious incident with an American, named Mr. Houston, who came to see him two or three years ago, also asking about Arthur’s photographs and notes. This Mr. Houston didn’t say how he had learned about the material but seemed to suggest he had been a friend of Arthur’s. After Mackenzie lent Mr. Houston some of Arthur’s materials, the fellow disappeared. Damned inconsiderate!

“If you aim to head out to the site to check things out, I can help with arrangements. Trucks, equipment and such. Would love it if you could take photos and gather some samples for me. Shouldn’t take more than four days or so to drive there.”



This message was last edited by the GM at 17:38, Fri 17 Jan 2020.

Art is very interested indeed. The chance to explore some old ruins sounds like a good change of pace to the troubles that have plagued the group as of late.
“Robert would you be able to procure a first aid kit to plus up my medical supplies?”

In reply to Art (msg # 6):

'No worries, mate!" exclaims MacKenzie. "What I suggest is that I telegram down to Cuncudgerie and have them prepare for the expedition there. Trucks, supplies and weapons. Six week's worth or so should do ya. You can get clothes at the outfitter down there as well. Any of you have experience with the outback?"

In reply to GM (msg # 7):

Dermot Murphy scowls, recalling the group’s premier misadventure in the Peruvian desert.

“I’m more a man of the open sea myself. My experience, however, seems to be expanding all the time. That seems a fair plan as far as I can tell. What might we need to know about the outback?”

"Well, the heat and the sun are the main concerns, of course", replies MacKenzie.

"You'd need a lot of water and extra salt daily to keep going under desert temperatures. Sunburn and sunstroke are the worst enemies. Sandstorms, blowouts and snakes of course. Hostile aboriginals. Oh, and spiders!"

He grins slightly as he ticks off the items on his fingers. "Perhaps I should arrange a guide as well? I know a fella down in Cuncudgerie. Professor Dodge. Good bloke."

In reply to GM (msg # 9):

”I don’t doubt we’ll be needin the guidance. When you say aborigines, how hostile are we talkin? We’re fairly capable, but do they warrant a man or two extra?”

After a moment’s pause, Dermot looks back to the man.
<DarkBlue> “A Mr. Hutson, did ye say?” <DarkBlue>
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sat 18 Jan 2020.

"Probably won't bother you lot if you don't bother them. You can even do some trade with them - they're keen on food and durry. Just don't let your guard down. Especially since you appear to be loaded". He grins.

"Oh aye, Huston. That was his name. Old fella, shock of white hair. Yank, like some your mates there. Said he was a friend of Arthur and wanted to borrow some of his charts and stuff. Never returned them, the bugger!"

In reply to GM (msg # 11):

"I had the opportunity to read a little on the local aboriginal populace, it should be interesting to see who accurate those text were."

Johan pauses looking toward the sky, "My friend Dermot...is likely quote correct,an extra man or 5 might be in order.....this...trip has had it's twists and turns..."