IMAG Item Score

IMAG is the god of darkness. The two primal gods REAL (god of light) and IMAG fight with each other in a never-ending battle up in the sky. When REAL is on top, it is day, and when IMAG is on top, it is night.

Yes, you can argue that "on top" is figurative and means "winning", so when REAL is winning it is day, OR that "on top" is literal and thus when REAL is winning then IMAG is facing the ground so it is night, OR that "on top" is still literal but that gravity works upside down in Godland.

Scholars, Priests and Theologians certainly do argue about this, and there have been plenty of wars about who is right. But the common belief is "when REAL is winning, it is day".

REAL is generally good, and IMAG evil. REAL priests (like Rita in the party) have a bright light
shining from their foreheads. IMAG priests have a clot of darkness that envelops them.



The Bronze Studs, a group the Budgie Smugglers had good relations with, contacted the party and arranged to meet at the Grapefruit and Corselette tavern.

Sonny Bowens, leader of the Bronze Studs, and three of his body guard were there, all greased up with their Adonis bodies and skimpy attire.

"We have a job for you which is more up your street than ours," he whispered. "The IMAG temple want an item brought in to Scabport, and delivered to them. Standard rates. Interested?"

Rita and Huilam Artois weren't feeling too well this day [Ian & Jamie were away] so were both lying in a messy pool of their own drooled marmalade*. The rest of the party thought today would be an excellent chance to get some grubby money without the goody-two-shoes sticking their moral noses in. So they said "yes" and took the job.

An hour out of town, down the Fort Augmentin road (map-right), was a copse of trees called the Smugglers Meet, and, in two nights' time, IMAG couriers were to meet the group there to deliver the cargo, a large trunk, the size of a coffee table. This trunk was then to be delivered, unopened, to the IMAG temple in Scabport. Needless to say, the Scabport Night guards would probably desire to stop said cargo entering Scabport, and so would need to be circumvented.

Using the Wizard's Guild import documentation from the previous score (the Wizard Guild grapes), Attlee [ Kevin ] set about forging it to change "six barrels" into "one large trunk", and to change the dates. He did think about changing the names "Rita de Klerk" and "Sly Dunbar", but thought again.

That night, Sorrow [Jeff] prowled around to check the Scabport Night Guards on the Funkenwards gate (Fort Augmentin road), and sure enough, the same head guard, Corporal Anton Chung, was on duty. Presumably the nighton-to-midnight shift.


So, the next night ...

The party (Moonlight [Chris], Sorrow, El Cid [Shane], Attlee, Ronny [Deacon], and Burrito [Darryl]) travelled out to Smugglers Meet in their stolen cart, and sure enough, there were several clots of darkness by the trees - the IMAG couriers.

Whispered words were uttered, and the trunk was brought forth and loaded onto the cart. It was heavy; it required three strong men to lift it, and when it was placed on the cart, the leaf suspension sagged under the load. The trunk's surface was cold to the touch, and it sounded like something was whispering inside.

The trip back to Scabport was uneventful. Moonlight [Chris] had cast Animal Friendship on one of the horses, so he could guide the cart easily rather than trusting Attlee to drive.

Corporal Anton Chung

The Scabport Night Guards blocked the road. Attlee delivered his forged masterpiece to Corporal Anton Chung. The guard peered at it for a while.

"Where's the pretty light-girl?" he said.

"Rita. Lovely Rita. Oh, she's busy at the moment, doing REAL's business for the poor," said Attlee.

"These documents state her name. 'Wizard's Guild Sly Dunbar' and 'Rita de Klerk, Budgie Couriers'. Who are YOU?"

"I'm the same group. At.. atticus," stammered Attlee. "Rita said that she was sure that you wouldn't mind. Oh, and she was telling us all how handsome she thought you were."

"And well-hung," added someone.

"And muscle-bound," said another.

"And she was planning to ... yah... meet you at midnight. After your shift..." came a different voice. "She'll be here to meet you after your shift. She was telling us all... how much she was looking forward to dating you. Wining and dining ... and all such; Scabport never sleeps, you know."

"Never sleeps," said El Cid.

"REAL priestesses put out for brave guards," said Moonlight.

"Put out," said El Cid.

Anton paused

"Tonight?"

"Yes yes. Lovely Rita," said Attlee. "Or tomorrow night"

"Tomorrow?" said the guard.

"No. Tonight!" said another voice, panicked.

Anton paused.

"And this trunk is for the Wizards?" he said.

"Aye!"

"Well, we better not keep the Wizards waiting, had we?" said Anton with a silly grin.

Then he paused and got serious: "Oh, if she don't turn up, I'm coming for you," he pointed at Attlee. "And you." He pointed to Burrito. "And you," to El Cid.



The trip through Scabport streets was quiet on the Law front; they didn't meet any TGP (Thieves' Guild Police). But Sorrow, who was prowling along behind, spotted two other suspicious chaps tailing the wagon. He snuck back to the group, and dispatched El Cid and Ronny to deal with them.

spring chicken

El Cid and Ronny didn't waste time, and the two were soon captured. El Cid and Ronny pulled them down an alley and beat the living snot out of them. They were soon squealing like spring chickens, and revealed that they were Insular Rogues, and were ordered to follow the stolen wagon ("Our damn wagon; the one you bastards stole!" one screamed), and were then to report where it was headed, and what it was carrying.

El Cid and Ronny dragged them to the Scab river and threatened to throw them in, but even that revealed nothing new.

By this time, one had his guts literally spilling from a savage belly cut. El Cid fingered his bloody knife about to cut their throats, but Ronny stayed his arm: "Best not..."

The two beaten wretches were taken to the REAL temple, and dumped on the front steps.

"Let the priests heal them," sneered El Cid.


The rest of the group arrived at the IMAG temple, but the streets around it were full of light beams. REAL priests were illuminating the main road in front of the temple and the back area behind it.
Black clots of darkness were patrolling the IMAG temple itself.

Sorrow went over to investigate. Here he met up with an IMAG priestess called Clara - not that he ever saw her, she was inside a clot of darkness. No-one ever sees IMAG priests.
Clara said that they get harrassed by the REAL priests like this every night, all night.

Sorrow returned to the wagon and suggested that the group return with the delivery the next morning.

So, the group returned to their secret lair and unloaded the crate inside.

No-one paid the crate any heed the rest of the night.

Typical IMAG Sphere

It was soon morning. The group headed straight for the IMAG temple and to the cart loading-bay. The clots and IMAG guards surrounded the crate, and took it away. Delivered.

Later on, back in the Grapefruit and Corselette, Sonny and his boys were there, their oiled bodies glistening as they posed and stretched.

"Job well done," he said, and paid the group; a small chest of silver [6 COIN ].

Downtime: 

• Burrito trained, and worked on his long term project of finding the Insular Rogues' base.
• Attlee trained, and indulging his vice (to clear stress) but he was too efficient and he overindulged and bragged [+2 HEAT].
• El Cid trained and indulged vice.
• Moonlight trained and indulged vice.
• Sorrow trained and indulged vice.
• Ronny trained and Reduced Heat [-1 HEAT].

* = When players miss a gaming session, their characters collapse, unconscious, in the game-world, and start to drool marmalade** from their bodily orifices. If this happens in a home base, they are pretty safe. If this happens on a mission, they can be carried or put in a wagon, like a corpse. The only danger arises with TPK (total party kill), then the marmalader dies with the group, and dissolves completely into their own weight in marmalade. This marmalade can be distilled and made in to healing potions, so is more valuable than rubies.

** = 2 grapefruit, 2 oranges and 1 lemon, 6 cups water, 6 cups sugar, ½ cup whisky. Halve citrus and slice as thinly as possible. Place in a large pot, add water and soak overnight. The next day, bring to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour or until citrus is tender. Add sugar and stir to dissolve, then bring to a rolling boil for 80 minutes. To test for setting, spoon a little onto a plate. If a film forms on the surface, it is ready. If not, keep boiling. While still hot, add the whiskey, mix well, then pour into sterilized jars and seal with sterilized lids. It will keep for months.