Syndicate Courier Case

By David Hood (david.hood@stonebow.otago.ac.nz)

Description

Got that message/item you need delivered? You need a Syndicate Courier Case (TM).

It looks like a normal briefcase the SCC offers the following features:

• Damage Resistant (it can take 12 points of damage before being forced)
• Secure Locking (Target number 10 to pick, 6 success needed. Mind + Entropy Effect uses 1 point of quintessence per journey)
• Alert (If the courier/case is in danger it sends out an alert. Entropy+ Forces Effect uses 2 points of quintessence per journey)
• Self-Destruct (If the case is forced open it destroys the contents. Forces + Matter + Prime uses 3 points of quintessence per journey)
• Detection shielding (The contents of the case will not show up on Xray/metal/sniffer/etc detectors. Pattern + Correspondence uses 2 points of quintessence per journey)
• Courier assistance (The courier has a much easier time of making plane/taxi/train/dog-sled/etc connections. Entropy + Correspondence uses 1 point of quintessence per journey)

A trained operator (mage) will activate the requested features (effects) before a delivery. With the exception of damage resistance, all features are optional. SCC's are avialable to members of the syndicate and fellow conventions (for a suitible remuneration).

Mechanics

The cases generally have a quintessence store of 18. This is enough fore a journey to and fro with all of the features engaged. An encountered SCC generally will not have this much quintessence, unless it has just be recharge prior to a delivery. The mage selects which features to activate which then become locked on for the journey, that is until the case has been delivered and the combination correcty put in. It is possible to preset the case for 2 trips. Here, enough quintessence is stored in the case to reinitiate the preset features when the case is closed after the first delivery.

Unbeknownst to the other conventions, the cases that the Syndicate have rented them have (very rarely) included the feature "Record contents" (pattern magics + mind). The Syndicate has rarely used this additional feature, keeping it in reserve for very special occasions.)