Meet the Governor - a Pulp Alley Game

The fiftieth anniversary of the last stand at Sinastras IV is immanent. The hive city's new governor, Rordan Karthur, has announced a commemoration of the event.

The high point will be a ceremony honouring the three heroes of the last stand. One of the three will be proclaimed 'in viro in imperium', Hero of the Imperium. Governor Karthur has recalled the three heroes to Sinastras IV, welcoming them at a formal reception. For the heroes, the reception is an opportunity to make a favourable impression on Governor Karthur and his entourage.

This game was played using the Social Affair scenario from the Vice Alley book. As befits a formal reception there is no shooting, no fisticuffs, no running. This will be a battle of wits and repartee!

The reception begins. The hero's leagues are scattered across the table, ready to hone in on the Governor and his hangers-on. The governor is the major plot point. The dog, the jokearo and the singer are all wandering perils. The other characters are minor plot points.

Mme Cantorina spent most of the night trying to decide whether to make a dramatic entry down the stairs or to spend the evening at the food tables.

Two of the admech league approach the Governor's wife. She endures repeated overtures throughout the night, but remains resolutely unimpressed by their spindly appendages.

A scout hovers uncertainly in the shadows, plucking up the courage to chat up Councillor Akers.

But what's this? Romulus Decima, the Admech leader, has cut in on him! The cheek of him!

And he's brought his friends. The scout feels decidedly on the social outer.

Adding injury to insult, he's the subject of some probing inquiries from the robot.

Meanwhile, the scribe contemplates hurling himself from the balcony: surely it would be less painful than having to endure the competitive boasting of soldier and scout.

Eventually, he falls in with Commissar Burns' offsider.

The main game, though, is the Governor himself. Amos O'Gore is the first one to approach the Governor.

But the initial impression is obviously not a good one!

The scouts are not easily discouraged.

But they don't make much of an impression either! Commissar Burns joins the conversation, having already gained the ear of the Governor's mercantile adviser.

Burns tells a few choice stories about his shared past with the scouts. By the time he gets to the story about bed-wetting at the academy, the scouts are reeling with embarrassment.

Burns, with the scouts rebuffed, Burns wins the ear of the Governor and, with it, the game.

Another great game. The lack of combat made for a really different game as players were forced to rely on their other skills.

Continued...