[ Spooks ]

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Welcome to the world of espionage!

This has been long in the making and planning... But still, expect many faults on my part.

Some of our members may be familiar with the BBC drama series Spooks, [renamed ‘MI-5’ in across the pond]; I got into the program about six months ago [DVDs are great] and thoroughly enjoyed it! So, thought I, why not connect it to something else I toughly enjoy? Namely: The Barrow Downs.

So, here we have it, a spy game on the Downs! After all, the name ‘spooks’ can easily refer to ghosts, and seeing as we are all dead here on the Downs, it seems fitting.

The plan is thus: A Game will be set up, similar to the werewolf games, but a little more complex. There are three sets of characters: BI-5 officers [spook is MI-5 slang for spy, so use that if you wish], The WAAL group and Normal Wights,
Each player can play as his or her Barrow Downs persona [I.e. I would play as Hookbill the Goomba] but you must have a job [for the spooks and WAALs this will be a cover story [or, in spook language, a ‘legend’]] for example, a farmer, or a baker etc.

All Wights: [15]
The majority of the Game will take place in the Dead Inn [See Map] where all the regulars will be discussing the latest threat made by the WAAL group. Like in WW, players will be attempting to discover who are members of WAAL and to stop them before they commit an atrocity on the Downs! There are day and night periods, like in WW. At any time you can publicly accuse someone of being a WAAL or even of being a spook as you would in a WW game.

Normal Wights: [7]
The aim of a Normal Wight is to work out who is a WAAL. Once you have your suspicions, you can do one of two things. Either tip off the Spooks about him/her or, join the WAAL. To do either of these things, you must send a Private Message to me and then say who you think is a WAAL and weather you are tipping the Spooks or joining the WAAL. Moreover, if you think you know who is a Spook, then you can opt to join them or you can ask for protection. What this means will become clear later…

WAAL Wights: [5]
The group calling itself WAAL [Wights of Angmar Against Learning] are out to destroy the Downs and its moderators! They want to Downs to return to its original purpose of serving the Witch King and Sauron and give up all this Middle Earth lore. In the Inn, your job is to try and stay inconspicuous and avoid being detected by the Spooks. If you suspect someone of being a Spook, you can chose to do one of two things. Either egg them in the night [this will result in the person dropping something] or kidnapping them.

If a person is kidnapped they can no longer post on the game YET they can leave coded messages anywhere on the Downs, this can be in the form of a link hidden in a full stop that leads to one of the kidnapper’s profile. If you are kidnapped, you will discover ONE of the kidnappers, but you are not to reveal this except though secret messages.

If a WAAL is captured by the Spooks, they can no longer take part in the game and they will be reviled as a WAAL and imprisoned. No secret messaging is allowed for discovered WAALs, they will not find out any of the Spooks! So, try not to get found out! If you are under protection, you cannot be kidnapped.
The aims of the WAAL are to plan an attack on a moderator at the end of the week [Game Time]. You must discuss amongst yourselves who, where and why by PM during nighttimes periods. Also, you need to avoid detection and to try and kidnap a Spook or two. But, you are not all monsters, for one of you will leave secret messages around the Downs, again the form of a hidden link in a post that will lead to either a picture that relates to the target or a key word [for example, if you were going to attack the Barrow Wight, it may be something like ‘King’ or ‘Overlord’].

Spooks: [3]
The organisation is officially called the Security Service. Unofficially, they prefer to be called BI-5 [Barrow Intelligence Section 5] or simply 5. The aim of the service is to protect the interests of the Moderators and stop any acts of terror in the Downs and to make sure the WAAL is put in prison. While in the Inn, you must make sure no one discovers you are a Spook, and you must also try and decipher who is a WAAL. Once you have your suspicions, you can do one of three things…

Firstly, you can have a target followed at night, just PM me the name of the target and then I will tell you their actions and you can then go from there.

Secondly, you can have someone’s file looked at, again via a PM to me. I will then send you their file, which will tell you the person’s history and weather they are considered a threat to Barrow security.

Thirdly, you can have someone brought in for questioning, just PM the questions to me. I will then send them to the target and they will send me the answers and I will then send them to you.

Once you think you know who is a WAAL and you have evidence to back it up, you can request that they be arrested by a PM to me. Special Forces will then be sent to arrest the Target. A target will then be vetted and if it turns out that they are a normal, they must be released, but they may discover one of your identities, this will not always happen, but it will at random occasions. If you arrest a WAAL, they will stay in prison until the end and will be out of the game. Also, during their prison time, you will receive information from them at points, possibly including who their target is.

Once you have worked out whom the WAAL are going to attack and where it will take place, you can send Special Forces to the location at the end of the week [again, PM me the information]. If you are correct, then the WAAL will be brought to justice and the moderator will be safe for another day! If not, then the WAAL will attack one of our beloved mods.

Of Day times…
During the day, all players will be in the Dead Inn and will discuss the WAAL threat. There will be no movement to other parts of the Downs. Each day will last 72 hours [3 normal days]. The day will begin with the land lord of the Dead Inn [me] telling everyone what has happened in the night [because I am close to the head of BI-5’s ear and the head of WAAL yet will not chose a side]. Also, I will read from the Newspaper a story and three advertisements [one of which will be a coded message to the Spooks].

Of Nighttimes…
During the Night, players will not post in the game thread. The Spooks and the WAAL will make their operations, and discuss their course of action and their suspicions. The Normal Wights can contact someone they suspect of being either a Spook or a WAAL and decide to join or to tip off. Each Night will last 48 hours [2 Normal days].

A warning.
Although there are only three groups named here, there are more secret people in the game. I’m not going to tell you what their jobs will be, but you’d better watch out!

Any questions?

[Meneltarmacil]

This sounds interesting. I'll sign up for it. My occupation will be "Mad Scientist".

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Meneltarmacil

My occupation will be "Mad Scientist".

If that doesn't get you arrested on the first day, nothing will.

Each player can, if they wish, put together their own legend. Your name, occupation, age and Down's history.

The world this is set in is like a physical manifestation of the Barrow Downs community... with spies.... yes.

[Valesse]

I'm interested, but I'm not sure I understand completely... not having watched the program.

I'll read through the post again later (when I'm in my right mind) and get back to you about playing. Sounds -very- fun though.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

What she said

Plus I have signed up for Valiers WW game, but if they don't colide. . .

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarn

Plus I have signed up for Valiers WW game, but if they don't colide. . .

I'm hoping it won't. It should take a while to gather 15 players, though.

Players so far:

- Meneltarmacil
- Valesse
- Rune

[Volo]

Hmm... sounds good, but if you could start this little later, I'm already wating two WW-games to start. Put a question mark on me.

[elronds_daughter]

Ah, espionage! I do so love it...I must join in. I don't, however, have time at the moment to thoroughly read the rules and think up a role for myself. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Probably tomorrow.

[EDIT]

Or tonight. Count me in. I shall be the schoolmistress. The students must be indoctrinated! Err...I mean...taught. Yeah. Taught.

[/EDIT]

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Volo

Hmm... sounds good, but if you could start this little later, I'm already wating two WW-games to start. Put a question mark on me.

What he said goes for me too.

EDIT: Remove the question mark after my name. I will have time, this intrigues me that much.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

You don't really need to have watched the program to play. It was just the inspiration. Although, watching it might help you get into the right frame of mind.

Players so far:

- Meneltarmacil [Mad scientist]
- Valesse
- Rune
- Volo ?
- elronds_daughter [Schoolmistress]
- Thinlómien

[Meneltarmacil]

I had actually signed up for Sleepy Ranger's Werewolf game a while back, but I don't know if that's going to get off the ground, so my name will stay on the list. Whatever the case, I'll be gone from 5:30 EST tonight until some time on Sunday, so I'lll be unavailable for comment.

[Gandalf_the _white]

Sounds interesting but as anyone who has played ww with me knows, i don't have much time at a computer. If this game goes well (and i have better access to a computer by then) I may play in the next game

[mormegil]

Hookbill,

A couple of questions before this progresses any further.

First, and most importantly, I fail to see how this is related in anyway to Tolkien or his works. We have included the name Barrow-Downs but I still don't see any conncection.

Second, I have a great concern over this:

If a person is kidnapped they can no longer post on the game YET they can leave coded messages anywhere on the Downs, this can be in the form of a link hidden in a full stop that leads to one of the kidnapper’s profile. If you are kidnapped, you will discover ONE of the kidnappers, but you are not to reveal this except though secret messages.

I don't see how I can support this and I think that the admins would agree though I could talk to them about it before making a final decision. This has the potential to make many 'serious' posts become merely an attempt to give a clue to the current game thus lessening the discussions that are going on elsewhere.

I recommend that this game be put on hiatus until I get some firm answers.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I've thought about this a little.

Baring the name Tol-in-Gaurhoth, there is little else Tolkien related in most WW games. But that is no defence for my own part.
I'll give some extra thought to this today and get back to you with some ideas (if anyone else has any, they are welcome).

I have had a better idea for the secret messaging, however:

When a player has been kidnapped or whatever, they can set a secret message in:
a) Their signature (again, secret link in full stop)
b) A PM to me with a coded message. Or
c) Again with a PM to me, an advertisement to be placed in the newspaper the next day.

I'll give some more thought into getting it more Tolkien related and get back to you as soon as possible.

[elronds_daughter]

morm, you've got points.

Hookbill, if the head Wights suspend your game, you're welcome to use my forum for it. http://fantasyinsanity.proboards38.com In fact, you should probably get on there anyway. We could use more members. (Yes, that was a shameless plug.)

[mormegil]

I've spoken with others Mods and Admins, including the B-W and we are in agreement that this should be closed. I am sorry as it seems it could be rather entertaining and I can tell that you spent a good amount of time Hookbill. The link of WW to Tolkien at least has some basis to it. Also it was introduced by the B-W.

It was requested of the Barrow-Wight that all such games need to be approved prior to any post given. So please in the future request approval of these type of games from the B-W, admins, or me. SpM might be a viable option but he really is trying to scale down his time, even though it doesn't appear so.

Again I am sorry but I appreciate the understanding.