Welcome to the Case File. Glad to have you all here, hope you can solve this mystery... but beware, trust no one.

Players Guidelines for Play
As this is supposed to as much, if not more, of a mystery for the players than it is for the characters this game will have some unique rules.

First of all inner dialogue need to be kept at a VERY BARE MIMIMUM! I know this kind of stunts everyone’s creative abilities. But I think it will work out better this way. We will be able to keep to the cold hard facts and have to actually analyze each other’s actions and words to figure out what is happening instead of reading thoughts. Use your creative talents for solving the crime and for coming up with very descriptive posts of actions and dialogue amongst each other. If there are times that an inner dialogue seems to be needed please consider having the character speak out loud, even if no one else is supposed to be around to hear it.

Speaking of dialogue, to speed things up a bit please feel free to write out your half of a conversation/interrogation, post it, wait for responses, and then edit back posts as needed to get everything done. As we won’t be using much inner dialogue I have a feeling our posts are going to be shorter and more dependent on each other, so this is a way to keep things moving.

As noted before I intend on this being a mystery for the players. However, I realize that in that there will likely be situations where the player will link together two bits of evidence from other posts that perhaps their character was not privy to. I am not going to throw a fit if you can find creative ways to get the characters together and share information that is pertinent. Just make it as plausible a sharing as possible and all will be good.

Second, PMs, I will be getting out PM’s to everyone very soon concerning your character. This will probably be the very beginning of a long line of them (make yourself a Borden folder ). I will once again reiterate the mystery aspect of the game here and remind everyone that it is up to you how and when (if ever) you choose to disclose this information to your fellow players. However, depending on the circumstances I might have to disclose some of the information to everyone, or to certain players… For instance it may become necessary for your character to do something in secret. To do this PM me and let me know what it is and I will make the proper adjustments to the timeline and game information. However it might not remain secret depending on what else is happening.

EXE 1: Player 1 PM’s me and states that they have pocketed a bloody handkerchief left at the scene and hidden it in the barn. The next day Player 2 posts that they will inspect the barn again. Player 2 will likely find the bloody handkerchief, though will not know that Player 1 hid it there.

EXE 2: Player 1 PM’s me and says that they would like to sneak out of their home and go spy on Player 2 & 3. Player 2 & 3 post and Player 1 will have all the information concerning their activities. However Player 4 has also PM’d me asking to spy on Player 1, so now Player 4 knows that Player 1 was watching 2 &3, but 2 &3 will remain oblivious to everything, and Player 1 will only have knowledge of Player 2 & 3’s actions.

Third I know this is based off a true case, and I will be providing links for getting information about it (I know I keep saying that but they are coming, I swear!), however for the purpose of this game I am taking some liberties. Some evidence I am simply removing, and in other cases I am adding evidence. This is all done so we actually have a solution to the game, to add interest, and to simplify the complicated case for our purposes. If I have PM’d or posted information it will be considered fact. If you have questions about other evidence you have read about, please let me know. Just to warn you though I’ll likely give one of two answers: It is acceptable for your character to use that information; or At this time I cannot verify the acceptability of the information for your character so please refrain from using it for now. (wow that sounds like lawyer talk… lol… I am in the wrong profession)

I did mention to Admiral that his character will have a very important role and I will explain that now. It is my intention to end the game when Rufus makes an arrest in the case. It is everyone’s job to find the killer and then convince Rufus that your suspect is in fact the real killer.

Lastly, I am just going to ask for everyone’s patience. This is my first time GMing anything, and in this case I don’t have a lot of solid examples to go by on what to do. So just be nice, and I think this could be a lot of fun!

I hope this all makes sense, and please don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications.

M.

P.S. I will be reposting the roster here so we don't have to flip back and forth between here and recruitment. M.

I arrest myself. I did it! Game over

But seriously... woah you're going all out. When I started my warhammer game about a month ago I did the whole "massive back and forth PM" with several players, so I know it can take a while. It'll be fun to be on the other end though!

Lookin forward to gettin started.

will be my first time trying to figure out a murder mystery...unless you count "Death Trap" LOVED that movie

Do you have a complete list of who is playing who yet?

Lizzie Borden: Merideth (GM)
Emma Borden: Lyskhala
Bridget Sullivan: Reralae
Dr. William Dolan: Septimus Sandalwood
Rufus Hilliard: Admiral

If you know of anyone else willing to play I would be pleased to have John Morse, Alice Russell, and Dr. Bowen join in the fun as well.
M.

P.S. Links coming soon!

Websites of Interest
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum and Library has a very extensive, and well organized, collection of everything. Their is probably more information on this site than you could ever need. I will be using their house diagrams, so everyone needs to get familiar with them.
Oddly enough the diagrams of 92 Second Street on this site sometimes appear as a sidebar link, and sometimes don't... just adds to the mystery I suppose. So I've added this link to go directly to the page, instead of watching to see if the link appears on its own

Crime Library by Court TV has two sites, one gives a nice general overview of the case, and the other deals with hauntings (that one is just kind of funny to read).

The Fall River Historical Society has a decent timeline, and a small collection of photos (but most can be found on the first site).

Borden B&B in case anyone wants to go on vacation . But there are some more neat pictures and information here, and besides it is entertaining, one day I’ll spend the night, don’t know if I am brave enough to stay in the guest room though.

That should be a good start on websites. Like I said I haven’t read every word on every one of these pages, so please ask before using questionable material. I am going to post up ‘gossip columns’ throughout the game, any information in these is public knowledge (or at least public gossip) that your characters will simply know due to their involvement in the Fall River community, however like gossip don’t take it at face value.


M.

I have opened up the gaming thread. However we are NOT starting yet. Just getting things ready. I just reposted the teaser blurb I had in recruitment up for now. You guys are likely going to learn that when it comes to something like this I can be a bit anal retentive and overly organized (but hey it just got me a promotion at work so... yah...), and I had to have something up there. I hope I don't drive you nuts, and if I do please feel free to axe me to stop... god that was bad, but I couldn't help myself. I'll stop rambling now
M.

Alright, I've posted up the first gaming post.
This takes us from the moment Lizzie finds the first body until everyone but Emma is on the scene. She will arrive soon. It will be helpful if you post with a time and location at the top of each post (kind of like with ST:OP for those of you familiar with that), just so we can keep track of what is going on.
Well good luck everyone

M.

I'm not quite sure how to start... should I wait until the authority figures on the scene act before posting, or should I just post something now?

Alright I kind of got us started on the actual play. Until Admiral posts there isn't a whole lot to do, and Septimus said he would hopefully put something up on Monday, this game might be a bit slow, especially at the start. Thank you in advance for hanging in there
M.

oh goody!! can't wait to post

Posting tomorrow.

Cannot spare any time tonight. But I promise, tomorrow.

I shall have a post up tonight!

(a bit embarrassed) I didn't know we had started already

As I was looking over the RL case file, I remember I saw this thing on TV a while back. I think it was travel channel's 10 spookiest places or something.

Having memorized the map of the house during my study for this... I will put everyone in rooms here for interrogations.

Lizzie will still be in the kitchen with Dr. Bowen and Alice Russell for now.

That leaves only three rooms on the ground floor for questioning, one still has a body in it so we will leave that for Dr. Dolan

Mrs. Churchill and Fleet can go into the parlour at the front of the house.

Bridget and Hilliard can then be in the dining room.

That should work... wow is this a full house suddenly

Enjoying the posts so far I'll have Mrs. Churchill up soon...

Admiral do you want to run Fleet's interogation, it is alright with me if you do, or I can work it up and have him report back to Hilliard when he gets done with Bridget? I'll leave that up to you, just let me know.

M.

you can run it since it's two NPCs (that's why I picked them )

then just have him report back. That way you can keep the interrogation private if you want.