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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:00:44 GMT -5
IMPRISONMENT I 
Imprisonments will work as follows. Throughout the next half-hour I will post segments of a story. It’s a cute story, and you are encouraged to read it all. =) As the story posts are revealed, some people will become safe from Imprisonment. This process is random; there is no significance to who gets removed when. At the end one of you will be eliminated. I will say something nice about that person and then make some announcements at the end.
So far Spies 4 has been more successful than any before. Every single one of you have checked into the game and are beginning to get to know one another. Some of you are holding back, others have burst from the gates sprinting. Already talk of the first vote has surfaced, of which I’m sure will happen more in the next 24 hours. You have met 28 of your fellow competitors. That is an unimaginably huge number and I sympathize with the task of having to get to know all of them. Hopefully the system of Families, and as you will soon see, neighbors, will help alleviate that problem. Focus on talking with the members of your family first. The number of people will dwindle down quickly as the eliminations come and go, and you will get to know the remaining people better.
In the game of Spies, many harbor secretive intent. As you talk to the Spies, remind yourself that they are constantly thinking: “Did I say something wrong? Does she know I’m a Spy? What should I respond with?” Finding out who those people are is not an easy task, but one you must attempt to complete in the upcoming weeks.
We haven’t gotten to know much of the flavor and story behind Spies, so the beginning of this Imprisonment will set the scene. We start in a normal 17th Century European city. At this point in history humans have survived many natural foes: wild beasts, rainstorms, scarcity of food, tornadoes, and some diseases. But their newest crisis won’t come from an animal attack or a hurricane strike – it’ll come from the human living next door. SAFE:      VULNERABLE:                         |
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:06:39 GMT -5
The Burg. A 17th Century European hamlet. Wooden houses line Main Street, itself stone and dirt packed by the footsteps of thousands of people over hundreds of years. There’s a blacksmith, a library, several farms, a hospital, a courthouse, and many other buildings essential to day to day life.
Wars have come to the Burg and gone, but not much fighting is done on home soil. Generations have lived and died and each has had it’s own struggles and successes. The last 10 years have been very peaceful, interrupted only by minor arguments between families and disputes over land and resources. All considered, the Burg has been a wonderful place to live.
It may have been this relative peace that sowed the first seeds of discontent. No matter how great life may be, there are always thoughts in the minds of humans on how to make it even better. If only the summer crop had been larger, maybe we’d have more to eat for winter. Whose idea was it to let the fields lay fallow this year to prepare for the next? If only we’d built that hotel we were thinking about, maybe we’d have more tourists spending their money here. Who didn’t want to put the effort into building it? SAFE: VULNERABLE: |
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:10:21 GMT -5
It was these kind of thoughts that led to the first major power struggle. But before we get to that, let me tell you a little about the town.
The belief system everyone adheres to in the Burg is called Religion. It is based on the Holy Book which was written by the Creator a long time ago. The traditions of Religion have been passed on for thousands of years and it is a fundamental and pervasive element of society. Everybody follows Religion and its various holidays, events, laws, beliefs, and traditions.
Sunday is Church day in the Burg. The entire day is filled with religious celebrations. The day begins when the priest gives the main sermon in the morning. Everyone attends. Afterwards there is a huge feast prepared for breakfast. People congregate in the center of town and talk about their lives, their businesses, the weather, and their families. Kids kick balls around in the streets and chase each other around town. People disperse but come together again for dinner, another lavish feast. Wine is served afterwards and people relax into the night, chatting and playing games.
Sunday is easily everybody’s favorite day of the week. SAFE: VULNERABLE: |
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:16:04 GMT -5
As Sunday is the main day of celebrations, and kids will be kids, sometimes children get into trouble. Roughousing is quite common. But it isn’t only the children who act naughty on Sundays. In between sermons preaching honesty, some villagers lie about why they couldn’t attend Angelica’s poetry meeting last Tuesday. After a lesson on the unimportance of material objects, Kip shows off the expensive sword he purchased from a travelling blacksmith.
Sunday is also a day of gossip. “Other people” are frequently the topic of discussions. Other people’s choices of how they spend their time are questioned. Their attitude towards the opposite gender is scrutinized. How they treat their children is analyzed. It is from gossip like this where politics and struggles for power arise.
In any town, there are decisions to be made, and someone has to make them. No matter what this person decides, someone is going to be unhappy. That’s just the way the world works.
SAFE: VULNERABLE: |
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:22:14 GMT -5
It was a Sunday when the first major power struggle took place in the Burg. It was over Religion. A messenger had come from the capital with a message from the Official Church on Religion. They had issued an official proclamation involving one of Religion’s central tenets.
It would be a big change for the people of the Burg. This new ruling would eliminate many of the time-honored traditions that people held dear to. The Official Church said these celebrations and worship were blasphemous and directly contrary to the Creator’s teachings in the Holy Book. They forbid them effective immediately.
No one was happy to receive the letter. Opinions on it were sharply divided. One faction felt they should listen to the Official Church and follow Religion exactly as they stated it. They were supportive of the established power and wanted to follow Religion in the correct way. Sure changing would be tough, but it would be the right thing to do.
Another faction felt that their local traditions were just as valid as anyone’s. They interpreted the Holy Book to support their already established way of life. They were proud of the way their village had followed Religion and felt the Creator created this just as he wanted it to be.
Debate between those two positions was fierce. The arguing soon got out of control with nasty insults leading to fist fights. People were sharply divided and it seemed that whose side you were on was the utmost importance.
It’s funny that such a divide would take place not over tangible things like war, property, laws about society, or human rights. It took place over the most fiercely divided topics: an idea. SAFE: VULNERABLE: |
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:26:23 GMT -5
The bad guys in this story aren’t evil. They weren’t sent by Satan, they aren’t doing the devil’s work. Most of them don’t have too many malicious bones in their bodies. Sure they aren’t perfect, but no human is. These people are quite normal people, really. Just maybe a tad greedy. A little egotistical. Some can’t quite handle power well. Perhaps their parents forgot to teach them the joys of sharing.
The ones that came to the conclusion that they knew what was best for the Burg and decide to enact these opinions forcefully are the Spies. They are the ones who pretend they agree with public opinion in support of local traditions and the Burg's own version of Religion, but work behind the scenes to enact their own political agendas.
But can you blame them, really? We all have thoughts on how we would improve the world. After all, which of us here does not think that the world would be a better place if more people listened to our opinions?
Sometimes the most terrible tragedies are committed by those with the purest of intentions. SAFE: VULNERABLE:
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Post by Judge Sam on Oct 9, 2007 19:35:37 GMT -5
One of these tragedies was about to take place. Unhappy with the way recent discussions were going involving the recent letter from the Official Church, a few villagers decided to take matters in their own hands. They were convinced that they were right, and that they were acting for the betterment of the Burg.
It was unfortunate that things had to come to this, these Spies thought. But it wasn’t their fault that the people were defying the Creator’s commands.
In the middle of the night the Spies rapped on the front door of a particularly outspoken villager. One that had voiced their contrary opinion quite loudly. One that these Spies felt was harming the Burg by not following the commands from the Official Church.
“You are under arrest for committing the sin of heresy. You will come with us immediately.”
Sherri has been kidnapped and Imprisoned by the Spies.
You will never see her again. [/center] Sherri, please post Final Words in your confessional immediately. Judge Sam: “I enjoyed having you play even if it was for such a short time. The energy, enthusiasm, dedication, activity, and you showed is incredible and I admire that. You played a great game and I think you will have an impact on the other players down the line. Thank you for playing your part in helping the Citizens in Spies 4.” I have a letter here from Sherri which I would like to share with you: [/size] *you hold the letter, it seems damp...*
Hello Dearest Burgies 
How are you doing? I hope you are guys are playing nice and playing fine!
*lots of smudges and blotches*
If you are reading this, then you know already that I have been Imprisoned. Yes, harsh Spies there are amongst us, but this was not their doing. However, I have information that they have started to deceive us and will make their choice next Imprisonment.
Other than that, Judge Sam did not give me ANY information at all about the game to go on.
The Government offered me a role to be able to communicate with you guys, in exchange for this early Imprisonment. I accepted... it was the only way I know I can help...
I have tried my best to "get things started", and I do hope you continue this kind of activity, if not make it better.
Only three words:
SHARE, TRUST and THINK for the spies will fight with disunity, doubt and misinformation.
I really hope you guys keep my words of advice in your minds and in your hearts.
Keep on fighting, truth is on our side!
Momma Sherri
Judge Sam: “People of the Burg.
One of our own has been taken away from us by the Spies. Sherri was kidnapped in the middle of the night simply for being herself.
Surely someone must have some evidence of any suspicious activity. Some evidence of who has done this to poor Sherri. If you have any idea who the Spies in our midst could be, please come forward and make your opinions known. There is no way we can catch these traitors without the information you have.
Vote to Exile a Spy are due at 9:00 PM CST Wednesday in your confessional. Start a new topic called Exile Vote 1. Votes require a reason, please expand upon “I think they are a Spy.” See "About Exile" for more information. Live Exile will take place at 9:00 PM CST and will last between 30-45 minutes.
Remember: you are not allowed to vote for the 3 other people in your Family. Any of the other 24 is fair game. Good luck.”
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