Murder at Christmas was a special pbem (play by e-mail game) that ran Yahoogroups from December 20th 2003 until 7th January 2004 (roughly the Twelve Days of Christmas. There were sixteen players - all of whom had a character - and the GM. Each player had to promise to post at least once a day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day excepted. In the event, most people posted far more often .. and by January 7th 2001 we had the equivalent of a detective novel written by sixteen people.

Each player had, in addition to filling in a character sheet, to supply a secret. These secrets were used to give other characters hints about a character. No-one knew another person's secret; they only knew a couple of odd things ... possibly about different people. They needed to talk with others, question the person concerned (perhaps) and make guesses in order to establish the facts ...

Initially, everyone was supplied with the following information:

The year is 1933.  The setting is a remote Scottish Ireland (where, thanks to the influence of a stern schoolmistress, now deceased, the natives all speak flawless English, except for saying Aye instead of Yes, Wee instead of Little, and perhaps the occasional Ye ken, rather than You know (i.e. no-one will have to write screeds of dialect that other characters will run away from).

The villagers, anyway, are straight from WickerMan, dour, gloomy and quite possibly practising arcane rites involving blood sacrifices.  You can play a villager if you like - although you'll probably be employed at one of the three great houses.

The Laird who lives in the rather gloomy castle is an incomer, and held in general suspicion.  He is - yes - our old friend the American industrialist! He has gathered a small party around him for Christmas, including his new wife and her brother.  You can play either of these, or one of the other guests.

There is also a small kirk on the island.  The Rector, although a Scot, was actually educated in England and is, together with his wife, to all intents and purposes, English.  He's having some old friends up to the Rectory for Christmas, including our old friends Oswald and Lucinda.  The guests could include you too.

Finally, there is a half ruined large house belonging to the dissolute son of the former Laird, who sold the castle to make money for his crazy theories which seem to have a lot to do with free love, harmony and running around in the nuddie with no clothes on.  In a Highland winter. Brrrr.  You can be one of this commune if you like.

Players were also supplied with a map of the island, and floor plans for the Castle (where most of the action occurred.