Re: **PLEASE READ Re:UBAG**

[Dick Eney <dickeney@access.digex.net>]

Poster: Dick Eney <dickeney@access.digex.net>


All please note, this reply is from Tamar the Gypsy, _not_ Diccon
Frankborn! (and my apologies for poking my head in the door)

On Tue, 10 Sep 1996, smith, jason h wrote:

> Poster: "smith, jason h" <SMITHJH@ed.concord.wvnet.edu>
> Unto all at the Merry Rose does Ciaran MacGhobhainn send greetings...
>     *sigh*
> What is that old saying about good intentions and the road to hell...
<snip much good clarifying information about UBAG> 
>     ...OK this is what I *thought* would happen if it was done 
> properly...
> 
>     Well, the event "Field of Gold" came, and me being Co-Autocrat, I 
> brought the idea of this assassination thing to the Autocrat's 
> attention to see if she minded a test run. She did not mind and so 
> the proverbial ball began rolling. We (UBAG) established set rules 
> about conduct and who would be targeted and how. We made a rule that 
> no sitting Royalty would be asked to join in (for obvious reasons) so 
> they were not (nor would ever be) targets. With these and many other 
> rules in place, everything began. All who participated in the 
> assassinations volunteered to participate. I as one of the 
> 'hired' assassins, I was given a list of my targets. My targets knew 
> who I was and they knew my intentions. The assassination thing went 
> off w/o a hitch, and I considered it a success. ***Understand this 
> being a test run, NO money was paid for participation.***

<snip the sad disarray all plans fell into>

This brings back memories.  I remember, years ago in my old Barony of
Carillon, East Kingdom, at least one event we held at which there was a
sort of shtick "open season" on the Baron -- so many people had said in
fun, "I'll get you for this", that we decided to give them a chance. 
Assassinations were to be by small pieces of paper (e.g., 'you have been
poisoned').  We had 'antidotes', and I think we successfully prevented all
attempts and the Baron 'survived' the event.  This was a one-shot event
and no money was involved.  

The idea has appeared much earlier; waaaayy back in 1971 or so, I remember
hearing stories of 'assassinations' that were not nearly so polite and
well-controlled; apparently a very few people were playing persona so much
that (the story went) if someone slipped a 'poison' note into their plate
(under the soup bowl ?) they would be 'dead' for the time specified.  This
was of course merely rumor and I find it hard to believe that anyone would
not to go events for months just because some turkey pulled a joke without
prior agreement!  But to return to tales of what really can be vouched
for, the Carillon event was fun and we were glad when it was over...
(speaking as Baroness at the time!) 

The original proposal sounds like fun; prior agreement, done quietly,
autocrats consulted, etc.  A quiet way to have some extra fun at an event,
and a tiny bit more period than the "polite food fight" I once
participated in (instead of throwing food, you have a 'servant' deliver a
note saying what was thrown, its trajectory including items bounced off,
and where it landed, and wait for a reply). 
= Tamar the Gypsy, Baroness Carillon
  (sharing account dickeney@access.digex.net)

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