Welcome to Nottingham (open/outlaws)

[Carrieanne DeWittaker]

Carrieanne peered out of her carriage window, watching the trees moving past. News of the town's 'outlaw' problem had reached her hometown, and she was nervous about having to pass right through the centre of the ruffians homes...

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan couldn't believe his luck. He'd only broken away from the others so he could answer Nature's call, and his breeches were barely around his ankles before he heard the thud of horses' hooves pulling along a what seemed to be a fairly well-to-do looking carriage in the distance. He yanked his clothes back, full bladder forgotten, and ran back to where the others were, trying to figure out a good plan for the day ahead.

"Lads! Carriage coming down the main road! Looks pretty decent. Fancy it?"

[ooc: Tag rest of the outlaws!]

[Sir Guy of Gisborne.]

(( Hope you don't mind me tagging in... =] ))

He had been sent, by the Sheriff, to escort the woman to town. Gisborne had met her carriage on the outskirts of Sherwood forest, hitched his own horse to those pulling the carriage into the city, and announced his purpose to her. All those had heard of Gisborne, and Robin, and their ongoing feud.

Of course, Gisborne's efforts had not merely been to obey the Sheriff in what he wanted doing, but also to lure the outlaws to taking the bait. He was prepared to go to any lengths to get Hood in his grasp once again.

"Comfortable, my Lady?"

His voice, Northern-accented, slid through the silence, as he matched her gaze through the window, entirely missing Allan's shady figure, hunched in the trees.

[Much]

Much slid down the hill towards Allans voice. He hid behind a tree and squinted his eyes, trying to get a good focus on the carraige. It was one he didn't recognise. Possible someone new had come to Nottingham. But Allan was right. It did look pretty decent. Much grinned to himself, but he grin faded as he saw a tall dark figure emerge. He frowned, and clambered back up the hill towards Allan.

"One problem everyone, Sir Guys down there." Much said matter of factly. He peered back down the the direction of the carriage and winced. "Who knows what he could have up his sleeve."

[Alexis Bailey]

Alexis crept towards where Allan and Much, keeping her footfalls as silent as she could against the forest floor.
"Our next target?" She whispered, her eyes narrowing as she glanced over the carriage.
Something like this would do her good, she needed to keep her mind occupied. A lot better than staying at camp, wallowing in self pity. Her eyes darkened a little as her gaze fell on Guy, though a slight smile of anticipation crossed her face.

[Tuck]

Tuck had just come out of the wood son the south side of the road, which had given him a good view of the outlaws, as well as actually being the first person to have spied the carriage from a great distance at the top of a nearby hill, and spotting the people below, and by their body language and where they were had discerned them to be outlaws. This could be his best chance to make contact with some outlaws, and perhaps in the near future, Robin Hood, he thought to himself.

What could he do, he wondered as he slid down the hill, just out of everyone's sight. Quickly he spied the answer. There was a medium-sized tree, rotten at the bottom, that was leaning against a couple of other tree. It took little effort to push so it fell across the road. It was relatively rotten, he thought, as it crashed to the ground, but it will prevent anything like a carriage from passing down this road easily.

Walking around the bend in the road, the Friar said, "My children, since I assumed that you wished to slow the on-coming carriage, so that you can relieve them of their burdens I have taken the opportunity to block the road just around the bend. When they stop, I expect you will have ample opportunity to inspect quality of the contents within," he said with a slight smile, waiting to see what their reaction would be.

[Carrieanne DeWittaker]

She looked up at Sir Guy, almost sulkily. Carrieanne could think of a million other people she would rather have to accompany her, why on earth did it have to be him?

"I have suffered worse discomforts my lord."

A soft, but forced, smile lit up her face as she bowed her head politely.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan jumped when he heard the voice. They'd all been concentrating so hard on the carriage that the stranger had managed to sneak up on them unawares. He drew his dagger and waved it towards the newcomer in a vaguely threatening manner.

"What's our business to you, father?" he asked meaningfully. "An' if you honestly think talking a bit posh and wearing some robes you stole is gonna convince us you're a priest you're even stupider than you look."

[Much]

Much was also very startled by the new arrival. It had seemed that he had knocked over a tree, and it was now crossing the pathway a little way away from the carriage. His head flicked from Allan to the stranger as Allan challenged him. He was in a great state of confusion. Who was this man? What was his buisiness here? He gulped and drew his sword warily.

"Who are you...?" he asked slowly, frowning.

[Tuck]

Ah, now this was definitely an outlaw .... he had such naturally warm feelings toward the clergy .... he could tell by all affection in his voice, he chuckled to himself. "Such a trusting soul you are, my son, as is befitting an outlaw. However, you have a decision to make. Either deal with me or deal with the carriage. I could say why you and your group would be frightened of a single friar .... I know I'm quite intimidating,"he laughed.

"So .... why not stop wasting time .... deal with the oncoming carriage .... and then deal with me after. Just consider that if you are the outlaws who work with Robin Hood, we might have more in common in our goals than your suspicions will let you realize. Besides .... I've never made any claims to looking smart ... only being smart. So ... what's it to be?"

[Tuck]

Tuck over at the other outlaw who had just asked him to identify himself, as he drew his word. Tuck thought to himself that his friends had always thought him to be fearless when he was a lad .... this just proved it. "I am Friar Tuck .... I have come in search of a man that I believe is known as Robin Hood, who was once a nobleman in these parts."

"I assure you that I don't mean you any harm or violence. My mission in life has always been to help the poor .... the common folk. I've come in search of him and his group of outlaws because I think we seek the same things for England and its people."

[Much]

Much had an obviously worried expression on his face. His mouth was half open, and his eyes were wide. Without Robin there to tell everyone what to do he was at a complete loss. This man seemed to be of no harm, but Much found it difficult to trust people. Nevertheless, he slowly lowered his sword and put in back in its sheith, still eyeing Tuck cautiously. "Friar Tuck?" he said frowning. If he was a Friar, surely he wouldn't try anything nasty? But then again, he could just be pretending.

He looked at Allan for help. Much was never a good leader. He had none of the correct leadership qualities. He was however an excellent team player. He enjoyed being the 'side kick'. And since Robin wasn't there, he turned to whoever was availible, who in this case was Allan. They were a diminished force. They lacked Will, Djaq, and Robin seemed to be elsewhere. If this man was who he said he was, and wanted to help them, it would be helpful to say the least.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan gave a mental sigh as he weighed up the options. Why was nothing ever easy?

"Right, we've got a small timeframe and not a lot of options. Our mysterious "friend" here says he's blocked the road, so it should make it easier to rob the carriage. I say we check him for weapons and tie him up here. If;" he looked at Tuck meaningfully, "he's told the truth, then maybe we can listen to his story. If not...well he'll find out why you don't lie to Nottingham's outlaws. Not twice, anyway, eh lads?"

[Much]

Much laughed slightly, nodded, then grinned. It was a good plan. But there was something still on his mind that no-one had seemed to take into account. "It's a good plan, but...what about Sir Guy?" he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. He had spotted him earlier, and it had seemed no-one had listened to him when he had commented about it.

"Right." he said, adressing the man that called himself Tuck. "We're going to have to check for weapons." he said it slightly too happily than he should have. But it felt good to be doing something of use again. It had seemed such a long time since the Outlaws had done anything worth while.

[Tuck]

These young people, although definitely outlaws, definitely needed some help in planning, making decisions, and leadership, Tuck thought. The lack of trust he expected, and the big unknown for him was still how to bridge. Right now he wasn’t real concerned whether this group was aligned with Robin Hood. He was just pleased that he made contact with an active group of outlaws, which was the first step that he knew he had to take. Tuck decided that he would have to be careful how he addressed the decision that they ha apparently made about him, at least initially.

“If that is your wish, my son, or I should say, may children, since I, a religious man, would be hopelessly outnumbered by you young outlaws. And it is, as some would say, a plan. I am just not sure it’s the best one that you could have come up with, although it does have its advantages. It does keep a dangerous character like me under control. I can see why you would think that friar like myself could constitute a significant threat to your outlaws. Obviously, my children, you would not want an extra hand in your ambush. I expect that you have no doubt that you will quickly overwhelm whoever is inside, since you know who and what are in there already. And I expect that you will want to take it by a straight-up struggle arms.”

“You would not want a diversion, such as a religious friar walking up, asking if they need any assistance, as you get into position around the coach. Besides, if and when you are beaten, I, being tied up, will be able to claim that you outlaws accosted me and robbed me of what little had. Tsk! Tsk! What will Robin say to you when its known that attacked and thieved a poor, churchman friar?,” he said with a forgiving smile. “Quickly young man,” he said turning around, holding his arms out behind him, so he could more easily tie them, and speaking over his shoulder. “You don’t have much time …. they’ll reach and pass us quite soon. Remember, he who hesitates is lost.”