Where is Tuck? Is there no breakfast?
He's gone off to visit the Widow yet again.
He claims he is only interested in her wool, but I suspect he is doing a little woolgathering, if you know what I mean.
At any rate, you are on your own. Tah!
What is amiss?! Good woman, why do you WEEP so?!
Oh my heart! If they hang my beautiful boys...it will burst of grief!
Her sons were arrested, all three of them. Someone betrayed them to the Sheriff.
I swear by the Virgin Mary, I will do all I can to save your sons from the hangman's rope.
Aye, so I do.
Move aside, friend.
And if I do not?
Since you seem determined to block my way, what is it you want?
I am not a common outlaw. I am Robin Hood.
So?
Name your master.
Prince John, he who deserves to rule.
Traitourous dog. Richard is our king.
Not for long. And when Prince John takes the Crown, you outlaws will know the true meaning of fear.
He will not rest until he has hunted down every one of you and set you dancing upon a hangman's rope.
Not even this forest will be large enough to save you from the hangman's wrath.
That day will never come. As for now, I need your robe and whatever possessions you have upon you.
I'll give you nothing but the rap of my staff on your skull.
I will kill you.
I fear only God.
You are a dishonorable foe.
You dare?
Cowardly outlaw like you couldn't do an even match. A staff and a longbow?
I challenge you to a quarterstaff duel.
I accept.
*rustling of the leaves is heard*
What is this?
Little John, I must have your quarterstaff. This knight has challenged my honour.
Gladly.
Robin begins to lose the fight as soon as it begins. His legs and shoulders are bleeding.
AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH! My back! My BACK!
You are unmindful of your surroundings. You have not learnt to expect the blow you won't see.
I keep hitting and hitting and hitting. But it just never lands on you. WHY DOES IT NEVER WORK?
Indeed. I already know where you will hit me before you do. You have no discipline or patience, like a typical outlaw.
Stop toying with me. Just kill me now. FIGHT BACK FOR GOD'S SAKE!
You fight like an animal, holding nothing back. Only strength and brawn, but no speed or thinking.
You are right. I am animal. We are all animals, us outlaws. *plunges quarterstaff* Hunted animals! *plunges quarterstaff again* Never given a moment's peace! *and again* Cornered and made to fend for ourselves EVERY DAY-!
AAAAAUUUUG-!
Just not well enough.
Your final blow was so strong, it broke his staff.
It was just luck, nothing more. I'll have his robes and his possessions.
Rest yourself, Robin, and clean up your wounds. We'll remove the robe, and when you've changed, I'll take your weapons and clothes back to your cave.
Some time later.
You look the part. But surely you could have kept Little John's?
Nay, he values it too highly. It will be my wits that shall keep my alive, not a staff.
I'll do this job like a thinking monk. And not like a cornered animal.
Then you are poorly armed indeed.
T'is better than not being armed at all, like you. Off with you, you rascal.
I heard your signal, Brother, but I do not know your face. Have you newly joined our order?
Aye, and I have been sent to serve here.
Step in and be seated. I'll take you across.
The monk at the gate greets us.
I have business inside. Let me pass.
You are new, Brother. Therefore, you must prove yourself.
I must have the tokens you bear for the Guardian of the Gate.
My flute.
This is the first token. I await the rest.
My gemstones.
I accept your tokens, Brother. Now, you must prove your knowledge of the lore of the gemstones.
This is the way of it. I will pose to you three riddles.
There are three gemstones you must choose to answer each riddle.
If you are right, you shall pass in safety. If you are wrong, commend your soul to God, for you shall die here.
Here is my riddle.
These gemstone riddles require usage of the Gemstone Lore book that came with the manual for this game. More than that, it's too complicated to explain.
Welcome in, Brother.
I am...Brother Eustace.
And what do you do here, Brother Eustace?
I have joined your Order, so that I may serve Prince John as he deserves.
Then you are welcome, Brother Eustace, if you can fight. There was not one of us who wasn't a soldier before we donned the black robes.
There are those with good cause to fear the skill of my arm, Your Worship, or I would not be wearing this robe.
Have you sworn to obey the vows of our order?
I have made many a solemn oath, never fear.
Your tongue is a mite slippery for someone who has vowed humility and obedience.
Pardon me, your Worship.
All infractions are punished with lashings. Remember that.
Ahem...
Brother Eustace, I have never seen a more miserable creature than this stupid little dwarf.
Aye, he does look miserable.
I have wasted enough time here. You are to stand guard and increase his pain in any way you can. When he is ready to talk, send for me. I'll be in the Scribes room.
As soon as the Prior leaves, we release the dwarf.
Shrivel his black soul. I am no servant of his.
Such kindness makes you a giant among men.
I am Fulk, Court Jester to Richard Coeur de Lion.
You are his jester? Then our king is free?
I will never betray my master, so if this is some filthy trick to win his trust -
Nay, listen well. I place my life in your hands to show my good faith. I am no Monk. I am Robin Hood.
Is that supposed to mean something?
I am the most hunted outlaw in England. Whisper my name to these monks and I am a dead man.
Pray pardon me. I have been blessed on Crusades with our king for many years. He is still a prisoner in Austria.
But how came you here?
My master sent me ahead of him, but I fell into the hands of Prince John. He turned me over to the Monks.
I swear by Virgin Mary, I am not one of them.
So does the Prior, but he tortures me.
How shall I prove myself?
Why do you want to?
As I love my king, I shall not leave his devoted servants here.
I need my verses. They are written upon a ragged scroll inside a wooden cylinder. The Prior has taken them. He seeks to decode my verses, but he must not, or I will have failed my king. Return them to me, and I will never doubt you.
(Aye, as clumsy as a fox, your Worship.)
We take Fulk's scroll, which is on the table.
Then we go to the scrolls on the wall. We are looking for Marion's scroll, which is a hand on a piece of paper
Robin Hood.
Sorry.
No matter. We turn to our wits to escape.
There is a way, a secret way. Follow me.
We face a puzzle that requires us to touch gargoyles in the right order.
Sssshhhh. Listen. They have discovered our escape. The fog will hide us until we reach the waters.
Here are two parting gifts. First take the ragged verses of mine. They hold secrets within secrets and treasures within treasures. Now tap the end of the wooden cylinder and see what comes out.
A ring of lapis luzli!
My master saved the life of a magician during the siege of Jerusalem. He received two rings as a gift, a ring that commands fire and a ring that commands water. The Abbot of Nottingham has taken the ring that commands fire. With that ring, he can not be harmed by any fire. The ring of water commands elemental spirits that live in watery places. Keep it safe until the king returns.
Farewell, Fulk. We will meet again.
If you think I acted wrongly --
Nay, Robin. It was as clever a trick as you have ever pulled.
And what a fine deed is freeing the king's jester!
And then Hal, Hob, and Dickens will hang tomorrow. Your last chance to rescue them.
Then let us sleep now, and save our strength and cunning to save those men.
The next day.
Hal, Hob, and Dicken hang at sunset. They are like brothers to me.
I swear I will do all I can to save them.
I send Robin over to physically manhandle his robes away.
Don't hurt me! I beg you, don't hurt me!
I have scarcely touched you. You have the spine of an earthworm.
I have nothing to please an outlaw, not gold, not silver!
There is no need for such fear.
I may go my way?
Nay, you have something I desire greatly. Your robe.
But-?
Is that a problem?
The robe is yours, if you spare me!
Meanwhile, you can visit my camp to learn the value of good, honest labour.
Have mercy!
Take me to town, and the Abbot will reward you well.
Keep chopping, or I will whip you again. Robin, you make a fine Monk.
Bless you, my son.
Will this sum of money move to compassion you, so that I may administer unto them?
"You'll have to do it through the trapdoor."
At least allow me to hear their sins alone. You can wait for me upstairs.
"No."
A "Hooded" Man? Aye, we see you, "Brother". What would you say to us?
That salvation may yet be yours if you follow my path.
You lead, and we follow, wherever God wills.
For it is my duty to lead you from the darkness into the light. Have faith my sons. Domine dirige nos.
Now to the Abbot's place.
First, we enter the laundary room of the monastery.
Yup, with these robes, those boys could escape. But how?
Trot over to the pub and get me more of this potent brew.
Why don't you break that box?
It is supposed to contain a magic ring of fire. I can't take any chances with damaging it. Not that it is your business.
I take the cask and leave. But first, I check the north of the chapel, always under construction.
There is a maze here...
...which leads to the place where witches are burnt.
Now to the pub for more ale.
I believe this empty cask belongs to you.
Much appreciated, Brother. You're the only Monk who's bothered to do me this service. Here's a new cask. Did the Abbot send payment?
No.
You were kind enough to bring the cask. Just remind him that his bill is long overdue.
I shall.
If you are in a hurry, take the shortcut through the cellar. I'll open the cellar door for you.
Been to Holy Lands. Saw Jerusalem. Killed Muslims. Saw the ground run red with Muslim blood. Served with the king to do so, until we were told to pack up and come back home. Want to play Nines Men Morris?
Challenge accepted.
Some time later...
You've won, Monk. Put this amethyst into your mug and you can't get drunk, no matter how much ale or brew you drink.
Now to head back to the Abbot.
It opens into a pathway.
The northern pathway from here.
Using the peephole, we find it leads to the prison cell where the boys are held.
Won't go through there.
Trying the other route.
Aye, your Grace.
Have a seat and drink with me. See how your stomach fares against mine.
Brother Bruce, is that you?
Aye, Master.
Hide this infernal puzzle box in my room. *turning to Robin* Now, let's fill our mugs.
Is that a flaw in your tapestry?
What flaw? I don't see any flaw.
Robin puts the amethyst in the drink while the Abbot is distracted.
Never mind. Let's start drinking!
You're certain Prince John will prevent the ransom from being paid?
Our Prince is a cunning rat! The Queen still needs 50,000 marks and the Prince makes sure it eludes her grasp.
50,000 marks is no small sum. He must guard it well.
Whom do you think he trusts to guard it? Sh'not the Sheriff but t'me! He sends to t'me!
When?
Shoon.
Through the forest? What of the arch-outlaw?
Treashure's guarded by Baron LeFevre and hish shmen.
Has the Baron been warned about outlaws? Has he left for Nottingham yet?
Nay, na'yet. You zhure are noshey f'r'a Monk. Dun look mush like Monk. Look....look...look moreliken'outlaw yershe--
Now to find the puzzle box.
Back to the pub.
It's to pay the Abbot's bill in full, my friend.
Much obliged.
And I have brought back another empty cask.
You ARE a good fellow. Want a filled one to replace it?
Not anymore.
I go back to the peephole, where the guards were.
The guards are desperate for a drink, but don't have any money. So they go upstairs to get a loan from their other guard friend.
Robin puts some money on their table....
...and rushes back.
Now the guards take the money and go to the pub.
Using the robe belts as a rope, we pull the boys back up and have them dress in monk's clothing.
We return to the bar, only to find sounds of merriment.
We enter and find that the Sheriff is here. He knows what Robin and the boys look like.
But he is drunk.
Brother, blesh me.
The Sheriff kneels down.
My son, you are drunk.
Sho whyam. Gimme a bleshing.
Very well. May God give you all that you deserve and may you live to see it,
You are all so brave. I can hardly believe you are here. It seems a miracle. May the Blessed Lady guard you, Robin. But words aren't enough. Take this gift. It comes from the time when I was guardian of the forest, much as Marian is now.
You were a Green Priestess?
Before you were born, I danced the spiral dance and nurtured the spirit of the forest. Step forward, Robin. This golden net is my gift. Use it wisely and the forest will protect you.
And take my boys with you. They are outlaws now.
Thank you. Come on, lads.
This will make the finest tale I have ever told.
If the Sheriff knew what I think he deserves.
He'll be cursing you roundly when the truth hits his skull.
Let him curse and rage. Hal, Hob, and Dicken are well beyond his reach.
I am proud to call you our leader. A toast to you.
A Hood! A Hood! A Robin Hood!
