Prince John of England has deposed William Longchamp and assumed control of the English Throne.

In Sherwood Forest, a new outlaw has pulled off a brazen robbery against the Bishop of Hereford. Prince John has called for his capture and execution.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:48, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

The Game is On!

The random number generator has selected our Robin Hood for the game, they know who they are ;).

Don't forget to double check your Character Sheet (Character Details, Top Left) and Private Messages (Top Right) if you forget what/who your goals and allies are.

Remember, Orders for this phase are due Midnight on Friday.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Summer 1191

King Richard I has married Berengaria of Navarre on Cyprus! The kingdom rejoices, they always love to hear news of their beloved but far off ruler!

The Siege of Acre ends with a crusader victory led by Philip II and Richard I! Oh what a gallant and valorous commander is our King!

Will Scarlet leads a massive manhunt all throughout Lincolnshire for the outlaw known as Red Roger, but does not find him. Is this a sign of a bold new tough initiative against outlaws who menace the people? Or is his failure to find Sir Roger just more evidence for the rumors that he is an incompetent drunkard?

The legendary assassin known as the Icewoman returns to Nottingham. Where was she? Why has she returned now, of all times? There is great fear among the Royal Court.

Boston is in open revolt against the crown! The Archbishop of Canterbury led the revolt. The Pope has yet to comment, perhaps the news has not yet reached Rome, perhaps he is strategically waiting to see how the conflict plays out. Is the "Archbishop" righteously protesting a godless king in the name of the church of God? Or has he gone too far by encouraging, and even (allegedly) engaging in, political violence?

Sir Guy of Gisbourne moves his men south from Northallerton to Leeds, and the Sheriff of Nottingham moves his men north from Newark to Redford. Are they planning to join up? Are they planning some sort of large sting operation together? Outlaws beware!

Friar Tuck moves from Boston to Grimsby, where he receives a warm welcome. He preaches to the people, who shower him in gifts. He allegedly performs miracles of healing.

The peasants and serfs in the region of Nottingham celebrate, they seem newly flush with money. The money recently stolen from the Bishop of Hereford perhaps? This season at least, there are no starving children or beggars in the streets of Nottinghamshire's capital. Is this the work of the outlaw Robin Hood? Some people certainly think so, and his approval rating soars.

The Bishop of Hereford has stopped collecting taxes from the land the clergy owns in Leeds, this is good for his approval rating. Additionally, he receives multiple generous donations from the nobles in England towards recovering what was stolen by outlaws. Is this a heartwarming tale of people coming together through God during divisive times? Or is it a cynical tale of how the rich and well-connected are able to brush off the dangers and humiliations the rest of use must always be wary of?

Someone has been distributing pamphlets criticizing Prince John and painting revolutionary slogans on buildings in Nottingham! There were brief whispers of a possible revolt, but Prince John's men were quickly able to restore order. Who is behind this whisper campaign, right in the heart of England? Can Prince John be trusted to continue to defend the kingdom and his people from violence?

Random Event #54
There are rumors of a plague of sickness in Mansfield! Citizens in densely populated areas do their best to quarantine and avoid the miasma, but it seems to be spreading quite quickly!

***Remember, Orders for the next phase are due Midnight on Tuesday***
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Sat 05 Feb 2022.

In reply to Game Master (Ethan) (msg # 4):

Fall 1191

The power-hungry tyrant William Longchamp, who sought to wrest power from the dukes and barons and keep it all to himself as acting monarch, is no longer in England. Rumor is, he fled to Dover and is now on a ship bound for the court of Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. According to several rumors, during his escape, he was unable to answer the local people when they spoke to him in English. According to other rumors, he attempted to leave England in various disguises, including a monk's habit and women's clothes. The Court Minstrel, Alan-A-Dale, has written a song about how Longchamp attempted on one occasion to hide dressed as a prostitute, which led to him being assaulted by a fisherman who mistook him for a whore. Prince John is looking increasingly more heroic and strong by contrast. One thing is for certain, no true Englishman will miss Longchamp. Good riddance!

Richard has defeated Saladin once again, this time at the Battle of Arsuf! After weeks of skirmishes with the Muslim forces, Richard himself led a decisive charge, decimating the enemy and opening the way for the Crusaders to occupy the strategically valuable settlement of Joppa. Long live King Richard the Lionhearted!

Reginald fitz Jocelin was elected Archbishop of York but he died before being consecrated. It's a shame, he had the most seniority and experience of all the candidates...

The terrible outlaw Red Roger, along with a large company of soldiers have take control of Mansfield! There are rumors though that the plague is spreading among his soldiers, and even some whispers Red Roger himself may be sick. Where did Red Roger get that many soldiers anyway?

Sir Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham have marched their men to Swarkestone Bridge and taken control. Sir Guy sent some of his soldiers back to Nottingham, but the Prince's forces on Swarkestone bridge are still formidable. If the level of forcefulness now being deployed against the highwayman Little John was used to answer every threat to England, perhaps we would all be a lot happier and healthier...

Little John himself has shockingly resurfaced in Scunthorpe, where he pulled off a series of daring heists. Is nowhere in Lincolnshire safe these days?

Will Scarlet moves his men into Boston. Will the Sheriff be able to restore order? What will become of the controversial Archbishop?

England has taken out a massive loan from the Italian bank Gran Tavola. Is this really the product of sound financial decision-making?

The plague in Mansfield has spread to Redford as well! The scholars blame an alignment of Venus and Mars, but all reasonable people know this is simply clearly the result of poor hygiene and vindictive elves.

The Bishop of Hereford is now widely believed to be the richest man in England. Apparently this business of speaking for God is very profitable...

Pamphlets and slogans advocating the overthrow of Prince John and advocating allegiance to the Archbishop of Canterbury are being distributed in Grimsby and Boston.

Prince John and the Royal Treasurer have been able to restore order in Nottingham after the unrest earlier this year.

Princess Joan is moving North through Newark, where she is cheered everywhere by her adoring subjects. The Icewoman has been sent North on a mission to Mansfield, and the Captain of the Guard moves North into Redford.

Random Event #3
A massive crop blight hits Newark! How will the people be able to afford the taxes of the Sheriff of Nottingham now, and more importantly, what will they eat?

***Remember, Orders for the next phase are due Midnight on Friday***
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:34, Wed 09 Feb 2022.

In reply to Game Master (Ethan) (msg # 5):

Winter 1191

Monks at Glastonbury Abbey claim to have found the tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.

Red Roger's Soldiers are rumored to be trying to send infected plague victims across the border into Nottingham.

The Duke moves his men North to Scunthorpe. The Bishop of Hereford begins collecting taxes in Leeds again.

Someone has led a successful propaganda offensive in Grimsby, leading to a violent revolt!

Even as Prince John has taken out large loans from Italian banks, and antagonized his inner circle by decreasing their salaries, he has still found 5 Treasury Tokens to give to the Bishop of Hereford. The people and lords of England are very upset. They have nicknamed the Bishop's hoard of wealth "His Un-godly Sum".

Will Scarlet has restored Boston to Prince John's control, and the Archbishop of Canterbury has fled to Grimsby!

Sir Guy of Gisbourne, with help from the Captain of the Guard and the Sheriff of Nottingham, has restored peace and commerce across Swarkestone Bridge, bringing a lot of new revenue to the Royal Treasury.

Random Event #45
There was an Accounting Error (Or Fraud?) in Lincoln! A significant amount of the Duke of Lincoln's recorded wealth dissipated overnight. What does it say about a leader that this much value is just lost?

***Remember, Orders for the next phase are due Midnight on Tuesday***
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

In reply to Game Master (Ethan) (msg # 6):

Spring 1192

No news from the King.

Conrad of Montferrat, King of Jerusalem, is assassinated in Tyre, only days after his title to the throne is confirmed by election. The killing is carried out by Hashshashin, a mysterious sect of Shia Muslims who live in the mountains of Persia and Syria.

The barons of the Region of Grimsby have well and truly put their support behind the Archbishop of Canterbury and against Prince John, their minds filled with the revolutionary teachings of a few radical priests.

Under cover of darkness, the outlaw Little John attempted a daring heist in Lincoln, hoping to rob the Region while the Duke was away, but that's where Sheriff Will Scarlet's men were waiting for him. With Little John successfully arrested and imprisoned, every loyal subject of Prince John can breathe a little easier. Will Scarlet's popularity has skyrocketed.

Little John had actually stolen and held onto a lot more wealth than was previously believed in his time as a highwayman. Consequently, when Will Scarlet seized the man and his assets, Will Scarlet's personal hoard grew quite a bit. Will Scarlet is now widely believed to be the richest man in England, richer even than the (allegedly corrupt) Bishop of Hereford. Alan-A-Dale would probably have written a comedic song about the whole affair, were he not currently on strike due to a recent decrease in his salary from the Royal Treasury.

The Duke and his men have successfully restored order in Scunthorpe.

Rumors are spreading that the Royal Treasurer has been embezzling funds from the Royal Treasury. These rumors, if true, speak very ill of Prince John's regime.

The Captain of the Guard attempts to move his men from Redoford to Leeds, but they are delayed attempting to clear the road. Sir Guy of Gisbourne moves his men into Scunthorpe. The Duke has stopped collecting taxes in Lincoln.

Random Event #33
After a particularly nasty storm, the Road between Redford and Leeds has been blocked by flooding, debris, and fallen trees! This has heavily interrupted commerce, troop movements, and tax collection.

***Remember, Orders for the next phase are due Midnight on Tuesday***
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

In reply to Game Master (Ethan) (msg # 7):

Summer 1192

Richard I of England has defeated the forces of Saladin at the Battle of Jaffa, and ended hostilities, paving the way for a truce. Victory at last! England hopes this means the king can return soon and fix this mess back home.

The famous Cistercian nun at the Abbey of Sauvebénite (near Le Puy), Sister Margaret of England has died, miracles were reported at her tomb.

Prince John has arrested the Royal Treasurer! What could this possibly mean? Will there be a trial? Who could be next?

Red Roger and his men have laid siege to Nottingham! There are riots and Anarchy. Apparently Prince John can no longer guarantee the safety of anyone.

The Duke has returned to Lincoln. The Captain of the Guard has successfully cleared the road and moved his men to Leeds. The Princess is visiting Maid Marian in Redford. Friar Tuck has moved to Lincoln. Will Scarlet has moved his men to Lincoln. Sir Guy of Gisbourne has moved his men into Grimsby.

Random Event #10
Bountiful Harvest in Lincoln! There was an unusually good harvest season in Lincoln, and the Duke has had no trouble at all collecting taxes

***Remember, Orders for the next phase are due Midnight on Tuesday***

In reply to Game Master (Ethan) (msg # 8):

The Bad News

At this point I am forced, unfortunately, to end the game prematurely. At this point so many players have either completely stopped issuing orders, or told me they can no longer participate that the game has becomes effectively 3 quarters me role-playing against myself. My schedule isn't exactly forgiving either, and this is not the experience I think any of us wanted. The game ends here, and while there were some fun times, I consider experiment trying to run this game mostly a failure.

Thank you so much to all those who tried to participate consistently. If I had to pick one winner it would be the Bishop of Hereford who managed to get the 21 Tokens required to rebuild the Lincoln Cathedral, but that's not to say that no one else played well. I would have loved to see some other plots come to fruition eventually, but I don't think it would have been very satisfying to plot against no one but the Game Master.

Thank you guys all so much, have a great Spring Break!