General Chat

There is a loud crashing in the bushes. Curses and swearing fill the air. Startled, Friar Tuck and Scarlett Willy look in the direction of the noise. From out of the forest comes a fearful apparition. The long silken locks and the figure are those of a female. But the apparition wears bright purple and pink striped hose and an extremely short vivid blue tunic. Looking around, she grabs a couple of large cans of beer from the Friar’s private stash, burps loudly, and yells at them. “Where’s me cousin Allan A’Dale? What have you useless lot done with him? He’s nobbut a lad, never did anyone any harm. Never could understand what anyone had against him'. The Laddette eyes up Scarlett Willy and leers “Hmm, wouldn’t mind having something against you thought”, she says.

The friar looks up during his conversation with Scarlett Willy and spies the rather bedraggled figure of Allan A'Dale walking towards the stream. 'Good Allan' he called - come and join us for you look sorely in need of some convivial company and perhaps you could sing us a song to brighten the day.

Allan A'Dale staggers into the clearing. He is pale and drawn, and his hair is in disarray. He looks across to where Scarlett Willy and Friar Tuck are drinking together, but cannot bring himself to speak to them. He looks round wildly for Robin, but Robin is away booking hotel rooms at an exclusive beach resort, with not a thought for his faithful minstrel. Allan is desperate. He has spent the morning with a great seer, who has revealed much of the future to him, and now Allan is beside himself with grief. For Allan has misled his liege Lord Robin, and all the Good Company. All this time, the merry band has sworn fealty to Richard Coeur de Lyon, the true King. Yet all this while, at Allan's behest, they have carried on their outlawish activities convinced that they were in the 13th century. The great seer, N. Cyclo of Pedia, has informed Allan that Richard is to die in the year of our Lord 1199. Allan now realises that they are in fact in the 12th century. How can he ever face Robin again? Allan A'Dale realises that, with his honour and credibility both gone, there is but one course of action left to him. He would fall on his sword, if only he had not lent it to Scarlett Willy to spear fish with. Willy failed to dry it off properly and it has gone rusty. With a heavy heart, Allan picks up as many large stones as he can find and fills his pockets with them. Then, with a single backward, longing glance, he trudges slowly down to the stream.

The Friar returns to the clearing three days after receiving a missive from the government which had sent him hotfoot to the great Church of St. Catherines to search for the Holy Grail. His eyes are red-rimmed from long studies of records deep into the night with nothing but candles for light and his fingers are ink-stained from the use of his trusty quill (d*mn I've smudged the printer ink again!). He espies Scarlett Willy returning with fresh water and enquires of him whether there is any Somerset scrumpy to be had to relieve his thirst.

It's a lovely party! :-) Joy

I can only speak plain and clear - I think! thank you for the fish! :-) Joy

Where every leaf has ears I will not pry, though I can hold my counsel well as most. (Think'st thou that Robin could transform this place to somewhere where we may speak plain and clear and not in hose and garter? This wimple sits as heavy as the moose) Here, have a piece of fish.

I like trout too! Thank you! Nice glass of sparkling bubbly, too, for all of us! :-) Joy

Ah, Mistress Maudlin, thy warnings I take kindly, and knowest them well meant. But thou art not aware of my dire secret which I needst must hold close only unto myself. Pass a bit of that trout, I have a great yearning for a chunk of fish.

Pray, no! Good Allan, do not try such liquor vile. Be grateful that you only SAW the flying frogs and moose and purple cat. The warning must be heeded!

Ah, Mistress Maudlin, your choice of fish is a wise one, I wist. Thou art quite right, that venison is distinctly chewy. Turnip Whisky, eh, I wonder.........

Fine rainbow trout, as I perceive! Good sir, I thank thee. I'd offer thee and Joy a sup of wine, but fear the consequences of such charity. Methinks the pottle is bewitched.

Sometime long since, Tabitha was I yclept, till cast out from the Mother Church of Tips and forced to wander in this forest. (Had this Dissolution been a few years hence, I might have got a pension out of it!) Here, as I slept a spell was cast upon me, transforming me to Moose (oh, lackaday!) But sup of Turnip Whisky hath restored my female form (praise all the blessed saints therefore!) Now Magdalene I, a thread-bare penitent, do seek my friends for succour and good cheer. (Though venison I will eschew!)

Can someone get me something really strong to drink, ***please***? thank you. Joy

Mistress Joy saved me from a date with cold steel earlier today at another place Allan. M'Lady is of stout heart, and reminds me greatly of another I once knew. Perhaps too greatly!

the sword was about to fall, Allan!! but all is well! :-) Joy

Robin, it pleaseth me to throw my lot in with you and your merry band. You are my liege lord and I will follow wheresoever thou goest. It was just that my feet were a bit sore, however, I have dangled them in yonder stream and they feel much better now. Perchance Ms Merlin will have some soothing balm which I could rub into them. Bouncy Mistress Joy, is this Damocles aware that it is an offence to carry a weapon in a public place?

well, shall we see if we can keep the party going until September? here? on the beach? :-) Joy

Damocles is ok!! :-) Joy

Allan..................there is no rebuke.............. I admire any man, or woman, who take it upon themself to act for the benefit of all their fellows. For we merry band seek only one outcome. I am concerned that you may not vote to move from here. Perhaps you and I should talk again. My Lady Pamela, if we shall move from here, you must join us as my guest. I promise you will not be disappointed. I will escort you closely all the way.