King Richard the Lionheart is gone to the Crusades. In his absence, his younger brother Prince John runs the kingdom as he sees fit. During his royal progress throughout the kingdom, Prince John and the court find themselves in residence at the castle in Nottingham. The Sheriff has reported trouble in the area with bandits, stealing from the wealthy and cutting into the king’s legal tax collection. These are no normal bandits however, but a group growing in legend and song among the poor, for they are headed by Robin of Loxley, and his merry band robs from the wealthy, and gives that wealth to those struggling to survive. Who will win out? Will Robin save the poor? Will the Sheriff collect all of the expected taxes? Will King Richard ever return?
Welcome to our Event and to the fun little game we have concocted to go with this year’s theme of Robin Hood.
Your involvement in the event will determine whether Robin wins the day, or if Prince John gets all his taxes (ostensibly to rescue his brother from ransom having been captured on his way home from the Crusade) and Robin finds himself arrested by the Sheriff of Nottingham.
These events will play out over the course of the day and our Cast will in fact play out the result.
The game starts at the end of morning court, and finishes right before Feast.
The final scene will be acted out at the very end of Feast after the dessert course is served, at head table. A herald will be sent around the camps later in the feast so any that choose to eat in camp but would like to watch the scene may attend. Please keep in mind that with feast timing is approximate.
The results will also be announced at Evening Court. We could not present the scene itself in court due to the number of cast members who need to be prepared for Court as they have active roles.
At Gate your Site Token will contain several “coins” and a six-sided di for the purposes of the event. (You do not ‘have’ to use the di but it’s optional use will be described further on). You may choose to use these items to take part in the game or not, as you prefer.
There are two ways in which everyone on site will determine the outcome and Robin’s Fate:
1. Taking Part in the Themed Competitions and Activities throughout the event. Outside of the Baronial Competitions and the Vindheim Archery Championship Tournament, there will be fun scenarios for Chivalry, Rapier, Thrown Weapons, and Archery, as well as a variety of other activities throughout the event for which “coin” may be won to either side.
You do not have to keep score or report anything in regards to these scenarios. Just have fun participating! At most you will likely be asked which side you are representing (as for example, the actual scores of archers during the competition will be considered “coin” or points towards whomever you like.). You may choose to represent either side at different times throughout the day depending on how much you’d like to affect the outcome.
2. Our more active game of “Taxes and Tithes.” (This is where the coins come in!)
In order to keep this interesting, if you choose to play the game, you are now members of the populace of Nottinghamshire and its closest neighbors. To this purpose, you will have to deal with taxation and “tithing” (Contributing to the poor either through Friar Tuck’s Poor Box or by interacting with members of Robin’s Merry Band of charming greenwood folk).
Each of these will work a little differently. Though you will only be taxed or tithe once, unless you wish to do more in the name of character play and story.
You will have the option (should you expect to be incredibly busy and prefer not to be bothered) of providing both a tax and a donation to the poor at a table near (but clearly separate from so as not to mess with) Gate in the main hall.
Taxing - Everyone gets Taxed! The Sheriff skimps for no one, and apparently loyalty to the throne is wise. The Tax will be 2 coins. Upon paying your tax you will be given a receipt of taxation proving you have already paid so that you may prove to any Sheriff’s deputies later that you owe them nothing.
Note that attempts to evade the tax collectors may mean that you get taxed 3 coins if they catch up with you without a receipt (if you are playing of course).
Who Collects Taxes? - The Sheriff of Nottingham and her deputies. If you’d like to be a deputy for any part of the day (no long term commitment required) please speak to Lady Rosalie, the Exchequer of Wiesenfeuer, who is also our excellent Sheriff. Responsible Youth are welcome to participate!
Tithing - Giving to the Poor!
Who will be targeted for Special Donations? (Who can expect to see Robin’s Merry Band)
“The Rich” of course! If you are Landed or Court Nobility, a Peer of the realm, or just wearing really fabulous garb and look like you might have a spare bit of coin to lend, Robin or a member of his band may approach to compliment you on your awesomeness and see if you’d care to make life easier for the poor.
If you do not think you qualify in this category but would ‘like’ to face off against the Merry Band you may always approach them directly.
How will Tithing work?
This is where the dice come in. A default asking number will be 2 coins. Should you wish to challenge this instead of simply handing them over, you will role a simple opposed roll against the member of the Merry Band who has come calling. Highest number wins. Re-throw ties. Should you win, you may choose a smaller amount to hand over, or none, and the member of the Band must give you a receipt of payment if you desire. Or, if you’d like to leave yourself open to more chances to interact, you may choose simply to end the interaction and see if anyone else comes after you later. This is entirely your choice!
Who may “Collect Donations for the Poor?”
Only Members of Robin’s Merry Band may approach players for this purpose. This is to keep the game friendly and orderly. If you would like to join the Merry Band for part of the day, come speak to (an event steward? The Game Table?).
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:
Where Can/Can’t People be Taxed/Tithed?
No one will be taxed/tithed at Gate.
No one will be taxed/tithed while actively competing in an activity or event.
No one will be taxed/tithed while assisting with the running of the event (water bearing, cleaning bathrooms, coordinating the lysts, heralding, helping people carry their things to the car, etc…)
No one will be taxed/tithed while relaxing quietly in their own camp.
You may be approached for Taxes/Tithes if you are:
* Hanging out chatting around a lyst field, in the feast hall, near merchants, or otherwise not engaged in an activity and look available.
* Walking from one location to another while not looking busy (if you are carrying equipment directly toward a lyst field or the archery range one can reasonably assume you are busy).
If you are busy and someone has misread and approached you, you may tell them that you are, in fact, busy.
What if I want to contribute to the ending but will be busy and don’t want to fuss with this tithing and taxing business?
We have made this easy! There will be a set-up near (but separate from) the Gate with both a tax collection box, and a donation box, at which you can handle such things and get the appropriate receipts of donation. You can pin these to your clothes (or your site token pouch, whichever is best visible), and Robin’s Merry Band and the Sheriff's Deputies will see them as they will know to ‘look’ for them. Or you can show them when approached and they will go on about their business.
What if I just wish to watch? I’m super busy doing all the things at this event or just feeling more interested in watching to see how things play out.
No problem! This game is designed to be opt-in and not opt-out and you are under no obligation to play.
If you’d like to be visibly marked as ‘not playing’ you can take the steps above and donate coins to both causes, or you may keep your coin and pick up an “I’m an NPC” badge that notes that you are here to enjoy the show.
You may also choose to simply not mark yourself in any way, and tell any of our polite folks if they do happen to approach that you’re just watching. No one will give you any fuss.
I want to play but the possibility of being accosted by the sheriff or the merry band makes me anxious. What should I expect?
This game is meant to be fun and not scary. For this reason, anyone taking part either in assisting the Sheriff or helping Robin collect for the poor is required to be polite, approach only from the front, and speak respectfully using phrases such as “Would you care to donate to the poor today?” or “We are collecting additional taxes to help bring King Richard back from the Crusades. Have you given your share yet?” And other such in-character sayings.
No one will be loud, forceful, or pushy, unless you specifically indicate verbally that you’d ‘like’ to get into a verbal sparring match or try and negotiate a payment for the fun of playing the game. If so, rules of politeness and chivalry still apply. We want people to enjoy this event and not feel stressed or pressured.