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Oh, hi. I
didn't think you were coming. So, you want to know all about my
friends, the New World Sims, huh?
Well, get comfortable, because it started a long time ago. You see,
first were the fairies. Then, for their amusement, elves were
born. Love children soon appeared, and we know them as pixies.
Then there was a war....What? You want to know how humans began living
with fairies, elves and pixies? Okay. I'll begin the story in
England, circa 12th century AD.
Robin Hood-- yes, the same one who gave what
he stole from rich noblemen to the paupers in and around Nottingham (ahem)--
Robin Hood and his men were getting a little too cocky. They had been
living in Sherwood Forest for a few years now using Robin's charm and wit to
persuade travelers out of their valuables. When that didn't work, his men
would jump out of the trees and bushes and take what they wanted.
He and his band would persuade morning, noon and night. And why
not? There was no one capable of capturing him.
Yet, as you already know, one of Robin's seven sins was not greed. He
gave what he took to others in need.
You would think the rich in England would have
understood what Robin was doing, even support his efforts, but instead they
were infuriated. Their favorite short cut through the forest was a
haven for beggars and thieves of the worse kind, and no one was safe from
Robin and his men.
In addition, Robin Hood made the Sheriff of
Nottingham look like an incompetent and the noblemen were seriously thinking
of replacing him in an emergency election. What would happen to the
Sheriff? Well, let's just say there was no compensation or retirement
plan because one wasn't needed. So, to keep his job (and his neck), the
Sheriff presented an idea to the noblemen. Subsequently, by combining
their wealth, they were able to place a bounty on Robin's head that was so
high, mercenaries from all over the known world soon began to arrive in the
city. These pseudo-barbarians actually formed an alliance to share the
riches the bounty would bring. Soon over thirty-two bounty hunters readied
themselves and began slashing and burning Sherwood Forest, killing anything
and anyone in their sight, looking for Robin's camp.
Luckily for Robin, Marian, his girlfriend, who was
cousin to the King himself, found out from Jeffrey, her brother, about the
sheriff's plans, but not until it was almost too late. Just ahead of
the mercenaries, Marian and Jeffrey raced to Robin's secret camp and reported
what had already begun. It was too late to prepare for a battle and
Robin knew the only way he could survive was to run like a chicken in the
opposite direction from which the hunters came.
Immediately, he sent a messenger on his swiftest
horse ahead to the little town of Southport, north west of the forest.
There he was to find Robin's friend, Big John, a sea captain, and tell him of
their plight. If Big John had enough time to get sober, and his crew
kept him away from the pint, he would get them out of England, Robin was
sure. He also knew that it would take several days for them to
reach Southport, but at least by the time the bounty hunters found his camp,
no one would be there.
Quickly, the men packed what they needed onto
their horses and prepared to leave camp. When Robin was ready to give
Marian a lover's goodbye, he saw that she and Jeffrey were also packed
for a long journey.
"We're going with you," she said,
"and don't try to talk us
out of it. There is no way Jeffrey and I are staying in
Nottingham,
and we're not returning to our cousin, John, in England. Don't
worry, we brought money, lots of it, just in case we have to
bribe someone to be silent." She smiled. "And, besides,
Robin of Locksley, you're not getting rid of me that easily."
And so, Robin and his men were accompanied by
Marian and Jeffrey to Southport. Big John, a true and sober friend, was
waiting, his boat, the Lady Anne, loaded down with enough supplies to
keep them afloat for a fortnight..that's two weeks...if needed. And it
just might be that long, or even longer. For the news of the bounty had
already spread through the isles, and their neighboring countries as
well. Big John secretly met Robin in the dark corner of a
local bar by the docks to tell him his plans. They both hoped that Big
John could give Robin's people a safe
passage until they found a friendly port.
The Lady Anne sailed west and then
north. They sailed without incident for two days when the winds became
colder than usual for that time of year. The sky threatened to storm; the
ship was now surrounded by a strange fog. The passengers stayed cheerful,
eating
dried fish, drinking their tea, bundled in blankets in the cabins below. The
men were especially happy that they had Marian along. She
told stories, recited poetry, and taught them some civilized
songs, despite the fact that they
would eventually slip into a disgusting bar ditty before the song was over.
However, Big John was
worried. Not only had he never seen such a fog before, but he had
realized that he was no longer in control of his vessel. Despite
how hard he tried to direct the ship, the Lady Anne resisted. He
didn't let anyone know about this, not even his loyal first mate who would
ask now and then, "Captain, where are you going? We are in
waters unknown to us and in this fog, who knows where we are."
Big John first answered with assurance,
" I know where I am going. Am I not the captain? Have I not
promised to get Robin, the maid and her brother, his men and this crew to a
safe harbor? Have I ever failed in such a task before? How dare
you doubt me!" His first mate looked at him. "Alright,
alright. Will you never forgive me for getting us stuck in
the Avon? I know what I'm doing!"
But, after awhile, the first mate and the crew
noticed that Big John did not sound so assured when he responded to their
questions. And the supplies were running low.
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