Sign Up Hood

[DeLarge]

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Hood[/B][/U][/SIZE]

[I]September 19, 2020[/I]

Rusted metal creaked as the elderly freighter drifted slowly into the dock, the heavy anchor dropping from the side of the hull into the dark, oily depths of the River Thames. Men in black waterproof jackets and thick, woolen hats rushed about on the deck, and hundreds more milled about below decks, gathering their belongings for their final destination.

The ramp slid out, finding it's home with a clank as it hit the concrete dock, and people began spilling down the ramp off the ship, their breath forming a haze of thick vapour around them. Excited chatter pierced the otherwise silent night, and the people streamed off the ship and out into the streets of London until eventually, no-one was left on board but the crew.

A pair of boots slapped on the ramp as the final passenger disembarked, slower than the others, as if he didn't have as much of a purpose. He wore heavy black boots, dark blue jeans with ragged bottoms and a black leather jacket with red stripes down the sleeves. His sandy-brown hair fell gently into his deep blue eyes, and a slight growth of stubble, maybe a few days' worth covered his chin. He carried a large black backpack over one shoulder, which seemed to be stuffed to bursting point.

[B]"London,"[/B] he said, a faint smile creeping across his face, [B]"Home sweet home."
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[SIZE=3][B]-Collapse-[/B][/SIZE]

Following the global economic downturn of the early 21st Century, all public faith in the British government was lost. The media turned on them, and a propaganda war was waged, resulting in the government's total loss of credibility.

Following a series of high-profile attacks by the media, Parliament collapsed, and chaos reigned. Terrorist factions waged war on each other on British soil, the economic system crumbled and the very infrastructure of Britain was threatened.

Britain was plunged into a deep, six-year-long depression, from which it seemed they would never recover, until the corporations took control.

[B][SIZE=3]-Long Live The King!-[/SIZE][/B]

The biggest and most powerful of the organisations was known as the Nottingham Corporation, headed by an eminent and wealthy businessman named Richard King and his business partner Joseph Sheriff.

The Nottingham Corporation had divisions in every major British industry, from steel to bio-engineering. Their donations to charity and Richard King's philanthropic work meant that Nottingham was not only wealthy and powerful, but also popular with the general public.

However, in September of 2019, four years after the Nottingham Corporation had come to power, Richard King was called away to the Middle East on a business trip, during which time his private jet was attacked and he was declared missing.

In the event of King's death or disappearance, all power and control of the corporation was handed down to his partner, Joseph Sheriff, who had very different ideas of what the Nottingham Corporation would stand for.

[B][SIZE=3]-Hostile Take-Over-
[/SIZE][/B]
Sheriff diverted funds from charitable and philanthropic causes to oil and weapons research, as well as the military branches of the corporation. He began to build his own private army, as the country collapsed around him. Poverty was widespread, and people did not have proper medical care readily available. Disease spread, and thousands of people died.

Homes were repossessed by Sheriff's corrupt regime, and people were forced into shanty towns along the banks of the River Thames. Britain began to crumble.
[B][SIZE=3]
-A Surprise Return-[/SIZE][/B]

September 2020, exactly a year after King's disappearance, his head of security, a man named Robert Locksley, returned to London on one of the many freighters carrying foreign refugees from the Middle East. He found that his beloved England was a shadow of its former self, and he dedicated himself to putting right the wrongs that Sheriff had committed.

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[/FONT][LEFT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Welcome to Hood, a re-imagining of the classic Robin Hood folk tale. All the parts are there - an absent ruler, his ruthless and corrupt second-in-command taking control, and a "vigilante" trying to overthrow the corrupt ruler.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]All we need now is you, the "Merry Men." What I'm looking for are re-workings of the original Robin Hood characters - Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, etc. - bringing them into a noirish dystopian future.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]I will be playing the part of Robert Locksley, aka "Hood," a vigilante dedicated to bringing an end to the reign of Joseph Sheriff ("Sheriff" of "Nottingham"). The other characters which I need, and their basic characters, are as follows:[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][U]Villains:[/U][/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Joseph Sheriff:[/B] a ruthless, vicious egomaniac, head of the Nottingham Corporation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Captain Guy Gisbon:[/B] Sheriff's second-in-command, a sadistic military officer devoted to taking down Hood and his gang.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][U]Hood's Gang (suggestions of names will be well-received):[/U][/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Little John (or variation on the name):[/B] a huge, incredibly strong man, beaten by Hood in combat, thus earning Hood his respect.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Marian (+surname):[/B] Hood's love interest; a beautiful, elegant, yet dangerous young woman.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Friar Tuck (or variation on the name):[/B] a warrior priest, devout yet deadly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Will Scarlet:[/B] a young (late teens-early 20s), hot-headed member of the group.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Alan-a-Dale (variation on the name is preferable)[/B]: a musician and a devious member of the group, excelling in deception and pick-pocketing.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]There is also plenty of room for original characters, both as part of the Gang, and (preferably) the Nottingham Corporation.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]For now, however, I'll stick up what I'm looking for from you:[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Name:[/B] (an obvious one)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Age:[/B] (depends on your character - Will Scarlet, Alan-a-Dale and Marian would be quite young, whereas Sheriff, Gisbon, Little John and Friar Tuck would be closer to middle age)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Gender:[/B] (another obvious one)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Appearance:[/B] (images are good, description are equally good, both will get you extra brownie points)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Personality:[/B] (what are you like? Fairly detailed, please)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Affiliation:[/B] (whose side are you on?)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Writing Snippet: [/B](for this, I want you to write about how Hood recruited you. Remember you were all opposing Sheriff's new regime, either quietly or violently, so incorporate that. I also want some background on your character in this snippet.

[B]IMPORTANT:[/B] Friar Tuck and Marian knew Robert Locksley before he left the country, so they would be more willing to join him. Little John was NOT as willing, and had to be bested in combat before he would join Hood)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Weapons:[/B] (what do you carry on you? Guns are fine, just keep them realistic, melee weapons are also good)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Special Skills:[/B] (what is your role within the team, and what skills do you possess to help you in this role? For example, Alan-a-Dale would be a proficient musician and a talented thief, thus earning him a role within the gang. )[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]That's all for now, if there are any questions I will be posting a Backstage thread very soon, so please direct all queries to there.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Here is my character sheet for Robert Locksley:[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Name:[/B] Robert "Hood" Locksley[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Age:[/B] 23[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Gender:[/B] Male[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Appearance: [URL="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/Hood.jpg"][U]HOOD[/U][/URL][/B] - However, he wears a black leather jacket with red stripes down the sleeves and dark jeans with black leather combat boots, and a thin hooded top underneath the jacket, of which he generally keeps the hood up.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Personality:[/B] Robert is a jovial, somewhat mischievous young man, who takes great joy in depriving Sheriff of the nation's wealth. He will generally keep his sense of humour and wits sharp by exchanging banter with members of his gang and his opponents in battle. However, he is extremely patriotic, and entirely devoted to bringing down Sheriff's corrupt regime. His loyalty to Richard King, whom he belives is still alive, is total and incorruptible.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Affiliation:[/B] Hood's Gang, quite obviously.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Weapons:[/B] Hood carries a professional, custom-made bow, along with a set of specialised arrows (from explosive-tipped to armour-piercing and many more) in a quick-release quiver. He also carries a short sword for melee combat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Special Skills:[/B] A proficient hand-to-hand combatant, and an expert archer, able to fire multiple arrows extremely quickly. He practices for upward of two hours a day in order to keep his skills honed. He is also an expert marksman, having keen eyesight and almost unerring accuracy. He's not too shabby at acrobatics, either.[/FONT]
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[Drizzt Do'urden]

Awesome idea Delarge...well as long as we stay away from any Mel Brookishness. Sorry about the length of my snippet, the Little John vs. Robin fight is my favorite. So my snipped is a novel, you've been warned.

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Name:[/B] Jason Little (I know it's close to the original, but when it ain't broke)
[B]Age:[/B] 32 (Hope that's an appropriate age)[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Appearance:[/B] I'm going to have an image drawn for this, but here's a description. Jason keeps his dark brown hair cut in the high and tight he supported during his military days. His ice blue eyes seem to shine in his rugged, 5'oclok shadowed face. His frame is imposing, he stands 6'4 and weighs just over 240lbs. [/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Personality:[/B] Slow to take orders from anybody until he grows to trust them. Can be arrogant on occasion, but is usually humble. Has a good sense of humor that usually comes out as teasing the other members of the group. Belives in Robert's cause and will do anything in his power to aid him, as long as it doesn't put his family in jeopardy.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Affiliation:[/B] Hood's gang[/FONT]
[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Writing Snippet: [/B]Jason stood in the middle of the bridge as the car pulled to a stop. Since the sheriff took over Jason had been charging a "toll" for those vehicles using the one lane bridge close to his house. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Holding the shotgun poised at the oncoming vehicle Jason tensed up, he hated this part. He never wanted the life of a bandit, but his family was important to him, and since the plant closed down where he was employeed, he had no choice.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Stepping out was a younger man with a look in his eye, arrogance incarnate. "Why aren't you a large man?" The man said of Jason's 6'4 frame. Jason eyed the young man top to bottom. "Toll for crossing the bridge is 50pounds per person." Not another word, Jason had dealt with these types before, young bucks who thought they knew everything.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]"That's a little steep, the Sheriff's bridge up river only runs you 30 per car." The young man still had that look in his eye, it was starting to aggrevate Jason. "My experience, the only people who skip the bridge are those who are trying to avoid the sheriff's men because they're wanted, or cheapskates skipping the toll. Eitherway I put some buckshot in you, call the authorities and get a reward for some con."[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Not skipping the beat the man smiled ernestly, "Friend, what if I could offer you the chance to...give back to your community? Maybe earn some money, and help bring back the prosperity Richard King sought out for everyone?" [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Every alarm in Jason's head went off. If this guy was a player and was in with King, then the rewards could be great and he could take care of his family for good. However, if he was just a petty thug and had beef with the Sheriff then things could and most likely would go downhill quickly.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]"Tell you what friend, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Robert Locksley, and you are?" Never before had he given his name to one of these types of people, and why would he? He was sure this guy was trying to take the sheriff down, the question was did he have what was required?[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Jason walked to the side of the road and grabbed a pair of bo staffs he had stashed incase his gun jammed. Tossing one to Robert he squared off. "If you manage to best me, I'm in. If not, you're just a petty thug and I'll be notifying the authoritis."[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]"Common friend, at least give me your name." Jason smiled, whether or not this kid was for real about all this or not, he couldn't deny he liked him. Liked him so much he hated him, "Jason, Jason Smalls" without another word Jason lunged. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Though Robert was fast enough to block, the force of the blow staggered him a bit. Showing his own skill though he quickly regained footing and swung back, Jason parried easily. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]This went on for a few moments, until Robert made a mistake and tried a feinting blow. Catching on quickly Jason switched his hold and thrusted into Robert's stomach, catching his wind. Spinning he took his legs out, and finally Jason planted a kick in Robert's chest sending him into the river, which was raging due to the recent rains.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]As he disappeared from sight Jason walked to the edge, peered down and attempted to find the man. If he killed him it would be on his conscious, but he got his answer. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]As he turned away, his eyes grew wide. Standing on top of the bridge was Robert, apparently he'd caught the bridge and swam underneath. Without a word Robert slammed his staff into Jason's foot with almost enough force to break bones, on one foot Jason had no footing to protect himself from the drop kick landed in his chest. Stumbling backwards Jason lost all balance and began falling.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Immesurably quick though Robert caught him by the hand and, while not giving him enough support to rise, suspended Jason's fall. "So, may I have your help my new friend?" Jason had a thing about water, and in the panic yelled "Yes, yes I'll help you damnit." [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]With that, Jason became the first member of Robert's band. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Weapons:[/B] Jason perfers larger ordinance when it comes to weaponry, favoring Shotguns and larger machine guns when available. When it all comes down to it though, he prefers hand to hand combat. Using his large stature to his advantage. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Special Skills:[/B] Jason brings many things to the table. His size acts as an intimidation factor, his ability to use his size gives him great skill in altercations. His experience, however, is the real skill he brings to the table. Being an ex-military man, Jason learned a lot about covert oops as well as his favorite skill, demolitions.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]This is a great idea DeLarge, let me know if I need to fix anything.[/FONT]

[Orcus]

[SIZE="1"]OOC:[strike] I'll have the writing snippet up later in the evening, as I am in desperate need of a nap at the present. I simply wanted to get in a place holder to show my interest.[/strike] Finished. :][/SIZE]

[FONT="Garamond"][indent]

[B]Name:[/B] William Blood; He goes by Scarlet, however. When undercover, he goes by Red Williams.
[B]Gender:[/B] Male
[B]Appearance:[/B] [URL="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/Reizou/Scarlet.jpg"][Scarlet][/URL]
The only differences being that his jaw line is narrower and his eyes are more of an emerald green.

Despite Scarlet’s lack of sufficient funds and current standing as an ‘inhabitant of the forest’ he has quite the penchant for dressing nicely. He wears the same outfit every day, and though most wouldn’t find said outfit battle savvy, one would do better than to attempt to convince Scarlet of that. His attire consists of: a black fedora that rests snugly on his head; a pair of sturdy, [URL="http://dennisvwu.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/oakley-gasket-eyeglasses-11-931.jpg"][thick framed glasses][/URL]; a white buttoned-up t-shirt with thin vertical black stripes; a black tie; a black buttoned up vest with a scarlet colored ‘S’ in parchment font on its back; a pair of black Dickies pants; and black Converse shoes.

[B]Personality:[/B] Scarlet can come across as a bit much to those who first meet him. He’s always on the lookout for more of Sheriff’s lackeys, and thus is quick to assume that anyone who’s ‘overly interested’ in information about himself is undoubtedly in league with Sheriff. This, unfortunately, also makes him quick to combat and prone to mouthing off. Even once someone’s gotten past all of the initial paranoia, he or she can find it difficult to approach Scarlet. His impulsive and reckless behavior make him as much of a liability as an aid in plotting against Sheriff; his young, uninhibited hatred of everything surrounding Sheriff makes it hard to channel his rage in a constructive manner.

However, Scarlet does have his redeeming qualities, difficult as that may be to imagine. His loyalty to the Merry Men is unwavering, and his dedication to his goals makes him an unstoppable force. He is defensive of his comrades, especially Hood, and refuses to allow innocent people to be inconvenienced by Sheriff. And though Scarlet is often difficult to instruct or control, he is progressively improving his ability to follow commands from the get-go; more importantly, however, is the fact that he does always complete any task he is ordered to do to the best of his abilities.

[B]Affiliation:[/B] Hood and his Merry Men

[B]Writing Snippet:[/B] Scarlet sat perched upon an abandoned house, waiting for the next car to roll by. It was about this time every week that bastard Sheriff sent another couple soldiers out to check the tidings of the forest, to collect his tax, to harass the people—standard operations for his new regime. Of course, the soldiers were a little more apprehensive each week they arrived. And why shouldn’t they be? All of the soldiers sent to this particular region turned up a couple weeks later dead or severely injured, to the point where they couldn’t relay what happened to them even if they wanted to. Now that was where Scarlet came in.

It had taken him some time to become accustomed to the rule of Nottingham Corporation, and even longer to trust it, but once his initial prejudices had been cast aside, he immediately put his loyalty and faith in Richard King. He had not, however, managed to accept Joseph Sheriff as anything more than a waste of oxygen. The man was clearly untrustworthy; Scarlet could see it in every inch of his disgusting body. He knew that the gleam in Sheriff’s eye whenever he looked at King wasn’t one of devotion, it was one of betrayal. Thus, his hostile takeover of Nottingham Corporation in face of King’s leave came as no surprise to him. What did come as a surprise was the quickness with which he reduced Britain to the same abysmal conditions that had existed prior to King’s salvation.

Scarlet could remember it all too well. In what couldn’t have been more than a month, the towns suddenly found themselves in dire need of supplies, and the general population quickly turned to deception and thievery. Instead of attempting to quell these conflicts, Sheriff encouraged the violence; he even gave some of the highest positions in his personal guard to those who had caused the most unrest amongst the people. More and more people fled to Sheriff, performing his foul deeds so they could fill the mouths and purses. Even Scarlet’s own father abandoned him and his mother to join Nottingham Corporation. His mother, unable to handle all that had become of her home and family, passed away a couple months ago.

Scarlet clenched his eyes shut at this thought as white hot tears streamed down his face. He had been there for his mother every minute that she suffered, and he could still hear her heartbroken pleas and sobs. Once she died, Scarlet could find no way to console his pain; he found no comfort or solace in the words of his friends or remaining relatives. As his grief grew and saturated into anger, he took up arms against Sheriff, striking at him any way he could. He had not stopped since.

The sound of an engine ripped him away from his thoughts. The sound was getting closer, albeit at a slow and cautious pace. He sneered and grabbed the dagger to his right, then readied himself for the car to emerge from behind the bend. His original plan had been to wait for the soldiers to enter the house, ambush them, and then slowly end their lives, but he was feeling impatient now. Though most would scoff at an attempt to hit a man in a moving vehicle with a dagger, months of practice and the speed the car was approaching made the task all to simple for Scarlet. He grinned deviously as the front of the car came into view.

[B]“Well, ‘ave at it, then.”[/B] He flicked his wrist and sent the dagger piercing through the air and into the driver’s neck. The driver’s body jerked violently, causing the car to swerve to the left and rocket into a tree. Before the car had even collided with the obstacle, Scarlet had skillfully sprung from the rooftop and began sprinting over to the car. The other two soldiers barely had any time to assess and react to the situation when they were yanked from their seats and tossed onto the ground. In a flash, Scarlet collected their weapons, all save their blades, tossed them aside, and plopped down in front of them.
[B]
“Bloody hell, mate… Nasty spill you took there.”[/B] The first soldier sprang up instantly at the voice, attempting to simultaneously reach for his gun and reach for his ally to get his attention. Scarlet smiled.

[B]“Looking for those?”[/B] He nodded his head over to the pile of weapons he had left near his house. The soldier growled angrily, helping his compatriot up and keeping his eyes leveled with Scarlet all the while. Scarlet jumped up as well, drawing his blades and twirling them around in circles. He stopped abruptly and pointed his right blade at the nearest soldier’s thigh.

[B]“Draw your piece, gents. We’re gonna sort this issue out properly.”[/B] Both men quickly unsheathed their weapons and charged him. Scarlet smiled and rushed them as well.

The fight didn’t take long at all. Though theoretically trained to use the swords they came equipped with, these two soldier drones had apparently never fought with them in actual combat. He quickly parried and disarmed the first soldier, and then quickly rammed his forehead into the soldier’s, knocking him to the ground so Scarlet could focus on the next one. The second soldier seemed a tad bit more adept with a blade, managing to swipe past Scarlet’s face and cut off a lock of hair. Scarlet clenched his teeth in irritation, but attempted to keep his cool. He didn’t want to beat this soldier so soon. He wanted to toy with him. Scarlet skillfully deflected each consecutive blow that came at him, until finally he could tell the soldier was fatigued.

[B]“Done already, ey? That’s quite a shame. Only just sent by a devil, and so soon to return.”[/B] He stabbed through the man’s chest and brought his face close to the man’s ear.

[B]“Send me your armies… and I will send them back piece by piece.”[/B] Scarlet drew his blade from the man’s chest and tossed him to the ground. He stared at the body for only a moment before he heard the cocking of a gun. The other soldier’s grizzly voice assaulted him.

[B]“You’ll pay for that one, lad.”[/B] Before he could pull the trigger, however, and arrow pierced him between the eyes, and the man fell limply to the ground. Scarlet raised his right eyebrow and scoffed.

[B]“How queer.”[/B] He walked over and picked up the gun from the guard. Another voice, this one far more jovial and young, flittered over to him.

[B]“Quite the predicament you got yourself into, ey friend?”[/B] Scarlet shot a dirty look at the man and kicked the guard’s body away from his house.

[B]“No, not really. He didn’t have any bullets.”[/B] Scarlet tossed the gun to the man, allowing him into inspect it. It was just as he had stated. The clip was empty. The man grinned and tossed the gun back.

[B]“My mistake. That--““Yes, it was your mistake.”[/B] The stranger was taken aback by Scarlet’s rudeness and temper. He held up his hands defensively, an innocent smile spread across his face.

[B]“My apologies, friend. I didn’t mean any offense.”[/B] He outstretched one hand to Scarlet. [B]“The name’s Robert Locksley. And yours?”[/B] Scarlet looked the man over intently, and Robert could see that Scarlet’s left hand was tightly gripping his blade, even as he took Robert’s hand.

[B]“The name’s William Blood. You can call me Scarlet. None of that 'Will' crap, though.”[/B] Robert smiled and shook Scarlet’s hand.

[B]“Understood, Scarlet. That was a pretty impressive display you put on against those soldiers.”[/B] Scarlet shrugged and walked over to his house, inviting Robert in.

[B]“The bastards frequent the area. They all seem to fight the same—Sheriff’s apparently got them all programmed with the same move set.”[/B] Robert laughed a little, though his breath came short a moment when he saw what was in Scarlet’s house. Strewn along the walls and over the floor and table were a mass assortment of weapons. Scarlet followed Robert’s gaze and grinned.

[B]“Nice, ain’t it Robbie? I keep a souvenir from every visit I have with the nice folk from the Corp.”[/B] Robert whistled in response. Scarlet offered him a seat, and the two sat in silence for a bit. Robert was the first to speak.

[B]“What if I told you that you could do more than sitting and waiting for those guards to come to you?”[/B] Scarlet’s temper flared at this.

[B]“You think I’m not doing enough out here, Mr. Locksley? You know how many soldiers have travelled through these parts?”[/B] Robert laughed and held up his arms again.

[B]“Woah, woah! You’re doing a great job. But I can tell you’re getting frustrated with these infrequent challenges. I can see it in your eyes, and I could see it in the way you took on those soldiers earlier. You want to bring the fight to Sheriff. I want to give you that chance.”[/B] Scarlet looked at Robert inquisitively. He could tell from the man’s tone, from his eyes, from his body disposition that he was telling the truth. And truth be told, Scarlet was yearning for a fight. He smiled and leaned towards Robert.

[B]“Alright Mr. Locksley. Whatever it is you’re doing, sign me up for it.”[/B]

[B]Weapons: [/B] Scarlet is prone to carrying around two [URL="http://www.bladegallery.com/pics/1980_1_n.jpg"][short swords][/URL] or a [URL="http://creativeuncut.com/gallery-10/sb2-azai-nagamasa1.html"][chokutō][/URL], though he can and will use any other swords he may find lying around. He also carries around a [URL="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Beretta_87_Target.jpg"][Beretta 87 Target][/URL], and is quite a good shot with it—however, due to the somewhat difficult task of collecting ammo for his handgun, he will often only resort to using it if absolutely necessary.

[B]Special Skills:[/B] Scarlet is extraordinarily proficient with blades of any sort; it’s even rumored that his skill with a blade matches Hood’s skill with a bow. His thin and wiry frame allows him great maneuverability and talent with acrobatics. He’s also a formidable hand to hand combatant, due to his unpredictability and youthful vitality and strength.[/indent][/FONT]

[Raiha]

[INDENT][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][b]Name:[/b] Marian May

[b]Age:[/b] 23

[b]Gender:[/b] Female

[b]Appearance:[/b] [URL="http://api.ning.com/files/ZtZk1wbj6viQEJsVba5idAw3nL77MdN2J4y8LC4ii7o_/5326910.bin?width=400&height=600"]Marian[/URL]
Brunette with tall and slender figure, a high fashion model, so her clothing tends to be somewhat extravagant. Extremely pale skin, french tipped fingernails and toenails, and dark brown eyes, nearly black.

Personality: Marian is more or less a positive person, believing that her inner health should be strong and resilient in order to deal with the corrupt outer world. Perhaps she is even a little Buddhist, otherwise she would be incapable of being the one member of Hood's organization that can act openly in the outside world. On the catwalk she is sweet yet ethereal, some would say zen.

[b]Affiliation:[/b] Hood

[b]Writing Snippet:[/b] "Marian May of Leaford. Silver sheath style, imported from New York this past week..." [i]In glittering silver heels, Marian expertly made the turn at the last moment, paused, and looked over her shoulder with her eyebrows raised and her eyelashes relaxed. Her hair caught the breeze and seemed to flutter, like the hemline of her dress and she found that she was holding her breath. Robert wouldn't have come here. That couldn't be him in the corner in what was probably a rented tux. Could it?

In her private room she sat at her vanity table, carefully pinning back her hair with the silver pins that she knew weren't actually silver. A knock at the door and Frederick, her assistant poked his head, calling her name at the same time in the long drawn out way she'd never really liked.[/i]

"Maaaaaarion! There's this man who says he has to see you. He said it was urgent. I told him you weren't seeing anyone but he said it wa--"

"That's fine Frederick. Let him in please."

[i]Scowling just a little, Frederick withdrew and in walked Robert Locksley. Childhood sweetheart. Outlaw. Criminal. ...Really really really handsome. Marian felt her heart skip a beat and she stood to greet him, noting that she was only a few inches taller than him in her heels. In all the time he'd been away, she hadn't really forgotten him. In fact she'd missed him terribly and compared all the men she'd met thereafter to him.[/i]

"Robert."

"Marian."

[i]She took two awkward steps across the thickly carpeted floor, and fell into his arms, her legs nearly giving out entirely. He brushed a hand through her hair, and rested it on the curve of her shoulder and neck.[/i]

"You really came back. I thought you were gone for good."

"What about you? I didn't think I would find you here. But I saw your picture, they're all over 12th street. What are you doing up there?"

"It's my job. My uncle used his contact to get me placed here. I hear everything you know. I see everything. The corruption makes me sick, but I can't give it up. The money I earn goes back to my sisters. The things I know keep them from losing everything in the secret police raids."

[i]Robert paused. Part of him wanted to wrench her out of this life, one of the less than the 1% of the population enjoying wealth and prosperity. But she didn't appear to be in love with her high life, wasn't being used by it so much as she was using it to help her family. He wondered how much more she would be willing to do for others as poor as her sisters.[/i]

[b]Weapons:[/b] Negotiation, Diplomacy, and a .38 Lady's Smith and Wesson, specially imported through a black market contact.

[b]Special Skills:[/b] With her background in professional modeling, Marian is extremely well balanced, poised, and capable of acting quickly while in 6 inch heels. Like Hood, she has rather good accuracy, although with her line of work, she generally doesn't have to aim too carefully. In hand to hand combat she has to rely on her reflexes, as her physical strength is less than adequate for dealing with anyone stronger than her.[/FONT][/COLOR][/INDENT]

[P.J. McKrafty]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][U][B][FONT=Arial]Name:[/FONT][/B][/U][FONT=Arial] Allen Dales

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][U][B][FONT=Arial]Age:[/FONT][/B][/U][FONT=Arial] 22

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][B][FONT=Arial][U]Gender[/U]:[/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial] Male
[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][U][B][FONT=Arial]Appearance:[/FONT][/B][/U][FONT=Arial] [COLOR=Black][URL="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o159/pjmckrafty/eagleeye_tournage_3.jpg"][U]Allen[/U][/URL][/COLOR] He stands a little over average height. He usually wears a military issue coat, variant of dark shirt and pants, and a pain of worn leather work boots with a steel toe. He has two pricings in his left eyebrow, one in his lip, and has his tongue pierced.
[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][U][B][FONT=Arial]Personality:[/FONT][/B][/U][FONT=Arial] Known as a plain and simple smart ass. Alain has a larger than life view of himself, and often refers to himself as a ?jack-of-all-trades?. Does follow orders readily but has a tendency to whine while he does. His major pet peeve is to be bothered while working his craft, weather it be his music or anything else.
[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][U][B][FONT=Arial]Affiliation:[/FONT][/B][/U][FONT=Arial] Hood?s Gang
[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][U]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][B][FONT=Arial]Writing Snippet:[/FONT][/B][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial]Allen squeezed through the crowd around the stage. He could barely hear anything over the noise the amps were giving off as the next band took the stage. The way the people were packed it was all too easy to get into the pockets of those he passed.

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial]Upon reaching the bar he had four wallets in his possession. He sat down and, upon receiving the recognition of the bartender, ordered his usual Stout and lit up a cigarette. By the time his drink arrived another man in a leather jacket came and sat next to him.

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial][B]?I?ll take two shots of whiskey.?[/B] Said the man holding up two fingers.

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial]Allen looked the man up and down and shrugged. [B]?The man?s drinks are on me.? [/B]He called to the bartender.
[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial][B]?Thanks, but I can afford my own drinks.?[/B] The man said nodding politely.

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial][B]?It?s nothing at all, I ain?t seen you round these parts, and what kind of person would I be if I didn?t treat a new visitor to a drink??[/B] Allen replied waving it off and taking a drag from his cigarette. [B]?Besides, I like your fancy jacket?[/B]

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial]The bartender brought back the shots and set them down in front of the man. He then turned to Allen and held out a hand. [B]?Pay up.?[/B]

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Arial]Allen fished into his jacket and found one of his recently acquired wallets and pulled it out. He pulled a worn looking wallet of brown leather with a red 'R.L.' printed on it. The newcomer gave the wallet a look and checked his pockets. He gave a small chuckle and took up one of the shots and tossed it back.

He stood and walked over to Allen grabbed him by the front of his jacket and in a quick motion slammed his back into the bar and pinned him. Allen froze with a look of utter shock on his face, the man just smirked.

[B]"Woah mate! I don't know how they do it where you come from, but when a man buys you a drink here, you usually act a little friendlier!"[/B] Allen said trying to pry his jacket free from the man's grip.

[B]"You are good, didn't even notice it was gone 'til now, but I would like my wallet back."[/B]

[B]"I don't know what you are on about!"[/B] Aleen said pushing the man's arms off him and standing. [B]"So why don't you piss off!"[/B]

The man just laughed quietly and shook his head.[B] "My name is Robert Locksley, and that wallet in you possession is mine. I'm R.L."[/B]

Allen thought this over for a moment, his tongue piercing clicking against his teeth making a barely audible noise. He sighed and pulled the wallet back out throwing it back to Robert. He held his hands up and smirked. [B]"No offense meant Robbie, man's got to make a living somehow now-a-days. And Sheriff ain't made things any easier."

"Very true, what's your name?"

"Most call me Allen, Allen Dales"
[/B] The man hooked a thumb at the door. [B]"Walk with me Allen, I have a proposition for you."[/B]

[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [U][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy][B][FONT=Arial]Weapons:[/FONT][/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][FONT=Arial] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=Navy]Allen carries a chrome snub nosed .357 in a holster in the small of his back, along with a folding and fixed bladed knife on him at all times. He is also good at improvising weapons on the fly.

[U][B]Special Skills:[/B][/U] Dropping out of high school after being shunned by his parents, Allen took to the streets and picked up all kinds of neat tricks. Along with pickpocketing, Allen has become a very skilled lock picker, he can pick anything from a locket to some of the most high tech safes used in banks today. He also has picked up hot wiring, and, if given the opportunity, can hack a computer faster than even the most skilled programmers.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [/FONT]

[Darth Vectis]

[SIZE="1"][B]Name:[/B] High Priest Tucker; Sometimes he is referred to as ?Wise Father?, even though he isn?t quite that old.
[B]
Age:[/B] 34
[B]
Gender:[/B] Male
[B]
Appearance:[/B] Tucker stands at a moderate height of 5?11? and has long, dark brown hair that he keeps tied back with slim, leather throng that has a charm on each end. One is known as the Red King and the other is called the White Queen. He has a stern face that comes from years of devotion and commitment to his faith with a dark colored goatee and light green eyes. He wears a dark brown vest with a black sleeveless undershirt and two leather wrists bands with several more charms hanging off the left band that are other ancient alchemical symbols.

Tucker also wears cloth pants he was given for finishing his training in the Far East, a location he is forbidden by his faiths rules to disclose. He wears the cloth pants exclusively with his low cut shoes and a jean jacket. Tucker also carries a nap sack that holds all his worldly belongings, which consists of an extra pair of shoes, a pair of soft soled slip on shoes, a sewing kit, several plastic tubes that hold scripts he picked up and an old monk?s robe that has several patches on it from different cultures and religions from the world.
[B]
Personality:[/B] Tuckers beliefs influence his character heavily. He is reserved in his actions and always tries to remain logical in any situation. He could be considered emotionless, but that would be completely false. He simply keeps them in check and allows his faith to keep him strong. He remains stern in his decisions as he does in his beliefs, his actions, or sometimes lack of, reflect his personal view on life that he doesn?t need to show his muscles to win the battle. Some of claimed him to be fearless and truly courageous, but, he always remains modest and humble and simple tells people that he just remembers his teachings will keep him strong and true in anything he does.

He is also very self-sacrificing and willing to give up nearly anything to help someone else in need or to protect members of the Hood. Tucker is also quite difficult to ruffle due to the disciple training he has received throughout his religious escapade.
[B]
Affiliation:[/B] Hood Gang

[B]Writing Snippet:[/B] The clouds hung heavy this morning. The sun stood no chance of breaking through this coverage today, only the hand of some almighty being could do that. Tucker had his nap sack over his left shoulder and the charms jingled ever so slightly as he gripped it with his left hand. He walked with a self-confidence you didn?t see in most people these days, but, Tucker was on a mission. He had one goal on his mind and he was going to make sure that it was accomplished on this day. He arrived at a medium sized building with a single door and the windows boarded up with only the faintest light coming out from between the boards. Tucker pushed open the door and saw all the people inside, all of them ragged looking and dirty. Tucker didn?t really care how they looked; it simply warmed his heart to see that the numbers had grown to come pay their devotions.

He walked past the people and set his nap sack aside and opened it up, he removed his jean jacket and pulled of his shoes. He then reached in and pulled out his soft soled shoes and slipped them on. He then reached in again and pulled out his robe and put it on. The patches showing clearly, even in the gloomy light of the candles. Tucker straightened himself out and stood before the people, all of them looking to him with such reverence and respect that they were glued to him.
[B]
?My few Englishmen and women, we are all gathered here to pay homage to our patron gods or goddesses. We do not judge here, we do not persecute anyone who worships one god, or many. We simply come here to bring the faith back to our souls, to revitalize what has only been buried deep.?[/B] Tucker gestured as he spoke, the charms on his wrist band and on the throng that tied his hair back jingled as he moved. But the jingle was so calming and relaxing that everyone seem to fall into a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
[B]
?Joseph Sheriff and his corruption can never take from us the spirit to live, the spirit to go on and they can never take our faith. Separate, we are strong, but together, we are as great as the very idles we worship. I ask that you all simply take a moment, and ask your patron god or goddess to grant you and your family health, well being, and the strength that you need in desperate times. Please, brothers and sisters, bow your heads.?[/B] All of the people bowed, except one, a man with sandy-brown hair and deep blue eyes was staring at the High priest. And he recognized those eyes, even under all the soot he had splashed on and the rugged look he had, he knew who that man was. His heart grew warmer yet again; he knew the time had come for everything to start to change again. He looked to the crowd of people as they all looked up from their prayers. He raised his hands to the people, signaling that this ceremony was coming to a close.
[B]
?Now, even though we are finished for today, I expect to see you all again soon. You are all welcome to return anytime day or night. This is your home as much as mine and you should always be able to come home. And always remember my friends; Life is the future, not the past.?[/B] Tucker did his traditional bow to the people and they applauded him. He simply stood up straight and held himself tall as people then started to clear out. He saw the lone, sandy-brown haired man there. Tucker removed his robe and tossed it over his shoulder as he approached the man. Tucker opened his arms and embraced the other man, the man embraced Tucker and there was a smile on his face. They pulled away from each other and Tucker patted him on the shoulder.
[B]
?Robert Locksley, it has been far too long since you have come to my door step.? [/B]Robert simply smiled at Tucker for a few moments the let out a small laugh.
[B]
?Wise father, it has been a long time. But things have defiantly changed since I was last here. And hopefully things will change again before it?s all over.?[/B] Tucker let his emotions slip and a grin creased his face.
[B]
?I am right there with you Robert. I hope the next time I give a sermon like this, that it?ll be in far better accommodations then this. Those people deserve better, better lives, better government, and they even deserve a better class of hero.?[/B] Robert let out a laugh as the implications of what Tucker said showed far too much of what could happen, and Tucker was going to be there for it all.


[B]Weapons: [/B]Tucker carries a sectional staff made of red wood with steel chain connecting the parts together. The staff has a few nicks and dents from being used before, but has a fine coat of lacquer on the wood to prevent rotting and to maintain the dented and beat up look of his weapon. He also keeps a Greek Falcata tucked away in the nap sack he carries with him with the handle barely visible so that he can grab it if need be. He is also skilled in the art of Dim Mak, which means Death Touch. It is the art of applying blows and hits on the pressure points and important blood vessels and either causing delayed or immediate death to said opponent. Tucker has never used this style for its true purpose of killing people; he uses it to incapacitate people. He has never reached his limit where he used it as a killing method.
[B]
Special Skills:[/B] Tucker brings level headiness and rational thought in even the most trying situations. He also brings a certain wisdom and knowledge that derives from his worldly travels and his heavy beliefs. He also brings a steady faith to the others for when they need that extra strength that can?t be taken only given.[/SIZE]

[DeLarge]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Sign-ups are looking great thus far, people, and you're all accepted. Hood's Gang is look pretty strong now, so we could do with a few Nottingham-affiliated characters, particularly Sheriff and Gisbon.

The Backstage thread is up, so feel free to take a look and post any comments, queries or suggestions there. It's right [URL="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=60411"][B]here[/B][/URL].

Keep 'em coming!
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