Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jan 4, 2009 21:18:51 GMT
The Basics
Name:
Marian Isabella Fitzwalter
Date/Month/Age
20
Gender:
Female
Birthplace:
Knighton, Nottinghamshire
Ethnicity:
Caucasian
Nationality:
English
Relatives:
All deceased. Marian has no brothers or sisters and her mother died many years ago. Her father was lost to her recently in circumstances she still doesn’t fully understand. All she knows is that the Sheriff had to be behind it.
Occupation:
Outlaw. Whilst she was a noble, she had no job as such. However, she often filled her days with charitable acts to support the common people of Knighton and beyond, whilst by night, she concealed her identity with a mask and cloak to secretly deliver food and money to those in need. In this guise, she is known as ‘the Nightwatchman’, a name that makes her wince every time she hears it. Since returning to England with the outlaws she’s been fulfilling the same role unmasked, as well as working alongside Robin and his men in their endeavours to frustrate the Sheriff’s plans.
Appearance
Picture:
Hair Colour:
Dark Brown
Eye Colour:
Blue-grey.
Build:
Slim but surprisingly strong. Whilst she was living in the castle she was forced to prevent her physique from becoming obviously muscular; it didn’t do to let people think she was capable of too much. These days she’s leaner, fitter and more powerful than ever before.
Skin Tone:
Classic ‘English Rose’ complexion – pale and porcelain skin but prone to blushing at inappropriate times.
Height:
5'6"
Dress Style:
Marian dresses as befitting her surroundings, in loose tunics and breeches usually - although this doesn’t dissuade her from emphasizing her femininity if it suits her. She’s not an advocate of style over substance in any situation and prefers practicality in her garb. She’s most often seen in the browns, greys and greens adopted by the rest of the outlaws.
Specifics:
Her face has the same determined set it always had and her noble bearing has yet to diminish. Her accent in particular sets her apart from the other outlaws and can often cause her problems if she’s trying to blend in with a group of peasants. Because she was so well-known to (and loved by) the serfs before joining with Robin’s gang most people know her on sight, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Psyche
Sexual Orientation:
Marian’s worldly when it comes to politics, but naïve in the extreme when it comes to matters of the heart. She doesn’t even consider the possibility of anyone finding someone of the same sex attractive.
Self Image:
Marian sees herself as the defender of the common man, more so even than Robin. After all, she was working as the Nightwatchman whilst he was busily killing Saracens in service of the King, something she rarely lets him forget. Secretly, she is filled with pride that she was able to make a difference to people’s lives in secret but even more prideful of the fact that she was known as the Nightwatchman. She is constantly frustrated that she is excluded from so much by society, simply by dint of being female and constantly feels the need to prove her worth to others. She knows a woman can be equal to any man and is eager to spread the word. You could bounce rocks off her self-esteem. She’s painfully aware of the sacrifices both her and Robin have made, and views nobles who do nothing as complicit in the Sheriff’s cruel dominance of Nottingham.
To the Outward Eye:
Those who don’t know her by sight are sometimes suspicious of the combination of high-born pronounciation and dirty face, assuming (correctly, but that’s neither here nor there) that she’s been cast out from the nobility for some treasonous offence, and therefore are wary of associating with her. Her warm, open smile has been well-practiced from years of donating food to the poor though, so often she’s able to change people’s minds with a kind word and a flutter of eyelashes. Her outlook is little changed by her loss of land and title; she still retains the open and friendly countenance that encourages people to approach.
Social Status:
By some of the inhabitants of Nottingham’s outlying villages, the name ‘Lady Marian’ has become near-deified. Perhaps her reputation has been rather increased by her repeated public defiance of the Sheriff and Sir Guy, but she was never a stranger to the poorest people of the towns, even when all she had to offer was a kind word and the promise of inclusion in her prayers.
The nobles, on the other hand are mostly rather tired of Marian’s sanctimonious preaching. The accepted justification of ‘noble blood, noble birth’ is most of them need to convince themselves of their superiority to the lower classes and they can’t understand why she’s so desperate to rock the boat and ruin it for the rest of them. If one was to recognise her she’d almost certainly get the cold shoulder, and what self-respecting noble would stop to talk to a peasant anyway?
Marian knows that the best way to find out what’s really going on is to get as many versions of the ‘truth’ as possible and so she knows how important it is to have people she can trust – and people that trust her.
Positive Traits:
0. Single-minded – Marian is in the fight against the Sheriff 100%. She blames him for not only the death of her father but also the continued corruption of Sir Guy and the never-ending plight of the townspeople. Whilst living in Castle Nottingham she ate, lived and breathed the resistance and still hasn’t lost her passion for the struggle. Give her a winter in Sherwood Forest and she might change her mind though…
0. Fiercely egalitarian - As a noble she was often wracked with guilt that others were starving whilst she had plenty, due to nothing but the accident of birth. As such she has always striven to equalize the debt she feels she owes to the general populous. She considers herself staunchly moral and regards any sin committed in service of the poor as a victimless crime.
0. Kind-hearted – Her modus operandi as the Nightwatchman was to aid the starving people of Nottinghamshire. She can’t resist helping anyone who hasn’t the means to help themselves and this has won her a lot of devoted friends and allies.
0. Socially adept – Marian was raised well; she knows the correct way to address a Duke, his wife, his mistress and his bastard lovechild to boot. In addition to this she can put most people at their ease in conversation, which comes in handy when she needs to find some information or gently persuade someone to let her have her own way. Some might call her manipulative – she knows that her feminine wiles are one of her greatest assets.
0. Resilient – Marian's been dealt several heavy blows in the past, not least the loss of both her parents, the destruction by fire of her family home and her very public haircutting, as ordered by the Sheriff. That’s not to say that she isn’t hurt by these things – on the contrary, bad news often affects her deeply at first, rendering her despondent for days. However, she is strong-willed and determined, and refuses to be cowed by anything for long.
Negative Traits:
0. Single-minded - Because of her devotion to their fight, she’s often blind to the collateral damage her actions cause, not least the confusion caused to Guy of Gisborne as she took advantage of his affections to gain vital knowledge of the Sheriff’s schemes. It wouldn’t occur to her that she’d done anything morally wrong during their abortive courtship. Her worldview is high-contrast – things are either black or white; a person is good or they are evil. She believes she is a good person, and that’s the end of it. One thing that always troubles her is when someone resists classification. Even now, she cannot decide which side of Sir Guy is the true one – the good or the bad. It hasn’t occurred to her yet that they are both integral to his personality.
0. Argumentative – Marian believes in herself. Sometimes a little too much. If she thinks she is right, it is extremely hard to change her mind and she hasn’t quite become used to receiving orders. Her stubbornness often extends to ignoring what she has been told and doing what she pleases regardless. Occasionally it’s saved the day, but more often than not it hinders far more than it helps.
0. Impatient – If a wrong needs righting and justice needs to be done, it needs to be done now. That’s her feeling on the matter and it’s very hard to convince her otherwise. On more than one occasion Marian’s haste to act has put her in danger, and sometimes others as well.
0. Temperamental – Marian’s passion for what she thinks is right affects her more strongly emotionally than she would like to admit. Often in anger she can speak without thinking and cause far more trouble than is needed, and if she’s unhappy about something, everyone knows about it.
0. Somewhat tactless – Marian has spent a long time smiling and ‘playing nice’ whilst living in the castle with her father’s fate hanging in the balance. Since joining the gang in the forest, she’s felt much more free to express her true feelings on certain matters and doesn’t bother to mince her words in front of the rest of the outlaws. This is a side to Marian that was rarely seen, but as she feels more and more mistress of her own fate it is something she feels much less need to suppress.
Skills:
Marian’s a competent archer, an excellent horsewoman and very handy with a sword. She can talk her way into – or out of most situations. She can also read and write well; a rare talent. She played the recorder as a young girl but is rather out of practice these days.
Likes:
Honey mead. Marian doesn’t drink often, but a cup of sweet well-brewed mead is guaranteed to get you on her good side.
Fighting for justice. She doesn’t just do it, she loves it.
Children. Marian’s a bit of a sucker for children. She’d love to settle down with Robin one day and have a small army of little ones running around her feet but for now the local ragamuffins are content to shamelessly charm sweets from her.
Feminine touches. Although she’s always considered herself equal to a man, she doesn’t really like dressing like one and now more than ever something simple, like a bunch of wildflowers, really cheers her up when she’s feeling sorry for herself.
Company. She’s an intensely sociable person and enjoys living in a group of people, even if she and they don’t always see eye to eye.
Dislikes:
Anything considered ‘women’s work’ – cooking, cleaning, sewing. She doesn’t see why men are so special.
The cold. Marian had a comfortable life until she joined the outlaws in the forest. All the others are used to roughing it outdoors, but she hasn’t adjusted yet.
Selfishness. Whilst there are people going without food, she doesn’t see how someone could conscionably keep more than they need for themselves. To Marian, selfishness is probably the least attractive flaw a person can possess.
Cheese. She really hates the smell.
Drunkenness. She’s not against alcohol per se, just those who overindulge and make fools of themselves. She considers it very unseemly.
History:
Marian’s lived in Nottingham her entire life. She was born in Knighton Manor to Edward and Suzanne, and grew up playing in the fields and villages with the young Robin of Locksley. When she was five her mother was taken gravely ill with pneumonia, a long and drawn-out illness which she unfortunately did not survive. Faced with the struggle of raising a young girl alone, Edward not only employed a nanny for the young Marian but also sent her to Kirklees convent once a month to learn her letters. Although it was still not necessarily common for a woman to be educated to the level of reading and writing, Edward was determined that Marian would have every advantage available to her, and Marian probably has the nuns to thank for her strong moral compass.
Two years after Suzanne’s death, Edward was awarded the post of Sheriff of Nottingham and Marian and her father moved into the grand castle presiding over the market town. It was a luxury indeed to live in such a fine building, she told herself, but the bleak and cold stone walls were oppressive compared to the cosy warmth of the manorhouse in Knighton. She remained firm friends with Robin, who kept her company in the wide echoing halls of the castle and egged her on as she played practical jokes on the tolerant but long-suffering staff, but she never felt as comfortable as in the house she was born.
When Robin announced his plan to join the King’s army, she was devastated but not surprised. Both of them were good Christians, after all, and it wasn’t the first attempt to redeliver Jerusalem into Christian hands. The war seemed pointless to her; it was God’s teaching that was important, she supposed, not some scrap of land that was home to Jesus some thousand years ago. Marian employed every weapon in her arsenal to convince him to stay; threats, pleading, sulking, arguing and finally even ignoring him but Robin wouldn’t be swayed. The mere fact that she was unable to change his mind caused her more pain than Robin will ever know.
Of course, Edward lost the position of Sheriff to Vaysey just a few short years after Robin’s departure and he and Marian returned to the family home in Knighton. At the same time, Sir Guy of Gisborne took control of the house and lands at Locksley, and made it clear that he desired to court her. Still stung by what she felt was abandonment on Robin’s part, she welcomed his attentions at first, before quickly realising that his feelings for her were much deeper and stronger than she’d previously imagined. She immediately tried to cool his ardour for her with extremely limited success, although she did rather enjoy the look of horror on Robin’s face the day he returned from war to see her on Sir Guy’s arm. As Vaysey’s rule over Nottingham went on, the previously prosperous town and outlying villages began to suffer at the hands of his gouging taxes, and when she began to see old family friends evicted she could bear it no more. In the dead of night she began to leave food and money for the less well-off of the shire, her identity concealed with a mask. Her rebellion against authority had begun in earnest.
When Robin was outlawed, her previously resisted relationship with Gisborne became an asset – a secret advantage in the fight against the Sheriff.
Roleplay Sample:
Marian groaned as light fell across her face. The room was freezing this morning.
“Shut the curtains, Sarah,” she pleaded groggily to her maid, burrowing deeper under her blanket in search of any residual warmth she could find.
“Wake up, Marian.” It was a man’s voice, gently nudging her for a response. His voice. And she was-
A low cry escaped her lips as memories washed over her, and Robin’s hand supported her as she tried hastily to sit up. There was no more Knighton Manor, not even any more Nottingham Castle for her. Sherwood was her home now, and she was alone in the world. Her father, her beloved father lay cold and still in the ground. She looked up pleadingly at the outlaw above her, willing with all her heart for him to fix it somehow, take it all back, but she knew it couldn’t be done. The hopeful child in her faltered and gave up, whilst the implacable adult’s face settled into place. She was alone now, for better or for worse, and she had to be strong for-
She stiffened, bit her lip and shuddered. Live in the real world, she told herself. It had been a week since her father’s death and every day since had been a struggle, the hardest challenge of her life. Still, people died every day, good honest people and you should be able to cope, her inner thoughts chided. She pushed Robin’s hand away irritably, embarrassed at showing such weakness, and rose shakily to her feet. It felt as if the cold had seeped into her very bones. The morning was still, the grass was covered in dew and a fine mist hugged the gound. Marian didn’t know if she would ever feel dry again. Hastily wiping at her face with the back of her hand, she picked up her blanket and wrapped it about her shoulders as she attempted to force her stiff legs to trudge over to the dying embers of last night’s fire. With a long thin stick that remained in the woodpile she poked and stirred the glowing charcoal into life, feeding it with kindling that had been wrapped in oiled leather to keep it safe from the elements.
She stared pensively into the flames. At least she could light a fire as well as the others. But what else could she offer to the group? She barely stand to watch a rabbit being killed, let alone clean it and gut it for dinner. How was she going to live out here? She wasn’t equipped for life in the forest, that much was painfully clear. The last thing she wanted was Robin and the others exchanging looks behind her back, regretting taking on another burden. Tears welled up in her eyes. Where else could she go? She knew her father’s death was down to Vaysey somehow, and she couldn’t face that self-satisfied smirk day-in, day-out.
“My lady?”
She squealed, startled, and cursed herself immediately for looking so stupid. She turned, and there was Much, awkwardly looking at the ground and shuffling his feet. He cleared his throat: “I’m going to make up some porridge for breakfast. It’s not much I’m afraid, but it’ll warm you up. These cold mornings are hard to get used to, but you’ll soon adjust, I’m sure.” He blushed, turned abruptly and headed towards the food store.
Marian’s eyes were suddenly moist again. The nervous, shy smile on Much’s face hadn’t changed at all in the five years since he and Robin had left for war, and she was touched by his clumsy attempt to lift her spirits. She turned back to the fire again and edged her toes towards it. All the others must have struggled when they first began living outdoors, and they had managed. She would adjust. She had to.
Out of Character
Name:
Charli/starbuck
Age:
24 today!
Name of Playby:
Lucy Griffiths
Other Characters:
None
How you found Sherwood:
Google search for Robin Hood RP
Name:
Marian Isabella Fitzwalter
Date/Month/Age
20
Gender:
Female
Birthplace:
Knighton, Nottinghamshire
Ethnicity:
Caucasian
Nationality:
English
Relatives:
All deceased. Marian has no brothers or sisters and her mother died many years ago. Her father was lost to her recently in circumstances she still doesn’t fully understand. All she knows is that the Sheriff had to be behind it.
Occupation:
Outlaw. Whilst she was a noble, she had no job as such. However, she often filled her days with charitable acts to support the common people of Knighton and beyond, whilst by night, she concealed her identity with a mask and cloak to secretly deliver food and money to those in need. In this guise, she is known as ‘the Nightwatchman’, a name that makes her wince every time she hears it. Since returning to England with the outlaws she’s been fulfilling the same role unmasked, as well as working alongside Robin and his men in their endeavours to frustrate the Sheriff’s plans.
Appearance
Picture:
Hair Colour:
Dark Brown
Eye Colour:
Blue-grey.
Build:
Slim but surprisingly strong. Whilst she was living in the castle she was forced to prevent her physique from becoming obviously muscular; it didn’t do to let people think she was capable of too much. These days she’s leaner, fitter and more powerful than ever before.
Skin Tone:
Classic ‘English Rose’ complexion – pale and porcelain skin but prone to blushing at inappropriate times.
Height:
5'6"
Dress Style:
Marian dresses as befitting her surroundings, in loose tunics and breeches usually - although this doesn’t dissuade her from emphasizing her femininity if it suits her. She’s not an advocate of style over substance in any situation and prefers practicality in her garb. She’s most often seen in the browns, greys and greens adopted by the rest of the outlaws.
Specifics:
Her face has the same determined set it always had and her noble bearing has yet to diminish. Her accent in particular sets her apart from the other outlaws and can often cause her problems if she’s trying to blend in with a group of peasants. Because she was so well-known to (and loved by) the serfs before joining with Robin’s gang most people know her on sight, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Psyche
Sexual Orientation:
Marian’s worldly when it comes to politics, but naïve in the extreme when it comes to matters of the heart. She doesn’t even consider the possibility of anyone finding someone of the same sex attractive.
Self Image:
Marian sees herself as the defender of the common man, more so even than Robin. After all, she was working as the Nightwatchman whilst he was busily killing Saracens in service of the King, something she rarely lets him forget. Secretly, she is filled with pride that she was able to make a difference to people’s lives in secret but even more prideful of the fact that she was known as the Nightwatchman. She is constantly frustrated that she is excluded from so much by society, simply by dint of being female and constantly feels the need to prove her worth to others. She knows a woman can be equal to any man and is eager to spread the word. You could bounce rocks off her self-esteem. She’s painfully aware of the sacrifices both her and Robin have made, and views nobles who do nothing as complicit in the Sheriff’s cruel dominance of Nottingham.
To the Outward Eye:
Those who don’t know her by sight are sometimes suspicious of the combination of high-born pronounciation and dirty face, assuming (correctly, but that’s neither here nor there) that she’s been cast out from the nobility for some treasonous offence, and therefore are wary of associating with her. Her warm, open smile has been well-practiced from years of donating food to the poor though, so often she’s able to change people’s minds with a kind word and a flutter of eyelashes. Her outlook is little changed by her loss of land and title; she still retains the open and friendly countenance that encourages people to approach.
Social Status:
By some of the inhabitants of Nottingham’s outlying villages, the name ‘Lady Marian’ has become near-deified. Perhaps her reputation has been rather increased by her repeated public defiance of the Sheriff and Sir Guy, but she was never a stranger to the poorest people of the towns, even when all she had to offer was a kind word and the promise of inclusion in her prayers.
The nobles, on the other hand are mostly rather tired of Marian’s sanctimonious preaching. The accepted justification of ‘noble blood, noble birth’ is most of them need to convince themselves of their superiority to the lower classes and they can’t understand why she’s so desperate to rock the boat and ruin it for the rest of them. If one was to recognise her she’d almost certainly get the cold shoulder, and what self-respecting noble would stop to talk to a peasant anyway?
Marian knows that the best way to find out what’s really going on is to get as many versions of the ‘truth’ as possible and so she knows how important it is to have people she can trust – and people that trust her.
Positive Traits:
0. Single-minded – Marian is in the fight against the Sheriff 100%. She blames him for not only the death of her father but also the continued corruption of Sir Guy and the never-ending plight of the townspeople. Whilst living in Castle Nottingham she ate, lived and breathed the resistance and still hasn’t lost her passion for the struggle. Give her a winter in Sherwood Forest and she might change her mind though…
0. Fiercely egalitarian - As a noble she was often wracked with guilt that others were starving whilst she had plenty, due to nothing but the accident of birth. As such she has always striven to equalize the debt she feels she owes to the general populous. She considers herself staunchly moral and regards any sin committed in service of the poor as a victimless crime.
0. Kind-hearted – Her modus operandi as the Nightwatchman was to aid the starving people of Nottinghamshire. She can’t resist helping anyone who hasn’t the means to help themselves and this has won her a lot of devoted friends and allies.
0. Socially adept – Marian was raised well; she knows the correct way to address a Duke, his wife, his mistress and his bastard lovechild to boot. In addition to this she can put most people at their ease in conversation, which comes in handy when she needs to find some information or gently persuade someone to let her have her own way. Some might call her manipulative – she knows that her feminine wiles are one of her greatest assets.
0. Resilient – Marian's been dealt several heavy blows in the past, not least the loss of both her parents, the destruction by fire of her family home and her very public haircutting, as ordered by the Sheriff. That’s not to say that she isn’t hurt by these things – on the contrary, bad news often affects her deeply at first, rendering her despondent for days. However, she is strong-willed and determined, and refuses to be cowed by anything for long.
Negative Traits:
0. Single-minded - Because of her devotion to their fight, she’s often blind to the collateral damage her actions cause, not least the confusion caused to Guy of Gisborne as she took advantage of his affections to gain vital knowledge of the Sheriff’s schemes. It wouldn’t occur to her that she’d done anything morally wrong during their abortive courtship. Her worldview is high-contrast – things are either black or white; a person is good or they are evil. She believes she is a good person, and that’s the end of it. One thing that always troubles her is when someone resists classification. Even now, she cannot decide which side of Sir Guy is the true one – the good or the bad. It hasn’t occurred to her yet that they are both integral to his personality.
0. Argumentative – Marian believes in herself. Sometimes a little too much. If she thinks she is right, it is extremely hard to change her mind and she hasn’t quite become used to receiving orders. Her stubbornness often extends to ignoring what she has been told and doing what she pleases regardless. Occasionally it’s saved the day, but more often than not it hinders far more than it helps.
0. Impatient – If a wrong needs righting and justice needs to be done, it needs to be done now. That’s her feeling on the matter and it’s very hard to convince her otherwise. On more than one occasion Marian’s haste to act has put her in danger, and sometimes others as well.
0. Temperamental – Marian’s passion for what she thinks is right affects her more strongly emotionally than she would like to admit. Often in anger she can speak without thinking and cause far more trouble than is needed, and if she’s unhappy about something, everyone knows about it.
0. Somewhat tactless – Marian has spent a long time smiling and ‘playing nice’ whilst living in the castle with her father’s fate hanging in the balance. Since joining the gang in the forest, she’s felt much more free to express her true feelings on certain matters and doesn’t bother to mince her words in front of the rest of the outlaws. This is a side to Marian that was rarely seen, but as she feels more and more mistress of her own fate it is something she feels much less need to suppress.
Skills:
Marian’s a competent archer, an excellent horsewoman and very handy with a sword. She can talk her way into – or out of most situations. She can also read and write well; a rare talent. She played the recorder as a young girl but is rather out of practice these days.
Likes:
Honey mead. Marian doesn’t drink often, but a cup of sweet well-brewed mead is guaranteed to get you on her good side.
Fighting for justice. She doesn’t just do it, she loves it.
Children. Marian’s a bit of a sucker for children. She’d love to settle down with Robin one day and have a small army of little ones running around her feet but for now the local ragamuffins are content to shamelessly charm sweets from her.
Feminine touches. Although she’s always considered herself equal to a man, she doesn’t really like dressing like one and now more than ever something simple, like a bunch of wildflowers, really cheers her up when she’s feeling sorry for herself.
Company. She’s an intensely sociable person and enjoys living in a group of people, even if she and they don’t always see eye to eye.
Dislikes:
Anything considered ‘women’s work’ – cooking, cleaning, sewing. She doesn’t see why men are so special.
The cold. Marian had a comfortable life until she joined the outlaws in the forest. All the others are used to roughing it outdoors, but she hasn’t adjusted yet.
Selfishness. Whilst there are people going without food, she doesn’t see how someone could conscionably keep more than they need for themselves. To Marian, selfishness is probably the least attractive flaw a person can possess.
Cheese. She really hates the smell.
Drunkenness. She’s not against alcohol per se, just those who overindulge and make fools of themselves. She considers it very unseemly.
History:
Marian’s lived in Nottingham her entire life. She was born in Knighton Manor to Edward and Suzanne, and grew up playing in the fields and villages with the young Robin of Locksley. When she was five her mother was taken gravely ill with pneumonia, a long and drawn-out illness which she unfortunately did not survive. Faced with the struggle of raising a young girl alone, Edward not only employed a nanny for the young Marian but also sent her to Kirklees convent once a month to learn her letters. Although it was still not necessarily common for a woman to be educated to the level of reading and writing, Edward was determined that Marian would have every advantage available to her, and Marian probably has the nuns to thank for her strong moral compass.
Two years after Suzanne’s death, Edward was awarded the post of Sheriff of Nottingham and Marian and her father moved into the grand castle presiding over the market town. It was a luxury indeed to live in such a fine building, she told herself, but the bleak and cold stone walls were oppressive compared to the cosy warmth of the manorhouse in Knighton. She remained firm friends with Robin, who kept her company in the wide echoing halls of the castle and egged her on as she played practical jokes on the tolerant but long-suffering staff, but she never felt as comfortable as in the house she was born.
When Robin announced his plan to join the King’s army, she was devastated but not surprised. Both of them were good Christians, after all, and it wasn’t the first attempt to redeliver Jerusalem into Christian hands. The war seemed pointless to her; it was God’s teaching that was important, she supposed, not some scrap of land that was home to Jesus some thousand years ago. Marian employed every weapon in her arsenal to convince him to stay; threats, pleading, sulking, arguing and finally even ignoring him but Robin wouldn’t be swayed. The mere fact that she was unable to change his mind caused her more pain than Robin will ever know.
Of course, Edward lost the position of Sheriff to Vaysey just a few short years after Robin’s departure and he and Marian returned to the family home in Knighton. At the same time, Sir Guy of Gisborne took control of the house and lands at Locksley, and made it clear that he desired to court her. Still stung by what she felt was abandonment on Robin’s part, she welcomed his attentions at first, before quickly realising that his feelings for her were much deeper and stronger than she’d previously imagined. She immediately tried to cool his ardour for her with extremely limited success, although she did rather enjoy the look of horror on Robin’s face the day he returned from war to see her on Sir Guy’s arm. As Vaysey’s rule over Nottingham went on, the previously prosperous town and outlying villages began to suffer at the hands of his gouging taxes, and when she began to see old family friends evicted she could bear it no more. In the dead of night she began to leave food and money for the less well-off of the shire, her identity concealed with a mask. Her rebellion against authority had begun in earnest.
When Robin was outlawed, her previously resisted relationship with Gisborne became an asset – a secret advantage in the fight against the Sheriff.
Roleplay Sample:
Marian groaned as light fell across her face. The room was freezing this morning.
“Shut the curtains, Sarah,” she pleaded groggily to her maid, burrowing deeper under her blanket in search of any residual warmth she could find.
“Wake up, Marian.” It was a man’s voice, gently nudging her for a response. His voice. And she was-
A low cry escaped her lips as memories washed over her, and Robin’s hand supported her as she tried hastily to sit up. There was no more Knighton Manor, not even any more Nottingham Castle for her. Sherwood was her home now, and she was alone in the world. Her father, her beloved father lay cold and still in the ground. She looked up pleadingly at the outlaw above her, willing with all her heart for him to fix it somehow, take it all back, but she knew it couldn’t be done. The hopeful child in her faltered and gave up, whilst the implacable adult’s face settled into place. She was alone now, for better or for worse, and she had to be strong for-
She stiffened, bit her lip and shuddered. Live in the real world, she told herself. It had been a week since her father’s death and every day since had been a struggle, the hardest challenge of her life. Still, people died every day, good honest people and you should be able to cope, her inner thoughts chided. She pushed Robin’s hand away irritably, embarrassed at showing such weakness, and rose shakily to her feet. It felt as if the cold had seeped into her very bones. The morning was still, the grass was covered in dew and a fine mist hugged the gound. Marian didn’t know if she would ever feel dry again. Hastily wiping at her face with the back of her hand, she picked up her blanket and wrapped it about her shoulders as she attempted to force her stiff legs to trudge over to the dying embers of last night’s fire. With a long thin stick that remained in the woodpile she poked and stirred the glowing charcoal into life, feeding it with kindling that had been wrapped in oiled leather to keep it safe from the elements.
She stared pensively into the flames. At least she could light a fire as well as the others. But what else could she offer to the group? She barely stand to watch a rabbit being killed, let alone clean it and gut it for dinner. How was she going to live out here? She wasn’t equipped for life in the forest, that much was painfully clear. The last thing she wanted was Robin and the others exchanging looks behind her back, regretting taking on another burden. Tears welled up in her eyes. Where else could she go? She knew her father’s death was down to Vaysey somehow, and she couldn’t face that self-satisfied smirk day-in, day-out.
“My lady?”
She squealed, startled, and cursed herself immediately for looking so stupid. She turned, and there was Much, awkwardly looking at the ground and shuffling his feet. He cleared his throat: “I’m going to make up some porridge for breakfast. It’s not much I’m afraid, but it’ll warm you up. These cold mornings are hard to get used to, but you’ll soon adjust, I’m sure.” He blushed, turned abruptly and headed towards the food store.
Marian’s eyes were suddenly moist again. The nervous, shy smile on Much’s face hadn’t changed at all in the five years since he and Robin had left for war, and she was touched by his clumsy attempt to lift her spirits. She turned back to the fire again and edged her toes towards it. All the others must have struggled when they first began living outdoors, and they had managed. She would adjust. She had to.
Out of Character
Name:
Charli/starbuck
Age:
24 today!
Name of Playby:
Lucy Griffiths
Other Characters:
None
How you found Sherwood:
Google search for Robin Hood RP
