Sherwood Plot-Second Team

[will_scarlett]

On the other side of the door, Tuck sees them and nods,

"Glad ye're 'ere, tis much to do."

Comments

[will_scarlett]

Will nods and they set off towards the road which is close by as the sounds of a heavily laden cart can be heard.

[scurlock]

The cart is going slow due to the thick mud, but at least the sounds cover the noise made by a trio of outlaws sneaking through the brush...followed by the oak.

Doc takes a bolt from the quiver at his side as he knocks his hood back from his face so he can see better, trying to listen to the sounds of feet and horses in an attempt to count how many guards.

[gorgonfondness]

With a few more quiet words, Mia slowly starts to freeze the water in the mud, giving them time to assess the situation.

"You might want to shield yourselves," she warns.

And with a subtle flick, the oak tree comes crashing through, taking what seems to be a running start.

A jump...

SPLASH!

If an oak tree doing a cannonball into a river doesn't distract them, nothing will.

[will_scarlett]

The cart pulls to a stop, the crossbowmen by the driver and sitting on the chest firing as fast as they can at the tree.

While the two pikemen stand bewildered not sure what they should be charging and praying.

Will laughs and goes from a tree to the midst of the pikemen with his sword drawn and the fight begins.

[scurlock]

If there's one thing Doc is, it's a good shot with a weapon he's had practice with. He could have used a bit more time with the crossbow, but, regardless.

It's close enough to his Winchester in weight and operation.

thwock

Even if the bolt lands in the chest and not the armor of the man sitting on top of the chest, it's still useful.

[will_scarlett]

It is since that crossbow bolt flies wide as the crossbowmen aims at where the bolt came from.

Will is having a tough fight against the two pikesmen as the blood and mud keep moving.

The driver has finally spotted Mia behind the huge tree and the crossbowmen next to him starts aiming at her.

[gorgonfondness]

A little more spellwork so that it looks like the tree is frolicking in the water along with an ice shield for herself and Mia gets to work with her staff.

She might be quicker than usual. She borrowed the group's Chira tail.

Making it easier to dodge and get closer.

[scurlock]

In dodging the bolt that comes flying back at him, Doc fires off another (this one missing by less) and growls as he slides across the mud, he's going to be covered by the time this is done.

He yanks the string back again and loads another bolt, before bringing the crossbow up again.

"HEY!"

It's a shout meant to get the attention of the both of them, draw their attention away...

[will_scarlett]

The yell gives Will a chance to slice through one of the pikes as the bolts keep being fired.

Mia is doing a good job and the cart is getting closer since the driver and crossbowmen are distracted with Mia who is just too fast for them.

[gorgonfondness]

She quietly comments, "After all of the brain pickers in the Meryod Woods, this is a piece of cake."

It's something of a challenge, but being used to opponents both physical and magical, she's holding her own very well.

[scurlock]

She is, which is why Doc doesn't worry about her (too much, after all she's still a lady but the fact that the tree is frolicking in the river tells him she can hold her own) as he reloads the crossbow another time.

And aims for the driver.

He could aim for the horses, but...then he has an idea, and instead of firing he takes off through the undergrowth to get in a good position for when the cart comes near enough that he can get in front of it.

[will_scarlett]

The horses are a bit confused but keep trying to plod along as Will takes down one of the pikemen.

From the cart, the other guard shoots where Doc was before as Mia handles the others easily.

[gorgonfondness]

Another flick at the tree to keep it playfully splashing in the water, so subtle that it's likely no one saw it.

She'll probably be tired by the end of all this, but not exhausted like she was after Axel's heart ceremony.

To make things easier, she discreetly starts to work some magic into her attacks so that, with each strike she makes, the guards should be getting drowsier and drowsier.

[scurlock]

Doc really wishes the trees here were like the trees back home, but even with the mud on his boots and the slippery bark from the rain, he manages to get in enough of a position that when the cart comes into view...

thwock

The driver keels over, grabbing at his throat as he falls against the bowman beside him, and Doc leaves his crossbow tucked up in the tree as he launches for the ground.

It's like a stagecoach robbery, only with more mud and only two horses instead of a team of four or six. With no driver to urge them on, they start to slow.

Doc jumps from the ground up onto the cart, pulling the driver off and wrestling with the bowman to knock his weapon away.

[will_scarlett]

With a rather loud yell, Will brings down the other pikemen and there's the snap of bone and wood.

One pikemen lays on the ground as the other turns and flees.

The driver keels over and the crossbowmen is ready to give up to Mia and sleep as the horses calm at Doc's hands.

[gorgonfondness]

Everyone Mia was fighting is now safely on the way to Dreamland.

"Who's left?"

Her guard's not going down until Will or Doc gives the go ahead.

[scurlock]

The bowmam gives Doc one solid slug in the face with his fist before he gets a knife in the ribs below his armor, and then kicked off the cart by one pissed off outlaw.

He wipes the blood out of his eye (there's a cut over his eyebrow where the skin has split) but it's nothing compared to last year.

"Will, what do you want me t'do 'bout the cart?"

They can't really take it anywhere...but his hands are taught around the leather reins, this he's used to.

[will_scarlett]

"First should check the chest 'fore we go anywhere."

He climbs up over the back to pull the coverings off the chest.

Then there's the sound of hooves down the road and Will yells,

"Mia, 'ide, Doc, look like ye belong."

Will grabs the crossbow and sits next to Doc, pulling his hood up.

[gorgonfondness]

With a little help from a reaching branch, she goes to hide in the tree, stopping its frolicking.

[scurlock]

Doc straightens up in the seat and tips his head back, doing his best to look like he belongs driving the cart, though the blood that's still trickling down the side of his face might not help that much.

"S'just one," he calls quietly, before the rider and mount come into view.

[will_scarlett]

The rider is rather impressive, his horse armored and a shield at his side as he looks them over,

"What 'appened to ye, fools!? Keep movin'."

Will gives a nod and a glance that seems frightened.

[gorgonfondness]

The boys get subtle support in the form of ice shields and power drives, invisible to the naked eye but very valuable if things get ugly for Will and Doc.

But other than that, Mia is doing nothing but hiding in the tree.

[scurlock]

Doc gets an idea (which might be a stupid one but hey, he really wouldn't mind putting this guy in his place) and he stutters a bit.

"A-a-a-tree, sir, t'was movin' 'bout. Startled t'horses."

Which explains why even with his 'attempts' to get them to go (the brake on the cart is still in place) they don't.

[will_scarlett]

"Moving trees, Lord above another fool. I will ride beside ye fools."

Will gives a little bow and another frightened glance, trying to hide worry.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia holds her breath, the only movement of the tree being the breeze through the branches.

She's waiting to see if she should make a move with it. It's hard to do such a thing subtly, so it has to be effective quickly.

Hey, the rider is pretty close to the branches...