Once upon a time, far away, nestled inside a deep forest, stood a small kingdom called Nottingham. The people of Nottingham used to be quite wealthy until the day that King Richard went to war and was killed, then the kingdom was attacked.
The King's wife and daughter perished in the siege.
About a week later, Sheriff Brutus McGreedy announced that another heir had been found. A young boy by the name of John whom the royal family had hidden away.
The people were overjoyed to hear the news, but the joy was short lived. Pretty soon, the taxes raised an astronomical amount.
Every week, McGreedy went out demanding the money, but the people hadn't been able to recover from the last collection. When they failed to pay, they were removed from their homes and sent to live on the streets.
Everyone was hungry and every building was falling apart... except for a glorious white castle that stood up on the hill where the Sheriff and Prince John lived.
Four years passed and it seemed that all was lost, until a stranger appeared, concealed almost completely by a large cape that buttoned halfway down the front and had a hood. At first, no one was sure of what to think about the stranger, until it delivered a bunch of food to the people from the sheriff's palace.
There were four other caped figures with the stranger that helped tote the food. When someone asked for the leader's name, the tallest of the figures answered "Robin Hood." And so, our story begins Eleven years after Robin's first appearance.
Sheriff McGreedy growled as he leaned back into his velvet seat "That Robin Hood! When I get my hands on him… He'll pay!"
His top deputy, Jonas Harley, nodded "If we can catch him." He tossed a bag of coins onto the table "But he's too fast. And even if you do manage to grab him, his four cohorts would attack."
McGreedy slammed his fist on the table "Do I need you to remind me of that!? Robin Hood and his four companions are the only people not in my grasp!"
He got up and walked to the window with his deputy right behind him "Why doesn't Robin ever talk? Why is the big one always doing the talking?"
Harley shrugged "Maybe he's mute."
They heard the sound of shoes hitting a table top. They spun around to see Robin Hood standing on the table, six bags of money tied to the belt of the cape.
With a wave good bye, Robin turned and ran from the room.
"Get him!" McGreedy screamed "Stop him now!"
Robin ran out the palace doors with a group of guards not far behind.
"No no no no no!" the sheriff stomped his feet and jumped up and down "Come back with my money!"
One of Robin Hood's men, known as Little John, dropped to the ground in front of the furious tyrant "Robin says that we're sorry but, we're pretty sure someone accidentally over paid their taxes and needs a refund." He started to run, but he stopped and turned back "Oh yes. Then there's the laugh." Then he ran.
"I will get you Robin Hood!" McGreedy screamed "I will get you!" he turned to face his deputy "How does he get in the palace anyways?"