Stonehold Journal by Serpico

Wounded, burdened, and without any defensive charms protecting me, I recall back from the Direlands and see a number of other people gathering. I notice one of them is Shollos. I sprint back to town to raise the alarm of the impending invasion.

"Shollos and others are at the Wasp Dungeon!" I shout. But no one answers.

"SHOLLOS IS IN THE AREA!!" Still no one is talking to each other, but people do start to cast protective spells on themselves.

I start to mind speak to guild leaders or high level people that are gathered in the town square. When I still receive no response I head to the hills to heal and apply the appropriate protective and offensive spells. I quickly rifle through my packs dropping any item that is adding to my burden.

I run back to town to fight to the death in the defense of my home and friends. I am shocked as to what I see. Lochs, Peacekeepers, Lops, CED, and many other guilds are there gathered in the square talking and buffing. Many legendary names are there. Warriors and wizards that I have only heard tales of, some are neutral, some reek of evil.

"I must be out of the loop" I think. I start to mindspeak with the known defenders of the town. "Do we have a truce to fight the shadow army?" I ask.

The answers were all either "no" or "I don't know."

I see two of the towns most experience guardians in the bowyer's shop. I greet them with my questions.

"Evil is not permitted in Stonehold." Colonel Coward mindspeaks back.

"We are taking the town back" Ballpark Billy says to my mind moments later.

"Oh-oh" I think , but answer "I am with you"

"The shadows are coming here next!" someone yells.

"Nobody runs, we fight to the death" I hear Cheeseman say. Other words of battle-advice follow.

Suddenly Colonel Coward and Ballpark Billy charge from the archer shop. Yelling their battle-cry "FOR SERPICO!!!" (Long story, but if you want a laugh, check out this link, featuring a young Ballpark Billy and Colonel Coward being taught the hard way to be good, and Polaroid's if you look around enough- Doc Morbid no longer plays, but his page is still around)

"Oh-oh" I think again as I notice the number of hardened warriors that are staring back at us. Fighting is breaking out in the Town Square, bodies are dropping, there are too many people gathered too closely to tell friend from foe. I put away my bow, having sadly never fired a shot and pull out my wand. I scan the crowd for known friends, healing those that are in wounded.

Suddenly I am disconnected from my consciousness. I awake to see the town still full of the newcomers faces, I work out that The Colonel and Billy have been defeated.

I see an old friend Frost Gunner surrounded by members of his small army of Peacekeepers. He looks concerned and confused. Suddenly one of the newer members of his guild Judge Death breaks ranks and begins attacking Loch himself. He gets to or three shots in before he is sent to the lifestone. I think all of the good members of the town were shocked into non-action by his courage.

Frost Gunner bravely steps forward and demands the assembled force of evil leave the town.

"We are here to fight the shadows not PK" a sinister voice hisses back.

Suddenly there are shadows invading the town. The town scatters and begins to fight the shadows. I find an area where the monarch Lop is fighting a large group of shadows with a few of his men. I pull my bow back and begin to chip away at the life force of a shadow lord, before one of his spells takes almost all of my life away.

I run towards the dungeon entrance to heal my wounds when I notice one a henchman of Loch that calls himself Cardiak glaring at me. He turns to leave but gives me a dirty look as he runs off to fight with his own men. I laugh to myself which evil is worse, Loch or the Shadows.

I run back to try and help Lop against the shadows once more. I notice he is now alone. I fire off a few more shots but am forced to retreat in shame once more. The shadows are too much for one of my experience.

I try to head back to town when I feel the sting of metal in the back. Cardiak! I run as my life force is slowly dwindled to nothing. As I make the trip to the lifestone I hear Cardiak cackling.

I quickly recall to Stonehold and run for the shelter of the Wasp Dungeon. I see Frost Gunner has marshaled up a small force of townsmen bent on liberating the Stonehold from the far superior forces that now occupied it. I step into the ranks and join Frost Gunner's crew for hoping I can lend some help.

What followed was a night of death and loss for all in the anti forces. I was sent packing to the lifestone two more times by my new friend Cardiak. The second time so weakened me that I could not use my magic to recall to Stonehold.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

--Serpico