Stonekeep
From MoongatesWiki
Stonekeep is the player-run village and fortress of the Guardsmen Militia, based at the Yew crossroads in Trammel on the Europa-shard. Though the initial building complex was located in Felucca, the Guardsmen Militia resolved to move to the new facet of Trammel, granting them more space and freedom from the regular attacks by Player-killers and Griefers. On the 20th of September 2000, following days of careful planning and design, the base structures were errected by senior guardsmen in what might be described as a blitzkrieg of house placements. The few remaining empty plots in the clearing were cluttered by sandstone buildings – the ideal size – preventing the placement of none-guild houses. These "Stonekeep Blockers" allowed the area to remain firmly in the guild's ownership to the present day.
Contents |
The Citadel
- "It loomed in the distance, a mighty stone building standing for Justice and Duty. The marvel was a credit to the simple people of Yew and its protectors the Guardsmen Militia."
- — Ril Nnathol, upon first viewing Stonekeep
This old and battle-ravaged building has been torn down and rebuilt countless times. It has stood through numerous wars, weathered repeated invasions, and endured disasters of all sorts. The pale grey rock from which the keep is shapen stands in sharp contrast to the sea of green that surrounds it, like an islet of order ravaged by the waves of chaos. From atop it's walls fly the gold-and-grey banners of Yew, teamed with the grey-and-white Royal standard. Whether true or simple romantic fantasy, it is claimed that within the Citadel are enough arms and armour to equip the citizens of Yew three times over. This is unlikely as the Militia are all too often under-funded, though few attempts have been made to end the rumour. The Citadel was last rebuilt around a decade ago, and has since acquired scars in abundance; from scorch marks and stubborn blood-stains in the stonework's nooks and crannies, to whole sections of the outer wall dented, toppled, and patched up. It may not be the prettiest building in Sosaria, but it is certainly one of the most enduring, and is the pinnacle of Yewish martial pride.
The Kings' Deer
The foremost inn and tavern to be found in Yew, the King's Deer has stood in the Citadel's shadow for many years now, the vestage of cheer in an otherwise cheerless setting. It is a peaceful and prosperous structure run by Militia bondsmen and raking in a sizable fraction of the Citadel's upkeep. The tavern is supposedly built on the foundations of the first Citadel; a simple, single-storied structure of brick.
The Church
At the north-eastern edge of Stonekeep stands the Guardsmen's personal Avatarian church, the spire towering skywards, and it's mounted silver ankh catching the sun's light magnificently. This is a beautiful but sobering building, with a dark slate roof, grand stain-glass windows, and great doors carved of the native yew. The local clergy go about their business within, disrupted only by mass, common service, and the occasional Magistrate visit.
