Stonegate

Description
Stonegate is, or better, was a keep located south of the Bay of Lost Hope and north of Lock Lake. For as Stonegate has its best days already behind it, almost swallowed by the swamp known as the Bog of Desolation.

Stonegate was once a great keep, built in a valley in the mountains, it was a ideal place. Now there is nothing left of its former glory. And the place is also dangerous, undead creatures still haunt this place, a result of a dark mage living there for a time, while the swamp is extremely poisonous. And yet, in the ruins can be found artifacts of great magical power, such as the Magebane. But the crucified remains of other adventurers shall be a warning, dark powers are at work there.

History
The Keep was raised by the Shadowlords prior to Ultima V, to be their fortress. It was there, where all three of them were always present, with their daemon Balinor guarding the front door. The Avatar had to enter the keep to reclaim the Scepter of Britannia from them, and deadly traps surrounded the Scepter. Without the Magic Carpet it was impossible to reach the Scepter; the trapdoors surrounding it would drop the entire party into a lake of lava, where death was inescapable.

After the defeat of the Shadowlords, a family of Cyclops made Stonegate their home, scaring away thieves who had used the walls as their camp. In Ultima VI, the Avatar had to visit Stonegate again, to reclaim the Vortex Cube, found in the cellars below the keep.

After that time, the keep was empty for 30 years, before some wingless Gargoyles made it their home. They in turn were chased away by Lord Vemelon, who made Stonegate his private estate. It was the family estate for generations, before the mountains broke, and the swamp flooded Stonegate. First Trolls occupied the ruins, then a dark mage.

When the Avatar visited the ruins in Ultima VII, none of them were found, but it was the resting place of the Magebane. Taking it would provoke an attack from Skeletons.

Lore
''The story of Stonegate Castle is, indeed, an interesting one. At one time the keep was occupied by the Shadowlords, during Lord British's disappearance and Blackthorn's evil rule. However, once the Avatar returned our noble Monarch to his throne, eliminating the Shadowlords from Britannia, a family of cyclops made the castle their home. Not more than three decades from then the walls were abandoned. This lasted but for a short time, however, for a small colony of wingless gargoyles found refuge within the confines of the keep. Three years later they were driven out by Lord Vemelon of Jhelom, who chose to retain the castle for his own purposes. For several generations ownership was passed down the Vemelon line until one day the very mountains nearby opened up, and the swamps engulfed the castle. Now, rumors purport that a colony of trolls have taken up residence amongst the ruins, along with an ancient wizard, but no one has ever confirmed their existence.''

- from "The History of Stonegate", Ultima VII

Ultima V

 * Balinor
 * The Shadowlords

Ultima VI

 * Mama Cyclops
 * Myles
 * Papa Cyclops

Trivia

 * Stonegate can only be reached through a very narrow path of dry spots and planks through the swamp. And without Swamp Boots, this is deadly.


 * In Ultima V, the best time to try and get the scepter was during the hour of midnight (when the Shadowlords couldn't move), or after the Shadowlords were destroyed.

Stonegate in Ascension
Stonegate is a high tower in Ascension. It is here where the Avatar enters the world of Britannia to begin the quest. The Avatar gets his spell book here as well as receives his first pieces of equipment. The equipment he receives here is different for each of the different classes the Avatar can be.