Clinton looked around the beaten walls of his inn. The dust has finally settled on the floor after the last invasion. The Scholar’s Inn hasn’t looked this drab and desolate since the last time these invasions came around. Allinora, Clinton’s homely wife, moved around the inn cleaning up after the last group of evil came through this town. He scratched his head wondering what was coming next. In the beginning, there were many of those out of town adventurers, warriors and magic users coming in to Moonglow when the denizens would invade. Those numbers have dwindled though, but the invasions have not slowed and now less and less are showing to save this once great city. The invasions last hours, days and sometimes weeks at a time, destroying everything in their path. One son of Clinton has perished, and another is badly injured.
It’s been at least 3 weeks since Clinton’s brother set sail hoping to find help from those lands far away. There isn’t much hope left, as there hasn’t been a word from any of the small band of travelers who have passed through the inn. The hope that Mackey is still alive is fading each day. Allinora asks him to hold out hope, but it seems that as the clock ticks by, the last bit of hope is escaping. One more of these invasions and it could be the end of Moonglow as it is known today. Something must give, and it’s slowly becoming the few citizens that are left in Moonglow.
Clinton didn’t recognize the new name on the ballot role for Governor. He knew most everyone in Moonglow, but this name was new, well and different. Magnus, what kind of name is that? Asking around didn’t bear much fruit either. Who was this Magnus? Who helped get him on the ballot? The current Governor was not running, and a few new names had been placed on the ballot, but for some reason, this new name intrigued Clinton. The elections were here and just to the east, the empty Governor’s office beckoned to him a bit. Maybe it was time for help from an outsider? Everything else didn’t seem to be working. These invasions were getting worse.
A new man is now Governor of Moonglow. This Magnus had been voted in. Citizens voting for an unknown hoping for a new future. Who could this be? Where could he be?
“Clinton! Clinton! Come to the docks, you are not going to believe this!” said Lee, a young lady who fished quite often at the docks.
“What is it Lee? What is at the docks?”
“The new Governor, he is coming, and your brother, he is with him! Come quickly!”
Clinton quickly gathered his things with an excitement. Jumping on his horse he galloped to the bay just in time to see something he never expected. The harbor was darkened by at least 6 boats of strange design. The boats had long keels on them and large long hulls. These were war ships, but not war ships that Clinton had seen in the harbor before. No these were different, faster, sturdier.
A man with long red flowing hair standing on the bow of the front ship. A very large man. At least 5 stones larger than Clinton. He was muscular and it was easy to tell, this man had won a few hand to hand battles. Next to him was Mackey. For Moonglow, Mackey was a large man, but the more Clinton could see of the occupants of this ship, he was puny compared to the 10 or so individuals he could make out. Next to Mackey was a woman. Long dark flowing hair fell to her shoulders. A large blue dog by her side that she slowly stroked between the ears. She was muscular and built as rough as the men. She was taller than Mackey by at least a hand and maybe more. The growl on her face seemed permanent. She had certainly seen death before.
As the ship entered the harbor, a man stepped forward. He wore a yellow feathered hat, and white leather armor. He was a good 19 hands tall and probably weighed around 19 stones. Large broad shoulders, hands the size of hams, and long thick legs pushed his frame skyward. As he stepped forward, he grabbed an odd-looking horn and blew out a long loud howl.
“I am Magnus Den Goode. Leader of the Vikings of Valhalla! We have come at the request of your man here Mackey! I have won the Governorship of this land and will help you protect yourselves from the denizens who continue to invade you. This is my brother Eirik Bloodhand and his wife Brooke! They will assist you in your time of need!”
Make no mistake though, a wind was blowing from the north and it was cold. There was something else with these men and women. They weren’t just here to help with the invasions. They wanted something else for sure. Whatever that was, Clinton was sure to find out, but until then, rejoice was a feeling that was passing through the crowd, and he had felt down for far too long…….
It’s been at least 3 weeks since Clinton’s brother set sail hoping to find help from those lands far away. There isn’t much hope left, as there hasn’t been a word from any of the small band of travelers who have passed through the inn. The hope that Mackey is still alive is fading each day. Allinora asks him to hold out hope, but it seems that as the clock ticks by, the last bit of hope is escaping. One more of these invasions and it could be the end of Moonglow as it is known today. Something must give, and it’s slowly becoming the few citizens that are left in Moonglow.
Clinton didn’t recognize the new name on the ballot role for Governor. He knew most everyone in Moonglow, but this name was new, well and different. Magnus, what kind of name is that? Asking around didn’t bear much fruit either. Who was this Magnus? Who helped get him on the ballot? The current Governor was not running, and a few new names had been placed on the ballot, but for some reason, this new name intrigued Clinton. The elections were here and just to the east, the empty Governor’s office beckoned to him a bit. Maybe it was time for help from an outsider? Everything else didn’t seem to be working. These invasions were getting worse.
A new man is now Governor of Moonglow. This Magnus had been voted in. Citizens voting for an unknown hoping for a new future. Who could this be? Where could he be?
“Clinton! Clinton! Come to the docks, you are not going to believe this!” said Lee, a young lady who fished quite often at the docks.
“What is it Lee? What is at the docks?”
“The new Governor, he is coming, and your brother, he is with him! Come quickly!”
Clinton quickly gathered his things with an excitement. Jumping on his horse he galloped to the bay just in time to see something he never expected. The harbor was darkened by at least 6 boats of strange design. The boats had long keels on them and large long hulls. These were war ships, but not war ships that Clinton had seen in the harbor before. No these were different, faster, sturdier.
A man with long red flowing hair standing on the bow of the front ship. A very large man. At least 5 stones larger than Clinton. He was muscular and it was easy to tell, this man had won a few hand to hand battles. Next to him was Mackey. For Moonglow, Mackey was a large man, but the more Clinton could see of the occupants of this ship, he was puny compared to the 10 or so individuals he could make out. Next to Mackey was a woman. Long dark flowing hair fell to her shoulders. A large blue dog by her side that she slowly stroked between the ears. She was muscular and built as rough as the men. She was taller than Mackey by at least a hand and maybe more. The growl on her face seemed permanent. She had certainly seen death before.
As the ship entered the harbor, a man stepped forward. He wore a yellow feathered hat, and white leather armor. He was a good 19 hands tall and probably weighed around 19 stones. Large broad shoulders, hands the size of hams, and long thick legs pushed his frame skyward. As he stepped forward, he grabbed an odd-looking horn and blew out a long loud howl.
“I am Magnus Den Goode. Leader of the Vikings of Valhalla! We have come at the request of your man here Mackey! I have won the Governorship of this land and will help you protect yourselves from the denizens who continue to invade you. This is my brother Eirik Bloodhand and his wife Brooke! They will assist you in your time of need!”
Make no mistake though, a wind was blowing from the north and it was cold. There was something else with these men and women. They weren’t just here to help with the invasions. They wanted something else for sure. Whatever that was, Clinton was sure to find out, but until then, rejoice was a feeling that was passing through the crowd, and he had felt down for far too long…….