The Last Stand

The Last Stand’s primary business is print. It sells newspapers, books, comics, and magazines of both the family-friendly and obscene varieties. It runs a smaller trade in convenience store items such as bagged snacks, bottled drinks, coffee, tea, and other necessities (umbrellas, lighters, paracord, etc). It also hosts a pay phone and serves as a semi-official courier checkpoint for deliveries and mail running to and from the Wilds.

The current owner, Nikki, grew up in Capsule Town and learned dimensional magic from her neighbors. She is responsible for the increased interior capacity that allowed the Stand to diversify its offerings. Otherwise, the building has remained much the same as it was since its inception - it is simply bigger on the inside now.

Just TRY to threaten the Gatewardens’ holy temple of news and nudes or any of its coffee-brewing saints. We DARE you

The Last Stand was established forty years ago as a typical newsprint and magazine vendor. It was opened by an ex-Gatewarden, Marc Cartier, who had received a medical discharge, but had no desire to abandon Gatehome for good. The Last Stand was inspired by his own experience and the complaints of his former cohort - primarily, boredom during travel and uncertainty about the state of Olympia on their return. Marc is now retired and has passed ownership of the Stand on to Nikki, his daughter.   Local legend claims that, early in the Stand’s career, a group of raiders managed to infiltrate past the first checkpoint. The group thought themselves free and clear…but one look at the wrap-around line of bleary, undercaffeinated, armed-for-bear Wardens outside the Last Stand made them turn around and leave. If asked, Marc maintains it was a simple burglary attempt, not some raider scheme - but he is fond of the legend, and neither he nor Nikki have done anything to curb its spread.

The Stand is not a tourism destination per se, but it is a critical landmark for those whose lives require travel. It is the first non-military structure one runs into when one enters Olympia. Wardens, couriers, and travelers alike jokingly refer to their visits as “worshipping” or “paying respects” to the Shrine of Civilization. Superstition holds that, all the way through the checkpoint, anything could still go wrong - but once you’re in sight of the lighthouse-beacon that is the Last Stand, you can finally relax, because you’re finally home.