Astinus' Office

Dominating the center of this room is a massive birch desk. Legend claims this desk has supported the thousands of volumes of history Astinus has recorded. A large pot of ink, a container of sharpened quills, and a candelabra complete the desks decorations. Small windows line the room, allowing light to trickle in and gently illuminate the entire room. A comfortable couch rests against the west wall. Tapestries hang on the walls between the windows. Shelves line the walls, filled with tomes of the more recent records of heroes and villians upon the face of Krynn.

The librarian notices you aren't reading anything... Astinus hands an enormous book to an Aesthetic standing by you. You note the spine bears the word 'Kaine' scribed in brilliant red ink. As you glance down at the page you read..

From the pages of Kaine's book..

   
Author:    Kaine          
Date:      Sat Mar  7 04:29:50 2009
Subject     A Warrior Born.

The wound stung terribly, but it helped clear the daze in my head a
little at least, it was something to focus on. The man was heartless, he
would not relent his attacks until I began to form some semblence of a
defense. As soon as I did he simply struck me somewhere else, throwing me
back into another moment of confusion and creating even more openings, which
he gladly pointed out to me in that nasal filled voice nobles often adopt...
Shaking the blurring tracers from my head and vision I did what any
perfectly inadequate swordsman would do. I bumrushed him and tried to tackle
him to the hard-packed dirt.

To my obvious relief he accepted the charge, and immedietly relief turned
into more pain as he turned my own momentum against me and forced my hand
somewhere between my own shoulderblades. Followed by trip to face the dirt
nose down. The man relented his grip and jump back into a defensive
position, thinking I was beyond reason by then. I simply dragged myself back
to my feet and dusted my clothing (and face) off. I saluted his ability
before I took up the stance he showed me, and started the routine from the
beginning.....


The eyes stared back at me but there was no recognition in them, they saw
nothing anymore... I snapped back to the present abruptly. Staring down at
the corpse of the man who had trained me all those years was rough on me.
Sighing I went back to burying him and the several others who died that day.
I survived the raid by hobgoblins and their smaller cousins, more out of
luck than skill. I didn't freeze up, I faced them with all of the skill I
had at my command, others weren't so lucky... My family's old retainer
joined the battle as well, but he was well past his prime.. Knowing the love
Kiri-Jolith held for those of my family who listened to his stern voice, I
spoke a simple prayer for him to guide the fallen for this day, albeit
quietly. My father supported the Knighthood, but he was no member. He was
scared we would be hated like they are, he was a coward. He felt his large
contributions to the Order would buy him their gratitude, but his support
was lacking in sincerity. Just another plot to gain favor with those who
traded with him. To speak of ancient Gods long thought lost to Krynn was, to
him, madness. Not to mention bad for business.

A month after, I left. I travelled to Solamnia in hopes of finding the
Knighthood well and thriving... I saw instead, the remnants. Noble men
forced to keep to their own, the talk in all of the cities towards those
with Knightly bearing was disheartening. The masses hated them, they hated
the ones who in history's past defended them from evil, from people who
wished them harm... 

It was then I decided my quest had changed, I knew there were others out there, once I found them I would offer them my support.
They had to know the Gods were with us still.  As such we could not let this glorious order fade from memory.  I had no idea what to expect, but I continued looking anyways...

Author:    Kaine          
Date:      Sat Mar  7 22:28:04 2009
Subject     Walking the Path.

My journey had taken me to from Sanction to Caergoth. The people of
Caergoth were more giving towards my questions of the Knighthood, it seemed
some prominent families still retained their status, in the services they
gave freely to the community. Solamnic families. I was invited to attend an
evening supper with one such family, as my family itself had a solid
standing in the trades of this city as well. It was a polite supper, though
lavish in the spread they offered. Having seen so many lowered to the dirt
and begging for coppers in the past, I ate lightly, not having the appetite
as I thought of the comparison. Certainly they did help others, but more
could be done.


After the repast was over we took brandy and spoke of the troubles that
seemed to be expanding across the entire continent. At one point I spoke of
Kiri-Jolith, though they smiled politely and nodded, they obviously took me
for a fool. I ignored the obvious disrespect and changed the subject to the
Knighthood itself, seeking to learn of the political standing and their over
all status. Apparently the Knighthood was in the works for rebuilding
itself, a council was set in place but the Grand Master was considered
missing, no one could verify or explain why that was, however. As it was
growing late I exchange words of thanks and promises of sending their fond
wishes to my father. Always it seems that the political side of things
walked hand in hand with those of the military... 

I continued my journey the next morning, they told me where I could seek a
meeting of the council. My petition would be heard soon enough, I was not
due for another month however. I decided then to expand my travel to the
outlying towns, I was told there were bandits and goblins in the area. I
decided the best course was to give them aid, in the name of Kiri, and
perhaps even the Solamnic Knights. Working the gears of the political
mindframe, I decided the Knighthood could use the good standing in the
process of rebuilding. Plus who else would help those people...? 
  

Read More

He states simply 'You might start with that one.. or you could take a look at the latest story..'

The Latest Entry

Attention to all you writers out there by Nuitari, posted on Sat Apr 20 07:52:27 2024.

So this is a Story Challenge I want everyone to right a story about their character. Any Story written for the next 5 (read more)....

The Storytellers of Ansalon, The DragonLance MUD

Astinus points to the massive wall of books behind him and bids you to make a selection.

Authors: All|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
Astinus sighs as he recants 'We saved 869 books from Ansalon from before the great Cataclysm through today.'