An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.

Stories of Ansalon from the view of Baylen.

A little gully dwarf runs by and says 'Wordwrap Off 65 80.'
The gully continues 'Eyes hurt? Turn Color OFF!! (regular story dates)

Astinus says 'Enter the main library here to view only the author list.'
Astinus gently places a manilla folder on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Baylen' scribed in faded brown ink.

Author:    Baylen         
Date:      Sat Oct 14 14:41:02 2017
Subject     First There is a Mountain

It's hard to to remember a time when I didn't have a blade in my hand.
When I was younger, they were wooden of course. My brothers and I play
fighting and then sparring under the tutelage of our father's Master at
Arms. As we got older the blades got heavier and the stakes only slightly
more so. Although we fought with real steel it was never to kill, only to
learn. We grew up safe and loved and exhausted. Day in and out we had our
chores, followed by our time training. 

I can't remember a day when I wasn't asleep as soon as my head hit the
pillow. This was the life expected out of what amounted to Solamnic royalty.
My brother and I were being trained and not just in swordplay. In the way of
the oath and measure. We would become Knights of Solamnia like our father
and his father before him. We prayed daily for strength and riteousness (and
for the hope of not disappointing our father).

Life was repetative and could be tedious, but we knew the path that had been
set down before us. There was certain comfort in that. Every morning chroes,
every evening prayer, and every minute planned in between.

When I was 18 something changed. Something that turned the straight path
before me into a mobius strip. I was taking one of my few free moments in
the day to survey our land. I rode up the long path that led to our gate and
then along the gate. The gate ended next to a large forest, although our
lands continued someways into the forest. As I rode along the treeline I
spotted a man within the woods and called out to him. I received no answer.

I pulled up and clambered off my horse and began to walk into the woods.
Children of safety and money are naive. They learn certain lessons far later
then they should. I approached the man and hailed him again. This time he
answered me. He was a twitchy little guy. I could tell from his stance that
he was unarmed. There was no worry here for me. "Hail, friend! What are you
up to on this fine day?" My tone was easy. Although this was my land there
was no reason not to share it. 

I didn't want to scare the fellow away. He already seemed nervous."Master
Baylen? Is that you? It can't be - you're so - large!" As I got closer to
the man I realized that I recognized him. He'd been my father's servant when
I was much younger. I hadn't seen him in years. As I got closer and closer I
could see that his eyes were wide and he was quite surprised.

"It is - friend. I'm so sorry, I don't remember your name. What can I call
you?"

"No trouble Master, no trouble. My name is Rylian. I know it's been many
years since you've seen me. I don't blame you for not remembering my name."
He stopped speaking but his mouth kept moving as though he was conversing
silently with someone else.

"Well, Rylien, where have you been these long years? I mean - it mut be 8-9
years since we've seen you last."

The man burst into a wide grin. "Why - I've been here! I have a few other
friends here too." He motioned around the woods. "We can do what we want
here and no one gives us any trouble. Your father is a good man and lets us
be. Come, let me introduce you to my other friends..." We walked a little
deeper into the woods and came to a ramshackle cabin. It was surrounded by a
haphazard fence and there was a sign firmly planted in the lawn that read
BEWARE OF GOD in drippy letters. 

Author:    Baylen         
Date:      Sat Oct 14 14:45:41 2017
Subject     Then There is No Mountain

The inside of the cabin was comfortable if mismatched. There were chairs
and couches, a table overloaded with books, and what looked to be five other
people at least two of whom looked like they were asleep. As soon as Baylan
walked in the three who were awake stopped talking. They apparently had been
having some kind of really intense discussion. "Are we there?" The question
came from a person that Baylan had missed, he had been tucked behind a couch
on the floor.

The other four (Rylian included) looked to Baylan for his response.

"Not yet, but we're getting closer." The man sighed in relief. All tension
in the room eased and conversation resumed. Baylan did not know what to make
of any of this. Rylien explained, "He's worried about the Cataclysm and when
it's going to happen. He offered no further explaination which confused
Baylan further. He pointed to an empty seat and gestured for Baylan to sit.


"If the gods are real then why don't they help us?"

"Maybe it's not that the gods who aren't real but WE who aren't real. Or
maybe we're the gods. Or maybe..." This conversation seemed like it had been
going on for a very long time. Baylan pretty much ignored it and turned back
to Rylien.

"So you've been living here for the past 8 years?" Rylien nodded in
response. "You gave up living in the castle and serving my father for this?"
Rylien nodded again. Baylan shook his head in disgust. "Why would you
possibly do that?"

"Let me make you some tea and I'll tell you my story."

Rylian fixed them both cups of tea and that sat down to explain what had
happened. He'd be sent to gather firewood and ended up not too far from this
cabin. As he was going about his chores he saw a couple people who were
foraging for mushrooms. He had just about finished bundling up the kindling
when one of them approached him and asked if he would like to come inside
and have a drink. He accepted and they made him the same tea Baylan was
drinking now. 

The story took about an hour as Rylian went off on tangent after tangent.
Baylan found himself getting sucked into the story.

As Rylian finished Baylan noticed some other things. He noticed a feeling of
warmth he never felt before. He also noticed a feeling of closeness with
everyone in the room around him. He got down off the chair and lay on the
rug. Rylian turned his attention back to his other friends and Baylan lay on
the carpet by himself staring up at the ceiling. 

A phrase was repeating over and over in his head, one that he'd heard since
birth, "Est Sularus oth Mithas", "Est Sularus oth Mithas", "Est Sularus oth
Mithas" it began to seem ridiculous. 

"Est Solarus en Mithas", "Est Solarus en Mithas", "Est Solarus en Mithas" a
new phrase repeated. Finally "Est Solarus en Cadaver", "Est Solarus en
Cadaver", "Est Solarus en Cadaver". These three phrases rocketed around his
head and he found his thoughts racing in ways that didn't seem to be
possible. My honor is my life? Why? That seemed like a garbage message to
him. 

Honor was one thing but there were more important things as well. Things
that were harder to express and couldn't be conveyed in a catchphrase.

It was sixteen hours later that Baylan woke up a changed man. 

Author:    Baylen         
Date:      Sat Oct 14 14:50:37 2017
Subject     Then There Is

Baylan walked back out of the woods the next day. He heard a shout go out
almost as soon as he passed the tree, "There he is! There he is!" Six of his
father's men came riding up to meet him. They all looked pale and worried.
They followed him back to the castle where he arrived to find his mother in
a panic and his father looking grim.

His mother hugged him tightly and then started into a breathless speech in
which she didn't actually finish a single sentence. His father was silent.
His mother finally finished speaking and hugged him again and then gave him
an empathetic look. She knew what was coming as well as he did. She left
Baylan alone with his father. He sat stone faced for another few moments
before breaking the silence. "Well? Where have you been?"

Baylan had been composing the answer to that question since he'd woken up
this morning and wasn't sure how to answer that question still. Where had he
been? The cabin in the forest, sure - but other places as well. Places where
he was terrified and delighted. Places where he'd learned things that would
have seemed unimaginable only days earlier. Places where he'd seen peace and
others where he'd seen death. He couldn't convey these thoughts in words.
His father would think him insane. .

He decided to try anyway.

"Well, I was riding the grounds yesterday when I met a man. He used to work
for you. You may remember him? Rylian is his name." His father shook his
head slowly and then stared at the ceiling. Baylan continued, "He-" His
father cut him off with a gesture.

"Son, I know where this is headed already. I wish I didn't. In fact, I know
far better than you do." He paused and seemed to weigh his words carefully.
"I would do anything I could to go back and prevent you from walking into
those woods. Perhaps I should never have let Rylian or those others live."
Sadness crept into his eyes. 

"Unfortunately I didn't have it in me and I certainly don't have it in me to
end yours - however, I know what you're going to become. You're my blood and
I love you, but there's not going to be a place for you here and I well know
that any plans of knighthood have been quashed."

Baylan nodded in surprise and agreement. His father knew. He ran forward and
embraced his father tightly. 

"I love you son. Now go. Don't return." 

Baylan released his father and turned away. That actually had gone better
than he thought it would. 

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 mentions 'We have had over 868 storytellers on Ansalon pen their epic stories here for all to read.'