The Great Library of Palanthas
An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.
Stories of Ansalon from the view of Daksarai.
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 dirty book showing much wear on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Daksarai' scribed in dark yellow ink.
Author: Daksarai Date: Fri Feb 5 23:19:02 2016 Subject A Wee Bit of Thievery
I do not know why anyone would want a seashell, but if they want to pay for it, that is fine by me. "Stay here, Sallah, and watch the gear," I say to my good friend, but the monkey just looks at me. I make my way across the sand towards the ocean, then across the coral. I wait till I see the silly sea elves leave this temple they hold so dear. One of which had been sitting in the coral for a whole day before going in. There should only be a few left, and sneaking past them shouldnt be too hard, right? As my bare feet find the least sharp portions of the coral, I keep an eye out on the horizon...it would not do to have anymore of these blue men emerge out of the sea to foil such a well laid plan. Finally, I reach the tunnel they have been coming and going out of for days. I throw my quarterstaff deep into the water, then dive in and grab it before it can bob back to the surface. I may have to clash with these Keepers, but I wouldnt want to kill them. It is just gold after all. Slowly, I emerge from the underwater tunnel and peer around the chamber to make sure none are watching the entrance. Silly elves, of course they werent. This will be easier than I thought. I pull myself out of the water slowly, willing the bells in my hair to remain silent. It is not hard to creep around the few Keepers in the antechamber, and the lock into the inner sanctum nearly picked itself...and there it is, a small nautilus shell. I skip over to the pedestal it sits on and reach for the shell with a mischievous grin on my face. As my hands wrap around it, however, I hear a noise behind me. Turning, I find an older blue elf in heavy looking armor, with a grave frown on his face. "Oh...is this yours? I dont suppose you will believe me if I tell you that I was holding it till I found the real owner?" He gives me nothing to go on except his frown, and gripping his trident harder. "Okay, I take that as a 'no'. I tell you what, I am going to take this, but I will tell you who I am selling it to if you do not molest me on the way out. The guy is kind of a dick anyway, so I dont mind telling you. I get paid, and you get your shell back...seems fair to me." The man responds by slowly lowering his weapon at me. "Fine, we can do it your way." So, I do the first thing that comes to my head, and throw the shell up in the air towards the man. And wouldnt you know it, he doesnt want to fight me anymore...more concerned over a silly shell. I move quickly, the bells in my hair now giving off their jarring jangles and jingles. I swing hard with my quarterstaff, landing a blow hard on the mans knee, sending him to the ground, followed by a blow to the back of his head. I then skip my way to the door, humming a fun tune. I hear some footsteps coming towards the room from the antechamber and throw the butt of the quarterstaff into the next Keepers forehead. He falls to the floor out cold. As I prepare to dive back into the pool, I sing one of the lines from the song, "You've done me wrong, it's the same old song forever." And with that, I am swimming back through the tunnel and making my way quickly back across coral. Once on the beach, I see a pretty little elf come around the bend. She looks at me questioningly, so I give her a big wave and my winningest smile before skipping my way back to my gear and hightailing it out of there.
So, I finally fenced the silly sea elf seashell. My original buyer tried to double cross me, but he got what was coming. Unfortunately, it meant having to travel to Palanthas to get rid of it. I sold it and began heading back down south towards my ship. Okay...so I stayed in Palanthas for awhile. The buyer paid me a small fortune for that absurd shell, and there are plenty of places for a bard to find work...and fun in the taverns of even the most uptight city. As I travel down the Knight's High Road, skipping and humming a tune, I consider the fact that these truly are the golden years. I have gold coming in, a ship that lets me tag along whenever I like. It really is the life. Still, best not get caught at this business, especially in Solamnic territory. Those tin cans are strung just a little too tight. I see ahead, my little friend, scampering towards me. The monkey, Sallah, looks goofy in a full run with his vest and fez. That's beside the point, he runs up to me, then jumps up onto my shoulder and begins pointing down the road. In my absentmindedness, I nearly miss the huge lug looming on the horizon. I duck off the road and begin making my way quickly through the forest, the monkey jumping off my shoulder and keeping up in the trees. I quickly close the distance on the lumbering minotaur, then exit the forest a little bit ahead of him. Casually, I begin walking up to him, and I assume because I am a kender...it really is awesome...he does not react. In an instant, I draw my rapiers and go to work on his legs. The bigger they are, the harder they fall after all. I get a couple stabs into his legs, but instead of staying to fight, he bulls past me, and into the forest. I roll my eyes and follow him in, but his movements are so sporadic I have to start looking for tracks. And tracks I find, I finally catch up to him where it seems the wounds had finally started affecting him. I sheathe my swords in the shadows, and bring out my quarterstaff. Like lightning, I burst from the bushes and bring the long shaft down between his horns. I would not want to kill him after all, that would just make it serious enough that the tin cans would want to get involved. Doesn't matter anyway, I left the creature there, not too far from the High Clerist Tower. I searched his things of course, I wouldn't go through all that trouble for nothing, I'm not a psychopath. However, it appears that I did. The minotaur is a monk, and had nothing on him. Oh well, better luck next time I suppose. I emerge from the forest once more and skip down the road singing now, the song I had been humming before, "I'll stick with you baby for a thousand years, nothing's gonna touch you in these golden years..." OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk earlier today.
For some reason, I cannot find someone to hire me at the taverns in Solamnia. That is how I come to find myself singing a jaunty tune here in a delightful little inn in Schallsea. Now, before you say anything, it is not the Bard's Song...there are far too many kender there. Anyway, I do not know why, but the people here are so forlorn. 'Boo-hoo, my city is besieged'. Oh well, the tin cans will figure it out, or they won't and they will run away. Either way, people will pay well to hear a happy little song when the world seems to be crashing down around them. "I need you tonight, 'cause I'm not sleeping. There's something about you girl, that makes me sweat," I sing as I play my elec-my magic guitar. That is when I notice a half-elf that may have some coin on him, but wouldn't you know it, he doesn't tip a bit. That is okay, I watch where he is heading and finish my song. I watch him leave out the side exit, that conveniently heads out to a quiet little alley...isn't that nice. After slinging my guitar across my back, I head out the same door and holler to the fella before he gets to the end of the alley, "Hey, ah, buddy, how about a little something, you know, for the effort?" I do not give him a chance to respond of course, that would be ludicrous. I deftly pull out my matching rapiers, yes they are just long human daggers, and put several holes in his knees. The crazy thing...he doesn't fall to the ground. What are the odds? Instead of going down easy, he pulls out a sword with a flash and bring it down across my chest...and now I need a new waistcoat and shirt. Also, it hurt quite a bit, so I disengaged him and ran around the back of the inn. I catch my breath and thank Branchala for the fortune to get away from what is undoubtedly some sort of Abyssal spawn. This made me feel much better, a move I like to call 'cure light'. *wink* The best thing is by the time he came around the corner ready to kill me, he no longer had that scary aura about him. Probably some infernal magic. I was prepared for him and buried my rapier to the hilt in his leg. This finally dropped him to his knee, and I used the pommel of the other to strike a blow across his temple and knock him out. As I have said before, I am not a psychopath, so I checked what he had. Nothing it would seem, just my luck. Welp, definitely time to get out of town, and since my other ship left me I am in the market for a new one. Sheathing my swords, I quickly make my way to the port that still has not been blockaded. If I were these Dragonarmy guys, I would have done that first thing but I guess not all can be this smart. A little something about me, I don't just hop on any ship, so I saunter my way down the docks till I find one of the prettiest ships there. On her aft is written the word, 'Vanderkaum'...they probably need a bard. OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk earlier today.
I make my way down the docks towards that gorgeous booty with the word 'Vanderkaum' written across it, and I sing a little song to myself. With all the violence going on in the city of Schallsea, I might as well add some happiness to the air. Sure I may have added to it with that half-elf I left behind, but he did not tip me, so... Back to the matter at hand, I am singing a fun little tune, "Oh, I see the man at the back as a matter of fact, his eyes are as red as the sun. And the girl in the corner let no one ignore her, cause she thinks she's the passionate one." I stop mid skip as I spot an elf just beyond my ship, yes I know I have never been on the ship, but let's be honest with ourselves. And what is that elf doing, attacking my fellow sailors. All these talks of dragonmen and undead and this guy is running around attacking poor innocent little sailors. This will not stand, this aggression towards my fellow sea goers. So, I begin sneaking my way up to the elf in his shiny armor and he doesn't even see me on account of being engaged with the other sailor. As I sneakily skip my way up to him, I slowly draw my 'rapiers'. Just as I lunge forward with both of my weapons I holler out, "This, is, dockside blitz." I know...I am witty. Anyway, that fella must have already taken lots of damage from the sailors that littered the dock around him because when I poked him he jumped forward a whole room. *grin* I, of course, didn't wait for him to catch his breathe. As I come at him again, I kick some dirt in his eyes to stop him calling down the wrath of whatever god he follows. Then I pull out my recorder and crack the elf on the head with it. I don't want to kill the pointy eared fella, his god might very well get angry. They are finicky beings, you know. So, he slumps over, but my recorder breaks in half. Doesn't really matter, no one beyond middle school plays them anyway. So, I toss the other half on the unconscious body of the elf and skip off towards that beauty of a ship. OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk earlier today.
So, there I am, standing in front of that beauty of a ship. All around me, the populace of Schallsea is losing its mind. Running this way and that, clambering to get onto any ship they can find to avoid the fate they face with the Dragonarmy at their gate. This is beside the point, one of those running by bumps me and nearly sends me to the ground. Rude, right?! I look up to see one of those evil dwarf folk continuing down the dock at full tilt. "Hey!" I yell out at the fella, but no response. This guy is being so rude to me, so I have to go talk to him about his attitude. I begin to run after the short guy, I know I am short too, I am just trying to be descriptive. As I do I, I whisper a tune under my breathe to keep my running cadence. It is important to have proper technique when you run. "So if I only could, I'd make a deal with God and I'd get him to swap our places. I'd be running up that road, be running up that hill, with no problems." He must have heard my enchanting tune and stopped, but I did not see this as I was not really paying attention as I was distracted by something...shiny...yeah that's it. Anyway, I have my 'rapiers' out and wouldn't you know it, they both found their mark in his back. I didn't even need to aim. That must have startled him, though I am not sure why. He made a grunting noise then begins running up that road...see what I did? I figure I may as well finish what I already started, so I sheathe my pokey weapons and pull my quarterstaff off my back. I catch up to him once again and come to a sliding stop that causes dirt to fly up in his face. As luck would have it, it blinds him from the dirt in his eyes. So, I hit him over the head with my quarterstaff. He stumbles down the street a bit further, so I hit him again. This time he collapses, but there is no time to search through his things with the siege and all. I step over his unconscious body and run back to the 'Vanderkaum'. When I get there, the crew seems to be loading up and getting ready to be underway. I take a running start and jump onto one of the mooring lines, because who uses gangplanks anyways? As I make my way up the rope, my monkey friend, Sallah emerges from one of my pouches, "Oh, hey buddy, I found us a ship," and the two of us scamper up the rope and onto the ship unseen. OOC: I know it is later than I said, but here is the story for the pk from yesterday.
The climb up the mooring line is effortless, even moreso for my capuchin companion. I swing my legs up and over the banister and land silently on the aft castle. Sallah, who has been sitting on the bannister waiting for me, jumps onto my back and climbs up to rest on my shoulder. I look around the deck, and it seems with everyone clamoring to get the ship ready to sail, no one is watching to make sure kender don't come aboard. Ha! I saunter my way around the wheel and give it an appraising eye, this really is such a pretty boat. I skip down the deck, and that is when I spot him...a sea elf. No doubt having climbed up the side of the ship, and no doubt hunting me down for that silly seashell I stole five stories ago. There was only one obvious course of action. The silly elf would need to go back to where he came from. I find the nearest shadow and step into it, it's not like I can make myself disappear or anything...oh wait I can...I take it back, I cast invisibility on myself. *wink* Then I creep up on what I can only assume is my would be assassin. Yeah, he looks like he has seen better days, but he probably got into a fight with a shark or a librarian or something. I jump out of the shadows to stab him with my rapiers, but apparently he is too 'suspicious', so I kick some dirt in his eyes instead. After I kick the dirt, I manage to get off a few good pokes with my rapiers before the tricky little elf takes off on me. He runs like the Flash and I chase him, all about the deck, and poke him from time to time. Then, wouldn't you know it, I lose him. They will just send more assassins after me now...that is what elves do, right? Finally, I pick up his tracks and they lead into the captain's quarters. Lucky me, that is where I was planning on going anyways. I sneak my way in, only cracking the door enough to get through. The elf seems to be nursing his wounds, trying to stay hidden. So, I pull the quarterstaff from off my back and run around the corner to whack him. He is ready for me however, but just then, Sallah comes running in and jumps on that goofy elf's face. I give him the one-two with the ends of my quarterstaff and he collapses to the floor, but not before Sallah jumps from his face to my shoulder. The little guy is agile, and cute to boot, with his little vest and fez. I pick the unconscious body of the elf up, well, more like I leverage him up then out the window and into Newsea. I look out the window and holler at him, "Looks like tonight you are sleeping with the fishes." Get it? They do sleep with the fishes every night...or at least most every night. I turn myself around and take in the captain's cabin while I sing a little tune to myself, "Perhaps I was blind to the facts, stabbed in the back. I couldn't trust my own homies just a bunch of dirty rats. Will I, succeed, paranoid from the weed. And hocus pocus I try to focus but I can't see." What was I going to do in here again? *grin* OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from yesterday.
I take one last look at the pretty stained glass windows then skip my way beyond the plush couch and into the captain's quarters. I take a look around the room and whistle. Humming the tune I was singing before, I approach the ornate chest that belongs to the captain of the Vanderkaum. I lean my quarterstaff on the wall beside it, then finding that it is locked, I give a single huff...only one and begin picking the lock. Volath slams the door open against the wall of his quarters highly annoyed. Muttering to himself the mage waves his hands and the door magically closes itself and locks. Taking a few moments he bats his large deep violet eyes, growing accustomed to the darkness of his room. He mutters to himself, "Why did I ever agree to allow those pompous knights on my ship. The nerve they have, honorable lot?" Volath snorts, "Haven't even paid me the diamonds I am owed." He takes a seat at his desk and sighs letting his shoulders slump as he lays back deep into his chair, closing his eyes attempting to get a rare opportunity at rest. I casually look over my shoulder as the door slams, eyeing the elf that has walked into the room...he's an angry elf. Then I get back to picking the lock. I deactivate the enchantment on the bells in my hair, however, causing them to go from dead silent to jangling annoyingly. What's the point of performing such a feat without an audience? "Hey fella, do me a favor and keep an eye out." Volath jumps and his body cringes with surprise. The mage spots the kender ducked down beside his private chest in his bedroom. Growling he stands abruptly to his feet and walks menacingly towards the kender. Quickly snapping his fingers the room illuminates from hidden magic orbs floating in the ceiling. He demands, "Who are YOU!?" I don't look up from what I am doing, continuing to attempt to pick the lock on the chest. "Who are you talking to? Me or the monkey?" I ask the elf, pointing to a capuchin monkey sitting on a bookshelf. "His name is Sallah." Volath snarls in annoyance. Kender, what cockroaches, you could never be rid of them...is exactly what he is thinking, no doubt. Muttering some incantations and tossing some sand from a side pouch towards the monkey, Volath watches with some amusement as the monkey falls like a stone onto the planks below. Volath says "I am talking to you, this is my private quarters! This is a boat only for my crew. How did you get here?" I raise an eyebrow at the magic user and snort, "Kinda rude don't you think?" I walk over to my fallen comrade, tucking my lock picks into a pocket in the sleeve of my jacket. I gingerly pick up the capuchin, and tuck him into a large pouch hanging from my belt. "Is this how you treat all your guests?" I say with a huff...one huff only, then ask, pointing to the chest, "You wouldn't happen to know where the key to that thing is?" Volath's face wrinkles and then he sighs, "That creature has probably spread enough lice throughout my room, likely going to have to burn everything." Volath see's me open his mouth starting to speak again, muttering a few words quickly under his breath the my mouth snaps shut (Much to the little runts delight)...ha, like some spell is going to get me to stop talking...oh, "Now you're being rude, my turn. That is my Private chest, as I mentioned in my private room. You have several moments to explain yourself before you and your friend 'Sallah' will be tied to something heavy and be sent below to meet Zeboim." I pantomime with large gestures, getting chased around by something...maybe a monster. I pretend to stab something a few times, then apparently hoist something up and out a window. What else am I going to do? He asked for an answer but his silly spell is still on me...Magic users. I then give a thumbs up to Volath. Volath snaps his fingers. "Again, this time... with less... kender." Volath releases the kender from his spell.
I take one last look at the pretty stained glass windows then skip my way beyond the plush couch and into the captain's quarters. I take a look around the room and whistle. Humming the tune I was singing before, I approach the ornate chest that belongs to the captain of the Vanderkaum. I lean my quarterstaff on the wall beside it, then finding that it is locked, I give a single huff...only one and begin picking the lock. Volath slams the door open against the wall of his quarters highly annoyed. Muttering to himself the mage waves his hands and the door magically closes itself and locks. Taking a few moments he bats his large deep violet eyes, growing accustomed to the darkness of his room. He mutters to himself, "Why did I ever agree to allow those pompous knights on my ship. The nerve they have, honorable lot?" Volath snorts, "Haven't even paid me the diamonds I am owed." He takes a seat at his desk and sighs letting his shoulders slump as he lays back deep into his chair, closing his eyes attempting to get a rare opportunity at rest. I casually look over my shoulder as the door slams, eyeing the elf that has walked into the room...he's an angry elf. Then I get back to picking the lock. I deactivate the enchantment on the bells in my hair, however, causing them to go from dead silent to jangling annoyingly. What's the point of performing such a feat without an audience? "Hey fella, do me a favor and keep an eye out." Volath jumps and his body cringes with surprise. The mage spots me ducked down beside his private chest in his bedroom. Growling he stands abruptly to his feet and walks menacingly towards me. Quickly snapping his fingers the room illuminates from hidden magic orbs floating in the ceiling. He demands, "Who are YOU!?" I don't look up from what I am doing, continuing to attempt to pick the lock on the chest. "Who are you talking to? Me or the monkey?" I ask the elf, pointing to a capuchin monkey sitting on a bookshelf. "His name is Sallah." Volath snarls in annoyance. Kender, what cockroaches, you could never be rid of them...is exactly what he is thinking, no doubt. Muttering some incantations and tossing some sand from a side pouch towards the monkey, Volath watches with some amusement as the monkey falls like a stone onto the planks below. Volath says "I am talking to you, this is my private quarters! This is a boat only for my crew. How did you get here?" I raise an eyebrow at the magic user and snort, "Kinda rude don't you think?" I walk over to my fallen comrade, tucking my lock picks into a pocket in the sleeve of my jacket. I gingerly pick up the capuchin, and tuck him into a large pouch hanging from my belt. "Is this how you treat all your guests?" I say with a huff...one huff only, then ask, pointing to the chest, "You wouldn't happen to know where the key to that thing is?" Volath's face wrinkles and then he sighs, "That creature has probably spread enough lice throughout my room, likely going to have to burn everything." Volath see's me open his mouth starting to speak again, muttering a few words quickly under his breath the my mouth snaps shut (Much to the little runts delight)...ha, like some spell is going to get me to stop talking...oh, "Now you're being rude, my turn. That is my Private chest, as I mentioned in my private room. You have several moments to explain yourself before you and your friend 'Sallah' will be tied to something heavy and be sent below to meet Zeboim." I pantomime with large gestures, getting chased around by something...maybe a monster. I pretend to stab something a few times, then apparently hoist something up and out a window. What else am I going to do? He asked for an answer but his silly spell is still on me...Magic users. I then give a thumbs up to Volath. Volath snaps his fingers. "Again, this time... with less... kender." Volath releases me from his spell.
I grin at the captain, "Less kender? Hmm...not sure why anyone would want that but here it goes. So, I was walking down by the dock earlier after having had a run in with a frightful half-elf at a pub, I saw myself a fella attacking some sailors, so I took care of him." I look back at the captain and huff once more, "Fine you all had a sea elf assassin on board, so I took care of him for you. No thanks necessary." "No thanks were ever going to be given." Volath glares at the me, "Better question, when will you be leaving." "Leave? I like it here, plus I am part of the crew. Who do you think you are? I will get the captain in here right now to settle this," I say starting off towards the door, stomping along the way. "I am the captain and I don't remember EVER inviting you to be part of my crew you little vermin," the magic user says as he walks over to me and squeezes his shoulder with a hard grip. I stop dead and spin around, and out of the grip of the elf, "That makes sense, I was wondering why you would have your chest in the captain's quarters. That would just be weird if you weren't the captain." I give him my winningest smile, "But I am pretty sure you said I could join." "You have admittedly proven useful, but yet annoying. IF you are going to be traveling with us, you will be as far away from me as possible. It's the crow's nest or the galley, your choice." I jump up and down, clearly excited...or probably feigned. The bells in my hair jangle jarringly. "I do love crows. I would like to stay up in their nest. How many do you have?" I now give the captain a knowing grin, letting my naive mask drop away for just an instant. Volath snorts at the me, "Don't annoy me further, this is only because we do not have a port to turn back too. You're likely going to be dropped off at the next destination first chance I get" He mutters under his breath If I haven't drowned you and that damned monkey first. I point at the captain, "I knew I liked this guy. Right, Sallah?" I poke the pouch with the monkey in it, "Oh, right. Well, yessir, Mr. Captain." I give him an over the top salute, and puff up my chest and stomp my foot to attention...giving him the most proper of salutes, befitting a knight or something like that. Volath buries his face in his palms and with a flash transports me out of his quarters to the uppermost mast of his ship. We have needed a new look-out since Shizuru took over duties of first mate, Nuitari save us, relying on a kender again...again is what I assume he was thinking. *grin* I blink momentarily at the sudden transport, then grin as I look out over the city of Schallsea, falling to the Dragonarmy. Silly elves, they believe anything you tell them. I then scramble higher up and into the crow's nest and lean back to relax. Pulling out my lute, I begin to strum and sing a lighthearted tune. "If you hunger for what you see you'll take it eventually, You can have everything you want but you better not take it from me."
I waste no time in getting to the nearest tavern when we make it to our first port. I guess they are trying to save the world, but Knights of Solamnia have no apparent zest for life. Old men in tin cans, that's what they are. Especially that one walking around, crying about losing his arm. Boo-hoo. Oh well, the people in this tavern seem to enjoy the classics, and I can't help but think about the knights as I sing my songI am just glad I brought my xylophone for this last song. "There's emptiness behind their eyes, there's dust in all their hearts. They just want to steal us all, and take us all apart." I continue through the song and finish it up...I am not a heathen. I collect the coins that the patrons have placed in a mug on a stool near me. These people apparently greatly appreciate the classics. I walk up to the bar where the owner is cleaning a glass, leaving the xylophone in the corner I was playing in...who the hell carries a xylophone around? "My main man, thank you for letting me play here tonight." I then get up on the bar and shout, "And a round for everyone, on me!" I hop down off the bar as the crowd cheers, all except the dour knights in the corner, of course. I hand over enough coin to pay for a drink for everyone and then some. With a grin and a wink for the barmaid near the door, I skip my way out of the the tavern and towards the dock. The docks are surprisingly dark, so how I was supposed to see the giant fellow sleeping on the ground. Why was he sleeping on the ground right there? How should I know? Don't ask me such questions. *wink* So, I trip over the stinking hulk lying in the middle of the dock, and do the most logical thing. I pull out my 'rapiers' to help catch myself from hitting the hardwood. Unfortunately for this ogre, they managed to land square in his back. He screams in rage and stands up, bopping me on the head at the same time, like I am some sort of field mouse. Well, since he is attacking me, I hit him back and he falls to the ground unconscious. I check his belongings, because that is what any reasonable kender would do. I find nothing of interest so I hustle back to that beauty of a ship, Vanderkaum. Best to lay low in this port now, maybe I can find another appreciative audience at the next port. *grin* OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk last Friday.
Knights of Solamnia...a demanding lot, no? First we have to take them on our ship, now I have to play scout for them. I offer to play them some music to lighten their hearts...they got crushed in Schallsea you know...and they don't want any part of it, but mention something about having been to an elf nation, and all of a sudden they want to hang out with you. Two-faced tin cans, but oh well, I was getting the feeling that my finger waggling captain wanted me to take a break from the ship...I am no doubt too good at what I do and he didn't want me embarrassing the crew. Anyways, that's how I have come to be here, standing on the dock staring at that beautiful booty with the tramp-stamp 'Vanderkaum', as it sails off into the horizon. Too bad they are sailing right into that storm, oh well, they will just have to do without me. I follow my bodyguard...he is the one-armed knight, but he is quite boring, especially since he lost his arm. So, let's see what we can get into. With all the commotion from the knights returning from their debacle at Schallsea, it will be easy to slip away. I bet there is a tavern around to play in, sad folk always love an upbeat song. I duck down an alley as the knight and his squire continue their march down the street...so full of themselves. Once they are gone I start skipping down the alley towards the smell of food and alcohol. Suddenly, a tiny little creature appears out of nowhere, grumbling about fighting goblins. I have almost no time to get out of the way of the little guy, and we both start tumbling to the ground. The crazy thing is, one of the spare metal strings for my guitar comes out of its pouch and wraps itself around the poor fella's neck. I try my hardest to...get it off...yeah, that, but alas all the tugging and jerking and garroting causes the wee thing to collapse to the ground. That of course makes it much easier to retrieve my string, and of course I check his possessions while I'm at it. No sense in letting this sort of opportunity go to waste, right? Nothing though, must be a poor little mage on his way to the tower. At least, I think that's the case, I don't see anything next to his name. *wink* Really though, I know this because as I fish my hand into one of his bags it comes back out with bat poop on it. Mages are gross. I stand up from the unconscious gnome and glance around to make sure that none of the abundance of SPAM around here saw me choke him...I mean accidentally asphyxiate him. *wink* Then I quickly head back down the way I came...I better find those tin cans and let them know we should get out of here for...unrelated reasons. I skip back out into traffic, and wouldn't you know it, they are just down the street in the intersection looking around like they lost something. I better go help them find whatever it is they lost. As I skip my way towards them, I wear a big smile and sing a happy little tune. "A chill runs up your spine, it crawls into your brain, the freezing touch of fear. It's driving me insane, although you try to fight, dragged from the silence where you hide, till you...SCREAM!" OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk on Thursday.
I know guys, this is far too late, but I can only work as fast as this numbskull. *indicates the writer* He will probably tell you all the reasons why it took him so long to get around to it in dark magenta at the end. Anyway, where was I? Oh, right, that gnome in Caergoth, then I met back up with the tin cans. I followed along with Sir Funke and Tom Selleck for awhile, but man, knights can be boring. I make my exit with them as quietly as I can, they have delusions of a grand quest to save Ansalon...I just want to entertain the masses. Finding the nearest tavern was not very difficult, and as with most places, the tavern owner is all to willing to let me play in front of the crowd. So, I give them my best, of course. As I rock the abyss out of the tavern, I notice a dwarf through the window, walking down the street. The man looks lost, and, being the lover I am, I grow concerned for him. So, I hastily wrap up my set and collect the coin the crowd has thrown on stage. Such sweet folk. As quickly as I can, I make my way out of the tavern, then hustle down the road towards where the dwarf went. Just as I am about to give up my search, there he is, making his way towards the docks. I slide through the crowd as deftly as I can then finally catch up to the dwarf. "Mister Dwarf, are you in need of assistance? I saw..." I cut myself short as the fellow turns around. Madness surrounds his eyes, making him look almost feverish. I know that there is only one true way to deal with madness such as this...beat it out. The only thing I have right at hand is my quarterstaff, so I put it to use and wail on his head. The first couple hits ring true, and the creature is clearly about to go down. I didn't know that madness could make you fast, but boy can this shorty run. The dwarf takes off towards the interior of the town again, but I will not let evil such as that get away. I lose him for a moment, forcing me to look down and start following the frantic footsteps. After a moment of running, I get really tired and decide to rest a moment in the middle of the town green, then I get back up and start searching for tracks again. Again, just as I am about to give up, my trusty sidekick, Sallah, begins jumping up and down and pointing down a back alley. I scoop up the little monkey, then make my way down the alley, quarterstaff in hand. The dwarf had gotten tired as well it seems, and is resting in the alley hoping I might not find him. I make quick work of him with a flurry of blows about the head...it is the most effective way to knock someone out...just in case you were unsure. I let a smile creep across my face as I nod, that fellow will wake up with quite a headache, but should find himself free of the evil madness that had clearly consumed him. With that, I head back to the street to find my brothers in arms...I wonder if I could get them to knight me. Meh...it would probably mean I would have to turn boring...pass. As I search for my companions, I sing a mournful dirge... "There's so many different worlds, so many different suns. And we have just one world, but we live in different ones." OOC: This is the story for the Cyklop warnote some weeks ago. Sorry about the tardiness of it...holidays and sickness.
I know guys, you are probably just as sick as I am of this nondescript port, but you can blame that on the Knights of Solamnia. I am ready to rock and roll, boys. Okay, so, once again I am waiting for my fellow adventurers to get their things together...probably trying to find barrels of wax for those glorious mustaches they grow. So, I have decided that the best use of my time is to entertain these poor saps that blow through this, once again, nondescript port. Are we still in Caergoth? Have we already sailed somewhere else? Who knows, but it has no bearing on this story. I am on stage doing my thing, as I often am, though this time, I am telling an epic of the famous kender...umm...well I don't remember his name but he destroyed a very powerful funny magic ring, saving the middle of this earth. *wink* Anyways, as I am telling my story, this mountain of a dwarf sits at the bar talking quite loudly...as if to everyone...about some lion tattoo that he is going to go get. Then he just up and leaves before I can finish my tale. I do finish it, of course, I am a professional after all. I collect the tips that various patrons have left in my jar, then let the barkeep know I will be back shortly. It is not hard to know where he was going, considering there is only one tattoo artist in this town, but I decided to use my skills in tracking anyways. Sure enough, I find him near the tattoo artist. I do not wait to start the lesson of why you do not interrupt a kender in the middle of his story. *glares at you* Up close, this dwarf is something...nearly the height of a human with braids all over his body...or head, or whatever. With my rapiers in hand, I run into the room...sorry...the place that he is, and jump out of the shadows. Now, my intentions are noble, as all of you know, so I swing at the fellow with flat of the blades. I must be a little rusty because instead, I plunge my blades straight into his back. Apparently, he is protected by something, probably a smelly minotaur spell, so I do not do the damage I should have. The dwarf puts up quite a fight for a time, before attempting to run. I catch him quite quickly, and this time do the right amount of damage. He runs again, this time into a building shaped like a tee with many doors in it. He runs around the building yelling, "Enter Portal!" Not sure what he is on about, I decide to serenade him with a song as I chase him, "He'd turn us into music, he'd show us to our portals, he gathered wire and angels, to entertain immortals." I catch him in one room, only to have him flee it for another. An elf even joins in, trying to kill me! And wouldn't you know it, it is the very same elf from a number of stories back...crazy. I eventually catch him as he is tired out. As he lays on the ground, for a moment, I do not see him breathe. Concerned, I lean in and ask, "Are you still there?" He takes a raspy breathe, causing me to jump back. I don't mess with the undead, so I make my way out of the area and back to the tavern to tell the folks another tale...perhaps the one about another kender that traveled there and back again. I don't know, we shall see. *wink* OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from yesterday.
Welcome back children, to this weeks installment of..The Adventures of Daksarai Shinyshins: The Babbling Bard. You will be happy to know that this week's story does not take place in the same town the last few were in, this one will be taking place just outside of said nondescript port town. Yay! Okay, let me sing the opening song so we can get started... "We're the planeteers, you can be one too! 'Cause saving our planet is the thing to do, looting and polluting is not the way, hear what Captain Planet has to say..." Oh, right, that's some other guy's theme song. Well, I sing this anyway as I skip my way down the trail. You can only keep a ranger in town so long, after all. As I get deeper into the woods, my capuchin partner in crime pops his head out from the oversized pouch on my waist. Seeing that we are no longer in that boring town with those indecisive tin cans, he hops out of the pouch and into the trees. I let him go do his own thing, considering he is a living being, I figure he shouldn't be forced to do as I say, *glares at writer* Don't worry kids, he doesn't really tell me what to do. *grin* Anyways, so I am making my way through the forest, enjoying the nature surrounding me when suddenly I hear Sallah...that's the monkey, for those that haven't been following my exploits. I look up to see him, for lack of a better word, whispering and pointing down at something on the other side of a thicket. Best to check it out, right? I slowly make my way through the dense bushes, being careful not to make much noise. People tend to look over at rustling bushes...it's a trope, don't worry about it. Finally, I am able to see what my little monkey companion was pointing at, a human dressed in all black robes. Why mages always have to wear robes is beyond me, probably so the BBG knows who to target first. *wink* So, here I am, hiding in the bushes watching this evil mage do...I don't know...evil mage things. Honestly, it mostly just looks like he is high as a kite...perfect. I slip out of the bushes and walk right up to him...I know, I should have used sneak or hide...oops. *shrug* With my quarterstaff in hand, I plant myself in front of the mage and smile...definitely stoned. It only takes a few whacks and he collapses. I frown down at his crumpled body, then shrug as I kneel down to check his possessions...you know, just in case there is something in there for me to look after till I can find its owner...because I am a kender, get it? Of course there is nothing, and I turn and sneak back out the way I came. I glance back in time to see the fellow get up, stagger a little bit, then begin to run full tilt the opposite direction. Suddenly, another kender appears! No sooner does the little guy put on his mask than the evil mage runs right into him. They both go to the ground and the kender comes up the victor. Before I can get out there to see what he is all about the heroic kender ducks back into the forest, leaving me once more standing by the unconscious body of this evil mage. Maybe he will change his ways...probably not. I have to find out who this other kender is...I think we could be best friends. OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from yesterday.
I know everyone...you missed me. So, here it is, the next installment of the Amazing Adventures of Daksarai Shinyshins: The Babbling Bard! The last we saw of our hero...me, was, *types 'story list'*, ah yes, with the silly mage smokin' in the woods. Right! And those absenty tin cans are still nowhere to be seen, so I have decided to go my own way...for now. On my adventures, as you know, I see some odd things, but this one just about takes the cake. As I make my way through the city of Palanthas, I know...a long way from where I last was, I search for that lovely kender that had a go at that evil mage. It is hard to find kender when they don't want to be found. As I close on the entrance to a black market that recently opened up, I catch a whiff of something funky. As per usual, curiosity drags me into the market...or is it the plot hook? *wink* Anyways, as I delve deep within the bowels of Palanthas, I follow my nose. Suddenly, I see an ogre just ahead. He seems to be perusing the wares of this dark and dank place. Not wanting to interfere with the fella as he does his shopping, I decide to go get some air up on street level. As I climb the stairs, I pass by the blacket market lookout who waves at me energetically and says with excitement, "Hey dere, guy!" Confused, I continue up the stairs. At the top, a well dressed human passes me. Well dressed, but far too much black. I exit onto the street, and as I do so I hear the black market lookout holler, "Ugh! You ---=== BUTCHERED ===--- me!" This city is weird, and they call it the opal of Solamnia, or some other precious stone like that...I can't remember. Suddenly, the ogre blows by me, almost knocking me to the ground. The audacity of the creten! I stomp after him hollering, "HEY, BUDDY!" I finally catch up to him in the Imperial Square just south of the Great Dome. I step in front of him as he pulls out a bunch of little tiles from a bag. A glaze covers his eyes as he stares straight ahead. I wave my hand to see if he reacts, but to no avail. It is almost as if he were being controlled by someone and that person were somehow disconnected from him. *slowly turns to look at the reader* So, I do the most logical thing I can think of, I draw my rapiers and stick them deep into his legs. Don't worry guys, I checked to make sure there are no Palanthian Enforcers, or those snitching cadets. I mean, really, who do they think they are. Oh, guards, quick, someone is hurting someone else. Get a life, am I right?! *grin* Back to the ogre, he doesn't say a thing as I plunge my rapiers deep in his knees. He then collapses to the ground in a heap. I don't dare go near the creature's things, as the stench may be contagious. I do, however, wipe off my blades on his clothes. Then make a quick break for it to the docks where people know me and I can hide out and perhaps entertain at one of those taverns. As I make my way there, I sing a merry song... Ooooh that smell, can't you smell that smell? Ooooh that smell, the smell of death surrounds you!" OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from Friday.
Ladies and gentlemen! Daksarai here, and I am back with another story. Where will this one be I wonder? I imagine it will be in some nondescript location due to some lazy writing and wanting to tie this into a later RP...or something like that. This guy can really lack imagination. *points to the author* Anyways, I will not rag on him too hard, maybe the next story will be featured in an actual place. *clears throat* So, I am making my way down a NONDESCRIPT road. As you remember from the last story this guy posted to the storyboard, I have ditched the tin cans that are still MIA. I am slightly concerned over their health...okay, I am over it. After all, I know who my real friends are. As I skip my way down this lonely road through a beautiful forest I sing a lovely tune, "I like it, I'm not gonna crack! I miss you, I'm not gonna crack! I love you, I'm not gonna crack! I killed you, I'm not gonna crack!" For miles, I am the only traveler on this previously and poorly described road. *grin* Okay, I am done. So, finally, on the horizon, the form of another humanoid appears. I hasten my pace, for I long to once more hold a discussion with someone other than myself...I am not crazy, but one must talk, right? As I close on this traveler, I realize he is just standing there in the middle of the road. He seems to be lost by the look of him. Wearing the robes of a mage, I approach him warily. "Excuse me, friend. Looks like-," I say trying to help him, but suddenly the man turns and reaches into a pocket quickly. Now, you and I both know, if a mage reaches into a pocket, he is likely seeking a way to wiggle his fingers. So, I do the most reasonable thing, pick up my walking staff and huck it like a spear at his head. The staff lands square between the mage's eyes, knocking him to the ground briefly before he jumps to his feet and runs into the forest. I cannot have him sneaking up on me tonight to cast some sort of spell that would make me do what he says because suddenly I think I have reached Nirvana. *wink* See what I did? Grumbling, I trudge my way into the forest, checking the ground for the obvious footprints the mage leaves as he bumbles his way through it. Eventually I catch up to the fella as he is trying to rub the stars from his eyes. He turns to me, his eyes wide as he opens his mouth and holding some sort of paper in his hand...a scroll of some deadly spell, no doubt. With both hands on my staff, I swing it hard, connecting across his temple. He goes to the ground in a heap, and as he lies there he mumbles something incoherent. Curious as to what my vanquished foe is saying, I lean in closer to hear him say, "Know...way...towers...you?" I look down at his paper to discover it is a map, not a spell. I grimace a moment, but then go through his things real quick...better that he thinks it a robbery than just a miscommunication, right? Finding nothing I skulk my way back to the road, putting the mage out of my head...he will find his way...probably. OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from a couple weeks back. Sorry about that late post, Mitharen.
And now it's time for the bardic babblings of your favorite kender ranger, Daksarai Shinyshins! "Look...I know the last temple robbery ended up a little bloody," I whisper to the simian in the large pouch hanging from my belt, "but the door is just ahead and we already got the ridiculous five headed dragon statue." I reach down and pat the large object resting safely in another pouch on my belt, and hidden underneath the large robe I am wearing to hide my appearance. I am not sure why, but temples in general tend to give kender the boot. It really is quite racist, not all of us are thieves...I mean, I am, but not all of us are. *snicker* I look behind me to make sure that there is no one following us, then back down to where Sallah hides beneath the robe, "It's not my fault people pay good money for things from these chur..." Unfortunately, I am not able to finish my sentence as some, very large, dufus steps out in front of me. I fall to the ground and the statue comes skittering out from underneath my robes. The large robed creature looks to the statue then looks at me. I give it a huge smile, then explain, "Look, I know this looks like I am stealing it, but there is a perfectly...What the hell are you?" I say as the creature pulls back its robe to reveal a scaly hide. It opens its mouth to speak, probably in parseltongue or whatever these things speak, but I do not give it a chance. Quickly, I kick at the thing's clawed foot, causing it to slide out from under it. I then kip-up to my feet and throw a few punches at the abominations head, but it brings up its claws quickly and scratches my face. To avoid any further damage to the gorgeous mug, I reach over my head and grab the neck of my six stringed instrument and bring it down hard on the monster's head...like an axe. *wink* It slumps to its feet, but I figure there is not much to loot on such a being, so I pick up the statue and cover myself back up in the robe and calmly walk towards the exit of the temple. As I walk, I sing a dirge appropriate to my surroundings: I am a man who walks alone, and when I'm walking a dark road, at night or strolling through the park. When the light begins to change, I sometimes feel a little strange, a little anxious when it's dark. Fear of the dark...pilgrim. Did you see what I did? That's the title! Anyways, maybe I should find the Vanderkaum again. I bet those fellas are really worried about me. Especially Captain...Vera, Volus, Volath. That's it, Volath. *winks at the reader* OOC: As promised, this is the story for the pk from a couple weeks back. Forgive my tardiness, Malak.
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
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