An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.

Stories of Ansalon from the view of Vauldaris.

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 well written novel on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Vauldaris' scribed in burnt black ink.

Author:  Vauldaris
Date    Wed Oct 27 00:07:31 2004



Subject  Searching the Shadows 



Walking through the dark alleys of Neraka I come accross an old hag wearing a
ripped up black cloak, I ask the woman why she is there yet she doesn't
answer.

I notice she's carrying a heavy book under her left arm and she seems to be
Guarding it with all her might, what might this treasure be?

I tell her to give me the book, she refuses, I approach her but I am stopped
by an overwhelming force of energy.

I recognise this energy as being that of Morgions, my own liege. I stop dead
in my tracks and fall to my knees, could I be in front of Morgion himself?

After regaining myself I look back up at the woman who is now withering away
into black dust, she's trying to say something.

She utters the words 'others' and 'your quest' I do not understand what this
could all mean. I try to catch her falling corpse but it disintigrates in my
hands.

All thats left is a pile of black dust and the Large Tobril she was carrying,
the book is pitch black and on it a short quote is inscribed It reads: Among
the Shadows I cannot even begin to know what that means, I try to open the
book and find that I lack the strength.

I take the book up in my pack, it weighs a ton and I must discard several
items to carry, I wonder how the woman was ever able to hold it with such
grace.

I lug off into the city, I'm getting hungry now and I notice a familiar
merchant accross the street, he must have something good to eat, I'll go pick
his pockets



Author:  Vauldaris
Date    Wed Oct 27 11:42:15 2004



Subject  Searching the Shadows Cont.



After a large meal at the local tavern, I found myself being watched by a few
strange looking men, they were eyeing my book with much curiosity.

I decided it would be wise of me to leave before any trouble started, so I
quietly emptied the bartenders tip jar and took my leave. Upon my arrival
outside the tavern I noticed that those same strange looking men also got up.

I started to trek through the city towards the north gate, it seems as though
I was being followed.

These men wore dark cloaks, much like the woman who I had obtained the book
from, they seemed to be nearly non-existent, fading into and out of reality as
they followed me on the dark road.

I began running and leapt into the cover of a nearby bush. Looking back at the
road I noticed the cloaked figures were no longer there.

Suddenly the impossible happened, I felt a sharp point in the middle of my
back, and a raspy voice whispered into my ear, "You have no business carrying
that book, it's of no use to you."

I answered cautiously, "I don't even know what it means, I found it in an
alley". The voice replied "You cannot possibly comprehend the power that you
hold in your hand, Only one person can carry such a burden, and you are not
he."

I answered "who is this person, what name do they go by?" "The name is of no
importance, their connecting to the Unholy One is why they must possess the
book"

While the figure was talking, I took advantage of his distraction and whipped
around knocking the dagger out of its hand.

To my surprised what fell to the ground was nothing more than a stick, and
that figure was gone, I muttered "what in the hell"

Looking up I noticed I was surrounded by the four cloaked figures that had
been following me.

The raspy voiced one spoke, "It's time to hand over that Tomb, that or you
shall suffer a torturous death."

I decided that the odds were against me so I proceeded to get the book out
from my pack, I tried to drop it to the ground but, the book.it wouldn't let
me let go of it.

Some force kept it from leaving my hands. One of the dark figures approached,
black sword in hand, I had no way of defending myself my hands were stuck to
the book.

It took a jab at my side but as soon as the tip of the blade entered my side
the sword dissolved. The figure took a step back in disbelief, looking back at
his leader he asked "how is this possible, there's no way he could be.?"

With that the leader quickly decapitated his follower, and looked at the two
others, "No one disobeys my direct orders, Get him!"

The other two figures approached, then something strange happened. As they
approached the book shot out a cloud of black dust which landed on the ground
around their feet, they looked down in confusion.

At this point a dark vortex opened up at their feet, and sucked them into it
within a few seconds. Their leader looked in utter terror as he too began
sliding towards the Vortex.

He begged me "please make it stop and I'll leave you alone, OH GOD PLEASE!", I
answered " I don't know how to stop it, I'm afraid your doomed." He quickly
disappeared and the vortex collapsed.

I was left alone on that dark trail. I stumbled on in disbelief about what had
just happened, my hands were burnt onto the book, and I had to peel them off.
The book was getting heavier, so I had to discard more items.

One thing was for shur, I wouldn't try giving up this book again, it severely
hurt my hands, I got the hint that maybe it didn't want me to let go, but how
could this book have such horrific power?

I stumbled on, dragging the now heavier book behind me.

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 876 storytellers on Ansalon pen their epic stories here for all to read.'