The Great Library of Palanthas

An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.

Stories of Ansalon from the view of Zylug.

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 heavy platinum-covered book on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Zylug' scribed in dull blue ink.


Author:            Zylug
Date    Thu Oct 20 08:20:15 2005
Subject  The Smelly

 "Rats!"   Zylug watched as the small rat got away.  "Me gotta find big 
rat!"   He stomped his foot against the ground in frustration.  The aghar 
had been trying to catch the legendary Smelly for the past week.  The 
Smelly, whenever asked how old it was, always met with the reply: 'It 
reaaaaalllllly old!  '.  But Highbulp Fug had told Zylug to find big rat, 
because big rat 'made good stew'.  No one had thus far been able to even 
touch the Smelly, but Zylug was determined.  Waving his rusted dagger over 
his head, Zylug followed after the rat.  FOr a few minutes the game of 
cat-and-mouse continued, with Zylug getting close enough to spit on it, but 
he could never catch it.  "Dumb rat, come back!!"   Zylug wailed.  He tried 
spitting on the rat again, but all that happened was his spit flying back 
into his eyes.  "AHHH!  Me blind!  Me blind!!"   Zylug screamed as he 
continued to run blindly after the rat.  Wiping his eyes, Zylug managed to 
see a very very, big hole before he fell right into it.  Screaming, Zylug 
fell several feet before entering a smile-covered chute.  His screams of 
terror soon turned into whoops of joy.  Soon enough, the 'ride' was over and 
Zylug was dumped rudely onto a mud covered ground.  Dazed, the aghar felt 
something furry next to his hand and looked.  It was the rat he had been 
chasing.  Grinning a gap-toothed grin, Zylug bashed the rat's skull in.  
After putting the carcass into his pants for safe keeping, Zylug looked 
around.  He was in a huge chamber, cut out by the dwarves long ago.  The 
dust was thick everywhere.  Even if he squinted, ZYlug could not see the 
ceiling above.  "This big."   Zylug muttered.  His voice echoed in the 
chamber, and Zylug instinctively dropped to the ground screaming, "NO HURT 
ZYLUG!"   His scream echoed and amplifed, and Zylug screamed some more.  
Soon, he realized that was HIS words he was hearing and he peekd between his 
fingers.  "Who there!"   Zylug demanded.  'Who there!  ' Was the echoed 
reply.  "Who you?"   Zlug tried.  'Who you?  ' was the expected reply.  
Angry now, Zylug stood up and struck what he thought a very menacing pose.  
"You stop copy Zylug!"   'You stop copy Zylug!  '.  Fuming, Zylug threw his 
small dagger with all of his might high into the air.  Instead of claning 
against stone, the weapon bit into something soft and Zylug cheered.  "Me 
told you, stop copy--..."   Zylug trailed off as a rat--the BIGGEST rat--he 
had ever seen, dropped from an alcove, scattering bones everywhere.  The 
rat's eyes glowed like red hot embers, its fur the color of tarnished 
silver.  The thing that worried Zylug the most were its claws, each one as 
long as Zylug's hand.   
 
This was definately the biggest rat he had ever seen.   
 
The chamber was suddenly teeming with rats now, all squeaking and 
chittering.  Everywhere there were rats.  Zylug somehow made a mental note 
of this.  It would make a great This Place.  "It reaaaaalllllly old!"   
Zylug whipsered.  The rat bared its fangs and hissed at him.  Sticking from 
the rat's shoulder was his dagger.  "It Smelly!!!"   Zylug screamed in 
absolute terror.  He kept on screaming, eventually soiling himself as he 
looked around for an escape.  Finding none, Zylug stood there was the Smelly 
rushed.  Zylug looked in shock as the huge rat charged at him.  For a 
second, his world gew dark, but then he took in a deep breath.  Suddenly, 
the Smelly stumped to the side, jarring Zylug's dagger out of its shoulder.  
The dagger clanged on the ground and Zylug was snapped out of his terror.  
He dived and scoped up his dagger just as the Smelly turned.  Again the 
Smelly rushed, but Zylug met it with defiance.  The Smelly managed to bite 
down on his arm, but Zylug stuck his dagger into its paw.  The Smelly threw 
Zylug a few feet away and hissed.  Picking himself off the ground, Zylug 
bared his own teeth and lept at the rat.  Landing on its back, Zylug hung on 
with a death grip as the Smelly bucked and twisted.  There was only one 
thing to do in a situation like this.   
 
Zylug bit the rat.   
 
He picked a spot on the rat's neck and bit down as hard as he could.  The 
Smelly sqealed and rolled over.  Zylug scrambled away before he could get 
crushed.  As the rat completed the roll, Zylug ran past snatching up his 
dagger.  The berserked rat charnged after Zylug again.  Zylug ran until he 
was against the far wall.  Zylug turned around and his eyes widened, he 
jumped.  The rat, only just a little stupider that ZYlug, looked up and 
smashed into the wall.  Zylug landed on the Smelly's back and sank his 
dagger deep into the rat's neck.  In that instant, the legendary Smelly let 
out a soft hiss and died.   
 
Zylug sa on top of the dead rat, blinking stupidly.  Then, the adrenaline 
wore off and Zylug fainted.  Hours later, Zylug regained consciousness and 
nearly fainted when he remembered what happened.  Zylug ripped one of the 
Smelly's claws off and tucked it into his belt.  A new crack had opened when 
the Smelly had run into the wall, and Zylug walked through it to find a ramp 
leading up.  Walking up it, Zylug found himself in a place he new.  Beaming, 
Zylug wandered home.   
 
Reaching This Place, Zylug took the rat from his pants and tossed it into 
the stew pot without thinking about it.  Walking straight to the Highbulp's 
room, Zylug showed him the Smelly's claw.  Highbulp Fug gasped.  From atop 
his 'throne'.  "Z'ug kilt Smelly!"   The shaman of the clan ran around in 
circles screeching.  "Zy'ug hero!  Zy'ug kill Smelly!"   All the aghar 
within hearing distance took up the call.  "Zy'ug hewo!  Zy'ug kilt Smelly!" 
 Grinning from ear to ear, Zylug remembered something and shouted.  "Zylug 
find new This Place!  Zylug Highbulp now!"   Fug cheered and looked relived 
that he was not Highbulp anymore.  Hopping off his throne, Fug whispered to 
Zylug, "Z'ug watch out fer spoon!"   Fug pointed to the shaman and left, 
declaring he was very hungry.   

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 868 books from Ansalon from before the great Cataclysm through today.'
\n