The Great Library of Palanthas

An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.

Stories of Ansalon from the view of Ghargan.

A little gully dwarf runs by and says 'Wordwrap Off 65 80.'
The gully continues 'Want color back? Turn Color Back ON!!

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 'Ghargan' scribed in unearthly yellow ink.


Author:    Ghargan        
Date:      Thu Feb 25 07:12:54 2010
Subject     Fist fights and spices

From an early age Ghargan was different to the other young minotaurs.
They fought constantly while he went from ship to ship seeing what goods
they were carrying. Soon he knew every spice that was imported and exported
from the Isles, as well as where they came from and what prices they
commanded in foreign ports.

He got his first job when he stopped a group of hoodlums stealing from the
loading docks. He was severely beaten, but the commotion caused by the fight
meant they couldn't get away with the rare spices they had come for.

As a reward for foiling the attempted robbery the load master gave him an
old book and a job as a packer in the warehouse. It was a curios book to say
the least, especially for a minotaur - it detailed ways of fighting without
weapons - and Ghargan, realising that as a trader hed never have a reason to
be fully armed or armoured, started reading the book avidly. Soon, to the
delight of his parents, he was visiting the local training arena, but to
work on the techniques detailed in the book, not the normal martial skills
taught to young warriors.

As a packer in the warehouse, it was his responsibility to collect small
shipments from the stores for special customers. His talkative trusting
nature soon had these secretive customers telling him more about their
business than they normally would have. Although there was nothing illegal
going on, he understood that these customers valued their trade secrets, so
he never let on to anyone that he knew who was getting what spices where.

As he matured he gained height and bulk, as his mother had said he would. He
was now able to lift several heavy sacks or barrels without much strain, but
still his martial interests were second to his knack for trading and making
a profit. 

His life changed early one morning when he arrived at work to find a gang of
hoodlums tearing through the stores, the owner lying in a pool of blood.
Upon seeing him they all attacked simultaneously, and it was pure instinct
and the long hours spent in the arena rather than his bulk that saved his
life that day. Later he would not be able to say what had happened once the
fight had started, only that he had deflected blows and struck back at his
armed assailants, killing every last one of them.

Looking around he was devastated by the destruction they had caused.
Precious spices and cargo had been rummaged through and vandalised. After
taking in the damage done he moved from assailant to assailant and was
shocked that he recognised the four perpetrators. Each of them was a guard
for rival merchant companies and each of them had the mark of Hiddukel on
them. Realising that this was probably the work of the merchants guild, he
decided that the best course of action would be to leave before anyone found
out that he had been there and survived.

Gathering what little could be rescued from the carnage, he cleaned the
blood of his fellow minotuars from him and made his way home. There he said
his farewells to his mother before slipping out the back and down to the
harbour, where he caught the first ship to Palanthas. 

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.'
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