The Great Library of Palanthas
An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.
Stories of Ansalon from the view of Sylvarina.
A little gully dwarf runs by and says 'Wordwrap is at 80. You change? 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 worn folio on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Sylvarina' scribed in green ink.
Author: Sylvarina Date: Tue May 4 20:14:41 2010 Subject Sylvarina the monk:part 1 beginnings Sitting at the alter of Majere, Sylvarina meditates, seemingly peaceful to all those who look upon her. But within her mind, flashbacks of the past are speeding past her closed eyes, a story of her beginnings...... (12 years ago) "Mommy, where are you?", young sylvarina yelled upstairs, "The clan Elder is here for you" "That's grandfather to you young one" the clan elder, Kromaros Draconis said laughing as he tussled his granddaughters' hair. "Now why don't you go out and play"; "But grandfather, i'm waiting for daddy to get back so we can spar together" "A young girl shouldn't being sparring at your age. Now listen to your grandfather and go out and play sylvarina!" her mother, Ashlynia Draconos, said as she descended the stairs.; "ok mother" sylvarina pouted as she sulked out the door. (Later that night) "Mommy, why isn't daddy home yet?" Looking at her young daughter with tears in her eyes, Ashlynia pulled sylvarina onto her lap and said "Well honey, daddy isn't going to come home anymore. Paladine has gathered him to his side." "What? Are you saying...daddy's......daddys' dead?" Sylvarina exclaimed as tears welled up in her eyes as well "Yes honey. I'm sorry, but daddy was killed while out hunting today. The other hunters found him by the creek, and brought him home to be laid to rest" "I don't believe you! My dad can't be dead! He was a knight!" With such a bold statement, Sylvarina fled her house, disappearing into the dark night "Wait Sylvarina! Stop!" her mother called after her to no avail. Glistening sunlight upon her face woke Sylvarina, her bloodshot eyes squinting against the harsh glare. Looking around, she was alarmed to see smoke rising from the direction of her clan. "What is that?" she wondered as she started running home. Upon reaching the clan's perimeter, the sickly sweet smell of roasted meat reached her nose. however she didn't recognize the distinct smell until she stumbled upon the center square, in which a huge bonfire was burning, fueled by the corpses of her family. "No! Mother!" Sylvarina ran blindly through the smoke to her house, bashing open the ruined door in her haste, and fell upon her knees, grabbing her mother's bloody locket of the floor and clasping it to her chest as tears ran down her face. "No...how could this happen?" "Syl.....va....rina...." a faint voice croaked her name from her grandfathers house, next door. Running out, she saw her grandfather on his porch, gashes on his stomach running red. "Grandfather, what happened? Where's mother at? Why?" a stream of senseless questions ran from her mouth as she knelt beside her grandfather. "Hush child. I dont have much time left in this world. I can feel Paladine's pull as we speak." her grandfather whispered, coughing up blood "It was a troop of dragon like beings, bent on destruction. You mother, she was one of the first to go, thinking that the enemy had already taken you, she charged them." "But the didn't! They never came near me grandfather!" "But child, your mother didn't know that. Quiet and listen love. you are the last living Draconos . Take this my child, as your legecy." Take this my child, as your legecy."story + Her grandfather pressed a ring bearing the seal of House Draconos into her hand. "Remember our clan child, and be proud. Carry on ourr legacy and name, as generations before you have." "I will grandfather. I swear i will be worthy of carrying the title of 'Lady of House Draconos'. And i swear i will avenge our family!"; "No child, you would have no chance against these creatures. Swear to me, on your mother's name, that you will never bear arms against these creatures! Swear to me, or may Paladine forgive me, I will never let you carry on our name!" "Ok grandfather. I swear i will never take up arms to fight these creatures, be it sword, axe, or mace. I swear on Ashlynia's name" Author: Sylvarina Date: Tue May 4 20:28:43 2010 Subject Sylvarina the Monk:part 2 the training (2 years ago) Sweat dripping of her brow, Sylvarina surveyed the man before her. He was a knight, wearing full plate armor, and carrying a axe that would surely cut her in two if he connected. Just another person helping out with her training. Standing off to the side, GrandMaster Thalonial watching the match as a judge. Nodding at Sylvarina and the Knight, he said "Continue." The Solamnic knight charged at sylvarina, axe swinging and slashing as he advanced. Closing her eyes quickly, Sylvarina focused and ran through her repitoire, coming up with a combination that would let her neutralize her opponent. 'Dodge right, feint left, spin kick right, duck, punch left knee, right thigh, roll left, punch left ribs, behind left ear, headlock, match' Opening her eyes, She smiled as her opponent swung at his previously unattentive target. Dodging, feinting, kicking and punching, sylvarina quickly neutralized the knight, forcing him to concede defeat at the hands of this agile woman. "Well done Sylvarina. You can let the poor man go now." Her Master said smiling as he advanced. Smiling, sylvarina did just that, offering her hand to her opponent to help him up. "Nice match sir knight. Thank you for the help with my training" "Glad to be of service. Now, if you don't mind, i have some duties i must attend to. My lord, My lady." Bowing, the knight left the training grounds. "Well sylvarina. I believe this is the end of the training I can give you. You will always be welcomed here, but no longer as a pupil. Instead, i will welcome you as a fellow monk." Her Master said, congratulating her, as he handed her a gift for her ascension to full monkhood. "As a mark of your success, please accept this gift. As monks of Majere, we are required to live humble lives, but in this case, I feel an exception should be made. I hope that you like it" Opening the plain wooden box, Sylvarina felt her breath catch in her throat. Inside was her mothers' locket, which she had cast aside at the beginning of her training, beautifully retooled with the signet of house Draconos, a dragon's eye, and a single rose within the dragon's iris, a complement on her nature as a monk and as the lady of house Draconos. Inside, on one side, was the portrait of her mother. On the other, was a portrait of her. "Master, It's beautiful." Crying, sylvarina knelt at her master's feet one last time, silently thanking him for his consideration and caring. "However, i must let you know one thing Sylvarina. This quest of yours, a quest for revenge, no good can come of it. I know you feel as if it is your duty as the last surving member of your family, but think on this child. Revenge can only breed more sorrow. If all you live for is revenge, what happens after you exact your revenge? You be even more lonely than you are now, but without a purpose for living. Is this what you want for yourself? Is this what your mother would want for you? Medititate on that my child." And with those words, Grandmaster Thalonial left sylvarina kneeling on the practice field, and went inside the temple. "Mother.....what should i do?" Silvarina whispered as she struggled to harness the demons inside of her. "Should i avenge you, and father, and our family? Or should i let go of my hate, of my rage, and live for myself? Help me Mother, I know not what to do!"....... Author: Sylvarina Date: Tue May 4 20:43:05 2010 Subject Sylvarina the Monk:part 3 A Purpose Reborn (1 year ago) Slipping quietly through the underbrush, Sylvarina scanned ahead, and seeing no one, stepped into veiw onto the plains. Softly, she made her way through the tall grass, following a path known only in her memories. Feeling the ground change under her foot, she stopped, looking around at what had once been the home of the proud House Draconos. Here and there, timbers of rotting wood could be seen poking through the tall plain's grass, the only reminders of a tragic past. Tears glistening in her eyes, she made her way to what used to be her house, stepping into the center of the rotting room. "Mother, i am lost. I've spent the last year wandering Ansalon, always honing my skills, searching for the draconians that murdered you. Finally i found them, inside a bar in neraka, bragging over drinks about how many they murdered here. I followed them as the left the bar, followed them down the street, and when they entered a dark alley, i killed them, with my bare hands. I did not break my vow, and Mother, i avenged our family. But now i feel so empty inside. Please, Mother, Majere, someone tell me, what is left for me in this life?" Exhausted from her journey, Sylvarina sets up her hammock and falls asleep, comforted by the familiar presence of home. Screaming, woman and children are slaughtered by bloodlusting draconians. Men die protecting their loved ones, as the draconians indescrimately slaughter everyone the see. Piles of bodies burn in bonfires, the sickeningly sweet smell of human flesh polluting the air. Laughing, the troop splits the belongings of the deceased, chomping down on what looks to be human thighbones, as the scene of carnage is replayed over and over within her mind. Screaming, Sylvarina wakes up, sweat and tears running in rivulets down her face. "Why am i seeing this? Why am i seeing these people?" "Because my dear child, you have the power to prevent this. You have the power to protect these innocent people from suffering from the same pain you must live with every day." Looking around wildly, Silvarina attempts to find the origin of the words. Seeing nothing other than a copper colored spider in the corner, she wonders aloud "Am i losing my mind?" "No child, your not." Descending in front of her face, the copper spider expands to become an elderly monk, as an aura of peace surrounds her "You don't recognize the symbol of your god, dear child?" Bowing, Sylvarina exclaims "Forgive me Lord Majere, I have had a rough day. I did not recognize you at first. Why are you showing me these images my lord?" "As i said dear child, you have the power to prevent this, the power to protect the innocents you see. You asked for a purpose, you asked for a reason, I am giving you one. Seek out those who protect the innocent, and join them. You suffer everyday from what you have lived through, do you really want others do to the same?" "No, I don't........" In a blinding flash, Sylvarina wakes up, looking around, seeing no spider, no monk. "It was all a dream." she whispers. However, the peace she had felt still remained, leaving her doubting. "I must have faith. Whether it was a dream or no, the point was still valid. I have the power to protect those who would suffer as i have."..... (Present day) Opening her eyes, Sylvarina stands, and bowing to statue of Majere, prepares to set out. For she had found those who protect the innocent, The Holy Order of the Stars, and she was intent on joining them. Grasping her silver amulet, the only show of wealth on her body, she whispered "Mother, i will become someone whom you can be proud of..."
The Storytellers of Ansalon, The DragonLance MUD
Astinus points to the massive wall of books behind him and bids you to make a selection.
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