An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.

Stories of Ansalon from the view of Tanthalis.

A little gully dwarf runs by and says 'Wordwrap is at 65. 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 gorgious hardback on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Tanthalis' scribed in dull black ink.

Author:  Tanthalis
Date    Sun Jul 28 08:31:54 2002


Subject  The story of Tanthalis




The gentle breeze rustled Tanthalis' white robes and blew his
hair about his
face. The woods were alive with activity that day, the birds were
singing a
beautiful seranade and the leaves were rustling pleasantly.

He could not help but smile as he strode along the path of short
grass. As he
rounded a bend in the path, he could see a small white house up
ahead.

He stopped for a moment, breathing deeply and summoning his
courage. He nodded
slightly to himself and then continued down the path.

As Tanthalis approached the steps to the house, an old elf
materialized in
front of him. The old mages hair was silver with age and fell
about his
shoulders, his eyes were wells of knowledge and understanding.

Tanthalis came to a stop and bowed deeply, "Greetings Master
Malthus," he
said, "I am Tan.."

The old mage held up his hand and spoke, " I know who you are
Tanthalis
Silverwind, and I know your parents too." He returned Tanthalis'
bow, then
moved closer. "And I know whyyou are here," he said.

He stared into Tanthalis' eyes a moment then moved in beside him,
motioning to
the house. "What I do not know, however, is what possessed you to
believe that
I would teach you the ways of magic?"

He questioned, his thin lips split into a small smile.

Tanthalis was caught off guard by this, and he stuttered as he
began to speak,
"I...was...my father..that is...Garhalis said,"

The old mage held up his hand again, "My dear boy," he chuckled,
"You are much
to nervous."He pushed Tanthalis up the stairs gently, and
followed him up. The
door swung open quietly and a small warm glow escaped from the
entrance.

The sweet smell of various spices and flowers met them as they
stepped into
the house. The interior of the house was nothing like Tanthalis
had expected.

It was simple and rather plain. A fireplace was at one end of the
room, to the
right, with a small pot boiling above the gently licking flames.
In front of
the fireplace were two comfortable looking chairs, beside one of
them was a
small table with a stack of books on top. The wall across from
the door was
completely dominated by a two bookcases, which were separated by
a doorway,
leading into a bedroom. The wall to the left had a large table
pushed up
against it, and was littered with various scrolls and spell
components. There
was also another doorway on this wall leading off to the kitchen.

Tanthalis stepped towards the bookcase and looked over the
titles. His eyes
fell upon a beautifully crafted book. It had a silver cover and
was bound with
gold. Across the front of the book, in beautiful silvanesti
writing, was "The
Spellbook of Master Malthus". Tanthalis let his fingers
delicately touch the
book...

When he came to, Malthus was crouched over him grinning.
"Ahh...hello young
one," He chuckled and stood. Shaking his head he moved over to
the table where
two steaming bowls of stew sat waiting.

Malthus dropped himself into a chair and began to eat, after
several spoon
fulls he looked to Tanthalis, still sitting on the floor, his
eyes clouded and
dazed. "Well?" he said, motioning to the other chair by the
table, "Are you
going to eat or not?"

Tanthalis pushed himself onto his feet and stumbled over to the
table rubbing
his eyes as he went. "What was that?" he asked, placing himself
on the empty
chair.

Malthus chuckled, "Even if it turns out that you are untalented,
at least
you'll keep me entertained."

Tanthalis looked up quickly, "Does that mean that you mean to
take me on as an
apprentice?" he asked.

The old mage shook his head, "an apprentice? no."

A look of confusion spread across his face. "What then?" he
asked.

Malthus finished his stew before answering. "I will teach you a
few simple
spells, and help to get you into the conclave," he answered.

"I have no wish for another apprentice, nor would I wish to train
an
apprentice when I am no longer at the conclave. I will merely
give you the
readings you will require."

Tanthalis grinned at his small victory and quickly finished his
stew.



Author:  Tanthalis
Date    Sun Jul 28 09:05:10 2002


Subject  The story of Tanthalis (contin)




The next morning he woke wrapped in an old cloak on one of the
chairs in front
of the fire. Tanthalis stood shakily, wiping the sleep from his
eyes.

He stumbled to the table yawning as he went. Malthus had left a
loaf of bread
and a slab of cheese on the table for him, and beside the food
was a book of
old leather.

Its cover was cracked and faded with age and a thin silk band of
silver was
wrapped around the book. Tanthalis reached for the book
emediatly, then
hesitated, remembering the incident the night before. As his hand
hovered
above the cover of the book, he breathed deeply summoning up some
courage.

Gently with his delicate fingers he brushed the cover with his
finger tips,
feeling the cracks and splits and roughness of the leather.

He sat himself at the table and untied the ribbon, as he opened
the book it
crack slightly and the dry paper rustled as he slowly turned
through the
pages.

He looked around to thank Malthus for the book, but failed to
spot the old
elf, so he turned back to the pages. When Malthus returned to his
house near
dusk, he stepped through the open door and was nearly struck by a
flying mug.
He  managed to duck, and quickly looked around the room. Books
were floating
around the room, colliding and some came dangerously close to the
licking
flames in the fireplace. The chairs and table and dishes were
gently hovering
above the ground, and the dishes were flying in an intricate
pattern around
the room. In the middle of it all stood Tanthalis, in one hand he
held the
spell book, and his other was stretched out above his head. His
eyes glowed
silver and he shouted words of magic. Malthus' eyebrow raised in
curiousity at
how fast the young mage picked up the spells. He smiled to
himself and rested
against the wall, watching the young elf. Suddenly the floor
boards began to
quiver then shake violently.

Malthus decided to put an end to this before he house suffered
any damage. He
called Tanthalis' name loudly, seeing no response in the young
elfs face he
uttered the words of a spell.

Tanthalis stood in the middle of the room, his left hand extended
above his
head. The magic flowed through his body filling  his every sense
and thought.
The words that he had committed to memory seemed to pour from his
mouth on
their own. A warmth and power filled his body that frightened him
at first,
but he soon became accustomed to it, and even began to enjoy it.

He began to yell the words of magic louder and louder, not even
focusing on a
target for his magic. He felt the ground beneath his feet begin
to quake. As
it started he heard someone call to him, but he had lost himself
to the magic.

Then two words came to Tanthalis, and they were louder then a any
yell he had
ever heard, but there tone was a whisper. He snapped out of his
trance and
looked as everything plummeted to the ground. He looked around to
see Malthus
by the door, his face looking somewhat annoyed, then exhaustion
took him and
he slumped to the floor.

When he woke up it was nearing noon, he looked about the room and
quickly
realized he was in Malthus' bedroom. He rolled out of the bed and
walked into
the main room of the house.

Malthus was seated in his chair by the fire, reading a thick
book. He looked
up as Tanthalis entered, then looked back to his book. A moment
later he
closed the book and set it on the table.

"Well Tanthalis," he said standing, "Are you rested?"

Tanthalis nodded and began to apologize about the mess he made
the other day.

The old elf held up his hand, "Do not apologize, you will make it
up to
me...believe me you will," he chuckled to himself and went out
the front door.

Tanthalis stood for a moment puzzeled by this, until the old elfs
voice called
for him.

That day Tanthalis worked harder then he ever had in his life,
both mentaly
and physicly. Malthus had brought in a young elven noble, who was
training to
be a soldier. This was Tanthalis' combat partner, and for three
hours every
day Tanthalis was forced to fight him, no matter how much he was
dominated.



Author:  Tanthalis
Date    Sun Jul 28 09:27:19 2002


Subject  The story of Tanthalis (contin)




After the weapons training, he had to study. Malthus made him
read a variety
of things, from atlases to books on the history of Krynn, to
fictional
stories. Tanthalis read them all, studying. After his readings,
Tanthalis then
practiced his spells under the eye and instruction of Malthus.
And at night,
when he could barely hold his eyes open any longer, he had to
talk with
Malthus, about anything from family to philosiphy.

Then when Malthus had finished with him, he dismissed him and let
Tanthalis go
to bed.

This continued on for a year, and as spring came the following
year Tanthalis
was more then prepared to face the world outside the safe borders
of
Silvanost.

As spring approached Tanthalis was easily defeating any warrior
that Malthus
brought for him to train with. His mastery of  the simple spells
was complete
and there was not a test that Malthus put before him that he
could not pass
with ease.

One morning, Tanthalis stepped outside onto the porch, expecting
to see a new
young warrior for him to test his skills against. There was no
one out there
however, not even Malthus was to be found. Confused, Tanthalis
went back
inside and started on his studies, after turning through several
books which
he had read several times over. He quickly became bored and went
in search of
the old elf. He came across him as he walked up the path from the
house,
carrying a large backpack stuffed with items. Tanthalis took the
pack from him
and carried it back to the house.

Dropping the pack onto the floor Tanthalis asked the old elf
where he had
been. The old elf smiled and pointed to the pack, "Gathering
supplies," he
answered.

Tanthalis looked to the pack then back to Malthus, "Supplies for
what? are you
going some where?"

"Not I," the old man responded, "You,"

"Me?" Tanthalis asked, "Why would I be going?"

Malthus smiled and shook his head, "Me dear boy, it is time you
traveled to
the conclave to continue your studies,".

Tanthalis smiled and looked at the pack, then turned back to the
old elf.
"That is a lot of equipment for the journey to the Waywreth,
Malthus."

Malthus nodded again, "To get to Waywreth yes, to gain entrance
to the
conclave, no. Now gather your things."

Tanthalis gathered his things and stuffed them into the pack. He
was about to
pack the old cracked spell book, but decided against it. He
handed it back to
Malthus, and told him to give it to the next young elf who came
to his door.

As Tanthalis walked out on to the porch, his pack strapped to his
back. He
turned back to the old elf and embraced him tightly. "Thank you,"
he said,
"You have been so kind to me."

Malthus chuckled, "I did it for the conversations, I have been
alone for too
long." He smiled and grabbed Tanthalis by the shoulders. "I do
not care for
long good byes, and besides, I will check in on you from time to
time."

Tanthalis smiled, "Well then I will not bore you with a long good
bye, I will
write, and visit when I can." He walked down the steps and turned
back. To his
surprise the old elf had already left the steps and had gone back
inside.

Smiling Tanthalis turned back to the path and strode off in
search of the
conclave.

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