Of Forest and Flame

[Solan (Elite117) 82]

Another storm has come over the Land of Aeigs. Rain and thunder pounds down on the grand elven city if Laurelin. You decide to take shelter in the Grand Grove of Laurelin for the duration of the storm. Inside the Druid Collage you find many dusty tomes of old. But one stands out to you. You pull it from it's shelf and read the cover.

Of Forest and Flame

This is the tale of the Elf Apollan and his life's journey up to the writing of this

book. Apollan was born into a loving, wealthy, Elf family in what is now old Laurelin. His early childhood was spend running among the branches and meadows of the city. His father, Serus, was a very wise and successful merchant. His stores where always full because of their fare prices and abundant stocks. His mother, Vernus was very much the scholar of the family. When ever a traveler would arrive at the store she would always inquire about any tomes they might have pick up in their travels so she may buy them and put them in her library. The Grand Library of Vernus was an wonderful place, huge windows with panoramic views and books placed in shelves with the utmost care. Serus and Vernus where very much in love. Serus and Vernus are both credited with bestowing certain attributes to Apollan personality. Serus taught Apollan to be business savvy, to be quick thinking, clever and fair. Vernus gave Apollan his thirst for knowledge. From a very young age she taught him to read and write so that he may learn from the vase amount of knowledge that lay before him.

But after many happy and care free years, Apollan began to tire of his life in the

city and wished to see all of Aeigs. His parents had no problem with this and even encouraged it. They gave Apollan supplies for his journey and a little money for Apollan had already said to them before that he would not accept any large part of his parent's fortune because he wished to make his own. So he when off into Aeigs and had a very grand time of it! He traveled all through out the land visiting the capitals of ever nation and meeting many people. When he had reached the point where he had traversed though all of Aeigs, he kept going!

In to the wilderness he trekked for many days and nights.He didn't stop until he

came upon, what he describes as 'a grove of unimaginable beauty'.The grove was in the middle of an empty plain and fulled with an abundance of life. In the center of the grove was a pool with crisp and clear water. Next to the pond Apollan found a wolf that had broken it paw. At that point it started to storm. Apollan and the wolf spent their first night in the grove in the hollow truck of a tree, safe from the storm. There was much thunder and lightening but it eventuality passed. Many of Apollan years where spend in that grove and he did a variety of things. He nursed the wolf back to health using a mushroom stew recipe given to him by Vernus. The wolf quickly became his most loyal companion. Apollan took it upon himself to tend to the grove. He quickly became proficient in the way of farming and set up a little wheat farm to sustain himself. He gain more experience with the sword and bow by defending the grove from the living dead at night. The grove flourished before his eyes. He wrote many poems and works of literature during his time there. Every day he spend there his love of nature grew tenfold. Someday he would just spend laying around trees, perfectly at one with nature. Before his wolf companion died several years later they had found a female in the grove and soon the grove had it's own pack of wolfs to guard it.

But, one night a powerful storm had engulfed the grove. Suddenly a several

bolts of lightening came down from the sky, igniting the grove! Apollan ran on to the plain surrounding the grove for safety only to watch everything he loved go up in flames. Finally he could take it no more. As if guided by the spirit of nature herself Apollan raised his crudely made stone hoe. First he guided the four winds of the world to blow out the flames, but it was not enough. Then he called upon a mighty down pour of rain and it came! Water washed over the land putting out the fire. Then, using the wind, Apollan cleared the skies. Then he walked into his grove using the power of nature to regrow and repair all the trees. As his last act Apollan used the power of fire, his once enemy to open the acorns of the mighty redwood tree so that they may grow. For the only way to open a redwoods acorn is with heat. Then Apollan fell over, exhausted. The ashes from the fire spread around the grove as Apollan slept, making it even more fertile. It is said that, even today, the grove still existences because that day powerful spells where put in place to protect the grove for all of time. After that event Apollan still loved nature but he grew lovely. So, saying good bye to his beloved grove, he left.

Apollan traveled back to Laurelin, his grove always in his mind. In Laurelin

Apollan worked many jobs to make a living. He visited his loving parents often and soon saved up enough for a house in the Laurelin docks. One day, as he explored Laurelin (For one could never know all the secrets she held) he discovered the Druid's grotto and instantly fell in love with it. He would visit it everyday and read of its tomes and tend to its farm.

One day, while out on the Princes' road in front of the north gates Apollan was

slain by a silent bandit! Deeply sadden at the lost of all his possessions. Apollan walked to the grotto where he meet Respiren for the fist time. Respiren cared for Apollan and gave him stew and an iron sword (To which Apollan still keeps to this day). With Respiren's help they where able to bring justice upon the bandit and Apollan was given seven diamonds by a prince. Many days later, after reading the Myth of the Great War in the grotto Apollan asked to Respiren if he many join the Druid Order. Repiren agreed and the rest is History.

Apollan choose the word Dragon as his totem because of his fierce thirst for

knowledge, his protectiveness of nature and the fiery event that occurred that one night in his grove. Apollan rose the ranks of the order until he became Arch Druid. His parent's, now deceased, are buried at the Laurelin Grove. Expeditions are still sent out to this day to find Apollan's grove but Apollan has never reveled its location and so none have been successful.

As you finish reading the epic tale the clouds part and the storm moves on. You emerge from the Druid Collage into the rain cleaned city, everything sparkling with rain water like a thousand diamonds. From across the grove you see a old elven man sitting on a tree stump. Many elven children play around him. He looked up at you and your eyes meet. His eyes gleam with wisdom and happiness. You blink and the group disappears. As if it where never there. You stand there a few moments then continue on your travels for the grove at Laurelin is indeed, sacred ground.

[Petyr 485]

A good tale brother! We shall have to add such a story to the official tomes (wiki).

[KhronosVII 14]

really good RP, well done!

[Themtdragon 5]

Very good tale my friend. It was very vivid and it kept me spell bound.

[Sagwort 833]

Very nice

[Neri 3590]

+1. I need to RP with you sometime... *mind drifts away*]]

Fantastic Read! I'll look forward to seeing more of your writings in the Laurelin library!

[Solan (Elite117) 82]

Thank you my friends. It means a lot me.

[Danny 2232]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.