Page best viewed in Full Screen (Press F11) and smallest text size (Go to 'View', 'Text Size', and 'Smallest'). If page alignment is not correct, please refresh. You are wandering around the hot and arrid Lost Desert, stretching your eyes to find the least bit of shade. The afternoon sun beats down on your back as your feet drag along behind you, leaving silent footprints that are swept away in an instant. Sand stings your eyes as you try to see where you're headed. You squint up ahead, and aren't happy with what you see. Quickly, moving rather briskly towards you with no mercy, is a large cloud of golden smoke, rising high into the sky and breeching the cloudless blue. A desert sandstorm. It's just your luck. You panic, looking frantically around for some safe cover. As you swivel your head, something catches your eye. A short distance away, you see a small cave that you had failed to notice before. You hastily make your way to the entrance, tripping on the hot sand as you go. It feels as if the wind now turned and was blowing against you, almost forcing you to turn away. But you persevered. Just a few moments after you stumbled into the dark cave, the sandstorm whipped past, stampeding across the dunes. The sound of white waves crashing against ocean bluffs echoed through the dark cave. You squint into the dank cave as you catch your breath, into the black, and to your surprise, see a sliver of light bouncing off the cave walls. Curious, you advance deeper into the tunnel. The constant roar from outside faded ever so slowly as you crept deeper and deeper into the cavern. Gradually, the sand beneath your feet turned into hard and pale grey stone. Obviously the thick slabs of rock had not been there naturally, as they formed like large tiles on the ground. Someone had been here. The sliver of light soon starts to brighten, as if gaining fuel the closer you ventured. You begin to think that not only had some creature been there, but that it was there. Your anticipation smothered your fear, and you found yourself braving deeper into the mysterious cave. You turn the corner of the tunnel, the light now bright as a well lit room and gasp, amazed at what your eyes see. You rubbed your eyes just to make sure, but as your fists lower, you knew that it had to be real. Hundreds - no, thousands - of books line the stone shelves that are built into the cave sides. Detailed maps and charts take up any left-over wall space. Scrolls and sheets of papyrus lay scattered in a wide array on a soft red carpet, stained of the occasional splotch of black ink. You dare yourself to step into the wondrous room. As you cautiously crept in, you began to see in more detail the various objects placed in the room. Colorful quills of all sizes were neatly assorted in an open chest on the floor beside a small table with more roughly stacked books. You see a flash of movement in the corner of your eye, and jerk your head, eyes wide. Standing calmly and staring at you, is a tall and slender desert usul, adorned with placid white robes and golden jewels. She carries a long wooden staff, decorated with intricate carvings and designs that just entrance you. A cresent is whittled at the top, with a bright green gem magically suspended at its arc. The usul's deep eyes remain locked on you, and you just have to stare back. She smiles warmly, and you have a feeling that you have stumbled on a place of unexplained enchantment.. Ivy: I see you have found your way into my dwelling, guest. Welcome to my scrollery. Shall I introduce myself? I am IvyAethia, better known as Ivy to my fellow friends and comrades. I am the keeper of the scrolls, and the keeper of this wonderous cave you see here. guest: Pleased to meet you, Ivy! This is a really great place you've got here. Ivy: Why thank you. I am quite fond of it myself. What is your reason of being here? guest: Erm, well, a huge sandstorm caught me by surprise as I was in the desert, and this cave here seemed to be my only way of avoiding disaster! You should have SEEN the thing! Touched the sky and was as wide as the length of Winding Wood Drive! Well, anyways, sorry if I've barged in on something. Ivy: Ah, sandstorms are very common at this time of year. Don't worry, I am quite lonely here at times and welcomed any visitors graciously. *sticks up her ears towards the tunnel where you just came out of and listens* That wretched sandstorm won't be clearing up anytime soon.. Why don't you take a seat? I'd be honored to show you around. But, first, I must ensure that this place remain a secret.. guest: What do you mean, 'remain a secret'? Everyone should come to this place! It's amazing! Ivy: I don't think you understand quite fully yet.. please, take the oath. Then I will graciously show you around. guest: Oath? Ivy: Please, just raise your right hand and repeat after me. guest: Hrmph.. oh alright.. won't hurt.. Ivy:I, guest'.. guest:I, guest'- hey, how'd you know my name? Ivy: ..'hereby promise that I shall not'.. guest: ..'hereby promise that I shall not'.. you still haven't answered my question.. Ivy: ...'speak or mention anything about this location, Ivy, or anything to do with the scrolls. guest: ...'speak or mention anything about this location, Ivy, or anything to do with the scrolls.' Alright, now that we're done- Ivy:If I ever leak any information.. guest: Argh..'If I ever leak any information'.. Ivy: ..'Ivy shall have the right to take possession of the item that I value the most. guest: ..'Ivy shall have the right to take possession of-' wait what? Are you serious?! I'm not agreeing to that! Ivy: Well then, I am certainly not going to let you leave the cave knowing this location! guest: Well you aren't going to stop me! Ivy: I won't, but lucky for me, the storm will. guest: *grumbles* Argh, fine then. *in a mocking voice* 'Ivy shall have the right to take possession of the item that I value the most.' You happy now? Ivy: *nods, then bows head slightly* Now then, since that has been taken care of, let us begin.. guest: So, uh, how did you end up in this place anyways? Ivy: Well, it's quite a long story.. but the sandstorm isn't showing any progess. Are you willing to listen? guest: Of course! Why not? Ivy: Well, it begins a long, long time ago.. My story starts a long ways from here, so long ago that only a handful remember this dark and barren age. Nobody really wants to think about this period anyways. Everyone says that King Coltzan III was a wondrous king, do they not? And it is surely a fact. But there was a time where the king knew nothing about leadership and the rights of his people. There was a time when the King's mind was clouded from seeing. It was during this time when the King was blinded from all things around him that the Lost Desert had fallen into deep devastation and peril. Water was not clean and stampedes of bugs raided small and defenseless villages; many marketplaces that had been thriving with trade were desolate and empty. The people were aching of hunger and starving of thirst. They begged the King for aid in their great time of need, but Coltzan's ears were busy listening to the melodic notes coming from his harp players. Their weak and frail fists pounded on the walls of Sakhmet, but Coltzan could not feel the rumble. As the people famished, moaning and growing sick, Coltzan sampled many foods and ate with utmost pleasure. As villages were lit on fire by the scorching sun and desert heat, Coltzan could not smell the devious smoke. Blinded he was, from seeing what was happening to the great Lost Desert. His affiliates did not have the courage to tell the King about the recent horrible events, nor did they want to, fearing that he would blame everything on them, and cast them to exile. And so, for many years, the golden deserts were indeed 'lost' in deep depression. I lived among the poor peasants that resided outside the walls of the Sakhmet Palace. I was alone, poor, and most of the time thirsty or hungry; most of the times both. My clothes were made of filthy rags that had been with me for as long as I could remember. My mother and father had died when I was but a mere child, so I had to fend for myself at a very young age. I was lonely, wishing that my mother and father would just come back. All I had to remember them by was this little green gem which I kept in a leather pouch around my neck everyday. I remember when my mother had given it to me as a gift; her rather rough hands scraping my skin, but calming me; my father's soft chuckle as he watched me toss the gem into the air and catch it in my palm. I missed my parents, and often cried at night, clutching the stone and wishing; just wishing, that they would appear and wipe away my tears. One minute with them would make all the difference in the world. I did as much work around the Lost Desert as I could possibly handle, doing chores for the various tents, shops and stalls, in exchange for a meal and a safe place to rest overnight. I despised my life. I hated every little thing about it. It was boring, slow, and brutal. I didn't feel important or wanted in the world. Just like a grain of sand; useless and somewhat bothersome. I wished for so long that I could step inside the walls of Sakhmet and force Coltzan to see what was happening to the land. The people needed help, and in my eyes, so did he. Sweeping floors and greeting customers did not earn me any neopoints, the thing that I would need if I was ever going to make my wish come true. The only way you could get inside the walls would be to pay a handsome fee, much too handsome for most - if not all - villagers. Occasionally, on good fortune, I would stumble upon a bag full of twenty neopoints or so. I would pocket it away, hoping that one day I would have just enough. Sometimes on good days, I would take an alternative route to the place where I was headed, just to get a glance at the most fascinating shop in all of the deserts: Sutek's Scrolls. I had always wanted to take a peek inside the store, but you had to have some sort of money to be allowed in, almost like the Sakhmet Palace. I guessed that the shopkeeper didn't like people without money to be wandering around his store. I heard rumors that those who were lucky enough to get a hand on the scrolls would either become rich or be renewed with ancient wisdoms, for the scrolls were priceless and filled with the knowledge of the past. I was deeply curious, and was determined to find out whether these rumors were true. One evening, when the sky was clear of clouds and sparkling with jewels, I had decided once again to pass by Sutek's Scrolls. The streets were almost empty, with the soft murmurs of fortunate villagers inside their homes. I expected the store to be closed, for it was after hours, but a dim candle flickered upon the window sill and shined a muted glow upon the road before it. Beside the candle was a sheet of large parchment hanging from the ceiling. I bent my face closer to the window, trying to make out the heavy words that were scrawled upon the paper. Help Wanted" it read, the text glimmering with the candle flame. "Large Pay Provided." My heart leaped into my throat like lightning, so sudden that I basically shot into the air like a cork. Here was my chance, staring back at me in the face. Here was my opportunity to be rid of my wretched life. Not only would I be able to work in the shop that most pleased me, but I would also get paid a good amount of neopoints. So long had I been waiting for this day come. I scrambled to the front door and rapped my knuckles rapidly on the hard wood. I heard a soft thump, and then some shuffling. The door opened slightly, just a crack, the light blinding my eyes. What do you want?" a cracked voice rasped. A weary eye glared at me with much intensity. I saw that there was work here," I replied boldly, not an ounce of fear in my throat. "Is that job still open?" The shopkeeper eyed me. Yes," the voice croaked, "but, the job shall not be very easily earned." I gulped. "Uh, well," I spoke, trying to maintain my boldness, "what exactly must I do to obtain the work?" The shopkeeper eyed me once again, this time more suspiciously. "Come. Take a step inside." The door creaked open, pouring yellow light into the road. Before treading into the shop, I thought I saw a shadow dart away. I jerked my head and gazed down the dark street, but saw no movement what-so-ever. I'm probably seeing things, I thought to myself. Hesitantly, I wobbled into the shop. I jumped when the door behind me shut with a slam, the breeze putting out the candle that had been burning on the window. It was stone quiet. A prickly feeling danced across the back of my neck as my eyes frantically searched in the darkness. I felt extremely uneasy, and backed up against the wall. This was a trap, I thought to myself. Suddenly, a burst of light filled the entire room, and almost took the sight away from me yet again. I held my arm up in front of my eyes to block the harmful rays. When my eyes adjusted, I felt like they had been damaged and were fooling me, for what I saw was deeply mesmerizing. Scrolls were everywhere, beautiful, delicate scrolls. They filled up the shop from top to bottom, wall to wall, like sand does in an hourglass. The floor was hidden beneath towers of papyrus; even the golden chandeliers that hung elegantly from the ceiling had scrolls stuffed in its solid arches. My eyes were as wide as the mouth of the Sakhmet River, and were curious too. I wondered how anyone could even walk among the scrolls when there was a large chance of damaging the ones on the ground. Are you sure you are up for the job?" I turned around, looking at the shopkeeper for the very first time. She was an old nimmo, wrinkled, with soft creases in her skin. A vivid blue hood was draped over her frail head, topped off with a brilliant red gem sitting on the top. She began making her way slowly towards me. Her posture and stance was furthermost perfect, and her feet seemed to glide as if they strode upon water. She practically walked across the strewn scrolls, barely crinkling the fragile paper. Are you sure you are up to the job?" she repeated monotonously, gazing fiercely at me. I looked away, for I could not keep my eyes locked with hers. For the few seconds that I had glanced at them, I felt pain and deep sorrow within me. Something was just evil about them, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Oh, erm, yes!" I replied, a broad smile on my face. "What must I do?" I glanced at the withered nimmo, whose face remained -disallowed_word-not the one shown here, another more fabulous drawing that is on display in her devianart gallery)! It is extremely beautiful, and we love it a lot. :) Thank you for your time, and I wish you luck for Neopets and the real world. :) Another Note: Thank you the__blue__gallery and staravis for the scroll pixel and the counter! :D Another Note from basketballnsoccer25: No stealing! Yet One Last Note from basketballnsoccer25: If you have any stories or articles that you would like to recommend for the 'Scrollery' section on this petpage, please neomail me! Info to include should be the link to the page with the story, and where on this page it is. Pieces of literature can be on the Neopian Times, petpages, storytelling competitions, NeoAdventures, the Neopedia, and basically anyplace that is located inside Neopets. Awards This Page Has Recieved: On February 1st, 2005, Ivy's Scrolls won the Site Spotlight! We are THRILLED and HONORED to recieve this prestigious award! Thank you to all our fans and friends, and all of my supporters who helped this page be possible! Links to Other Fantastic Sites: Possible Future Developments on Ivy's Page: 1) The story behind Osiri-Ra (petpet) [Status] Thinking up storyline.. 2) 'Toybox' sort of thing near 'Treasure' section [Status] Still pondering whether or not to do it. 3) Some art.. (though I hesitate because of Art Stealers..) [Status] Still pondering whether or not to do it. 4) More of Ivy's Own Personal Stories [Status] Thinking up some ideas... Ivy's Scrolls has been visited by: