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 Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:09 pm
((Wow, again, sorry about my absence! That was quite the read, but thankfully I have caught up! Merc, what a poster you are!))
Mairyela had been on edge for a while now, and she was not sure why. It was as though she could feel a hand on her shoulder around every twist and turn she made through the Tower, but, of course, there was no one around. After the news of the Amyrlin, and the stresses of Romvian's presence, though non corporeal, was getting to her. She had decided on taking a walk through the gardens, then had went into Tar Valon to speak with some of her eyes and ears. They had nothing new to report, which she had though odd in and of itself. Now, tired and none the less stressed, she headed up the stairs towards her office. She knew her new position left no time for herself, and she felt guilty for leaving without a word, but she had hoped it would have been more...productive.
Finally reaching her office, she opened the door to find a piece of parchment laying on her already cluttered desk that she did not remember leaving there. Strolling over, it was obvious that it had arrived by pigeon, as the parchment was rolled tightly, making it hard to unravel. The message was small but to the point. Those at the farm could feel the appending arrival of something terrible, and it made the fine hair on her neck raise. Things were getting out of hand, if even those at the farm were feeling the presence of danger, and she knew this would make keeping Romvian a secret even more difficult. She would most certainly have to discuss this with the Keeper, as it had been her orders to keep the secrecy in the first place. She felt certain that those at the farm would be safer under the Tower's roof, but she wasn't completely sure. If Romvian could snatch the Amyrlin herself from Tar Valon, was it truly any safer than the countryside?
As she went to place the parchment into her desk, she heard the faint flurry of slippers along the hallway. Suddenly an Accepted flew into the room, face slightly flushed from - Mairyela had no doubt - quite the run. She was an older woman, her features reflecting her age, which made her new to the Power, no doubt. Shoulder length blond hair seemed frazzled, and trailed along her face in a mess of gold.
"My apologies for the abrupt interruption, Mistress!" She hurried, making a fast curtsy. "We have been searching for you for quite some time. There is an Aes Sedai sister, of the Gray Ajah, here from the farm. She wishes to speak with you immediately."
Mairyela hid her surprise. No doubt she was here to speak about what was contained within the letter. What surprised her was how quick they were to send a Sister, especially when the letter had just arrived. It had to be quite important.
"Please send our Gray Sister my dearest apologies for keeping her." she told the Accepted. "Please escort her here to my office. I would offer the Library for more comfort, but I am sure she would like the privacy. Also, please send someone to fetch some warm mint tea. Our sister is no doubt weary from her journey." With a quick bow, the Accepted was gone, off to her appointed task.
Sighing, Mairyela lit the fireplace with a quick weave of Fire, which seemed to warm the office almost instantaneously. No doubt the Gray would like nothing more than a warm fire. Placing one of the finer chairs by the new flames, she awaited the arrival of her guest.
((I'm trying to make up for lost time. Sorry about the big post.))
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:46 pm
((S'ok! Glad you're back!))
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:54 pm
The Gray sister, Ariele, was quite pleased when an Accepted came to inform her that Mairyela was waiting in the office. The girl curtsied and led the way. From down the hallway, Ariele noticed another Accepted quickly enter the Mistress's office with a tray of tea. Whoever the new Mistress was, she appeared to be a sensible, and likely courteous person. The first was certainly a trait she needed.
She entered, and politely curtsied-albeit hurriedly-before seating herself in the room, which she noticed was pleasantly warm. "Greetings. I am sorry our first meeting had to be at this hour, about such dire straits." Her eyes drifted to the table, where she saw the letter. She nodded to it. "We sent that a couple of days ago. It likely just arrived. Since then, a Novice went missing." She quickly explained how the girl had been found, rambling about mists, fog, choking, and people with giant reptiles in the field.
"What do you propose? These girls have been sent to the farm for a reason, but they are hardly more dangerous than whatever is going on. We could handle them here, and resume the farm at a later time, as we need, once the problem is solved." Ariele paused, took a sip of the offered tea, and waited. The unspoken question of what exactly WAS going on hung in the air.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:52 pm
Mairyela nodded towards a small table situated next to the fireplace as the Accepted entered her office with the tea she had requested. It had a strong mint aroma wafting from it. Nice and strong, which would no doubt be appreciated. Setting the tea down, the Accepted curtsied and left the room.
No more than a few dozen seconds passed before a young woman entered. She was easily identified as a Gray, and no doubt the Sister whom had requested the meeting. She gave a curtsy as greetings were passed around, then she took a seat. Mairyela listened intently as the Sister informed her of the going's on at the farm. As Ariele described the young Novice's experience and mentions of fog, she grew immediately concerned. Being a Novice, the girl no doubt hadn't a clue as to where she had been, let alone what Tel'ar'an'hoid actually was. Thus she could tell the Sisters to prevent the Novices and Accepted from entering the Dream World. It would be impossible.
Pouring herself a cup of tea, she took a sip as Ariele asked what she thought should be done. It was clear in the Gray Sisters tone, and scent, that she knew something was abound and she wanted answers.
"It is true that the women at the farm were sent there for reasons of their own making, and that they must be penalized, but there has been...a disturbance within the Dream World as of late." she chose her words carefully, as to not make the other too suspicious. Gray's were infamous for finding even the smallest of loopholes within ones wording. "I am not at liberty to say what has become of Tel'ar'an'hoid, as no one is quite sure of the details at this time. An investigation is under way as we speak, but until the issue is resolved, I agree that bringing the women here would be the best course of action. There are experienced Dreamers within the Tower, who can teach the girls how to stay away from Tel'ar'an'hoid until things become clear. Also, it is much more secure within Tar Valon, not only because of our numbers. If this storm that was written within the letter does come to pass, they will be safe here."
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:47 pm
Raznon has been away from the Tower for a long time now. He does not count the days any more than he counts the blades of grass within the wetlands. The Tower guards should have been flourishing now. They did not need him then nor did they need him now. He decided that after another trip into the Dying Grounds he would try to serve the Tower more directly this time. He had heard of male channelers cause problems in a land named Illian and decided to see what the Tower would do about it. It seemed to be a wetlander thing to poke thier noses in things that were especially difficult for most to fix. He did not sneak into Tar Valon as he once did...surprisingly the Tower Guards recongnized him immediatly giving him his title that he had chosen long ago. He left them with a nod and moved along the cobblestone way that lead him to the Tower itself. Entering the Tower grounds did not afford him any real trouble but he was on the ready at all times. His three regular spears where tied behind is back but his white rune covered spear was held in his left hand ready for action. He decided that he would let himself be discovered on the grounds. While he danced with his spears he thought of the past and of those he wondered were still here and who was new.
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:48 pm
((well merc...ill leave it up to you to discover me...and we can begin with the side plot we talked about))
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:20 am
((K, here we go!))
Mercury's argument with Wolf was interrupted by an unexpected knock on her door. It was late, and unusual, but not unheard of for her to be sought out at all hours. She opened it, and was surprised to find Halam, the Swordmaster, at her door. She let him in, and though she offered him a seat, he said he preferred standing.
"I wanted to speak about the Illianer party. I know you would rather not have to send Hawk...and luckily the Light favors us. Raznon has just returned. He is a skilled fighter, unbonded as yet, so no sister would be losing her Gaidin. He should be able to handle the situation, and the messengers are willing to accept him. What say you Mercury?"
Halam had known Mercury for years, and out of habit used her name rather than title when in private.
"Well...it IS true I can't spare to send Hawk at the moment. But none of the other Gaidin selected can channel; since the Illianers said the problem was with channelers, I'm equally reluctant to send them without someone who can see the weaves, to protect themselves and the others. For that reason alone I may need to send him. Markis can handle things here."
"Well, you must also consider Raznon's spear. It is an ang'real of some sort I believe."
Mercury gave him a confused look. She did remember something about a spear but nothing clear. Halam suggested they go see him, and then decide. Without a moment's waste, Mercury and the Swordmaster were headed down the stairs. A Novice ran ahead to inform Raznon.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:29 am
The Gray frowned to herself. "I see...and this problem...the Tower is acting upon it, correct?"
The way the Mistress of Novices talked, it sounded to Ariele to be very dire. For something in the Dream World to so adversely affect someone here in this world? Of course she'd heard of Dreamers with mirrored injuries between the two worlds, but this somehow seemed different. She didn't press the issue however.
"So..Tel'ar'an'hoid. As you command Mistress, they shall be brought back within the week. I will bring them by Travelling. Who or how many amongst them may be Dreamers I do not know however; we shall have to see to it here.
And what of these...giant reptiles she claimed to see Mairyela Sedai? Were they of the Dream World or this world?" she asked, trying to gauge exactly how seriously what had happened to the Novice would affect them.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:37 am
((Just in case I don't get to post for a while, I'll sorta summarize here Raz...if you'd like, you can RP the gaps! ^^))
They reached downstairs, and saw that Raznon was practicing. Halal introduced them to one another. Mercury nodded politely, and bid him good evening, though it was rather late in the night. He was very tall, with dark skin-clearly an Aiel. She looked at his weapons. Four spears, but the one of interest to her was in his left hand. White in color, with strange runes and symbols on it. She wasn't sure of what material it was crafted.
She asked his permission to examine it. He held it out for her, but did not release it from his grip, nor did she attempt to take it into her hands. "Raznon...do you know what this spear does?"
She listened as he explained that it allowed him to see weaves of Power and cut the flows. Nodding, she took hold of the Source, and sent a small flow of Spirit towards the spear tip. It was neatly sliced somehow, and dissipated. She noted that Raznon's eyes followed the flickering wisps of the disappearing weave. It seemed the spear did as he had explained.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:56 am
"Raznon, Swordmaster Halal has said you would not be averse to travelling to Illian. If that is so, then you are welcome to join the other Gaidin also going. If you are willing, you will be their leader, they under your command. I have no doubt your leadership and actions will be in a manner well suited to what is expected of a Gaidin.
However, though you have the spear, I worry that if you are parted from it, you will be at a disadvantage against the enemy channelers. I will place a Tracking Weave, so should it occur, you can easily retreive it."
So saying, she again took hold of the Source, weaving Spirit and Air. She had to place the weave towards the bottom of the spear as the tip was shredding the flows, and even so it was difficult, for the very nature of the ang'real was made to resist the Power. But soon it was done, leaving Raznon with a curious sense of the spear's general location, relative to himself. At the moment he would feel the spear as blending in with where he was, as it was at hand. She had also placed an additional link to herself, so that if need came, she could Find Raznon.
"Please, rest yourself now. You will leave in the morning. The Illianers will be told of your command of the Gaidin. Should you need anything, the barracks are at your disposal. Communications can be sent by pigeon or any other means you see fit, to either myself or the Swordmaster. The Light shine on you and prote-..." She trailed off as she suddenly saw his golden eyes. Wolfkin.
"Raznon...you are a Wolfkin. Then you may also communicate to us by the wolves. Markis, my Warder, Mairyela Sedai the Mistress of Novices, and Alina Sedai are all Wolfkin. You may speak to any of them by the wolves." Her voice became more serious. "However, please, do not tread into Tel'ar'an'hoid. A strange fog called Tel'Dashar is afoot, poisoning Dreamers and Wolfkin alike. The risk to your life is great, and if your visit is seen as trespass, the risk to others is greater, including to the wolves. This you must promise me."
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:58 am
((Okie dokie then...Raz, you're good to go! Tried to split up the posts, so as not to overwhelm you guys...If I goofed up anything in the posts Raz, lemme know and we'll fix it! And come morning, onward story!!))
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:11 pm
(( Ill fill in the gaps first and then Ill continue as you said merc))
Raznon found himself in the company of one of the girls yet to become Aes Sedai. She informed him of the coming meeting between the Keeper and the Swordmaster. Raz gave Mercury Sedai the standard Aiel greeting seeing as how it was habit of a long life in the Three-Fold Land.
Curious after his Power wrought spear he agreed to show the Aes Sedai what it did. Raznon had not had much practice in telling exactly what part of the Power she was extending toward him but never the less he thrust the spear tip into the flow and, pleasing to himself, the flow dissentegrated starting from the part where he touched it all the way back to Mercury Sedai.
Listening to Mercury Sedai explain what was required of him he wondered how the wetlander Gaidin would accept his command over them. At the most he would welcome any challenges to his command but to actually use the "rights" of a wetlanders command would make him taste bile for the next few weeks or so. He decided to treat them as any Aiel would treat any Aiel that would follow him and just assume the role of a chief. He winced at what would happen if any Aiel saw what he was doing but collected his expressions before his face slipped any further.
He nodded at everything that Mercury Sedai told him but the last thing she told him threw him completely off...he remembered being told he was able to communicate with the wolves here but had never recieved any training with it. He decided that he would deal with that as it would come. He could now feel a vague awareness of his spear but since it was so close there was little in the way testing the Power's weave upon him without casting the spear away from him. He hoped he would never need it. In the far corner of his mind he felt another presence...but it was more then one...almost like a one of many kind of feel but he could not grasp it for long. Deciding to put that in the back of his mind he waited till Mercury Sedai was done speaking.
"I will do as you ask Mercury Aes Sedai...and I will use all of the towers resources that I can think of to accomplish this mission. Unless you need me for something else at the moment I will take my leave. I will also take Swordmaster Halal aside if that is permitable so that he can fill me in on the specifics. May you always find shade and water."
After moving away from the Aes Sedai he thought to himself that she looked good for the time that he had been away and, of course, Wolf as protective of her as always.
He listened to the wetlander tell him of what was happenning specifically and began to think about what to do. ((If you could make his part for me that would be great.)) He released the wetlander to his own duties and went about the Tower attending to his own preparations. Night had fallen by the time he had finished. It was a brisk night so he decided to sleep under a tree in the Tower courtyard. Sleep came easily to him but he was only asleep just beneath the surface and just enough to revitalize himself. He remained aware of what was transpiring around him in the night.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:11 pm
At the Sisters question, Mairyela nodded, keeping a sigh internally. She should have known that she would not be able to fool the woman. It was clear by her change in scent and aura that she knew something must be wrong on a larger scale than was being told to her. The woman had a keen sense, and the Gray Ajah was lucky to have her wit.
"All measures are being taken by the Tower as we speak, spearheaded by the Keeper herself. Trust me when I say the matter will be dealt with at all costs." She hoped it would not have to go so far. "As for the beasts in the Dream World, I cannot say which world they originate from. The woman may have accidentally walked into someones dream, a nightmare as it would have been, or she may have truly seen something corporeal of our own world. Perhaps from a land foreign to our own. Who knows what the world may hold..." she let the question hang as she took a sip from her tea. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire, which made the room seem eerie. Not even birds could be heard, even with her sharp ears.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:06 pm
Halam nodded as Mercury walked away, and then turned to Raznon. "Earlier today, there was a group of messengers from Illian. They say that their ships are being attacked without reason. And by channelers. They don't know yet if they are male or female channelers, or even if they are from the Continent, or perhaps Sea Folk. In any case, they requested that we aid them, saying that it is the Tower's responsibility to protect them from rogue channelers.
They themselves picked out the Gaidin who they wanted, amongst those present at the meeting. They also chose Hawk, but of course he cannot leave the Keeper at such short notice, even with Markis recently returned. In his place, I suggested yourself. You are capable of handling any matters which may arise, and your spear will aid you against the channelers." Halam himself had no clear idea of what being a Wolfkin meant, so he steered away from bringing that up, not wanting to seem rude.
"To my understanding, all you have to do is stop the channelers from attacking, and find out who is at their command, and why. Except that you do not harm the innocent, it seems you are free to go about it as you wish. I believe you have enough weapons, but if you feel you require anything, the armory is at your disposal. Good night, Raznon." So saying, he took his leave.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:20 pm
Ariele finished her tea. "Thank you Mistress. It is late, I shall take my leave. I will return to the farm, and bring the girls tomorrow, sometime at evening, so as to keep the disruptions of their studies to a minimum."
She stood, curtsied, and politely left. Crossing to the area for Travelling, she opened the gate, and left the Tower behind her. She came out in the woods behind the farm. The sisters here never channeled such big weaves in front of the girls if they could help it. Some of them might try it themselves.
As she walked back, the wind blew and rustled some leaves. It sounded oddly like hissing at times, but she paid it no mind. Suddenly she paused, and turned back. Walking off to the side, she glanced down. There was an animal track, but it was rather large. Obviously not a herbivore's. Her tracking skills were poor however, so she marked the location, and made a note to have one of the sisters with Gaidin come check it.
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