Daes Dae'mar Lesson #4

[Phelix]

The answers the girls had given in the last class pleased Gera, as had the conversations she had had with the girls in the Library about their essays. They were starting to think like players of the Game, not just girls from a variety of backgrounds. Today, she would make them think again.

 

Once they were all in the room, she began just as she had the previous lesson. “Today’s situational question is different. You find yourself as the Advisor to a young Queen of Andor who took the throne unexpectedly when her mother choked to death on fish bones. Her death is not entirely accepted as being accidental. The girl is only 14, and her mother was young herself, so the girl is far from ready to rule. The Amyrlin has directed you to do all you can to protect the power of the throne, especially from the grasping hands of the girl’s father and from the High Seat of the House that most strongly opposed her mother. How would you go about fulfilling the Amyrlin’s direction? Again, please describe your initial actions, the possible reactions of other players, and then your next moves.”

 

Gera sat down to think through the situation herself. As with any situation in the Game, there was no single right answer... just possibilities and actions. Moves, counter moves, and yet more moves. The Game only concerns success and failure, and each player achieves those in different ways. Of course, some moves will achieve success more often, while others will fail more frequently.

 

When the girls were ready, Gera began calling on them at random.

 

OOC: Please write out your novice’s thoughts about the question, and then write about how she was selected to speak in front of the class and give her response to the situation.

[Myrenna]

Auriane hurried into the classroom occupied by the Accepted Gera. She was very nearly late. Last night, after dinner, she had met in the library with Gera and five other girls. It was a small group and they had had some very interesting discussions -- it was a bit like tutoring. They went over many more hypothetical situations in the library. Of course Gera wasn’t the best teacher, but she was good enough. She was obviously displeased about the essay’s late arrival, but she had seemed somewhat understanding, at least, when Auriane told her the reason. She would not like to hand in a shoddy piece of work.

 

Arriving at today’s class, Auriane smiled to herself -- it was odd how she was starting to enjoy the class, now, after she had so dreaded it mere days ago. She sat down in her usual seat, said “Hello” to her freckly friend, and waited for the lesson to begin. It seemed they were to think about another hypothetical situation.

 

“You find yourself advisor to the young Queen of Andor, who took the throne unexpectedly when her mother choked on fishbones. Her death is not entirely accepted as being accidental. The girl is only fourteen, and her mother was young herself, so the girl is far from ready to rule. The Amyrlin has directed you to do all you can to protect the future of the throne, especially from the grasping hands of the girl’s father and from the High Seat of the House that most strongly opposed her mother. How would you go about fulfilling the Amyrlin’s direction? Again, please describe your initial actions, the possible reactions of other players and then your next moves.”

 

Hearing this from the Accepted, Auriane pursed her lips slightly. It was a difficult question -- nobles and rulers confused her slightly. Her first thought was that the girl should find a husband, perhaps a slightly older man from another powerful House to aid her as she learned more of ruling. She would need to be surrounded by teachers, especially her Aes Sedai advisor. She scribbled some semblance of notes, but her thoughts were not even particularly clear on this matter. She had not fully thought it through when Gera asked her to the front to speak about her ideas.

 

She stepped to the front of the class, trying not to let her nerves show. Why should I be nervous? I’ve been here much longer than most of the other girls, Auriane thought to herself. She inwardly reprimanded herself for dawdling and then spoke up. “The situation is a very difficult matter, of course,” she began. “The wisest course of action would be to surround her with loyal teachers who had only her best interests at heart. While nobles are often slippery,” she trailed off slightly as her statement was answered with a grunt from a pinch-faced girl at the back of the class. Giving the girl a sharp look, Auriane continued. “While nobles are often slippery, those in Andor are not as expert in the Game as those in Cairhien. A Tower initiate would of course be able to determine their loyalties. Since the main threats to her crown are coming from her father and one powerful House, I propose that she find a suitor.” She glanced around the classroom, seeing one or two shocked faces. “While fourteen may be young for a noble Andoran, it is not unheard of. I believe this is a valid plan because in finding a husband of another powerful House, she would join two powerful Houses and strengthen her own position. Being married, she would be less culturally dependant on her father, and he would lose whatever control over her he had held. To avoid scandal, the young Queen’s suitor must be also young, I propose late teens to early twenties. At this age, he would be knowledgeable and experienced, yet young enough to maintain a relatively healthy marriage.”

 

She walked back to her seat in the silent classroom. Auriane thought that some of the girls had very much disapproved of her proposition, yet she simply could not think of another approach. She hoped she did not sound too “rural” to the other girls, and to Gera. Part of being an Aes Sedai was to make difficult decisions from which many would shy away.

[poetstorm]

Caillean walked into class calmly clutching her books and notes with a quick smile to her classmates. After the previous night in the library as well as her overnight cramming session the night before she was at least beginning to feel she had a grasp on the subject. It was kind of like a puzzle. Everything you did or didn't do had a rection which set other actions into motion kind of like branches of a tree fanning out all different options and paths. She was surprised to find her opinion of the class had warmed a bit though she still resented some of the cold hearted decisions made in Daes Dae'mar.

 

 

“Today’s situational question is different. You find yourself as the Advisor to a young Queen of Andor who took the throne unexpectedly when her mother choked to death on fish bones. Her death is not entirely accepted as being accidental. The girl is only 14, and her mother was young herself, so the girl is far from ready to rule. The Amyrlin has directed you to do all you can to protect the power of the throne, especially from the grasping hands of the girl’s father and from the High Seat of the House that most strongly opposed her mother. How would you go about fulfilling the Amyrlin’s direction? Again, please describe your initial actions, the possible reactions of other players, and then your next moves.”

 

Light, just when she was feeling confident, Accepted Gera throws out a very tangled puzzle like this. Caillean absently nibbled on the end of her quill in thought. Goodness, this is a mess. What to do? What to do?. She broke it into pieces. First there was the young girl herself. It was very important that she be willing to follow advice. Then there was the father. She had a few ideas on that one. Quickly she scribbled some notes before being called up.

 

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. At least she wasn't as nervous as last time. Maybe she was getting better at this...just maybe. "The first thing to be concerned with is that the young girl will be biddable and amenable to advice. All efforts must be made to gain her trust. This is because she had to appear competent and able to rule. She must be given all the best teachers you can find as well. "

 

"As for her father, if arrangements can be made to send him away on important matters of state, that he would be too embarrassed to refuse then all the better. Spreading rumors that he hopes to take the Sun throne, and agitating public opinion in secret about a man on the throne would help to. Public opinion of him must be tarnished if it can be arranged, and the girl has to look like a suitable ruler to keep the throne. The more noble families you can lead to her side the better. If her father is outnumbered he will be less likely to try anything."

 

Hoping her answer was satisfactory she took her seat and waited with curiosity for the next girl to come up.