Darker than the Night (attn: Tigara)

[Jehaine]

The man that had helped her get away from the guards had been sent out by his group to lead her to the Fortress. None of the Darkfriends from the town were able to channel, let alone Travel, which meant the two would have a long ride ahead of them. Regardless, the prospect of good... career options kept them going, though only the man ahead of her knew their actual destination.

 

The air started to get colder, the muddy roads turned to dirt as they traveled north, always north. Rebecca had had a good cloak with her, but wasn't used to low temperatures like this one. She tsked at the situation though, for the Darkfriend's sake she hoped at least half of what she had been told was true, or the Oath she had sworn would be the most short-lived one of her life. Not that she broke promises easily, far from that. However, if the other party didn't live up to their part of the bargain... well, let's just say she wasn't inclined to either.

 

And so far, she had seen nothing but roads, and now snow. Great. She glared at the man's back, silently wishing he'd hurry up and get them at this amazing Fortress that no one apparently knew was there. Except for the Darkfriends, of course. She clenched her teeth together to stop them from chattering, and glared again as if she could already see her dagger sticking out of the man's back.

 

This had better be good, or there'd be hell to pay...

[Tigara]

Tigara was impatient. He heard through the grapevine that he was supposed to be picking up a new potential dreadlady. They were supposed to be arriving any time now. But blast, he hated waiting.

 

He heard something coming over the hill. He looked up casually from his perch behind a large oak. A wagon with several people. They stopped at the bottom of the hill. This must be them. He stepped out to confront them with his splendor. His long blonde hair flapped in the brezze, as well as his black cloak. he always wore that. It was exactly like the uniform of those cursed "Children of the Light", but black in every way. Mockery.

 

"I suppose you are the one I'm here to gather." Gesturing toward the girl.

 

Tigara Kazim

Dreadlord

[Jehaine]

After having rounded what must have been the twentieth hill so far -- she could swear the man was doing this on purpose, blast him! -- she could see a lone figure waiting a bit further off. Given their location, she assumed he was waiting for them, given that the area was to remote for it to be a coincidence. She wrapped her cloak a bit tighter around herself, rubbed a straf snowflake out of her eye, and looked again.

 

And winced in disgust.

 

'Light, if that's the uniform, i'm going to stab myself. After i stab the person designing it.'

 

While she was fine with wearing black herself, this went way overboard even for a fashion statement. The uniform resembled that of the Whitecloaks so much it was almost annoying. At his reply, she simply nodded at Tigara, not saying anything to prevent a sarcastic undertone sneaking into her words.

[Tigara]

A silent one. Those were always the most dangerous. This one had daggers in her eyes, so he was glad he was physically unable to teach her.

 

"Come here." he said flatly. The girl jumped off the wagon in such a way as to show off her attitude. He just smirked. She's muck more ready for this than he had been at this stage. He had just been an ackward ex-Whitecloak trying not to die from channeling and convinced he had been turned ot the Shadow by channeling. he had come a long was since then.

 

Tig embraced saidin to almsot it's fullest. He didn't quite need full power for this, but it was cutting it close. He skillfully wove Spirit and a silvery line formed in midair, and opened just in front of the Fortress. "Move it, girl, or I may close it before you are through." He smiled at the thought. Such a clean wound. The girl stepped through and he followed behind and closed the Gateway once he was through. They stood on a small hill just before the Fortress.

 

Tigara Kazim

Crazy without the taint

[Jehaine]

Having never seen someone channeling before -- and a man at that -- the feeling of surprise was almost enough to wash out the sarcasm. Almost. Still, as some kind of gate... weaved itself in the air in front of her, she wasted little time walking through. She appreciated the treatment she had been getting: No nonsense, you either kept up or got left behind.

 

Smirking, she suppressed the fond memories of her childhood and stepped through the portal.

 

Once at the other end, she coughed softly despite herself as her lungs still needed to get used to the thick scent of the Blight. Looking around, she saw that everything was rotting, plants and animals twisted with mutations that had plagued them since the day they were spawned. It was warm here as well, and sweat beaded on her face from the sudden switch from searing cold to oppresive heat.

 

Still coughing every once in a while as the scent of the Blight got in her throat, she turned around, waiting for Tigara. She didn't say a word, just waited to see where he'd lead her to next. If anything, the trip had been a lot shorter than it would have been on foot, of that she was certain. She didn't know how the blonde man had done what he did, but one thing she knew for sure.

 

She wanted to master that trick as well.

[Tigara]

The girl was through and the Gateway was closed. Now just a quick stroll over to the Fortress. The girl began coughing, and he assumed it was the Blight getting to her. She would get over it. If she didn’t, then she likely wouldn’t last. There were many who never made it long. Some blew themselves up. Some blew each other up. Some were taken by the Blight, and other failed the tests. He was a lucky one. Maybe she would be, as well.

 

Tigara took the lead and set a quick pace. If there was ever a time to be soft on a fresh recruit, now was certainly not the time. She followed behind, still silent. Maybe she had no tongue. Now that would be pleasant! He found himself chuckling at the thought.

 

The Gates were open and he walked proudly through, as if a hunter with a fresh catch. He observed a class of Acolytes being trained, and they were obviously working with Fire, a Dreadlord’s favorite plaything. He chuckled more as he saw a young boy light his bottom on fire. It was amusing to watch others fail. Yes, failure did entertain.

 

But, the girl was to be tested, so a Dreadlady was necessary. But, typically, a woman could not be found when you need one. He lead the girl all over the Fortress, looking for a woman. “You, boy. Get me a Dreadlady and bring her here.“ he barked at an Acolyte in the mess hall. He sat down and Rebecca followed suit. He waited in silence for about ten minutes. It was then he heard the clicking of footsteps coming from down the hall. Finally, he could get something done.

 

Tigara Kazim

 

 

OOC: I’ll go dig up someone to test you. Ata, probably.

 

[Jehaine]

From behind Tigara, Rebecca suppressed a grin watching her guide's proud walk. Let them think her meek. Let them think her obedient. Let them create the openings she'd use to make them dance to her tune. They would learn their mistake soon enough.

 

She followed the blonde Dreadlord's gaze to a group of others, obviously trainees. Judging by how one of tem lit his pants on fire, she'd have little to fear from them as well. Though she hoped her new allies would be more... efficient in general, the possibilities of her ending up in command, with this sorry bunch as her slaves subordinates did certainly please her. Pity about the smell though, but that was a loss she could afford to take.

 

Seeing her guide sit down, she followed suit, looking around to see if this Dreadlady would be arriving anytime soon. She looked at the group of trainees, now inside the mess hall. Everything would depend on whether or not she'd be able to do that... well, whatever it was Tigara had done on the way here, not to mention those trainees just now.

 

Though she generally was well able to control her emotions, she allowed a hint of nervousness and anticipation seep through to her face, knowing it could very well be taken as a false weakness to exploit. Silently thanking her mother for her Domani training, she softly cleared her throat, only partially pretending the smell was still getting to her.

 

After all, first impressions were important.

[Liitha]

M'bela felt like biting the head of the servant speaking in the lines, he must be new, or if she was bad in luck one of the Mae'shadars had spoken to him, and he actualy wherent ignoring her rank. Walking along the halls she took no chanse, he had turned to quickly for her to get a chanse to ask him, they where on their way to the cellar.

 

As they neared the travel room she started pondering how it must be just her luck, only the Mae'shadars used that room, and judging by the man whomever was not in a good mood. She almost stoped in puzlement as he passed it, then remembered, there was a room now deeper in, around the corner, one set of as to those of lesser rank who had been lucky enough to learn to skim. Her curiosity was peaked now and she followed the man around, he was bowing and hasting away just as she rounded the corner, M'bela looked at the two persons, a man and a girl, asumable a dreadlord and an intiate posible. She slowed her pace and walked over, looking the man into the eyes, then casting a look down at the girl before turning her gaze back to the man, asured he must be the one in charge. "Yes?"

 

M'bela

Greater Dreadlady

[Tigara]

M'bela. Of course it had to be one who had who knows how many years of experience on him. Just his luck.

"This girl needs to be tested. And seeing as I am not a woman, that leaves you." he said with as much indifference as possible. He looked at the girl, and she looked too meek. From the little he heard, she was a cold killer, so this was obviously a front. Whoever had to deal with her had better watch their backs. "Just do the test, and I'll continue on with her after."

 

Tigara Kazim

Dreadlord

[Jehaine]

Rebecca looked from Tigara to M'bela, not quite sure of what all this talk about 'testing' just meant. At first, she had simply assumed she'd have to show her skills with a dagger, but as to why her tester had to specifically be a woman eluded her for a moment.

 

Still, she kept the mask of obedience on her face. Her lungs had by now gotten somewhat used to the smell lingering in the area -- or at least to the extent of being able to breathe normally -- but for now, she'd have to wait and see. The irony of her determining their usefulness to her at the same time they did hers caused a mental chuckle, though she took care in having none of it reach her face.

 

She'd need to settle in a bit more before allowing herself such liberties.

[Liitha]

M'bela turned her eyes to the girl once again, she reached into her pouch and got hold of a small silver leash holding a black opal in the end of it. She looked the girl coldly into the eyes, "I want you to focus on this stone, and the stone alone!" She started swinging the stone back and forth then leting it move as a pendel of its own, slowly seteling into a smaller swing, meanwhile observing the girl to make sure she focused.

 

M'bela smirked as a brief flash showed around the black, before being gone. She looked back  at Tigara "That about the answer you wanted?" The girl could learn, what would become of her was yet to be known, it was to early to measure her potency, and even the most potential intiate may fail training. After geting the afirmative response from Tigara she bowed her head and turned to leave, she wouldnt medle in others buisnis and she had better to do then to use time on intiates.

[Jehaine]

Giving herself a mental shrug, she focused her attention on the stone. It looked like a fairly ordinary thing anyway, and she believed the only threat it could hold was if the girl suddenly tossed it in her face.

 

After watching it rock back and forth a couple of times, she believed she could see a brief flash around the stone, but figured it to be a trick of the light. Still, M'bela and Tigara seemed satisfied enough with the results, so she decided to just go along with it until she knew more about what exactly had been tested just now.

[Tigara]

"Ah, very good." The test had been short, sweet, and simple. Well, perhaps not sweet. Little was sweet in the Fortress and M'bela was not one of them. "Follow me" he said to the girl, who looked slightly confused, as if unaware of what happened. He led her down a long hallways and stopped in front of a stone door that appeared to have no handle. He embarced the Source and deftly wove Earth inot the door to unlock it. Quite a clever invention. It at least keeps the non-channeers out. The door swung open. "This will be your room. You will find a change of clothes in the wardrobe. You will have to make your own light once you learn how too, but it shouldn't take more than a week." He closed the door, but left it unlocked so she could get in and out. Tigara took long strides down the hall. Next stop, Mess Hall for breakfast.

 

Tigara Kazim

[Jehaine]

Rebecca just nodded, looking into her room. Though making her own light would make things easier, she had spent the past couple of months pretending to be dead, and the dead didn't light lamps at night. That, and the fact that most of her father's assassinations took place at night had given her a good night vision.

 

Peeking into the wardrobe, she decided on a set of dark clothing, figuring she'd rearrange the clothing by color once she got a decent light source in there. The few posessions she had on her -- most notably, her daggers -- she hid into her new clothing to prevent them from being stolen. After spending a few minutes trying to find the hidden switch that would open the door, she gave up and simply pushed it open, noting to her satisfaction that in the view the torchlight granted her, her clothes were of matching colors.

 

Pushing the door closed behind her again, she started walking deeper into the Fortress, memorising every step of the way of what would most likely be her new home for a while...

[Tigara]

The Mess Hall was rather empty, since it was later in the morning. He had missed breakfast, so he was going to eat. He picked up a tray and loaded up his plate from the bins of food, and motioned to her to follow suit. He loaded up on eggs and sausages. "This is where you come for your meals. We get all the food that the Trollocs won't eat." He smiled at her shocked expression. "Over in that corner is the water barrel. There are mugs on that rack beside it. Don't waste water here. It takes some work to get the funny taste of the Blight out of it."

 

He grabbed a mug of water for himself and sat down at the nearest table, and Rebecca sat across form him. "So, any questions?"

 

Tigara Kazim

Desperate for amusement

[Jehaine]

Rebecca listened to Tigara's explanation, putting some food on her plate as well. Not too much, since the taste of Blight was thick in the air, but she tried to eat something nonetheless. When Tigara asked her if she had any questions, she nodded, taking a sip of water to wash down the eggs, she crossed her legs as she leaned back a bit in her seat.

 

- "Quite a few actually, but i'll stick to the basics. First off, what did that woman from before just test me on?"

 

Oh, there were other questions on her mind as well. What a Trolloc was, for example, or how anything could survive in here. What was generally expected of new trainees, and what she'd need to be capable of to move on to the next level. But first and foremost, she needed to know what she had to work with, and those questions she would save until a later time.

[Tigara]

The girl didn'y know why she was here? That put a shocked look on Tigara's own face. They didn't tell her? What else won't she know?

 

"The test that woman gave you was to test you to see if you can channel. You passed and will immediately go into training to become a Dreadlady." We eagerly awaited the reaction.

 

 

[Jehaine]

Rebecca simply shrugged at the shocked expression on Tigara's face. She really hadn't been told a lot by that bunch that had led her here, but apparently there was quite a bit she had been missing out on. Still, having passed something felt good, even though she didn't quite know what use it had that she was able to do, except make a stone shimmer or something.

 

- "Ah, good. To be honest, they didn't tell me a lot, i think they assumed too much when i used powder from the Illuminators."

 

She stopped an irritated glare from appearing on her face. Not knowing really was annoying, but at least it fit with the image she had been trying to set up while in the Fortress. She wasn't yet sure if it managed to catch on, but only time would be able to tell, of course.

[Tigara]

"Illuminator's powder? No, the test shows that you can channel, and channeling is much more fun that Illuminator's powder." He embraced the Source and wove threads of Air to pick up their trays and cups and sent them swirling. Next he wove small flows of fire and sent a hald dozen little flames dancing around the dinnerware in the opposite direction. He smiled at her. "And this is just for play. The battle weaves are far more exciting."

 

Tigara Kazim

 

OOC: Ask more questions if you like, or we can end this if you like.

[Jehaine]

Rebecca just stared at the cups and flames dancing around in the air. She did her best in trying to hide her surprise, but didn't know how successful she was at doing so, which perhaps was for the better. Still, there was one question she had been meaning to ask, and one that had been bugging her ever since stepping through that portal.

 

- "Just how long does it normally take someone to learn this stuff?"

 

She hesitated a bit asking the question, as she could imagine all too well every new initiate and their cousins asking it at some point or another. Perhaps even Tigara had, back in the day. Still, she needed to know just how long this was going to take if she was going to make any sort of plan for the future.

[Tigara]

Tigara smiled at the girl's attempt to hide her surprise. It looked like quite a struggle to keep her jaw in place. He released the Source and it felt as if life itself had been denied him.  Yet, it always felt that way.

 

"Well, to be blunt, it will take you years to reach my level. Not as long as those witches take, but it will be around ten years. It's not an easy thing to master, no." He grimaced at his slip of accent. He thought he had been ridden of that! Oh well. "But it's time for you to get some sleep. You're lessons will begin tomorrow and tardiness is not tolerated here...at all."

 

 

Tigara

 

OOC: Done now!

[Jehaine]

Rebecca almost winced when she heard how long it would take. Almost. Though if the average person here took ten years to master it, she would just have to redouble her efforts. Time was a valuable asset for an assassin, whose careers would peak at the same age their body would, and ten years... would take a rather large bite out of what was sspposed to be her prime.

 

Still, it would be nothing a little additional training wouldn't solve. Around ten years likely meant eight or so for what were considered top students. Very well. She'd complete her training in half that time, and ensure she'd be back in the field again before her targets knew it. Now, if only she could get that saidar thing to cooperate...

 

 

Rebecca

Underestimating saidar