Those Who Come Before - Seanchan, to me!

[Winter Mist]

~Ruan~

 

The pristine oaken hulls shone dully in the low hanging sun.  Not yet arisen from its bed, the sun would eventually speed them on their way with fair weather and, the Light willing, swift currents.  It would take time to get to their destination, but they were ready now. 

 

The High Lady Ruan Andradem Kore Paendrag, Daughter of the Nine Moons and leader of the Return, looked out to see through the spyglass and focussed on the horizon.  No land mass would be visible for a long time yet, but it gave her a sense of purpose to look so far ahead.  She withdrew it from her eye and held it by her side, reluctant to give it back to the captain even if she held the right to retain it.  Orange beams of sunlight strained through the banks of cloud, fading to salmon pinks and the duskier purples where the night struggled to keep its hold.  Dim stars twinkled overhead in the mass; Ruan made the symbol for good fortune with her thumb and forefinger and gestured in the hope of smooth sailing.  May the Lady of the Shadows not rouse herself to their number yet, she silently prayed. 

 

Final preparations and checks were still being made as Ruan walked along the harbour wall to the gangplank to the Hailene.    The most prestigious ship of the fleet would naturally carry her.  Barrels of food, carefully preserved, would stand the test of the journey, as would the hard biscuits normally carried by ships to further eke out provisions.  Not that such deprivation would affect her.  No one would dare give the Daughter of the Nine Moons anything less than the highest of anything!  And she would not deny it either; the position was hers by right of birth, and the blood spilt by her hand had cemented that right as her own.

 

Small cracks began to appear in the clouds overhead.  The sun would be breaking through at any moment.  Those to accompany her awaited the final orders to board; there was little remaining to do now.  On her words, the Return would begin and on her second words the lines would be cast and the harbour at Seanchan put behind them.  She should check that all of the Damane had been brought aboard safely and kennelled and that there were no issues with the Sul’dam.    Most likely such issues would not be brought to her attention anyway.  Ruan regarded a seabird flying over the boat, dipping its wings briefly in some sort of salute before diving cleanly into the ocean.  It was a good omen. 

 

She returned her gaze to the deck.  At the far end, the handlers were loading the Raken on board; they would be so very essential to the Return.  Able to fly easily for long distances carrying scouts and messengers, most of the distance communication would be enabled by these winged darlings.  She rather fancied having an exotic, one day.  Effectively everything here was her property as she was in command, but it was not the same as raising it oneself.

 

On the far side the soldiers were drilling, preparing themselves for the inevitable resistance they would encounter on the mainland.  A few of those hardy souls had caught her eye in training and she felt a few field promotions were in order.  As soon as the sun sank behind the horizon this very night she would pen the necessary words to install some of them in her personal guards; Deathwatch by name.  The experiences received by a new recruit would be far greater than a lifetime spent in the somewhat protected expanses of the Court of the Nine Moons.  Fighting battles was a completely different exotic to protecting the nobility from a dagger in the back, or settling minor land conflicts by open displays of force or object lessons.  Besides, it would improve morale, and there would likely be casualties even of those with the calibre of the Deathwatch.

 

An idea occurred to her.  No commander would dare let his or her unit become idle or complacent on such an important mission as this, but she felt morale needed to be wooed to her personally, as a figurehead, rather than the Seanchan as a whole.  They were proud, and rightly so, but Ruan Andradem Shoa Paendrag did not know how much of that pride was for her mother, the Empress, might She live forever.  Tournaments would be held, and the winners further tested and promoted.  Daily swims would be encouraged as well as demonstrations of fighting ability.  They would acquiesce; they had no choice, but it would be for the good of all.  It would be for the Empire.

 

She raised her voice.  Every face turned to look at her, even as their downcast eyes did not catch her visage.  Every soul stopped what they were doing and looked at her.  Time for a speech, she decided, and then time to leave.  Time to put Seanchan behind and reclaim what had been denied.  It was time.

 

“Until now, those ignorant savages have occupied what is rightfully ours.  You know why we load bales and barrels onto so many ships.  Now, we return to take back the lands so vehemently denied to our ancestors!  Now, we are ready. 

 

Do not think you are so little to be noticed.  Everyone will have his or her piece of glory in the coming days.  New names will be recorded by our scribes and taken to the Empress, might She live forever!  Yes, there will be danger, but nothing good is ever easy! 

 

For those that demonstrate bravery in the face of adversity there will be riches and there will be glory, prestige and a new name.  There will be many lands in need of new leaders, all united under the Ever-Victorious banner and I mean for as many of those that deserve to claim one.  Every man, woman and child has their part to play and by the Nine Moons I intend to use you all, but I will reward you handsomely. 

 

Now we sail to glory!”

[Sylvirci]

Saehchan,

 

Lt. Fyruk was aboard the Daughter of the Nine Moon's, may she live forever!, flagship Hailene training with his squad of the Ever Victorious Army. They were good men, every one of them, but he was a newer Lt. and felt he had to prove himself. So with the grace from years of dancing the sword forms he flowed through the forms as he sparred against his squad. He went from Cat Crossing the Courtyard to Cat on Hot Sand to Lion on the Hill to Lightning of Three Prongs to Low Wind Rising. Then he sensed something, holding his free hand palm up to signal a stop to sparring he turned to the prow of the ship.

 

There she was! The Daughter of the Nine Moons, may she live forever! She was beautiful, as one of the Blood often was and was about to speak. That was the commotion, everyone bowing or going prone to await Her words. He Folded the Fan and bowed his head, clasping his hands together before him. He was covered in sweat and shirtless, but none of that mattered to him as he waited for his Lady to speak.

 

As he stood there he remembered his first meeting with Her. It was only a few days ago that he had been just a typical da'covale dancing sword forms for his then Lady. Then the fighting broke out and he killed two Death Watch guards belonging to the Daughter of the Nine Moons, may she live forever!, while trying to defend his own Lady. Needless to say he was overcome by the Death Watch after their initial shock wore off and was badly injured. He was surprised by Her twice that day, once when he awoke to find himself healed and again when She promoted him to Lt. in the Ever Victorious Army with promises to become one of Her Death Watch guards if he proved himself worthy to Her.

 

Even now he was proud of earning Her favor! It showed in his very stance, head appropiately bowed and his body defiantly erect! He owed that pride and sense of worth to Her and the Captain of Her personal Death Watch. Something he would never forget and he would protect Her and Her honor with his dying breath. He glanced at Her out from under his brow and noticed the sun rising behind Her. It made a beautiful sunrise that paled in comparison to how angelically beautiful it made Her silhouette. One day my Lady I will serve You as one of Your Death Watch! I will not disappoint or bring you sei’taer!

 

Then She spoke and his heart raced at the idea of being able to earn a new name for his actions in the soon to be Hailene. Of course the only way he wanted to earn that new name was by becoming one of Her personal guards! A Death Watch! Oh how he prayed for the day he would be given the Ravens and a new name!

 

Upon Her command anchor was raised and they were on their way! With high spirits and a lot of pride and love for his Lady, he turned back to the men of his squad. " Do you hear that men!? New names, sei’mosiev, and it will all be taken before the Empress!, may she live forever! Now we train twice as hard so we will crush the thieves and take back what belongs to the Empress, may she live forever!" With that he charged back into the men with Unfolding the Fan followed by Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind.....

 

Fyruk Da'covale, Seanchan Lt. for the Ever Victorious Army!

[Jehaine]

Amyante felt butterflies in her stomach at hearing promises of a new name. Though that wasn't why she had set out to be a sul'dam in the first place, there was a possibility of her childhood dream to come true. Oh, there were very few Seanchan that didn't dream of a new name, but her gaze went towards the Raken cages again. Being Raised would allow her her own raken. Being Raised would allow her to permanently assign Kizuna to her. Being Raised...

 

Shaking her head, she managed to bring herself back to the present. Being granted a new name was all good and well, but she still had a very long way to go, and she'd effectively have to compete with the entire Ever Victorious Army for it. Giving herself a brief nod, she slung her pack over her shoulders and boarded one of the ships, fully intending to track down her childhood friend again.

 

 

Amyante

sul'dam without damane

 

=====

 

Kizuna listened to the speech, arms crossed as she forced herself to remain silent. Though currently unassigned to a sul'dam, she had learned that being overheard when stating her thoughts about the Empire could prove potentially fatal, even to damane. She knew of at least one girl who had lost her tongue because of it, and kept her mask of complete indifference on at all times.

 

"A new name? Yeah, i'll give them a new name. Tuli perhaps, or Chen."

 

Kizuna smirked at the thought of seeing the entire Army with leashes around her necks. As a damane, her name depended mostly on the sul'dam's current mood, and imagining the tables turned lifted her spirits somewhat. Light, but she hated those one-syllable names!

 

 

Kizuna

damane without sul'dam

[Liitha]

ooc its a death offence or something of the like to look upon the face of the empress or the dot9m (not to mention they always more or less wears veils), and Jehaine you wrote your own raken, instead of your own damane in one sentance ;)

 

Sabelle relished in the moist morning air, the air was still grey as she flew in towards the ships, she would have to circle untill there was enough ligth to safely land on the Tsorovan'dieb, the vice-flagship of the Corenne fleet. She slowly stroke a hand up against the neck of Shar'sei, finaly she deemed it safe to land, and slowly she gave the signal for her companion to start the fligth in against the raken deck of the big ship, the landing was not gracefull with the limited place to come to an halt, but it went as smooth as could be expected none the less for the circumstances. Sabelle slid down of the back, and then lead her raken off to the side, it seemed some 2 others had already arived the nigth before, and to keep balance of the ship she went to the oposite rail. It would be important to keep the midstrip of the deck clear for landings and take off's, she looked down to the maindeck where the crew was already shufeling about.

 

But where was the hands who where to help with the raken, she was already fishing the dark cloth out from the bag behind her sadle, she didnt like that she had had to burden him with the weigth, but with preparations happening as they did it was the easiest way to ensure that she had a cover avaliable. She spoted one of the morat asigned to one of the sleeping raken and called him over, shortly ordering him to get hold of some of the help hands or another morat and come help her. She looked conserned to the rising sun as time passed, and was about to turn and go look for the man when he returned with two helpers, with their aid she managed to get the cloth draged over the raken and fastened to the deck with bolts. Walking around she lifted a flick and looked in, her proud raken did not seem to happy, he never was but he had adjusted to this custom long ago even with how it trapped him. She sighed and ordered one of the helpers to get him some water, then walked down bellow the deck to get an oversigth of the ongoings. She was one of the lead exotic handlers on the ship, and even if not directly in charge she felt it nesicary to check that the beast stored beneath the flying deck was properly secured, if nothing else then for the safety of the raken. She walked through the dark room untill she came to the door opening into the kennels, their portion of the damane was stored here. While not showing it, she felt a sligth unease walking through the room, normaly as a morath'raken she would have walked back up to the deck, and then down to the maindeck from the flying deck, but she had been curious, so she took the way past the kennels though it was with relif she opened the door out to the maindeck. The high value of the damane, and the rank of the sul'dam ment that they had the privilege of keeping their kennels closest to the maindeck, so they wouldnt have to cross through the beast section, it made it unfortunatly though a hazle for all the other handlers who had to climb their way up to the flying deck and then back down to the back section, unless you where a flyer of senior rank, it was the only ones close enough rank wise to be allowed cross through's.

 

When she steped outside the sun was shining on her face, and she looked up to the sky, it was a fabulous sigth, raken and to'raken coming in to land on the ships who had flying decks, and then the smaller boats back and forth to ship cages of other beast. She heard a heavy thump behind her and turned around, looking up she saw a to'raken land, she smiled, while she had never ridden this, she knew it by name, a famous team there, and the only to'raken on their ship. The rest of their deck would be filled up with senior raken, as a vice ship it was mostly high ranking officers who was on board. She looked over towards the flagship, there was hectic activety even there. Who knew she migth get a chanse to set foot on the deck, as the runing up ship they would stay close in her wake all the way, and exchanges was quite likely for dinners and other activeties and meetings.

 

Her contemplation was broken short though by her growling stumock and she descided it was time she found her living arangements, as far she knew she would be sharing room with another der'morath'raken, which was a step up from sleeping in the common sleeping quarters. She never had liked the lack of place on ships leading to arangements of logic where not everyone could have their own rooms. She missed the privacy, though it was better she asumed then the handlers who often ended up sleeping in the halls of the stables, or on the decks under the wings of raken. As minor blood at least that had never been an option to her even when she was only in training. She finaly found someone who could show her her room and take an order for food, having flewn throughout the night she fell asleep shortly after finishing the meal.

 

 

[Jehaine]

OOC: I know. Amy hasn't been assigned a damane yet (not Kizuna) and she always wanted to be a morat'raken since she was little. She became a sul'dam, which is nice too, but yeah... It was intentional ^^;

[Tigara]

The sea breeze blew past Genevive and Gwenny, who both stood against the railing. Gwenny was always most comfortable on deck where she could see the ocean. She was one of those "Sea Folk", so they didn't really know what else to do with themselves if not on the water. Genevive studied the dark girl as she gazed out towards the sunrise on the horizon. She had been very easy to train. She came here knowing a good many things with the Power, so there was mostly just obedience to wok on. The girl was surprisingly submissive. She ran her fingers through the girl's dark wavy hair. Gwenny's hair was very silky, so this was one of hr favorite pastimes. It calmed her.

 

She looked eastward. They were finally returning to take claim to the land her ancestors claimed. That she will now claim for the Empress, may she live forever. She and Gwenny together. This could make her a dur'sul'dam. That had been her dream since she had been told she was capable. A grin crept across her pouty mouth as she dreamed of the conquest to come. It would indeed be glorious.

 

Genevive Ra'tan

 

~**~

 

Gwendolyn gazed out of the horizon. She longed to be back on her ship under the wing of her teacher. One could say she was still in shock over the events of a few days ago. It must be only a week. She had been weaving the winds with Shamele and Dayana when one of the dreaded ships with square sails appeared out of the fog to the north. Things happened so fast that she wasn't sure what happened. All she knew was that the ship was spared and everyone in it, but she, the Windfinder, and the other apprentice had been taken aboard the strange ship and been turned into "damane". The word was strange to her, but it was basically a slave who could weave the winds and other things of that sort. The 'a'dam' she wore was very uncomfortable, but it hurt very badly to touch it, or misbehave, or do anything Genevive didn't like. She learned very quickly to do as told. She had never been good at tolerating pain. Her sisters were much stronger than she. She always envied them. One thing she knew. She was not going to forget her name. No matter how much she was called Gwenny or Gwendolyn, she would remember. She was Zephyr dur Northwave.

 

She really didn't know what was happening. She just did as told and asked no questions. But her observations told them they were sailing straight for the Shadow Coast. What would these 'Seanchan' be doing on the Shadow Coast? What were the shorebound getting themselves into now?

 

Gwendolyn (aka Zephyr dur Northwave)

 

~**~

 

A raken hovered above the clouds, gliding with a unmistakable grace. Craytos hated ships, so he went out to fly as much as possible. He was usually scouting ahead of the ominous fleet that was going to reclaim the land that was rightfully theirs. He was honored to be picked to go. Rake were essential to the conquest. He would end up transporting people and essential supplies. It was truely an honor.

 

He prodded his raken ahead and lowered his altitude. He wanted to see the land ahead of time. After a while, he saw a dark figure on the horizon. It appeared to be a long peninsula sticking out of the main landmass. No wait, not a peninsula but a chain of small islands. To the north and to the south there were more islands, but they were unimportant at this point. They could easily be taken once they controlled the mainland. He wasn't sure that his raken could make it back to the ship if he stayed out much long, so he made a sharp turn and headed back to the ship. This would change history, he just knew it.

 

Craytos Sturm

Morat'raken

[Liitha]

Sabelle stood looking up into the sky, the sun was up and Shar'sei was restless under his covering. She had spent most at the day beside it ligthly taping his nose under the cover, and making sure he drunk. She looked to the skies, she longed to be up there, she smiled as she saw another raken cross to the side of the ship, and raised her hand in the air in greeting.

 

She turned her face towards Shar'sei again, "tonight boy, I promise, tonight we will fly the skies as soon as its safe for you." She brushed some snow of the reiling to her side and looked across the ocean towards the flagship, it was a beauty for sure.