Buried in Books and Staring at Shelves (Attn: Mystica) (Ajah Rp)

[Mystica]

She hid her grin as the girl posed her questions. Sipping her tea, Carina mused for a bit over the excitement in Willemi's voice as she asked about the creation of new weaves and experiments. It was as obvious as the noon sky that the girl wanted to start those experiments yesterday. A dangerous path, without the proper self discipline and humility in one's own abilities to balance out eagerness and curiosity. True, many Browns would gladly step into a box with a venomous snake just to study the animal and call their deaths worth the prize so long as they could pass whatever they learned on to the future. But as Head she had to look out for the well being of her Sisters. They couldn't afford foolish losses. The world needed them too much. She put her cup back on it's saucer and locked her eyes with the girl in front of her.

 

"At this point in time, child, I can only confirm that knowledge is indeed found both through studying of books as well as through experimenting. Once you gain the shawl, you will be instructed in these matters regardless the Ajah of your choice, for it is not only Browns that do so. Of course, each Ajah focusses on those elements that are closest to their Ajah's core, but the Browns have no such limitation in their range. Experiments can be extremely dangerous, however. Not a few Sisters have been killed, or worse burned themselves out, because of them. Depending on the nature of the experiment more or less freedom will be given in the research of matters, to limit the risk of harming yourself and others."

 

"New weaves are discovered sometimes, yes, though in most cases that happens more by happenstance than by design. In the rare occasions Sisters do try to create a new weave on purpose, what they create more often than not has a different result than the one they anticipated. Therein too lies danger, of course." She smiled at the worried looks of the girl and let the smile touch her voice.

 

"You needn't worry, Wilemi, we won't let you jump into the deep sea without proper protection. However, the best protection a Sister will always have is her own intellect. A knowledge of oneself, one's own limitations and boundaries is key to keeping yourself and all those around you safe. As you have experienced many times by now, self discipline is one of the highest values a Sister must possess and our initiates are ingraned with it from the day they enter the Tower. That, above all else, you must master in all it's forms. Only then will you become ready to step into the field of experimentation."

[Arani Lepenque Aes Sedai]

(OOC: Sorry this sucks. This is my first RP post in quite a while.)

 

Wilemi listened carefully to what Carina was saying, drinking in every word, committing to memory the day she had plucked up enough courage to ask a sister about the Ajah she had so admired since her arrival at the tower, and the Ajah that had been the top of her aspirations as a novice and Accepted. She understood the dangers of experimentation, or thought she did, but she kept the warning at close hand in case she would be tempted to try it. She, of course, did not want to be burnt out, left an empty shell, a shade of what she once had been and what even less of what she could have been. Wilemi decided to wait until she became Aes Sedai, and instructed in such Aes Sedai methods before she did anything hazardous and untoward. If she wanted to help the people, she would have to help herself first, by being more thoughtful and less impulsive, although impulsive was not exactly a word that you could use to describe anyone like Wilemi.

 

But Wilemi also wanted to ask something. Something important and pertinent to her. “Carina Sedai, if our duty is to arm the world with knowledge, besides keeping the world’s greatest library, should we not also help to educate the world with such knowledge? What is the use of arming the world with knowledge if the world does not have the knowledge, or even the knowledge of the existance of such knowledge. Might we not help the world better if some of us went out to help the world, with the aid of some of the other Ajahs?”

[Mystica]

"That is a very good questions, child." Carina said, increasingly pleased with the intelligent questions and remarks the girl shot at her. "You are right, of course. Knowledge is at it's best when it serves a purpose and there can be no greater purpose to it than being spread to those that would welcome it. But there in also lies the challenge. See, Wilemi, while we of the Brown consider knowledge to be an ultimate necessity you will come to realise that people do not always welcome it." She smiled at the incredulous look from the girl. "Oh yes, you would be surprised by the number of people that would dismiss knowledge of that which they do not know yet. For to gain that knowledge, one must first possess the necessary open mind to realise that there are still things one does not know. Or, even more difficult for most to do, accept that one's own knowledge may be wrong or incomplete. This is especially the case with those higher up the social ladder. Pride, ignorance, supersition, social pressure, fear, all of those things can block a person from welcoming new information."

 

She refilled their cups and took a sip before continuing. "You might say that the Tower could force their knowledge on the world, and that would certainly be possible. But that would also hold a very real danger, as no one likes to be forced into anything. Sometimes, of course, the forcing is necessary when the greater good is at stake, but the method is crude and usually only lasts so long as the pressure is on. Only to be disguarded the moment the enforcer's back is turned. And then there is knowledge that is so dangerous that it must be distributed with extreme care, for not everyone is able to handle it as it should be handled. People can do incredibly foolish things, usually due to missunderstanding the facts they know, be it by superstition, personal ambition or geniun naivite, but the result could be devestating for all."

 

Taking a moment to let the information sink in, Carina got up and summoned a novice to fetch them both something to eat from the kitchens below. She walked back over and said, "The Tower has always shared what knowledge it felt opportune to be shared with the right persons. Quite a bit of what we know is kept 'Sealed to the Shawl', for the world is full of opportunistic and easily manipulated folks that would turn knowledge into disaster. Finally, there is also the matter of maintaining the Tower's status within the world. We are looked at by all as a source of knowledge, wisdom and intellect and while many may consider us a necessary evil, they at least consider us necessary. That in turn enables the Tower and the Sisters to work within the world and do what we must to protect it from itself and the Dark."

[Arani Lepenque Aes Sedai]

Wilemi smiled slightly at the compliment. It was rare that she was praised, quiet as she was. She did not mind not being praised, but she liked someone to do so every now and then. Wilemi listened to Carina's words, trying and, apparently, failing to conceal her incredulity at there being people who did not want to know more about the world and the people about them. But as she considered the attitude of people to the White Tower, the more she felt that the world, being mistrustful in general about the White Tower, even if they did rever it, also did not trust whatever the White Tower did. Although the White Tower had done much good in the world, for example, reminding them of the dangers of the Shadow, there was, in her opinion, much to be done still. Carina Sedai then stood up and sent for tea before continuing. Wilemi listened intently, trying to pick out information that would be useful later on.

 

So as she sat, listening to Carina, undoing the bun of hair on her head because her scalp was starting to itch, she partially hid her eyes as she went through what Carina had said. Finally, when Carina finished, Wilemi shook her mind to clear itself slightly, and went through what Carina had said again. There was something in her speech that made her pause and think for a moment. Finally, when the novice Carina had sent for tea had returned and left with a curtsy, Wilemi said slowly. "Carina Sedai, although I agree with much of what you said, there is much that the common people can learn from us. Like, for example, history. We have some of the best historical records the world has in this age. We perhaps, could prevent more wars by educating the people about such things. It would be better, in my opinion, for people to know their own mistakes so that they won't make such mistakes so easily. It would help in lessening conflicts over the years. People shouldn't just rely on Aes Sedai to stop them when they go too far. The prevention of war by the people I think, is better in the long run than Aes Sedai running around trying to defuse tensions instead."

 

"After all, Carina Sedai, some of the facts that are taught," Wilemi went on, her voice lowered so that people outside would not hear, "imply that Aes Sedai cannot be everywhere at once, as Aes Sedai could not prevent the outbreak of war many times. As such, we might not be able to prevent a war before it starts. Would it not be better for the common people not to make such mistakes so that Aes Sedai would not be so pressured to defuse tensions around the land?"

 

"That," Wilemi said, looking at Carina, "is my take on the matter, Carina Sedai."

[Mystica]

Carina nodded, recognising again the common mistake Accepted made when it came to sharing knowledge. They all seemed to be under the impression that the White Tower could just wave it's hand and all would be well. They totally disreguarded human nature, until it was pointed out to them.

 

"Most, if not all, information on past wars is known to the common people and most of what is not known to them is known to the rulers of the individual countries. But people don't always use their knowledge wisely, Willemi. The thing with people is that over time, they tend to remember only fragments and give new explanations to old information, all based on what kind of lives they are leading, which country they live in, what rulers they have and their own level of interest. You will be hard pressed to find a farmer with an interest in the Old Tongue or an innkeeper that finds much of use in old war reports. People have to live their lives and they will make a choice as to what knowledge and information is most important to them."

 

She paused for a moment to let it sink in.

 

"As for preventing wars, the White Tower has a number of ways in which it deals with those scenario's. Each situation is different and requires a different approach. Wars are not started by the common people, however. They are started by ambitious Kings and Queens, who already possess all the knowledge of their country's history. In an ideal world all rulers would be wise, but unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world. The White Tower, while dealing with matters of the world big and small on a dialy basis, also has to guard it's neutrality. We can not be seen as 'taking sides'. Neither can we usurp a ruler's place as the King or Queen of their country. Those common people you spoke of would not like that very much. There is a fine line Sisters must walk in the world, child, and it takes many years to find the right balance on that line. Being Aes Sedai is much more than just being able to wield the One Power."