Check the mooring lines! (attn: MoN)

[Jehaine]

As the sun rose over the Erinin river, a small trading ship could be seen heading for Tar Valon. Though this was no uncommon sight given the presence of the White Tower in the area, its current position meant that the small ship had most likely been sailing at night, which was far less common. Still, even that could have been explained due to the ship's waterline, hinting at an empty hull. With less depth, mudflats wouldn't be much of an issue, though the risk of getting stuck was of course still present. On the ship itself Timeon, the ship doctor and First Mate, walked to the captain, who was leaning on the rail to look at the White Tower coming into view.

 

"Hey Cap... You sure about this?"

 

The captain, a young woman whose height and skin tone did little to hide her Tairen blood, turned to look at Timeon, before nodding slowly.

 

- "Aye... E'ery time ah've looked lately, i's nuttin but trouble in th'West. I's been gett'n bigger too, so we's need ta lay low fer a while."

 

The man nodded before walking away, and see to his duties, which in this case happened to be a sailor who ended up with a concussion. Mara on the other hand looked up again, taking a deep breath before looking at the clouds above. They seemed calm here, but it felt like a storm forming in the west, and for some reason she felt that it would be more a danger to them personally than to the ship. And like with every situation she didn't trust, she'd do her best to avoid it whenever possible. And if that meant hiding out in the White Tower, so be it.

 

She even had a basic plan thought up as well. The crew would be taking turns training and taking care of the ship, while she would go see what all that 'channeling' stuff was about. She had met an Aes Sedai during one of her stops in Illian that insisted she'd drop everything and join her to this White Tower of theirs, or end up killing herself. Lunatic woman... Still, it was as good a reason as any, and if it ended up with nothing she could always go train with the others anyway.

 

Given their early arrival it didn't take a lot of time for the ship to be moored, after which she walked onto the dock area, followed by roughly two thirds of her crew. The remaining third would guard the ship and keep her in good condition, and would rotate shifts with the two groups currently going ashore with her. After arriving at the Training Grounds, Mara raised her hand, making a circular motion with her hand, and the crew scattered to the first batch of training sessions of the day. She on the other hand walked right up to a woman dressed in silks -- had to be worth its weight in gold easily. Oh well, she preferred her crude male sailors garb anyway.

 

- "Oi, where's yer Mistress?"

 

From what she could remember of the madwoman's rambling in Illian, the title was Mistress something... Bah, most likely a name anyway. Master, Mistress, Boss, whatever. Either way, she needed to get there, and this woman would likely know how. At the range she was at however, the Aes Sedai would have to be blind not to notice Mara had channeled before, and recently at that.

 

 

Mara

Take me to your Leader

[Lavinya]

Pia comforted the whippet of a novice seated in front of her as best she could. Her position as overseer of the White Tower initiates meant she more often handed out correction and punishments, yet there were times when she also offered a shoulder to cry on, for those in need. It was disconcerting at times, Pia herself had never been one prone to tears or 'female' outbursts of emotion, yet to some of these girls, she was the closest thing they now had to a mother.

 

Offering the sniffling girl a handkerchief from her pocket, Pia patted the girl's back lightly, from where she was kneeling in front of her. "There now child, dry your tears." She said softly, soothingly. The girl nodded, dabbing at her moist cheeks. She had been in the office now for some time, crying with homesickness, though now at least it seemed she was feeling better, her sobs subsiding. Pia could hardly recall the words she had spoken to soothe her, but they seemed to work as the girl mustered a shaky smile.

 

"Thankyou, Aes Sedai." The girl managed as Pia stood, awarding her with a smile as a tingling sensation passed over her, a sure sign that one of her wards had been set off. As if on cue a knock sounded on the door. "Off with you now girl." Said Pia gently, leading her to the door. Opening it, the novice dropped a curtsey and scurried past, leaving a bemused looking girl and a rather irritated looking Aes Sedai in her wake. Not clothed as an initiate, the new girl had the appearance of an outsider, a petitioner perhaps.

 

Pia smiled at the girl in welcome and waved her into her office, waiting by the door and raising her brows enquiringly at Eloise Sedai. "She was looking for my mistress, apparantly," the cool white said with a sneer, nodding towards where the girl was peering at a tapestry adorning one wall. "Clearly a wilder. Naturally I brought her to you. I wish you luck getting past her tongue." Pia calmly stared at the young sister, a silent reminded that Pia was above her in ranking, and also an Illianer, born with a way of speaking that grated on most. Abashed, the white nodded her head demurely and stalked away. Closing the door behind her with a soft click, Pia turned to face her newest challenge.

 

"My name is Pia Tovisen, Mistress of Novices." Toned Pia, waving the girl into a wooden chair before her immaculate desk. "How can I help you?" Taking her own seat, Pia gazed expectantly at the newcomer.

 

~Pia Tovisen, MoN

 

[Jehaine]

Mara waited for the Aes Sedai to leave, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed as the white closed the door behind her. As Pia offered her a seat, she looked at the chair, then figured it couldn't hurt to take the woman up on her offer. She needed something from them after all, so starting off on the wrong foot might not be in her best interests. When she sat down however, she did so on one of the armrests rather than on the chair itself: Used to a ship rail, she felt more comfortable that way.

 

- "Ah'm Mara. On'a'yer Aes Sedai said i's able ta channel, an' ah'm 'ere ta see if tha's truth."

 

Her speech sounded like a mixture of various accents, but then again, growing up on the streets and living on a ship for a few years after that generally didn't make people very eloquent. If Pia would look into her eyes, she would notice a fair bit of skepticism about this whole affair -- it was obvious she didn't really know what to expect, and not placing much faith in the stories of old.

 

 

Mara

...Yup

[Lavinya]

Not even a tiny flicker of surprise crossed Pia's features at the rough language spouting from the obviously ill bred child in front of her; the Aes Sedai serenity that kept her expression smooth never faltered. That Mara could channel Pia had no doubt. Now that she thought about it, she allowed herself to sense the ability that lay dormant inside her. It was there, resonant and matching to Pia's own ability.

"Oh you can channel girl, of that there is no doubt. I can already sense it, so it is quite possible you've already channeled before on your own, though if that is the case you must never do so again without an Aes Sedai directing you. The consequences can be dire."

 

Mara did not seem particularly convinced but this did not put Pia off. Very few girls, even those who truly hoped to be Aes Sedai some day, believed they possessed the gift until they saw the evidence for themselves. "Fear not child, you need not merely take my word for it." Pia's lips curved in a small smile. Reaching into a drawer in her desk, Pia removed a small gem, smoothed and rounded and almost the size of her palm. It was polished, but not so much that the emerald green caught and reflected the light.

 

She moved around the desk and stopped in front of Mara, still perched in that unladylike position on the arm of the chair. "You can see the evidence for yourself, quite simply. All I want you to do is focus on the stone," her eyes met Mara's for a moment and she smiled again, "just trust me and do as I say, it will not hurt you. Just forget everything else, forget about me, the room, just focus all your energy on the stone." And so she continued to speak, a gentle soothing tone, waiting for the inevitable moment when the gem blazed with an inner light. It lasted only a few moments, flickered and was gone, but there was no denying it had existed. "That," she said softly, "tells me beyond doubt that you can channel, Mara."

 

Pia Tovisen, MoN

[Jehaine]

OOC: Sorry, went inactive for a variety of reasons...

 

IC:

 

Mara frowned as Pia kept repeating for her not to be scared, and that she wasn't going to hurt her. In her experience, when people started telling her that it was a reason to be careful around them in the first place. Shifting a little uncomfortably in her seat, she tried to focus on the small stone while keeping an eye on Pia from the corner of her eyes for any suspicious movements.

 

- "A silver penny..."

 

As she concentrated, she mumbled what she believed the small stone would be worth -- or at least what she was willing to pay Pia for it. It seemed to play with the light in a strange way, almost flashing. She strained to see it again, felt something inside of her as the glow reappeared but paid no mind to it.

 

After that, Pia announced she could channel, confirming what the other Aes Sedai had told her back in the day. Right, so what she saw as her ticket into this place was legit. Now all that was left to do was finish up with the training, graduate from whatever type of tests they'd throw at her and leave again a few years later.

 

- "'Kay, so wha' happens next?"

[Jehaine]

OOC: *bumps*

[Amadine]

Pia smoothed the skirt of her gown as she moved back around to her seat behind the well ordered expanse that was her desk. Taking her seat she pulled open a large drawer and removed the book within. Placing the book gently on the desk before her, Pia gently turned a great many pages until finally she came to page where only her own neat hand was within view.

 

Taking up her pen she dipped into the inkwell that stood ready for use and then smiled at the girl in the rough sailor’s garb before her, “This begins your journey within the White Tower Mara. Can you please tell me your full name; your place of birth and raising; and also your age.”

 

As Mara spoke Pia carefully entered the details into the Novice Book, another life sealed to the Tower, for better and for worse. She finished with a dot behind the age, which felt as heavy and important as any signature from any high lord or lady. “Welcome to the White Tower Mara.”

 

Pia Tovisen, MoN

 

[Amadine]

*bump*