Accepted Interview for Bennu Abravanel

[Amadine]

Dragonmount Handle: Chikara

Full Character Name: Bennu Abravanel

 

Part 1 - Out of Character

 

1.1. Which Ajah do you aspire to join and why?

From day one, I intended on having Bennu join the Brown Ajah. She's a librarian at heart, and she's never happier than when she's found a new thing to study.

 

1.2. How old would you place your Aes Sedai in the Main Timeline? Remember that Sitters must be at least 60-80 years of Age to sit in the Hall. (Information on the Aes Sedai Aging system is on both the Website and the WT Structure Board)

Bennu will be around 120 years old.

 

1.3. Have you role-played with any members of your aspiring Ajah? If so, who? What sort of impact did that member have on your character?

In her time, Bennu's been taking lessons from Carina Sedai on the care and feeding of ter'angreal. Of course, she has no idea that she's one of the highest ranking members of the Ajah. Carina's reassured her that not all Browns stay cooped up in the Tower and that leaving to journey the world is *not* an awful breach of ethics, which has Bennu all sorts of relieved.

 

1.4. Define freely what your character sees to be her Ajah's purpose? Does if differ from the norm?

Bennu's philosophy is very much in step with her chosen Ajah. For the most part, they're devoted to discovering, preserving, and passing on knowledge. While a lot of Browns like to stay in the tower and do research and study in-house, quite a few journey the world to do the same thing. Bennu will be one of those that ends up doing both.

 

1.5. What kind of a role would you like your character and you OOCly to have in your Ajah and in the White Tower?

Whatever you'd like to throw at me would be fine. Teaching a class or two would be fun.

 

 

 

Part 2 - In Character Development

 

2.1. What kind of a woman was your character when she was enrolled as a novice and what kind of a woman is she now?

When she first arrived, Bennu was a librarian-in-training under her father, and she lived for books, more books, and did we mention books? She was very much a generalist when it came to knowledge. Her life in the Tower has helped her find *focus*. Certainly, she'll have a lifetime and more to explore whatever she wants, but discovering her Talent has made her more calm and assured because she now knows what her place will be among the sisters.

 

2.2. What have been the most important, defining events in her life and how have they changed her? Separate the events to life before the Tower, life as novice and life as Accepted. Who are the people that have affected her life the most as Novice and as Accepted and how have they done that?

Before coming to the Tower, the thing that most sticks out in Bennu's mind is her father's decision not to allow her to go apprentice at the Great Library in Cairhien. That was the first time she hadn't been allowed a decision on what to do with her life, and made her determined to choose her own destiny. Going to the Tower a year or so later was her first act of outright rebellion.

 

She floated around a lot during her Novice years. It's not really a time of exploring, it's a time for learning as much as you can and staying ahead of the pack. Thankfully, she met Elin at that time, and she kept Bennu from simply judging the world outside the Tower based on what she knew from her books. Yes, the world is still a good place, and it's not healthy to remain cooped up all the time away from people. Then later, her adventures during her raising to Accepted hinted at a purpose to her life beyond reading and translating dusty tomes - the rather disturbing memories of those glimpses into possible futures stayed with her, and informed her behavior after she took up the banded skirts.

 

Then finally, during her time as Accepted, a perfect storm of Elin's need to explore the World of Dreams, an encounter with a member of the Brown Ajah, and her later discovery of her Talent for understanding a ter'angreal's purpose pretty much sealed her fate in the tower. Bennu hadn't really thought about what she wanted to do with her life as an Aes Sedai until then, but luck and fate point her in a direction she'd never have looked before. It's up to her to choose that path, and she does - and she's all the more happier and relaxed for it.

 

2.3. What are your character's weaknesses? Strengths? What is her inner struggle? What is her philosophy of life?

Bennu's greatest strength is that she is honest. If she doesn't know an answer, she doesn't beat around the bush; she just says that she doesn't know, but she'll be happy to find that answer for you. The problem is that when she goes to find that answer, she gets...distracted by other facts and figures that she finds incredibly interesting, and she may not get back to you until someone reminds her to focus.

Her 'we might need this someday' reaction to a new fact makes her something of an information sink.

 

"To know, to learn, and to understand" is pretty much Bennu's mantra, should she be asked to pick one. She does not tolerate ignorance; in particular, she will not tolerate people who are ignorant by *choice*. Wanting to learn but having trouble learning is one thing. People who say "Oh, don't even tell me, I don't want to know," get thwacked.

 

2.4. What three words best describe your character's personality?

Enthusiastic, forthright, and knowledgeable.

 

 

 

Part 3 - The Role of an Aes Sedai

 

3.1. What do you think the role of an Aes Sedai is ICly?

For the most part, Aes Sedai give up normal lives to lead and protect humanity from the incursions of the Dark One. Every Ajah has their own way to achieve this goal.

 

3.2. What has been the greatest sacrifice your character has made to become an Aes Sedai?

Bennu's given up her family back in Tear. They've sent letters, but...well. Realizing that she'll live long enough to see many generations of her family pass by is somewhat...disturbing for her. It took her a while to let that thought sink in.

 

3.3. How is your character going to Serve All?

Bennu's going to be true to her ajah and be a font of information - either by doing research for others or teaching the next generation.

 

3.4. What would you like your character to achieve? What are her ambitions in life? What kind of RP plans do you have in mind for your Sister?

Her highest ambition (which she will NEVER admit to anyone) is to outdo the esteemed sister Corianin Nedeal in the study of ter'angreal. She'll travel the world to find new ones, and research the purposes of the ones already found. Eventually she might end up being a Sitter for the Ajah, but that won't be for a long time yet.

 

3.5. How does your character feel about Warders in general and of the whole bonding?

To be honest, it just hasn't occurred to her yet; but when Bennu gets out in the world and has a few adventures she'll understand the usefulness of a Warder. However, she will never be entirely comfortable with the idea of someone sharing her mind, even on the surface level that's the primary of a Warderbond.