Approved WT Bio for Alianor Tarawindred--CC'd by Freelanders

[WhiteWolf]

Basic Information

 

Handle: Taren

Character count: this is my first

Full names of WT characters you own and their status: N/A

 

Character Information

 

State whether this is a Traditional or Salidar Novice character: Traditional

Name: Alianor Tarawindred

Age: 18

Nationality: Cairhein

 

Appearance

 

Hair: Black

Eyes: Dark blue

Skin: Pale

Height: 5”7

Voice: Gentle

Other: Slim, a slightly strong jaw that only comes into its own when angry.

 

Optional

 

Special skills: well educated, a good rider.

Knowledge weakness: numbers and administrative tasks are not her thing at all.

Physical weakness: no great body strength

Personality weakness: arrogance and a dismissive attitude toward those she considers below her intellectual or social level.

 

Personality

 

She is very intelligent, but not just in a bookish way, she is sharp and very quick witted. Intelligence does not stretch to every area of academics however, numbers baffle her and she condemns that which she does not understand. History is a passion for her though, she picks it up very easily and believes that everything that has happened in the past has a direct bearing on what is happening now. She also loves to enter into debates, and sneers at those who do not understand the art of a good debate, she likes to play devils advocate when she can in order to goad someone into argument. Like many people who have consummate skill in debate she does not like to be proven wrong, this is not aided by her arrogance in intellectual matters, she has little time for those she considers unintelligent and incompetent.

 

Her arrogance makes her unafraid to speak her mind, and although she may seem bold with her words she would not put herself in dangers way if she could help it. She is however loyal to those she gives her loyalty to, she can be kind when she wants to be although people have to earn such kindness from her. She likes to have fun, is quick to laugh and indulge in a prank or two.

 

History

 

Alianor was born into a wealthy but not particularly powerful noble family of Cairhein. Her family’s estates were devastated during the Aeil War, her uncle being killed and her father inheriting the estates and becoming head of the family. Her father rebuilt their lands carefully, cultivating resources and contacts to secure his family position. This meant that Alianor grew up in a very safe and wealthy environment, nothing was too good for the children of the family, they received toys and the best of clothes. Along with this noble lifestyle came a noble education, Alianor was educated in languages, learning some of the Old Tongue, she learnt of the nations of the world from the Borderlands in the north to Tear and Illian in the south. She also learnt of history, and was quick to grasp the lessons that were taught her, to the extent that she would list history as a passion of hers for the rest of her life. She proved herself adept at most of these lessons, but not all, numbers and sums confused her so she did not give them as much effort as she subjects she liked, going as far as to scoff at those who held such learning highly. Her father, although wealthy, did not hold much sway at the court of Cairhein and he strove always to make his family more powerful, the Great Game was a lifestyle to many in Cairhein. Her father did not do well at the game, and eventually gave up for a quieter life on his estates. Her mother however was something of a dynast and propelled Alianor and her siblings into the world of the royal court, backed by family money they made good impressions and glittering marriage alliances with other houses seem to await all of the Tarawindred children. Alianor spent much time at court in the city, mixing with the children of other nobles, which heightened her sense of self importance. She also spent much time on her fathers estates, learning to ride which she excelled at.

One way in which her father had tried to gain influence was associate himself with the White Tower, there were always some nobles who tried to distance themselves and others who attempted to use such associations with the sisters to their advantage. In this way her father became a member of the eyes and ears network for the Gray Ajah. When Alianor was seventeen a sisters stopped by at the house in the city, recognising the family as Gray Ajah associates. Kadeira Sedai was awe inspiring, she had an ageless face and touches of gray in her dark hair. She brokered a no nonsense attitude and had her mother running around like a bear with a thorn in its paw. The sister had some business in the city and announced that she would be staying for a few days. On the last night of her visit the sister invited her parents and the children for supper, something which her mother had made sure to tell her friends and associates, it looked like the connection with the White Tower and the visit of Kadeira Sedai would pay off nicely. After dinner Alianor was taken aside by the sister and tested to see if she could channel the One Power, Kadeira Sedai said it was a simple test. She looked into a small clear jewel that the sister carried with her, she concentrated hard, willing something to happen and then Kadeira Sedai snatched the jewel back and dismissed her. Stopping outside the room she heard the Aes Sedai speak.

 

 

“The girl can channel”, simple words yet Alianor froze

“I beg your pardon?” Her mother could be so stupid sometimes! But Alianor had to admit, she didn’t know what the sister meant either.

 

“Your daughter, Alianor, can learn to control the One Power. She should be sent to Tar Valon for training.” Light! To Tar Valon!? Alianors breath quickened, excitement rushing through her. Could it be true? She doubted whether the Aes Sedai would lie, what would be the gain for her in that? Kadeira Sedai said all of this in a very calm way, she had obviously experienced this before. A servant came to shuffle Alianor away from the door at this point so if the conversation continued she did not know of it.

 

After the sister had left Alianor begged her father to let her go to Tar Valon, but he had refused, he was the head of the family and he needed her here to make a marriage alliance with the scion of another house. He had forced her hand, she played her trump card and had a long conversation with her mother. Would not an Aes Sedai be able to support the family even more? Think of the power and influence that the White Tower had, this could be harnessed for the family’s good. It did not take much convincing and Alianor soon found herself travelling north to Tar Valon, she was going to be an Aes Sedai.

Edited November 30, 2010 by Mystica
CC'd by FL

[Mystica]

very interesting character, there's an instant feeling of both 'ugh' and 'hmmm' when reading about this girl.

 

Two small remarks though:

- eyes and ears of the WT would never, ever, reveal their connection to the sisters they serve. So the mother boasting to her neighbours sounds a bit off, unless she's boasting about the sister staying at her house for another reason. Sisters, after all, are known to do the things they do for their own reasons that can seem totally illogical to anyone else. That is a known (and expected) fact about Aes Sedai. The way this part is written, there can be the impression the mother was boasting about their family's real purpose to the Grays. This needs to be avoided. Unless, of course, the intent is to make the family fall in disgrace with the Grays. Which offers interesting plots in itself

 

- the girl's question about a Sister lying seems odd for one educated as a noble. Everyone, even in the most remote parts of Randland down to the lowest beggars, 'know' Aes Sedai can't lie. Surely the girl would have learned this in her studies as well.

 

 

These are merely observation remarks though, just something to keep in mind :)

 

It's a good bio and I like the intrigue that it promises. Consider it CC'd.

 

 

About the nobility of the family:

I'll note it down as a minor noble family of Cairhien. Please make sure to check with FL if ever you wish to change the status of the family to a main noble one.

[WhiteWolf]

Thanks Myst!