Rhya wriggled. She squirmed. She twisted. Comfort was a thing she could not imagine any longer and it was not wholly caused by the weather. Necessity or not, she found herself distracted by the proximity of the sleeping arrangements.

Not that there is anything intimate in being fully clothed, wrapped in blankets and chaperoned by two wolves but even so, she thought, exasperated by her inability to settle and trying to send her mind in less confusing directions.

Time and natural tiredness eventually took care of that but it seemed she’d been asleep for mere moments when Owen was shaking her awake again. Grumbling and trying to get closer to Shadow’s warmth, she was less than amused at Owen’s insistence. When he explained his reasoning, however, she had to admit he was right. Although she was used to Saldaean winters, which were cold enough to freeze the sap in the trees, she was rarely outside in them. She could feel the sharp edge to the wind howling around them and was vaguely aware of the dangers inherent in being outside in such temperatures.

Struggling to sit up, Rhya brushed her tangled hair from her eyes and added yet more wood to the fire before adjusting her position so that she was tucked in between Shadow and Owen, her toes as close to the fire’s warmth as she could get them. An hour or more passed as they talked in a desultory fashion about day to day things, keeping the fire fed as the weather slowly worsened around them.

------------------------------------------------

Watching the wild flickering of the flames, Rhya’s thoughts drifted till she felt as though she was floating and a smile crossed her face in faint humour.

"Do you know much of Saldaea, Owen? Have you ever seen the sa’sara danced? That would keep you warm even in such weather as this, it is said to make the blood boil,” a low chuckle tumbled from Rhya’s lips. “It’s been outlawed for the trouble it causes you know...... it has started duels, even wars. I was not meant to learn it but the opportunity was too good to miss. Mother would never approve. One day, I might show you...."

An admission of such knowledge was not one she would ever have normally made, no woman properly raised would do so, but the isolation of this place and the drowsy, half awake state she was in not only gave it a dream-like quality but appeared to have loosened her tongue beyond the bounds of propriety. At the back of her mind a warning bell was sounding that something was wrong but she was past heeding that. Her toes and fingers were numb and she had an overwhelming urge to give in to the exhaustion that was pressing in on her.

“So tired...” she murmured.

Shadow growled softly in her ear but that too slipped across the outer edges of her consciousness, barely registering as her lashes fell across pale cheeks and her head dropped to Owen’s shoulder.

Too Late - James Blunt

Almost Seems (Too Late To Turn) - Clannad

Nice one Tiggy, enjoy her.  ;)

Ok Wolfies we have another Wanderer....

Make yourself at home Jehaine and welcome to the Stedding. ;D

*dunks in the chili vat*  :D

http://uploads.ungrounded.net/304000/304212_Shoo_Fly.swf

Character image, for referrence. Flash movie though.

Character Name: Arienna de Orasaigh

DM Handle: Jehaine

Email address: amyante[at]hotmail[dot]com

Age: 19

Gender: Female

Place of Birth/Raising: Mindea, Murandy

Personality:

Arienna is optimistic, and sees a bright future for herself, yet knows she has to work hard to get anywhere. She happily does so, and for that reason can appear cold, serious and unforgiving to those that simply try to 'go with the flow'. She's an imaginative thinker, able to quickly adapt to new situations, yet prefers planning and organisation over impulsiveness, which, considering her past jobs, wouldn't be that surprising.

Her combination of Altaran fierceness and a Murandian's temper means that whoever gets on her bad side is in for a hard time, though it certainly has given her a fair share of courage as well. Though she'd still be aware of the risks, she has enough self-confidence to know when she can handle something, and when to call in some help.

Physical Description:

Arienna stands at about 5 ft 11, weighing in at roughly 140 pounds. She has brown hair reaching down to halfway between her shoulder blades, and hazel colored eyes she inherited from her father's side of the family. Though she doesn't have a very strong build, she makes up for it in agility and speed, something that she put to good use working in an Inn.

Her favorite colors are blue and green, something that can generally be seen in the clothing she wears. Having been raised in Murandy, she lacks the need to overly accessorise with frills and lace like her mother does. Her clothing style is rather plain and simple in comparison (much to her parents' chagrin) but it's what she feels the most comfortable in.

Character History:

Arienna was born as the daughter of Jiselle and Sedrin de Orasaigh. Her father was in a minor House, though calling it a House was perhaps giving it too much credit, as the only thing that differed them from simple commoners would be the noble 'de' in front of their surname. Originally, the full surname had been "de Orasaigh a' Collean", but that last part was dropped somewhere along the way. Still, Sedrin wanted to keep up the image at the very least, and no one really complained about it either, so they let him be.

Being the eldest, she was the first to be taught how to help her mother manage the household, and became quite good at doing so. Of course, there were other lessons she was taught as well, as she quickly picked up on the rumors of one noble getting into a fight with another, after which one of them would simply 'disappear', only to be replaced by another as the cycle repeated itself. The only reason her House had any safety was because it was being ignored by the larger ones.

As teh years went by, she became better and better at helping her mother out, until eventually she had reached the point where she could cook dinner on her own. This gave her mother at least enough breathing space to drag both of her sons (as well as their father) out of the yard without the food getting cold. It was no more than logical that, when Arienna was old enough to get a job of her own, she'd end up working at the local Inn.

After a rough first couple of weeks where she tried to get used to the change of pace, she managed to adapt quite well. She had always had good eyes and ears, but she really felt as if working in the Inn was enhancing her perception even more, honing her skills. Being a swift learner, she eventually managed to pick up the signs of a fight starting, and informed the bouncers so they could already be in place before it had a chance to spread. The Innkeeper was grateful for the added help, and his boasts and compliments about the girl started to reach the ears of more important people. One of whom being a noble named Maric.

Maric was the head of another one of Mindea's Houses. While still not very influential, it was at least considered a noble House by the other Houses, which was more than her own family could boast. Starting off by working in the kitchen, and later on being promoted to maid, the lord found that her awareness did indeed rival that of some of his bodyguards, which was when he made Arienna an odd offer: She'd keep working for him as his personal maid for a higher salary, but in return she'd be an unofficial member of his bodyguard, helping him spot trouble. Arienna accepted.

Thus, things went on like tghat for another year, after which the first assassination attempt took place. It certainly was a close call -- one that managed to shake her nerves quite a bit, as she was in the room when it happened -- and the only reason she even survived was because the assassin was counting on her to be too terrified to move. She deliberately bumped into him as he fought Lord Maric, creating an opening the young noble used to finish him off. Faced with seeing a dead body for the first time, she was obviously shaken, yet after a leave of absence for a month she felt ready to take up her duties again.

Realising their first assassination attempt had failed, another had been sent, but this time she was ready for it. She had been visiting the Inn where she had worked earlier, talking to some of her old colleagues while fishing for rumors in the common room. Thus, when the second assassin had fallen a week or so later, she could point out the House that had been responsable. A House that lost its ruler as soon as a few days later.

However, what neither Maric nor Arienna had counted on was that the House had strong allies, ones that were not amused at seeing an ally fall to a less powerful House.

-----

It was a relatively warm day that day, and Arienna had been sent up with Lord Maric's evening snack. Of course, the real reason he had taken to having a plate of soup brought to him in his study after dinner was in order for her to give her report at the end of the day, but that was only known to the two of them and a select few members of his personal bodyguard. She tapped the thick wooden door twice, going through their usual routine where she acted like the maid ordered with bringing the Lord his soup, after which she entered the room.

The first thing that she noticed was that something was wrong. One of the heavy curtains moved slightly from a weak draft behind it, yet she knew the windows were supposed to be closed. Acting as if nothing was the matter, she calmly walked over to Maric, curtsying as she put the plate down. A small crack between the closet doors was all the proof she needed. She calmly got back up, took a deep breath and alerted the guards standing outside.

- "GUARDS! To me!"

The guards came rushing in, and much to the surprise of the assassins Arienna pointed a finger directly at each of them. Realising they had been discovered, they rushed out, but the guards were faster. Daggers proved to be no match for swords, especially more of them at once, and the threat was soon over. The smile on Maric's face soon faded however as he jumped up, suddenly embracing Arienna and taking her by surprise.

- "M-m-my Lord?" o.O

The feeling of embarrasment soon faded however, as Maric smiled at her before going limp, the bolt sticking out of his back leaving no question as to what had killed him. Arienna, still blushing, now noticed what she had failed to before: One of the assassins had been positioned near the door, and had ended up being out of her field of vision since she entered the room. Despite the guards' attempts to catch him, he managed to escape, after which they assembled back in the study, where a -- now significantly less agitated -- Arienna briefed them on what they were going to do.

- "Taren, i'm going to have to hide for a while. That last assassin saw my face, and i have no doubts they'll be able to piece together who foiled their last attempt as well. I'll leave the city and head for one of the nearby villages, contact me when this entire thing blows over, okay?"

Taren, the captain of the guard, nodded, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. It had been common knowledge to most of the House that Lord Maric had been in love with Arienna, something she hadn't realised despite her reputation. As little as she had realised she loved him as well, until that moment where he had hugged her. Forcing herself to stand, she made her way to get changed into her normal clothing as Taren made preparations for her to slip away unseen.

However, Arienna had never been a good rider. And as such, the howl of wolves caused the horse to bolt, throwing her off before disappearing into the night. Now faced with the very real threat of being attacked by wolves, she fled through the forest she had gone in to hide her trail. Yet, despite her efforts, she could not outrun the wolves, and they were closing in fast. Realising this, she picked a spot to stand and fight, near a large oak tree. The trunk was large and thick -- at the very least, she wouldn't let them sneak up on her from behind.

While it was true she didn't want to die, she was determined not to go down easy either. Yet, her bad luck streak of that night wasn't done with her just yet. In her haste to get to the spot she had picked, her foot caught on a treeroot she had overlooked, making her lose her balance and hit the ground.

The last thing she remembered before her vision started to blur was hitting her head on something hard, the stress of the night's events finally catching up to her as she lost consciousness.

Good stuff Jehaine. Enjoy.  :)

Kiyi felt the blood leave her face as she heard the tone of Larindhra's voice and sensed the mood she was in. The girl moved haltingly into the room, a wary look about her eyes but was relieved when the Mistress of Novices spoke again in a warmer voice. The offer of new clothes was also reassuring and Kiyi nodded briefly to show that she understood the rules being outlined to her. They didn't sound too onerous. She was used to being respectful to visiting dignitaries at home after all and she'd never been shy about asking questions... how else was one to learn anything?

She was just starting to relax a little when Larindhra's final words caught her attention. A mentor? I didn't know about that! Kiyi began to chew her lower lip, an old habit from childhood and one she'd thought conquered. Catching herself, she started a little as another knock fell on the door and she turned slightly to see who this mentor of hers would be. A Yellow Sister walked confidently into the room, an air of sadness and preoccupation, mixed with not a little irritation, hanging around her.

Are all these women always angry or annoyed? Kiyi wondered, noting as she dropped yet another curtsy that Nynaeve Sedai didn't look precisely delighted at the idea of having a mentee. Larindhra Sedai, however, appeared to be a force to be reckoned with and Kiyi listened to the byplay with increasing admiration as the woman skilfully showed symapthy yet, at the same time, gave the Yellow no room to object to the assignment being placed upon her. And I hope I won't be the one to suffer for that little piece of maneuvering!

Last Train - Travis

Looks good to go.  :)

Mat's fixed it because I can see the other boards again now above the main WT board. :)

Announcement Board

Child Board: WT Structure and Outlines

The Great Hall

Child Board: Secret Whisper Hole

Yep I have the same problem Jade. I used to be able to see them when you first added me but now I only see this one and the Announcements board.  :)

Warm welcome back for Daegus and his trainee Ranger character Medrin, please people.

Great to have you back with us in the Stedding. Your bio has been CC'd and you're all set to RP.  ;D Any questions just shout.

*hands a TQ*

Returning member's updated bio.

Character Name:  Medrin K’Lethwyn

DM Handle: Daegus

Email address: flitwig@gmail.com

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Place of Birth/Raising: Shienar

Physical Description:  5’10’, 195 lbs., golden yellow eyes, black hair fashioned in the Shienaran top knot, always dressed in clothes to give him the best cover possible.

Character History: 

Medrin was born as the second son of a noble military family.  His father was an officer in the Shienaran Infantry.  His older brother had been training all of his life to follow after their father in the Infantry.  Medrin, however, was fascinated with horses.  He was always running after the stable and horse masters, watching and learning all that they did.  His father and brother taught him all about the basics of weapon use and how to keep them in good condition.  His mother hired tutors to make sure that his other academics did not suffer.   

At the age of 16 he joined the military but to his father and brother’s dismay, instead of the Infantry, he joined the Calvary with his love of horses and the training he already had.  He learned his place showing ability and aptitude and quickly made the rank of Sergeant. For two years he worked along the border outposts, ranging from one to another. But all that was good was not meant to last.

He started to notice things. He saw things more clearly and at a greater distance then the rest of his squad. His hearing improved... smell, taste...it all grew to sharper and higher proportions. At first he thought it was a sickness and went to the military chirurgeons for help but they could find nothing wrong. A couple of months later he started feeling brushes against his mind... thoughts that weren’t his entering in. His dreams became troubled. He was a wolf in human guise... running on hands and feet with a pack. Hunting and feasting on fresh game. During this time the men in his unit started growing distant and watched him most of the time. He knew they thought he was going mad. There were days he wondered the same. 

The day it all fell apart was when he woke up and saw that his eyes had changed. No longer were they the grey of his birth but they had changed to a golden yellow. He could not hide this.  He tried to keep his gaze averted but it was to no avail. When the rest of his unit saw this there was angry muttering. Finally the mutterings became open accusations. He was a darkfriend... he was shadowspawn touched by the Dark Lord himself. He was persecuted at every turn. He left the unit on horseback and fled deep into the forests. He started hearing voices. He didn’t know where they were coming from he feared he was going insane. He made a campfire deep in the forest.

During the night he had a visitor... she called herself Fireschild. At first he thought she was a darkfriend sent to torment him or another part of the madness. However, she explained to him what was going on and for the life of him he believed her. How could he not when he saw the same golden eyes he had reflected back at him in her gaze? He allowed her to take him to a settlement where there were others like them. He underwent the basic training to control and accept his new gifts and to start learning his place within the society.  Through this he learned the name that the wolves had given him... Shadowstalker.

After this he was asked where in the society he wanted to be. At first he thought about being a Tracker as that was what Fireschild was. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that they needed a proper defense.  A way to protect them all and that the handful of warriors they had were not enough. So he opted to train to become a Ranger, to serve and protect the Stedding as a whole. He was placed under Nightsfire for training till he was considered ready to join the ranks of the Rangers.

It had not taken the girls long to agree that it would be far simpler for them to work on their own gardens. This would be an ongoing project after all and they did not live together. It made sense to have a small herb patch each close to their own homes. It had taken even less time for Rhya to decide that she would make a start on hers right away. Better to make use of the long summer nights while they were still available and the earlier rain, which had gone off again, would have left the ground soft enough to turn.

Within the hour, Rhya had rummaged around and found several items that she would need; a small trowel, a larger spade, cuttings from the herbs she'd picked up and last but not least some bread and butter. All that walking earlier had worked up an appetite and she left the tree house once more with a sassy yell at Owen that he could cook dinner that night. Chuckling to herself at the thud against the door frame behind her, she didn't bother to look and see what missile he'd thrown at her, but dropped to the ground below in good spirits and turned to find Shadow waiting on her again.

"And just where did you disappear to earlier my friend? Leaving me to get soaked like that. I bet you were holed up somewhere warm."

Shadow's tongue lolled from one side of his mouth and he looked for all the world as though he were laughing at her, which indeed was confirmed by the humourous tone of his response.

~If the silly she-cub had moved faster, she would not have been so wet.~

Rhya laughed aloud at that and aimed a mock cuff at the wolf's ear that he dodged with ease.

"Come on then, there's more work to be done."

Looking about the clearing and checking the sky to see where the last of the sun's rays were falling, she picked a likely spot between some bushes. Sheltered from the wind, shaded from the worst of the sun's heat but open enough to get light and rain both, Rhya was pleased with her choice and set to work. A good hour of digging had the top layer of earth turned and the soft turf cleared and rolled to one side as Shadow watched her with a slight air of interest. The turfs would be useful later for building fires. That was not something she'd seen done here since her arrival but it was common enough practice in the north. She didn't believe in wasting anything.

Enjoying the soft, rich odour of the peat in her nostrils, she turned to reach for the smaller trowel and found her attention caught by a movement in the sky above. An eagle soared on the air currents, its wings spread to catch the up draughts and Rhya watched the sight for long minutes, envying the bird its freedom and grace. When she returned her attention to the small area she'd opened up.... it was to find all the earth in her plot churned up and one very mucky looking wolf watching her with a self satisfied expression at the help he'd provided. He looked so eminently pleased with his efforts that she collapsed onto her back in gales of laughter, only to have him pounce, planting his muddy paws on her chest before they rolled, wrestled and tumbled across the grass together. Giggling uncontrollably, Rhya was definitely coming off worst and she finally lay still, letting Shadow bound away from her.

"Who is the cub now?" she said in mock severity, eyes sparkling and edging closer to him. "Look at the state of me!!" She tried to grab the scruff of his neck but he bounded quickly away towards the trees. Shaking a fist at him she grinned and called, "I won't forget this!!"

~Still too slow cub~ the thought drifted back to her as his tail vanished in the undergrowth.

Smiling to herself, Rhya slowly went back to her task, determined to finish it. Now that the earth was loosened, it was short work to carefully space and plant the cuttings she'd chosen and the soil was moist enough that it shouldn't need watering any time soon. Most herbs thrived even in dry ground from what Cook had told her when she'd watched that woman tend the kitchen garden. Obviously, in spite of her mother's views, cultivating friendships with the servants was no bad thing!!

Brushing her hands off on her trousers, Rhya regarded the little herb patch with pleasure. Something that was hers, that she'd made and would look after. It was a good thing she decided, nodding slightly and its purpose would be two fold. Good for the Sages and good for her own cooking.

Realising that the light was fading and that it must be getting late now, Rhya's tummy grumbled at the thought of food and she gathered her belongings quickly. Climbing back up to the veranda was a rather slow process, encumbered as she was with the spade, but she finally dropped everything at the door and kicked off her shoes before walking into the house.

"What happened to you?" Owen's voice startled her, his eyebrow rising as he took in her appearance. "Are you sure you were only planting herbs out there and not digging for buried treasure?"

A smile tilted Rhya's lips as she replied happily, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you I had found treasure," and padded towards her room to get changed, hugging the knowledge that every time Shadow appeared, the longer he stayed around, the less chance there was of him choosing to leave her. It was another step towards building a new life and having a home and meant more than she could find the words to explain.

Kiyi was relieved that she appeared to have provided a satisfactory answer. It had finally struck her that any knowledge she had about the Tower, and Sisters in general, was woefully lacking. Nodding briefly in reply to Larindhra’s query about the Old Tongue, she watched as the Aes Sedai made careful notations in the Novice Book.

Letting her gaze roam the room without being too obvious about it, she decided it would be lovely to have such a place to work in. It was obviously well appointed and richly enough furnished to be comfortable without causing distraction, though it was certainly a little stuffy. Suddenly, she was caught up with a strong sense of homesickness. If she were back in Cairhien, she could be running around outside right now, enjoying the fresh air. Somehow, she suspected her time would not really be her own for many months and years to come. Her musings were interrupted by another question.

“Tremonsien, Larindhra Sedai,” she said, hoping that her lapse in concentration had not been noticed and standing up promptly as bid. Folding her hands in front of herself to stop them from shaking, Kiyi waited as the Mistress of Novices vanished momentarily into a storeroom. When the Sister returned she held up a dress of Novice white and then handed it to Kiyi who recognized what the item must be from the Brown’s earlier description.

“These will do well enough for now; let me show you to your room.”

Kiyi curtsied politely and followed Larindhra out into the halls once more, thankfully at a slower pace than on her way there. She felt ready to drop where she stood but tried hard to remember all of the passages and stairs that were pointed out to her as they walked. The room she was finally shown into was plain but clean with no extraneous creature comforts but still she was relieved to hear that she had it to herself for the moment.

As soon as Larindhra had gone, Kiyi closed the door, stripped and headed straight for the small wash basin on a stand in one corner of the room. Fresh water had been provided and she hastily cleansed her hands, face and neck before combing her hair out with her fingers as best she could. The air in the room was cool but not overly so and once she had completed her ablutions, she settled herself on the bed, sighing in delight at the feel of the crisp sheets. It was a huge relief to just lie there. No dust, no noise.

One candle mark. A little rest…. Her eyes drifted slowly shut on one last thought. I hope I can find my way back ….

___________________________________

Kiyi had no idea what woke her up but she sat bolt upright on the bed, panic on her face as she tried to work out the time. Scrambling to get upright, she hastily pulled on the white dress she’d been given, which thankfully fit perfectly, and shoved her feet into her shoes. Patting her hair into place, she tentatively opened the door and looked up and down the corridor. There was no sign of life so, composing herself as best she could, she set out to retrace her steps to Larindhra’s office.

Luckily she managed to only take one wrong turn and a quick question to a passing girl, in a dress similar to her own save for the bands of colour around it, soon corrected her error. As she passed a window, she could see that the sun had barely moved and that she couldn’t have slept too long at all. Sending thanks to the Creator that she wouldn’t be in trouble already, Kiyi halted in front of a familiar door and knocked firmly once.

Hi Daegus and welcome back. ;D I'll be one of those that doesn't know ye  ;) but I spotted that you had a Wolfkin character. I'm the current Wolfkin DL so if you're interested in starting that back up, drop me a PM. I'm sure Owen will be delighted to have another trainee Ranger around the place. :D

WOLF SISTER/RANGER (WS-14 DS-8)

Folly Lives Within Your Bones - Solo RP - Ranger Training - [4 posts] - DONE

HERE

Two Plus Two Does Not Make Five - Character Development (Ranger Celebration/Award) - [5 posts] - DONE

HERE

Reality is Just a Matter of Perception - Character Development - [2 posts] - Ongoing/New

HERE

WOLF SISTER/GUARDIAN

We Are The Music Makers and We Are The Dreamers Of Dreams - Teaching the Dream 1 & 2 to Jace & Winter - [1 post] - Stalled

HERE

Strengthening Ties & Making Stuff Go Boom - Inter Div RP with the Band and BT / Character Development - [6 posts] - Ongoing

HERE

Butterfly on a Wheel - Ranger Training with Owen "The Way of the Warrior" requirement - [6 posts] - DONE

HERE

WOLF CUB

The Cub, The Ranger, Her Wolf & Big Trouble - Bow Training (with Lorelai) - 1 post - Stalled

HERE

What Is Real - Kai's Pick Up - 4 posts - Stalled

HERE

Alone, uncomfortable and Wandering - Miles' Pick Up - 2 posts - Stalled

HERE

She Smells Like Trouble - Erita Drop Off & Welcome - Sage Check Up - 2 posts - ongoing but DONE for Rhya

HERE

To Come To Grips - Char Development (with Rahien) - 7 posts - DONE

HERE

And All The World's A Garden - Herb Lesson - Teaching (with Katrina) - 4 posts - DONE

HERE

Can you hear the wind blow? Punishment is due - Char Development (with Owen & others) - 5 posts - DONE

HERE

When Senses Collide - Group Senses Lesson 1 (with Owen & others) - 3 posts - DONE

HERE

No Longer Alone (Rahien's Arrival) - Sage Check Up (with Rahien and Aislyn) - 2 posts - DONE

HERE

Don't Leave Me Now - Dream Lessons 3 & 4 (with Owen) - 6 posts - DONE

HERE

Wake Up! Shake dreams from your hair, little one - Char Development (with Owen) - 16 posts - DONE

HERE

To Be Found Again (Rahien) - Wanderer Pick Up/Char Development - 7 posts - DONE

HERE

To Meet The Pack - Char Development (Open To All) - 5 posts - DONE

HERE


WANDERER

A New Pack - Winterwinds' Arrival - Sage Check Up (with Winter and Aislyn) - 2 posts - DONE

HERE

A New Beginning? Arienna's Arrival - Sage Check Up (with Arienna and Aislyn) - 4 posts - DONE

HERE

An Evening Inn - Char Development (Open To All) - 3 posts - DONE

HERE

A Journey Begins With One Step - Char Development/Weapons Training (with Owen) - 11 posts - DONE

HERE

A Herb Ritual - Herb Lesson 1 (with Owen and Zie) - 3 posts - DONE

HERE

1,000 Points of Light - Dream Lessons 1 & 2 (with Owen) - 5 posts - DONE

HERE

Introducing Rhya - Sage Check Up (with Owen and Miryana) - 3 posts - DONE

HERE

Make A Move - Pick Up (with Owen) - 7 posts - DONE

HERE

The Tower was just enormous. Kiyi's eyes grew rounder as she followed the Brown along corridors and round corners, convinced that they'd doubled back on themselves once or twice. Everything was built on such a grand scale, intended to impress on the viewer their own insignificance compared to the power weilded there.

By the time Kiyi came to an abrupt halt behind the Sister, in front of a solid looking door to a room which apparently held the Mistress of Novices, she was thoroughly lost and wondering if she'd ever be able to find her way around the warren of halls. Suddenly, the door was yanked open with some force and an imposing woman appeared, looking far from pleased to find them standing outside.

Her face smoothed quickly though and Kiyi could see the agelessness that marked most Aes Sedai. This must be... oh!! what was her name again? Larindhra Sedai, that's it, Kiyi was relieved that it had come back to her.

“You look tired, Child.  Go have a seat in my office - I won’t be long."

Dropping a precise curtsy, Kiyi kept her eyes lowered respectfully and moved smoothly into the room beyond, scanning the space before seating herself in front of a large, solid wood desk covered in mounds of paperwork. Having smoothed her skirts with nervous fingers, she was admiring the tapestry on one wall when the Mistress of Novices returned and was pleasantly surprised to be handed a cup of tea. She took it gratefully, sipping the hot liquid and allowing it to soothe her throat while she watched the other woman in fascination.

“So, Kiyissalle – tell me a bit about yourself, and what you know of the White Tower."

"Certainly Larindhra Sedai." Kiyi kept her voice low but was unable to disguise the ever present huskiness. She coughed a little, her face flushing as she continued, "The Tower is Ogier built and home to women who can channel. They are known as Aes Sedai and are led by the Amyrlin Seat. There are seven Ajahs, each with their own area of expertise. Browns gather knowledge and Yellows are Healers. Girls like myself who come to the Tower are known as Novices."

She stopped and raised her eyes at last, fingers tightening around the cup in her hand. "I'm afraid I do not know much more Larindhra Sedai, save that Sisters are capable of doing great things and serve the Light. As to myself, I am an only child. My parents are minor nobility of Cairhien and we lived a quiet life. They are both scholars and so my studies have been quite thorough. I am 17...."

Kiyi trailed off, coughing again and uncertain of what else she could say. What will happen if the Sister was wrong and I can not learn to channel? Maybe this was a mistake.

My novice will too, Muir, once my MoN RP is done  ;D

Good job LG  ;)

Congrats Muir  :D

Looks good to me. :)

Congrats you three, sounds like a great team *hugs all*  :D

That's why I said it for you  :D