(ooc: Okay. Back up to speed, sorry for the delay!)

“I'm coming, no worries, but where are we?” Fianna had been silent for most of the journey, simply drinking in the scenery and trying to commit it to memory. It'd do her no good in the future if she couldn't find her way around this part of the Tower, should she ever come this way again. And, to be honest, for a while there she'd been struck by a bit of shyness.

While Mimi was nice, Fianna wasn't sure what to make of the older woman. There'd been a time a while back where she'd subscribed to the rampant rumor that Gera was an Aes Sedai in disguise amongst the novices for some reason. Not wanting to see the end of Valeri Sedai's switch, the Tua'athan had avoided her for the most part. Now, having heard whispers about the older novice's adventures in the Mistress's offices herself, Fianna wasn't so sure. The way Gera led them through hallway after hallway as if she'd been down them before was not helping her suspicions, though.

...However, seeing parts of the Tower she'd never been in was fun...

As they moved further from the stone and glass of the Tower and discovered the small garden, Fianna felt...rejuvenated. A look over at Mimi confirmed that they were of one mind in this, and they shared a smile. Oh, they were still in the Tower, of course, but just being surrounded by things of the outdoors cheered her, even if they'd been arranged by mortal hands.

Suddenly she felt compelled to....oh yes. “We can do pretty much anything on an off-day, yes?” she asked the other two novices, impish grin growing. It wasn't really a question, though, since while she was asking, she was reaching for the strap on her shoes. Two seconds later, they were off, and were quickly followed by her stockings. Any looks of surprise or shock went completely unnoticed by the young girl.

Task done, the Tua'athan's bare feet sank into the lush grass, the soft blades cool between her toes. With a sigh of happiness, Fianna tilted her face upwards towards the sun, drinking in the morning heat. “Ahhhh. This is more like it.” A giggle bubbled to the surface, and in spite of herself, she twirled on one foot, white dress ballooning out with the movement before she sat down with a plump. Light, she hadn't felt the urge to do that since she was nine, but she felt so free compared to the drudgery of the last few days.

Congratulations! Indeed, Nanna is awesome. Your writing is so great! :)

That is a *very* good question. I was wondering the same thing last night.

A timeskip and recap works quite well for me!

I'll cook up a response later today, I hope. :)

“That will be all, child.”

“Thank you, Aes Sedai.” Fianna gave a full curtsy and held it as the gray-shawled Aes Sedai moved away, off down the hall. She let out the breath she hadn't really known she'd been holding, and resisted the urge to peer curiously after the woman as she left.

Of all the things to expect this morning, she hadn't expected a Gray to stop her in the hall and ask her about cultural 'touchstones' of her people. Fianna hadn't understood what she meant until she explained, and then had to keep the surprise off her face while she answered. How strange that the Aes Sedai didn't know the answer to her question – it was a very simple one - or that she felt the need to ask a girl in whites about it.

Even after a year, the Tower still confused the Tua'athan quite a bit. And, much to her dismay, she was no nearer to the answer she'd been hunting than when she first came in. Shaking her head, she straightened up and kept wandering down the hall. No way was she going to let things like this ruin her free day.

Thankfully, it was going to be a lovely day outside, judging from the rays of sun that were beginning to creep through the windows. Not a cloud was in the sky. The sight cheered Fianna, and her impromptu interview forgotten, she began to sing softly as she roamed the far end of the novice hallway, looking for others that were up.

“The roads have gone, yet I have stayed. We seek the north star, the north star, my fellow traveler...” The words of one of her favorite songs from home came to her lips unbidden as she roamed the halls, gazing up at tapestries and examining pieces of art.

It wasn't long before the young girl encountered Gera and Miahna, and her face lit up on a smile. “Good morning to you,” she called over, quietly, drifting in their direction. “Do you mind if I join you?”

(ooc: Sorry. My muse crashed and burned nastily on this post. I'll do better next time)

Character Focused RP complete!

“Oh. Good.” The Tairen gave a short laugh. “I was about to ask if all that weave practice I’ve been seeing you do addled your brains. And mine too, given that I believed that was what you had said!” Reaching down, she carefully began to gather her papers, putting them back in order. Except for that page with the notes on Corianin Sedai; that one stayed on top to remind her. “All right. I’ll look into this, see what I can find. I planned on spending tonight working on that letter for Valeri Sedai; tomorrow I’ll start poking around the shelves here some more and maybe come up with some more information. It’ll take time, though – but we’re Accepted. We’ve got time. “

She would have said more, but the soft peal of bells in the distance grabbed her attention. “Light, what time is it? I totally lost track. So much to do…and Zorana Sedai giving an oral exam tomorrow on Old Tongue conjugation. And I’ve kept you from your reading! I have got to get back to my room.”

“But remember, truly told, I’ll hold you to that bargain,” the Tairen went on with a smirk as she rose from her seat, featherduster bumping her hip. “As much as I love the library, I’ll probably want to see the open road some time in my life. You’ll probably have to remind me where the front door is, though, when we go.”

Bennu had seen that amused look on her friend’s face; she’d expected that. Like her father had said, most people wouldn’t understand. And that was okay. Elin would keep her grounded, keep her from completely forgetting the present as she delved into the past. That would be good all around.

“See you soon, Elin ?” the young woman asked as she headed for the door, notes and pen in hand.

“Miyavi Sedai is teaching the logic course.” The Accepted had to give, though, that Miyavi Sedai was a nice enough woman for a White, although she could use that emotionless serenity like a ballpeen hammer when faced with complete idiots, or difficult students. Presently, Bennu wasn’t quite sure where she sat with her teacher on that score.

At their instruction, she trailed the two at a respectful distance as they searched out a place to sit. The comment from the Green sent her eyebrow skyward, but she held her tongue. My goodness. Someone else thinks this is fair drivel. Miyavi Sedai would have the most elegant fit. Then again, Loraine Sedai could just be joking. One never knew with Aes Sedai.

“That certainly insures the White Ajah isn’t for me,” she murmured as an aside to Elin as she knelt and arranged her banded skirts, minding that she didn’t get grass stains on the white from seating herself too roughly. Long evenings in the laundry had proven how much of a trial they were to remove. “I totally understand that an Aes Sedai needs to know a fair amount about everything, and I don’t mind that – that’s why I took the class,” she went on to the assembled group, “But…” Feeling that Tairen temper spike again, she shook her head.

The Brown’s earlier response, however, distracted her. After a moment, Bennu ventured, “Loraine Sedai, Carina Sedai, do you hold with the philosophy that all information and knowledge should be available and accessible by all, or should it be carefully controlled and provided as the situation warrants?” This question was not a simple one, and had caused such a furor around the Abravanel dinner table when it came up that she hesitated to ask it here. But then, the two women seated before her should be able to give her an answer. “I…was wondering how the Ajah I was considering stood on that subject,” she added somewhat tenatively, looking to Carina. Best to know how the Brown stood before she made an utter fool out of herself later. Particularly not in front of the novices that were drifting to join the current group.

Take a Class writing requirement COMPLETE.

Bennu’s frown deepened. Without really thinking about it, she had pen in hand and was scribing halfway through Carina’s explanation. Ah, so ter’angreal were not imbued with power themselves; that was a misconception. Light, how had she gotten it so wrong? Where’d her mind been during that lecture…

From the depths of her memory an image arose, and Light help her – she was blushing in front of the Aes Sedai. Oh. Right. Souvran. That’d been the day she’d been sent to the Warder Yards with a message for one of the instructors there, and she’d run into the strapping Ebou Dari trainee. Her cheeks grew even hotter remembering how he’d smiled at her that day. Bennu started studying what she’d written with a shocking intensity. Meeting the Aes Sedai’s eyes right now would not be a good thing. She’d probably think the Accepted was not taking this seriously enough. But she was, honest!

Casting about for something to take her mind off that rather vivid remembrance, Bennu’s pen flew across the paper. “So,” she began, making another note, “they don’t hold Power themselves. Except for the wells, of course. And those are rare. Okay, that makes sense: that’d be truly dangerous to have around.” Indeed, the idea of a Tower full of items full to bursting with Power made her twitch. “But here’s a question. Is the Power a given item can manipulate once the trigger is applied relative to its size?” Having never actually seen a ter’angreal before, she wasn’t entirely sure about that.

21 days? That was it?

Sweet saints.

*shakes fist at work, keeping her from writing* I'd be done, if not for youuuuuu!

Bennu's eyes widened. Access to the second floor? This was unexpected indeed! The Accepted had assumed that there'd be some sort of 'gating' as it were on what she'd get to read and study, and that Carina would be supplying it....but to get to see the second flor herself? Oh, of course the Aes Sedai there would keep her from reading anything else other than what the Brown specifically said, but – oh, my.

And she could take one of the books from the restricted stacks to her room. That alone was a calvacade of riches she hadn't expected at all. That allowance alone made her promise inwardly again not to put a foot wrong while studying with Carina Sedai.

Not for the first time, Bennu found herself thinking about the ethics of sharing knowledge. One of her thoughts for when she gained the shawl was to start teaching herself and encouraging education outside the Tower. Still a lofty goal, but now her mind turned to whether allowing people to have access to everything was right. Her family's library was open to all that wished to enter, and no book was restricted. That was how she was raised; how could she possibly think now “some things are too dangerous for everyone to know?”

Then again, the Abravanel library didn't have books on ter'angreal in it. Given how dangerous they were, she could totally imagine the problems that would ensue if someone untrained in their use decided to up and use one, had they the ability. Which put her in mind of Elin again. Sorry I won't be able to share any of this with you, Elin...yet. Not when knowing very well might kill her.

Light, she was changing. Perhaps she'd have that conversation with Carina Sedai later.

Just like that, the slip of paper was gone, vanished into Carina's desk. Bennu nearly gave a cry of dismay, but the Aes Sedai promised it'd be back. Well, thank the Light the Brown hadn't suddenly thought for a moment that the Accepted was unworthy of study.

But first, the point. What did she know? “First off, I'm going to assume quite rightly I know nothing. After all, I didn't know the original purpose of the Oath Rod.” That still gave her pause. Used for criminals? That drew the whole swearing thing into realms of contemplation Bennu didn't dare stroll through right now.

The Tairen steepled her fingers, gathering her thoughts. “What I've learned in class is that ter'angreal are items of power. Most created in the Age of Legends, but maybe a few were made right after the Age came to a close, while the knowledge was still available,” she said carefully. “Some, like angreal simply step up your strength in the Power, while ter'angreal on the other hand were created for a specific use. Although, sometimes those uses can be changed a little if the new task is still essentially the same thing, like...swearing on the Oath Rod.”

“Some of them need a specific weave to trigger their power – while some don't need the Power at all.” That last made Bennu's skin prickle with apprehension. Light send the Power-free ones were rare and very restricted in their tasks as she did not wish to run into one of those unawares while working down in the archives. But... her eyebrows lowered in a frown. “How does that last even *work?* I don't understand that at all, and the instructor never explained in class. Do they carry the Power and it acts like a battery of some sort to fuel the - ? No, that'd be an angreal, I guess...” Her voice trailed off as she tried to figure out what she was asking.

Congrats!

Don't you head off to Tear without me! :D

Bennu blinked. “How I do it?” She smiled. Not for the first time, Elin reminded her of some of her library home's patrons. The ones that always seemed to wonder how the Abravanels could spend their lives doing what they did. Her father told her once that no one who hadn't been bitten by the bug of wanting to know would ever truly understand that drive.

“It's a mystery, Elin. Truly it is. It's getting the chance to solve a mystery. A mystery some thousands of years old. There's so much here that I can't imagine not trying to make sense out of it. It'll probably take me out of the Tower sometime, but...” The Accepted shrugged. “First solve the mysteries here. Then I'll head out into the world.” She knew that very little would hold Elin there after they gained the shawl; her goals sent her out, while most of Bennu's goals were right there beneath their feet. No, the Tairen would probably not venture out to study the real world for a while, but she did leave, oh, she'd be ready.

At her friend's offer, she held up her hands to belay her. “No. Nonono. Maybe a running log of your experiments once we find the item for you, but your being a test subject? Light, no! Do you want half the tower feeding us to the silverpike before the day's out? They'll ship 'em tsraight from Tear if we give them half a chance.” The youg woman gazed in the direction of the sea that she had not seen for nearly a decade, and shook her head. Nah. I'll make a bargain with you. Should you see any ter'angreal on your journeys in the future, or anything that looks like a likely one, let me know or bring it to me so I can study it or put it in the hands of someone who can study it. Deal?”

“I totally understand, Carina Sedai,” Bennu said quietly, glad her sudden apprehension was showing. And she was glad it did as it was yet more proof that she was taking their conversation and its overall thrust very seriously. And why not? The last thing the Accepted wanted to do was die.

Her mind raced, imagining all the ways she could lose her life. One wrong weave and it could all be over. Or the screaming could just have begun. Light, how did Corianin Sedai handle it? More to the point, how did she do it? Bennu really felt the need to see her notes, study her methods. Certainly the Aes Sedai had died, but she'd studied those dangerous things most of her life; surely she'd picked up some tactics when it came to determining an object's hidden purpose. Yes, she really needed to find the woman's notes and learn her approach. It'd mean the difference between life and death for her, as well as any other women on whose behalf she studied.

The Accepted tried hard not to think of Elin, so willing to be a guinea pig for the cause. She'd said no, of course; if any sister's life would be risked in this, it'd be hers.

She smoothed hands on her skirt, hands suddenly made sweaty from nervousness. “And I promise I won't break any of your rules, Carina Sedai. That I promise.” The Tairen was not about to throw over her new path for the sake of some new shiny, that was for sure.

“So, where does my instruction start?”

“But, Aes Sedai! I didn’t call *you* -“ the Accepted burst out, only to fall silent as Elin’s hand landed on her arm. She stared down at it in astonishment. Where had the girl come from? Bennu would have sworn on the Oath Rod she hadn’t seen her before just then. Normally she would have welcomed the Amadician’s arrival, but…oh, Light. This wasn’t helping, and in no way did she want to see her friend in the same cookpot Bennu currently found herself in. With an angry sister throwing the first log on the fire, no less!

The Green – Loraine Sedai - was in fine fettle today and Elin’s attempt at rescue, noble as it was, didn’t help matters any. They were well in it now.

Bennu was no idiot; when an Aes Sedai was angry, you stood and took it. Oak snaps. Willow bends, she thought frantically, and despite trying to keep a calm yet extremely contrite expression on her face as she stood by Elin she couldn’t help remembering what a certain Mistress of Novices could do with a willow switch. She’d been on the wrong end of that a few times, and really had no desire to show up in her office again for another round. It’d be worse now that she was Accepted and should know better.

But - Light bless! The Brown was offering a way out, staving off her sister’s wrath at the two Accepted, and Bennu leapt on it like a drowning man would a plank at sea. “I promise to be more careful…Carina Sedai,” she said, glancing sideways to make sure Elin was going exactly where the Aes Sedai told her. She did not quite sigh with relief as her friend escaped the blast radius with very little in the way of being singed, but it was close.

At the Brown’s query, she held up the book, now scuffed and covered with pieces of grass that she hastily brushed away. “I was just trying to make sense out of this book of logic, but I hate to say I can’t make heads or tails out of it. And when I concentrate, trying to understand how I need to look at it….well.” The result had been obvious. The Tairen sighed, obviously frustrated. “I suppose I just don’t think that way – drawing conclusions without having evidence to look at or study just isn’t the way I’ve been raised to work. But I hate that I can’t understand this. “

This works for me! Just hanging out on a free day would be fun.

This honestly makes no sense. It honestly does NOT.

Bennu ground her teeth, resisting the urge to fling the Elements of Logic text she was carrying into the nearby fishpond as she walked along a carefully kept path in the Tower gardens. This was, no doubt, going to be the worst set of marks she'd received in her time at the Tower. All because she couldn't think in the way necessary. Why had she decided to take this course anyway?

I think it was so I could try and understand the White Ajah. The Tairen sighed, just managed to avoid two romping novices that crossed her path, and turned a page. Maybe the next page would clarify things...but it didn't. It just made it worse, and stoked her temper anew.

Light, but she hated her logic course with a passion. Well, she didn't hate it as much as not finding any sense in it. Books had all the information she needed, and if she didn't think a statement was true, there were other ways to disprove it. Research and testing, mainly. Logic seemed to base that truth could be found on a tower of assumptions...but how was she supposed to simply accept that any of those assumptions were true in the first place? The young woman just could not abide that, not when she could study and find the truth rather than just reason it out. Why exactly there was an entire Ajah that devoted itself to thinking like this, she did not know – but she certainly would never say that aloud!

The Accepted blew out in frustration as yet another turn of phrase in the text tied her mind into knots, and she flipped back through the chapter trying to find the string they were referring to. She was so caught up in trying to make sense of what she was reading that she forgot the world around her. Her feet took her off the path, and....

Next thing the Tairen knew, she was flat on her butt on the ground, she was absently wondering where that wall came from, and someone was calling her name. She looked up...into the eyes of two Aes Sedai. One perplexed, the other looking rather...stormy. Oh. Oh dear. That hadn't been a wall. And one of them knew her name?!?!?! Today just couldn't get any worse, could it?

“Oh, fish guts!” She scrambled to her feet, and began a round of the most obsequious curtseys she could ever remember herself doing. “I am so sorry, Aes Sedai!”

“Thank you for wanting to listen to my request, Carina Sedai,” the Accepted replied as she settled into the indicated chair. “And thank you for the tea.” She lifted the delicate porcelain to her lips, took a sip, and glanced around the room, admiring the choices of design. So unusual. Bennu had expected to find a richly attired room in the Hall of the Sitters, but she hadn't expected this. It was like sitting in a noble's camp during hunting season, with the colors and patterns of the forest all around – but within the halls of the Tower!

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, letting the tea warm her. How do I explain why this draws me so? I don't want to seem like every other Accepted that asks about this. What's my goal here? What...

Oh. Oh! I know what to say.

“And yes, Aes Sedai, I wish to study ter'angreal.” Bennu placed the teacup gently back onto its saucer and shifted her gaze to the older woman, dark eyes serious. “I've been thinking long and hard about how I'd like to serve the Tower should I gain the shawl someday, so I've been studying histories of sisters long gone, seeing what they chose. And for some reason, the story of Corianin Nedeal Aes Sedai has just grabbed me and never let go. It's not because she went out and sought adventure – every sister goes out into the world and does that eventually. From necessity, I suppose."

"But,” she went on, leaning forward, “Corianin Sedai spent her life studying these objects to assist everyone. Thanks to her, ter'angreal ended up being used for the reasons they were made in the first place, rather than just sitting in the archives collecting dust and helping no one. And that's what I want to do. I dislike waste. If I can figure out what a ter'angreal does, the Tower can get it to the sister who can make best use of it for the benefit of all. Or if I can determine that an item of Power is dangerous, The Tower can put it in a place of safety.

Does that make sense, Carina Sedai?"

The young woman reclaimed her teacup and took another sip of the brew, tilting her head as she gauged her elder's reaction.

That works! That's a great idea.

I have to run to a coworker's wedding now, and I won't be in until late evening, but I'll mull over my first post and have it up sometime late tonight.

I will be swing dancing. Ffear.

Hmm. When's the Brown RP set, sometime during her classes with Bennu or after the classes are complete? That'll help me with my first post in the Open RP.

True to her word, Bennu arrived right on time after lunch. To her credit, she hadn't barreled through her food; choking down her lunch would help no one if her gut was roiling. And she had not run through the halls like she would have done as a novice. No, she paid attention to the time and walked at a decent clip so she'd get to her destination on time. After all, one had to behave properly in front of Aes Sedai, not act like a pants-on-head sillybilly.

She carried a notebook and a couple of pens. No books; that wouldn't be necessary, she didn't think. As she walked, the Accepted considered what she would say to Carina Sedai – then threw it all over. What would be, would be, and the Brown would probably pick her reasons to pieces anyway before she even allowed her within sight of a ter'angreal. Despite her worry, Bennu was still rather excited. A first audience with the Browns. A chance to start focusing. A chance to start following in the footsteps of another, and then forging her own path. Oh, she knew she still had years yet to go before a chance at the shawl, but it was always better to have one's goals in mind before reaching for the ring, as it were.

If I can find what Elin's looking for, so much the better. Bennu still wasn't sure if they could find that dream ter'angreal, but she'd give it a try anyway. Surely Corianin Nedeal Aes Sedai had discovered most of them. There had to be a record of her discoveries somewhere.

The door rose in front of her, and without hesitation she knocked.

“Carina Sedai? It's Accepted Bennu. May I enter?”

Yay! Congrats!

Sure, I can join you. Fianna needs that one as well.

I've got a wedding to attend today, and the celebration will go on into the evening, but I can certainly RP with you starting tomorrow.

Shall it be a chore? Prank? What? :)

Thanks, Mystica! How about this turning into a basic class on the nature of Ter'angreal? This can count as my class-taking requirement, and she shows she has an inkling of the talent near the end of the thread.

(I'm not very good at outlining RP - I've been a tabletopper for about two decades now and am used to RP going where it will after stating the main idea, but I can jot down a few things I'd like to see happen.)

1. A conversation with Carina on why Bennu wants to study ter'angreal, checking for honesty and actual devotion to the work.

2. Shifts to a class on the nature of ter'angreal. What they are, how they were made, what they do. Bennu knows the basics, but not in depth. How research is done with them, stressing that testing the use of an unknown ter'angreal can be hazardous to one's health.

3. Practicum a few days later with an actual ter'angreal or two, where one's use known and the other is unknown. Carina brings the unknown one to test Bennu's 'scientific method' of study, as it were - and Bennu displays the talent.

How's this for a start?