Holy heck, I remembered my password. 

Hi.

Blame Myst. 

<3,

Muir

My husband is a Chosen!  Love it!

Welcome back, Dee! :D

Jeh, if you still want to be bonded to the Amyrlin, I have no problem with that. :)

Frightened?  These boys knew nothing.  It had been over a hundred years since Shevara had been frightened simply by a man who could channel.  Dressing them up in black coats changed nothing.  The Last Battle, though, that changed much.  The White Tower had an entire Ajah of women dedicated to nothing other than combat, with and without the One Power, and had trained to work in tandem for centuries.  This Black Tower had only a few years.  Of course they would not be able to stand as well as the Aes Sedai working in circles and with angreal.  But over one hundred channellers falling in one day, no matter their level of skill.  That did give her pause.  She knew the Dragon Reborn would not, could not, fight Tarmon Gai'don alone.  He must, somehow, face the Dark One.  But the Aes Sedai must face the Dreadlords. 

Shevara nodded solemnly.  "Truly, this is a horrifying development from Shienar, and I thank you both for relaying the message.  However, if you are not willing to affirm lasting peace beteween the White Tower and the Black on the same terms as our predecessors agreed, then we cannot help you or the Dragon with forming circles for Tarmon Gai'don.  Signed under duress or not, I consider the treaty to be a fair one.  You will not get better terms.  The Black Tower and the White stand as equals to the world.  There is to be no interference in the affairs of one another.  Such has already been published in all the courts in the Westlands.  The White Tower stands by her word.  Will you?  If you will not, go now, and take your men with you.  Do not return with threats or idle prattle about wishing to work together in respect if you are not willing to work with or show respect to your allies."

"However," her voice cooled, and she flicked her eyes toward the Red Sitters, "if you can, at this very moment, affirm a lasting peace between the two Towers, one that will outlive all of us, I will have the papers drawn up immediately and we may discuss what to do about the threats to the North.  The Red Ajah came to me recently with a plan to increase the cooperation between Aes Sedai and Asha'man.  I believe it is one that has potential, and as Amyrlin, I will allow it.  But I will only allow such cooperation with ones who will be allies."

There, plainly stated, was what Shevara would accept.  If these boys were not interested, she would have them out of her Tower within the hour.  If they were, she would let Zarinen speak regarding her plan for the Red Ajah.  Her face a mask of Aes Sedai calm, inwardly her irritation prickled at Covai's tantrum.  She had greeted them with all respect, as ambassadors from an ally.  Well, she would give them this final chance.  Her blue eyes met Covai's and Arath's in turn and awaited an answer.

-Shevara Edosian

The Watcher of the Seals

The Flame of Tar Valon

The Amyrlin Seat

Shevara tsked in irritation.  She wasn't certain if it was for Jagen's outburst or for the arrogance of the black coated emmissaries.  The sitters were on edge, the Asha'man openly hostile, if detemined even so.  This must mean a great deal to the Dragon Reborn.  But they were once again ignoring the salient fact that the White Tower already had an alliance with the Black.  One that had been published to the rulers of the nations.  An alliance made by her predecessor and the...late...M'Hael, but one that was only a bare handful of months old.  

She shook her head sadly.  "I did not put the Dragon Reborn in a box.  I did not send Aes Sedai to attack the Black Tower.  No offer for peace has been rejected.  Our treaty with the Black Tower was ratified mere months ago.  I am willing to reaffirm that agreement.  But first, I want you to see why women were sent to the Black Tower.  You stilled the woman who was to show this to you.  I will do so now."  She reached gently, almost reverently, for the ter'angreal that Zarinen held.  "I am going to activate this now, gentlemen, it will not harm you.  I suggest you pay attention, for it will explain much."

As she activated the ter'angreal a bright pool of radiant light formed into colors and shaped itself into the figure of a man. He was tall and handsome, with thin mustaches laying like feathers neatly trimmed on his lip. At his side was a long warder's sword with a heron's mark.  He was not well muscled... instead thin and lithe... like a reed. His eyes were blue and held an intensity of the sea before a storm.  Were it not for the threads of saidar, moving in and out of him, one could easily mistake him for something real and solid.

The man's hair was long and dark and pulled back from his face. On his forehead he wore something that looked like a hadori of the Malkari with a singular object that likely caught the attention of the group standing the Amyrlin's study - a small medallion, the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai.

One did not have to be an Aes Sedai with their talent for reading people to see that his eyes were focused upon the imagined image of someone he thought would know him and likely cared deeply for him.  

His gaze had this way of seeming to look right through a woman to her very soul. It would be clear, to even a novice, that he had something on his mind and it weighed him down greatly. And then, just as everyone was getting used to the sight of a man from another age suddenly they were startled anew to hear a voice come forth from his lips in a strange alien voice that seemed to speak on top of itself as if two or three men in his voice were speaking at once.

With his words, Shevara translated his strangely accented, the proper accent she noted, Old Tongue.

"Sister," she began, "I'm reminded, looking across the ocean and its calm today, of the sky the day we last sat together on the steps of the Hall of Servants in Paaran Disen."  A glimmer comes to his eye and he manages to blink it back.  "I wanted to give up then," a smile grows on his face that threatens to touch his eyes even as sadness builds there.  Obviously the happy memory, in his dark moment, is nearly too much to bear.

"But it was your conviction and courage, that fire in your eyes, your voice, your heart that not only stirred the Hall to hope when the world would say we had none but in me as well.  For that, and this dream that I am dying in, I can not begin to give you thanks enough.  Had you not earned the Name already if the world were as it was." The man carefully touches his knuckles to his lips and then puts it over his heart in a manner that was similar to what the Shienarans did still today.  Shevara smiled slightly at the look of reverence and love that came across his face, whoever the woman was that he had been speaking to, he must have cared for her deeply.

But his pause did not last, and his lovely face was once again lined heavy with regret.  "I'm afraid the news is not good and so I send to you this recorder in the hopes that it finds you before my compatriots do." The man swallowed a deep pause, his tone carrying mountains of emotion to a woman no one would ever know.

"Despite all the research, all your wisdom and advice and your prayers, the experiment has resulted in failure and worse for some.  The taint grew in those who offered themselves to the testing, and they are like their brothers before them." Shevara's brief smile faded, and her expession grew tight again, thinking of all the men she had come across over the last century that she had sworn herself to the Red Ajah.

"I fear some who know where you were held up are coming for you and your ajah.. and they are most assuredly in worse conditions than I, mentally.  Never fear though, I did not betray you I have kept my honor.  I know you will survive to reach your destination safely.  The man winces a moment, a touch to his head with his hand and his image wavers slightly as if it means to fade away.  

The first time Shevara had seen this, it had scared her, but now she understood.  The man was fighting his pain in order to hold the weaves together which had somehow recorded his image and voice the way Browns recorded words in a book with a pen.  He was, indeed, far gone and it was a testament to his love that he could keep his thoughts and wits enough to make this message.  

"I have stopped who I could but I lack the strength to cut the weaves of so many different portals.  And so now, I fear, the world is suffering as I record this message.  In not stopping them, I have failed them as a Servant, but I take little solace that I will not live to see what has been done.  This message, Sister, is my only consolation to the souls I and my brothers unwittingly have endangered and I fear that my gift to them must be a burden upon you."

The man wets his lips and seems to focus more intently as he continues, "Your speech to the Hall has remained with me these long days and nights.  In all this time I have contemplated what would become of the world should every man find himself in danger of being as we are, a sword at the throats of his sons and a plague of death upon his daughters, a misery which could only rot the soul of his wife just as I too am rotting, and I-"  The man grits his teeth and Shevara's voice wavered slightly.  

"I can not bear the thought of this more, than I ever loved this gift I have been given, which has now, through our arrogance, been turned into a curse.  And so I know without doubt or fear, what must be done. But Sister, I will not live to do it and so I must ask you and your ajah Sisters to take up your words spoken that day, from this day on, as an Oath."

"If ever you felt anything for our bond Sister, do not let this fate be that of our world.  Guardians of Humanity, that was what you called the Hall of Servants in this dark hour of the world and so you must promise to be always."

"Ever to Watch, and Ever to Guard not just their lives which are so fleeting in the Creator's sight, but to Ever Watch and Guard our world and the hope of a future.  A future which I know that you see with the greatest of clarity."  

"I have seen the love you have in your eyes and heart for even those who have hated you, and it is this strength to love that you must shelter in this storm of Ages.  Fan it to life in each young girl who comes to learn from you.  Show her how to not fear the dark and the end which comes to all things, or to selfishly hunt for and demand the Light for her own path, but to instead build up the Light within her own heart, so brightly, that it can shine as a guide for others who are so lost in this night that has fallen upon our world."

His lip quivers, and it clear the words that come next are a struggle.  "Love us enough to steal it away."  A pregnant pause leaves a silence that could be cut with a knife.  Perhaps the woman who was to hear this in the past did not know what he meant, but everyone in the room here in the Age of the Dragon Reborn, did.  

"Take the pleasure before it can be truly known to us Sister.  Steal Saidin from them that they may never feel it's song or it's sickness until a remedy is found."  The man's words were not spoken with eloquence at this point, though they were beautiful in their own way.

"In time, as with all things, these men will pass from our world and the madness will destroy the last of those who were once truly great and in that lull you and your ajah must go forward with that courage and love and seek out all would-be students where they reside and end their pain before their pain begins.  You must have the strength to grant them this mercy though they may die just the same for the loss, they need not suffer so greatly as...as those before them."  

"Let their families love them …if they have the strength and if they do not, you must be to them as you have to me."  The image of the beautiful man fades away and a rotting corpse stands in all it's agony where the man had been only a second before.  Clearly the recorder had beheld a powerful illusion the man had built around himself and this was the result, and the true tale of his terrible suffering.

"I can not come to you as THIS...thing!"  He nearly spit's the word.  "I can see you there now in your horror of me and my suffering, and how your Sisters must be comforting you, and it is in their embrace you must find your strength.  Let their love and care be your legs when you have none left to stand upon.  When all that you are is questioned and besmeared by the world when you are haunted by the memory of what you have done and hated for what you must do, in times when men have forgotten what my brothers and I have done to their world, THEY will remember.  THEY will love you as I have loved you."  His voice drops to a whisper another tear flowing down his cheek freely.  "I love you."

The man unsheathes his sword.  "The color of your banner Sister, let it be your reminder of those who have gone on in this task; for crimson shall be everywhere anyone can see for perhaps lifetimes to come... until the time when this malady afflicts us no more and we can again be as one."

"Look to it, and remember me fondly as I was and not as the monster I have become.  Remember my last service to all, and the last gift we shall all give when the last embrace of the mother welcomes us home.  Until the day we are together again Sister... I will rest well knowing that you keep the watch."  The man kneels and places the sword point to his stomach and slides the blade inward and pulls up and to the left quickly, the sight is as gruesome a thing as any Shevara had seen.

The image remains only a few moments, his red blood flowing smoothly out of him like a streaming crimson banner in the wind on a clear day.  Ironically, or perhaps by his last weave (though the Light alone knew how he managed such focus) the torrent pooled into a vague shape of the great seal, and there, after only a few more moments of a most holy silence, it was done.

Shevara looked straight at the Asha'man as the ter'angreal grew quiet.  "That, is why the Red Ajah exists.  That is why I will pledge to reaffim the treaty that already exists between the Black Tower and the White.  That is why this hostility and outbursts must stop.  We will have a lasting peace, but it must be based on respect and understanding.  Not the bitterness and resentment of false pride and assumptions.  If you can accept that, then we can continue.  If not, then I have nothing left to say."

-Shevara Edosian

The Watcher of the Seals

The Flame of Tar Valon

The Amyrlin Seat

OOC note: Mad props to Telcia, who wrote the original description of the ter'angreal and its message. :D

Here!

R&U!

It was a decidedly odd feeling to be allowing Asha'man into the White Tower, Shevara decided.  Right now, those men were on their way through Bonwhin's garden and would be led up the few floors to her study.  The Red Quarters were almost as far away.  And while Ramona Sedai would be gliding quickly, the Jerinia would run with her message.  It would be close. She paced the length of her antechamber while she waited, the colored tiles clicking beneath her heels.  

Shevara turned as she heard one of the heavy oak doors bang open and a girl in a banded dress rush in with a bag in her hand.

"Mother!  The Asha'man brought this!" Jerinia burst out.  

"Light and Honor, child!  Calm yourself!" The Amyrlin gave her a cold look as she held out her hand for the bag, which had a rather unpleasant odor.  Her face paled as she looked into the bag, and took a moment to resume her serene mask of Aes Sedai calm.  Why would they have brought a severed head?  What sort of men was she planning to deal with?  "Tell me quickly girl, did you run both ways?  How far behind you are they?"

She didn't get to hear the full answer before the door opened again and five Aes Sedai glided in, four in their Red shawls, and one in the stole of the Keeper.  Zarinen was carrying the small ter'angreal they called Bonwhin's Pride.  Shevara couldn't stop a relieved smile.  They were in time.  Whatever else happened now, they were in time.  

-Shevara Edosian

The Watcher of the Seals

The Flame of Tar Valon

The Amyrlin Seat

No, only a specified party is showing up from the BT.  They were all chosen (IC) to be offered as bondmates for the Aes Sedai and are arriving as an embassy.  After the treaty is reaffirmed, I'm sure your character would be welcome to visit the BT, as they are able to visit Tar Valon.

There will still be such a thing as mentors in the traditional sense of the word - an older, experienced figure who helps/guides/inspires a younger.  It is no longer a requirement that each character have such a figure.  So feel free to plan RPs with the novices and Accepted and develop such a relationship!  It will now be informal (OOC).

Still here.  Was waiting for Covai to post.  Guess I won't do that. :P

Iriana turned in surprise as she heard a voice behind her.  Her wide brown eyes grew wider still as she saw, of all people, a pregnant woman behind her.  This was decidedly odd.  She knew she had never before seen anyone like this woman.  Her mind did play odd tricks on her at times.  And what had the woman called her?  Child of the dream?  What did that mean?  She was no child!  Not anymore.  Of course, what was she to become now? 

"I am not...what you said," Iriana replied.  "I left childhood behind a long time gone."  Her features flickered with the ageless look of an Aes Sedai, to a woman in her sixties and back to her usual face.  She did not appear to notice.  She looked troubled now, "I cannot say that I like this dream very much.  Just a month out of the testing and not to be given the shawl now, and this is what my mind chooses to dwell on.  I should think that getting myself out of this predicament would be far more important than a fantasy jaunt to whatever wasteland this is.  And here you are," she cocked her head to one side, her neat brown hair falling about her shoulders, and then suddenly caught up in a bun at the back of her head.  "Why would I dream about someone like you?  I left dreams of a family behind long ago too.

"Well, dream, I am Iriana Tenialle.  Who might you be when you're at home?"

-Iriana Tenialle

Quite Confused

The Staff and Stole is the HQ of the Red E&E in the city, lots of sisters hang out there.  It even had a page on the Red Ajah website for a while! :D

Also remember that the only Asha'man who may go to the WT are the ones involved in bonding in the first wave.  Anyone else is free to listen to the speech & react, but just that small hand-picked group will go.

"Stop right there, child."

The Amyrlin's icy voice cut through the air as she surveyed the devastation that Jerinia left in her wake.  She walked swiftly over to Ramona and helped the woman up, Healing the knot on her cheekbone.  The other sister shivered as she was Healed and thanked the Amyrlin before bending to gather up her fallen papers.  Shevara turned cool blue eyes on the Accepted, who had indeed frozen just inside the doorway.

"Jerinia," the Amyrlin sighed.  "I didn't catch a word of what you were saying.  Tell it again.  And slower this time."

She listened intently as the girl repeated her message at a much more reasonable speed.  Light!  Asha'man in the gardens!  Even with the treaty in force Shevara had not expected this turn of events.  Silly of the child to think that her practice at weaving could bring them here.  Jerinia had a good head, when she chose to use it, and would be a good Aes Sedai.  But she was further from raising than Shevara thought if this was what she had come up with! 

"Jerinia, your channeling practice had nothing whatever to do with the arrival of these men.  They have the weave for Travelling, as the Aes Sedai do.  Your practice was an unfortunate coincidence.  However, we must act quickly here.  I want you to go back down to the gardens, but do not run.  Speak to one of the Reds you find there and ask her to have the ambassadors from the Black Tower escorted with all respect to my waiting room."  She eyed the girl sharply, "And Jerinia, speak to no one about what you have seen or heard."

She watched as the girl left, and turned to Ramona.  "You know what this means, Sister?"  The Red nodded, her brown eyes sharp.  Oh yes, the head of the Red Eyes and Ears network was a sharp woman indeed.  "Go to Zarinen's quarters, daughter.  Tell the women you find there to attend me with all haste."  She paused, could she trust this woman?  Well, it seemed she would be given little choice.  Shevara's chin raised a fraction as she spoke, "Tell her to bring with her Bonwhin's Pride."

-Shevara Edosian

The Amyrlin Seat

Serge grunted at the news of the M'Hael's demise.  Well, that was a surprise.  An odd choice to take over from Dalinar, but he did well enough.  The madness, though, that could take anyone at any time.  Even the M'Hael was not immune.  He knew enough of that from his experience preparing the cup of sleep.  He did not like to think of the day when he may need that cup for himself.  He finished the weave and let it sink into Martyn's arm.  The raw redness faded to blisters, to smooth red skin, to healthy pink.  Martyn showed little reaction as his arm knitted itself back into shape.  A good soldier. 

Serge rubbed his hands together as he stepped back to give the other man space to test his arm.  "No so bad a wound, all things considered.  You did have no broken bones, only a very nasty burn.  If you do feel too tired, you can be resting yourself on the cot for a spell.  If no, I do need your help to fetch others who may be injured from the fighting." 

Some had come in on their own, so many it seemed.  How many more were unable to bring themselves to the infirmary.  More than his small skill could handle.  "Do you know the Healing weaves yourself?"

-Serge Karminov

Asha'man

We can do a whole little Tamra/Moiraine scene, Shevara can tell Jerinia to keep her mouth shut, and send her to take the random person to the infirmary after.  The Reds you're supposed to fetch are all in a super-sekrit meeting.  So you'll get to keep your mouth shut on that one as well. :D

Elgee, I think we can make it work.  No one but the Reds knows they are *bonded*, but it would be difficult to conceal that they met with the Amyrlin and she reaffirmed the treaty.  That part will be announced, if only to explain the presence of all the Asha'man in the city.  And heck, Jerinia could be the source of the leak later on if we want to play it that way. :P

The Bowl of the Winds.  Shevara nodded curtly.  A simple enough name for a ter'angreal that could change the world.  It would be lovely to have the weather behaving again as it should.  Why, it was past the turning of the year and outside it still felt like summer's heat.  If this Bowl worked as expected, it would be a wonderous find indeed.  She tapped her finger on the illustration as she thought. 

"Yes, Claire, I believe you are correct.  An embassy is certainly warranted, and your suggestion of a Gray to lead it is a good one.  I believe Ziya would do well.  She is from Ebou Dar.  You bring up some good thoughts on the Sea Folk as well.  I would very much like to know how it is that they created such a ter'angreal and if there are any unsuspected wilders among them.  The blood can grow quiet for a few generations when there is no one to ignite the spark.  And I don't have to remind you how secretive they are, especially with Aes Sedai."  She closed the book and pushed it aside as she plucked a fresh sheet of parchment from the stack at the corner of her desk. 

"I would have you take this missive to Ziya, and explain to her as you have to me about the Bowl and the Seafolk.  I want this kept as quiet as possible, no need to let the world know that the Aes Sedai are not certain of what it is we are looking for or its location.  I want her to take enough sisters to use the Bowl, if found, but I want them chosen to blend in.  Young sisters without the ageless look, or those who hail from Ebou Dar.  If there is a sister from the Atha'an Miere that can be sent, all the better."  She blotted the letter quickly and sealed it with the Flame of Tar Valon.

"And Claire," she said as she handed the sheet over, "Do be careful when you work with the ter'angreal storerooms, I cannot afford to lose you."

-Shevara Edosian

The Amyrlin Seat

Serge's mouth dropped open in surprise at the sudden influx of men to the infirmary.  He had heard some ruckus outside, but had assumed it was part of one of the training classes.  Someone must have misstepped badly to have injured so many in training.  He stepped forward to help a man with a wounded arm and delved him without bothering to ask.  He wouldn't be here if he didn't need help.  The arm was his only major injury.  Serge led him to a cot in case he fainted from the shock of Healing.  It had been known to happen.  Cupping his hands over the burn he began the complicated weave of Healing. 

"What did happen out there?  I did feel the amounts of saidin being channeled.  Did it be an accident in the training classes?  Or did some poor fool be taken by the madness?  Be it over?  Or do I be needing to prepare the cup of sleep?"  He spoke in a calm flat tone, resigned to the necessity, while hating himself for becoming so inured to it. 

-Serge Karminov

Asha'man

Jeh, edit out the bit with the Keeper.  She's not there at the moment. :D

Once you do that, I'll get you to give the message one more time and send ya off to get a few particular Reds. :D

I quite like 'Red is the New Black' for the meeting with the Amyrlin/Reds and the Asha'man!

The idea is for the BT boys to have some WT folks to write with while all the PCs are getting the messages that the BTers have arrived and give them time to RP their reactions and meeting up with the Amrylin before the Asha'man get there.

These characters won't be bonding anyone.  They are just the ones present in the garden when the BTers show up.  So just some quick character interactions and escort duty, then sent on their way once the Sitters & Highest show up. :)

Based on the speed of the RP so far, it would likely be 3-6 months before the second wave of Asha'man come through and are bonded to/by Ajahs other than Red.