"Come!" Shevara called absently, continuing with the orders she was penning.  She could get up, but then she would likely lose her stream of thought and have to begin over agian.  She was starting to rely on Raslyn too much, she thought ruefully, when she couldn't be bothered even to answer the door properly.  This business of being Amyrlin was bloody inconvenient at times.  Burn Larindhra for forcing her into this mess!  And now she had to be uncertain of even that old friend.  Plots within schemes.  It seemed like her whole world was a tangle of plots within schemes.

Looking up, she saw Claire, and felt some of that stress ease.  The elderly Brown was one of the three women that she was certain she could trust.  And she, at least, had a good head on her shoulders.  Shevara gave a genuine smile and waved Claire toward one of the chairs on the opposite side of her desk.  She signed her name with a flourish and pushed the single sheet of parchment aside.  The sealing could be done later.  Swirling the goose quill in an already muddied jar of water, she looked at Claire expectantly.

"Well?  What brings you here, daughter?"

\o/

I can send you an outline of the RP plan, which is only 3-5 years before the main timeline.  If your sister is newly raised in the main timeline we could fudge it a bit and it should work out fine. :)

I can fit you in as a sister that Iriana communicates with once the MoN discovers that she has the Dreamwalking Talent, and we can go train with the Aiel together.  I would think that with the MoN's help Veria would have just a rudimentary understanding of the rules of Tel'aran'rhiod, right?

I currently am at the start of an approved RP for my Accepted to train with the Wise Ones.  When would yours be in the timeline, Nephi?  Perhaps you can piggyback onto my RP if you want to do a similar plotline?

Help! I need somebody,

Help! Not just anybody,

Help! You know I need someone,

Help!

When I was younger, so much younger than today,

I never needed anybody's help in any way,

But now these days are gone and I'm not so self assured,

Now I find I've changed my mind I've opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,

And I do appreciate you being around,

Help me get my feet back on the ground,

Won't you please please help me?

-"Help!", The Beatles

Iriana stepped outside of her room on her way to another useless day in the gardens...and stopped when she took a good look at her surroundings.  It was another of those too vivid dreams that seemed to happen when she was under stress--which seemed a near constant lately.  The colors were bright and there was a strange sense of light, even though none of the lamps in the hallway were lit.  Not to mention the awareness that she had fallen asleep and that this was indeed a dream.  It had been more than a bit strange when she had realized that awareness of her dreaming state seemed to have little impact on the situation.  Unlike in a usual dream, she did not wake at that realization, and somehow, she could still feel a part of herself was deeply asleep.  Well nothing to do but go ahead.

As she walked, she thought about the problems that had brought her here, yet again.  It had been nearly a month since she had passed her test for the Shawl, and then been unable to attain it because of her cursed inability to speak a few simple words.  She was worthy, she knew she was, and the rest of the Tower knew it too, but there were rules to be followed.  Aes Sedai were very fond of their rules.  After several hours of discussion between the Mistress of Novices and the Amyrlin, Iriana had been given a status of something more than an Accepted.  She could choose how her time was spent and no longer was required to do chores, she could wear any dress she wanted, and she had been moved to a room away from the others in the Accepted Quarters that had been given completely new furnishings.  A large step up, to be sure.  But she could not choose an Ajah or have the other privileges that came with being a sister.  Surely the Browns would find a solution soon!  She needed some way out of this.  She closed her eyes and clenched her fists in frustration as she thought that living the rest of her life at a step above the Accepted would drive her slowly mad. 

She started as a blast of heat hit her, and when she opened her eyes she was certainly not in the familiar hallways of the Tower.  Well.  This was new.  Always before her especially vivid dreams had all been in places she knew.  Most often in the Tower, but sometimes in the city of Tar Valon, and sometimes in her childhood home of Arafel.  But never in a place like this.  She looked around at the barren landscape of cracked earth, short scrub brush, and withered trees.  Where was this place?  Far to the south?  She had never been farther south than Tar Valon, and she had heard of people speak of the swealtering summer heat of Illian and Tear.  But those were port cities, and this land certainly had very little in the way of water.  Odd.  She took a few steps and nearly scared herself half to death with her own shrieks when she almost stepped on a small mottled brown snake.  She flicked a weave of fire at it and watched it burn with a very satisfied hiss.  "That for ill dreams!" she said, enjoying the feel of the words in her mouth.  Her dreams were the only place where she could speak, if only to herself.  If only there were someone else around.  It would be nice to have a real conversation.  She did sometimes, often really, in her usual dreams.  She dreamed of teaching a class without having to resort to akward gestures or frantic scribblings, to be able to answer a question in a class, or to just gossip with a friend.  But there was never anyone around to talk to in these sort of dreams.  She sighed and kicked at the corpse of the snake in frustration.

-Iriana Tenialle

Something more than Accepted

First Trip to Rhuidean: (0/3 posts)

What it Means to be Wise:

Chores/Punishment: (0/4 posts)

Second Trip to Rhuidean:

Aven Sedai Atha’an:

Herbal Healing (optional):

May I have a copy of the ji'e'toh document too? I'm curious, and my Wise One is s'posed to follow ji'e'toh too. :D

Well, I don't think that any of us have posted our Rhuidean trips yet, so you're still good. :)

After that, we all need everything!  So where ever you want us to start should be good! :D

Dulcinea nodded in response to Thera's bow, she was unused to such curtesies from the Gaidin.  She gave a smile in response to Thera's own, and answered the unspoken question. 

"Just Dulcinea while we are in the Yards, if you please Mistress Thera.  It is I who am the student in this place, and I thank you for the time you are willing to spend on my instruction."  It cost nothing to be polite, after all.  And every word true.  She had been ordered to be here, yes, but she was a rank beginner in the way of mundane weapons.  She would need this woman's good will and years of experience teaching more than she needed her own ego fed. 

As they headed toward to armory, Thera asked her if she knew what sort of weapons she would like to learn.  The question surprised Dulcinea, although she supposed it should not have.  She had simply assumed that there were certain things a beginner was taught, and prescribed steps to be followed.  Apparently that was not the case.

"I had not thought of it," she admitted, ruefully, "While I watched my father train soldiers as I grew up, it has been many years since then.  I know little more of weapons and warfare than 'stick them with the pointy end', which is a start, I suppose.  Please, assume I am a new trainee fresh from some lordling's manor.  What would you have me learn?"

-Dulcinea Velasques

Recruit of the Green Ajah

The RP wasn't stopped because people couldn't get along, it was because a lot of the main players left, and there was a lot of staff turnover in the involved Divs.  I was talking to Raeyn about this last night, and I'd like to see the last three phases of the approved plotline finished out, rather than nine (:o) new phases added.

\o/

And Quis, as our fearless leader, you should totally make a new Aiel too! :D

Weapons training with the Warders:

http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,39965.0.html

Also waiting for my tour & then battle weaves to start.  Will link ya when it's up. :)

Lots of good info on Blue traditions in New Spring! :D

Iriana alternated between fidgeting nervously and grinning with pride as she waited for the Mistress of Novices.  Last night, she had finally, finally, been tested for the shawl, and had passed.  It had been easy.  Well, as easy as it could be given the circumstances, she was sure.  But she hadn't faltered once, hadn't had a false start on a single weave, and hadn't broken her composure.  Well, not enough to count anyway.  The Aes Sedai testing her had marvelled that she had so few injuries after the testing.  Well, of course, she had spent almost the last forty years preparing for that one event.  More than enough time to have done everything exactly right.  Forty years as an Accepted, and it ended today!

She composed herself as she heard the knock on her door, and glided to open it.  Outside stood the Mistress of Novices, Larindhra Sedai, along with a sister from every Ajah.  They were all wearing their fringed shawls.  She nodded to each of them and they surrounded her as the group moved in silence through the Tower.  She kept her hands still, though she wanted to fidget, to pick at her skirts, to be doing something.  It had all been explained to her, the changes that would be made to the usual ceremony.  The Aes Sedai all seemed so confident, so certain.  But if that was the case, why had it taken so many years to come to this conclusion.  She should have been Aes Sedai thirty years gone.  At least women who used the One Power aged slowly.  At almost seventy, Iriana had barely a gray hair.  And she had noted that her worry lines were few and far between.  It was strange still, to have people think that her sister was her mother, or grandmother, when she came to visit.  And after today, she would be Aes Sedai.  She had never seen an Aes Sedai who looked old, or one who had worry lines, for that matter.  She supposed she would be the first.  She had certainly had enough to worry about these past forty years.

As the small group approached the room where she had been tested, Larindhra Sedai smiled at her.  "I will speak your part for you, Iriana.  Have no worry, it is almost done."

Iriana blinked, but smiled back.  A breach of protocol, yes, but a necessary one, considering the circumstances.  She had almost forgotten the ritual phrases that were to be spoken, that she must have help with.  Larindhra Sedai pushed open the door and Iriana heard the Amrylin speak.

"Who comes here?"

"Iriana Tenialle," the Mistress of Novices replied smoothly.

“For what reason does she come.”

“To swear the three oaths and thereby claim the shawl of an Aes Sedai.”

“By what right does she claim this burden?”

“By right of having made the passage, submitting herself to the will of the White Tower.”

“Then let her enter, if she dares, and bind herself to the White Tower.”

Iriana held her head up and back straight as she walked toward the Amyrlin.  She saw groups of Aes Sedai all around the room, all the sitters and one extra Aes Sedai from each Ajah, all holding shawls fringed in the Ajah's color.  She stepped through the oval ring ter'angreal, silent and still now, and knelt in front of the Amyrlin.  She watched as the Amyrlin lifted the Oath Rod from it's cushion and handed it to her.  The rod looked a bit like aged ivory, but felt as smooth as glass as Iriana held it in her hands. 

"Nod your assent, Iriana, as I speak each of the Oaths.  Your intent to be bound should be enough," said the Amyrlin with a smile.  "Iriana Tenialle, by the Light and your hope of salvation and rebirth, do you vow to speak no word that is not true?"

Iriana nodded solemnly.  Nothing happened. 

The Amyrlin hesitated.  "Did you feel the Oath tighten around you, Iriana?"

Iriana shook her head slowly, she hadn't known she was supposed to feel anything.  Of course, she had heard some new Aes Sedai speak of the tightness of the Oaths, but she had thought they meant that the new constraints were difficult to get used to following, not that there was any physical discomfort.  Obviously she had been wrong, and the Amrylin had been waiting for some reaction.  But there had been nothing, no tightening.  Her eyes grew wide in panic, what was to become of her now?

-Iriana Tenialle

Not an Aes Sedai

When a new sister is raised, the sixth sister who gives her the welcome kiss is entitled to a pie baked by the new sister.  It's from New Spring. :)

Dulcinea sighed as she realized that there really was no point in applying cosmetics today, as she was certain sweat them right off again in the next hour.  Jaydena had said she would be a recruit, and that the training to be a Green would be hard.  She had not been exaggerating by a hair.  It was true what all the Aes Sedai had told her while she was still an Accepted: there was as much to learn after attaining the shawl as there was before.  And she didn't even have her shawl yet!  Growling a bit at her reflection, she pulled her unruly black mass of curls into a smeblance of a bun and secured it with a tied off flow of Air.  Messy, but at least now it would stay in place.  With her hair back and her bold features the starker without her paints and powders, she looked very masculine indeed.  She impishly stuck her tongue out at herself and decided she definitely would wear the divided linen skirts.  It was at least a touch of femininity.  Light knew the loose linen blouse did nothing for her figure.  A pair of solid shoes with no heel completed the days outfit.  Well enough.  She wasn't going to win any beauty contests today.  As she left, she strapped on the dagger she had been given as a Recruit of the Green Ajah.

Yesterday, she had been informed that there was to be more to her training that simply saidar and the traditions of the Green Ajah.  She must also learn to fight with mundane weapons in case she was ever in a situation where the use of the Power was either impractical, or simply impossible.  And since the sisters were all too busy to teach her, she must learn from the warders.  She arrived at the practice yard shortly after the sun came up, and before the bell tolled the hour.  In plenty of time for her scheduled appointment.  She looked around, a bit self-consciously.  This was her first visit here since attaining the rank of Aes Sedai.  It had been a forbidden location for so long that it still felt a bit strange to be here of her own will, and unaccompanied by an Aes Sedai.  The thought made her laugh ruefully.  She was Aes Sedai herself now, and could even escort novices and Accepted here if she wanted to!  Well, certainly those were thoughts for another time.  Today, she was to wait for the Mistress of Training, Thera.  She stood on the edge of the yard and watched a few of the sparring pairs as she waited for her teacher.

-Dulcinea Velasques

Recruit of the Green Ajah

I meant all set on the name. :P  You said 'first name' like you wanted there to be a surname to go along with. :P

Aiel only have first names!  The only clan you can be is Dragonmount (or Shaido if you want to play all by your lonesome :P).  You're all set! \o/

Well, I sent in a bio last night, so you'll have an apprentice shortly! :D

Wow, lots of possible apprentices!  Hope we can find someone to teach 'em! :)

Would definitely be fun to have someone to write with! 

So I guess we need people to take us *both* through the training! :D

I was thinking of making a Wise One character, and wanted to see if there was anyone around to take me through the training before I submit a bio. :) 

So, who's got an Aiel character?

Love 'em! :D

You're it, I believe!

I do think you have a couple of aspiring Blues who I'm sure would love to help out.  Posting on the Secret Whisper Hole board is a good way to flush them out.

I'm around with my Amyrlin character if you need her for any plotsy-ness. :)

Ha! That's a goldmine!

The womyn/humyn thing was something I did in college when I had time to keep up with it.  I was very into Women's studies, and during that time there was a big push for alternate spellings for those words since English has no gender neutral pronoun.  It's something that has pretty much died out now.  While I applaud the effort, and rather wish it had taken off, I stopped using it myself because I didn't have enough time to keep up with all the questions I would get over e-mail/PM. :P