As tempting as it was to show the young man that an Aes Sedai wasn't scared off as easily as a couple of rowdy songs, she decided against it.  Though he might be interesting in finding out that she had once been a bar maid in Tar Valon to a place with a rather rowdy reputation to that very day, she doubted he would believe as much.  Or that in her travels around the world she frequented that sort of establishment to find the agents for her eyes and ears.  Lillian had done the same and their combined network could probably give them a set of bawdy tales that would set even this youngsters cheeks red.  Light, she'd been to far worse than this in Cairhein with Aran.  Not that she would ever tell another about that trip and the places she had seen.  Far better to forget she had ever witnessed it, though that thought in itself was impossible.

She sighed at his question and gave the answer that was the most true.  "If I hadn't been found by a Sister I suppose I would have found myself married off to a rich merchant or perhaps a minor noble." She said with a small smile.  "Someone of standing whose House I could have built upon and whose name would have been honored by my work.  But such a life wasn't meant for me.  It is not too late for you, you know.  A wife and an Inn are not so far away if you truly wished it." She mentioned, wondering about the boys real commitment to the Guard.

Aramina Sedai

Let me check with Arette and see if she gave you a WS or not while I was out.  Typically though, the highest you can start is a 5.  The bio might show a high degree of proficiency, but your character will be starting with a new style of fighting (and we want to make sure we have time to see them grow into their skills. :P  We don't like to start people too high and give no room for personal growth :P  And yes... I do this :P way too often)  But I want to check with our darling GL since she was filling in for me while I was doing the Ho Ho Ho thing.

Alrighty.. actually getting around to putting some things up for him :P  If I understand my reqs right, this should put Sana at a WS 11.

WS 8 to WS 9 -

The TG Dance- Part One  http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,24278.0.html

WS 9 to WS 10 -

The TG Dance - Part Two http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php?topic=24280.new;topicseen#new

WS 10 to WS 11 (2 reqs)

1)*Training of Sahra Coventry: Adjusting to New Roles: http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11610 (WS 1-2)

*Training of Sahra Coventry: On the Open Road http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,13425.0.html) &

What happens in Cairhien, stays in Cairhien (http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,18912.0.html) (WS 4-5)

2)*Training of Sahra Coventry: Mission Impossible http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,17964.0.html &

Mission Accomplished http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,22279.0.html) (WS 6-7)

*Training of Sasha Daleb: Learning to Control Emotion http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,19063.0.html (WS 3-4)

Thanks all for the quick bio check and CC :P  You guys rocked while I was out!

She closed the gap between them, slowly and only enough to touch his hand, but it was a gesture.  A comfort if he wanted it as he spoke.  She could feel the pain from him, could remember her own too easily.  The first howling had come far easier than what had happened when she had found herself in this place, alone outside the world she had always known. Anton had been there and guided her down the path to finding herself again.  It was time for her to do the same now.

"You are not alone, and you will never have to be again.  Most people fear us because they don't understand.  They don't know and don't want to.  Because of that, we gather those like us, the wolfkin, and we live in peace together.  There is a place I can take you.  It is far from here, but there are others of our kind there and we will help you learn to live with this.  And I hope, in time, to accept it as a gift.  I know it may seem impossible now, but every day reveals something new to us.  That is the blessing of the Creator if there ever was one.  Come with me, and I will try to show this blessing to you as I see it."

Timewalker 

She hadn't come across it on her own yet, but she had always known it was bound to happen.  Someone coming from a life that would make it almost impossible to accept what they were.  Someone that would hate themselves just for being.  She had nothing to fight that, except the truth and her own fervent belief that she was blessed with this, not cursed.  She just had to hope that over time they would find a way to give this man peace if her own words couldn't.

She shook her head slightly.  "This is no thing of the Dark One.  I have followed the Light as long as I have lived and I have felt the torture of Darkfriends to betray those that followed the Light.  Tortured and threatened worse if I did not betray my fellows and their location so the Darkfriends could kill them."  Her accent became a little thicker with her emotion so she took a deep breath, trying to calm the pain of the memory.  No history books told of her capture by Darkfriends after Manetheren had fallen, or of the Wolfkin who had escaped it's fall because of their missions as messengers, but for her the long ago past was not so far distant and the pain still remained fresh to be picked upon.  She hadn't talked much about it, not even to Anton who knew her best. 

"I was not always called TimeWalker.  The way of the wolf's language is not the same as our own.  TimeWalker is what they see me as.  The woman I was before this, she is long gone.  I would rather be remembered as TimeWalker than to let that name live on.  It is ... a choice we all make at some point.  You cast aside your armor and cloak, I a name.  We are not so different I think."

She smiled again, but it was sad.  "We are something old, our kindred.  Not of the One Power, but something else.  You are not touched by the Dark One, nor is this a curse unless you believe it to be.  I cannot speak for the Children of the Light, but I say a man's actions, not his eyes, make him a good person.  Do you judge me to be evil because of my eyes?  Or will you see me as a good person, because I have come a long way to try to help you through this difficult time?"

She reached a hand to him, not enough to touch, but in compassion.  "And it is always a difficult time.  None of us chose this, but you are not alone.  We can help you learn to control the urges, to learn to harness the abilities you gain, and to accept it before it can hurt you."

Timewalker

So, we were talking about our wonderful Newsletter, the Flame, and thought it was time to see what everyone thought of it.  Please, don't just vote.  We're asking to know what our dear members would like to see in a newsletter because, let's face it, we don't want to work on it if no one is going to read it.  So... let us know if you want to know more about the intimates in Aramina's lingerie drawer, or if your fascinated by the number of eyeglasses Maegan breaks in a year :P 

This is your chance to tell us what you want.  More recommended threads?  More character info?  More details on the people who rp themselves?  Or something i've completely left off the list???  Let us know so we can make the Flame worthy of her readers :P

And in case you don't know what i'm talking about (shame on you! :P)  here is the last edition of the Flame: http://www.dragonmount.com/OurCommunity/?p=137

At first she thought she was going to have a fight on her hands.  She didn't understand why he was talking about fighting the Dark One but it didn't bode well for her.  But then, as quickly as those words had come, another set came.  The eyes gave them away to others, but it was those same eyes that let them know their own kind when they saw it as well.  She took a deep breath and nodded at his question. 

"Yes I am like you.  And I found you because of the wolves.  They let me know that you were here and as they have told me, they let you know that I would be here as well."  She took a deep breath, then walked closer.  He had a sword and wasn't afraid to pull it, she was certain, but she needed to show trust.  Needed to show it as much as he probably needed to see it actually.  So she moved a few steps towards him so that he could see her more easily.  Light blond hair flew freely in the wind and golden eyes moved over him, eyes that had once been ice blue, regarding him in a friendly manner.  Her clothes were blue, simple in design, trousers and tunic that were good for her work and yet soft.  She had even let them talk her into putting a little embroidery where the seamstress could just to prove she was a woman.  She had laughed at the time, but she had caught someone looking at her more than once and appreciated the small feminine touches now.  Her pack was off the road along with her walking stick that could double as a weapon if need be.  She hadn't wanted to worry her new friend with such thoughts and as a man of weapons, he would surely have seen the walking stick for what it could be.

"Would you like to sit and talk?  The wolves say you have been restless.  We could rest a little while together, and talk about this thing, if you would like?" She gave him a warm smile, one that lit her eyes and had sent many a boy to lust before the wolf had become a part of her.  "My name is Timewalker."

Timewalker

Sana looked up for a second, considering her question.  "I don't really think about it too often.  I mean, I suppose if there was someone that needed me and that I felt was doing something worth the risk, then I would, but it's not something i've looked for."  He smiled at her.  "It's not like I know that many Aes Sedai.  Less than a handful and I doubt any of them would be too interested in little ole me."

He laughed at the thought of it.  "I think they all look for a Blademaster, or perhaps a stoic spymaster, but it's not really me, is it.  I can lay my life on the line, but i'm not sure i'm cut out for all that.  So I suppose only time will answer that question.  You know, I really only thought i'd be in the warder's Yard for a couple months at most.  I thought i'd go back to my family train and be a better guard for them.  Maybe someone that could be paid as a guard when they brought other people to travel with them.  Never thought i'd actually stay.  So I don't know that I could answer that question well since nothing i've ever had planned for my life has worked out the way I thought it would."

Luckily enough, he was looking away from her or he was certain she would have seen the small thought in the back of his mind.  The thought that reminded him of how he had once thought things would turn out with he and Sahra.  Oh, they seemed to be heading in the same direction again, but he would never have thought anything could have come between them as Fior had.  He would never have dreamed it and would never have thought himself still waiting and hoping the girl would have enough sense to want him when it was all done and over.

Ursana

Sana understood exactly what she meant when she said they hadn't danced yet. He understood perfectly why she moved a little further away from him.  In fact, he understood completely why she was sitting on someone else's lap.  Nothing could make him want her less than he did at that moment and nothing could stop it either.  It was as inevitable as the dawn.  She was no longer his trainee now.  She was just his.  He could wait out an hour or two if he had to.  Light, he'd waited years.  His patience could handle a little longer.  In fact, it made him smile a bit that she felt she needed the space to behave herself.  Well, Sahra had always been the impatient one.  Something he liked about her and which had also driven him beyond distraction for a very long time.

But she was his now.  Her eyes told him that when he had walked in.  The same eyes that had been telling him that for a while now but he had looked away, unable to return it because of the duty he felt.  No need to worry now.  He paced himself though and as they began telling stories, he began alternating between water and ale.  He was not about to pass out drunk  before the night was through.

Ursana.. always thinking ahead :P

Aramina didn't know what to think of the lad, nor his  talking to her as if she were just another woman and not an Aes Sedai but it was something to take advantage of from time to time.  It wasn't often someone tried to forget what she was, or was foolish enough to, and it was always good to have an ear on what people really thought.  She smiled at him as he asked about her own life. 

"Cairhein, yes.  Though I grew up in the countryside around the main city.  I was only 19 when I came to the White Tower to learn the many arts that an Aes Sedai must master. Not like the training of the Yards i'm afraid, though i've studied a little of that as well."  She smiled at the memory of her training.  Orion was a rather stoic man, but his manner and methods had worked well with her. As had his employment of Alric who had softened her a bit.  Enough for Michael to come along anyway.  "In my younger days I learned my sword forms from Orion, Estel Sedai's warder, though he was not bonded at the time."  That the man had bonded the Blue Sister still managed to bring a deal of frustration to mind.  He was better than the Blue simpleton but each man had his own path to take and she had no right to dictate his life when all she had of him were memories of lessons.  None of friendship.  It was the life she had  long ago chosen and though it often rang hollow, there were other things that filled her.

Aramina Sedai

Ursana looked up as Lyssa came to the table.  He had been about to answer the Aes Sedai when the Tower Guard's appearance saved him.  Again.  He was far more likely to make a fool of himself if he managed to get into a long conversation with people so he was more than happy to let himself be distracted with newcomers.  Especially one who had stood for him today.  He hadn't known Lyssa through Aran before, but not well as he spent most of his time on training or trying to catch up with his estranged sister.  Not so estranged now, but at one time and he had never gotten over the feeling that he had wronged her all those years.  Not now that he had come to aspire to be what she had chosen as well.  He smiled at Lyssa as she joined them, unsure about the package she had put on the table before them. 

"A few more ales and i'll feel just fine.  And when I wake up in the morning i'll realize this all really happened and then you can ask me how I feel."  He said with a laugh. 

Ursana

It wasn't helping at all.  Light help her, she was beginning to think it was making things worse.  She had learned to begin taking her time to make sure the Wanderer wasn't a threat to her, but in this instance she was pretty sure that watching him was just setting herself up for more trouble.  He was getting spooked and it was the last thing she wanted.  He held his weapon like he knew how to use it and spooked and sword-trained didn't really bode well in her opinion.

Taking a deep breath she began moving, as fast as she could and keep it quiet.  The path before him opened into a long straight stretch the wolves had shown her and she intended to be at the far end of it so that he wasn't surprised by her appearance.  Being a woman was likely to help her out there, but she wasn't about to take that for granted.  It certainly hadn't helped her in her previous life. 

She pushed that thought out of her head.  Dark friends and torture, the gray windowless, doorless room still filled her mind with a queasy easiness but she was here for a reason.  She felt the raged edge of the rock she kept tied to her belt and took a deep breath, feeling more grounded as the rock bit into flesh.  She doubted even Anton knew what the rock was for, but it made her feel better anyway.  The small pain helped keep her focused on the now, not on the past life that intruded to easily.

She made her way to the straight away and as she reached the middle, she decided it was enough space.  He had time to see her and if he started for her, she had time to make a run for it.  There was no doubt the moment he saw her, nor the caution he felt at her sudden appearance.  The wolves had been no help of course.  They had thought it a perfect idea to let the Wanderer know she was there.  She wished sometimes they would ask before they did things, but that wasn't the nature of a wolf, even the ones you knew well.  No matter what else you might call a wolf, tame was not one of them.  Not even if you had hand fed it from a pup.  The fact that they were in Amadacia was no help either.  Though they were even less likely to move among people here, they didn't see that someone from Amadacia might have more concern about becoming one of them.  They didn't understand the teachings of the Children of the Light or their views on wolves and their kind.  She'd tried to explain it, but what did they care about the teachings of the two legged who didn't talk to them? 

As the man came a little closer she smiled.  Slowing her speech so that her words were understandable through her accent she waved.  "Hello friend.  I think you have been expecting me?"  Light, it didn't seem like the first few moments ever got less nerve wrecking for her.  Her accent was foreign in this time and place and she was always afraid her words wouldn't be understood.  And if her words were understood ... well what happened after that was more than enough to worry anyone.  Still, she waited, smile on her face, the same as someone had done for her not so long ago.

Timewalker

(If you want to read more about her, you can find her bio here: http://taeadawn.wordpress.com/about/anabel/)

I think the idea of perks works for the people that are active but aren't sure they want to take it on.  An enticement to get them to step up.  But you're right if someone takes it just because no one else will, it still won't work.  But for the WT wide Rp.. there is one up currently.  The Bubble of Light and I haven't seen much activity on that one.  Can everyone throw out an announcement to your ajahs about this?  Maybe if we all promote it just a little we'll get some action going there.

The person to person rp is a good idea too, one i've sent along to the Green Ajah and White Ajah's recently.  The White Ajah Head (at least) seemed interested in it, but I think they were waiting for the holiday madness to try to hit it up again.

Wow... well... Aramina was supposed to do this whole finding out who her father was thing also :P  I took a 5 year LOA when she was an Accepted though and when I came back it wasn't all that important.  On the other side, she DOES know now and though it's not been revealed its sort of why she has a very nasty relationship with a certain House in Cairhein :P  Thanks to Aran and his friends she doesn't really have to worry about that too much anymore.    Plans for the future?  Um... a nasty incident that I take it from Arette's post i'm not supposed to divulge just yet :P  Perhaps a bonding because I have always intended her to bond to her max (any warder takers? :P) um... the only plans for a future for her are a lot of emotional trauma and some chance to become an emotionally available person in the near to distance future :P  And for her to be Keeper for longer than the last one stayed in office :P

Zalena... I don't have a long term goal for her just yet.  A warder probably because she's bound to meet someone she hits it off (the odds are for her there... :P).  But nothing real yet.  She's too new and I tend to let my characters take a life of their own.  Or try to anyway :P 

And that's it in the WT.

And since Nano is long since done and I believe James is computerless at the moment, i'll ask again for him.  Any takers on this rp? 

Well I know how I feel about it.... my poor Green Ajah!  What will Rory do to you????  :P

Welcome to the Greens Sam!  Now you will HAVE to Rp with me :P  Muhwahhhwahhhwahhhhh...

And welcome back to our dearest Halvie!  Glad to see you around again!

OK.. back from leave and chiming in.  The first i'll say is... sorry.  The original adding points thing was supposed to be skill, not strength.  That was just bad typing on my part... sorry :P  Because I agree that we should only be adding skill and not strength points for the WT.

On the Ajah thing... I don't think they should necessarily be Ajah specific.  I like the idea of keeping it open.  Giving the Ajah Head their choice of what 'benefit' they should get out of it.  IE: Maybe i've always wanted to have a wilder but never was able to have one... so that would be my benefit... or someone else always wanted a really strong Sedai and so they get to add that +3 skill to their strongest character... whatever they want.

Also... as for the Ajah activity ... we've asked all the Ajah Heads to come up with Ajah specific rps to get something like this going and i've posted on all the boards as well to try to get things going there as well, but you can only do so much without the members jumping in.  I think of the Ajah's and the ideas they had currently ... um ... none of them have started the rps we began to talk about during Nano.  I know its a hard time of year, but before everyone jumps in and says how nifty some Ajah specific stuff would be ... we should recognize that what we're trying to get started should be addressed first.  Maybe if we can get these going it would drum up some interest in the Ajahs and let us all have some rp fun :P  Also, some inter-Ajah stuff might work here as well.  If an Ajah isn't showing enough active members to get something rolling, how about drumming up your nearest allies and trying to work something out with them? 

Hey hon!  I have my assassin roaming the world at some point and i'd be happy to help out :P  PM me with any ideas you have... and let me know what he's doing in a jail in Tear :P

Yeah for holidays!  It was a tough one for us, flying with 2 youngsters isn't easy, but they were great about it.  Lots of presents and it's been great to talk with my family and get a lot of feedback about my son.  For anyone who doesn't know, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in May.  He's been in therapy for about 6 months now and it was awesome to see him and how much better he was able to react to everyone back home.  Even better to see a video my in-laws had taken on their trip in April and see how he wouldn't interact with them to then look at how he was now :P  Made me feel really good about everything we've been doing for him, so that really made the holidays for me.

Another good note, my hubby and I are buying ourselves tickets to go see Wicked as presents to one another so i'm looking forward to that sometime this month :P  Yeah! 

And i'm back!  Be warned!  I managed to catch a cold so i'm a little slow, but i'm trying to get caught up on the boards so bare with me :P  I'll be a little on the slow side.  For me that is :P

*sighs*  good think I got more tequila for christmas :P

And with that.. i'm back!

She will not at all be pleased with finding our dear Korrena so far from the Stedding :P  But I am back and willing to pick you up!  Just post the link to your arrival or PM me with it and i'll be ready to jump in!

OH.. and welcome to the Wolfkin!

Hey all!  Just in case you didn't see it elsewhere... i'm going on vacation :P  Yeah!  There will be snow!  Yeah!  There will be no internet access!! YEa-what??  Yeah.  Limited access... meaning i'm not sure if I will have it at all or not.  But i'll be back on Jan. 1st.  Until then, Arette is keeping an eye on you, so behave!  No roasting the GL to add to the chili! (though she would be good dipped in tequila with a squirt of lemon I think :P)

Behave and miss me :P

Congrats to you both!!!

though I now fear for the sanity of the Green Ajah :P