Owen followed Rhya inside, a slight smile on his face as he knew what was about to happen. Normally when a Guardian successfully completed their training the celebration was held in the Rangers' Barracks, but Owen knew Rhya had close friends outside the Rangers so he had decided it was only fair to break with tradition and choose another venue, and The Hole in the Wall was more than suitable. While Rhya  worked the room, enjoying/enduring the attention and well-deserved congratulations, Owen sort out to find Burrich and Ham.

“Well now Owen, I see you survived Rhya’s training. There were many amongst the Rangers who thought you wouldn’t.” Burrich smiled his lopsided grin as he said this while Ham handed Owen a tankard of his favourite Dark ale. “So, tell us Owen, was training your wife worse than your own training? I mean if Rhya had not passed you would not be able to sleep anywhere for fear of what she would do to you.” By now some of the other Rangers had joined the three of them and all had smiles on their faces. The ribbing continued for a while before conversation turned to more mundane topics concerning the safety of the Stedding.

“Rhyanon Glendawr, front and centre.” Owen had made his way to the small stage and it was from there that he summoned Rhya. Disentangling herself from the throng of Wolfkin still congratulating her, she climbed onto the stage and stood next to Owen. “Tradition is important to the Rangers, as it is to all Wolfkin, and tonight is no different. Rhyanon Glendawr you have shown during your training the steadfastness, dedication and self-sacrifice that marks you out as a Wolfkin Ranger, and as a sign of that we are here to present you with the marks of your newfound station. Firstly, tomorrow morning you will report to the Rangers' Barracks where you will collect your new weapons and your armour. These items have been made to the exacting standards of the Wolfkin, may they serve you well no matter where you find yourself. Tonight however, we have two gifts for you, the first is this.”

Owen now handed the package he had been carrying to Rhya and as she was unwrapping it, he continued speaking. “This cloak has no magical abilities, but it will keep you warm and dry in all but the direst of conditions. As we all know, a cloak needs a broach and all Rangers have the same broach.” Owen waited until she had the cloak settled around her shoulders and then pinned the wolf’s head broach to the front of her cloak. As he did so he leaned in close to Rhya and spoke softly enough that only she could hear. “I am really proud of you, my love, I hope you are as happy as I am?”

White Fang

 "My head was so twisted around that I couldn't see how I'd misinterpreted your words so badly. And you speak of not apologising to me... neither you should! You have nothing to apologise for. I, on the other hand," her lips twisted in self-disgust, "am deeply sorry, dear heart. Forgive me?"

Owen was slightly bemused at the sudden about face and by Rhya giving him permission to not apologise to her, but even more so when she asked his forgiveness, an event so rare Owen was not sure he had ever heard her say those words before. Shaking his head at what he perceived as the absurdity of the situation, Owen took both of Rhya’s hands in his and kissed them.

“There is nothing for you to apologise for Rhya, the training is taxing and effects many people in different ways. However, it is edifying to know you are willing to acknowledge mistakes even if it is unnecessary.”

Whereas before there was an eddy of emotion swirling around Rhya, now all Owen could detect was a strange sense of satisfaction, although calling what he could sense satisfaction was a stretch, to say the least. Her control of her Wal was improving almost daily, but sometimes strong emotion could still get the better of her.

It was early evening when Owen and Rhya left their tree house and started the walk to the Ranger Barracks, although not for the purpose Rhya was hoping. Owen had decided to change things this time seeing as she had overheard Ham earlier in the day. When they arrived at the Barracks, Owen asked her to wait outside while he went in. The look on her face when Owen emerged from the Barracks, and took her hand to lead her towards the centre of the Stedding, took all of Owen’s self-control to not smile. What Rhya had not noticed, was the small bundle that Owen carried, it’s shape and size gave no indication what the bundle was.

Eventually Owen and Rhya arrived at the Hole in the Wall, all lights were out, and it appeared deserted. Owen opened the door and indicated Rhya shod go first, as she drew level with him Owen spun her to face him and kissed her. Eventually breaking the kiss Owen spoke. “This is your night Rhya, enjoy it."

White Fang

Whitewolf

Good grief Rhya, give me chance to get in the door before you start babbling at me.

“Would you mind if I entered our house before I attempt to answer your questions?

Without waiting for an answer Owen gently, but firmly, moved Rhya into their house, indicating she should sit down in her chair. Before she could start talking again, Owen pressed his finger to her lips, silencing her next words. “I will explain everything in a moment Rhya, but I also need a drink, so wait there, contain your impatience and I will make us a hot drink.” Owen quickly prepared two cups of tea and returned to where Rhya was waiting, handing one of the mugs to Rhya, Owen sat down next to her and placed his mug on the small table next to the chair.

“What we did yesterday I have done with all the Guardians who wanted to become Rangers, most passed the tests, one or two did not and instead choose a different path. The testing must be difficult; they are designed to push the trainee to their very limits, and sometimes beyond and I make no apology for that. When we are out of the Stedding we must be fully in control, we need all of our skills to survive and more importantly succeed in our quest.” Owen paused, picked up his mug and took a sip of his drink allowing Rhya time to absorb what he had said.

“Another aspect of our training is to prove to the Rangers that a recently tested guardian can with stand the rigours of our lives, we must know that the Ranger standing to either side of us can be counted on to do what is necessary, and that brings us to the hard part.”

“It is no easy task to leave the Stedding, alone, knowing that every hand will be turned against us and one slip on our part could lead us to our deaths. Alone. No one would mourn us, no one would know our fate. To die for a grand cause seems heroic, noble if you like. To know that our death would be important and mean something makes the choice easier. When it is not for some noble cause, when we are asked to lay down our life in some fly blown hovel in some unnamed village then where is the fame in that?”

Again, Owen stopped talking and took another sip from his mug. Eyeing Rhya over the rim of his mug, Owen could see his words were having an effect, which did not surprise him, Rhya had a good brain, when she used it, and was not normally prone to emotional outbursts, well not many.

“As for using our relationship against you. I make no apologies for you thinking that; however, it is something we must do, we must induce stress and tension in a Guardian, we must take them to the very edge of what they can cope with. We need to know how a person would act under extreme conditions. I have done this with everyone I have trained, as was done to me and every other Ranger who has gone before.”

It was a lot for Rhya to take in, Owen realised that. However he could no more cut off his own arm than he could change the training regime. It might not seem so now, but over time Rhya would come to understand that what had gone on here was exactly what she and the other trainees needed. Succeeding in Ranger training should give a boost in confidence and provide the necessary skills to survive in any difficult situation.

“I think before you answer or ask any questions you need to quiet your doubts, calm your mind and try to see this without the barrier of emotions, find your centre, Rhya.” Owen was not being disparaging to Rhya, it was obvious she had had a hard time with the recent lessons, and she needed to see it for what it really was, survival.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

Owen was grateful that the location of the Stedding was not higher up in the mountains as this meant they missed the worst of the weather that could plague the mountains and at the higher altitudes it was not unknown for snow to remain all year round. Many an unwary traveller had been caught out by a sudden storm and lost more than just their livelihoods. As it was, the wind was stronger enough to take the edge off the temperatures and make some of the Wolfkin scurry for the warmth of their homes. Owen however had work to do and so instead turned towards the Ranger barracks and before starting work he went to the underground archery range that the rangers had recently completed and started to shoot some arrows, more to distract himself from the puzzling reaction from Rhya to completing their training.

Much later in the day, Owen left the barracks and started to walk home. Along the way he met a couple of the Wolfkin who were out and about and was nearing his home when Ham hailed him. Owen turned in the direction the voice came from and waved to his fellow Ranger who was returning from a scouting mission.

Ham gripped Owen’s arm in greeting and gave Owen a quick overview of what he had learnt while he was away from the Stedding. There was nothing out of the ordinary just conformation of information Owen had heard from the Band's Scouts.

“So, I guess I am too late then?”

“Too late for what Ham?”

“Rhya’s celebration on becoming a Ranger. I take it she passed the tests with ease. How did she take to your trick of throwing yourself off the cliff, I bet she gave you a good roasting for that one?”

“Actually, I am not sure how she felt my friend; she has not been herself since the tests so much so that we did not celebrate after her final test. Hopefully she will feel more like herself later and then we can hold the ceremony. For now, I will give her the time she needs to work through whatever is concerning her”. With that Owen bade goodbye to Ham and continued the  short distance to his home more concerned about Rhya than he had let on to his friend.

OOC: It is up to you whether Rhya hears Ham's comment or not.

As with many of the buildings in the Stedding, the Trackers' Lodge was built in such a way as to blend in with its surroundings. Owen was doing his best to appear inconspicuous as well, although why he thought playing his flute would be inconspicuous was a mystery. He wasn’t playing any particular tune, just a progression of notes and scales, listening for the song. Today, though, there was no song, only a pleasant series of notes, neither mournful nor joyous; but there was emotion, something worth remembering Owen thought.

Just then the door opened and Rhya entered the Lodge. No doubt she had the members of the Black Tower and the Band with her. Owen decided to stay out of the way and let Rhya take charge, it would do her good to see the respect from non Wolfkin that she deserved. Owen was sat to the left and out of sight of the doorway to those entering, although he knew Rhya would know he was there, but the others would have to look for him. Turning her head she gave Owen the kind of smile that people reserve for their loved one and Owen could not help but smile back. She had that effect on him. Just then, Ice placed her head on his lap and if a wolf could be said to be content then that was what Owen felt from her.

The Black Tower and Band members started to enter the Lodge and Owen drew back a bit, all the more to observe without being seen.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

With the weather closing in and the wind picking up speed, Owen decided it was best to head straight back to the cave as the last thing either he or Rhya would need was hypothermia. Thankfully Riverwind had ensured there was a rope ladder anchored in place just a hundred paces away. Owen had already disentangled himself from the gorse bush before Rhya joined him.  As soon as she hit the gorse bush Owen started to help her get out of the bushes. Under different circumstances this might have been a moment of mirth as they struggle with Rhya’s cloak, which seemed to have deliberately entangled itself in the gorse bushes. However, tonight was not a night for mirth and the conversation was kept to a minimum which meant very few words were exchanged. Owen led the way to the rope ladder and let Rhya go first.  She was still feeling the effects of the trials of the day, understandable, and Owen wanted to make sure if she slipped, he was there to catch her.

The climb was only a short one and when they reached the top it was only a short walk to the cave where the fire was still burning. Owen quickly built it up and taking out a container quickly filled the kettle with some broth they had brought with them. When it was ready, Owen filled their mugs and handed Rhya hers. Taking his in-hand Owen took hold of the mug and let the warmth seep into his hands, all the time watching Rhya, wondering when she was going to speak with him. She had been emotionally shut down since they had left the gorse bush. Eventually Owen put his mug down and just watched Rhya, giving her the space, she obviously needed. Just as Rhya started to speak the wind outside the cave picked up in intensity and drowned out her words. Owen wasn’t sure if it was irritation or annoyance that he could sense from her, whether at the wind or at him, no doubt he would find out soon.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

OOC Bring it on, buttercup ?

Owen kept his own council as he led Rhya up the trail that wound around the mountain. He was not being rude towards the young Guardian, instead he wanted to unsettle her, place her in the correct frame of mind that Owen wanted her in. The location Owen was heading for was one that he visited on his own, many times and suited his purpose exactly. Finally, after covering a few miles, Owen spoke to Rhya, keeping his comments clipped and letting a small amount of irritation creep into his voice, all by design.

 “We will make camp a little further on”

 Without waiting for an answer Owen continued upwards, noticing the snow that was starting to appear, this high up in the mountains the snow was permanent and could often catch an unwary traveller out. It was another hour or so, before Owen and Rhya arrived at the location they had been heading for, it was a large cave, set back from the cliff edge, and it provided a panoramic view of the land below them and on a good day it was possible to see Emonds Field from this vantage point. However, today was not such a day and the lands below were totally covered by thick, grey black clouds that threatened to dump their contents at any moment.

 Ducking into the cave, Owen indicated where supplies had been stored and told Rhya to start a fire and get a hot drink and some food going. “There is something I have to check on then I will return, don’t venture out of the cave Rhya, it may not be snowing now but that can change in a heartbeat”. Turning on his heel, Owen left the cave, the clouds overhead looking more threatening by the minute.

 By the time Owen returned to the cave, night had fallen, and there were the makings of a blizzard, the wind was just as strong as before, if not stronger. Shaking the snow from his cloak, Owen quickly made his way to the fire and started to warm his hands. When he had worked the cold from his fingers, he removed his weapons and went over to his pack and found some dry socks, removing his boots he quickly took off the damp sock he wore, and placed them near the fire. While Owen was doing this Rhya sat by the fire stirring the contents of the large pot she was using to cook their food. Owen sniffed at the contents and then smiled at Rhya, “That smells very good Rhya, how long before it is ready?”

 “A few more minutes should suffice Owen.” Rhya handed Owen a mug of hot tea and continued stirring the contents of the pot. Owen watched Rhya over the top of his mug, it was obvious that she was confused by his earlier behaviour towards her, but Owen had his reasons and if she had not been so effected by the tunnel she would realise why he had reacted the way he had.

 It was not long before the stew was ready, and while Rhya doled it into two bowls, Owen cut some slices from the loaf he had brought and handed two to Rhya in return for the bowl of stew. “A fair exchange is no robbery.” Owen winked at Rhya as he said it, and then started to eat the stew, occasionally dipping his bread into the bowl and soaking up the gravy. By the time the two of them had finished eating and cleared up, it was fully dark outside, and Owen decided it would be best for them to get some rest. “We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow Rhya and after the climb up here today, I think we could both do with an early night.” With that Owen started laying out their blankets on one side of the fire, the side nearest the cave entrance

Later that night, after Owen had assured himself that Rhya was well asleep, Owen left his blankets and quickly got dressed. When he was finished, he gently shook Rhya awake and once she was awake told her to get her things together, there was something that needed doing, and had to be done now. With that Owen left the cave and moved towards the edge of the ledge outside the cave. With the snow swirling around in the increasing wind, Rhya could not see where Owen went, but found his footprints easy enough to follow in the snow in the ground. As Owen came into sight, he had his back to Rhya, and was stood, poised, on the very edge of the cliff. Without turning Owen addressed Rhya.

 “There comes a time when all of us have to do things that we would rather not, that is what is in front of you tonight Rhya. If you die up here, you die alone, unlamented, and with your body never to be found. You need to face this fear and demonstrate to me, and more notably, to yourself, that you are ready to do this.”

 Without waiting, Owen stepped out into the abyss and disappeared from Rhya’s view. “Will you follow me into hell Rhya?” Owen’s voice floated up on the wind, before being snatched away.”

 Snickering to himself, Owen lay in the gorse bushes, sucking on a thorn cut to his thumb, knowing full well what must be going through Rhya’s mind right now, Owen could not keep the wolfish smile from his face. Although the drop was a long one, the bushes at the bottom more than cushioned the fall.

This test was a matter of sublimating common sense, and allowing your instincts to take over, Owen hoped that Rhya would have the nerve to do this, but that was yet to be seen. Owen also realised she would give him hell when all of this was over, but it was necessary to explore your own limits, that way in times of extreme stress you knew you had the ability to cope and overcome.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

Owen was having fun with this now; normally training was a chore, one he was happy to do, but a chore none the less. But watching Rhya and appreciating the effort she was putting in gave Owen a sense of satisfaction that he had not felt for some time. However, he quickly squashed that train of thought as it led to memories he did not want to think about.

"This is about self-control, right? Not letting emotions cloud judgement by learning a coping mechanism. Or something similar. Or am I way off the mark?" 

Rhya’s voice brought Owen back to the present and after clearing his throat Owen answered Rhya’s question. “Often when we are not in a calm frame of mind, we react differently than we would like. This technique allows us to view a situation dispassionately and with a clarity we might not have if we let emotion rule us. It gives us an advantage over those who are ruled by emotion and that can mean the difference between life and death.”

Owen gave Rhya a moment to contemplate his answer than continued. “While I clear the fire away why don’t you get yourself down from there Rhya.”
 

Owen had a small smile on his face as he started to put the fire out and scatter the soon cooling ashes all around the small glade, they were in. It would be most difficult for Rhya to climb down without any help from Owen, and the drop was too far even if she could wriggle herself free. Once he had finished cleaning up, Owen settled himself in one spot and watched as Rhya did her best to free herself from her predicament without losing her focus.

Owen waited for Rhya to walk over to him, studying her face the whole time, and it was obvious to him that she had maintained her Wal. Not only from the expression on her face, but also from the sense of calm she radiated, Owen did not have to use his enhanced senses to tell that.

Owen did not speak to Rhya once she joined him, instead Owen indicated she should follow him, turning he started to jog out of the trees and back onto the path, and headed deeper into the forest. Owen did not need to look to see if Rhya had followed him, he could sense her just behind and off to one side of him, so attuned to her presence had he become. As they ran along shafts of moonlight pierced the trees and crossed their paths, making for a breath-taking sight. Soon the trees opened out and the sound of a stream could be heard as it bubbled over some stones. Owen angled towards the sound, leaving the path behind as it headed off up the side of the foothills of the mountains.

Once they reached the stream Owen led Rhya off to one side where a small tributary of the stream disappeared into a small cave. A few feet in and the cave was filled to the top by the brook. Owen started to strip off his boots and removed his shirt when Rhya spoke. “I hope you haven’t dragged me all the way out here just to get me undressed, Owen?”

Untying the laces on his breeches, Owen turned his head and winked at Rhya. “And would that be such a bad idea, my love?”

“It is when we have a perfectly good, and more importantly warm bed back in our house.”

She tried to sound outraged at his suggestion, but Owen could tell she was not. He knew she was a willing partner in all this. “This time it isn’t Rhya, but maybe later I will let you satisfy yourself; Now get undressed and come into the water.” With that Owen pulled his trousers off and slid into the water. By the time Rhya followed him, he had acclimatised to the temperature of the water, and so when Rhya got in, Owen smiled at her gasp as she realised how cold the water was.
 
“Now what we are going to do here, is swim through this tunnel until we come out the other side. It is a long swim, but I know you can do it.”

Owen watched her face as he said this, and without giving her a chance to complain he continued. “Of course, you will have to maintain your Wal at all times. Once you are in the tunnel you will not be able to turn around, it can be a tight fit in places, so keep swimming in one direction and I will see you on the other side.”

Not waiting for a reply, Owen walked over to the tunnel entrance and taking a couple of deep breaths disappeared into the dark water, kicking powerfully he was soon well into the tunnel and swimming for the exit. He knew his lungs would be bursting when he got to the other end, but this was a good test of control, and it would not do to succumb to panic. This was the ultimate test of ones Wal.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

Owen waited for Rhya to come out of her trance when she was good and ready. While he was waiting for her, Owen got up and walked around the small clearing they were in, searching for something. Eventually Owen found what he was looking for and returned to Rhya.

She had opened her eyes and was watching him as he sat down. “Well now you know what I was explaining to you, how do you feel?”

Owen listened intently to Rhya’s answer, smiling to himself as she tried to explain what she had felt. When she finished Owen nodded his head, then grabbed hold of her hand, pulling her to her feet. “Well now that you can do it sitting down and fairly comfortable, how about we see if you can do it while in a less comfortable situation.”

Rhya arched one of her eyebrows at Owen. “And just what do you have in mind Owen?”

Leading her across the clearing Owen made his way back to the tree he had spotted and pointed to two branches about halfway up. “See those two branches Rhya, the two that wind around each other? Well I want you to climb up there and hang by your knees from them.”

“You want me to what…?” Rhya looked at Owen and realised he had that not to be messed with look on his face. At times like this it was better to just do as he said, no matter how brain dead it was. Muttering to herself, Rhya started to climb the tree, Owen close behind her. After a short climb they came to the branches Owen has indicated and they crawled along them

“This will do Rhya, now remove your boots and stockings and do as I do.”

Owen locked his knees over the two branches and swung himself upside down, crossing his arms over his chest he looked for all the world like a large bat at rest Owen listened to Rhya as she tried to make him believe she was uncomfortable, but he knew what her abilities where and this task was not beyond her.

“What now, oh wise one?”

Rhya’s question brought Owen back to the present and his smile broadened. “Well ‘Rhya for now I will leave you on your own, but I want you to attain your wal, and hold it come what may.” Rhya threw Owen a sceptical look but knew him well enough by now to know he would never let any harm come to her. Concentrating on maintaining her position she slowed her breathing and then looked to see what Owen was doing only to find no sight of him  

I hate it when he does that to me

Owen had not gone far, he had prepared for this lesson with Rhya and what he needed was nearby. Gathering up the implements that he needed Owen returned to the tree that Rhya was hanging from and started to tickle her feet with a feather, he knew she was particularly sensitive there. He knew this would be a good enough distraction that she would find it hard to maintain her centre. If this did not work Owen had more things he could try; after all he could show no favouritism here and had decided that he would be just as harsh with Rhya as he was with every other trainee.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

Without any more talking, Owen started running, using a long loping stride; one designed to cover long distances easily. Rhya fell in beside Owen and the two of them headed towards the hills and a trail Owen knew would not tax Rhya too much.

“Tonight I will start to instruct you in the Way of the Ranger, being a Ranger is not all about using weapons, and you may find parts of it confusing at first. A Ranger should always act with the highest regard for the people they are protecting, even if they do not appreciate or desire the help. We do what we do, not for thanks, we do it because it is right, that extends to two-legs as well.”

Rhya was surprised by the mention of two-legs especially as she knew Owen had no love for them. However Owen divided the two-legs into two separate groups, those he could trust and the rest.

“Perhaps how we act around two-legs is even more important than how we act around our own brethren. To them we are Darkfriends, or fiends, the only way to change that is to let our actions speak for themselves. I know you know I do not like many of them and must think this is a strange view to have. But they chose to persecute us, not the other way round, so we have to act with great dignity and moral courage in our dealings with them.”

They were just cresting a small rise in the trail, and Owen did not speak again until they were over it and heading into the valley beyond. When they reached the valley floor Owen called a halt to their run, Rhya was puffing a little, but had managed to keep up so far. “Gather some dead wood love, we will start a small fire and then continue with our lesson.”

While Rhya gathered the wood, Owen scraped a fire pit out of the ground, using one of his daggers. When Rhya returned, Owen asked her to build the fire and light it. When the fire was going, Owen sprinkled some incense on it, the smell permeating the area. Owen motioned for Rhya to sit opposite him the started to explain to her what he wanted Rhya to do.

“Clear your mind , focus on the flames and seek that which is within us all, the centre where we are at peace.” Owen’s voice had taken on a very soft inflection, one that Rhya could hear only because of her enhanced hearing. “When you look into the fire, ask yourself this, where does the flame go? Seek that place and you will find the wal, your centre.”

Owen stopped speaking and let his mind clear, seeking out that inner calm that was so different to the Spring and was unlike any other technique of meditation he had heard of before Riverwind had taught it to him.

Owen watched as Rhya prepared herself, he had high hopes of her, after all she was a calming influence on him and he knew she should be able to attain her wal with ease. But after a while, Owen noticed her eyes open and a slight smile appear on her face.

“Looking at me and smiling will not help you achieve what we are trying to do here Rhya. Now concentrate on where the flame goes and stop thinking about me.”

Owen could not help but smile at the small scowl that appeared on her face, he was getting to know her very well and could usually tell what she was thinking. This brought a warm glow in him and Owen could not believe how fortunate he was to have Rhya in his life, no matter how much of a trial she could be at times.

“Now clear your mind, steady you’re breathing and concentrate. You can do this Rhya, we both know that. There is one thing though, and this is maybe the most important part of this lesson. I cannot teach you this, I can only act as your guide, you must find your wal on your own Rhya, everybody has their own path they must walk to attain this ability and it will not be an easy path. Sometimes when I try I get near, at others it is like grasping smoke. You will spend more time being frustrated than you would think possible, I know I have.”

Owen lapsed into silence and waited to see if Rhya had any questions. The silence of the wooded glade settled around the two of them and despite the slight chill in the air, neither seemed to notice engrossed in what they were doing.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

                               I am a man-wolf, I am a wolf man
                               I have half a canine mind
                               I have half the mind of a man
                               I am neither of one kind
                               Maybe it was only an hallucination
                               I made a thorough investigation
                               The image had a power that clings
                               To my jaded imagination
                               My brain has found the bells it rings

Sunlight after a long dark night, the sounds of birds singing, a refreshing rain shower after a long dry period, all these things would bring a smile to most peoples faces, but for Owen all of this faded into insignificance at the sight before him. Four small furry bundles nestled close to their mother, sucking on her teats with gusto. Their mother, Owen’s long-time wolf companion, lay on her side and watched her cubs as they fed. Her contentment and satisfaction did not need the enhanced senses of the Wolfkin to detect, it was plain for all to see.  However there was also an under lining of apprehension that only Owen could detect and he knew well the source of this apprehension. The outside world had moved on, the wheel had turned and in doing so become a darker place. A place where those who could not defend themselves were prey for the stronger, a land where evil walked in the shadows.

In the Stedding the Wolfkin were sheltered from the worst of the ravages and their alliance with the Band of the Red Hand provided outside support. It was a mutually beneficial alliance, the Wolfkin had talents that the Band lacked and vice versa. It was an alliance that had stood for several years and proved the doubters in both camps were wrong.

Rising from his chair Owen went out to the balcony and surveyed the forest around his home. Owen had always lived apart from the rest of the Wolfkin and valued the privacy his home offered. It was a home he now shared with Rhya and he had come to love her with a passion he thought he would never again know. Considering his past, the relationship with Rhya was even more remarkable and seemed to grow by the day. His inner musings ended abruptly as he sensed Rhya’s presence as she emerged from their room. He resisted the temptation to go to her as she was as grumpy as could be first thing in the morning and needed her morning mug of tea before she felt able to face the day. Eventually she joined Owen on the balcony sliding her arms around his waist.

“Why is it that you always want to have our training either first thing in the morning or last thing at night Owen”?

Turning to face her, Owen kissed the tip of her cute up turned nose and smiled down at her. “If we only trained when it was easy where is the challenge in that”? Rhya had no response to this knowing the way Owen’s mind worked she knew he always took the harder path, the more difficult decisions and walked the paths others feared to tread. Leaving her to finish her drink on the balcony and returned to their house to prepare breakfast. He was just putting the food on the table when Rhya entered the room and without ceremony sat down and started to eat the food in front of her.

“Today we need to move on with your training Rhya, you are ready for the final test before you move from a Guardian to a Ranger. I know I have been tougher on you than on the other Guardians, but I cannot be seen to be showing favour to the one I love.” Those words came easy to him now whereas a few months earlier he could not even bring himself to think that way never mind voice them. “When you have finished your breakfast meet me at the Rangers quarters and we will begin. Make sure to bring all your weapons and be prepared to stay away from the Stedding for several days, but do not bring any food or water. We will live off what we can trap and forage and drink only from streams and rivers. This will be no picnic for you, but I have great faith in your abilities and believe you will cope admirably.” With that Owen left Rhya to finish her breakfast, collecting his weapons and other essential items he kissed her on her brow and then made his way out of his treehouse. Once on the ground he jogged his way to the Rangers training field, spending his time practicing his archery.

White Fang

Ranger Leader

Navigation Computer report
Orbital status now maintained
Target zone vectors logged in
The Tube is now ready

Please swallow your blue Dreamer
And place the helmet on your head

Can you hear the lights approaching?
There's a sudden rush of sound
You laugh but no-one's joking
The Dreamer's turned you round
And now there's no distraction
You've slipped the noose of fate
Your dreams are now in colour
You've reached your future state

The O. G.
 

Dead not Dreaming-Fields of the Nepilim

The World id Not Enough-Garbage

@Tay, still in denial i see, such a shame, especially as you are so cute when you try to be annoyed And you only have yourself to blame for nagging me to come back

@Tay There was defiately nagging,wheedling,whining and an attempt to make me feel guilty....and the one weapon you have that no one can resist, your cuteness

@Chaelca I know it is hard to believe, but she is a zen master at nagging, i have suffered it first hend for many a year

@Lavinya Thanks for the welcome and remembering the training, or was it so arduous you have been scarred for life

@Mat Good to see you as well Mat, the last photo of your girls was excellent, i can't beleive how much they resemble you.....and less of the old you

That can be the only explanation for this utterly strange reappearence....or Tay's nagging, i always get them mixed up

Basic Information
Your Handle : Kaelen
Full names of WT characters you already own and their status (active/retired/dead):none


Character Information
Name (first and last) of this character: Serena Vanyle
State whether this is a Traditional or a Salidar character: Traditional
Age of this character: 14
Name of country where this character is from: Cairhien

Appearance
Hair: Raven black straight hair, shoulder length when joining the WT
Eyes: Ice blue
Skin: Very fair
Height: 5’2”
Voice (low? high? any other characteristics? ie what does she sound like): She has a warm silky voice, quiet when she’s happy, but loud and grating if angry.
Other: Serena has just started turning from an ugly duckling into a swan. She has been sickly until now.

Optional
Special Skills: Serena has a talent at drawing, and every day draws on a slate with chalk to show the patron’s what the menu that day is, adding to the inn’s charm. She also had a near eidetic memory.
Knowledge Weakness: She has been trying to teach herself to read and write, with the help of one of the friendly inn regulars, and making good progress.
Physical Weakness: Serena is thin and stringy for a girl her age, and for several years has fallen ill each winter from an illness that never quite goes away, leading to a weak constitution. Hard work and a strong will kept her on her feet helping at the inn and have given her a wiry strength from countless hours cleaning the kitchen and serving tables.
Personality weakness: She has a quick temper and can hold a grudge. She’s a bit of a tomboy, though starting to develop into more of a lady, to her mother’s relief. She is very nervous and wary of people she doesn’t know.
Personality
Serena is a very kind and humble girl. Being a frail girl who was often sick and couldn’t really play, she didn’t have any friends her own age. She was kept home at the inn most of the time, helping out with the work when she was healthy. Not having much in life, she clung to the few people that took care of her, and tried to do her best to help them with the struggling inn. She was a curious girl and was always talking with the inn patrons when she could, eager for stories of far off places. Often the butt of cruel teasing and pranks from the village kids, Serena developed a short fuse, depression, and mistrust of her peers. Adults were so much nicer, and she loved the attention she received at the inn. She was very creative, inventing stories and playmates to fill the void, and she loved to draw and make things. Her most treasured possession was a set of colored chalks that the innkeeper gave her to draw with on a slate.

History
Serena Vanyle was the daughter of a Cairhienen soldier and a farmer’s daughter, born in a small village far south of the City. After a Tairen lance left her fatherless at the age of one, her mother, Tharina, took a job as a cook at an inn to support herself and her infant daughter. The young Serena grew up on her mother’s apron strings, and for the first few years of her life at the inn, she was a happy healthy child. That all changed one winter when she was playing with the other children and fell through the ice of a small pond, nearly drowning and freezing to death. It took the poor girl two weeks to recover from the experience, but she was never truly healthy again. Prone to frequent terrible chest colds, and a weak constitution, Serena could not play with the other children or have an active life as a child again. Too much exertion would send her back into bed for days, so her mother was careful to keep her near and to try to keep her occupied with little tasks at the inn, aided by the innkeeper Banril, who didn’t want to see the girl fall ill.
Serena would help Tharina in the kitchen and with cleaning, and she took plates and mugs to the regular inn patrons. While the inn was not very prosperous, it was respectable, and all of the normal patrons were fond of Serena and made sure she was well looked after. Several used to be merchant guards, and during slow times told her stories of their youthful travels, which were the highlight of her day.

Despite their efforts to keep Serena from overexerting herself, she still fell ill often, and during those long boring days in bed, her caretakers gave her whatever diversions they could think of. Though she couldn’t yet read, she enjoyed the drawings in some books, and taught herself how to draw with charcoal on leftover scraps of paper the innkeeper discarded. After a few years, the talent had grown and Banril set her to drawing chalk pictures on a slate to advertise the daily menu or other things, a novelty that amused the patrons and gave Serena something to do that she loved. When she turned twelve, Banril gave her a set of colored chalk so she could make even prettier works of art. As she grew older, the books that she once admired the pictures in, she tried to learn how to read. Helped by the innkeeper and the few literate patrons, she slowly picked up enough to read some of the books when she falls ill.

While the grownups treated her nicely, she was not so lucky with the youngsters of the village. Being a sickly child, the other children avoided her, and thus she became an easy target for childish teasing and cruel pranks. Putting a mouse or lizard down the back of her dress at the market, pouring wash water on her from an upstairs window, and tricking her into embarrassing herself; it became a favorite game of theirs to try to make the sensitive girl angry and cry, so Serena rarely left the inn, the one place they wouldn’t dare harass her.

Serena’s fourteenth winter was nearly her last. Falling ill again, much worse than ever since falling through the ice, Serena wasn’t expected to pull through. Only the overhead gossip that an Aes Sedai was staying in the next town spared her. Seeing no other hope for recovery, her mother bundled her up in a wagon, lent to her by one of the inn patrons, and Tharina and Banril took the girl to the next village to seek the Aes Sedai’s Healing. They were just in time to catch the Aes Sedai before she departed, and Serena received Healing. Maerin Sedai delayed her departure, sensing potential in the girl when she Healed her. She tested the girl once Serena had regained consciousness the next day, though she was still weak. Staring into a pretty pink jewel, she felt all of her weariness drift away as something deep inside her flashed and she saw the gem light up to match. It took a full week for Serena to regain her full strength; in fact, she was healthier than ever since her lifelong illness was finally cured. Maerin Sedai allowed her to return to her inn to say her goodbyes to everyone before taking her to Tar Valon to train to be Aes Sedai.

Serena loved the inn and the people there, but she had lived so little, trapped at the inn by illness, and she wanted to see the world. As an Aes Sedai she could go wherever she wished, and she was so excited that she could learn to channel. She was eternally grateful for her Healing, and hoped she could learn how to do that to help the sick. Saying a tearful goodbye to her mother and Banril, and the rest of the regulars, she took a small bundle of her belongings and followed Maerin Sedai out the door.

Basic Information

Your Handle: Hayl3y

Full names of WT characters you already own and their status: None, if I remember correctly.

Character Information

Name (first and last) of this character: Myrrhi Morrigen

State whether this is a Traditional or a Salidar character: Traditional

Age of this character (Traditional = 14-19 / Salidar = 20-70): 16

Name of country where this character is from: Andor - Caemlyn

Appearance

Hair: Light brown. She used to have long curly hair, but as a sign of rebellion against her mother she cut them. Some parts are longer now (in the back) and some are way shorter (in the front).

Eyes: Blue

Skin: Barely tanned.

Height: 1m70

Voice: Quite low, but gets higher when she gets angry.

Other: Before starting her journey to Tar Valon, she had no real physical activity and was kept on eating too much by her mother who was grooming her for an advantageous wedding. She has a scar on her right arm, going from the wrist to the elbow.

Optional

Special Skills: She's very good at drawing, and was educated by her mother on « very useful » household skills : cooking, sewing, making gentle conversation.

Knowledge Weakness: She can write and read but it's about it. She knows nothing about history. The few books she owned where romantic novels.

Physical Weakness: She has no physical strength, nor endurance for hard physical tasks.

Personality weakness: Tends to be quite naïve, as she doesn’t know much of the world. She can get angry very fast when things don’t happen the way she planned them. Also, she would do (almost) anything to stay away from Camelyn.

Personality

Myrrhi spent the first part of her life taking care of her siblings, the family house and the family shop. She used to be a very caring person, quite serious, who would have put her family needs in front of her own. She didn’t have many contacts with people outside of her family : the only people she met were her mother’s friends or the shop keepers close to her place. Being quite introvert and lacking social skills, she never got friends of her age. But, she didn’t really miss having people to have fun with, because she barely had time for fun.

After a while though, she slowly changed, maybe because of the few novels she had read. The life she had didn’t satisfy her anymore. Her siblings were still very important to her but she wanted to see some other landscapes, and do something else than cleaning, cooking, etc. Her mood got more and more sour, and it didn’t take much to get her angry or irritated. The more angry she would become, the more time she’d spend alone in her bedroom.

History

Myrrhi’s mother used to be a very beautiful woman. After the death of Myrrhi’s father, and thanks to the inheritance she received for herself and her daughter, she decided to make herself a name … at least, as the richest shop owner of Camelyn. It didn’t work as well as planned, but she still managed to open a little boutique where she sold hats and other accessories. It is her perfect manners and pretty face who allowed her, as a young widow, to become the mistress of a minor but rich member of Camelyn nobility. The man, very happy to have a distraction, offered her tons of presents, wonderful clothes and delicious dishes. During the few years it lasted, Myrrhi’s mother felt like a princess. But it only lasted a time as she got pregnant and the nobleman didn’t want to be associated with the child. Myrrhi’s mother was devasted at first but saw, after reflexion, a nice way to live comfortably. One after the other, she seduced men she thought important (the Innkeeper of the Inn nearby, the Baker, a Sergeant of the Queen’s Guard, …) and lived from their gifts and on the money they’d give her to take care of herself and her children.

Myrrhi didn’t understand the situation, at first, and was always curious to discover who her mother’s new “friend” would be. She also enjoyed the fact that she was the eldest in a big family of seven children. Seeing her mother was often “busy” with her gentlemen friends, the young girl spent most of her time taking care of her sisters and of the little house they lived in. She soon learnt to cook, to sew, to take care of babies, etc. She didn’t spend much time out of the house. If she did, it was to take care of the family shop or for a chore.

After a while, Myrrhi understood better her mother’s situation and try to show her that there were other ways to live. Maybe less comfortably but more honorably. It never worked although she tried every convincing argument she could think of. Even though this led to a lot of fights with her mother, still, Myrrhi went on with her duties to her sisters, the house and the shop. Her mood got more and more somber though.

Unfortunately, age and time brought their effects on Myrrhi’s mother and she found it harder to meet and entertain as many men as before. She decided then to rely on her daughters, thinking that if she could find rich men to marry them to, she would be able to get a fortune for herself. Myrrhi was turning 16 when her mother decided to parade with her in the nearby inns and taverns and to look for a future and very rich husband for her.

It only took Myrrhi a couple of weeks to finally decide that she didn’t want to cope with her mother’s schemes anymore. After another fight about the freedom she wanted, Myrrhi threatened to harm herself, wouldn’t she be left alone. Her mother didn’t believe her at first but she had to change her mind when Myrrhi showed her that she was ready to do anything necessary. Indeed, enraged, she had cut fistful of her hair and thrown them into the fire then had started to cut her arm deeply with a kitchen knife. Myrrhi’sinjuries andmost of all her horrible haircut horrified her mother (how could she now negotiate a wedding if her daughter was looking like an injured mangy dog?) who went to cry her misfortune nights after nights in her favorite tavern. There, the owner talked to her about Aes Sedai and how hard the life as a novice was supposed to be. He also talked to her about a Brown Sister who had rent him a room for a whole week in his tavern. Maybe she could be of assistance to punish this ungrateful daughter?

Agreeing to the idea that spending some time in the White Tower would soothe her daughter, Myrrhi’s mother did everything in her power to meet the Aes Sedai. Amused by the situation, the Brown Sister accompanied Myrrhi’s mother to her little house and discussed with Myrrhi. Appalled by the ignorance of the girl who, even if she was quite smart when cooking and the use of herbs were concerned, didn’t know a thing about science, history nor legends, the Aes Sedai decided to do something to save the teenager from the clutches of her mother.

It happened to be quite easy : she tested Myrrhi with her jewel to see whether or not she had the ability to channel and gathered positive results.

Very happy to have found a novice candidate, she didn’t wait long to ask Myrrhi to prepare a bag with her most precious belongings and to tell her mother that her girl was needed in Tar Valon.

Please note that english is not this persons first language.

Basic Information
Your Handle: Theodora
Full names of WT characters you already own and their status (active/retired/dead): First ever

Character Information
Name (first and last) of this character: Theodora Thorinden
State whether this is a Traditional or a Salidar character: Traditional
Age of this character * (Traditional = 14-19 / Salidar = 20-70) :17
(* Returning / Full AS character: age in main time line) -
Name of country where this character is from: Andor

Appearance
Hair: Reddish/Strawberry Blonde, flowing curls below the waste
Eyes: Big and bright green
Skin: Pale flawless complexion
Height: 5'7" or 173 cm
Voice: Sultry, more in the low register, speaks quietly to attract attention, unless she is interested in something and forgets to pretend
Other: A very beautiful creature – heart-shaped face and  plump lips, slender but not skinny with innate grace and charm

Optional
Special Skills: As a noble heiress received excellent education for a lady, knows how to achieve goals, using her beauty
Knowledge Weakness: Only theory, most of her lessons have never been put to practice, poor battle strategist
Physical Weakness: Has lived like a lady – can dance and ride but was never allowed to  think of running, swimming and is a horrible at almost every physical activity
Personality weakness: A spoilt typical girly-girl, who thinks the world revolves around her. When meeting more influential characters, she is really impressed and is trying extra hard to be liked. When she is hurt, she tends to get vindictive and hardly forgets if anything is not done her way.

 

Personality
Lady Theodora is a young clever beauty who is very conceited as she knows she would enchant an admirer with her female charm and grace and will marry into a richer house. She is looking forward to a careless life of privileges, ball gowns, gossips and handsome beaus. She is always looked after by an army of servants, teachers and governesses. Her parents never deny any whim of hers but as a single child and heir of the Thorinden fortune, the young lady has left her Estate only twice for 17 years. If she is to be intrigued by something, she could use all means to achieve it, including cheating and cruelty, as Theodora has a sharp and creative mind but her ego and life away from the real world has made her spoilt, inconsiderate, and completely unprepared for taking care of herself.
 

History

Lord Ivar Thorinden was a High Seat of a middle House in Andor. Marrying the beautiful sun-haired Lady Emilia brought him several good estates and chests full of gold and silver. The newly weds chose to live in the spacious newly built palace named after the small village Birch Lake whose landscape it dominated. For more than ten years the Thorindens tried to have an heir but the Light did not bless them with children. When all hope was gone, after the sixth dead babe Emilia gave birth to, the Creator sent them a present in the form of a healthy small daughter with curls like the red soil under Birch Lake palace and eyes like the grass that grew from the crimson earth.

Knowing they could not have more children, Ivar and Emilia made everything possible to give little Theodora their love, the best garments, nourishment, and an army of governesses, tutors and teachers, so she could be capable of running the family’s property and funds when the parents met the Creator. Everyone treated young Theodora like precious thin Sea Folk porcelain and at age 6 she was enjoying her reign of terror in the family palace with her whims. She owned more dresses that the Daughter Heir herself and liked making the four poor soldiers, who were always by her side, wear her mother’s clothes and dance in the gardens.

Theodora grew delicate and beautiful as only young and innocent maidens could and by her fourteenth name day she was already a pretty, highly-educated but cruel young lady who did not want to leave Birch Lake palace as everything she had ever wanted was brought up to her on a silver platter. She did not believe in neither the Creator, nor in the Dark One, as these were only figures of another world as distant as everything beyond the stone walls of Birth Lake. Her loving parents, so afraid they might hurt her in any way, did not show her right from wrong and in her small private universe Theodora was Ruler of All with the natural ability to administer punishments and indulge her favourites.

When the young heiress entered the ball room on her seventeenth name day in the snowy month of Jumara, she was not surprised to see all her relatives, friends and admirers, as well as a whole multitude of unfamiliar nobles, gathered at her feast to celebrate the most important thing in the world – herself. The girl would never forget how her golden dress sparkled, how everyone drunk to Lady Theodora’s health, or the way the young men glanced at her while she was swirling in a dance. She would always remember though the stare of two green eyes which made her feel she was tiny, insignificant and abandoned in her small clothes in the middle of the hall. The owner of the piercing look approached Theodora like a white swan gliding on the placid lake water. It was only after minutes that the girl understood the stranger resembled her father with the exception of the grey in her auburn hair and maybe a decade younger…or older when she thought of it. Light, she could not determine the age of this hawk-eyed hag, so…

“Good day, Lady Marga Aes Sedai,” the young lady fell gracefully into an impeccable curtsy, golden skirts spread around her like a rose flower “I have heard so much about you from father.”

The truth was Theodora had always bragged about the fact that she had an Aes Sedai relative but has never met the estranged older sister of Ivar. She was from the White Ajah and never a worldly woman, so even Ivar did not see her since she had received the Shawl. One was for sure, the girl had never felt so intimidated and scruffy in front of anyone, so she immediately resented the woman.

“My, my, she has grown into a heartbreaker this one, Ivar.” Marga replied lifting Theodora’s chin up for her to meet the girl’s identical pair of huge green eyes. “You should have visited me in Tar Valon a long time ago. We are one blood and she might have it too.”

The nobleman started protesting quietly but the Aes Sedai took his daughter under the arm and dragged her to a chair in the corner. She lifted the girl’s left hand, so Theodora could almost see her own distorted reflection in the huge gem of her ring. Marga told her to look into the stone, without thinking of anything with a voice that demanded immediate action. Was this witch implying she wore too many accessories?! Theodora met her own gaze in the yellow transparent stone while noises from the room faded away. Suddenly, a flash of light flickered in it. Was she going mad?

The next events went by as a nightmarish series of pleads from her parents and quiet unyielding voice of her aunt. The girl had to go to Tar Valon to learn to channel, it was a rare gift and a huge privilege. Slowly it dawned to Theodora: she was going to become an Aes Sedai. She was rich, a noble, an adored beauty, a heiress with a blood relation who was going to give her the title of Aes Sedai, and on top of it, she could bring mountains down with the One Power.

“Shut up, father. I am going to be an Aes Sedai.” Theodora got up, recovering her grace and smiled at her aunt ingratiatingly. “Please, Marga Aes Sedai, let us leave already.”

Basic Information
Handle: _Eb_
Full names of WT characters you already own and their status: Calia Luin (Unsure of status? Would probably depend on her age, given that she arrived at the age of 16 back in 1999ish) 

Character Information
Name of this character: Thayetta Luin
Traditional/Salidar: Traditional
Age of this character: 14
From: Four Kings, Andor. 

Appearance
Hair: Light brown, chin length bob.
Eyes: Blue, large and wide.
Skin: Fair, with a sprinkling of freckles over her nose
Height: 5’1”
Voice: Quite/timid
 

Other: ‘Crow’s feet’ wrinkles at the corners of her eyes when she smiles.

 Optional
Special Skills: Quick reader, almost photographic memory, especially for faces and names.

Knowledge Weakness: The grown-up/real world. Thayetta has been rather sheltered by her parents and has spent most of her life with her head in a book.

Physical Weakness: Height, or rather, a lack thereof.

Personality Weakness: Shy

Personality
Thayetta is inherently brave, and has a strong inner will and sense of duty, but outwardly she is quiet, gentle and rather shy. This is partly due to age, and partly due the fact that she has been raised a protected, only child. She may develop a stronger outward attitude as she grows, although it is likely that she will always prefer sidelines to centre stage. She loves children/babies and small animals and, oddly enough, fire. It is likely that her love of fire will show/grow with her as she learns to channel.

Full History
Thayetta Luin was born the only living child of Amelie and Joem Luin, in Four Kings, Andor, and it was not for want of her parents trying. Raised in the background of the inn and alehouse that had belonged to the family for generations, her childhood was (purposefully, at the wishes of her father) very different from that of the girls in the family before her.

She never wanted for attention from her parents, but she was very sheltered from the life that broiled on around them. The alehouse was off limits on pain of scolding - or worse, bringing her father a heavy sadness - and she was strongly encouraged by both her parents to keep away from any guests of the inn. She was not made to work in the kitchen, or tasked with the cleaning out of rooms. Rather, she was in charge of mending drapes and cushion and odd things here and there, all in the privacy and shelter of the master house – the floor above the entrance to the inn.

Oddly, somewhere along the line she picked up on a natural talent for recalling the names, voices and faces of others, clear as day in her own mind, even when she had only seen or heard them for the slightest of seconds. To keep her occupied whilst they worked (her mother in the inn and her father at the bar) Amelie and Joem taught Thayet to read at a young age, and from there bought and traded her books whenever and however they could - adequately censored and innocently appropriate books, of course. As a result Thayetta developed into a bright, well-spoken, but timid and quite child, with an inordinate sense of right and wrong.

From the age of five or six years old, her duties expanded to minding the children of her parent’s staff. She developed a natural affinity for babies and young children. At night once the young children were asleep and her chores were done, Thayet’s favourite thing to do was sit at the table, a book in her hands and lantern burning bright within her reach, and read, or stare studiously into the flickering flame until she fell asleep. 

A month before her fourteenth name day, Thayetta half sat, half lay at the familiar, worn oak table, doing exactly that - staring at the flickering, dancing, dimming flame, her head resting heavily on her outstretched arm. Her book lay closed on the table beside her. It was late, and she was almost asleep. Her mother would be up from

the inn soon, she thought, since no further guests would be likely to arrive tonight. 

Or would they? 

The cadence of two ‘new’ voices drifted upwards from amidst the quieting mumbles of guests downstairs. Thayet stared intently into the flame and strained her ears, trying for a moment to match a face or name to either of the two voices she could hear conversing with her ma. Nothing came to mind. She dismissed them as strangers she had yet to meet and went to sleep. 

She did not hear the new voices - or even glimpse the faces they belonged to -  at all during the next day. Until early evening, when there they were again! Talking to both of her parents this time. A man, mostly silent, and a woman - with a strangely calm but strong, authoritative, voice. They didn’t speak long, but as they – and their voices - faded into the quite din (likely heading to the dining room for supper, Thayet thought), she caught the words ‘Channeler’, ‘search’ and ‘Tar Valon’ coming from her father’s lips. She shivered, although she wasn’t really - or even remotely- sure of the reason why she should. 

At dusk the next evening she heard them again, the voices. This time quietly accompanying their owner’s footsteps up the lane towards the inn. Curious, but careful not to be too obvious, Thayetta paused briefly in her task of lighting the lanterns at the door, and looked carefully down the lane towards the sounds. The pair belonging to the voices looked normal enough at a distance, but even from where she stood, solidly perched on an ale box, she could tell that these guests were like none she had ever met before. Again she shivered slightly without really knowing why. 

The man was huge, and muscly, and had the presence of a rolling mountain. The woman was average in height and build, but somehow she seemed stronger even than the man. It was the woman that made her… nervous. Quickly, Thayet turned her attention back to the lantern immediately in front of her as the pair approached. Not really wanting to be noticed, she lit the wick and deftly coaxed the flame, staring at it momentarily to calm her nerves before jumping down and walking smartly to the box and lantern on the other side of the door. She kept her head down, lit the second wick and turned up the flame. She was almost done. Almost finished. A

second more and she could dart unnoticed back inside to her books and flames… 

Except, of course, she couldn’t. The woman spoke. She asked Thayetta to look into a small jewel. She told Thayetta that she had the ability to channel, and that she would be going to Tar Valon. And from there, Thayet learnt, it was only the beginning…

Basic Information
Your Handle: NeverTame
Full names of WT characters you already own and their status: n/a


Character Information
Name: Aislin Dalanar
State whether this is a Traditional or a Salidar character: Traditional
Age of this character: 18
Name of country where this character is from: Ghealdan

Appearance
Hair: medium brown, straight, long, usually worn braided
Eyes: light blue
Skin: light
Height: 160 cm
Voice: calm and clear, precise articulation with recognisable regional accent
Other: looks average in every way; not ugly but only a man in love would call her beautiful

Optional
Special Skills: quick writer with neat handwriting
Knowledge Weakness: thinks she knows more about the world than she really does
Physical Weakness: 
Personality weakness: 

Personality

Aislin is dutiful and responsible, strives to do her best and expects the same of others. She’s calm and practical and prefers to approach problems in a logical manner. Tends to stick to the rules diligently, and while she won’t run to the authorities if she happens to witness some small breach of etiquette, she certainly does not approve of such behaviour and will not join in. She is mostly willing to help if asked, but unlikely to spontaneously offer help - because if someone wanted her help, surely they would ask. 

History

Aislin is the second child of a moderately successful Ghealdanin merchant. Her sister, Ellindre, is eight years older and because of the age gap they never really had much in common. Regardless of this, and the fact that her father kept hoping for a son but never got one, Aislin had a relatively happy early childhood without major tragedies. She led a rather sheltered life, without friends of her own age, only going out in the company of her mother and sister, but she wasn’t the rebellious sort and was content with the way things were. She learnt read at a relatively early age, almost by accident, from watching and listening to her Ellindre and their mother read to each other, and after that she was never bored and the easiest way to keep her satisfied was to sit her down with a book.

When Aislin was ten years old, it had become clear that there would be no son in the family, and her father turned his expectations to Aislin. In the years that followed, he taught her to write with speed and precision, to work with numbers and to manage accounts, and other skills that she might need if she were ever to continue his business. Her mother watched the process with a mixture of amusement and disapproval - not because she didn’t think a woman could run a business, but because she thought such an education would make it more difficult to find her a suitable husband. In her world view, men rarely appreciated a woman whose education was equal or - Light forbid! - superior to his own. Aislin’s father listened to his wife’s concerns - and kept on teaching his daughter. Aislin herself loved every bit of her training. It made her feel special. She might not be as pretty as her sister, or as deft with the needle and thread, but she could do things with numbers that would leave Ellindre staring blankly in confusion.

By the time she was seventeen, Aislin was regularly accompanying her father when he travelled to meet with business associates. She loved those trips; she got to dress smartly and look all grown-up and important as she stood at her father’s right hand and wrote down the details of the deals her father made or presented lists of the wares her father was selling. Gradually, however, she noticed a change in the way those business partners regarded her - she never grew to be particularly shapely, but she had become distinctly feminine in shape, and some of the men her father dealt with looked at her as if they expected her to be part of the bargain.

And it was in her eighteenth year that it finally happened; Aislin was sold. Her father made a deal with an elderly merchant lord to marry Aislin to his son and heir and merge the two family businesses. It was nowhere near as dramatic as Aislin had always thought it would be; Berric Harvin was a decent man, even if he was ten years older than Aislin, and Aislin submitted to her fate quietly. The wedding never took place, however. While Aislin and her father were staying at the Harvin manor, the old Lord Harvin received other guests from Tar Valon itself. Curious, Aislin approached the Aes Sedai one evening, and one thing led to another and before the day was out, she had been tested for the ability and discovered that she could indeed learn to channel. Which, of course, changed everything.

Addendum:Where it says Aislin was sold we are not talking about slavery here but about a dowry.

Me too, but as long as she does not try to use it as a Novice/Aes Sedai all is good

Basic Information
Handle: Kenny
Character Count (For this Division): 1

Character Information
Character name: Venca Konora
Age: 16
Nationality:  Andor, Four Kings

Appearance
Hair: long, curly, black
Eyes: big green eyes that make her look alarmed all the time
Skin: slightly tanned

Basic Information
Your Handle: Sherper
Full names of WT characters you already own and their status (active/retired/dead): First.

Character Information
Name (first and last) of this character: Ellisha Falwein
State whether this is a Traditional or a Salidar character: Traditional
Age of this character * (Traditional = 14-19 / Salidar = 20-70) :17
(* Returning / Full AS character: age in main time line)
Name of country where this character is from: Andor

Appearance
Hair: Dark brown shoulder long hair, kept flowing.
Eyes: Emerald Green.
Skin: Pale complexion.
Height: 5'5 "
Voice: Usually prefers a brisk no nonsense Andorian accent, but can also pull off a decent clipped Cairhienin droll.
Other: infamous raised eyebrows combined with intolerable grin.

Optional
Special Skills: Rope climbing and river pirate skull bashing.
Knowledge Weakness: Everything that does not involve the river trade.
Physical Weakness: Short in stature.
Personality weakness: Doesn’t know the tail ends of how to act ‘like a lady’ and doesn’t care to.

Personality
Ellisha makes the most rowdy tomboys look feminine and dignified; she doesn’t even pretend she knows how to act properly around people. Preferring the shortened version of her name: ‘Eli’ or even just ‘El’; she gets bored easily, hates being told what to do and detests activities that restrict her ability to move around at will. She ‘could’ have been rather attractive (had she tried), but any boy that might have harboured feeling towards Ellisha were usually turned back by her wicked scowl and the five n’ a half span fishing spear she always carried around.




History
Born the youngest daughter and child of the Falwein family, Ellisha had a very ‘interesting’ upbringing. Being the only daughter to the Falwein family, her mother was determined to make a respectable house wife out of her. Unfortunately for her mother, little Ellisha had plans that differed quite differently to the life of sewing, cooking and cleaning she had planned out for her. Ever since she could walk and talk, Ellisha had never missed an opportunity to be on her father’s craft with all her older brothers, who took special care to protect her as their younger sister.

Much to the distaste of her mother, Ellisha quickly learned the trade of becoming a river merchant (all the while neglecting the lessons her mother managed to cramp on shore). By the age of eight she could fix the ropes, tie the canvas, and tell every detail of a ship from bow to stern. Along with her brothers, she helped her father run both the ship and the trade all along the river Erinin. On more than one occasion she had to demonstrate to river brigands and the like, how much it hurt to cross a girl with an extra long spear and a menacing scowl. Eventually her mother gave up trying to turn her into something she clearly isn’t, and it was later decided she would take over the family’s business when the time came to hand over the books. She learned how to read, haggle with land peddlers and farmers, but most importantly, she learned and earned the respect of a crew.

Her life was shaping up to be a decent adventurer filled journey, until one day after her sixteenth name day, her father allowed passage to two mysterious ladies down the river. Always curious about things she probably shouldn’t be getting her nose into, she boldly enquired to where the two were headed, not realising the two were actually Aes Sedai. On the third day of the journey, apparently as a token and gift, one of the two women gave Ellisha a small piece of emerald marble to play with. When Ellisha held it up to the light to examine the stone’s polished surface and rich depth, she thought she saw a tiny light flicker then fade from the core of the stone. She didn’t know what it had meant but the two Aes Sedai certainly did. She could be taught to channel and the two women told her as much when she asked.

Her first reaction was to burst out laughing at the ridiculous notion; whilst her immediate second was to jump overboard to try and get away from the two women after she realises they were telling the truth. She was caught before she hit the water by weaves of the power and the two sisters then took her to see her parents – revealing to them both that their daughter would need to be brought to the tower and trained as a Novice. Be it reluctantly and with much soggy tears, in the end Ellisha Falwein was dragged rather moodily to Tar Valon and the Tower, to begin her new life as a channeler.