Not sure what to rp next?

Don't know many folks and don't want to be a bother?

Well, silly nilly, you're not a bother!  Private message me or reply here and I'll be happy to help you by giving you chores, doing a class with you, or what ever.  I really enjoy the rp and I'm happy to do it.

See you around!

Pale-pink ageless lips pressed firmly to one, and then another eyelid, tucking a heavy green quilt around the limp and (finally) peaceful sleeping form of Aaolin Ybadith.  Brushing a hand down the girl’s cheek, Miya Kiyoshi rose as smoothly as her old bones would allow, trying not to wake the soul-weary battle sister.

Looking down upon the soundly sleeping Green she remembered a time, not so very long ago,  when she had tucked-in this very same woman… only back then Aaolin was in a banded dress and her uncertainty was in anticipation of gaining the shawl, not of her own choices.  

Time for the two of them, the White Tower, and the world had brought about many painful and difficult changes that Miya had never anticipated in her dizziest daydreams.  One example of such changes was the frosty reception she’d received in the hallway today.  It seemed unthinkable that politics could ever have shifted so much within the ivory walls that a Blue would be glared at as she walked to the room of a Green Sister.  Yet, that was exactly what had occurred today and it galled her to no end.  Burn the all the green ajah for fools if they believed the Blues solely responsible for the passing of one law… a sensible law at that… did they know nothing of what was happening outside these walls!?!

Thankfully, it seemed that the tea Merelle Hightower had suggested too soothe the young woman had actually worked as advertised.  She would have to send the merchant woman some extra coin for the suggestion, though it was unlikely she would ever ask for such a repayment.  Successful as that woman was, Merelle might be much more so, if she were not given to random acts of kindness such as this.  Blowing out the guttering candle, the gray-haired Blue Sister made her way to the door.

As she closed the door to Aaolin’s room she was happy to find that the hall was empty save for herself and the old gnarled walking stick that she‘d put against the door frame upon entering.  Looking to the window at the end of the hallway she could see that it was dark outside now and most sisters had retired for the evening to their own rooms and studies.  For a moment, only a moment, she considered doing the same but she knew far too well that her work was far from done and her big mouth had landed her into a pit of mud so deep that even pigs wouldn’t dare waddle into it.

Filling her lungs with air and exhaling she focused on the presence of Saidar just outside her grasp, it’s warmth an old friend ever assuring her that she was stronger than her body would let her be, more commanding than her voice could ever be, and wiser than her years.  Saidar, her only companion these past twenty one years… her only real friend since the death of her last and most beloved warder Hamad.

Hamad had been from Saldaea in his youth but, had traveled south to make his fortune breeding horses in the plains.  He’d married (a gentle soul who’d passed on) and had a child who’d grown to manhood all before she’d met him.  His salt and peper hair was worn long and his eyes… Light but his eyes were like eagle’s eyes in color and had she been younger and given to such foolish behavior, she might have swooned.

Hamad had a way of making her laugh, no matter how serious things had gotten.  He’d been joking when his death found him, in fact.  He was trying to make her feel better in the face of all the death they’d seen that day … trying to console her over the fact that she could barely channel a spark and so could heal no more men even though there were still those who begged for it as far as the eye could see.  

In quiet moments, like this, she could almost feel his bundle of emotions still in her mind… his amusement in that final moment and then utter horror as the dying Aiel’s spear pierced his heart.  If she had ever come so close to burning herself out before that moment, Miya could not recall it.  

Closing her large brown eyes, Miya tried to block out the memory and return her mind to the serenity that held her together over nearly three centuries of life and when she opened them, she found herself wandering into the Warder’s yard.

Please Miya…  Aaolin had said, eyes drooping with the weight of her weariness from tears unshed and the pain hidden for far too long inside.

She sighed, her eyes scanning the remaining men and women running to and fro with the last of their day’s work and the start of evening watch.  The man wouldn’t be asleep yet, perhaps drinking with old friends but definitely not sleeping… a Gaidin wouldn’t rest well on a night his sister was so emotional.  He had to be here somewhere.  The trick now was to find him and decide how one went about something so … unorthodox as this.

Would he be offended?

Would he reject her?

Would he be a bull headed oaf after these past seven years and decidedly not who she would ever want to bond despite having given her word that she’d accept the passing of the bond?

Striding her plump, demure figure forward she tried to push the questions from her mind; even shaking her head once to the negative letting her shoulder length gray braids shake as she did… the tiny silver bells on the end of each braid tinkling softly as she did so.  Aaolin, child, what have you gotten me into?

“You there…”  She called out to a boy who couldn’t be many years off his mother’s apron strings.

“Me, Aes Sedai?”  He replied, fumbling a bow and almost stuttering with nerves so thick that she wondered how he even made it into a trainee’s uniform.

“Yes you boy,“  She pulled her blue shawl a bit snugger around the shoulders of her navy dyed wool dress. “I need your assistance.”

“Heart and soul to serve Aes Sedai.”  The boy chirped.  Shienarans… how did I not notice that his hair was long from a let down top knot?

“Yes, yes…”  she said, sounding more annoyed than pleased at his oath.  “I need to find a man.”

Burn the boy if he didn’t smile with the grin of a lad who expected to be bonded on the spot!  “Anyone Aes Sedai.”  He promptly interjected.

It took everything in her old bones not to roll her eyes at the over excitement of the youth.  “A dark haired southlander with a very dangerous look about him; recently returned to the tower in just the last day or so.  He goes by  the name Alin Gaidin.”  She said flatly.  “I need to immediately locate this Alan Mori’dan Warder of Aaolin Sedai of the Green Ajah.”  A part of her, a very small part, finished the statement in her mind… because I somehow have to find a way to tell him that he’s going to be my future Gaidin.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Snow here in Missouri... first time on christmas since my first year here.  I'm sooo happy we had a white christmas. 

*hugs all*

So (correct me if I'm wrong) the purpose of the rp is to establish Estel as a sitter & get Elyssa and Claire into the black ajah hunters group and set up a potential conflict in the tower between the (and this is another place I'm confused) BA and the BA Hunters ... or the ajahs when they learn about the forced swearings?

All the above is keen in theory but, I suppose I'm just wondering if it's wise to move forward with adding more people to the list of folks who know about the Black Ajah? 

Not because I'm against that in particular but mostly because I'm not sure that there's much of a story any more for the black ajah hunters AND because it's so hard to justify how you know about the BA but don't eventually make a move to do what happened in this last book … I’d say more but don’t want spoilers here.

With all due respect, the drpsw was planning bowl of winds back when I left in 2007 and they still aren’t done with it… how long will it realistically be before the main plot is moved forward to the point of what happened in this recent book?  My guess: a long time.  Which is good cause I don’t know that I want to see the drpsw storyline or rp ending any time soon and I’ve seen what happens when sites reach the end of the series (ie: last battle) the sites never stick around long after that as people are here to play a game set in the dragon reborn’s lifetime.

Random ramblings aside - the black ajah hunters were originally put together (as I know you know andrea) back when the main storyline was being played out by players as NSWs and we had the angreal/ter’angreal stolen from the tower.  The BA hunters had a purpose then which involved hunting down npc blacks… now, I don’t know that they do aside from repeating the same sort of rps over and over (ie: catching an npc, a black getting away from them *drat*, or a black sister who wants to retire their pc… handing off their character to be stilled and killed.)

I hate to see a bunch of blues locked into “knowing but not being able to do anything.”  I think you know how much of a bite that can be, right Andrea?  Is there some other way we could accomplish the goals of this rp without dragging more people into this really difficult position?

Maybe another idea for a major blue ajah rp?

Darn RL.  I say we outlaw it.

Thank you.  Carley had sent it to me but I thought it was all there was to the plot until Clarie mentioned there was a bunch more and I was like "okay well that makes a bit more sense cause I was totall lost LOL"

You know how I love organizing rps so I'm glad to help just wanted to see what we're working with here.

Maybe we should get this information updated in another post and have this sticky replaced with that?

PS:  Where did Elyssa wander off to?  I miss her too.  :(

I know that there is some rp planning going on and a lot of buzz around recruiting (I'm courting a few newbies and trying to bring them over to the blue side of the force) but I think maybe we need to sit down and take a hard look at the Blue Ajah of DRPSW and consider what it is we offer players in the way of current rp opportunities and future ones.

WHAT IS BRANDING

First off, realize that the idea of branding isn’t “reinventing” … I’m going to refrence the reds a great deal here since that’s what I worked with for years but, their situation isn’t typical of all ajahs.  What we should do in branding (as you’d do with any product in real life) is better define who we are and find a unique and imaginative way to present that to the players of drpsw and dragon mount.com so to create a healthy excitement about our ajah and drive up numbers.

AN EXAMPLE OF BRANDING AN AJAH

"Guardians of Humanity" ... a group of man loving (not man hating) women who are totally misunderstood and rejected by the very world they are protecting from utter destruction.

In the above statement reds go from being the aggressive (and sometimes foolish) near shadow following man haters that the majority of reds in the books appear to be… and instantly become an ajah you can easily see finding a place in the White Tower of the books and the World.   Yes, this sort of concept does probably produce it’s fair share of jaded and angry/bitter souls… but you can empathize with how they got that way and see how YOUR character could fit in with them.

This phrase implies that rp opportunities come automatically sewn into the hem of your pretty red shawl.  No matter where you go, you're the bad guy who is trying to do good  In all the world only your sisters understand you and what you’ve been through and love you no matter what.  You're all alone in a fight that you can't win with no warder, no husband, no one to put your trust and heart into; at times feels you‘re fighting the very world can‘t even hope to save... only do damage control on.

Sounds cool right?  Something you could see yourself making a character to fit into, yes?  THAT is how you brand an ajah.  You find the qualities that most exemplify who the ajah is and you present it in such a way as to reach the most people - no matter their creativity or writing skill level.

HOW WE BRAND OUR AJAH

There are three parts of branding an ajah that we need to keep in mind as we move forward on this project:

+  Who we are (in a short phrase) and why it’s cool to be who we are

+  What it is you can do as a Blue the second you put on a shawl

+  What makes being a Blue cool in days to come

Answering these for the reds we see:

+  Misunderstood Guardians of Humanity (or simply ‘Guardians of Humanity’ as we shortened it to)

+  All the story ideas implied in the name (facing derision from common folks and the tower, hunting males, dealing with the aftermath of a gentled male, dealing with your loneliness in an AS fashion, trusting your sisters, hunting for clues to heal or help males… gentled or otherwise etc)

+  Bonding ashaman, bridging the gap between the white and black tower, and redefining the red ajah’s purpose in the face of a loss of said purpose.

For the Blue Ajah we need to define these things.  

BE CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE YOUR ANSWERS TOO BROAD OR NARROW. - Back when I played Espara I tried to brand the phrase “all for the cause” for us.  As you may notice ‘the cause’ is too board and doesn’t inspire people to choose blue over other ajahs as our many causes overlap with a lot of the other ajahs.  I mean, why be a blue focused on helping common folks be literate when you could be a brown, right?  Why be a blue focused on justice when you could be a gray… etc.  

On the flip side… keep in mind not to narrowly define what it is to be blue.  A concept shouldn’t define us as workers of a specific job persay but, describe us as a group…

My thoughts on this, as I write this today, are summed up in my Avatar:  “True Blue Heroes.”

The Blue Ajah is the smallest ajah but has the most connections in the outside world (eyes and ears) … we’re the common man’s ajah (as it were.)  The difference between a brown and a blue who has taken literacy as a cause:  The brown is working in the tower most likely and the blue hiked up her skirt and is in some po-dung village teaching them.  HERO.  The blue who champions justice vs. the gray … the gray is advising leaders and reading up on law while the blue is working with the town mayor to make sure daily justice is served fairly and even handedly.  HERO.

Moiraine from the books is a hero for being out in the world helping rand, hands on.  Suian is in the Tower working with things politically but while their tasks were the same they approached it differently.  Both, in the end, are heroes (arguably.)

My suggestion (and obviously this is a discussion so let’s all share ideas) is we try to focus on how being a blue is going to get you out into the world and really interacting with folks as you drive forward with your cause.

Players in the blue ajah should be proactive people who come up with rp ideas to bring to others (like our characters we’re innovative and we are self-starters.)  Our concept/brand should suggest these things in general.

Okay… rambling has begun so I’m gonna stop and post this.  Let’s here your thoughts.

Andrea,

Could I see the whole rp outline hun?  I'm really lost and can't contribute much to getting this off the ground by only knowing 1 part of the story.  Post here or email me deannamross (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks!

Hope your Yule celebration was a good one!  *hugs*

Hi everyone,

I'm Deanna also known as Miya and (several years ago) Telcia - an oldbie of DM returned recently and just started up a blue sister: Miya.  I use to be the adl to White Tower Div and have played in Warders Div (Ragan Marsad, Kit's warder) Leinda Aiel FDM, Kin (again a very long time ago), Telcia (Red Ajah and later Kin), and a Tinker whose name is also lost to time.

I am thinking of taking on a second character to play and have several possible options that could work but, as of yet, I haven't embraced one completely.  So, while muddling through these ideas... I'm open to bribes, offers, and suggestions of what type of character you think I should make.

I enjoy crafting new rps (I've designed and lead several major ones here at dm) writing and teaching new classes/training, and generally using my character to enhance rp for as many people as possible.  I love the positive energy that comes from crafting a great idea and seeing it come into being so... yea... I'm looking to work/play with YOU!

That said, I'm opening the floor for suggestions.  PM me if you like instead of replying.  I'll be in touch!

I remember the freelander center from way back in the day (under Raeyn), it never got used too much though, which was a real shame... but as someone already said, perhaps this is an idea whose time has finally come.

I love Serey's suggestion of rival families... being that the center is in Andor perhaps they could be noble houses of andor.  I know folks like to play nobles and do the game of houses thing so this could be good.  Andorans aren't known for the great game like those from Cairhien are but, let's face it, Elyane found that the nobles didn't just roll over either.

The location of the freelander center doesn't help the seanchan players much BUT, perhaps once they are in talks with the dragon they will find the center a good place to send emissaries instead of having him come to them or vice versa.  As good a reason as any for a nominal amount of the seanchan to be there (even blood) while not being a seanchan held area.  Similarly it would be true for the Aiel. 

The center could be a hub of trade, fencing stolen goods, we could establish that the grand masters of all the world's major guilds/skills/trades are here to train and educate the masses so… even the noble from some far off land might have a reason to come to the center… to learn.

I know we have several characters out there who are scholars so we might also say the center has an extensive library of collected lores … gives even Ogier, WT and BT reason to visit.  And, if we are willing to fudge things a tad, perhaps there is a small stedding inside like there is in Tar Valon?

Just some random thoughts of mine.

To be completely honest THIS is exactly what freelanders is missing.  Every other division has an inbuilt location for rp and “first rp” that is standard for new players (example: White Tower/MON  or MOT) to come in and be able to do.  Because your first post is often the hardest to write… I think not having this discourages people from joining FL Division.  Additionally, it can be intimidating for players to find direction for characters that don’t have their path mapped out in the books already (example: everyone knows how rp will progress for the girl who goes to the WT or the boy who signs up for TG but there are sooo many options for a freelander it can sometimes seem like there is nothing to do or nothing going on.)

With an easy way to enter play and become involved with fellow freelanders & easily to see future rp opertunities, I think the numbers will grow and possibly blow away even WT Div.

Interesting thread, hope you don't mind me peaking in since I'm planning a FL character?  *smile* 

In the same line with people who ask you about stuff that can be found in your post, is also those who ignore what you wrote.  Telling someone that your character's hair is in a bun and then they comment about how it's in braids or you note that it's raining but then they mention the sunny day. 

Additionally I hate it when people "one line" you.  You write something meaningful, deep and wordy and then they respond with "Yes, I'm coming too."  and that's it. Seriously, I've had it happen before and you're left staring at your screen going ... 'how do I reply to that?'

Good to know some people share my annoyances too.  Thanks for this post.  :)

Yep, outline is approved and they were the ones who told me they would give 1/2 a skill point for it.  :)

In an effort to expand options for roleplay, I'm seeking a partner for roleplaying in the form of a warder.  Ideally this person would be an older man (maybe nearing retirement - think Garth Bryne from the books ... along those lines) and perferably someone with some experience in fighting.

My Aes Sedai is old... gray hair old, and "settling down" so the rp demands won't be too great if you have other characters you dedicate a lot of time to or responsibilities around the website that have to come first.

While I don't expect there to be a lot to do outside "looking tough" and personal rp between my character and yours, for the moment... I do expect that once my blue learns to travel that we may run off to right some wrongs and kick ass in the name of the light (or something like that LOL)

To take a peak at Miya Kiyoshi's bio - follow this link: http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,51474.0.html 

I'm a returning oldbie with a long history rp'ing here at DM.  I promise you good rp opertunities if your character is perfect for the job.

Thanks for taking the time to consider me.

Miya closed the book and set it to the side.  For a while she was silent but then nodded to herself.  "Suppose, for a moment, that an Aes Sedai found reason to clean the pots in the kitchens."  Miya waved a hand to forestall any silly statements of how foolish that was, that an Aes Sedai would never do that... Never mind that it was a valid point.

"Now, as foolish a sight as that seems to you... consider the dedication she'd put into cleaning the pot.  Imagine the appearance she'd try to give off to others as she worked.  Imagine all that she might accomplish in doing that simple act of cleaning."  Miya paused to let the girl think.

"Of course you could suspect that no one cleaning a pot could be of any particular use in a kitchen other than to make certain the pot was clean... but, what might she hear in pretending her only purpose was to clean the pot?  How often do Lords and Ladies overlook those beneath them in station and speak far too freely... “  Miya realized then who she was talking to and noted that it was very unlikely that the girl knew anything about nobles at all.  “… well, trust me when I say that people often are too free with their words when they think no one important is about."  Miya nodded firmly, she had seen it many times before.

“The sister would produce the cleanest pot in all the world because no Sister takes up a cause they can not dedicate themselves fully to; whether it’s saving kingdoms from ruthless dictators, washing pots or defending the rights of commoners from an oppressive governing body.”  Think girl… think…

“She would be the appearance of perfection while she worked, an example to other servants who scrub pots so that they might know how best to do their work in years to come and so that they could learn to take pride in their work.  No task, no matter how menial, is unimportant so long as it helps even one other soul.  THAT is the lesson of the Aes Sedai… translated from the old tongue:  Servant of All.”  Miya hands the book back to the girl.

“You must first learn to serve before you can be a leader among servants.  This week, as you work, endeavor to not just survive your chores but master them.  Imagine the shawl already square on your shoulders and that you do all of this only because you wish to with all your heart.  Imagine that your time here at the tower is because you have chosen a mission of great importance; one in which the lives of innocent people who are wrongly accused of some crime, hang in the balance.”  Inwardly Miya smiled to herself but made no show of it on her face.

“To succeed and help them, you must work long hours with little free time, you must behave as expected, study endlessly, suffer under the lash from time to time and even slave away in your enemy’s stronghold doing menial labor.  All the while it is imperative that you keep the appearance of serenity as it may give strength and hope to those you mean to help… or, should you fail, rob them of it.”  Miya stood slowly, her bones making noises as she did.  Still, despite the pain the old woman was clearly in, her face remained as smooth as glass.

“It may seem childish to play pretend all week and journal about it but, if you want to see that banded dress as fast as any girl ever has… it’s not One Power alone that will get you there.  Mark me, child.  Now, clean this mess up and report to the Mistress of Novices office… your hem is gray again.  I‘ll see you next week.”  With that Miya walked slowly inside, leaning on her staff a little more than she wanted to as she went. 

(( oc:  Claire I hope you don't mine me jumping in on this one but Miya was screaming in my head for pie LOL!  Additionally, do you have something written up for your staff?  If so, pm me with it and I'll give it to Gianna otherwise I'd be honored to write up something. ))

A pleasant-faced, plump, gray-haired sister of the blue ajah carefully watched and waited for the fifth person of her ajah to congratulate their newest sister.  It was only then that Miya Kiyoshi stepped as fast as her old bones would allow, tiny bells tinkling on the ends of each of her braids with each step, in order to be the sixth... pie sounds so good, I do hope the girl can bake.

"Under the Light, welcome home Sister."  Miya gave the girl a quick kiss on each cheek... a tradition of her own, and smiled softly while some other young blue whispered quietly to Gianna that she would now owe Miya a pie as well as any other sixth blue to welcome her home.  It was, after all, a long standing tradition among their ajah.  Miya didn't know why the blues baked each other pies in this manner but, it was as it had always been and likely always would be. Maybe its a tradition created by some old goat like myself who also didn't like to bake for herself?

However, it was now time for another tradition... with a nod to the First Selector - Miya made off to the Blue Ajah Quarters in order to retrieve a very sacred object. It would be given to the new girl at the small celebration they'd be having at the end of the girl's walk through of the Tower. Light send that I choose the staff best suited to her as someone chose for me long ago.

One by one she looked through the storage area, carefully considering the appearance of the child, her refusal to be healed of her markings and what it might mean.  It was then that she found what she hoped would be the perfect staff and made her way to the room designated for the party and waited calmly for the ceremony to begin.

Brown?  I had a Brown Sister?  Yeesh... I don't recall that but then again maybe I did and it was just for such a short time I don't remember.  *blush*  Please pm me and we'll discuss the chances of it occurring.  If there isn't one, I may make a new novice with aspirations, sound good?

I will however be sending you a returning character bio for a freelander later today.  I apologize in advance for the amount of reading you'll want to do in order to be familiar with the backstory.

Thanks Nyna.  Good to be back.

*shares virtual chicken soup*

Be well!

Welcome to all the new players!  *hands out cheaply made 'blue is cool' buttons*  Additionally ... "We know you have a choice when choosing an ajah and we thank you for keeping Blue in mind." 

*throws blue confetti*

Thank you for all the welcomes everyone.  *special snuggle to Auntie Muir*

Lavinya, I do remember a small rp with you (I think when I was playing Espara) but I too look forward to more.

Mystica, I hear you're all sorts of "bacon-wrapped" goodness (Claire got me started on the bacon late last night... don't ask, it's a good thing!) so it's a real pleasure to "meet" you. 

If anyone wants to do an rp, please just drop me a line.  I really look forward to interacting with everyone.

I cleaned up the letter a bit (went over it with carly) and here it is:  https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7sesUy1JoPuZmFiZmJjMmEtMTJmNS00N2UxLWFjZjYtZGUxNjhjMTYwZGQ3&hl=en

If you're playing a young sister (ideally still so proud of the shawl she's wearing it all the time) then my new class may be the thing for you!  

Sister Survival 101 will address dangers your character will face in the "real world" outside the tower and help you as a player consider how your character would deal with those.  As an added bonus, the last class will discuss warding and defensive weaves that you can use in rps out and about in randland.

Completion of the class will earn you 1/2 a skill point.

Sign ups (below) will remain up for two weeks and class will begin in Jan.  This is not your run of the mill class and will require some thinking and writing on your part so be sure to come prepared to type.  No cut and pasting either kiddies as this is a brand new course!  So... sign up now and don't miss out!

1.  Lavinya

2.  Serena

Miya picked up the report and read it calmly, listening at the girl prattled on about some chore she needed to go perform.  Waving a dismissive hand she let the child disappear without a word.

---

That night as Serey returned to her room, exhausted from a long day of work, she would find a small book, quill, and corked ink well on her bed.  The book was full of blank pages with the exception of the first page which contained a slightly less neat copy of her report from earlier that day.  According to the notation at the bottom of the report "as transcribed by Miya Kiyoshi, Blue Ajah."  A small note lay loosely tucked in the pages to explain -

Novices have no possessions and so this is not a gift, it is a chore.

You will write each day in this book until it is full or you are raised to accepted  - whichever comes first.

You will remark on novice life and the things you learn while you are here.

You will reflect on your past and how it is negatively and positively effecting your performance.

You will speculate on how your experience & wisdom gained could help others in the future.

And lastly, each ten day you will serve me tea at high bells in the garden where you will let me review your week’s entries and we shall discuss them.

~Miya Kiyoshi, Blue Ajah

(( oc:  Feel free to respond to receiving the “chore” and if you like we can do another thread or two where you get to meet with her to review your week.  I figure things are bound to come up repeatedly as you discussed in your pm and we can rp out that as it occurs.  Thanks for the tips, I mean to use them.  It’s been real fun rp’ing with you so far!  Thanks for sharing your story! ))