Tai weaved some earth and water to get them both some cups of water, which was like ice sliding down his throat, he was so parched. Once Tai had instucted Toram to practice on the void, he put his coat on and Toram noticed a new addition. A Dragon pin. "Congragulations Tai. I didn't know you were and Asha'man now." Toram felt like he had to do better now that he was being taught by an actual Asha'man. Silly, but thats how he felt. As Tai took hold of saidin, Toram watched what he did intently to learn as much as possible. He seen the silvery slash rotate and knew that it was a Gateway. He watched very intently. I will learn all the weaves that there are. I swear under the light.

      Realizing that he was just staring at the residue left behind, he snapped out of it and closed his eyes working on the forming the void. He actually formed it and held onto it for a good little while before it slipped away. He immediately went back to forming it. Feeding all of his emotions into the flames. This time he held onto it for a little while longer before it broke into a million little pieces. He flew back to it again. This go around though it lasted less time than the first attempt. Then he sat and just breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. Deep even breaths. And he focused on the forming of the void much more than before. He felt every hairsbreadth that it grew and solidified. Until he was sitting in absolute nothingness. But it wasn't nothing. It was everything around him. He felt all the trees, the ground he was sitting on, the wind gently blowing on his skin, and he even seemed to be able to feel the tiniest of movements by birds and small insects from feet away.

      And wonder of all wonders he actually held on to it until Tai had gotten back, and then it was just the shock of feeling a weave being completed that brought him out of it. I guess I should have been sitting with my eyes open. As he felt the weave closing and Tai coming closer he stood up to greet his teacher. Instead of some greeting Tai tossed some kind of long bundle at him and Toram actually caught it. A look of amazement crossed Toram's face. He couldn't have.... Toram unwrapped the cloth from around it and pulled the sword out of the sheath and gaped in astonishment at the work of art that he held in his hands. The blade was climbed by roses and the hanguard was two lions back to back on their hind legs. he looked up at Tai, "I can't accept this. This is too much, it must have cost a fortune." He wanted it really badly, but could not accept such a grand gift.

Looking abashed at shirking his responisibilities, Toram assured Tai that it would not happen again. "Yes sir, I will do my best to become the weapon the Lord Dragon wants me to be."

Once Tai was done telling him the duties of a Soldier, he handed a sword to Toram and weaved some Air around the blade. As he crouched a little and held the sword up he said "Begin."

"Begin?" Begin what? I dont have the slightest idea what I'm doing here! Toram thought furiously. He attempted to imitate Tai's stance by crouching a little at the knees, but he felt like if he took a step then he would be walking like a duck. Lifting the sword he didn't realize how heavy it was. It weighed a goodly amount even thought it had looked like Tai and the other man were swinging them around like a couple of tree branches. Holding the sword in both hands, he tried to again imitate how his teacher was holding his blade.

"Here hold it like this," Tai said as he came over and moved the sword a little bit and adjusted Toram's grip some. "And dont crouch so far down. Bend your knees just a little bit and have your lead foot behind the other foot."

"Like this?", Toram asked. Putting his feet as indicated and tightening his grip on the handle of the slightly curved sword. At a nod from Tai he waited for his first, well second actually, lesson in swordsmanship.

"The first one that you shall learn is called Boar Rushes Down The Mountain. This is a fairly simple maneuver in which you do a vertical slice from top to bottom." He demonstrated it a couple times with practiced ease.

Trying it a couple of times slowly to get the hang of it, Toram tried it a few more times with more force and speed. Now without thinking of waiting for Tai to give him another instruction, he turned a little away from his teacher so as not to hit him on accident, and tried it while pushing forward on his front foot to add a thrust and more force to the strike. Also a little more range even with his long arms could always be handy.

After swinging the sword a few dozen times in the form, Tai told him, "Alright that's enough of that one. Try this one now. It is called Arc Of The Moon. It is basically a curving horizontal slash." Once again demonstrating it a few times he stopped to let Toram try it.

He moved back a little ways from his mentor and tried it once slowly. Then a couple more times with slightly more speed. Once he felt he could hold on to the sword without it flying out of his hands he started to do the move with more speed and force going fully back to a ready position before attempting it each time.

After a while of swinging the sword around feeling like his arms had been holding a heavy weight all day, he lowered the point to the ground and had to catch his breath for a minute. "Sorry Tai, I have to rest for a moment. I'm just an innkeepers son, not any soldier or anything like that." He chuckled at himself at how he must sound like he was making excuses.

"I know you are there Toram, come out. We need to have a word," Tai said to Toram once he and the other man were finished. As he finished what he was saying Toram's tenuous grip on the void shattered.

Oh light! Did I do something wrong, Toram thought. Was I supposed to announce my presence or something? Not attempting to form the void any longer he stood up and walked the rest of the way into the clearing and stood before his teacher. He doesn't sound pleased I should be careful of myself. Saluting to Tai he says, "Yes sir? You want to speak with me?" Looking at the other man he noticed that he was a Soldier also by the lack of any pins on his coat. Well Soldier or not, he has had some training with that sword or I am a fool. He couldn't be that good for just recently learning.

Toram Eldin

Soldier

Indifferent to the Aes Sedai

Wasn't here at DM for the Watcher's RP

Wondering where Tai had gotten to, Toram decided to check the clearing that Tai liked to use, maybe he would be there. The man had said he would give him sword lessons and then disappeared. Well even if he is not there then I can still practice some power moves by myself and maybe try to figure some newer things out. Thinking about his new abilities and what he could possibly do with them, Toram walked in comtemplation. So deep in his thoughts that he didn't even realize he had been hearing some sounds of a struggle fo a while. "Wonder what that could be?" he wondered out loud. Getting closer to the clearing he seen his mentor and some man who looked somewhat like Tai. I wonder if that is his brother or some relation, they certainly look a little like each other. Walking to the edge of the clearing he watched as the two men practiced the forms. The forms were so fluid it seemed as if they were almost doing some sort of deadly dance.

Watching and waiting for them to be done, Toram sat on the ground and decided to try and assume the void. Might as well get some practice in, he thought to himself. I don`t want to startle them by saying something and one of them hurt the other. Even though someone could heal it I suppose. Watching and waiting he failed to form the void much more often then getting it to hold. Must need a lot of practice.

Light a fire at a distance without using fire? I haven't even lit a candle sitting in front of me yet! I think it would be best if I just sat this one out and just watched for this tournament, and maybe I will have enough skill to participate in the next one...if there is a next one.

Walking up to the Storm Leader Toram says hesitantly, "Ummm sir I think that I will just watch this one. I would like to join it but I don't think that my abilities are good enough yet. I mean there isn't even another Soldier out here. Sorry to waste your time sir."

Toram then walked over to the side of the inn and sat down watching and listening to the others that likely would be participating. Light but I wish that I was better at what I am now able to do.

OOC: Well if Talavin wants to I'm willing to try it out.  Who knows it might be pretty fun?

Huh... sounds simple enough, but I bet it's anything but, Toram mused while looking at the board. So the point is to capture all the opponents pieces. And I'm supposed to be trying to capture the white ones. Looking at the board Toram seen that all the pieces were spread out, like they were randomly set down. But there was little pockets of groupings all over the board. Most of the groups were about even with a couple having the advantage to either side. You wouldn't want to spread yourself too thinly because then you would be easy to "conquer," but then again you also don't want to put them all in one group and get surrounded on the first couple of turns. ...I bet the key is to find a good mixture of both.

OOC: Sorry this is a kind of short post but I'm getting tired. Are we actually going to play a game of stones?

As Toram was heading out from the Inn he seen that there was a notice on the wall. Hmmmm... A tournament huh? That could be fun to watch. I'd like to join but I don't really know any weaves except that one that Tai showed me... Although maybe I could get someone to show me a couple before it happens.

Walking outside he went in search of a friendly Asha'man or Dedicated to teach him a couple weaves. But instead, almost ran into the Storm Leader while being lost in thought, thinking about what could possibly be new and advanced ways to use the Power. "Sorry about that sir, I was lost in thought and didn't see you there," a suddenly nervous Toram said. " I was on my way to find someone who might be able to teach me some things to do with the power." Light, I hope that he doesn't berate me for not being more careful. It was then that Toram had a thought that made him hope that the taint hadn't affected him this soon. "Ummm... maybe you could teach me a couple of weaves sir?" Toram asked with hope in his voice.

Toram was at the Inn getting a meal on one of the rare occasions when he didn't have anything to do immediatly. It seemed as if all he did since getting here was run there, fetch that, and all sorts of things in between. I haven't even started what I really want to do. Learn all sorts of new weaves. They have already jammed my head full of what the different elements can do and what they cant do. Finishing his late lunch Toram looked around at the people wondering what he could do to appear busy so that anyone who came in would not send him on another errand. It was at that time that he noticed the Storm Leader sitting at a table by himself apparently playing a game of stones. Toram had heard of the game but never tried it out, supposedly all the great generals and rulers played the game and it was said to be something like controlling an army on the field. Well I guess that if he's willing to teach then I'm willing to learn. As he got up from his spot he noticed a dedicated standing there watching the man play by himself. Heading over to the table he caught the words that the Storm Leader said to the dedicated.

"So do you play, or just watch?"

Toram knew that he was talking to the other man but said, "I don't know how to play sir but I would be willing to learn if you would like to teach me." He waited for the man to answer and hopefully it was a yes so that he wouldn't feel like a complete foll standing there.

Well for my non-Saidin learning rp I would like to learn some weapons due to my char being eager to learn, mostly weaves but weapons are great too. As for a free rp I would just be interested in meeting some people around the Tower and maybe Caemlyn since it's only like a day or so away from me. I suppose that I could talk to Arath or someone about going out of town/country.

that would be a help Kura. About how often do you think that you could post approximatly? I need a free rp, and a non-Saidin learning rp.

"I'm impressed. You did well. Let me show you a trick that some don't know about. I learned it on my own and since you did something fairly close to it by accident, I might as well show you how to make it work."

I was actually close to making a weave by myself? With no previous knowledge of these things. Well I guess that I'm really lucky then. Toram thought ecstatically.

Watching what Tai did Toram was determined to commit it to memory. I will learn all the weaves possible. Even if it takes forever. As the stone was being pushed high into the air on flows of Air, it suddenly exploded showering rock fragments down on their head and shoulders.

"You have done well, lets go to the Inn for a meal." Toram and Tai got up and headed out of the clearing back towards The Farm.

I could've killed myself? I don't want that to happen when I've just now found this wonderful new ability.

Toram did as he was told and just held the smallest amount that he could, without attempting to grab any more. He just held it and was intent upon distinguishing the five different elements. finding Fire and Earth were no problem, and Spirit was just a fraction longer than either of those, but finding the Air and Water were slightly more difficult. I wonder why those were harder to seperate? Then Tai had him release the void and Saidin and follow him closer to the spring. As they sat down again Tai asked him to do something with each of the elements. Each of them huh? I know what I could do with the others but what could I do with Spirit? Well let's just leave that for last then.

With water he tried to stretch a small amount to the spring and swirl it in a cyclone shape and attempted to create a whirlpool. He actually managed to get it a little bit after about half a dozen tries. Then he brought a little water up onto the dirt into a small puddle. More like a big raindrop, He thought miserably.

Then with earth he wanted to take some dirt and pebbles around the small puddle and dropped them into the water and pushed them together with some amount of force making a hard mudball. He managed that after only about four tries.

With air he tried to pick up a small twig that had fallen off of a tree close by and dropped it on top of the mudball. That was hard! I feel as if I ran a mile.

And now fire. Using only the barest trickle of the most dangerous element (to him) he lit the twig of fire and pushed the thread of fire all over the mudball and baked it until it became hard and shiny. But it still looks like a mudball that was left in the sun, he thought to himself dejectedly.

Now what in the Light can I do with spirit? Well nothing to do but try something I guess. He tried to push some spirit into the mudball but nothing was happening. Maybe if I try some more and try to wave it around. As he added more threads of spirit and waved them around a some unknown type of weave started to form then collapsed with a loud bang. "Well I guess that I can't really do anything with spirit right now until I learn some things."

Toram drank from the offered cup as if he hadn't drank in days. "I never knew that just thinking would be so much work."

Now that you can achieve the Void with some semblance of ease, we will continue. Assume the Void. I want you to close your eyes. Good. Now float in the emptiness. Stretch out your awareness, push it outward and feel the emptiness."

Toram did as told. He stretched his mind out to feel all the emptiness that was there. Just as he was wondering what he was supposed to be feeling for there was a sense of...warmth.. It seemed like it was just over his shoulder but when he opened his eyes to look around he seen that the sun was well above them and there was nothing behind him.

"Good, I see you have felt that light. Now I want you to stretch out and grab hold of it. But be cautious! Only take in a small amount." Tai cautioned his pupil.

Toram assumed the void and closed his eyes again then he slowly reached towards the light. All of a sudden power rushed into him and he felt more alive than ever! But with it came a sickly feeling like he had drank nothing but latrine water for his whole life. He released the light and the void in a spasm emptying his breakfast and the water he just drank on the ground between his feet. He looked at his mentor in embarrasment. "Sorry."

"Dont worry about that it happens to most people their first time," Tai explained. "Try it again."

Toram assumed the void again and grabbed some of the light into himself. Now that he didnt have to empty his stomach again he could actually concentate on the feelings of this wonderful new gift. It was a constant stuggle to just hold onto it and not let it overpower him. It was like his bones were freezing as his skin threatened to ignite into flame. It was... Wonderful. And awful too. The taint was horrible. So horrible that the power was barely worth the sickness that was spreading throughout his body. He wanted more. He pulled in more and more of the power until he was brimming full of it. He was going to explode from so much power. And suddenly it was gone. He could sense it but no matter how hard he reached for it he felt as if he was running head first into a wall.

"I had to shield you from the source because you were drawing too much," Tai explained.

Hey I happen to think he's doing good. And me as well  ;D  Check it out in the jaws of the dragon.

"The Void as it is most commonly referred to, is thought to be something dating back to the Age of Legends. It is a technique to teach focus. It is also something you must learn before anything else. Without it you will die faster than either the madness or mistakes can kill you. Without it... Saidin will turn you to ash were you sit."

Turn...me...to..ash? And here I was worried about going mad, thought Toram. I guess I had better try to learn this fast.

Toram closed his eyes and did as Tai told him. He fed all into it. The feeling of sitting on the stone chairs, the smell of the trees and flowers, and all the nervousness and excitement that he had felt since coming to the Tower. He had thought he had it for a moment but it completly shattered around him. Trying again, he failed again. Well if it was easy then everyone would know it wouldn't they? He once again tried to assume The Void. And failed miserably. "AHHHHH!" , he screamed in frustration.

"Only my voice exists, my voice and the utter blackness you are floating in. There is a flame, small and flickering in the center of the darkness. Float toward it, feel its warmth . Once you have the flame firmly in view, I want you to push everything into it. Thought, feeling, sense. Everything. Soon all will be consumed by the flame, leaving only an emptiness."

Toram had a new feeling to feed into it. Frustration. He tried it one more time. He got further this time, it vibrated for a moment before shattering completely. Once more. This time he didn't even get it completely formed before the flaming thing broke apart into a million pieces. Light! Just let me get it!

A couple hours, and dozens of attempts later...

Okay this is it. I almost had it that last time. Toram closed his eyes and fed everything into it. All the fury that had replaced his frustration long ago, all the fellings that he never even realized that he had buried long ago, and then... Wait. Is this it? It doesn't seem to be quivering anymore, it seems almost solid. Almost. He fed more and more into it, even going so far as to make up new emotions to fuel the inner inferno that was now his being. I think that I have it now. The void is completely solid now, not even the slightest tremor. It's like the body sitting in that clearing is someone elses. I don't feel a thing. And I can think more clearly than I have ever done before. I did it!

"I have done it Tai. I'm in the void now," he said. Then he realized that his voice was so emotionless that it sort of scared him. But that was nothing to be concerned about now. He was in the Void!

"I lived with my family for a long time in Mayne, my mother was a jewelry merchant. My father ran off when i was very young and i do not know much about him. My mother was killed when i was 16. I continued the trade until a little over a year ago when I heard of the Dragon's Amnesty. I wanted to learn how to channel so I set off with all the money I had saved up. So I ended up here."

"Sorry I brought it up. I didn't mean to make you think of those things," Toram replied. Well i suppose that not everyone's had as easy a life as me. As they walked through the trees to Tai's place of training, he thought what he would have done with his life if his parents were dead. Probably ended up running the inn with my sisters and never coming here, he thought glumly. So absorbed in his thoughts he almost walked right into his mentor's back when he stopped.

No wonder he likes to train here it's beautiful, he thought as he looked around. Noticing a spring at the northeastern part of the clearing and the pond it made made him think about the last time he went swimming. I'll have to come out here when I've got some free time and go for a dip. All of a sudden two low-backed chairs made of rock grew out of the ground. He stared in astonishment, then seeing Tai head to the chairs he took a seat in the chair that was apparently for him.

"First things first, what do you know of the Ko Di, sometimes called the Void? What have you learned if anything, and how experienced are you in its use?"

Ko Di? What is that? "Well seeing as how I've never heard of those two things, I would say that I know nothing about them." I guess this is where my lessons start.

"You don't have to call me sir. You can just call me Tai. As long as I can call you Toram, Deal?"

Toram nodded his head yes starting to like the man who would be training him. "I have a place just south west of here that I like to do my training in. It is quiet and not many go there." As Tai started to lead him away from the training grounds he was noticing all the other people and gaping in amazement. Light! I knew that people could do THINGS with the power but throwing fire? and earth flying upwards into spikes? How can they possibly do those things? Well I guess I'll be learning soon enough. I just hope that I'm not one of those numbers the Attack Leader was talking about...

"So what brings you to the Farm Toram?", Tai asked of him. "Most folks come with tales of murdered family, some reason or another to fight the Shadow."

"Well it's nothing as bad as that you see. My life at home was pretty boring as an innkeepers son, so I wanted to see some of the world and I went to Cairhien, then Illian, and wound up in Tear, Where I was tested by an Asha'man I met and I found out that I could channel, so I decided what better way to find adventure than to become part of the Lord Dragon's personal army. So What about you Tai, what brought you here?" Trying to lose his nervousness he started to look around at all the buldings he was passing. He even heard a blacksmith at work somewhere even though he couldn't see where the sound was coming from. It's just like a village. With their own personal Power Wielding army! I read about channelers before but I never thought I would be one of them. Not that it's bad it is.... exciting..

One note Arath, it's not Intellect it's Intelligence..  lol thought I'd let you know  ;D

I think Toram would be:

Str: 13 (+1)

Dex: 14 (+2)

Con: 10

Int: 11

Wis: 12 (+1)

Cha: 17 (+3)

He is large but not very stong, with good agility, a small awareness of the environment, and seeing as how Wizards are focused on Int and preparing spells I'm going to go with the Sorcerer who bases theirs off of Cha and casts spontaniously.

Toram noticed a man with one of those silver sword pins on their collar coming towards him. smiling and putting his hand out he said, "Soldier Eldin? Toram Eldin? I am Dedicated Tai'Dashan, welcome to the Black Tower. Shall we begin?."

Toram smiled back at the man and took his hand. "Yes sir. Just let me know what you want me to do," he replied nervously.

OOC: Sorry about the short post i cant think of much else for him to say.  :)

Well I am now officially a Soldier of the Black Tower and need to learn things. I'm open for weapons, One Power, or whatever.

Edit: Now i just need a non-Saidin learning and another free rp to get to dedicated, but i would still like for Toram to learn as many weaves as he can.

"It's best not to dwell on that.  I've seen some men go mad from their first brush with Saidin, and others that have lived with this for years.  But if you want the cold numbers ... one man in ten dies in training usually to their own mistakes.  One in fifty succumbs to the madness within their first couple of weeks.  That number only gets larger as you stay here longer." The Attack Leader shook his head in resignation. "See?  Best not to dwell on it.  If you wake up sane, or if you wake up at all, it's a good day." The Attack Leader said as he showed Toram where he would be living.

"No more questions sir," Toram responded. After The Attack Leader left him Toram went to put his things away.

He looked at his sleeping quarters noticing that the new recruits didn't have much in the way of comfort. A bed, a chest for his things, a washstand with a small mirror, and a small wardrobe. Good thing i don't plan on having too many things, he thought. After he had put his meager possesions away he introduced himself to the few soldiers that were around, then proceded to go and get something to eat.

After about an hour he went to the south end of the training grounds as he was told to do, and watched the others practicing various weapon forms and One Power things. Hopefully someone will be along shortly, he thought.

"You're expected to follow orders to the letter, like I said.  You will begin learning to channel today, and you will be pushed to your physical and mental limits.  You will perform all of your chores with the power, prepare your meals with the power, and do just about anything else you can think of with the power. In the end, we expect you to be a weapon for the Dragon Reborn.  To be able to slaughter his enemies and help win Tarmon Gai'don. It's pretty simple really.  Follow orders and win the last battle.  Nothing to it. Any more questions?"

"I will do my best sir." Do my best not to go mad. Toram thought to himself. "I have one more question sir. What is the average life expectancy of a person around here?"

The Attack Leader stared at the new man for a moment. "I am Attack Leader Faringal.  I oversee training here at the Tower. Once you walk out my door you will be a Soldier of the Black Tower.  You will obey orders without question, or you will probably be killed.  Pay heed to anyone with pins on their collar and you should do fine. If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask them."

He squirmed a little under a direct penetrating stare, but did not look away. Putting his new coat on, Toram felt as if he was slipping into a new life. One that he never dreamed he would be part of. "Understood. Well sir I would just like to know what is expected of me, and what it is that I am to do here."