Green Ajah gets Warders and special battle weaves :)

And you cannot use weapons of power offensively 'cept for what your vows will permit. Shadowspawn, or in defence of your life, your Warder's, or your sister's.

11:00pm gmt and for the next several hours

I'm interested in seeing ideas a brainstorm might come up with

Hmm, ignorant question, how high can Asha'man's WS possibly go? The highest I saw on the list was a 10, while other Ajahs can bond Warders who have more than 10.

Also right now only the Reds in the Hall bonded Asha'man at the meeting. What if an AS didn't choose to bond the Asha'man?

Just because there is no mention in the books doesn't mean it's not logical. Over the years AS who travel will face encounters and may be caught in situtions where their self defence doesn't depend on the OP.

Looking at the BT WS list descriptions I feel the WS is not at all improbable for a Red or Green:

5 The character knows the basic properties and uses of the weapons

7 The character has enough experience to fight reliably in group formations

10 The character is skilled enough with a weapon to teach others the basics of using that weapon

Notice even with WS 10 the char is skilled just enough to keep up and teach others the basic forms.

Also I have a personal question, what is Saline currently approved for?  :)

Edit: Nvm. Found her score!

Note: Not positive where to put this since it says **  All WS6 - WS10 Req's are not Warder Yard based and will be recorded via the WT Staff. This means you must keep record of them in the requirements board so please just redirect me to the proper req boards :)

WS5-WS6

The Open Road - Aes Sedai organized an RP in a hostile (to AS) area. A conflict occurs to which the Aes Sedai must choose to battle either with OP (and reveal herself), with a weapon or try to find a more peaceful way out of the situation. How well does the Aes Sedai handle this situation?

** Must encounter 2 PCs from another division.

** Min 16 posts for the entire RP.

The Best Laid Plans In Fol Dara, Saline goes after a search party consisting of Thera Gaidar, Perivar Gaidin and the trainee D'Ashan. Encounters with trollocs. 16 posts.

Not a problem. Awesome!

Up too on Salandrian and my end (and some of yours too, I see . . . very quick  ;D).

Listening as the girl shared her questions, Saline managed to suppress a twitch at the mention of Lately Sedai. Never before had she ever heard Latra Posae Decume’s name like so; she wanted the first time to also be the last. Still Saline had encouraged questioning, and there was no point in giving room for misconceptions where the truth would do, even if the topic is a bit unconventional. Normally she would suggest more research, as research sharpened memory, but there were few libraries in the land with that sort of information. It follows the children of Maryam’s background would likely not have access to them before coming to learn here, and yet there was a look about some of her novices of . . . a look of . . .

Saline pushed the wondering aside. She set her mind to work, searching.

The proposition made by Maryam that Latra Sedai’s Fateful Concord undermined the Dragon Lews Therin Telamon’s plan was a common one. Some scholars speculated that the Dark One would have, as Maryam suggested, tainted both halves of the Source. Others claimed there would not be a taint in the first place. But that was all with the knowledge that the Dragon had succeeded in his plan to strike at Shayol Ghul. By cowardice or courage, though, the female Aes Sedai were saved from the taint, and it was important to know why.

Saline said clearly, “the Age of Legends came to pass, fading to myths long forgotten when the Wheel gave birth to a new Age. The War of Power, called War of the Shadow, was marked by the Dark One’s attempts to break from his prison and walk the world free.  To him he gathered powerful allies who used the Source to war. Many discoveries were made of the Source for warring purposes, but none more so frightening than balefire, a lost weave which unravelled the very patterns of the Time. Although both sides looked to the Source as the means to end all wars, balefire had been banned not long into the Age. It was so terrible that even the Thirteen would not touch balefire.”

“Even so, the forces of the Dark were great. The Dark One would use trollocs and other manufactured beasts to overpower territories. lthough the Dragon was powerful, he and the forces of the light were pushed back. Even his most trusted men, later known as Demandred, Sammael, turned against him. As the Shadow’s strength rose, the Dragon became desperate for an offensive that would end the war.”

“A plan emerged. The Aes Sedai agreed to use one female, one male sa’angreal to make another prison around the Bore, which would permit the Dark One to reach so far as Shayol Ghul but nowhere else. In theory these sa’angrael were so immense that either channellers handling them would be able to draw enough of the Source to break the world. However, since nobody could survive that much Power pulsing through them, access key ter’angreal had to be made to shield the wielders. In which case, the male and female Aes Sedai would co-ordinate an attack after the access keys were complete.”

“However, armies in Sammael’s command invaded where the access keys were held, and although attempts were made to get the keys none succeeded. With the keys missing, and the Shadow on the offensive, an estimate was made—six more months and the world would be lost to darkness. The Dragon decided to propose his plan. He wanted to lead a circle of the most powerful male and female Aes Sedai to go in Shayol Ghul and reseal the Dark One’s prison. There was little chance any of them would return, even if they succeeded in sealing the prison with seven cuendillar discs used as focal points; furthermore the attempt to re-seal the prison might rip it open instead."

"The Hall of the Servants was at a deadlock, caught between the crunch for time and opposition to the risks. One of the Dragon’s biggest opposition in the Hall was Latra Posae, who believed such an attack could destroy the Pattern. Lews Therin and Latra Posae were both influential Aes Sedai in their own right, and before long all the female channellers had signed up for the Fateful Concord and worked on recovering the access keys which were never found, whereas Lews Therin went with a circle of male Aes Sedai known as the Hundred Companions. When they arrived at the Bore, the Dragon found the Thirteen waiting for him. Forty-five of the Hundred Companions were killed, but the Bore was sealed to the Dark One’s prison, trapping both the Dark One and the Thirteen.”

“Though the leadership for the Shadow was sealed away, and the War of Power was over, Lews Therin and the remaining Companions suffered a backlash at the moment of sealing, which slowly tainted saidin. Some say it was a deliberate attack from the Dark One, others claim it came from simply having been close to the Dark One’s source, which—to answer your question—is called the True Power. It is analogous to the Source we draw upon, only it is more addictive and you can only channel True Power with the Dark One’s blessing. It is more likely that as the Bore begins to widen it increases the Dark One’s ability to affect the world, but no, thankfully he is not loose from his prison.”

“In any case, Lews Therin and the men went mad from the taint on saidin, wrecking and killing, moving mountains and causing earthquakes. Stories of their terrible deeds spread quickly. The Dragon earnt the name Kinslayer from slaying everybody with even a drop of his blood. Slowly, the other males noticed something different, although the taint did not immediately affect the way they channelled. But everything they created turned to darkness as one by one the male Aes Sedai went mad.”

“Ogiers wrote of some men who prolonged the Breaking by hiding in Steddings, where they could not channel. Perhaps these men really hoped to hold on long enough so they could be saved, or healed, or at least die there, going through what’s left of their lives without touching the Source. In a Stedding they could do no damage, it was only when they leave the Ogier Sanctuary that the danger of going mad espoused, but sooner or later the males left. And eventually all the male Aes Sedai perished, from the madness of the taint or hunted down to protect our world from its Breaking. With Lews Therin gone, Latra Posae rose to prominence in the fight against the Shadow, although with the leaders gone, the Shadow often as not fought each other as well as the light. Latra earnt the name Shadar Nor, Cutter of the Shadow, but she died some time during the Breaking, when exactly nobody knows. Some speculate Latra Sedai had unnumbered encounters with the men who suffered from the taint inside the Steddings, claiming any fool knows that a quick cut was the best. This is, until recently, the Red Ajah’s mission, to help the men who can channel in any capacity necessary in order to prevent another Breaking and preserve our culture. The Green Ajah, on the other hand, prepare for the Last Battle. Although, you will do well to keep in mind, just because you have the power to make something happen, doesn’t mean you should. “

Deliberately on the last line her voice rang echoing through the room like a bell. No source-induced amplification, just healthy lungs to drive home the point.

“Let’s see I think I’ve skipped a question. Ah, how do you make a fireball . . . I would douse a rag in kerosene and launch it at a candle, I would. And I have just the thing for it too. Devised a cat-apult for my second chore as a novice, the first was gardening. Hmm, the symbol is powerful, for it is representative of the seals that imprison the Dark One and the Thirteen. Remember this if nothing else from to-day, we were all Aes Sedai, male and female and our highest command has a full title: the Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat.”

She looked thoughtfully at Maryam and seemed about to say more, but instead she only nodded slowly.

"I grew up in a very conservative household in Elmera, Tarabon. I first started wearing breeches when I was a young accepted doing weapon training under Lyssa Gaidar and Corwin Gaidin. They are useful for moving about, although considerably less stylish than just going around in tights."

There were still a few minutes left of class. "Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Edit: Please post reactions to the rose exercises. Could you briefly touch the Source? How many tries? Or were you unsuccessful at all? What sort of imagery or hand motions did you do? Are there any tricks you tried before coming to the Tower? Or are you drooping a tad and falling asleep from the sun? Got any questions about why we use roses or the philosophy behind this particular method etc? Have fun with the RP and when that's up Salandrian will give the list of channellers for you guys to memorise but that's the next assignment :)

OOC: Nobody else seems to be coming, so I'm moving on.

Someone was calling him; that was how he awoke. Si’ half expected to wake up in the orphanage but this was somehow worse. Saline had the guards tie up the boy to one of those tough bushes nearby and now the boy was hungry and upset. By the sun, it was mid-afternoon.

“Who are you? And why did you tie me up?” He demanded as one of the guards loosen the knots in the blanket. But the guard retreated and a woman came forth.

“You started sleepwalking when we took the harp.“

“I was?” Si’ looked at her suspiciously. “I want my harp back.”

“We are not thieves. I am Saline, Aes Sedai of the White Tower, and these are the Saldaean guards. Your harp is safe with us.”

“Aes Sedai? One of them witches? Did you cause me to sleepwalk?” He swallowed hard.

“This caused you to be in deep sleep,” she nodded at the guards, then suddenly produced the jawbone Si’ had been carrying. She held it in front of the boy’s face and Si’ flinched, raising his arms. Even after Kandor, one would not easily tolerate the smell of rotting flesh. The boy's face was pale and miserable. He avoided looking at the half-rotted artefact. “Since you’re awake, we have some questions. How did you get this object? ”

“I don’t know . . . “ he said, trying to think “I can’t remember.”

She pressed on “where are your parents? You look as though you’ve been through a lot. For a moment there I thought you weren’t going to come out of your coma but then you started a series of unconscious twitching.”

“They said they’d come back, I’m looking for them . . . If you aren’t a witch how come you’re fine?”

“I can use the Source,” said the Aes Sedai “that is how I knew the jaw for what it was, spelled. Some of the more skilled Aes Sedai, like my sister, can read the residues of these weaves. For me, it’s just instinctual. That, and” she paused, “well, seeing you in trouble.”

“Source . . . Can it hurt you?” he asked curiously.

“It never has,” she said, conscious of the evasion.

“I wish I had a gifted sister, but my parents are all I have, and I think somebody’s stopping them from coming back to me, so I’m going to find them” he stood up, wavering, but remained standing.

Saline half rose, her face a shadow of concern, and then she settled back. “You and I are similar in quest, then. I am looking for my . . . sister.”

“Was she pretty? This sister of yours?”

“She was beautiful.”

Si’ made a non-committal grunt. He didn’t remember what his parents looked like.

The Aes Sedai sighed and thought of how it had been—the evenings in the great hall, hundreds of richly clad figures moving through the slow, steady waltz steps, with Rory Sedai on her arm, her eyes brighter than precious gems. It had been six years since she had left home for borderland patrol, and the main reason the Red Sister kept moving throughout Saldaea was to find her beloved.

"I have to go." She said, brushing off her breeches.

Fear flashed on the boy's face. "You're leaving me!"

Saline just looked at him.

"No, I suppose not," Si' muttered. Then he brightened, “are we looking for your sister?”

“Yes, we are. Can you ride?”

“No.”

“That makes two of us,” Saline suddenly smiled for the first time. “I’ll give your harp to one of the guards, and I promise they won’t nick it. Aes Sedai cannot lie, boy.”

“Si’. I’m not boy, I’m Si’. The folks at the orphanage called us by numbers or boy. I’m called Si’, and it was my parents who gave me this name.” Si’ said indignantly.

“Very well, Si’. Welcome to the party.”

You would think it’d be a relief but no, being back at the Tower meant great distress. A lot had happened in her absence and the appearance of the Black Tower delegation had been more confusing than anything encountered abroad.

It was all news to her. Saline tried to appear as though she knew what she was doing although she needed some guidance from older sisters. So far none came forth, not from the Reds anyway. Her sisters knew Saline blamed herself for Rory’s disappearance, yet nobody even asked about her search.

Her Ajah was too occupied with the latest developments, and despite her travels, Saline was not experienced enough to dabble in Tower politics.

Without any new tasks forthcoming except for teaching, Saline had time to sort through her emotions again and again.

In a way, teaching proved . . . useful, for when one of her students mentioned to another a private penance from the Mistress of Novices it seemed to Saline as though guidance shone from above. She felt strongly that she should seek help. So she did.

Locking up the classroom behind her, Saline walked toward the office she felt much ambivalence about when first having enlisted her name into the book. Only this time, she came unbidden. Walking these long corridors felt strange. They were familiar but they were no longer home like they had been for the greater bulk of her seventy six years.

Her slippers pressed into the grooves of the step, worn into threadbare beauty.

In front of the door sat a novice reading. Without looking up she said, “do you have an appointment?”

“Since when did the Mistress of Novices have a keeper?” Saline tried not to sound cold.

Her tone caught the girl’s attention.

The novice had the grace to flush slightly “Sorry, Aes Sedai I thought you were a petitioner. Several of them asked for directions already and Pia Sedai asked not to be disturbed, but you may enter.”

Saying nothing more, Saline stepped through and heard the quiet click of the door closing behind her. She was still a bit put off by the reception, however, the sight of Pia Tovisen sitting at her desk made Saline smile. There had been too many solitary moments on the road and she really could not abide to be by herself anymore.

Still smiling, Saline told the Mistress of Novices what she came for.

“I have, by cowardice or courage, found my way here to ask for a penance.”

Sweet. As soon as Maryam asks her question I'll write the next part :)

Those who want to enter the class just pretend you were there all along and catch up hehe.

Namore RP? What's that? :)

Hmm. I have my PC FLer Si'

My question is, how is the BoW plot progressing atm? Have the threads been started yet or ?

OOC: RP it out. It'd be fairly amusing turn of events for Pherno and the Shadow to conduct experiments on this thing that they stole . . . Maybe they'll capture a prisoner and force her to confess it's female attuned, giving the AS/WT/Arani a chance to regroup (or plan a strike) while your activities on the front dies down to figure this item of power out. While trying not to godmod, you should keep writing. Feel free not to use any ideas. :)

Am loving the (speedy) posts so far. Definitely keep it up! :)

The face that watched them now, gently, smiled as the girl with the ringing Murandian lilt bowed her head and dipped into a deep curtsey of respect. It was always refreshing whenever somebody actually asked questions, even if they might need some work on their memory. Saline couldn't wait to see how interesting the end of this class would be when they have the lists of names to memorize. The thought of what would come sustained her, and she drew herself upright.

"Salandrian," she said.

"Saline Sedai?" Poor Salandrian looked like she was channeling the patience of The High King who once besieged the Tower.

"Thank you for that wonderful introduction." Saline said clearly, continuing "Maryam, feel free to ask of us anything you are thinking about, that way we can share the experience as a class."

Excellent. Thread up!

Salandrian played by Moseley (returning member, Accepted) will be joining our antics as Saline's teaching assistant . . . She can help you IC and OOC with any RP stuff regarding lessons, pranks etc :)

So that’s why she couldn’t let herself fall asleep! Home, the White Tower meant responsibilities. Saline had only to be accountable for her actions on the road. But the Tower had set her straight about any attempts to go it alone again. Not only was she an advisor to young Salandrian but also had to teach novices. Saline glided in, not even acknowledging her tardiness, although the stained breeches ruined the effect somewhat. She could have dried them with Saidar but, why tap into the source for something trivial?

“Welcome, novices. I am Saline. It always pleases me when curious young women come to learn in the White Tower. While you’ll be getting a thorough and varied education here at the Tower, the main reason you are here because you can learn to tap into the One Power which is accessible to all Aes Sedai, and regardless of whether or not you end up binding yourself to the Tower permanently, I look forward to furthering your training to controlling your power.”

Saline looked around for a chalk board, finally espying one by the corner. She moved to the corner of the room where the board sat and smiled. “I’m not sure how much you’ve heard about it already, so I’ll just tell you some basics to correct any misconceptions about the One Power and we’ll cover the rest as your lessons progress, shall we.”

“The One Power, or Source, drives all creation. The Wheel moves because of it. The pattern grows because of it. Its nature is mysterious, but we know the Source is divided into two halves. The male half is called Saidin, and the female half you have the ability to use is called Saidar. This is its symbol” Saline said, drawing the white and black seal on the board, “yet despite the black, white contrast, the Source isn’t good or evil in itself, it’s entirely dependent on the person using it. In fact, both sides used the female and male aspects of the Source for good and evil depending on the wielder during the War of Power, or War of the Shadow, and it was only at the war’s end that only Saidin was used."

“A little history, by the by. The general for the Light Lews Therin Telamon bored the Dark One away with his Companions, the male Aes Sedai. Latra Posae Decume opposed Lews Therin’s plan, and reached an agreement with every female Aes Sedai on the side of the Light to not support Lews Therin’s plan. This agreement was later known as the Fateful Concord, which kept the female Aes Sedai out of the attempt to seal away the Dark One and the Forsaken. In response to the Dragon Lews Therin Telamon and his companions the Dark One tainted Saidin with his touch, out of spite for those who dared to seal him. As one of the sisters of the Red Ajah, I am particularly interested in those who suffer this madness.”

"But thankfully, we use Saidar and do not have to fear for going mad. In fact, we can show you how to use this power safely. It is an integral part of you, and would not respond to force as one could use a sword or fork. To channel it, you must first learn some self control . . . Hello there, Salandrian!” Saline waved rather cheerfully to the girl in the Accepted dress.

OOC: Since Saline’s already late to the class it’d be ample time for you novices to get to know each other. Please post arriving and also any reactions to what’s been told to you so far (i.e. “arrgh, male AS! How is this possible” or “getting really boring here, ah who’s this”). Saline’s assistant Salandrian will be passing around an attendance sheet.

Edit: For the italics and powers that be that check the intro reqs, this is all of lessons 1&2 which involves the basics on Source. As an aes sedai teacher I am permitted to merge two lessons at my discretion. According to the approved class format, we have 1) went over the rule of no channelling without permission 2) touched the Source consciously for the first time 3) gone over a list of burnt out channellers so far

Salandrian said, turning a page. “Taya organized this guild. She says—look—the new girls were to meet her at noon.”

“Weren’t we here to fish?” asked Saline. But she still lay unmoving on her back, feeling her eyelids droop. Sunshine and that deep summer insect hum, and rarer than either, she had come home. For once she could pretend not to have any responsibilities. Her eyes tried to droop again, but she forced them open. She wondered why she wouldn’t permit herself to fall into harmless sleep.

“Not me,” Salandrian said, out of the grass. Saline was the most self-indulgent advisor an Accepted could have in the Tower. That’s why Salandrian liked shadowing Saline: it left her with a great deal of freedom. Most of the time the Aes Sedai was abroad, and when she wasn’t travelling, she’d arrange for lessons where they’d go fishing. As for lessons, Salandrian wanted to see how long it’d be before Saline remembered the novices. Light! She's more absent than a Brown sometimes.

Saline rolled over, reached out and picked a fuzzy green-yellow bunch of flowers. It stained her fingers orange but gave off a sharp scent. No longer sleepy, she unfolded her slender body. “Come on, you. Fish.”

“I feel a bit funny.” Salandrian turned the crackling pages. She didn’t gaze at the grey-green pond. And she definitely hadn’t looked up when Saline flicked the flowers at Salandrian.

Saline walked to edge of the pond, ignoring the slow-moving swans that drifted across. Over her head, the tree sighed in the breeze, like waves on distant oceans. She threaded her fishing-line through her rod, and knotted the leader on her line. She secured the hook into the rod’s cork handle. For some time, Saline fitted the rods together, tying the hooks and floats. Then she cast off, carefully eyeing the slope of land, grassy and without trees, on the other side. She had almost forgotten about her Accepted “student” until the other said something.

Saline, glancing around, suddenly let her line go slack. She looked hard at Salandrian, frowning. “What's that now?”

“I say, aren’t you late to that intro class you were starting?” Salandrian repeated.

“. . . Yes.” Saline brushed at a wet stain on her breeches before heading toward the Tower and leaving the mess for the Accepted “gather up the rods Salandrian and you can join me after.”

Saline

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

Salandrian Faerhind

Accepted of the White Tower

Hi guys. As Amadine says, anybody is welcome to jump in :)

So . . . we're not waiting for anybody's post atm?

Sounds good to me!

As for the boy, he'll just be some deadweight I can bring with me :D

Post up. I figured as the second person to post I won't run into your merry group . . . as of yet. :)

Ooh. Can I teach?

Saline turned her mount inland, toward the mountains, and at once had a strange feeling of enclosure, almost menace. The cobbled path was narrow with high grass banks and gnarly trees reinforcing either side. Ahead, as bends in the path showed gray skies briefly through the trees, the green-brown bulk of hillsides reared up, disappearing into the ragged clouds. As they rode, she saw a higher fold of grey hills looming in the distance. For all her years, Saline felt she was in a part of the world like nowhere she had known before, a place with secrets in its shrouded centuries which she could not begin to imagine. She shivered—suddenly glad for her hood after the chill wind blowing drizzle into her face.

With total disregard for Saline’s hood, the wind brought an unexpected metallic tang to Saline’s nose. When she straightened for a better whiff of it, the wind shifted and the scent was gone. She reined her mare up and raised a hand to signal the others to slow down.

“Maybe trouble coming.”

The guardsmen immediately swung back to her, circling her in a sphere of protection. Their hands rested on the curvy swords at their hips, although she knew they would not show actual steel unless it was to fight.

They had gone another mile when a spurt of wind shoved the tang of sweat, oil and iron into her path. Her horse jerked away, and feeling herself slipping she fought with the reins. A few hard tugs and pulls later, her mount was in danger of running without a rider, but the breeders back east had trained the beast well.

One of the guards said hopefully, “Can I help?”

She turned, relenting, and looked directly at her companions for the first time. Saline looked down at the guard who spoke: at the shining blue eyes, and eager face beneath the thick, blond curls. Although they were nothing alike in looks, his exuberance reminded her somehow of her missing best friend and lover.

“Yes,” she grinned suddenly “how do I stay balanced?”

“Hmm, try not to saw on your reins” he said, “your knees and legs should be the only cues the horse follows; it leaves your hands freer. Plus tugging on the reins is hard on your mare’s mouth. Were I you I’d throw away the reins and learn to ride, properly.”

“Wow . . . thanks.” Why did I ever compare him to my beloved? Saline slapped her mount’s withers pointedly with the reins, urging the horse into a trot ahead of the group. If I don’t use my reins, I’d fall! Besides, they were expensive. She justified her riding away from the group, ignoring the fact that guards were following her perfectly on their powerful warhorses, though they kept a little space out of respect. It was amazing how they could steer the broad steeds through the pathways like it was open fields, and she had seen these horses clear gates the height of a grown man before.

As she crested the ridge alone, she noticed a hunched figure, sitting lonely on his rock. He sat in a small, crumpled heap, his arms across the harp on the ground at his feet.

But before she bent down to touch the prone boy, the guards became a sizable line in front of her, blocking her vision. She signalled for them to make way, but none of the guards clambered aside obediently. Instead, some of the guards with bows aimed their sights on the stranger.

“Do as I say” she told them quietly, “and stay out of my way.”

The guards flinched at the sound of her voice. They reluctantly kneed their horses to either side to open a passage for the Aes Sedai. After seeing her earlier demonstration at the gate, nobody cared to question her power.

She drew on the Source, and quickly delved the boy.

“He’s alive, but I don’t think he can move.”

“There’s something else here too!” cried the same guard who had given her pointers on riding. Following his gaze, Saline looked down at the sack by the boy . . .

She had wondered what that smell was.

What else do you need Arani? Lillian will teach you :)

Ooh. Still interested