Now that I have everything squared away, it is time to bring him back. Problem is I just don't know how. Any ideas out there?

I know it's been a long time since I first inquired about this, But now that RL has given me more free time, I would like to officially get Saral started up again. Now it says in a earlier post that I should defer to Quibby on the subject of starting him where his was when I took my extremely long LOA.

I am doing so now. Would that be possible or would have to start over?

Lone couldn't sleep after he got back from his day in Tar Valon with his new friend, Kabria Sedai. After bidding her good evening & dropping off Sentell at the stables, went to his room & got ready to make up some of training he missed that day. He strapped his full throwing dirk quivers to each thigh & his twin short swords to his back. He hadn't pick tertiary weapon yet, but wasn't sure if he even would. Before he went & trained, Lone made a quick stop to prepare a surprise for Adela tomorrow.

When reached the practice yard, he immediately begin going through his dual sword forms. Flowing like the wind of death he someday hoped to be, Lone hadn't realized how much time had passed when he finally finished. Judging by the moon, dawn would be upon him in mere hours. He gathered up equipment , showered, & lie in his bed. It still took a while to finally fall asleep, but when it did, he was still smiling as thoughts & images of Adela came & went in his dreams.

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Lone turned at the sound of her voice & nearly fainted at her beauty. Adela was wear a gown of her own creation. It was different than her normal design as it was more conservative, which only enhanced her usual effect on Lone as it forced her to use imagination more. She certainly was dressed for the occasion. His grandfather had finally come to accept his daughter's husband when he had met Lone on one of his many trips to Tar Valon, and seen the fine man they had created. He decided it was time to reintroduce his daughter & introduce his grandson to the Queen of Kandor at a ball she was holding for her birthday. Lone had brought Adela along with as she had not yet met his parents.

He let her lace her arm through his & led her into the Grand Hall. They made their way through crowd until they were standing in the middle of the dance floor. Lone turned to Adela & gave her a look to ask "Would you like to dance?" With a smile she accepted. Begin flowing first through crowd, but soon they were the only ones dancing & everyone's eyes were on them. It was one of the most magical feelings he had ever felt. When they finished there was an uproar of applause. Bowing in thanks, Lone & Adela made their way over to his parents who were......

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Lone woke just as dawn was breaking. He wasn't sure when Adela woke up, but he hoped that she hadn't. All the while that he was getting dressed he thought about the dream he had had. He knew it would never happen, but it was still a nice thought. He made his way through the other early risers toward Adela's room in hopes that she had not already left. When he reached the door, paused to see if he could hear movement or speaking so he wouldn't wake anyone wanting some more beauty sleep. He could hear the twin's talking, so he decided to knock. He readied himself for what he was about to do.

To whom it may concern, I have a very interesting idea that I am excited to try, but not sure if would even be allowed. I would like to avoid the writing a full fledged bio & just have idea approved first, then nit pick the details when the bio comes together. So here it is:

A male Seafolk who can read aura's like Min, who later discovers he can access saidin. When he discovers this he'll immediately head for the Black Tower & get the training he needs. I would like for him to be strongest in Air & Earth.

I am directing this to both the Freelanders & the Black Tower, as I would like to start him out as a freelander, then move him. PM Lone with your respective responses.

Lone's jaw dropped as soon as he had finished & he turned away. Had he really just said that out loud? He imagined that what he said was the equivalent proposing marriage to a normal person. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he turned to see Kabria's reaction. He prayed to the Creator that she would still be his friend.

To Lone's surprise, he was relieved to hear her say she wouldn't ask him now. He had meant what he had said, but a part of him was happy about this. While they walked back to the Tower & talked, he was trying to figure out why. There were the obvious reasons of he wasn't ready for that & he was going to fast for even himself, but he knew it was more than that. Using a thought focusing process he learned from Dout, Lone gathered all of his thoughts & began to sort through them to find his answer.

Everything fell into place when he discovered the reason. It was Adela. He had always known she was important to him, but it took this for him to realize how much so. She was everything he could have wanted in a friend and more. Nearly everyday she was the first thing in his mind & the last one out before sleep, even then he more often than not dreamt of her. As soon as he woke the next morning he would find Adela & talk to her about his feelings.

With a big grin on his face, Lone said, "You know what, Kabria, do believe this the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

If Adela is there, Lone is right by her side. Count me in! ;D

“I cannot lie, make any weapons for one man to kill another, or use the One Power as a weapon. I am Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah, and have been for over two years now.” Lone made a mental double take at these words. All day he had been with this woman & never once noticed anything that had revealed who she truly was. At first he was angry at her for not telling him in the beginning, but that emotion evaporated as soon as it came. His ability to reason things through returned to him. If she had told him, would they have interacted at all today & made wonderfully fast friends? They most likely would not have as he would have been far too intimidated. In the end, Lone was glad that she hadn't told him. This just revealed to him that not all Aes Sedai were all work, no play. He wasn't sure what this would do to there relationship, but he was hoping only good things would come from it.

"I don't really know what to say. I'm not angry, but not elated either. I think I'm more interested in what effect this will have between us. I mean still have all our stories from today running through my mind, in particular our times with the Sea Folk. I have always separated from most people on that subject because of my time with them & never had anyone feel the same way about them that I do. I have always hoped to find one of the Sea Folk Aes Sedai & become her Warder. From what you have told me today, if you asked me right here, right now if I become yours, I would without a doubt say yes. I confess that was one of the first thoughts to cross my mind. I in no way mean to assume you would, it just, I guess, that I couldn't be more happy about this.

Lone's jaw dropped as soon as he had finished & he turned away. Had he really just said that out loud? He imagined that what he said was the equivalent proposing marriage to a normal person. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he turned to see Kabria's reaction. He prayed to the Creator that she would still be his friend.

He had hoped that she would want an escort home. He would have made any excuse just to spend more time  with this engaging woman. "I would be delighted to go with you." He nearly couldn't believe the things that had happened to him since he had arrived at the Tower. He had met Adela, A young woman so interesting he hadn't wanted to leave her company, the day he first stepped into the Yard. Now he has met Kabria, a woman with history so similar yet different than his own he didn't want to lose her company either.

Stepping out into the cool night air was refreshing. With a smile to Kabria, Lone walked over to his horse & unhitched him. Grabbing ahold of his lead, Lone held out his arm for Kabria to lace hers back in. "Alright, so where are we headed? Maybe I'll luck out & you'll live near the Tower so we see each other more often." He looked over to Kabria & surprised to find a very sad look on her face. "Kabria, whats wrong?"

After helping Adela out of the water, it was Lone's turn to cross.He picked up a pair of scimitars, walked over to the rope, & stepped up on to the securing log. Taking a deep breath, Lone did a quick focusing exercise, then took his first steps out. He managed pretty well due to the fact there was little to distract him going this way, but coming back was different.

He had known that when was to come back this way, seeing Adela dressed the way she was going to be distracting as she had been during fishing, but only became amplified by the fact that she was now wet from head to toe. On his way back, he made it about as far as her before e started to tilt to his right. Right before he went down, he looked at Adela & she winked.

***

As the days passed, Adela & Lone eventually were able to ignore each other enough that they were able to cross back & forth multiple times in one attempt. Lone personally felt very proud of his improvement. Adela seemed to be smiling more often than not, there certainly was less scowling. Lone had theorized that all these days of nearly nude fishing & tightrope walking had loosed up their taboos & increased their chances of surviving training in the Yard.

Kaldun must have felt they had done enough of the exercises, as he began to teach them the steps  of the dance they were to perform in the near future. It was a very close proximity dance with Lone & Adela, almost constantly at first, falling only a few steps in.

"The dance is not an erotic dance if that is what you thought. It is an old Blade Dance. We have some company today so I can show you what you will be learning." A Shienaran woman wearing only silk veil across her chest & a skirt split from hem to hip on each side walked up & proceeded to dance the Blade Dance with Tower Guard Kaldun. When they were finished. Lone could finally let his breath. He shook his hands to rid them of the numbness from drumming.

"If you are worried about the costumes Adela dont be. The fires you will be dancing around burn an herb that forces one to use visual stimuli to confront ones inner demons. The paint that goes with the costumes contains a chemical to give one courage and dull the physical senses. However the eyes see beauty more vividly among friends and those who already look attractive. To them...you will be a goddess as to our female participants at this event will see Lone as a god. When the effects of the paint and the fires wear out, they will remember the god and goddess and likely never make the connection of who really played those parts. You see this is no ordinary punishment or ordinary dance. Its made so people can overcome their pasts."

Lone liked the idea of being thought of as a god but he realized the intent of the dance & would no longer disrespect it with thoughts of such things.

I'm writing up a stealth class if your interested. The outline should be up sometime this weekend on the Div boards, so keep an eye out.

I guess I just wasn't completely sure as to who wanted in & was trying to renew interest in the idea. I'll write something up & post it here sometime this weekend. Just yays or nays about who is partaking.

*bump*

Lone had done some spearfishing in his short time among the seafolk, but this was entirely different. Instead of being on a boat, he was in the water and instead of the sea, it was a small river. It being a river should make it easier for spotting fish, but he was used to the rock of the boat when doing this. On the same token, he wasn't too afraid of being nearly naked as most because of the seafolk. What made redden was being that way in front of Adela.

The closest he had come to this was his first night in the yard & that was on accident. One thing did surprise him a little. He felt angered by the fact that Adela was going to be forced to wear next to nothing while surrounded by hundreds of people. While he disrobed (with plenty difficulty being one handed & all), Lone wondered how he would manage with is left hand. He was well versed at using either hand as his primary, but he had been born right handed.

Pulling his spear from the ground, Lone waded to about a quarter of the way into the river and assumed the postion Tower Guard Kaldun had showed them. He caught sight of Adela in the corner of his eye. His jaw nearly dropped at the sight of her nearly naked & alluring figure. He was so distracted, he didn't see the rather large fish before it crashed into his leg causing him to become completely submerged in the cold water.

Kabria had been right about Adin being done. Even in its simple design, The tattooist had found a way make it look like a masterpiece. At the fore of it was a raven, beak pointing straight up & wings spread wide and flaring. Behind it were two crossed curved swords and all the while it was perched on top of the Wheel of Time. Lone was not sure who had designed it, But Lone loved it.

When asked where he was getting it, Lone pulled back his hair to reveal a spot behind his ear but lower than the lobe. It was where his father had his, so Lone felt he needed to continue the trend. Kabria seemed a little surprised by his choice. He explained why as sat it the chair so Adin could being.

Lone was genuinely surprised the amount of anger Thera held toward their midday drinking. He had heard of trainees & Tower Guards doing worse things and getting off lighter than they had. He rolled with the emotional punches rather well. His greatest fear at the moment was what Tower Guard Kaldun had in mind for their punishment.

He had given them fifteen minute4s to gather what ever they thought they might need and Lone had no intention of wasting a second of it. The first things he put on were his short swords, one hilt poking over each shoulder & his full throwing dirk quivers to each thigh. He wasn't what was planned but wasn't about to be surprised unarmed.

He quickly filled his pack with extra clothes & tools for life outdoors. His pack was not as organized as he would have liked, but he was in a rush. Lone made back to the cart at nearly the same time as Adela. They all piled into the cart & headed out. Not until they had reached the outskirts of the city did Kaldun speak. "So... can either of you dance?"

That was the last question Lone could have imagined escaping the Tower Guard's mouth at this time. He wasn't quite sure what to say. He heard Adela respond, Then felt the eyes of Kaldun on him. That's when Lone said, "I was taught by my mother the court dances of Kandor, but some of my teachers said some of the greatest warriors were among the most amazing dancers."

Lone realized he was starving so he was more than delighted to go. As they stepped outside, Lone checked on Sentell. He patted him on the neck and said, "I be back soon. Be good, alright?" He slipped the horse a sugar cube & followed Kabria to the vendor and then to the fountain. Lone had insisted on paying for so that he may repay the kindness of her paying for his tattoo, although it would take him buying lunch for the rest of the month to match her.

Looking around the square where the fountain sat, Lone said, "You said you had spent time among the Sea Folk, right? What was like for you?"

“I had been down in Tear visiting relatives. It had always been planned that I would return home by taking a boat to Tanchico to help my father bring back some new rugs for the inn my family ran. On my way down to the port, I was jumped by a group of thugs. I had made the mistake of wearing my coin purse on my belt instead of keeping it in my coat pocket like I had been told.

“I did my best to fight them off, but sadly, I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke I found myself aboard a Sea Folk darter. The sailmistress & her cargomaster had saved & for some reason took pity on me & brought me aboard. They had not left port for they were waiting for me to awaken.  After I explained what my intentions were, they offered to let me stay on until Tanchico if I helped around the ship, as they were shorthanded. I accepted.

“They told me that they had few stops they had to make before getting there so it would take longer than usual. I took to life at sea rather well. I had strangely been born with natural sea legs for someone who had been raised in a land locked country. Within the first month, I could do most of the jobs a normal deckhand could at with about the same skill. I had made fast friends the sailmistress, the cargomaster, & with one of the crew named Dout. He was an accomplished tattooist. He was the one who did my scales. Ever since then we have kept in contact as best we can. I would sometimes go back to that darter & sail with them. My time with them inspired me to try & find a Sea Folk Aes Sedai to bond with so maybe we could sail & protect the seas that I had fallen in love with.”

Lone & Kabria spoke for hours while her work was done, which is how he discovered her name. When she was finished, Kabria asked “Well Lone? Since your tattoo is paid for, have you decided which you will do?”

“I think I’m going to get the crest like you pointed out.” Lone turned to Adin & explained what it was to look like.

OCC: I reveal what looks like in my next post as I’m in a rush to go pickup my daughters.

At the the freelander history here. it says you start a sea folk at any rank under sail mistress. I was curious what those were as they are not listed there. In particular I am looking for male ranks.

"My name is Lone Revicana." Lone hadn't noticed introduction hadn't been made. Turning from Adin's work, he was going to ask her for her name, but his eye popped at the sight before him. The woman had removed her shirt and was lying topless on the wooden table used for tattooing. Try as he might, Lone could look away. Not only because there was a topless woman in the room, but mostly because of the beautiful artwork covering her torso. One of the most exquisite pieces was Sea Folk raker right across her back on her shoulders. With as detail there was to it, Lone could relate to the pain she went through getting that done. Both of his arms were covered from wrist to shoulder in ink.

3 years earlier...

Lay on his his back with his right arm stretched straight out, Lone bit down hard on the piece of rolled leather as Dout the Sea Folk tattooist's needle worked over the veins in his wrist. It wasn't his first tattoo in that spot, but the first one with that much detail. Dark green scales now ran down his arm become the most lengthy, complex, & costly inking Lone had ever received. He let out a sigh when Dout said he was done as now the only pain he had to endure now was the usual aftereffects of tattooing. Sitting up, Lone inspected the work. Pleased with it, Lone payed Dout and told him he would be back soon for his next masterpiece.

Present...

“It is alright that you stare Lone, truly…the…work….is beautiful is it not?” Lone was not sure if she meant her ink or the Creator's work of molding her. Either way the answer was the same. "The only words that come close to describing what I see is exquisitely beautiful. I have never seen any equal.”

"I do, in fact, intend add something," Lone said still maintaining his smile. He could not deny that he had enjoyed the view, but he did feel guilty about flirting with her, even if it was just a harmless icebreaker, when there was someone special back at the Yard he would rather be flirting with. He had never had much experience with women because, to put it simply, the way he had lived his life since the time he had become interested in girls. He had spent almost every waking moment training for what he was doing now, becoming a Warder. The artist appeared to be nearly done with her sketch which looked rather beautiful. He in fact did have the skill his walls confessed.

"I have been considering two options. First, My family crest. And second, something associated with the Warders to represent the trials on my road to become one. But if you want to find out which one I'm getting you'll just have to stick around after your done to find out," Lone said, his smile become more of a toothy grin.

It took me by surprise too. After 2 or 3 double takes, the idea that the instructor was helping and not doing the horizontal mambo donned on me. I'll be waiting to hear back.

I would like to take the stealth & subterfuge class. So who's game? I don't have any plan of how it will go yet, but I flesh it out with those who take part.

I had posted but my computer crash right as I hit post. I am very interested in joining if there is still time.

"I can assure you that it wasn't, but I confess that I wish it had been," Lone admitted to the strange yet beautiful woman. He could not deny that he could be attracted to this woman. But his humor & smile were just a mask for something else, frustration. From the deepest, darkest place in the back of his mind, he could have sworn that he had seen her somewhere, but couldn't remember for the life of him. "In any case, I do apologize. This artist here has some fantastic pieces. I just so absorbed into their detail that I failed to notice you."

She appeared to be considering weather or not she believed he was sincere in his apology, but he could tell what she had decided. "Would it be out of line for me to ask as to if and what you are getting done today?"

"98...99...100." Lone dropped down from the pull-up bar and wiped the sweat from his brow. Lone had woken up early this morning so he would finish his daily exercise regimen sooner than usual for today was special. He had been in the Yard a little more than a month and still hadn't come to learn his new surroundings. In all conversions at mealtimes with the other trainees, he had heard about so many interesting places in the grand city that finally decided to take a day from training and take in the sights.

He had been told to check out the market district first thing in the morning because that was when the best stuff went. Lone took a quick bath and put on some fresh clothes. After a quick stop at the mess hall, he headed for the stables pick up Sentell and was off to the market. Although it was early, the streets were crowded. When he finally got to the market it was well into morning and packed, so he dismounted & led Sentell while looking at a wide variety of wares. One particular stand displayed a fine array of knives. Lone had recently broken his during a training exercise. He paused to look over the selection test a few for their balance & sharpness. He found that closely matched his short swords & decided to buy it. After pay the merchant it was time to go & see the rest of the city.

But that was easier said than done. Lone soon became lost in the throngs of people and eventually ended up seedier parts of Tar Valon. In an attempt to get his bearings, Lone's eyes caught sight of a shop sign for a tattoo parlor. He hadn't gotten a new one in awhile & figured by the time it was finished the streets would have cleared some. Making a B-line for the shop, he tied up Sentell to the hitching post & stepped in side.

There was a small chime as the bell above the door rang at his entry. The artist looked up from his sketch and greeted him with warm smile."Hello, sir. I would just like to inform you there is someone ahead of you but I'll be able to squeeze you in before to long." Lone thanked him & walked up to one walls cover from floor to ceiling in designs. He wasn't sure what he wanted, so he was scanning for inspiration. This first wall appeared to carry many different family crests and the like. That was something Lone had yet to get. As he continued down the wall, he so absorbed by the designs that he very nearly bumped into the woman doing the same thing.