It must be telepathy Raeyn

Unfortunately I'm not able to commit to roleplaying as I have other hobbies that take up a lot of my time (crafty stuff like sewing and crochet and also computer games).

I might try to hang on here socially a bit, though.

Oh, and the avatar is Yuko from the manga xxxHolic :) (in case you'd like to know Rasheta).

Nice to meet you guys :D

Hello y'all!

I'm sure most of you guys have no clue who I am as I haven't really visited DM for a couple of years at least... (I joined in 2000 or 2001 and was then quite active for a few years).

But for some reason I was bored today and suddenly got the urge to have a peek at what DM is up to these days. And since I saw a couple of usernames I recognised from the days of olde I decided to say hello

For those ho are interested I recently imported an Englishman to Norway and am corrently trying to get a permanent job and settle in properly.

So how're things?

Ooh, a warm seat, thank you Gon ^^

Methinks I shall have to decline going for Lannie this time 'round :-/ I start my Masters in a few weeks, so I'll be far too unstable to play a Chosen.

I'm going to visit friends and family this week, so I'll be gone till Sunday :)

It looks like I just moved in here too. I'll have to write up some sort of Spawn bio soon...

*bites Nargypoo*

I'll keep this in mind for later. I don't think I'll promise myself away right now since it's only a month till I move and I have no clue how long I'll be too busy to RP after the move.

Oh, apparently Keaira has a WS of 2. I think I'll use her now and then.

Great. And I'd love that Kis, I've just been an idiot and not replied, which I will try and rectify soon. :) And Sevrud, neat a Regular. :)

 

I've a couple of suggestions I'll be posting later today, but till then, what RPs are you guys interested in? There's plenty we can do, and since we are reasonably small, maybe even something together. What would you like? Training's always there too, and I know we've a couple of newbies who'd like some. :)

 

Let me know. Also, what are your WSs?

NP :) I can take it slow, as my RL is picking up speed again any time soon *s*

Kis' WS is 17, last time I checked

It looks like you've added me... But anyways, log in is Swani.

Levana sat on the chair Eqwina Sedai pointed at, and immediately as she was told to tell what she knew about the One Power, she started to think of a Power given by the Dark One to wicked people, women, who served him. She forced her mouth shut and devised a more neutral answer to the question. The sister who had taken to the Tower had not bothered the trouble to teach her much on the way. The woman had tried a few times, but when it was obvious Levana would not listen, had simply ignored the girl, telling her she would not get away with her little ideas during her training. Levana believed her now, after meeting Eqwina, a sister who was obviously set on making her into one of them. A slight frown of disgust passed over her face as she looked at the Yellow, a Darkfriend who could channel the One Power, one who would work hard to recruit her to serve the Shadow. Levana quickly blanked out the expression and smiled meekly at Eqwina before replying, not quite managing to hide the fearful disgust of the Power, of herself.

"The One Power is a power provided by.." she coughed and hesitated for a few seconds, "... the Creator, it's got something to do with the turnings of the wheel of time, or some such..."

She trailed off, her brains working on high speed to remember the fragments that hadn't trailed off during the little talks she had been given on her way north.

"Aes Sedai channel the female half of the One Power, it's called Saidar, while male channelers channel Saidin, the male half. Men who can channel go mad."

She stopped there, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. She felt like she didn't know anything at all, and hated to admit it.

Well, I've got Kis handy, and can also RP her daughter Keaira.

D'you still need me for training Ashara?

Kiserai is Shar Mahdi (Master of Stealth, or whatever it's called these days)

Keaira is some sort of low ranking DF, works as a courtesan.

ooc: NP!

Levana gulped the wine down, buying time to think. This woman, Eqwina, scared her and she had a sinking feeling she had better do the witch's bidding. For now. Thoughts flied quickly through her mind. She knew she was surrounded by Darkfriends, and that escape was all but impossible from this place. The price of freedom would be tough, and chances were she had to wait till she was an Aes Sedai herself before she gained it. Possibly the only Aes Sedai who wasn't a Friend of the Dark. She shuddered as if Eqwina's sitting room had suddenly turned ice cold. She could not trust anyone, but would have to give the impression of trust so they didn't suspect her mind. Would her father and uncle forgive her if they knew the hazard she was going through?

After swallowing the last drop of wine she looked up at the Aes Sedai. The woman's words were sweet as honey, but Levana could detect they were at least partly false.

"I will learn, Aes Sedai," she whispered. She had no choice, her time would come later. For now she would let them think they had broken her, but she would not bend. Not inside.

"I think I should probably head for the Novice quarters soon, I heard I would be taken for a tour to learn where the most important places of the Tower are. If you give me leave, Aes Sedai."

She placed the empty cup on a table nearby and bent her head in mock submission. She would not be broken!

ooc: btw, I'm thinking of converting her to the dark side of things later *s*

*prods Gon with a stick*  ;D

Donniedons!

Levana Edenye, Novice

I won't speak my opinion on this matter here, Lavinya, but I'm sorry to see you go, and I understand your feelings *hug*

But I'll see you at the new site :)

My thanks to Lavinya and Sirayn for your work here :)

And congrats to Jaydena and TaeaDawn :)

That was a nice speech, Andrea, you're too humble *s*

Congrats! I'm sure you'll do a good job :)

*hug*

Levana glared at Eqwina, anger boiling inside her and she gripped the arm of the chair till her knuckles were white from the effort. Most of all she wanted to shout at the woman in front of her, to tell her she had no wish to be in this place, that she wanted to go home, to Amadicia so she could visit the capital, Amador, and find a wealthy husband who would provide for her wellbeing while she produced children in exchange for a comfortable life. That's what her father and mother had raised her to believe in. Aes Sedai were witches, Darkfriends, they were evil creatures doing the will of the Dark One. Her uncle had made sure his younger brother taught his children the preachings of the Children of the Light. Levana longed back to the safety of her childhood.

Instead, she had somehow ended up in the most evil of place, the White Tower itself, where witches dwelt. She was here to train to become one of them. All blood had left her face, and the cold sensation of fear that had bloomed tightly in her chest since she left Caemlyn spread till it filled all of her. The effort to stay calm made drops of sweat run down her cheeks from the temples.

Concentrating on keeping her voice level, she spoke again, weighing her words carefully. She knew the woman in front of her was dangerous, and she had no wish to die yet.

"Like I said, I come from Amadicia. My mother and I were visiting my aunt in Caemlyn. My aunt took me to an Inn where an Aes Sedai tested me to see if I could Channel. I did not do this of my own choice, and once it was established that I can, indeed, Channel, I had no say in the matter and was forced to come with her to this place. Could I choose, I would return to Amadicia at once, but they say that I need to learn to control the One Power before I can leave, or I'll end up doing much damage and possibly kill myself and others. I don't know if I trust this information, it might be a ploy to keep me here till I succumb to whatever methods you use to make young women stay. My uncle has often told my family about the dangers presented by the witches from Tar Valon. If I stay here, I can never go back to my home and I cannot get the future I have been prepared for, my own people will see me as a dangerous creature, a Darkfriend to be destroyed."

The last sentences of her speech turned into a hoarse whisper, as she imagined the handsome, young Child who had accompanied her uncle the last time she met him. The man had been a realization of the romantic novels she read, strong, handsome, and with a promising career in front of him. A single tear wound it's way down her cheek, and she looked away from the Aes Sedai, staring at some object she didn't recognize, finally realizing that all ties to her past had been effectively cut the moment her name was written into the records of the Novices.

Kiserai looked up from the papers she'd been reading as Adela entered the small dining room.

"You called for me?" the girl asked.

"Yes, we will have lunch and then it is time I start your training."

She leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs and studied the young creature as she sat down in the chair opposite of her. Many long years had passed since the last time Kiserai had trained apprentices. Thinking back, she wondered how life had treated the young people who had been at her mercy all those years back. Her own time as an apprentice had, despite the hard training, been the happiest years of her life. She had been young and naïve, and in love with the most complex man she had ever known. Thoughts of Dias always made her want to kill, and he usually surfaced in her mind when she was using especially cruel methods to torture and kill. A smile suddenly spread across her face, and it was not a nice one. It was just as well they hadn't run into each other over the years. For all she knew he might even be dead and buried. She doubted it, though. He had been believed to be dead several times, but he always showed up again. The sudden, curious look in Adela's face obliterated all nostalgic thoughts of the past, and the father of her children was forgotten. She knew very well she couldn't run into the people she had known in the past. Whatever the Chosen had planned for her, she had too many enemies, though few would dare attack one of the Masters of the Shar Mahdi.

"You need to do something about that hair, girl." Adela really had a messy hair, and Kiserai wanted the child to look presentable. "A haystack like that makes people think you're lazy and not to be trusted. And you want people to think you're a decent young woman."

She scrutinized Adela's clothes and shook her head.

"New clothes as well, a few dresses and also some outfits for stealth and weapons training. I'll make the arrangements for a fit wardrobe in Aringill, that will also be a lesson for you in finding the right people to handle your special requests. You'll want someone who knows to keep their mouth shut."

Kiserai gave Adela some time to think about what she had just told her. The lunch was brought in on a tray by a sweet boy who nearly ran out again after setting it on the table.

They ate sandwiches and drank tea in silence. It was a simple meal, but better than some of the stuff Kiserai had been served in the past years while hiding from the cold gaze of the Chosen. She looked at Adela, and when she had finished her portion, decided to continue the lesson.

"Tell me what you know of the Shar Mahdi."

Levana gritted her teeth and held her head high, she would not be a meek little mouse in front of these women. If she didn't keep her eyes open they'd probably stab her from behind before she could react. She only scowled at Eqwina Sedai as the woman tried to chat as if this was an innocent tea party. It was not. Levana knew they'd try their best to corrupt her into a sinful relationship with the Dark One. This must be them trying to soften her, make her think they were really nice, and when they'd gained her trust they would step by step turn her to the Dark. But she knew what they were up to, and refused to fall into their trap.

”You will answer when an Aes Sedai speaks child, or learn the price of failure. Now tell me about yourself child.”

Levana looked into Eqwina's steady gaze and tried to read what the woman was thinking, but she did not show a flicker of thoughts. She took a deep breath and decided it would probably be best to reply. Let them think she would play their evil game.

"I am Levana Edenye from Amadicia. I come from a well connected and respectable family. My father is a merchant and my uncle is one of the Children of the Light. I am only here because I was tricked into being tested by Mareen Sedai of the White Ajah while visiting my aunt in Caemlyn. She also took me here against my will, making sure I never had an opportunity to escape from her."

She shut up after her little speech and stared into Eqwina's gaze, knowing well that the Aes Sedai might not like a Novice who challenged her the way Levana was prepared to do. 

Levana Edenye pulled on one of the itchy, white dresses she had been given the previous evening before being installed in a small room. A woman she could not remember the name of had written her name into a book and then sent her off with another woman, dressed in white with multicoloured stripes around the hem. They had taken all of her belongings, to be stored till she had finished her training. Suspicion nagged at her, more likely they had burnt her clothes and kept her small valuables for themselves. She yawned and stretched. She had only slept a few hours and was awake already, feeling threats from every corner of the room. The fact that she was here, in the White Tower itself, the base of the evil operations of the Aes Sedai, was beyond unbelievable. The thought was ridiculous! She was the daughter of a good Amadician merchant and niece of one of the Children of the Light, it made no sense that she, of all people, should find herself in the White Tower, and forced to wield the One Power!

She shuddered and then grabbed her hairbrush, counting one hundred strokes until her long curls fell softly about her shoulders. She would have to be careful in this place. It was obvious to her that the Aes Sedai had somehow compelled her mother and aunt to have her tested, so they could bring Levana to the Tower and train her. Not only would this work as blackmail against her family, it would also be an opportunity to use her, Levana, in a plot to pull down the Children of the Light. She was convinced they would do whatever they could to darken her heart to become a Darkfriend like themselves. But she would not fall into their traps! If she could, she would send a letter to her father, begging him to come and get her out of this place. But she knew he would do no such thing, being brought into the Tower in the first place, even against her will, was enough to disgrace her and label her as a Darkfriend, and her father would never want to be associated with someone like that, even if it were his own daughter.

Levana was pacing the floor, deep in thought, when there was a knock on her door. Lumps of ice gathered in her stomach, and she opened to find one of the women with multicoloured stripes around the hem. If she remembered correct, the stripes meant she was an Accepted, a rank higher than a Novice like Levana.

"I am to bring you to Eqwina Sedai of the Yellow Ajah. Follow me."

Levana considered telling her she'd rather stay in her room, that she was not ready to meet anyone yet, but thought better of it. She was curious, now, and she wanted to tell the witches she would not be one of them.

She followed the Accepted through the Tower, the place was huge, and she had to admit it was a wonder anyone could build anything like it. In the end they stopped outside a door. The Accepted knocked and then spoke to someone on the other side. A few moments later the woman opened to let in Levana before disappearing. Levana gave a short curtsy and then looked up at a woman she had never seen before.

OOC: Hope this looks okay :-)

“I am not afraid. I am not afraid of harm while trying to succeed. Is there glory in death?”

Kiserai smiled at the child in front of her, on her knees in a position she knew was unbearable.

«Oh, you will be afraid, dear. Glory in death? Can that be? I will let you ponder on that thought for yourself. Some will gladly die to offer themselves to a cause, and in that way they think death is a glory. Others... well, others think they serve better alive than dead. I shall leave it to you to decide which path you will walk, but remember that the matter of whether you are alive or dead is not always in your hands. We have someone who watches over us, and He makes those decisions as He sees fit.»

After a few more moment she let go of the girl, downed the last drops of wine left in her cup and raised. She stood there watching Adela, taking in the details of her yet again, judging, then picked up her cloak and put it back on, hood covering her head once again.

«It is getting late. Go to your chamber and get some sleep. We will not stay in Tar Valon, there are better places for what I intend to do with you. I will wake you early in the morning, and then we leave. Speak to no one.»

With those final words she strode out of the dining room and left the Inn, taking turns in such a way that Adela would not be able to follow her, melting into the crowds of people on her way. The fastest way to get away was by travelling by ship down the river all the way to Aringill. She hadn't been in those parts for some time, and she really should go back to catch up on what was going on in the central parts of the world. There were only two places she could never return to, Cairhien and Ebou Dar.

By the time she was back at the Inn that evening she had found a ship going south the following morning and had booked passage for herself, the girl, and the horses. She peeked into the girl's room, watching her sleep peacefully for a few moments, before turning and going to her own bed.

ooc: sorry that it's a bit on the short side, just not got too much inspiration tonight, but didn't want to make you wait any longer. RP travelling on the ship :-) If you want to go somewhere else than Aringill, let me know and I'll change the destination.

Kiserai measured the little girl in front of her, taking in every scratch of the scrawny body, raising an eyebrow at the messy hair and in the end nearly sighing at the work she'd have to put into this one. In a way it was good to start when they were young, but it was also much harder work, having to be as much parent as teacher. With her cloak gathered around her, she turned towards the Inn and waved for the girl, Adela, to follow.

«Come, we can't stand outside here forever, not with them so close, always watching our every step.»

The Inn was busy, which was a good thing. The more people around, the less anyone would notice anyone in particular. A quick word with the Innkeeper gave them access to a private dining room, a small one, but still more private than the common room, and Kiserai really did not want the girl to enter her room just yet. She really did not need the girl looking nosily about at her things.

It was strange to be back in Tar Valon. How many years since the last time she'd seen this grandest of all places? To most peoples it really was the grandest city in the known world. Though, Kiserai herself felt a faint longing for another place. Tar Machin Rahien, where one could look out over the Great Blight, the fortress of the Shar Mahdi. It was a strange way she had come back to Tar Valon, too. She hadn't expected to be found in that small place in Saldea, much less to receive a message that meant she was wanted to train a young girl to become an Assassin. What happened to make the Chosen stop wanting her head? She did not know, nor did she know how they had found her. Had they known her whereabouts all along? Now, that was a disturbing thought, and she pushed it out of her mind.

Once they were alone in the dining room, food and drink read on the table, Kiserai let down the hood of her cloak before taking it off. Her black hair was braided and then set into an intricate knot at the back of her head, fastened with a hairnet of silverchains and small chrystals. She wore a simply cut dress of fine, thin wool, with a high neckline. From a belt at her waist hung a slightly curved dagger, the hilt set with precious stones. Not quite what one would expect, most just had a rather simple knife for eating. If she took this one out it from its sheath, one would notice it had a vicious blade, made for killing. She had several small daggers about her person, as well, of course, but few would be able to detect any of those.

Kiserai sat down at the table and ate her meal quietly, while watching the girl. The ting looked like she was trying very hard to pretend to be unaffected, but she knew differently. Of course the creature was curious to find out why she had been handed over to some stranger. And even more curious to find out who this stranger was. Kiserai caught the girl's eye and looked deep into them, piercing her very mind. One day Adela the child would lie naked and broken before her and Kiserai would build her anew, guiding her to find perfection in the eyes of the Great Lord of the Dark. This thought made her mouth curve slightly into a smile that she knew didn't reach her eyes. She hadn't felt happiness since watching her little girl playing in the Cygnerin Palace in Ebou Dar. She'd be just about Adela's age now, perhaps a little older.

After finising the simple meal of stew and bread, Kiserai motioned for Adela to come and stand in front of her so she could have a close look at her. Before the girl knew what happened, she had used a few swift moves to bring her to her knees, holding her down there in a painful position she could not get out of. Her smile turned cruel at that point. She enjoyed controlling persons, seeing them suffer and knowing they could never escape. Few would believe a small woman like her being able of this, but truth was that it was not all about strength. She was strong, yes, but if you knew the right techniques and knew the human body in and out, you would not need very much strength to do the most amazing things.

«You must be wondering who I am, child,» she said in a low voice. «You may call me Kiserai in private, but revealing that name to anyone outside will see you dead before the blink of an eye.»

She let these words sink in before continuing.

«I am going to train you in the arts I possess, before I'm done with you, you will wish your mother had never laid eyes on your father, and your grandmother on your grandfather. I can promise you pain beyond what you would believe possible, both in the body and in the spirit. There is little glory in the path that was chosen for us, for those looking in from the outside, but when you learn to appreciate the glory we make for ourselves, you will thank me for every drop of blood that is shed, for every drop of sweat on your forehead and every tear running down your cheek. That is, if you live to fulfill my goals for you. Do you understand?»

*OOC: a reintroduction of this char*

Gushes of wind howled through the building, creating a light, cold breeze that would chill anyone’s bones. There was nowhere to hide from it in this place, and the only place where one could stay tolerably warm was next to the big fireplace in the common room, or bundled into several layers of woolen blankets in the bed. One would think an Inn in Saldea would be somewhat better built, but this was a rowdy place where few asked for more than a pint of the too expensive, watered ale. I certainly wasn’t a place for a lady, unless the lady was of the kind that could be bought and sold. And those wouldn’t be called ladies anyhow.

Well hidden inside a dark, hooded cloak one cou.ld spot a pale face, with dark eyes, and a mouth with lips like a budding rose. A lady? Certainly more like one than any other woman who might set her foot in this place, but the several daggers at her waist were enough to keep most men away from her. And those who did approach might learn that as well as owning these blades, she could use them as well, or better, than any of them, despite her small size. The strange woman had been there a week and the men had, after a couple of days, accepted her wish to be left alone. None had been killed, but some had scars they would never get rid of. And none knew exactly what she looked like, her hood always covering her face. Most of the time she was away from the Inn, or up in her tiny room, they only saw her when she was in the common room to eat the simple stew that was served and a mug of the ale.

There wasn’t much work to get in this part of Saldea, but then, it wasn’t a big city, just a small town, and Kiserai wasn’t even sure what the name of the place was. Normally she wouldn’t even be in this place, if she hadn’t got caught up in business that required her to hide away for some time. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for her to stay in places like this for some time after a job was done. She didn’t have to stay at the Inn she had chosen, the Lord knew she didn’t suffer from a lack of money, but it was less likely that others would search for her here, especially those who knew her expensive tastes. Perhaps it wasn’t necessary for her to hide from the Friends of the Dark anymore, it had been years since she had made the big mistake to think she could control the information passed between herself and the Chosen. Years since she had been forced to leave the palace she had possessed in Ebou Dar. Even more years since she had been in Tar Machin Rahien in the Blight, gaining her rank as a Shar Mahdi of the Great Lord’s Assassins. With a deep sigh, Kiserai Doon set her mug of ale down and got up to leave the common room. It was late at night, and sleep would be needed. It was time to move on.

Kiserai

Shar Mahdi