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claireducky

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    Minor correction, this new feature will set the title under your user name *points to Mother Ducker on hers*.  You've always been able to set the bit below the avatar.

    Larindhra managed to keep her anger in check as she listened to the egotistical Blue decree what would be Esther's punishment.

     

    "If you feel the Novice has done nothing wrong, send her to her bed, by all means. There is a matter of my bed, and I see no reason for this Child, who not only proceeded to carry out a task without thought, but also failed to show respect to an Aes Sedai, to go back to a warm bed when I can not. She will, for her lip and lack of brain, see that my bed is cleaned of all manner of creatures before she shall return to her bed. Then we shall not speak of this night again."

     

    How DARE she?  She doesn't even know what rank the child is, and she presumes too much. Lar bristled at the audacity of the woman.  She meant to put her in her place, for good and for all.  "Nastascia, as I said before, I do feel sympathy for your predicament.  However it is NOT and NEVER WILL BE your task to decide what punishment I set for an unruly Accepted.  I do my job, and I do it well.  And though the true culprit has already confessed and been punished, I will take care of your claim Esther was out of line."

     

    The Mistress of Novices turned her gaze on the young Accepted. "Is this true, Esther?  Did you follow instructions without question this evening, and did you fail to show the proper respect due to Nastascia Sedai?"

     

    She held a hand up to forestall the girl as she opened her mouth. "No explanations, please.  A simple yes or no will do."

     

    Esther dropped her eyes to her shoes and mumbled, "Yes, Larindhra Sedai."

     

    Of COURSE it's true.  That one always has to argue with Sedai.  Too bad she couldn't have argued with Gianna, who got her into this mess.

     

    The Red nodded curtly.  "Well as you've confessed, I have no choice but to dole out punishment. For showing lack of respect to an Aes Sedai, you will go at this instant to the servant's quarters and wake up two of the bedchamber servants.  You will take them to Nastascia's room, explain to them what they are to do, then come back here and return to your bed.  In this way, your punishment will reflect the exact size of the part you played in tonight's misfortunes...and no more."  She directed the end of her statement towards Nastascia, who had narrowed her eyes.  Esther curtsied quickly and took off down the corridor, barely pausing to slip her shoes on and shut her door.

     

    Alone in the gallery with the Blue, Larindhra struck before Nastascia could explode.  "I will always punish in what I feel is a just manner, Nastascia.   You would have had her punished for both doing as she was told and also for showing some backbone; you can't have it both ways.  You will never presume to do my job for me again, do you understand?  Take it upon yourself again, and you might find YOURSELF at my office for a dose of the slipper.  Now unless you have anything else to say, I plan on returning to bed.  Likely you will wish to do the same...once the mice are removed, of course."

     

     

    On average, it takes around 10 years to be raised from Novice to Accepted, and another 10 from Accepted to Aes Sedai.  I think most sisters are raised to the shawl at about the age of 35ish.  There are of course exceptions to the rules, and some might take longer or shorter to advance.  But I'd say anywhere in the 8-11yr range per level is par for the course.

     

    Edit: darn you lily! beat me to it!

    Cetaile shook her head slightly in bemusement at the older sister's ignorance; her cropped caramel locks bounced around her ears with the movement.  Cetaile knew that when it came to deference, she should *probably* give Janine the lead, but the woman was blind with pride and half the women in the Tower knew it.  The Creator might have bestowed Clouddancing upon Janine, but he hadn't bestowed much wit.  At any rate, even though Janine outstripped her in overall strength, their potential was nearly matched and Cetaile knew her skill was out of Janine's reach on most things except for weather weaving.  So many things colored the shadings of rank in the Tower that Cetaile decided she could take a chance and attempt to bring Janine to heel in the matter.  Sometimes deference was only a matter of who took the lead first.  And if she could have Janine as an ally, so much the better.

     

    Janine's voice was rocks ringing on iron.  Angry rocks.  "I think that you bloody well could use a lengthy lesson in the art of subtlety, Cetaile.  By making a flaming spectacle of yourself while dropping back to us, then throwing up a ward, that ward in particular, you've ensured that the rest of the group will be watching us carefully, wondering what is so bloody important that we have to hide it from them."

     

    Cetaile did not reply, letting the Green think she had scored a point.  Indeed, her tone was more conciliatory when she continued. "As for the grouping situation, who knows?  Like minds seek like, and many of the group know each other rather well.  However, I find myself curious as to why you would suggest seeking out the Atha'an Miere.  The documents that I have seen, as sketchy and useless as they are, suggest that the White Tower, not the Sea Folk, was last in possession of the Bowl.  Since finding the Bowl is top priority, I don't see how your people can help us."

     

    The Gray smoothed a hand over her divided riding dress, more modestly cut than she would have liked.  It was best to not draw attention to themselves though...

     

    Like any flaming half-wit with enough mind to lace a boot couldn't see what we are!  What a farce this is.

     

    She turned back to Janine, but directed her answer to Dulcinea, who hadn't spoken yet, poor thing.  If she feels overwhelmed and lorded over by Janine, I should easily be able to pull her to my view.   "First of all, nobody else paid a bit of attention the whole time I was studying them, nor did they when I came back to speak with you.  They all have their own wards, and are so thick in their own plotting they could ride into the flaming sea and not realize it til they drowned!  'Like minds seek like', indeed. There are two other Greens out there who are ignoring you, their Ajah sisters. Don't you get it?  They don't CARE about us.  You're only here because of your skill with the weather, Dulcinea because she is not ageless and can be made use of as a spy, and myself because I'm Sea Folk.  If any of those sisters thought us useful to their plans, they would have already scooped us up.  That means that unless we decide for ourselves what direction this embassy should take, we will be dragged along with no say in it whatsoever."

     

    Cetaile paused for breath, eyeing the two Greens to see how they were taking this.  She thought she might have Dulcinea, but Janine was red as a beet in anger.  Cetaile used the same tack the Green had, letting her tone become more silky, like a salve to Janine's wounded pride.  "I know your value, Janine, have no fear of that.  There is nobody more talented with weatherworking, and you have the ability innately born in you.  All the skill I have has taken years of practice to get.  If we even find the Bowl, they will need you to use it for them.  But do you have any notion of HOW to use the Bowl?  I sure don't, and it's an artifact of my people!  So imagine for a moment, us recovering the Bowl, and then Ziya and Anthea trying to order you in the proper way to use it.  It would be a travesty, the blind leading the blind.  Nobody in this company is qualified in the use of this Bowl, even you or I.  Thousands of years before the Tower had even heard of the Bowl, it was in the possession of the Atha'an Miere.  In those days, they had many women as skilled in weather manipulation as you are.  Even if that ability has fallen off in recent years, there are still many historians among them, particularly the Windfinders who navigate the ships.  If there is anything more to be known about using the Bowl, THEY would be the ones who would know it.  Now don't you think it would be worth it, to learn how to use the Bowl if possible, so that YOU can use it correctly the moment we lay hands on it--ENDING this blasted heat wave?  You would be a hero.  And that is why I feel we should look for Sea Folk ships in Ebou Dar."

     

    Cetaile knew she had to get control of this group, and soon.  She really wanted nothing to do with her kinfolk anymore, but if speaking with the Atha'an Miere would help them heal the weather then it was worth it.  She ducked to avoid a tree limb waiting to knock her out of the saddle, and wondered if her words had been enough.

    As Daraniea told her tale, Cetaile felt a tiny bit of her heart go out to the young woman.  She could definitely identify with the loss of a mother, although in Cetaile's case, her mother had disowned her essentially and wanted nothing to do with her now. 

     

    Although this Cairhienin girl was accustomed to more comforts than Cetaile, the path life had chosen for her would be no less hard.  She wondered if the girl realized that by time she was Aes Sedai and able to leave the Tower, her father would likely be dead as well.  She wondered which fate Daraniea would consider more cruel-- to marry a man thrice her age yet live in relative comfort with a family around her, or to have the power of an Aes Sedai, with no kin, no family, and no friends.  She didn't want to discourage the girl, but she needed to consider these things if she was to not waste her time (or the Tower's).

     

    "A hard story, Light's truth.  I know a few harder, but not many.  I must do my duty to both you and the Tower by putting some hard questions to you,though.  You came here to escape this marriage, but do you realize that you must make a choice one way or another here?  If you stay and train to be Aes Sedai, your father's ill health will likely have him in his grave before you could possibly leave to see him again.  When you become a TRUE initiate of the Tower in your heart, you must put off the old allegiances and familial relationships you have held dear.  The Mistress of Novices burned your clothes you arrived here in as a symbol of that.  If you make it to the shawl, you will only have Saidar and your Ajah Sisters.  All your family and friends you once knew in Cairhien will die before you, and their children, and THEIR children.  Aes Sedai seldom marry, and even less frequently have a child.  Your husband is the Tower, your children are the people we serve.  So I ask you now, before the choice becomes any harder:  is it worth it to you?  Will you lose some to gain all?"

     

    Cetaile was unaccustomed to making long speeches, her gruff voice was a bit breathless by the time she stopped speaking.  She knew it was a hard decision for the Novice to make, but she sat in silence to await the answer.

     

     

    Posted

     

    Cetaile grumbled to herself as she led her piebald mare through the gateway.  The intense heat around Tar Valon trebled as she took a step and was suddenly 1000 miles further south and east.  The sere landscape of Altara surrounded her and stretched away to distant hills and olive groves.  She never wanted to be part of this "embassy", which was already weakening under the surface.  To find the Bowl of the Winds, the heritage of her people, would be a wondrous thing indeed; but Cetaile felt the task was impossible.

     

    So what am I doing here tramping through this bloody heat, if it is all going to be for naught?  I have no desire to be lumped in with these sisters simply because I am a 'Seafolk'.  Light, the only one I actually know is Ziya, and she's not said two words to me yet.  Blood and bloody ashes!

     

    She clambered up on the horse and gingerly urged her forward to follow the rest of the procession. Cetaile was not an adept equestrian, and would be glad when this ride was over.  The rocking motion of a horse was NOT like the pitch of a deck, no matter what these shorebound might think.  As she clung to the saddle's horn for dear life, she attempted to study the other women in the group. She knew there had to be a reason for the choice of her current company, and although she had been unable to pry it out of Ziya she thought she could figure it out if she worried over it enough.

     

    Each woman was a puzzle to her at first.  Ziya was obviously the chosen leader of the company, an adept negotiator.  So the Amyrlin must have thought there might be a need for negotiations in Ebou Dar.  But with whom?  Cetaile's own part in the company was dreadfully clear; she was not a skilled negotiator compared with many other Grays, but she was the only Sea Folk sister currently in Tar Valon and the Bowl was a Sea Folk artifact. 

     

    If they think I will be much use in treating with any Atha'an Miere we might find in port, they are in for a poor surprise.

     

    That left the other eight sisters. Anthea had already maneuvered her mount close to Ziya's, and was leaning towards her from her saddle to whisper in the Gray's ear.  That Ziya was even deigning to listen was a shock; as the leader of the embassy, she could essentially order the rest of them to do anything.  Anthea must have some hidden bit of influence here, but what was it?  Cetaile mulled over this for a few minutes until she recalled how Anthea had vehemently supported Shevara when her name was put forward for Amyrlin.  Perhaps Shevara had repaid Anthea for her loyalty by putting her here as her eyes and ears.  Well that was almost expected, so Cetaile would take care to not oppose Anthea openly.

     

    The other sisters posed a bit of a problem for Cetaile at first.  They had no obvious connection that Cetaile could think of.  Zara was another Red, but not friendly with Anthea, instead gravitating toward Brigita and Sashelle who were Greens.  Viviane was an ancient Brown, who she supposed was along for the historical value of the Bowl.  She was currently riding close with Mariella, who was another older sister from the Blues.  After puzzling over these groupings for a bit, finally something hit her that was so obvious she couldn't believe she didn't see it earlier.  They were all Altaran.  Every last sister but Anthea, Janine, Dulcinea and herself had the same olive skin of Altara.  She wouldn't be surprised if the majority of them were from Ebou Dar itself. 

     

    Well, I suppose that makes a sort of sense since we ARE going to Ebou Dar...but why not pick sisters who are more capable?  Do they think that having Ebou Dari sisters will hide they fact they Aes Sedai?

     

    She shook her head at the stupidity of the situation and turned her head to consider the only two women she had not figured out.  Janine and Dulcinea...both Greens.  Dulcinea was even younger than Cetaile, a newly-raised sister with no trace of agelessness.  Perhaps that was the reason for her inclusion.  Janine was another enigma, but Cetaile thought the answer was in the woman's skills.  She was the only clouddancer the Tower currently had, and if they actually managed to find the Bowl, she would be invaluable in using it.  Cetaile was strong in the elements that controlled weather through long practice, but Janine's innate Talent far surpassed her. 

     

    Dulcinea and Janine were currently riding alone; Cetaile decided that she should take charge of these other oddballs before they get scooped up by one of the other groups.  She kicked her piebald forward and almost went flying off for her effort.  The two Greens looked at her askance as she pulled alongside, but she turned a significant eye towards the other groups ahead of them and wove a ward against eavesdropping around them. 

     

    Janine opened her mouth angrily as the ward was closed around them, but Cetaile cut her off and demanded, "So what exactly do you make of the way the others have divided themselves?  Does this look like a unified embassy to you?  Ziya has hardly told us two words of what she plans to do when we reach Ebou Dar, and I think we need to be ready with some ideas of our own.  As much as I despise the thought, I think we should approach some of my kin folk in the harbor, as this IS an Atha'an Miere artifact we are searching for.  They might have useful information about it.  What do you two think?"

     

    She settled back in her saddle before she fell out of it and waited for their reply.

     

     

    Lesson 2: Touching the Source for the first time

     

    Claire looked up from her book with a start.  Good Heavens, is it time for the class already? She had come down to the classroom early, and passed the time by reading a treatise on the Karatheon Cycle.  Standing and smoothing her skirts, Claire greeted the Novices as they entered the classroom.  “Good morning everyone.  I hope you slept well last night.  Today we’re going to start working with the Power.” Claire noticed the eager and anxious look on the girls’ faces, and tried to remember the first time she touched the source, so many years ago.

     

    “The first thing you must learn, before anything else, is learn how to embrace the Source.  This is the first step in preparation for channeling. You must surrender yourself fully to its power; you must place yourself within it. Only by surrendering can you embrace it.  This is not as easy as it sounds, many people find it hard to give themselves up completely.  They flounder and try to seize control, instead of letting the power fill them like sinking into a warm bath. I will teach you a novice exercise to help you surrender yourself. You will not immediately succeed at this exercise. Or you may not succeed your second, fifth, or tenth try. But do not let this frustrate or embarrass you. I once sat as you did trying desperately to take hold of Saidar and I never thought it would come, but it did. So take a deep breath and close your eyes." Claire watched as each Novice took a deep breath and closed eyes framed with long lashes.

     

    "Now, wipe clean your mind of all thought but a single flowering bud.  Picture it clearly, every facet and petal as if it were in your hands.  Once you have the image firmly in your mind, begin to picture the sun on the bud, warming it. The bud begins to flower in response to the sun, yearning for its warmth and light." Claire walked slowly around the room as she spoke. Very similar words had helped Claire and countless others over the years touch the source for the first time.  She noticed one of the Novices frowning in concentration with her eyes shut, and she placed a soft hand on her shoulder.  “Do not try to seize it, child….relax and it will come to you.”

     

    She continued talking to the girls about the flower and sun for a few more minutes, until finally she saw a brief glow light up around each of the Novices. “Excellent job, ladies!  You just touched the Source for the first time. Exciting isn’t it?” Claire beamed as the Novices opened their eyes and looked at her with incredulity.

     

    Claire remembered the way one of the girls had seemed to clench up when she tried the first exercise.  “Class, I want to teach you another exercise that I feel will help calm you before trying to reach for the Source.  Imagine that you are the sea, rolling wild and furious.  Now you are the sea becoming the river, heading ever inland…the banks that contain you calm you and give you purpose and direction.  You are the river contained by the bank, and you flow endlessly and steadily.”  Claire watched as each girl pictured this in her mind, and it seemed that every one of them maintained a calmness this time.

     

    “Very good. Now, I want you to sit here for the next hour and work on these exercises; first be the river contained by the bank, and then imagine the rose and the sun until you can touch the Source with more ease.”

     

    Claire went back to her reading, but kept an eye on them as they practiced.  Every time the young women succeeded in touching the Source, Claire felt her pride in the Novices grow.  Finally the allotted hour was over, and Claire stood.  “You may stop now, class.  You have done very well today, but I must remind you to NOT touch the Source when you are not under an Aes Sedai’s supervision.  I have decided to give you an extra day for your assignment.”  Many of the girls’ faces lit up at this, but Claire promptly made sure they knew that they were not being coddled.  “Today’s lesson has prompted me to add a bit to your lesson.  In addition to the information on a Novice or Accepted who has burned themselves out, I would like for you to also research and find a second calming exercise like the River and the Bank that you like.  You will find a list of these in the Novice section of the library.”

     

    “Please have your research prepared for the beginning of class tomorrow.  Sleep and eat well again tonight, as tomorrow’s lesson will be much more difficult.”  Claire stood and directed them to the door.  “Now shoo!  I know you have chores and classes to attend to along with my assignment.  See you tomorrow!”  Claire smiled once more at the retreating backs of the Novices, then shut the door.

     

     

     

    OOC: RP touching the Source for the first time, and your reaction (scared, blissful, etc).  What kind of flower did you choose?  RP how the River/Bank exercise feels and if it helps you be calmer for the Rose/Sun exercise.  Assignment info:  Have fun with this!  Make up a novice/accepted who burned themselves out, and the circumstances surrounding the incident (about a paragraph or two is fine.)  Make up a calming exercise to use instead of River/Bank….it can be your signature exercise and your character can continue to use it when she is a Sedai!  I will have you hand it in with the next lesson.

     

    Guion Hamarind was in a foul mood.  The drizzling rain plastered his lank brown hair to his forehead as he stalked across the open courtyard.  He hauled open a smooth wooden door and entered the Dome of Truth.  Shaking the droplets off of his snow-white cloak with disgust, Guion sensed something different about the room.  He peered around carefully.

     

    Yes.  It was definitely darker over there.  One of the fool acolytes must have let the tallow candles burn out.  Guion walked in that direction, but a few feet away he drew up short with a grunt.  It was not an acolyte at all, but one of the newer recruits of the Children.  A woman, and a thick-bodied one at that.  With the armor and helm of a Child on, you could mistake her for a man.

     

    Guion knew this one though, he had heard whispers of her strangely colored eyes from some of the other Children.  Isabel, that was her name.  He had wanted to get close to her himself, to determine if the rumors were true.  Unfortunately, in this poor light it was nigh impossible to see that she had eyes at all, let alone what color they were.

     

    She was standing a few feet away from the extinguished stand lamp.  The candles were crooked, and one was on the floor.  Guion could detect a smell of burnt cloth coming from the tapestry on the wall.  So.  The clumsy ox had almost destroyed one of the brilliant tapestries depicting the history of the Children.  Well, a little scare would teach her to be careful next time.

     

    "So Child Ravenswood, out for a stroll this morning, are we?"  He took a step towards her.  "Or perhaps just attempting some arson in the Dome of Truth?"  He gestured to the stand lamp, and her eyes widened.  He still could not see what color they were.  He took another step and grasped her forearm in an iron grip.  "No, I know, you came in search of an Inquisitor to confess your crimes to.  Well, Child Ravenswood, you have come to the right place."  Guion leaned forward toward her, but she couldn't shy away with the wall behind her back.  "So start confessing.  And begin with that."  He pointed to the singed tapestry.

     

    Guion

    Not in a good mood.

    Posted

    Claire pushed back from her paper-strewn desk with a sigh.  The stacks of parchments and even some ancient vellum sheepskins were everywhere; to the uninitiated eye it looked like total chaos.  However the disarray had a method in its madness, and Claire could find any small obscure bit of lore the documents contained at will.

     

    None of that helps me, of course.  Not if the information I seek is not here.

     

    She turned in her chair and looked for Selene.  The young woman was seated crosslegged on the floor, surrounded by more papers and heavy tomes.  Selene seemed to feel Claire's attention upon her; she looked up from the document she was studying and asked, "Is everything all right, Claire?"

     

    The ancient Brown smiled, tiny lines crinkling at the corners of her eyes.  She had a genuine affection for Selene, like that she had for Shaneevae once.

     

    Would that I knew where she was.  She isn't a Green, to go haring off after adventure and abandon her duty to us.  Light, keep her safe.

     

    "Nothing that wasn't already wrong, Selene.  I've not had any luck finding what we've been looking for.  How about yourself?  Have you found anything promising?"

     

    Selene shook her head no, and Claire clicked her tongue in disappointment.  "Well, that's to be expected, I suppose.  The ancient ter'angreal the Tower has records of are a paltry few compared to the actual numbers that once existed.  Documents decay, and all that they contained becomes lost to us forever."

     

    She stood and stretched, hands on the small of her back.  The aches and pains of age were becoming hard to ignore of late.  Lowering her hands, she channeled briefly to remove the wrinkles from her amber-colored wool dress.

     

    Beckoning for Selene to follow, Claire swept out of the room and into the corridor.  They were in the halls above the great library of the White Tower, where many of the Brown sisters kept apartments so as not to be far from their work.

     

    "Would you run down to the library and get that last batch of documents and books we have not yet checked?  Kerida Sedai should have the list handy and can help you find them.  I'd do it myself, but going up and down all those stairs doesn't sound like a good idea for me just now."

     

    Selene nodded and turned to leave, but Claire caught her by the sleeve.  "Get a Novice to help you carry them back here if you need; some of those tomes are quite heavy, if I remember correctly.  I will go and speak with Raeyn Sedai, to see if she knows anything that might help us in our search.  I should be back in my study by time you return."

     

    She smiled thanks at the young woman, who turned and hurried off down the corridor.  Claire turned in the opposite direction, and steeled herself to speak with the head of her Ajah.

     

    OOC:  I'm being purposefully vague about Selene's standing (Accepted or AS), so play it vague as well so we don't interfere with the space-time continuum lol.  You don't *have* to get a Novice PC or even NPC to help you, but I thought if you needed to give a chore or feel like helping a Novice finish a chore requirement, you could.  <3!