Wheel of Time MUD

Base: 2
Special length bonus: 0
Rplizer: +1
Extra meticulous edit: 0
Summary: +1

Total:
Aleera: 4 RPQPs
Vistra: 2 RPQPs

This is a wonderful scene and very enjoyable to read. Keep up the great work, and thank you for sharing!

Please say "receive" at a silver-haired Aes Sedai for your rewards.

Summary: Vistra and Aleera discuss being a Novice and White Tower questions and philosophy. Vianca returns from the north with good news regarding the defeat of a dreadlord.

Main Characters: Vistra, Aleera
Guest Star: Vianca
POV: Aleera

In the Well
This open-roofed building used to house the initiates of the Tower consists of nine levels, but only three of them are currently in use. A number of small, windowless rooms open up to a gallery which surrounds a courtyard, there is ample fresh air. A fountain with a small garden sits at the bottom of this well, the sound of falling waters echoing among the towering walls.

Aleera is sunken into a chair, practically melted back into it. She gives a faint smile to Vistra, "Good evening, Novice Vistra."

Vistra says 'Good evening Accepted Aleera.'

Aleera senses Vistra is channeling saidar.

Vistra weaves her hands, creating a hearty meal in the process.

Vistra gives you a strange fruit.

Aleera smiles, accepting it, "I do. I have just returned after a distant journey for the Gray Ajah. My return was more eventful than I had hoped, and took longer as well."

Vistra says 'Oh wow. Please tell me all about it.'

Vistra sits down next to Aleera with hands in lap leaning forward listening intently.

Vistra sits down and rests.

Vistra says 'would you like some meat to go with the fruit Accepted? I can go make you a dish in the kitchens if you would like.'

Aleera shares after a moment's reflection, "Like many things, it serves more than one purpose here. My travel. It was to Illian, delivering a message to one of the Aes Sedai there who advises the King." She pauses a moment before continuing, "I don't know the content of the letter. It may have been important. It may have been blank. And, in the end, it doesn't matter. We all serve, regardless of task, big or small."

Aleera shakes her head to the question, "No, no, the fruit took the edge off. I am well, thank you."

Vistra Leans forward at the mention of Illian, "I am from Illian. Well just a touch north on a small farm raising goats."

Aleera finishes out some of the Illian tale, "And now, the Grey Ajah is testing me, I suppose, as they do other girls that come here, in their own way. Tests of travel, diplomacy, and friend-making."

Vistra takes a deep breath, "Are you thinking about joining the ranks of Gray Sisterhood?

Vistra after pondering for a moment, "I do not believe that I would make a good Gray Aes Sedai. I do not have the art of diplomacy."

Aleera smiles, "Oh, I hadn't realized. I should have asked you if there was anything I should stop to see while there." She considers about the Gray, "That is a good question. I think they, along with two others, might fit with how I might hope to serve, but I am not sure they are the best match. I will need to talk with some of them and see."

Aleera nods, affirming Vistra, "We all have our respective strengths. Knowing our weaknesses is also quite important. You'll likely hear that at some point if you haven't already."

Vistra returns the smile, "I am just hoping that one day I will be able to pass the test to become an Accepted. I have been known to jump to far ahead of myself. That is sound advice Accepted."

Aleera admits, "I waited until I was called. I was nervous, nervous about being put out from the Tower, although more than one Aes Sedai assured me that they did not just randomly cast girls out once they were here. I understood that in my head, but my heart was slow to catch on." Aleera's own accent pegs her as from a good bit west of Illian.

Vistra resting her chin in her hands, "That is so hard for me to do. Wait that is. I could not imagine someone as talented as you being put out of the tower." Looks into the distance to the south as if something is pulling her attention.

Aleera shares about testing, "They, the Aes Sedai, will test you in many ways before the test to become Accepted. Do you understand basics of weaves? Do you understand what it means to be a novice? To be an accepted? You don't need to answer these, but be thinking of them." She considers, then amends, "Maybe that isn't even the best way to put it, they want to know how you understand it." She gives a shake of her head, "I appreciate your confidence in me, but I too, am learning. There is always more to learn."

Aleera asks Vistra, shifting the conversation slightly, "Do you miss home? Do you have family there?"

Vistra snapping back to the moment and conversation, "I am a little home sick. It has only been a few weeks, but I have never been away from home an extended period of time. I have a father and older brother. My mother died in child birth having me. I have been thinking more and more about what it means to be a novice." Brow creases in concentration, "I just have not come up with an acceptable answer I think."

Aleera tells her, "It is okay to miss home, to miss family. I suspect it is natural and most feel it when they arrive, but they probably only share it with one or two; and thus we all think everyone else is handling things perfectly well, like they are already Aes Sedai, with their 'masks'." She waves her hand before her face, expression largely vanishing, becoming more placid and stoic. She shares, "Confronting leaving home and accepting the White Tower as our new home is part of the process of accepting being a Novice and certainly of becoming an Accepted."

Vistra nods in acknowledgment, "Do you miss your home still also? If it is not rude of me can I ask you are from? I hear a hint of a western accent."


Vistra says 'I am not sure if I can make my face "mask like".'

Vistra uses her fingers to make quotation marks.

Aleera nods after a moment, "I miss it. I think I would have liked it if it could have worked there, but it couldn't. I've now accepted this as my real home, and everyone here as my family." She then answers, "I don't think it rude to ask. I was born in Amadicia. I fled from there to here."

Vistra Eyebrows raise, "Because of the White Cloaks?" Lips curl down on the edges.

Vistra stops resting, and clambers on her feet.

Aleera senses Vistra connecting to the True Source.

Aleera nods about the Whitecloaks, "Yes, the Children. My father would have turned me in if I hadn't fled before he'd gotten home."

Vistra lips pull back on one side and push forward in the middle, "I am so sorry that you had to go through that."

Aleera says 'Thank you. I appreciate it. I wish my mother and brothers well there. I hope, one day, to help so that other girls don't need to experience what I did.'

Aleera asks Vistra, coming back to something she had said earlier, "You mentioned earlier that you're not sure you gave an answer that one of the Aes Sedai was seeking about being a novice. Did you want to practice what you said and perhaps additional thoughts you've had since?"

Vistra looking up at the ceiling for a moment eyes coming down to focus on Aleera, "Aelrena Sedai asked me what the difference was between being a Fledgling Novice and a Wearied Novice. I answered her that being a Fledgling is like being an unmolded chunk of clay. That being Wearied meant that we understand being part of the Tower means that we must put the needs of others before ours.

Vistra continues, "Like how that Aes Sedai in the Old Tongue means servants to all."

Vistra looking confused, "I am not sure what more that she was wanting from me, but she did not seem satisfied with my answer."

Aleera nods as she listens. She begins, "The metaphor of clay seems apt and discussing service likewise. I don't think either of those things lead you astray, or would cause concern." She then asks, "Did you touch on the Three Oaths at all?"

Aleera says, "We're not bound by them, yet they remain important."

Vistra nods, "I gave base descriptions of all the oaths. "Tell no word that is not true, Do not use the power to harm another unless in defense of yourself, and Do not use the power to make weapons that one man can harm another with."

Vistra looking pensive, "She did have to ask me about them though. Maybe she was expecting me to speak them without asking?"

Aleera says, "Volunteering them would not hurt. If you're able to share how you're integrating them in your own life, even without being bound to them, would also go a little ways as well, I suspect." She pauses a moment, collecting her thoughts, then shares, "They will always want more and expect more. And here is where one of them would ask, why do you think that is? Why the chores? Why the dresses that we wear? Why stay on the island?"

Aleera finishes the thought, "There may be 'right' answers for some of the Aes Sedai to some of these sorts of questions, but another purpose is to learn more about you, about us. How might we respond to other things in the future? What might guide our decisions? What sort of Accepted or Aes Sedai might we be?"

Vistra faces scrunches a little, "I think the chores teach us patience and discipline. The dresses I believe is a form of solidarity with our sisters. As for staying on the island I believe it is mainly for our safety. We should try our best to live by the 3 oaths.

Vistra continues, "The 3 oaths are a way for the outside world to trust us."

Vistra says 'The breaking caused the world at large to mistrust Aes Sedai and we must regain that trust.'

Aleera nods to Vistra's answers, hands folded comfortably in her lap. "I think I would share some of that, or other similar thoughts. You've just given some reflection on aspects of life as a novice."

Vistra brightens with a smile that reaches from ear to ear.

The chamberdoor is opened from the other side.

Vianca has arrived from the east.

The chamberdoor closes quietly.

Vianca smiles happily.

Vistra says 'Thank you so much for teaching me up.'

Vistra curtseys before Vianca.

Vianca says 'The dreadlord Jestin has fallen'

Vistra cheers for Vianca.

Aleera beams a smile, "That is wonderful news, Accepted Vianca."

Vianca puts a jade carving of an old man in a backpack.

Vianca says 'Indeed'

Vistra says 'That is very impressive Accepted Vianca!'

Vistra looks on in awe.

Vianca says 'His belonging will be in the chest if any is needed'

Vianca smiles happily.

Vianca says 'exit'

The chamber door swings open.

Vianca smiles happily.

Vianca leaves east.

The chamber door closes quietly.

Vistra turning back to her conversation with Aleera, "I am glad that you are here. Your guidance has really made me think about why my answers were not sufficent for my test."

Vistra still in awe, "I cannot believe that Accepted Vianca was able to defeat one of the dreadlords."

Aleera tells Vianca, "I am always happy to help. I was prompted and prodded myself. That is part of being here, of being part of 'us'. We're not alone."

Vistra says 'We are not alone, and I feel more that way now.'

Aleera nods emphatically, "Quite. I know at some point, though not just yet, I'll be expected to go north as well, to aid the efforts. The Greens, especially, throw themselves into that great work. Accepted Vianca is training to join that Ajah."

Vistra says 'the pull of home is not quite as strong.'

Vistra shutters a little at the thought, "Please be safe when you go up there. I know that you will be amazing it just seems so dangerous.

Aleera tries to offer a convincing smile. "I hope so," she says, "but that will take some more work and practice. My weave timing still is lacking and those who skulk about are still quite difficult to defend against. Always more to work on."

Vistra smiles back in an encouraging fashion, "The Aes Sedai must believe in you to send you all the way to Illian to handle some political matters."

Aleera says 'You make a good point. I believe they act to ask much, but not more than they think you can give ... if pushed.'

Vistra says 'Yes. Like they know our limits and cause us to push those limits to become something greater. Like them.'

Aleera nods, "Because even more will be asked then and we must each be ready to give."

Vistra gets a determined look on her face, "We will give them everything that we have. We will be great Aes Sedai one day."

Vistra looks abashed and begins to stare at her feet, "It this is the thing in me that caused me to fail the test. I jump to far out off of the cliff before I am ready."

Aleera tries to reassure, "Perhaps. But, I think many of them appreciate conviction and dedication. They are all, of course, individuals and will respond and expect a little bit differently from their fellow Sisters. Dedication, I suspect, might receive universal approval. But, you may be right to watch the line between strong conviction and overstatement."

Aleera adds, "Some, again, might appreciate it, while others might wish for more restraint. You can see how reserved many of them can be at times. Part of our training here is to gradually begin to act more and more as they do, a unified representation to the world."

Vistra slowly nods as in thought, "It seems that it might be a fine line.

Vistra nods in agreement.

Vistra opens her mouth and closes it again.

Aleera gestures with her hand, showing some variance, "And where that line is will vary from one to another."

Vistra right hand goes up and left hand goes down then they both meet in the middle, "I guess it is a balancing act. I remember walking on the beams in the barn and it was always hard but doable."

Vistra walks with arms out wide tottering from one side to the other.

Vistra leaves west.

Vistra has arrived from the west.

Vistra curtseys before Aleera.

Vistra gives you a goblet filled with apple cider.

Vistra gives you a plate of hot stew with some bread.

Vistra eats a plate of hot stew with some bread.

Vistra drinks mulled wine from a goblet filled with apple cider.

Aleera smiles her thanks, "You are too kind. Thank you. This smells delicious."

Vistra returns the smile, "It was the least I could do with all of the time you are taking to teach me.

Vistra gets a little mischievous look, "I got us some cider also. It will be a wonderful tonic to help us sleep."

Aleera says 'And you had it right about the balancing act. Much here is like that. You want to do well and give it everything you have, but it wouldn't do to rub anyone else's face in it. Everyone will move at their own speed, and there isn't anything wrong with that. We support people as they need it, when they need it.'

Vistra's yawn cracks her jaws, "This day has been so long and I think that this cider has done exactly as I said."

Vistra rubs her eyes with the back of her hands.

Aleera nods, "Rest well this evening. I hope tomorrow brings something new."

Vistra says 'Me too. Again thank you so much for the lessons on the philosophy of the tower. I believe I understand more about myself also from our talk.'

Vistra says 'Good night'

Aleera nods and smiles. "Good night."

Vistra leaves west.