Is it too late for Mayene?
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2024 7:26 am
After a long journey west, Tomos finally reached the docks situated in a sheltered cove on Windbiter's Finger. With a good bit of daylight left, he decided to continue on his journey despite his tiredness. He rode his trusty horse, Lightbringer, through several villages. "Bumpkins," he thought to himself, as he observed the simple people, "but at least they do not make bargains with the witches sitting atop their White Tower." He had seen first-hand, not just once, but many times, what happens when you make a bargain with the Tower.
Continuing down the road, whether by sheer perseverance to get back to the Fortress of Light or a miscalculation in timing, Tomos watched as the sun began to set against the trees on the horizon. "Drat," he thought, "I will need to find a suitable place to make camp for the night." He dismounted his steed, surveying the area. "That looks like as good a place as ever." He peered at the open clearing amongst the trees. It offered space and shelter from the elements while being far enough from the road that only the most determined person would be able to find him. He walked back over to his horse, and began unloading the things you need to make camp. In this case, a gleaming white tent made from duck canvas, a bedroll made from the same, and a large gray woolen blanket. He pitched the tent quickly and with efficiency, as he had done many times before. He went to set up his bedroll and position his bedding just the way he liked. With these tasks done, all that was left was to make a fire.
He strolled over to his horse and opened one of the worn leather saddlebags. Inside was a tinderbox he had owned since he was a small child. Surveying his surroundings once again, he found some dead wood and sticks to use as fuel and kindling. After finding a suitable place to start the fire, he crouched down and began to work. Within minutes, the fire was going well. He thought to himself while chuckling, "One thing a Child of Light knew how to do was start a fire." He found a small log and dragged it over to the fire before he sat down to rest his weary bones. Out of his pack he procured a small metal pot and a water skin. He poured some water into the pot and set it next to the fire. When it was adequately heated up, he took a small pouch of white willow bark and a large tin cup out of his bag. He put some of the bark in the cup and then poured the hot water over it. After letting it steep for some time, he took a drink. "Oh, what a refreshing taste. Nothing but tepid water and salted meats for days." His thoughts wandered, considering the events he witnessed unfold in Mayene.
It was well-known to the rest of the civilized world that Mayene was attempting to make a deal with the White Tower. Tomos thought it was an obvious move, given the fact that the Tairen High Lords were not fans of the Tower. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that. Furthermore, it made perfect sense considering the ties that Illian has with the White Tower. "Squeeze them from both sides, a marvelous plan. And Far Madding is Far Away, not to mention always neutral. Are they ready for the consequences, though?" Having seen what the Tower does, Tomos was saddened that Mayene would try to make a deal: young girls snatched up from their homes, kidnapped to be taught how to touch the disgusting and tainted One Power was just the first thing you saw. Not to mention the Aes Sedai "advisors" that you should just call puppeteers, pulling the strings of the rightful rulers of nations. "It's all well and good, but I ask again, are they ready?"
Tomos was tasked with investigating the situation in Mayene. What better way to do so than to sail out and see for himself? He arrived in Tear and procured his new stallion, one of the finest Tairen bloodstocks, before departing the city and traveling through the Drowned Lands to Mayene. What he saw shocked him, but also gave him some...relief? As he rode into the city through the northern gates, he saw the former Child of Light Bakkus Danan. Former. He was now a Defender of the Stone.
Bakkus grinned widely as he fought several Winged Guards at the same time. They were no match for the expert training he received in the Fortress of the Light and no doubt from Sheldon O'Shea in Tear. One by one the Winged Guards fell to his blade, each one crying out in excruciating pain as the Defender delivered each deathblow. One, two, three, four lifeless corpses. Five, six, seven, eight, and more. When it was all over, he bent over and cut off their heads. Bakkus gathered up all of these heads and dropped them in front of the fountain. While doing so, a large bag fell off of his belt and clinked on the ground. While curious about this bag, no doubt filled with a wealth of gold crowns, Tomos knew better than to ask and continued to wonder. He considered whether the heads would be a fitting warning. They would no doubt be a warning to anyone who would dare deal with the snakes in the White Tower. Their deaths were regrettable. It was too late, now. Or was it? Tomos and Bakkus shared a knowing smile, understanding the dirty work that must be done in the game nations play with each other and most of all in the name of the Light. "No one is too far gone to repent and return to the Light, not even the people of Mayene." Tomos said. They saluted each other and then Bakkus turned around to leave the square.
Back at the camp, the bark tea was finished and his dinner of salted meat and crackers was sitting in his belly. After careful recounting and consideration of the events he witnessed in Mayene, he had no doubt that he should report to his superiors that there is no better time than now to seek talks with the High Lords of Tear. He threw some dirt on the fire, extinguishing it, crawled through the darkness into his tent, and tucked himself into bed for some well-deserved sleep.
Continuing down the road, whether by sheer perseverance to get back to the Fortress of Light or a miscalculation in timing, Tomos watched as the sun began to set against the trees on the horizon. "Drat," he thought, "I will need to find a suitable place to make camp for the night." He dismounted his steed, surveying the area. "That looks like as good a place as ever." He peered at the open clearing amongst the trees. It offered space and shelter from the elements while being far enough from the road that only the most determined person would be able to find him. He walked back over to his horse, and began unloading the things you need to make camp. In this case, a gleaming white tent made from duck canvas, a bedroll made from the same, and a large gray woolen blanket. He pitched the tent quickly and with efficiency, as he had done many times before. He went to set up his bedroll and position his bedding just the way he liked. With these tasks done, all that was left was to make a fire.
He strolled over to his horse and opened one of the worn leather saddlebags. Inside was a tinderbox he had owned since he was a small child. Surveying his surroundings once again, he found some dead wood and sticks to use as fuel and kindling. After finding a suitable place to start the fire, he crouched down and began to work. Within minutes, the fire was going well. He thought to himself while chuckling, "One thing a Child of Light knew how to do was start a fire." He found a small log and dragged it over to the fire before he sat down to rest his weary bones. Out of his pack he procured a small metal pot and a water skin. He poured some water into the pot and set it next to the fire. When it was adequately heated up, he took a small pouch of white willow bark and a large tin cup out of his bag. He put some of the bark in the cup and then poured the hot water over it. After letting it steep for some time, he took a drink. "Oh, what a refreshing taste. Nothing but tepid water and salted meats for days." His thoughts wandered, considering the events he witnessed unfold in Mayene.
It was well-known to the rest of the civilized world that Mayene was attempting to make a deal with the White Tower. Tomos thought it was an obvious move, given the fact that the Tairen High Lords were not fans of the Tower. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that. Furthermore, it made perfect sense considering the ties that Illian has with the White Tower. "Squeeze them from both sides, a marvelous plan. And Far Madding is Far Away, not to mention always neutral. Are they ready for the consequences, though?" Having seen what the Tower does, Tomos was saddened that Mayene would try to make a deal: young girls snatched up from their homes, kidnapped to be taught how to touch the disgusting and tainted One Power was just the first thing you saw. Not to mention the Aes Sedai "advisors" that you should just call puppeteers, pulling the strings of the rightful rulers of nations. "It's all well and good, but I ask again, are they ready?"
Tomos was tasked with investigating the situation in Mayene. What better way to do so than to sail out and see for himself? He arrived in Tear and procured his new stallion, one of the finest Tairen bloodstocks, before departing the city and traveling through the Drowned Lands to Mayene. What he saw shocked him, but also gave him some...relief? As he rode into the city through the northern gates, he saw the former Child of Light Bakkus Danan. Former. He was now a Defender of the Stone.
Bakkus grinned widely as he fought several Winged Guards at the same time. They were no match for the expert training he received in the Fortress of the Light and no doubt from Sheldon O'Shea in Tear. One by one the Winged Guards fell to his blade, each one crying out in excruciating pain as the Defender delivered each deathblow. One, two, three, four lifeless corpses. Five, six, seven, eight, and more. When it was all over, he bent over and cut off their heads. Bakkus gathered up all of these heads and dropped them in front of the fountain. While doing so, a large bag fell off of his belt and clinked on the ground. While curious about this bag, no doubt filled with a wealth of gold crowns, Tomos knew better than to ask and continued to wonder. He considered whether the heads would be a fitting warning. They would no doubt be a warning to anyone who would dare deal with the snakes in the White Tower. Their deaths were regrettable. It was too late, now. Or was it? Tomos and Bakkus shared a knowing smile, understanding the dirty work that must be done in the game nations play with each other and most of all in the name of the Light. "No one is too far gone to repent and return to the Light, not even the people of Mayene." Tomos said. They saluted each other and then Bakkus turned around to leave the square.
Back at the camp, the bark tea was finished and his dinner of salted meat and crackers was sitting in his belly. After careful recounting and consideration of the events he witnessed in Mayene, he had no doubt that he should report to his superiors that there is no better time than now to seek talks with the High Lords of Tear. He threw some dirt on the fire, extinguishing it, crawled through the darkness into his tent, and tucked himself into bed for some well-deserved sleep.