Karma Really Is a B****

[Chloro]

Chloro Sedai receives a request from a young girl to be tested, the antics that ensued push the limits of the Gray's ability to deal with noble brats. Accepted Maddy guides a the new novice through the rose bud exercise and Accepted Vala comes to whisk Linka into Tower life.

View of Chloro
Participants: Chloro, Linka, Maddy (Vala already awarded)

Tower Square
This side of the square is the southern section of the Tower Square.
In the center is the walled off White Tower. To the south a large
boulevard opens up leading to the Southharbor. To the north you see
the southern gate of the Tower grounds. The square continues east
and west.
A large banner rests here, depicting a map of Tar Valon.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
Zone: Tar Valon
Door north: TarlomensGate
A marble bench, flecked with gold and bronze, adorns the floor.
An oil lamp, set in a steel cage, hangs from a high wooden pole.
An elaborately sculpted marble fountain splashes merrily.
A stout wooden barrel stands nearby.
A Tower Guard watches for signs of trouble.
Vala Galanis, Tower Accepted is standing here.
An old woman smiles kindly.
Linka sur Torrens Mecades pia Soventa is standing here, riding a warhorse.
Maddy Mantear, Journey Accepted is standing here.
Hanin of Cairhien is standing here, riding a gray palfrey.
A Tower Guard watches for signs of trouble.

Linka is handed down from her saddle by two grooms.

Chloro glides into the square, her boot heels clicking on the paving stones. Exotic Gray eyes scan the area for a girl. Finding her target, she gives but one look and crooks a finger motioning for the girl to follow. "Come with me child, I have received your request for testing."

Linka calls out in a clear ringing voice: 'I have come to be tested.'

Linka's mouth works slightly at being referred to as 'child'.

Chloro beckons Linka to follow her.

Linka starts following Chloro Sedai.

Chloro says 'Both you girls should be at the ready in case I have need of you.'

***Elevator Music****

Meeting Room of the Gray Ajah
Large, leaded glass windows surround the room on all sides, save the
southern where a large doorway leads out into a antechamber. The room
itself is dominated by a large wooden table around which sits at least
fifty matching chairs, something close to a record for the White Tower. In
the middle of the table are an assortment of unused parchments, quill pens
and stoppered ink jars. A small stand off to one side of the room holds a
large number of glass cups and a large pitcher of chilled water. An
inscription in fine lettering is etched upon the windows.
[ obvious exits: E ]
Zone: White Tower Upper Floors
Door east: door
A large round table built from black oak dominates the center of the room.
A silver-haired Aes Sedai sits here, reading.
A Gray Sister walks here, considering her options.
Annoura Larisen is here, weighing your words.
Linka has arrived from the east.

Chloro glides into the room nodding in respect to Annoura as she listens for the footsteps of her charge, "Welcome to Tar Valon child. I did receive your request to be tested."

Linka nods imperiously.

Linka (look Command) { A haughty young woman of the Cairhien nobility. Her hair is black and her deep blue eyes are calculating. }

Linka says 'I am pleased to hear it Aes Sedai, it would have been a shame to have had to have the messenger whipped had he gone awry.'

Linka's tone suggests it wouldn't have been a very GREAT shame.

Chloro looks the child over as she makes her way to her high-backed chair on the south-western bend motioning for the child to sit also. Hearing the child's last comment, she raises her left eyebrow ever so slightly noting the pitch of the girl’s voice and the hidden meaning. "So, we owe Cairhien for you coming here, and based on your out view of the world. I am guessing you belong to nobility?"

Linka tugs her gloves off to reveal several fine rings as she takes a seat.

Linka nods in agreement.

Chloro pulls a clear white leather folder from a small stack and opens it, before taking up the inked quill in the center of the table. "Let first things be first, your name and house child?"

Linka says 'I am Linka Sur Torrens Mecades pia Soventa, heir to house Torrens, ward paramount to House Mecades'

Linka's words ring out with the calm authority of long practice.

Chloro jots down a few notes untouched by the girls’ words. "I see, and your parents know you are here?

Linka says 'Of course. I came here at their request in fact, after they consulted with the one of Galldrian's advisors, a sister of this Tower I believe'

Linka draws her gaze away from her bejeweled fingers long enough to take in the splendor of the sitting room.

Chloro nods, jotting down a few more notes, her face a mask of serene calm. Looking up exotic gray eyes taking in the girl she weighs and measures the options of testing the child. "Is it your decision to be tested? Here you are your own woman."

Linka eyes the gray sister for a moment as reading something into her phrasing and intonation.

Linka says, 'It is my decision and that of my House Aes Sedai.'

Linka's blue eyes remain opaque and affectless as she speaks.

Chloro sets the quill down and looks the child in the eyes. "You are accustomed to the great game so I will treat you as such. You are heir to a high seat, coming to the Tower, putting on whites, you may be giving that title up. Do you understand the play at move now? Is it still your wish to be tested? Once this road is begun it will not stop till the Aes Sedai deem it so."

Linka's eyes harden slightly at the idea of being under the power of another, but she quickly banishes the emotion.

Linka says 'As you say Aes Sedai I am accustomed to the Great Game. '

Chloro nods allowing the girl to continue.

Linka glances again around the room pondering the adage that the Aes Sedai invented the Great Game.

Linka says 'I am content to follow this path, it is my own move to make.'

Linka sits proudly erect the bored affectation sliding away.

Chloro picks up the quill and nods a warm smile coming through her serene mask. "Then let us be about it. Tell me child, have you channeled before? What was the comment my sister in Cairhien made to you?"

Linka says 'I fell quite ill. Naturally we suspected poison, the Aes Sedai was summoned but declared I would recover, after that she counseled my parents that I should be tested.'

Chloro nods and makes an additional note, "What had you been doing just previously to feeling ill?"

Linka clucks slightly in disapproval of a sloppy poisoner.

Linka says 'I had been ... discussing House matters with one of my father’s bastards'

Linka says 'There are many I am afraid'

Linka curls her lip in mild contempt.

Chloro tuts at the vulgarity. "Remember where you are child and match your language."

Linka nods in acceptance of the rebuke, willing to accept the rebuke in exchange for so unambiguously establishing her brother's illegitimacy.

Linka says 'My apologies Aes Sedai '

Chloro nods and motions for the girl to continue.

Linka says 'The discussion grew heated. He always was one of father’s favorites and that made him put on inappropriate airs.'

Linka sniffs dismissively.

Linka says 'We exchanged words, I told him that I would...'

Linka says 'I expressed my disapproval for his continuing to try to involve himself in matters above
his station. '

Linka presses her lips into a thin hard smile.

Chloro continues listening, watching for any sign of outburst from the child, her eyes taking in body language, and pulse while listening to the girl’s tone.

Linka says 'He left and somewhat later was found drowned in the river, a drunken accident I expect'

Linka cannot quite contain the satisfaction in her voice.

Chloro purses her lips, the girl knew well it was most likely not, however the antics of nobles had been the same since before she had taken the shawl. "Child, I suggest you get to the point."

Linka says 'There is no point Aes Sedai, only that I told him I would see him drowned in Alguenya before I saw him on the High Seat'

Linka says 'Purest coincidence that the fool turned up drowned I am sure'

Chloro thinks carefully before schooling the child. "We can skip the surprise; however, a novice is to live by the three oaths. The third oath proclaims, "Never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme defense of her life, the life of her Warder, or another Aes Sedai." If I suspect some foul play has come to another past the moment you are inducted, it will have direr consequences.

Linka spreads her hands in a pose of innocence.

Linka says 'I did not have the ba..boy killed Aes Sedai'

Linka says 'Certainly I wouldn't have had him drowned'

Chloro innerly rolls her eyes and makes further note with her quill. "Let us put the topic aside."

Linka says 'It is a poor player that breaks her pieces'

Chloro says 'Annoura summon Maddy please.'
>
Annoura Larisen says 'I will send my scribe to summon her, Chloro.'

Someone knocks on the carveddoor from the other side.

Maddy has arrived from the east.

Maddy curtseys gracefully.

Maddy says 'You called for me Chloro Sedai?'

Maddy smiles happily.

Linka nods in approval of such prompt obedience.

Chloro looks over from her spot at the table and nods. "Ah good, Linka, Accepted Maddy will administer the test while I observe. Maddy, you know what to do."

Chloro gestures at the doors with her hand.

The door silently swings shut and lock with a soft *click*.

Linka stiffens slightly at imagined rebuke.

Linka looks at Maddy.

Chloro stands making her way to the couch before the fire, a large decorative carpet before it. "Oh child, you are not bulking having come so far, are you?"

Maddy pulls out her notebook, flipping to a page in the middle, looking at Linka she says, 'Please bear with me, this is my first time guiding someone alone.'

Maddy beams a smile at Linka.

Linka nods at Maddy.

Chloro motions to the carpet before her for both girls to situate themselves. "When you are ready Accepted."

Maddy extends her arms towards Linka, palms up. ' Please extend yours, you may grip mine for comfort.'

Linka arches an eyebrow at this but complies, extending her hands to rest atop Maddy's. She noticeably does not grip.

Maddy look LInka in the eyes, ' Now do as I guide, and we will see what we have. Slowly take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.'

Chloro watches every action of each girl, her eyes narrowed in like a hawk and her mind on the brink of embracing should anything go wonky.

Maddy slows her breathing to match Linka's.

Maddy nods at Linka.

Linka watches Maddy dispassionately as their breathing synchronizes, the hawk at her wrist ruffling its feathers in unease.

Chloro continues watching eyeing the hawk as well, perhaps it was a needed prop for the child, that would need to be broken.

Maddy looks to the hawk, then to Chloro Sedai before saying,' Now, close your eyes and allow your mind to drift. but keep focusing on your breathing.

Linka's lips compress into a line, but she tries to comply, breathing slowly and evenly, the metal of her many rings cold on Maddy's arms.

Maddy flinches as the Hawks talon brushes her arm but continues to watch Linka.

Chloro observes the new potentials body language and sighs with disdain internally.

Maddy continues to breath with Linka, 'Now float, drift, let your mind empty. Only listen to your breathing.'

Linka seems to relax slightly, growing calmer as her breathing deepens, her eyes lidded.

Maddy watches the girl closely, feeling her pulse slow on her arms, speaking softly, ' In your mind, picture a rosebud, closed, as if out in the morning dew.'

Linka imagines a rosebud in her gardens, carefully tended each day, each folded petal pristine and without fault.

Maddy lowers her voice to a softer level, ' Only the rosebud exists, you are the rose bud closed and comforted. Please continue to listen to your breathing.'

Chloro nods slightly watching both girls and the hawk keeping herself on the brink of embracing.

Maddy still speaking softly, ' Continue breathing, you are doing very good. Now, imagine the rosebud, becoming a rosebud.'

Linka grows calm and still, the slightly artificial expression on her face softening into something more natural.

Maddy glances at Chloro Sedai, before continuing to watch Linka.

Chloro maintains her serene calm, impassive and unmoving, it was time the child learned to do this on her own.

Maddy feels the girls slow even pulse on her arms and continues to breath slowly with her.

Maddy says 'Linka can you tell me how you feel?'

Linka murmurs 'warm...secure...' her tone containing a slight hint of wonder.

Maddy says 'That is good, but perhaps we should try something else. Please continue breathing and now instead of the rosebud, imagine a water wheel, slowly turning, bringing buckets of water, then returning to bring more.'

Maddy says 'In your mind, hear the trickling comfort of the water rushing, slowly moving, feel the cool water as it flows.'

Chloro notes the change in exercise and watches the Accepted and potential novice carefully, it was not unheard of, but very uncommon to make such a change at this stage.

Maddy says 'Allow the water to flow through you as the water wheel does. allow the current to guide the water in you.'
ds!

Linka nods her head, fitting the new picture into her mind. She struggles to picture a water wheel, as it is an object with which she has little familiarity, instead she forms the image of the river Alguenya.

Maddy continues to breath with Linka, ' Now allow the water to flow away from you and let the current retake it.'

Maddy speaking slower and softer, ' Now let the light in.'

You sense Linka connecting to the True Source.

Linka suddenly blazes into furious radiance. She screams and staggers back, her hawk launching itself into the air in startlement.

Linka claws at her throat and gasps for air.

Linka bellows 'IM DROWNING I must!! I must drown!'

Linka doubles over, staggering away from Maddy her light winking out. She falls to her knees on the chamber floor and is violently sick.

Maddy Maddy embraces the True Source waiting to see if the girl controls it herself.

Linka sucks desperately for air.

Chloro rises saidar flowing around her like a river flows and spirit pulling from different areas of the tower as she weaves a shield. "Come up for air child and let the water flow away."

Maddy watches Linka's Hawk, becoming more distressed.

Linka vomits again then flexes her body, knocking over a chair as though swimming frantically. She sits up and gasps eyes wide and white, stricken with terror.

Chloro flicks her hand towards the girl a shield of spirit slamming between the child and saidar. "Be at ease girl, the water is not coming for you now."

Linka sucks in a noisy lungfull of air, she gags slightly but manages to control herself, wrapping her arms around her body.

Maddy moves her arm out for the Hawk to perch on, which he ignores as he watches his Mistress.

Linka's sightless eyes seem to focus on Chloro after a moment, and slowly begin to return to the world of the chamber and not the depths of the river.

Chloro motions for Maddy to get the throw blanket on Annoura's chair before going to the girl kneeling down to touch the girl’s shoulder. "It is alright child, many of us experience a similar sensation when we first try."

Maddy moves to the basin of water at the side of the room, quickly dipping a cloth in to press to Linka's flushed cheeks.

Linka takes deep shuddering breaths, her eyes narrowing in anger.

Linka says 'What did you do to me!'

Linka realises she has vomited on herself and gazes down in abject horror, her face darkening with black fury.

Chloro purses her lips. "I would say, you did to yourself no less than what you may have done to another." She maintains the shield around the girl pulling flows of air should they be needed.

Maddy continues to wipe Linka's face and clean the vomit off her clothing while murmuring,' Its alright, it will be alright.'

Linka slowly restores herself to calm, the effort obvious and immense.

Linka comes shakily to her feet, despising herself for such weakness.

Maddy smiles softly and with encouragement at Linka as she regains her composure.

Chloro watches the girl, weaves of air at the ready as she motions for Maddy to back away a bit. "Do not fight it child, so comes to every woman when she begins to channel. It will fade with time."

Maddy backs slowly until her back is up against the wall, watching the interaction between the Aes Sedai and girl closely.

Linka wipes her lips with the sleeve of her fine riding dress, now ruined beyond repair.

Chloro maintains an eye on the girl while moving to a closet pulling a white dressing gown with sash out. Walking back slowly she hands the gown to the girl "You can wear this until your novice attire is provided."

Linka visibly resists the urge to spit on the floor before nodding her head and forcing her face to regain some of its former composure. 'Thank you, Aes Sedai,' she replies through a slightly raw throat and quickly changes into the fresh garment.

Chloro moves to the sideboard taking up a cup and mint powder, carefully she pulls at weaves of water allowing it to flow through the mint powder and into the cup making a quick mouth wash. She hands it to the girl and points to the basin. "We will see about wine later, for now, compose yourself. The Mistress of Novices is a no-nonsense Aes Sedai."

Chloro says 'Maddy you are excused please return to your studies.'

Maddy curtseys before you.

Maddy beams a smile at Linka.
-
Chloro gestures with her hand.

The door smoothly swings open.

Linka swishes water around in her mouth for a moment before rather daintily spitting it into the basin.

Maddy leaves east. >>

Linka watches the departing accepted with a flat expression.

Linka says, 'Did she do that to me deliberately?'

Chloro nods and beckons the girl to follow. "She did nothing to you but guide you to Saidar. What happened after that was entirely up to you."

Chloro maintains the shield and beckons the girl to follow, "Come child, the Tower awaits you."

Linka sifts Chloro's words looking for verbal tricks but apparently finds none.

***More Elevator Music***

The Mistress of Novices' Study
This is a compact, dark-paneled room full of plain sturdy furnishings that
have been used by generations of women who have held this office. The desk
near the center of the room is plainly made and heavily worn through years
of use. A large mirror with flaking gilt hangs from one of the walls. Used
for switching disobedient initiates, as well as Aes Sedai who do penance, a
bench-like contraption that has a padded leather cushion to kneel on, as
well as a padded leather area to lean on. A selection of switches, ranging
from a slender willow switch to a slipper lie on a table nearby.
[ obvious exits: E ]
Zone: White Tower Upper Floors
Door east: woodendoor
A large desk made of fine, thick wood stands across the room from here.
A young girl in a plain white dress stands here.
Sheriam the Mistress of Novices studies you with a stern expression.
Linka has arrived from the east.

Linka stands straight and proud, wearing the dressing gown like a royal robe.

Chloro releases the shield on the girl giving a nod to her blue sister. "We have a new hopeful sister."

Someone knocks on the woodendoor from the other side.

Linka sighs despite her best efforts to maintain poise, the strange pressure of the shield fading.

Vala has arrived from the east.

Vala curtseys before you.

Chloro nods to Accepted Vala.

Linka looks at Vala.

Chloro says 'Sister this child comes to us from Cairhien.'

Vala looks at Linka.

Chloro says 'Sheriam Sedai, please add Linka to the Book of Novices.'

Linka is scrutinized carefully as Sheriam the Mistress of Novices eyes her up and down.

* HP:Healthy SP:Bursting MV:Full >

Sheriam the Mistress of Novices says 'Hello linka'

**After Induction**

Sheriam the Mistress of Novices nods dismissively.

Chloro nods and motions for the child to change

Linka wears a plain white dress about her body.

Linka frowns at the feel of the simple fabric.

Chloro says 'Linka, you came to us the high seat of a house, you are now Linka, a girl from Cairhien, Fledgling novices your equal, and Accepteds above you. Accepted Vala will take you on a tour of your restrictions now.'

Chloro says 'You may begin Accepted, please bring her to Mistress Laras once complete.'

Linka says 'Aes Sedai'

Linka says 'What...'

Linka glances around.

Vala says 'Yes Chloro Sedai.'

Chloro says 'Yes Novice?'

Linka says 'That is to say, will billets be available for my servants? Should I find them lodgings in the city?'

Vala boggles at the thought.

Chloro looks the novice directly in the eye and sighs, "Child you will have no servants here. Not while you are a Novice or Accepted. This will be more difficult for you than most. However, if your skill in the great game is as good as I think, you will be able to rise to meet the challenges.

Linka's expression doesn't change but face flushes several colors before returning to equilibrium. "I see. Thank you, Aes Sedai." she manages to reply.

Chloro says 'I will see your servants are sent back home with pay for their travels and troubles. Welcome to the White Tower Novice Linka, light illumine you."'

[Tolza]

Chloro: 5 QPs (1 Publisher, 1 Edit, 1 Summary, Participation 2)
Linka: 2 QP (Participation)
Maddy: 1 QP (Participation)

Please say "RECEIVE" at a silver-haired sedai located in every Ajah wing.

It's always a treat when a novice arrives at the Tower with a compelling backstory. This was masterful exchange between Linka and Chloro thank you!