Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon

Before you stands a magnificent palace made of delicately sculpted marble, rather than blocks. Gently arching walls and bulging domes rise high into the sky, seemingly just barely touching the clouds with its delicately crafted spires, topping off the breathtaking sight before you. Looking about, one can see a small garden off to the side, with a small winding path down it's center that leads into a maze of bushes where one might get lost if not too careful.

The grounds look much like a garden as trees, flowers and shrubs start to bloom, bringing spring into view. Colors start to come about and birds start singing once again. There are several benches about the grounds where one might be able to sit and relax. There are several lamps about the courtyard lighting the way for those that would travel through the grounds late at night. Several of the Tower Guards can be seen keeping an eye on the gates and patrolling the grounds

A broad stairway, made of pristine white marble, enters into the White Tower, marked by a massive pair of doors decorated with delicate carvings of intricate workmanship. A tall, white wall cascades around the yard, its entrances and exits marked by high gates leading to the street, watched by the Tower Guard. Somewhere in the courtyard you can see buildings for the barracks and the stables. You can also see an entrance to the practice yard, marked of by a row of high hedges.

Rheana walks down the steps into the Courtyard, after pushing through the main doors of the Tower.

Rheana has arrived.

Rheana's Description:

Eyes of the darkest raven are the most noticable feature on this adolescent girl. Second would be her wild hair of silvery black. The locks are plaited together, but even that effort does little to contain them. Her face is soft and often carries wild expressions. Everything she thinks can often be read on her face. But little else stands out about her. For that matter, her figure is rather plain for one of her age.

She wears the simple white novice gown.

Sionil's Description:

Sionil is a young looking woman, of the appearance to be in her middle twenties. She stands a good five foot four, and has locks of dark brown hair. Some of it is straight but it appears that she has set certain locks of it to curl. The general shape of her face would say she is from Andor, but there are other portions to her, such as her deeply green shaded eyes, that make her appear to be of mixed heritage and not just from Andor. Upon her ears is a pair of short dangling earrings, with a bright red ruby centered upon the gold. One interesting observation about this woman is she shows no sign of sweating or any effect from the outside temperature.

The woman is wearing a dark green dress, matching exactly the shade of her eyes. The dress is silken, crushed velvet, of a moderate cut and style. The square neckline reaches several inches down, banded in blue fringe and running up to cover her shoulders. About her wrists and bottom the dress is hemmed in the same blue fabric. Tied about her waist is a twisted rope colored of the same matching blue.

On a necklace resting overtop the dress is a golden ring that looks exactly like a serpent ring of an Aes Sedai. It would cause it is.

Sionil looks to the entrance of the tower to see if her appointment is late or not

Rheana finishes the last of the Tower's steps. As she jogs down into the courtyard, she has the hem of her dress lifted so it doesn't tangle around her legs. She's not exactly late, well only a little.

Sionil nods slightly "Ahh there you are. Come on, we're going out into the city for this lesson."

Rheana's eyes grow wide as she offers a quick curtsey. "Into the city?"

Sionil nods "We'll be going to the Grove."

Rheana hasn't spent any time in the city of Tar Valon; Unless you count the brief and blurry moments before her arrival at the Tower. She seems more than eager to go.

Sionil turns to head out the Southharbor gate... moving at a pace enough that the novice can keep up at

You pass through the SouthHarbor Gate under the watchful eyes of the Tower Guards.

Ogier Grove: Tar Valon, Tar Valon

Tall trees of every make, higher than you've ever imagined, assault your eyes as you first enter into the Grove. Their sheer size is astounding, as they rise beyond the lowest spired building in the streets and several of the higher towers. Small paths work their way in and out of the trees, allowing one to go explore the wonders of this wide wonder, spanning almost two miles in diameter truly making it a forest inside the city.

Everything seems alight with color as pale pastels, strong reds and blues and other colors of the flowers come to life with the new season, the season of birth and growth, spring. Birds chirp their happy songs and rabbits and other small wood animals that live in the grove pop in and out, unaware of any others. Only one lamp sheds its light into the Grove and that is the on beside the entrance. All seems quiet in the still night, save for the sounds of some of the night birds who keep their home within the Grove.

There is one visible exit seems to be the gates leading to the TreeSingers Avenue. If you venture far enough into the grove you might glimpse a strange structure that seems quite forgotten, covered in vines and other sorts of vegetation.

Rheana walks in from the west, leaving Treesingers Avenue behind as she takes in the splendor of the Grove.

Rheana has arrived.

Sionil entering into the grove, moves along the pathways to a quiet nook and sits upon the ground... The Sedai motions for the novice to sit across from her

Rheana has seen a lot of things in her life. But an Ogier Grove is not among the list. Wide eyed, she takes in all the colors. But blinks it all away and tries to focus on her task ahead as she sits down across from the Aes Sedai.

Sionil smiles "Now. I know you've had an introduction to life at the tower, but I don't know how much you might know about the One Power. Please tell me what you do know. Don't be afraid of what answers you give, I'd rather find out now if you have any misconceptions then for you to live with incorrect knowledge."

Rheana makes a mild face. "Um.." She licks her lips. "I don't really know anything. I know the ability to use it is a gift given only to a few."

Sionil nods "That's true..." A slight pause... then 'Nil reaches over and takes a stick that is lying on the ground. Drawing a circle in the space between the two women she says "Consider this circle the Wheel of Time. At the time of creation, the Creator made the True Source to drive the Wheel of Time." Sionil stops briefly to make sure the novice understands

Rheana nods. That's easy enough to catch on to.

Sionil using the stick 'Nil draws a curved line from one side of the circle to the other... splitting the circle in half like the exact shape of the ancient Aes Sedai symbol. Pointing to one side she says "To drive the Wheel, the True Source is split into two portions. We call them Saidar...' then pointing to the other side she continues ' and Saidin. Saidar is what we Women use, Saidin for men.

Rheana blinks. "So all those stories I was told when I was little about men being able to channel is true? I didn't think they could."

Sionil nods "Yes, the two halves of the power 'push' against each other and give the power for the Wheel to turn. People who can channel are only drawing a very tiny amount of this power to perform the deeds that come with Channeling."

Rheana frowns a little. She'd only heard bad things about men channeling, at least in the stories she heard. And those at the time she just considered stories to scare little kids. But she doesn't voice her concern. It will probably be explained eventually anyway.

Sionil observing the reactions that Rheana gives, "Yes, men can channel. However at the end of the Age of Legends when Lews Therin Telamon, the Dragon, placed the seals upon the Dark One's prison... as a counterstroke he tainted Saidin..." Sionil picks up some pebbles from the ground and scatters them across one half of the circle between the two..."The taint fouls the source... leaving the power there, but for any men who try to use it causing them to reach through that foulness... eventually driving them mad."

Rheana nods. That explains it, at least some of it. "Can no one clean the source?"

Sionil sighs and shakes her head "Its doubtful. If the Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends couldn't... "A slight pause. "So much has been lost since then."

Rheana frowns a little. She'd always consider Aes Sedai these all-powerful types. It was a little warming to know there are things they didn't know and couldn't do. But she certainly didn't say that out loud.

Sionil says, "Fortunately for us and women, Saidar is safe and untainted."

Rheana smiles. "But still only a few can use it?"

Sionil nods "Only a bare handful can learn to touch the True Source. Some have the ability to touch it more then others. Some can touch it without their knowledge; those who do so and survive the touching create blocks unconsciously to protect themselves. The general names for them are Wilders. Others need a teacher to teach them to touch the source. And that's what this lesson will be for today."

Rheana perks up. "So after this lesson I'll be able to touch the True Source?"

Sionil grins "Well, that's if we are successful. Not all girls can accomplish it on the first try. But with practice, you should be able to."

Rheana frowns a little, determined. "I'll be able to do it." She says confidently.

Sionil smiles and in a calming voice says, "We will see. Now, to help you for now, please close your eyes and relax."

As a member of the Entertainment Guild, Rheana's been through meditation before. It was taught to calm the nerves of those about to perform. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath.

Sionil didn't just come to the grove to let the girl see the scenery, but the fact that this section of the grove is very quiet and calming in nature... "Good, now empty your thoughts let all the problems of the day slip from your mind. There is only one thing in your mind to see: A flower bud, only the bud. You can see every detail of it, from the veins in the leaves to the dew dripping down the side of it."

Rheana found it easy to imagine the flower. It was soft and yellow. She continues to breath deeply, trying to keep the image from fading.

Sionil continues on with her monotone voice to keep the girl relaxed "You can smell the aroma of the bud. Feel the flower bud. know it. Be the flower bud. You and the bud are the same. You are one. You are the bud."

Rheana does really well at first. She can feel the bud, and even smell it, but being the bud isn't something she takes to very well. It isn't very logical. She's very different than a flower. Frowning, she works at trying to convince herself she's a flower.

Sionil seeing the frown continues on "Let go of the preconceptions. Use your imagination, think of only the flower bud. Imagine you are the flower bud."

Rheana takes another deep breath. She said she'd do this and she's determined she will. The flower bud changes slightly in her mind's eye. And finally she has control of it.

Sionil moves to the next step "You are the bud... the sun is rising overtop in the sky, it's life-giving light falling upon you. Your leaves gather the light. Your petals open to the light accepting their gift of life. The bud and the light are one."

In Rheana's mind the sun rises and shines down on the bud. She smiles at the warmth of the sun, but she can't manage to open the bud to the light.

Sionil calmingly cheerleads "Don't force anything. The bud will open when it is ready. Feel the light around you and enjoy its warmth."

The light seems natural. Like something that's been there all her life. But at the same time, it's new and a bit scary. Rheana continues to pull in the warmth and slowly the flower starts to open.

Sionil waits "The Light and the bud are one. Be one with the light."

Rheana for goes any thought of the bud. It's easier for her to just concentrate on the light. She pulls it toward her like leading an unwilling horse. Gently tugging and encouraging it does not good. The light remains beyond reach. She thinks on the bud one more time, and realizes where she went wrong. The bud doesn't pull down the light. The light pulls open the bud. Suddenly she opens her eyes and smiles, and then quickly closes her eyes to try again.

Sionil nods "Wait. It's already been an hour up to this point. We don't have time for you to try again."

Rheana frowns and open her eyes. "But I know how to do it now." It is clear she is frustrated.

Sionil smiles "You will have many chances for practice. Especially since this is the first step to using the power."

Rheana makes a defeated face, but eventually smiles. "Very well." She shrugs. "Did you touch it your first try?"

Sionil smirks and considers the question, "It's been so long. Let me try to remember..."

"Really? You don't look like it's been that long." Rheana then firmly claps her hand over her mouth. By now, she'd expect to be used to being around women that look nothing near their age. But more than anything it's just confused her a little.

Sionil grins, "I'm in my thirties. I came to the tower when I was fifteen."

Rheana smiles. "Like me. So you were raised in less than fifteen years?" Rheana is the curious type, and she knows math.

Sionil nods "I was 5 years a Novice, 5 an Accepted."

Rheana smiles meekly. "I can only hope I am raised in such a short time. If I'm raised at all." She smirks a little.

Sionil shrugs "Each girl is different. Don't rush things. There is no time limit."

Rheana laughs. "No, perhaps not, but I don't really want to be cleaning pots all my life either." She's joking... sorta.

Sionil smirks "There are reasons for it. You'll understand eventually

Rheana nods as she brushes some of the grove from her dress. "Oh, I feel there are a great many things I'll understand eventually."

Sionil smiles "Good. Before we head back. Did you have any questions?"

Rheana thinks for a moment. "When can I practice that bud thing? Only during a class?"

Sionil nods "You need an accepted or a Sedai to be there when you do practice. It's for your own safety. The Power is not a toy."

Rheana nods solemnly. "I understand."

Sionil grins and rises up "Excelent. I hope you enjoyed the lesson. You just took a tiny step towards a new way of life."

Rheana stands also and dusts her dress off again. "I could have touched it if I had another chance." She says with a smile. "You'll see, I'll understand it next time."

Sionil laughs, "Child, you did touch it. Only for an instant, but you touched it."

Rheana brightens. "I did? That was it! How wonderful!" She dances around a moment before calming down.

Sionil giggles slightly 'Okay, lets get back."

Rheana smiles. "Okay." Although she really is in no rush, she follows.

You wander west, reluctant to leave the peaceful Ogier Grove.

Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon

Contents: Owen, Chandria

Rheana enters the Courtyard of the White Tower through the Osendrelle Gates, watched by the hawkeyes of the Tower Guard.

Rheana has arrived.

Sionil walks into the tower grounds, novice Rheana in tow

Chandria shakes her head as she listens in tentatively to Owen. Sitting on the bench next to the big Gaidin, Chandria still has to look up a bit. "Ah, so that is why that Accepted's dress had the ... odd hem." Then she smiles at Owen before shaking her head. "No, I do not know what the colors, or Ajahs as you say, mean."

Rheana smiles as follows the Aes Sedai. She even has a light bounce in her step.

Owen lets his eyes settle on several come out of the tower, He gestures to Sionil, "That one there is of the grey Ajah, she at one time was mistress of novices. A hard one for sure be glad she has stepped down now. There are seven ajahs as I said, Blue, grey, white, brown, red, white, green; Each with a purpose. My ward is of the Yellow Ajah. They deal primarily with healing."

Sionil smiles to Rheana and motions to her that she is free to go