Setting: Tower Office Wing: White Tower, Tar Valon

Players:
Raemira - Amyrlin Seat
Micana - Keeper of the Chronicles
Analee - Novice turning Accepted

Micana pads down the carpeted ramp, disappearing around a turn.

[Change of scenery to the Learning Center: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Analee curtsies to Raemira, looking surprised, a book tucked under her arm.

Raemira walks into the Learning Center, her expression holding a studious yet serious note to it. "Novice Analee." Raemira calls, when she notices the young woman.

Analee nods and walks over. "Yes, Mother?"

"You are summoned for your raising, come with me." Raemira leaves no room for protest within her voice as she turns abruptly and makes for the doorway, as if confident the Novice will follow.

Analee blinks after Raemira for a moment before hurrying along after her.

[They continue onward until they reach.....

Testing Chamber: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Analee enters the Testing Chamber from the hallway of the basement.

Raemira walks into the chamber, holding the door open for Analee. Silently she motions the girl in further.

Analee enters the room nervously, still clutching her book. She moves toward Raemira.

Micana stands in the chamber near a table to the side. She has a somber expression on her face as she looks at the novice and nods slightly to Raemira.

Raemira closes the door behind her and walks in further. She seems to cast a sympathetic expression in Analee's direction before going to her place by the podium, which houses three chalices holding some sort of liquid. She seems to wait, standing ready. In the background there are several Aes sedai, sitting by the three arches, ready to power them one by one when needed.

Micana steps forward to face the novice looking into her eyes. She studies her a moment then speaks, her voice slow and measured, "You are to be tested for Raising to Accepted. Before you undergo the test, you must search yourself and decide whether or not you are truly ready." Her expression is quite serious, "You may refuse now, and twice again, without shame. The third refusal, and you will be put out of the Tower for good. Do you understand?"

Analee bites her lip, holding the book to her chest. She looks down at her feet, then up at Micana. "I understand," she says softly, her words clear. "I am ready." She swallows hard.

Micana nods just once, "Then remove your clothing, Novice Analee, that you may enter the testing unfettered.

Tamarind enters the Testing Chamber from the hallway of the basement.

Raemira seems to watch quietly, her eyes taking in the young novice to be raised, Analee. They flicker a moment over to Tamarind, then turn back toward the Novice, possible soon-to-be Accepted, still holding that strange sympathetic light.

Micana nods slightly to Tamarind. She stands facing Analee as she removes her clothing, preparation for the ritual still in the initial stages.

Analee blinks at Micana for a moment. "Remove my..." There is a moment of remembrance. Micana made her undress that first day. She hands Micana the little book, then begins to take off her dress.

Tamarind's emerald eyes display no sympathy, and she looks to Raemira as she enters with a briefly twisting little smile that is quickly smoothed away into Aes Sedai placidity and a nod for Micana as she glides herself to the side, to observe Analee in silence.

Micana says "everything, Analee. Just leave them beside you."

Analee nods as she removes everything, standing naked, her clothes on the floor. She looks at Micana with a rather frightened, excited expression.

Raemira seems to watch quietly, her expression growing more stoic by the moment, however there is a small note of tension within the room as well, though it's exact origin is hard to estimate.

Micana 's expression is empty of emotion. She says "Now I will tell you two things that no woman hears before she stands in this chamber." "Once you begin you must continue through to the end. Refuse at any point and you will be put out of the Tower just as if you had refused to begin for the third time."

Analee swallows hard and nods.

Micana says "The second is that to seek, to strive, is to know danger. You must know that some women have entered and never come out." The word 'never' is unmistakably emphasized by a tone in Micana's voice.. "When the ter'angreal finally was allowed to grow quiet, they -were not- there. And they were never seen again." "If you will survive, you must remember to be steadfast. Falter, fail, and..." She trails off in a meaningful way." She watches the novice without hint of expression on her face while awaiting her response."

Analee exhales resolutely and nods.

Other than the folding of her slim and impeccibly manicured hands, Tamarind remains absolutely silent.. her sheer presence marking the fact that she is there. Green eyes are intent on Analee, gauging perhaps, perhaps not.

Raemira seems to continue to wait, glancing between Micana and Analee, then toward Tamarind. She is oddly quiet, or perhaps not so, with such a somber occassion, for some.

Micana turns to Raemira after looking hte girl in the face one last time. She nods briefly to indicate the appropriate warnings and proceedure has been initiated.

Analee looks around expectantly, nervous, ready for instruction...

Raemira seems to nod at Micana's indication, then seems to rise a bit taller, or perhaps it's just a trick of the shadows within the room. A voice calls out, intoning in a monotone expression, "Whom do you bring with you, Daughter?" It seems to stem from the Amyrlin herself.

Analee turns her full attention to Raemira, concentrating on not being afraid. Micana answers, in a toneless voice which carries clearly throughout the chamber, "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance."

Tamarind does little now, save watch.. all but ignoring Raemira after that initial glance.. and there is trace of little, nothing, upon the smoothed perfection of her face. She offers no judgement, she offers no support.. she is merely there, observing for her own purposes.

Raemira seems to nod her head silently, eyes watching Analee now as she continues to intone "Is she ready?" Her attention seems solely on the Novice now.

Micana replies in a steady cadance as she stands where she can face Raemria, Analee, and the arches, "She is ready to leave behind what she was, and passing through her fears, gain Acceptance."

Analee is concentrating almost entirely on Raemira, fighting the nervousness, the fear.

"Does she know her fears?" Raemira intones, eyes going to Micana briefly for a few moments before going back to Analee.

Micana says "she has never faced them but is now willing."

"Then let her face what she fears." Raemira's intoned voice speaks decisively, giving a small nod of her head as she does so.

Tamarind's casually elegant stance was merely one of waiting, and at some unseen signal from Raemira, or the very air within the chamber, the tall and graceful Aes Sedai crosses the smoothed floor to sit, crosslegged beside the ter'angreal that gleams cold silver in the light. Golden skirts puddle themselves about her as she fixes emerald green eyes on the precise point where ring and arch meet and focuses them there..

Micana leads the novice toward the first arch. "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." She squeezes her arm once and then steps back.

Analee enters the Arch One.

As you step through the arch you get an odd feeling, then the memory of the Tower and those behind you winks away. Your head clears after a moment, and you find yourself at home. You are in the common room, serving meals as normal, an every day strife for you. This particular day, however, holds a bit of foreboding. It's the day that the death of Aelia, the former Amyrlin, was announced. It is also this particular day when an outbreak of rioting has occured. After a few moments of peaceful bliss a loud noise can be heard outside, then a blazing fire erupts next to one of the windows, showing that the Inn is on fire.

[Channeling] Tamarind reaches out with a graceful and flowing ease to submit herself to the power and warmth of saidar.. and without constructing any complicated twisting of weaves, she directs pure and wholesome power toward one particular point.

Analee looks up at the fire and yells, "Fire! Somebody get water! Ashton! Agnor! Fire!" She sets down her tray and runs to get wet tablecloths.

People within the inn see the fire and start to run toward the door, panicked. A few do decide to help out, using cloaks and anything they can find to help put out the flames. One of your brothers comes out with a bucket of water, but by that time the flames have already spread, helped by the air from the wavering cloaks and the flames that have already attached to them. You hear who you think is Ashton yell, 'Someone go get the flamin' fire brigade!" One of the servers yells that they will and quickly rushes out of the room. Smoke starts to engulf the area.

Analee pulls a tablecloth off a table, dipping it in the tub of water near the kitchen door, running to beat at flames. "Everybody get out! Out!" She is coughing in the flames. Looking around panicking, she spots the stairs. "Upstairs!" Wrapping the wet cloth around her nose and mouth, she runs toward the stairs yelling, "Fire! Fire! The inn's on fire!" She bangs on the closer doors, yelling to wake the guests.

Steadfast
  Steadfast
    Steadfast
      Steadfast
Once
  The way back
    comes but once.

Thoughts not of your own making tiptoe through your mind.

The flames begin to spread more rapidly. Some people shower down the stairs, running for the door in chaos. You notice from the corner of your eye that Agnor seems to be trapped in a circle of flames, unable to get by them as they roar higher and higher about you. Smoke continues to engulf the room making it harder to breathe. "Analee, over here. Help!" You hear Agnor's voice calling toward you, pleading over the bright yellow flames licking closer and closer to him.

Analee repeats in a whisper, "The way back comes but once..." She shudders. "The inn's on fire! Everybody out! Fire!" She yells, coughing against her tablecloth. "Agnor!" She makes her way toward his voice, fighting the chaos, the heat and the smoke. "Agnor, get out of here!"

Higher and higher to the flames lick, hungrily eatting at the wood as a pride of lion's would it's fresh catch. Tinier and tinier does the space around Agnor become, but the way is blocked, entirely, by thick flames. "Go." He yells. "Save yourself Analee!..." He changes his tune, eyes holding a deep pain that is hard to forget, "Get mother and father out of here." As he calls to her, more patrons leave the building, and some of the supports start to fall. The smoke is so thick now that it's becoming harder and harder to breathe.

A silvery arch flickers in the periphery of vision, light glinting on the rising arc.

        Be steadfast
        he way back comes but once.

Analee screams, "Agnor!" looking for a way to save him. She notices the arch. "The way back will come but once," she repeats to herself. "Agnor!" She turns and leaps through the arch.

Cold water splashes over Analee as soon as she comes from the arches, "You are washed clean of what sin you may have done." Raemira intones, her voice seemingly rather devoid of emotion, though her eyes holding sympathy, "And of those done against you. You are washed clan of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."

Several others about the room seem to let out an audible breath as the young girl exits the arches.

Analee shivers. "I left him. I couldn't save him. It was burning... Agnor was trapped, and there was nothing I could do..." She looks at Raemira. "Was it real?"

Tamarind lets out no breath, no makes no sign that she knows Analee has returned to the chamber, keeping her attention on the ter'angreal in full, for this testing is far from done. She sits in silence.. a statue of fire and alabaster pale.

Analee leaves the Arch One.

Micana steps forward to guide the girl to the second arch. She places her hands on the novice's shoulders, fingers squeezing lightly though her face is ritualistically lacking in any sort of compassion. She steers her firmly toward the second arch. "The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Analee enters the Arch Two.

As you pass through the second arch, it's almost as if the Tower never existed. You find ourself just inside the gates to the Grove, standing before the Waygate. You arent quite certain what it is, though the vine pattern does hold your attention for a moment or two. The Avendesora leave is missing from this side, showing it's locked to those within the Grove. After a few moments, you are there because of a foretelling that Trelaine's spewed off at the last moment, or it has to be a foretelling right? A group of people here are coming to meet you with some information on what's going on in Tear.

A shadowed figure enters the grove, their very presense seeming looming and forboding. "So... witch." It speaks, "You want to help our cause, aye?" Cause, what cause could that be? You are uncertain, though playing along may get the answers you need.

Analee smiles at the shadowed figure. "Naturally." She studies the figure, looking for clues, and glances around at the scenery...

The figure appears to be clothed head to tow in black, blending in nicely within the evening darkness. He folds his hands before him, though there is a delicate grace to his words, "Good... good." He grins slyly, "We do always welcome more to our... folds." He speaks in a snake-like voice, danger emitting from him freely. "His Lordship will want to see you soon then. He takes any channelers that will come to him freely." Does he mean the Great Lord? Surely not. "The war in between Tear and Illian is one of childish strife over a horn that will not bring back the dead." He smirks, "And I'm certain his Lordship will welcome any help he can receive, especially as we just begin. Food and supplies, I expect, will be part of the bargain?" That comment alone should dispell any fears of the first.

Analee nods, studying the figure, still trying to decide his purpose and his origin, but playing as if she knows what is going on. "Most certainly," she says surely.

"Agreed then." The man speaks, his smile growing no less just yet, "The Dragon Lord will be pleased to her this then. There's few he can trust, these days." Wait a minute, did he just say Dragon? It sure sounded like it. "Though honestly so, not many would go to his cause as freely as yourself." A rustle in the bushes catches his attention, loud enough to actually catch more than attention. A pfftpt can be heard through the air and the man is suddenly struck in the shoulder, "Blood and bloody ashes. He exclaims, as he goes down to the ground quickly.

The way back
The way back
        Once
        Once
        once
  The way back comes but once.
          Steadfast
        Steadfast
    Steadfast
  Be Steadfast


Words echo in memory, bare whispers in the mind.

Analee whispers, "The way back will come but once..." She looks around quickly, then drops to the ground quickly. "You okay?" she hisses at the shadowed man, eyes darting from him to the bushes quickly.

Psssp! Psssp. Pfssp! More arrows volley into the grove, each getting closer and closer to the man again, the danger rising within the air, "I'm fine, witch. GO! Go back to your tower before they get you too!" Who they are isnt quite certain, though it's obvious any oppressors of another rising dragon would want anyone involved quite.... exterminated.

Analee looks around for an escape route, dragging the man closer to out of the way. She looks to dart through the bushes away from the arrows.

Along the towering trees in the grove rises a shimmering silvery structure which certainly is foreign to this place yet seems somehow to 'belong' Silver glints along the curving surface which beacons by its very presence.

        he way back comes but once.
        Be steadfast.

Analee gives the man one more tug, glancing around, before abandoning him to leap through the arch.

Pfssp! More arrows, which disappear as soon as the arch is behind you.

Cold water finds it's way over Analee's head as she exits the arch. "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul." Raemira's voice intones, her words hushed yet audible.

Once again several of the Aes Sedai about let out a breath of air. Two down, a third left to go. Surely it cannot be that bad.

Analee shivers. "The Dragon Reborn, and a man in black... i left him..." She wipes water against her skin, rubbing her arms nervously.

Raemira seems to raise a brow at Analee's words this time, casting a glance to Micana and Tamarind, then back to Analee. She seems to wait for the Keeper to continue.

One again Tamarind shows no expression, nor betrays the fact that she even knows Analee has moved one step closer to the goal of Accepted. Her eyes and prodigious intellect are focused upon the spot where silver and silver meet.. arch to ring.

Analee leaves the Arch Two.

Micana 's gaze rests on the novice, her expression completely devoid of emotion. She .moves to stand in front of the third arch, waiting without any show of impatience. After a moment she takes hold of the novice's arm when the girl nears her, and directs her to the third arch. "The third time is for what will be. The way out will come but once. Be steadfast

Analee enters the Arch Three.

You step through the third and final arch, taking a step forward, this time for what will be. You are in a Tarabon with your Gaidin. Yes, Gaidin. You look at him, a smile appearing upon your lips as you ride along on your gray mare. Everything is right, for now, with none other than Kale riding next to you. The sun rises above you, then you ride into a small village... seemingly dreary and pale in comparison to the lush forest behind you. It seems empty, or slightly so, as you pass through it. A sense of forboding comes over you, and a feeling that you are being watched. Insticntively, Kale holds grabs at his sword, "Watch yourself Analee." He whispers quietly, "Danger lurks." Just as he says that, several brigands come running from the seemingly vacant buildings and arrows fly all about. It seems you are not alone.

Analee instinctively embraces to weave a dome of Air to protect herself and her Gaidin, her Kale. She is careful to protect the horses as well.

The brigands which were few, turn into many, completely surrounding the horses and yourself. Kale tries his best to get at those who get into the shielding before the domed sheild seals itself off. Still the numbers inside arent all that slim, all in all about six managed to get to you. Three are trying to attack the horse that Kale is on, the close quarters making it hard to do, while the other three try to attack Analee's horse, making it impossible to concentrate on both animals at the same time.

Analee creates a club of Air which she brings down on the head of one of the brigands closer to attacking her. She is strong in Air, but she is fighting and unaware of any weariness. She watches Kale from the corner of her eye, sure that he can handle himself. She watches as the first crumples from the blow to the head and looks to hit another.

As Analee attacks the brigands, the horse next to her squeals as one of the others manages to hit at it's legs. A loud crash can be heard as the animal goes down. A quick look to the corner of your eyes shows that Kale somehow managed to get off, though the pain you feel in your right shoulder lets you know that it was not without injury as one of the swords seems to land a hit. The other brigands upon your animal appear to try to hit at it's legs, unphased that the one next to them has been conked out.

Back
        Back
             Back
The way back
    Comes but
  once
  once
  once.
        Be Steadfast.

Fragments of memories not Analee's own tickle and play in the back of her mind.

Analee gasps at Kale's pain, but she uses her Air club to knock out a second. For a split second, she glances at Kale, fighting gallantly. As the second goes down, she turns her head to see if she can assist Kale in any way.

The third attacker still tries his best to get to Analee, determined to fell her horse as the others have Kale's. Kale on the other hand is faring well enough, it seems. However another hit, this time to the leg can be felt, not your own, but your Gaidin's. "Run Analee, save yourself!" he calls out, his voice pleading.

Analee feels the pain and strikes angrily at her third attacker. "Kale!" she cries, her voice begging him not to ask such a thing of her.

Slowly something starts to flicker a few paces away. Silver glints in and out of vision as if there and yet not there before it solidifies into a silver arch. An almost impreceptable humm fills the mind and words echo in memory.

The way back
        Comes but once.
Be steadfast.

Through the bond you can feel every nick and cut that your Gaidin receives, all the while you hear him pleading, "Please, go! Now. Before it's too late. Use the power to save yourself." He cries out, sword hacking back and forth, going rapidly through various forms as he tries to break his Sedai free. Love also emits from the bond, and a sense of duty.....

Analee reins her horse closer to the arch, but temped back as well. She can feel him, her old friend, and is torn between saving him and doing as he asks. She knows him, knows he's losing, but perhaps she could save him, that club thing was working... She pulls her horse a step closer to the fray... "But once," she whispers to herself, "But perhaps a moment's delay..." Taking a deep breath, she gives Kale one last longing glance and throws herself from her horse, leaping into the arch.

For the third and final time is a chalice of water dumped over Analee's head. Raemira intones impassively, as if nothing had ever occured, "You are washes clean of Analee Caalban from Tar Valon. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul." A faint pause as Raemira gazes at Analee, them murmurs the final words, "You are Analee Caalban, Accepted of the White Tower."

"You are sealed to us now." Raemira speaks, her words sealing the testing within the chamber. She leans forward and kisses Analee on the cheek,. "Welcome, Daughter."

Micana watches as Analee exits, permitting a hint of sympathy to soften her expression as Analee steps out the final arch. Her fingers, held flat against her skirt assume a natural relaxed curve and she reaches out to hand a towel to Analee.

Tamarind finally moves.. the glow of saidar winking out about her for those embracing enough to see it. Slow, a will'o'the'wisp power fading into the ether as the elegant Sedai turns her face.. and her gaze to Analee.. still utterly expressionless, the rings and arches of silver forgotten for a time.

Analee looks exhausted, distraught. Tears roll down her cheeks as she looks at Raemira. "I... left... him. Is it over?" She takes the towel from Micana and clutches it tightly, almost unable to believe she survived.

Raemira takes the new dress from the top of the podium and pulls a serpent ring from her pocket, "Hold out your left hand child." Raemira speaks, murmuring quietly, "And it is custom not to speak of that which happened within the Arches. Your fears are your own." Her voice is gentle somehow.

Analee nods, doing as requested, extending her left hand to Raemira. She still holds the towel, looking shocked but starting to calm.

The only sound that marks the moment Tamarind unfolds her slender self up from the floor to stand, eyes upon Analee and distinctly not Raemira, is the slithery soft whispering of silken skirts as the Sedai assumes her customary elegance and gathered poise, standing tall and proud.

Raemira presses the ring onto Analee's ring finger, murmuring, "You may only wear this ring on this finger, until you are raised to Aes Sedai. Doing so would mean you are trying to claim to be what you are not, which is strongly recommended you do not try." There's a steely edge to her voice for a moment at that. "You will be absolved from chores and classes for the next two days, and afterwards, for the next two weeks you are to see Atalanta Sedai about your new schedule, which will be the hardest you've seen here ever."

Micana keeps her primary focus on the pair before her, remaining quiet as Raemira gives the new Accepted her instructions. Quietly puddles of water seem to disappear and a driping sound is heard in a bucket to the side.

Analee nods to Raemira, flexing her left hand, bringing the ring up where she can see it. She smiles, her ring glinting and her eyes sparking. "Yes, Mother," sha says quietly, her face slowly resuming its soft happy quality.

Raemira seems to nod her head slightly, murmuring quietly, "Then you are dismissed for now Accepted."

Analee nods and curtsies. "Thank you, Mother."

Micana says "Welcome, Accepted Analee." Micana offers her a kiss on the cheek then steps aside for others to greet the new Accepted."

Analee smiles weakly at Micana. "Thank you, Micana Sedai." She looks as though her legs might fall out from beneath her.

Tamarind steps forward then, as chill and distant seeming as a statue.. yet, she, too, follows customary suit and lets her honey rich tones flood the chamber. "Welcome, Accepted." Her kiss is less warm than Micana's upon Analee's cheeks, but then that is she, and she glides back and out of the way that the others might have their moment of greeting and acknowledgement as well.

Other Sedai greet the retreating Accepted, and then start to file out of the room.