Wheel of Time RPG

[TK]

Kiddo said:

GYEH!!! Keep the rating under R people! *cough*crystal*cough*

((Thank you! ;_; She's a forward one, and such a bad influence on poor little TK. Poor, poor, impressionable TK.

*ahem* Anyway...

Okay, Ariena since we've been wanting to get the RP out of Farendal for some time, here we are. Fastforward to morning of the following day. The armies of Tanreall are marching at the brink of dawn, with the king himself bringing up the lead. Ariena, being advisor, gets to ride up with him. Braendar and Leun, being meagre soldiers, get to walk along with the pack.

Oh, and Pertrova, Gendowin and Sherique are long-since gone. They departed for Tar Valon the previous day, Gendowin having "fuzzed" the bond just like Ariena did - just like Elyas Machera's Aes Sedai did, for that matter. They're heading for the White Tower whilst we're on our way to the Shadow Coast, so our paths won't cross.

If anyone wants to continue, that's fine with me. I had just started righting this up when I received "summons" to go to my Orthodontist appointment ; Bah.))

[irishdragonlord]

((I'll continue And I already told you you can RP Hawkwing

*ignores Crystal's post* XD))

Braendar sat in the saddle. This was bad.

Now he finally understood what was going on between Leun and Ariena; Leun was Ariena's Warder! Was the mad mad?! ((This is the first time Braendar figured this...right? ^-^;;)

He looked around. Leun was back there; how had he gotten into the army anyway? Ariena must be with the king. Of course, when Paendrag informed him he had taken her on as an advisor, he hadn't actually thought...

Better that than the other Aes Sedai; he hoped. Them going back to the Tower may have been as bad as them having not.

He then rethought that - it was definitely better. He had expected Rockfur to bite his head off in the Wolf-Dream when he said he was leaving the Black Cat. The wolf had just chuckled; now he knew why.

Braendar tried to avert his thoughts from the False Dragon; he "would" avoid the fighting, but with a man who could channel - strongly, anyway - who knew what could happen?

The thought aversion turned out to be no better; he had simply accepted the poor grammared wolf that kept popping up in his dreams, never wondering why. He shook his head. No time for philosophy. ((remind anyone of Perrin and Hopper? ))

***

Guaire Amalasan sat staring at the sea. The Shadow Coast was misnamed; the sunsets were quite radiant. And from Khodomar's capital city of Sharien, it was all the more beautiful.

He turned away, thinking. Still he must play the Aes Sedai's puppet; but as soon as he took Moreina he would have enough land to challenge them and their White Tower. He chuckled. He was the Dragon Reborn, after all. He only laughed harder.

[TK]

((I think what we were banking on here was the fact that an advisor wouldn't ride along within the army - Hawkwing would be leading the affair, so she'd be riding slightly behind if not abreast with the king. I think Crystal made her character a bit tinkled at Leun, so she fuzzed the bond and went in secret.

She probably could have explained that a bit better in her post, though. *gives her a swift kick* ^^;; I didn't do anything.))

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

((I think what we were banking on here was the fact that an advisor wouldn't ride along within the army - Hawkwing would be leading the affair, so she'd be riding slightly behind if not abreast with the king. I think Crystal made her character a bit tinkleed at Leun, so she fuzzed the bond and went in secret.

She probably could have explained that a bit better in her post, though. *gives her a swift kick* ^^;; I didn't do anything.))

((...my bad ^-^;;; But where's Leun?

*fixes post*))

[TK]

She had left so soon - in an instant, really. The Warder bond had not dimmed but vanished entirely. He was not sure whether or not this was the way of things; he had always had the impression that the bond would fade through distance, though he would still be aware of her, however slightly. Had something happened to her? No, that Leun would know. How she and Yuilon had made it to the Waygate with such speed was surprising, but there was no debating against fact: Ariena was gone. She was gone as surely as Gendowin was, the Aes Sedai he had not even felt since she had bonded him. Both women were absent from his head.

I'm so lonely, Leun thought, heaving a hefty sigh.

It struck him with at least some irony; hundreds of men surrounding him, walking before and behind him, not to mention on either side. The army was at march, and just barely could he see al'Taren striding ahead. Surely the men beside him were to be his trainers. Now that their paths had taken them here, he would have no use for Leun's company. He had the king, after all. What more did he need?

Word was that Tanreall had picked up a woman from the Green Ajah as an advisor, a fact that started Leun, for Gendowin had come sharply to his mind. Still, he did not feel the bond, which must signify that either the woman was far off or dead, the Light burn her soul. It could not be her.

"How long until we reach the Shadow Coast?" Leun wondered aloud, and the lanky fellow next to him laughed. It had taken surprising ease to get into Tanreall's army, and it was not surprising, the conditions considered.

"It's quite a ways away," the fellow said in an accent Leun could not quite place. "Best not ask that for some time lest you fancy a floggin'."

Light, he thought wearily, clenching his fist.

[irishdragonlord]

Artur Paendrag Tanreall rode in front of his "army". It was less than half his total forces - not to say his total forces were very large - but taking out a False Dragon may earn some prestige for his small kingdom.

He looked down at his "advisor". He had been unable to find her "partner" after he hired her. In fact, she refused to speak of him at all.

Artur looked ahead. Truth, a man who could take the west coast of the land probably warranted a good amount of forces; but assuming Khodomar was still intact (something he hoped dearly) this "Dragon" had only gotten three countries under his wing; only. Artur chuckles. Darmovan was very large, however, taking up most of the coastline, and even though it wasn't over-populated this man must have warranted a good deal of might to take it over. So long as he did not prove too powerful, Artur would crush him now. ((If no one minds, I like Artur to get a rude awakening before sending all his forces ))

***

Braendar sat in the saddle, listening to the guard "assigned" to him. Light, but he wanted to talk to Leun; no chance of falling back now. Not to say he would have gone unnoticed falling so far back in line. He heaved a sigh; he'd have to wait until his training began in the soldier's camps, where Leun should be easy to find.

"So you see, lad," said Paerin, his "instructor." He was clearly not a Shandallin by birth; he said he had actually been born in Farashelle. This was clear from his dark hair and dark eyes, classic of those who lived so close to the Mountains of Mist. In truth, considering his Manetheren ancestry, Braendar looked quite like him on the surface, excepting the eyes and bushy hair. Same color hair, at least. "That sort of fighting you say you do - twin-sworded and with an axe, you said? - isn't standard, at least the twin-sword bit. However, we'll do our best to teach ya."

Braendar sighed. This would be a long, long ride."

[Crystal]

It was, all things considered, quite boring. Still, Ariena was glad that it was her horse who was doing the walking, not her. She twisted the Golden Serpent ring on her left hand, the fourth finger.

Tanreall's wife, Amaline, had gleefully taken part in the subterfuge, outfitting her with riding dresses and clothes. Ariena only carried a few of them with her, but if nothing else she could look like Aes Sedai. It was too bad she hadn't reached the age yet where she would attain that ageless look. She layered calm serenity on to mask it. Yuilon had departed earlier, with a shrug, a smile, and assorted mutters about the hastiness of humans.

Her horse snorted a little, stumbling over the rough roads. She patted the white mare's neck. Iena had pale grey-blue splotches on her hindquarters and a fiery nature that belied her gentle-seeming looks. The name itself had come from a kitten, a pet Ariena could remember having when she was young.

She rode slightly behind Tanreall, sitting straight on her mare with the hood of her thin, green-silk cloak thrown back. Absently, she touched the muted bond. Leun was somewhere at the back, where the newer recruits were. More than a little sarcarstically, she wished him plenty of enjoyment. Bloody man.

Tanreall wasn't talking. Occasionally, he glanced down at her, but she never let him see that she knew he was looking. People occasionally came out of farms and villages to gawk, but nothing ever happened. Still, she was sure, she'd prefer the boredom now than the death that would come later.

TK said:

((Thank you! ;_; She's a forward one, and such a bad influence on poor little TK. Poor, poor, impressionable TK.

...... suuuuureeeeee.

TK said:

She probably could have explained that a bit better in her post, though.

[/i] *gives her a swift kick* ^^;; I didn't do anything.))[/quote]

Ow. *kicks TK back* What is with the pokes against me? -___-

[TK]

The week had passed in surprising monotony, Leun realized. He was not sure why, but he had always had the impression that a group of soldiers would be moving much faster than a man alone. This, quite honestly, was laughable.

A crow's hacking call pieced the mid-morning lull. They had just finished packing their encampment beneath the pasty sky, and it seemed that no man had received a proper night's sleep for the umpteenth time. Snow was strewn across the ground, now, in sparse tufts that would soon be a waist-deep wall. Leun shivered, his skin pebbling with goose bumps. He wished that he had his bolero. Light, how he wished it.

And then, quite suddenly, there was sound. Terse mutters in voices... no, they were not of any of the men. They were far more bestial than that. Drawing on saidin to heighten his senses, he peered. They were staring from a small patch of forest near where the king was. His advisor and his personal guards would be there, too.

What is it? he wondered, and right then, they attacked.

[Crystal]

A huge bird flapped around the encampment, staring at them with huge black eyes.

A crow? There was nothing for it to eat here.

Ariena spun from where she had been packing her belongings onto Iena, searching the woods close to them and drawing on saidar to enhance her hearing.

There were growls, bestial mutters.

One of the guards was approaching the scrubby forest.

"Get away from there!" she screamed at him in sudden terror.

The fool blinked at her.

"Get awa--" her words were cut off as a huge... thing... burst out of the bushes. At first glance it looked a little like an Ogier - at second, no one could mistake it for anything even remotely close to one.

The guard was ripped to pieces as more of them burst out.

Shadowspawn.

Ariena hurled herself into Iena's saddle. There was another figure at the forest, a figure cloaked in black robes that did not seem to move. Just the sight gave her a chill.

Weaves of Fire burst from her palm and engulfed two Trollocs. Still they came with a horrible single-mindedness.

Ariena backed Iena towards the encampment where men were struggling to defend themselves. Saidar was hers to command as she beat another Trolloc off with Fire and Air.

What in the Light were Shadowspawn doing here?



((TK... I wrote what you asked, but wouldn't Amalasan's army been better?


At any rate, I'll be away until Saturday. I might post one more time though.))

[irishdragonlord]

Crystal said:

A huge bird flapped around the encampment, staring at them with huge black eyes.

A crow? There was nothing for it to eat here.

Ariena spun from where she had been packing her belongings onto Iena, searching the woods close to them and drawing on saidar to enhance her hearing.

There were growls, bestial mutters.

One of the guards was approaching the scrubby forest.

"Get away from there!" she screamed at him in sudden terror.

The fool blinked at her.

"Get awa--" her words were cut off as a huge... thing... burst out of the bushes. At first glance it looked a little like an Ogier - at second, no one could mistake it for anything even remotely close to one.

The guard was ripped to pieces as more of them burst out.

Shadowspawn.

Ariena hurled herself into Iena's saddle. There was another figure at the forest, a figure cloaked in black robes that did not seem to move. Just the sight gave her a chill.

Weaves of Fire burst from her palm and engulfed two Trollocs. Still they came with a horrible single-mindedness.

Ariena backed Iena towards the encampment where men were struggling to defend themselves. Saidar was hers to command as she beat another Trolloc off with Fire and Air.

What in the Light were Shadowspawn doing here?



((TK... I wrote what you asked, but wouldn't Amalasan's army been better?


At any rate, I'll be away until Saturday. I might post one more time though.))

((I agree Amalasan would be better, but I just got a creative streak ;D ))

Ishamael tested the Bore again. Yes; there it was. That small nothingness in the nothingness of of the seal; that perpetual cycle. A few hundred years more before he could reach out again; he, Ba'alzamon, would touch the world!

As it was he could achieve naught now; except, perhaps... the Blight?

As a Chosen, he certainly had the power to do so. And he would; any innocent life dead was worth it in his wait - yes, Ba'alzamon would touch the world!

Ba'alzamon reached forth. Curse the Dragon for doing this to him; curse Lews Therin forever! The Great Lord of the Dark would see to his demise, however. Ishamael would rule.

The Blight stirred, as from Shayol Guhl dark power spread forth; invisible and malignant, the Trollocs began to grow restless, waiting for instructions.

((Everyone confused? Good.

According to my aforementioned book, it mentions something about how Ishamael was at fault for the War of the Hundred Years, the Trolloc Wars, etc. etc, due to some cycle of the Bore getting stronger and regenerating or something. At any rate, I wanted to RP one of the Forsaken, so there's my excuse And a "histrorically accurate" reason for us to kill lotsa Trollocs XP

And the bit about Ba'alzamon... Ishamael thinks he's Ba'alzamon and is insane, remember? ))

***

Braendar would have wept from boredom. In his training he had never had a spare moment to go forth and find Leun; in the mass of soldiers Braendar would have been lost anyway, and the Light only knew how to untangle so many smells milling about at once.

Some bird flew overhead; a crow? No matter; if only...

His hips began to vibrate. What? No; his scabbards. Why did that seem...

He ripped out his swords, now glowing faintly on the Aes Sedai symbols. As soon as he did...

"Get awa-"

A guard died before his eyes as a Trolloc ripped him to pieces. Braendar suddenly wanted to be bored.

[irishdragonlord]

((Are you guys having some sort of plotting behind my back here? No matter - just curious ))

[TK]

IDL said:

((Are you guys having some sort of plotting behind my back here? No matter - just curious ))

((Nah - we just talk a lot on AIM

How would Amalsan be able to get from Darmovan to Shandalle so quickly, anyway? I mean, it's been a week, right? Even if we're already in a country neighbouring Shandalle heading south and west whilst he's heading north and east, there's no way we could meet up for at least a while yet. You RP'd him to be right along the Shadow Coast, and there'd be a whole mountain region for him to cross. That's like trying to get from eastern Andor to southern Amadicia in a week. Impossible.

And thanks for that "historical justification" there, IDL XD The Trollocs were just to break the monotony.))

Without so much as a word from the king, or at least a word that Leun heard, the soldiers sped forth, swords and pikes and the like raised in a combative stance.

He could just see them coming out of the line of trees - a torrent of them, really, the bestial monters of gleemen's tales. They snarled, their mottled skin, all twisted between bird and beast and human, alight in a sheen under the mid-morning sun. The pictures only began to describe...

From the heat of it all, Leun could just barely see the creature step out. Clad in dark robes, there were many words that could be put to this creature. The first one was Fade.

Seizing saidin and it's tainted glory, the mirth that twisted along with the madness of the taint, Lews Therin Telamon's taint, Leun sped forth. Giving no heed to hiding his channelling ability, Leun weaved hasty flows of Fire at the Myrdraal's cloak. He tapped into Earth Singing, tapped into the ground. Instead of a powerful explosion, the ground merely seemed to give a weak burst, the Trolloc above it barely so much as stumbling. Now more than ever he longed for the gemstone ter'angreal.

Looking over the to Myrdraal, he was surprised that the beast's cloak was still not so much as seared.

Light! He was too weak for this! He longed for Ariena; he longed for a partner for linking...

[Crystal]

TK said:

((Nah - we just talk a lot on AIM

((Most people would say too much. At any rate, this is my last post before I leave, unless it's right now. Sorry guys.))


Leun was pushing his way toward the Mydraal. The fool! He's going to get himself killed!

She snarled and drew more deeply on saidar through the angreal, until it drew near the point of pain. Lightning struck a few Trollocs close to the Mydraal - the thing turned slowly as if realizing she was the greatest threat to it.

Come a little closer, you Light-burned Shadowspawn! Come a little closer so I can aim properly!

A sudden sense of pain caught her through the Warder bond. Leun, burn the bloody man. Iena snorted as she burnt a Trolloc off his back. She cast a sidelong glance at him.

The Mydraal was a little too close for her comfort now, almost enough to reach her with that black-bladed spear. From atop it's horse, with dead and dying all about it.

Ariena cloaked herself in Aes Sedai serenity as she brought lightning down again from the well of saidar within her that was begging to be used. Iena snorted and bucked, but she held on, slumping in exhaustion, watching the Mydraal char to ashes.

Was that the last of them? Light, but she hoped it was.

[irishdragonlord]

Crystal said:

((Most people would say too much. At any rate, this is my last post before I leave, unless it's right now. Sorry guys.))

((Lol - see you later!))

"Come here, boy!"

Paitar launched a volley of arrows into Trollocs - for the love of the Light they smelled awful! Paitar was mad thing with bow; Braendar couldn't hit the ground if not for gravity. But Small Bear paid no heed to the two leg with the "arrows".

First Small Bear was off the hard-footed four-leg; then one sword was holding back a Twisted One of the great bird's breed, and Small Bear cut straight through a Twisted One with the face of a brother; no, it was a Twisted One! He must die!

The sharp-steel "sword" came afire as it entered the Twisted One who mocked the Brothers; soon after the small one the color of the sun lit up and the other Twisted One of the "eagles" jerked back. It was beheaded.

Small Bear fought through the Twisted Ones, firey steel teeth cutting through those the Shadow mocked. They would die, all of them!

Hamstring and throat, so went the sun-blade and the night-blade; the symbols of the ancient Two Legs who touch the Wind that moves the Fire and causes the Earth to tremble and the Oceans to stir, the symbol when the Two-leg Brothers still went on the Hunt, the symbol was a burning light, shining through Small Bear's hand. Small Bear was death with two fangs.

Ten Twisted Ones fell before a Neverborn appeared before him; Small Bear would die to kill it! He would sacrifice -

"Fool boy! You've lost your bloody Light-blinded mind!"

Two arrows took the Neverborn where its eyes belonged; it faltered and Small Bear felt himself hauled up. It was Paitar.

"To the Pit of Doom with your fool stupidity!" Paitar dragged Small Bear onto his hard-footed four leg and rode out from the battle. Twisted Ones were dying; Small Bear saw another Neverborn burn to ash, the one Paitar had injured swarmed over with two-legs; the Twisted Ones seemed to be falling.

Small Bear snarled; he should have died to kill it! The honor of the kill was his!

Braendar wasn't too slow in the returning. That was a Myrddraal! A Fade! A Neverborn! He had been about to suicide!

"Boy, you really 'ave to... boy?" Paitar turned and saw Braendar slumped over in the saddle. He snorted and hauled him upright; no surprises there - many men would have fared no better coming so close to a Halfman, much less so many Trollocs.

[irishdragonlord]

((Just to clear up... Braendar's swords sense when someone is channeling, and if a man and woman are channeling at the same time, they "resonate". I'm still debating whether or not to make them power-wrought 0:) ;D :)