Wheel of Time RPG

[TK]

IDL said:

((Ok... I have all but lost all hope for that map. I almost got it, but it was labeled as "copyrighted material" because it's inside a book, and I am starting to think this map is only in this book, which isn't good news... I'll attempt to explain the locations of the countries on another post.))

Braendar decided against pointing out he meant lying low in Cairhien until he could go as far away as he can. Aes Sedai weren't as stupid as he would have liked - first place they would check would be the coastal cities, for any idiot would get as far away as they could. Braendar squashed the thought saying that if those people were idiots than what was he?

Braendar did, however, listen to his inner demons on one point. "You actually suggested going back IN to the city for that boat? If that man has a brain he'd be gone by now. Two people that the Tower says can channel incapacitating the Tower with saidin and wolves? If the man is still there I for one don't want to sail with him. No, we need to go downriver and either hope we find that guy downriver or find a port in... Shandalle." He tried to control the anger in his voice. Quite unreasonable, really. How many people would recognize an orphan of a minor house anyway? He shook his head to clear the indignancy at the word 'minor', because wasn't... he all but slapped himself.

"Alright, let's go."

Leun walked with haste across the island, keeping silence between himself and Braendar. He really was willing to go back into the city - it was early yet, and Aes Sedai might still be asleep. The sooner they could get off the island, the better, even it meant trudging right under their noses.

Instead, he continued to cross the terrain, the sound of the rushing river remaining loud. After a quarter of an hour of walking alongside the riverbank, Leun spotted a canoe tethered to a grubby wooden pier.

"Whose can this be?" he muttered to himself. He did not know if hermits lived in the unpopulated regions of Tar Valon, but he supposed it was possible.

If I divert my flows, he thought, I could get the canoe to the opposite bank faster. The river was rushing powerfully, and he did not know how long it'd take if they let the current take them haphazardly. I can use Earth to reinforce the birch, Water to slow the current, Air to push us further and Fire to stop the wood for absorbing too much water. The canoe was without lacquer, so the piece would be especially useful.

On the other hand - and he knew this well - such intricate weaving could turn the canoe into splinters. Diverting flows by four usually lessened the strength, though with one slip, disaster could be lurking. He was willing to take these unlogical risks if it meant escaping from the Aes Sedai even quicker. Leun supposed it best that he didn't tell Braendar about that.

The taint must be addling my brain already, he thought bitterly.

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Leun walked with haste across the island, keeping silence between himself and Braendar. He really was willing to go back into the city - it was early yet, and Aes Sedai might still be asleep. The sooner they could get off the island, the better, even it meant trudging right under their noses.

Instead, he continued to cross the terrain, the sound of the rushing river remaining loud. After a quarter of an hour of walking alongside the riverbank, Leun spotted a canoe tethered to a grubby wooden pier.

"Whose can this be?" he muttered to himself. He did not know if hermits lived in the unpopulated regions of Tar Valon, but he supposed it was possible.

If I divert my flows, he thought, I could get the canoe to the opposite bank faster. The river was rushing powerfully, and he did not know how long it'd take if they let the current take them haphazardly. I can use Earth to reinforce the birch, Water to slow the current, Air to push us further and Fire to stop the wood for absorbing too much water. The canoe was without lacquer, so the piece would be especially useful.

On the other hand - and he knew this well - such intricate weaving could turn the canoe into splinters. Diverting flows by four usually lessened the strength, though with one slip, disaster could be lurking. He was willing to take these unlogical risks if it meant escaping from the Aes Sedai even quicker. Leun supposed it best that he didn't tell Braendar about that.

The taint must be addling my brain already, he thought bitterly.

Braendar looked from the canoe to Leun.

"Please don't tell me you mean to take this."

But even as he said it, Braendar noted it might be their only hope. He certainly didn't have enough to pay their way out of here, and he doubted Leun had a silver penny to his name. Still, he didn't like the idea of using that particular vessel.

[irishdragonlord]

((Oh, hey - just so you know, I'm not gonna be here next weekend. Just a heads-up, cuz 10 to 1 odds I won't remember tomorrow morning ))

[TK]

Leun placed one foot gingerly inside the canoe. The current battered at it, though it was without holes, and the tether held steadfast. Leun placed his other foot in it and sat down. There were two small, rotted paddles in the centre.

Inhaling deeply, he drew in the One Power, snatching and drawing in saidin. It was a constant struggle, one of life and sanity, though the ecstasy of it all was overwhelming. Diverting the flows would require a large amount - times like these made Leun wish he was more than average with the One Power. He absorbed more and more of it, a trickle at a time. If he drew too much, he could do worse than even burning himself out, but it was so hard to regular epiphany. He almost wretched under the power of the taint.

When the strain of absorbing so much of the One Power - more than he had ever handled in his life - become nearly too much to handle, Leun stopped. He began diverting the weaves as he had planned - Earth to the canoe, Water to the waves, Air to the sides and Fire to the whole of it. They were layered thinly - too thinly to achieve much - but he suspected it'd be enough to get him to the other side.

"You getting in?" he asked Braendar, his voice cracking under the strain of so much of saidin.

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Leun placed one foot gingerly inside the canoe. The current battered at it, though it was without holes, and the tether held steadfast. Leun placed his other foot in it and sat down. There were two small, rotted paddles in the centre.

Inhaling deeply, he drew in the One Power, snatching and drawing in saidin. It was a constant struggle, one of life and sanity, though the ecstasy of it all was overwhelming. Diverting the flows would require a large amount - times like these made Leun wish he was more than average with the One Power. He absorbed more and more of it, a trickle at a time. If he drew too much, he could do worse than even burning himself out, but it was so hard to regular epiphany. He almost wretched under the power of the taint.

When the strain of absorbing so much of the One Power - more than he had ever handled in his life - become nearly too much to handle, Leun stopped. He began diverting the weaves as he had planned - Earth to the canoe, Water to the waves, Air to the sides and Fire to the whole of it. They were layered thinly - too thinly to achieve much - but he suspected it'd be enough to get him to the other side.

"You getting in?" he asked Braendar, his voice cracking under the strain of so much of saidin.

Braendar almost asked if something was wrong, and decided against it. He guessed - correctly - he didn't wanna know.

Grabbing a paddle, he began to row slowly. Back home he had paddled some small boats, but he wasn't very good. He hoped Leun would hurry up and helped.

[TK]

Leun's eyes were closed tightly. Light, it was hard to concentrate with the rushing water around him. Diverting the weaves was not a simple task, until it came to the point where he could do it no longer. Every time he sensed the hand of Air lightening, he strengthened it, only to notice the birch was beginning to absorb water. He channeled saidin in threads of Fire, only to notice the current buffeting the side of the canoe and the birch beginning to splinter. He couldn't even think about paddling, though Braendar was beginning to show a whit of annoyance.

Blood and ashes, I'm going to have to tie one or two of these off, he thought. He had never tied off a thread in his life, though he had once seen a man who could channel do such. He had been a gleeman claiming it was a simple act of illusion, but the crowd cottoned on and he was sent to the gallows. It didn't seem very difficult.

Trying to focus, Leun attempted to weave Earth in such a way as to knot itself. After only three attempts, it worked! The birch would be enforced for the rest of the trip!

Leun began to weave Water, but before he could even direct the weak flows, a large SNAP resounded through the air. A fissure had worked its way down half of the canoe. Something had gone wrong with the weave of Earth.

"I don't think that--"

Another SNAP, followed by several others. The canoe shattered into splinters, tossing the two into the white-capped river.

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Leun's eyes were closed tightly. Light, it was hard to concentrate with the rushing water around him. Diverting the weaves was not a simple task, until it came to the point where he could do it no longer. Every time he sensed the hand of Air lightening, he strengthened it, only to notice the birch was beginning to absorb water. He channeled saidin in threads of Fire, only to notice the current buffeting the side of the canoe and the birch beginning to splinter. He couldn't even think about paddling, though Braendar was beginning to show a whit of annoyance.

Blood and ashes, I'm going to have to tie one or two of these off, he thought. He had never tied off a thread in his life, though he had once seen a man who could channel do such. He had been a gleeman claiming it was a simple act of illusion, but the crowd cottoned on and he was sent to the gallows. It didn't seem very difficult.

Trying to focus, Leun attempted to weave Earth in such a way as to knot itself. After only three attempts, it worked! The birch would be enforced for the rest of the trip!

Leun began to weave Water, but before he could even direct the weak flows, a large SNAP resounded through the air. A fissure had worked its way down half of the canoe. Something had gone wrong with the weave of Earth.

"I don't think that--"

Another SNAP, followed by several others. The canoe shattered into splinters, tossing the two into the white-capped river.

Braendar didn't know what was happening. First he was paddling, next something snapped, and now he was at the bottom of the Erinin, unable to swim because of his weapons.

Thank the Light he could swim, and fairly well, but with what felt like tenstone of iron on his back?

He played fitfully with the idea of letting some of it go as his precious air ran out. He would drop the axe, he decided, what with it weighing more than his other two smaller weapons.

Ripping it off, he let it sink. The swim was still difficult, but there was no way he was going to Cairhien unarmed.

Grabbing the slopes of the Erinin, he pulled himself out of the water, coughed, and lay back in a semiconscious state.

[TK]

Swallowing a mouthful of water, Leun thrashed his limbs beneath the surface of the River Erinin. His travelling cloak tangled within his arms and legs, tugging him further beneath the surface. The fastenings caught on the lapels of his tunic.

Giving a frustrated shout that translated into naught but a torrent of bubbles, he cast razors of air, slicing through his garments. The green cloak was cut free and his lapels were severed from the tunic, but at last he could swim. With his last whit of air, Leun broke through to the surface, graciously sucking in hair. He swam to the bank where Braendar was.

Flopping himself onto the grass, Leun took a moment to catch breath. Trailing his hand across the side of his breeches, he felt his dagger safely lodged. The map, though, was gone.

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Swallowing a mouthful of water, Leun thrashed his limbs beneath the surface of the River Erinin. His travelling cloak tangled within his arms and legs, tugging him further beneath the surface. The fastenings caught on the lapels of his tunic.

Giving a frustrated shout that translated into naught but a torrent of bubbles, he cast razors of air, slicing through his garments. The green cloak was cut free and his lapels were severed from the tunic, but at last he could swim. With his last whit of air, Leun broke through to the surface, graciously sucking in hair. He swam to the bank where Braendar was.

Flopping himself onto the grass, Leun took a moment to catch breath. Trailing his hand across the side of his breeches, he felt his dagger safely lodged. The map, though, was gone.

Braendar's eyes opened slowly. He coughed some more. He couldn't have been out of it that long - Leun was right there. Not as if he were really into it right now anyway.

"Where..." he choked. "What..."

He spluttered more and forced himself upright. He felt his thighs to make sure the short swords were still there. Thank the Light they were.

"Blood and bloody ashes, I wish my bloody axe wasn't at the bottom of the bloody Erinin!" he cursed. Not that he was poor with the blades, but that axe had cost him a pretty silver penny and losing it wasn't making him very happy.

He forced himself to stand. For the first time he was glad he didn't have the axe - he was sure the weight of it on his back would have knocked him down.

He turned to Leun and took a few tumbling steps.

"Tell me... tell me that you have a back-up plan."

Braendar, was, for a moment, seized by fear. If they had landed on the wrong side of the Erinin, they would have no choic but to go through Shandalle.

"Blood and ashes," he thought.

[TK]

Leun's face burned. No, it was not the morning sun, but embarrassment. He made a stupid risk, and now one of Braendar's weapons was at the bottom of the river along with his map.

Where are we? he thought. He had been pointing towards opposite bank of the Erinin when he had been paddling, but being tossed into the river had completely disoriented him. He turned his head to the sky.

"Try to find the White Tower," he muttered. "Find its tip. If we can find out where it is, we'll know where we are..."

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Leun's face burned. No, it was not the morning sun, but embarrassment. He made a stupid risk, and now one of Braendar's weapons was at the bottom of the river along with his map.

Where are we? he thought. He had been pointing towards opposite bank of the Erinin when he had been paddling, but being tossed into the river had completely disoriented him. He turned his head to the sky.

"Try to find the White Tower," he muttered. "Find its tip. If we can find out where it is, we'll know where we are..."

Braendar looked around. There it was - a shining white needle in the sky. He wasn't all that surprised - he had been dragged along the bottom with three weapons, and hadn't been able to be carried far. His face went white when he realized they were on the east side.

"Leun... we're on the east side of the Erinin."

His mind told him he was being irrational, and the fright in his voice was unneccessary, but even the THOUGHT of going home made his mind go awry.

[TK]

Leun flinched. That was not the sight he had been expecting. It was only then he realized he was still holding saidin. He let it go, he let the void dissolve into naught at all. He could truly feel how the water sloshed about in his boots now.

"That leaves us with two choices," Leun muttered beneath his breath. "We either head back into the city incognito and find that one ship or we can continue through Shandalle."

Why did I have to use the One Power? Why couldn't I have just left well enough alone? he thought. It was something he knew he would not be telling Braendar.

[irishdragonlord]

TK said:

Leun flinched. That was not the sight he had been expecting. It was only then he realized he was still holding saidin. He let it go, he let the void dissolve into naught at all. He could truly feel how the water sloshed about in his boots now.

"That leaves us with two choices," Leun muttered beneath his breath. "We either head back into the city incognito and find that one ship or we can continue through Shandalle."

Why did I have to use the One Power? Why couldn't I have just left well enough alone? he thought. It was something he knew he would not be telling Braendar.

Braendar turned away from Leun so he wouldn't be able to see his face.

"What's going on?" said Lord Al'Taren.

"Your son," said Captain Teandar, throwing Braendar into the room. The child shivered.

"What is it?" said the lord, exchanging frightened glances with his osn and the Captain.

"Your son here was... he was... talking to wolves. Running with them in the forest." Braendar fell to his knees, fighting the tears. It was so unfair, so unfair.

"The problem is, he seemed to be talking to them. And then he came to town, and they followed. Followed him, my lord" - the honorary prefix sounded odd, the way he said it - "and caused quite a riot. Two of them were killed.

Braendar broke down, sobbing. All his fault, all his fault.

***

Braendar ran out of town with the wolves. No more of it, no more worried parents, no more 'minor noble', no more fake treatment, no more frightened stares, no more dying, no more sickness, no more.

"No more!" he howled, tearing through the night. All gone, all of them, his family, his Brothers, all of them. Now he began anew.

He looked at Leun. His emotions were dead, non-existent. He had begun anew. As far as he cared now, Shandalle was just lines on a map.

"Let's go to Shandalle."

[TK]

Leun walked in silence, casting sideways glances at Braendar. I hope he's okay, Leun thought. He could not put his finger on it, but it seemed like Braendar was deep in thought. Probably the shock of being tossed into the Erinin, he surmised.

His stomach began to groan. By the Light, there had to be some food somewhere! "You seem to be the one who knows where in the Pit of Doom we're going. Suppose there are any villages around here?"

[irishdragonlord]

Braendar's head perked up?

"Hm?" he said. What did he say? He knew where they were going?

"What makes you think I know what we're doing?" he said, purposefully sticking closer to the Erinin. He heard Leun's stomach growl. "Oh," he said, and, simultaneously thought he needed to stop being touchy. Begin anew.

"Well, I don't know of any villages -" which, technically, was true, what with him having lived only ten miles outside the capital, far away from the northern border -
"but I have the wolves, remember? Hope you like meat."

He reached out again, thankful that on this side of the Erinin the wolves would be different. He did not want to bother Softpaw again. Or look weak.

A voice stirred in his mind.

Two-leg brother? it said, quizzically.

Braendar sent a positive reply and a We wish to join your hunt, brother.

We? said the voice incredulously. Braendar sent back a message clearing up there was only one Brother.

Two-legs make too much noise. said the voice gruffly.

This is Shadowhunter, said Braendar, hoping thatwas the correct name.

The wolf suddenly sent a simple "come" and the voice was gone. Braendar turned to Leun.

"Uh... come on!" he said, running to where the wolf had been.