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- **********************************************************************
-
- Hi,
-
- This is Ken Kofman, sending out yet another _As The Wheel Turns_
- posting. I suppose I should put some sort of copyright notice
- on this, so here goes:
-
- Copyright, Ken Kofman (c) 1994. All rights reserved except for
- those that Tor and Robert Jordan deserve, and except that anyone
- who wants to copy this material may do so, so long it remains
- unaltered, including this notice, and so long as no fees of
- any kind are charged for its use.
-
- In other words, enjoy it, show it to all your friends, be inspired
- to run your own game, but since I'm not making any money off of
- this, you shouldn't either.
-
- I hope I did that right.
-
- Anyway,
-
- KenK ken@ictv.com
-
- **********************************************************************
-
-
-
- Creation
-
- Nine Rods rule over all
- Eight Ajah preserve and fall
- Seven Ages of the Wheel
- Six Bound to serve the dead
- Five Flows create the Weave
- Four Peoples born to live
- Three Supports of all the worlds
- Two Powers never to be whole
- One Dragon on the winds of Time.
-
-
- Summary of Session 8 of _As the Wheel Turns_ 21-7-94
-
- And so it was, even as the rains continued to fall, that
- Akhel and Haemish did free Ulric Druss from where he
- was trapped. And Ulric Druss spoke about how he rose to
- become a captain of Tear, though his mother had been of
- Ilian, enemy of Tear. Even as he continued to dig did Akhel
- listen, for the name Ulric Druss was not unknown to
- him though he knew not from where.
-
- But when Ulric Druss finally emerged, his joy was bounded,
- for his faithful guide, Hulin lay crushed beneath mud and
- stone. All eyes then turned to Ulric Druss, for he wore
- the sword of a Blademaster, marked with a heron, and his
- skill was manifest in his every move. But Ulric did not
- notice, for he too found himself amongst strange company,
- silent Akhel to whom he claimed life-debt, and the Aiel
- boy Haemish, and even Keilyndra din Djanin of the Atha'an
- Miere, far from land.
-
- Then did these return unto the others, for whom Phil had
- prepared a traditional drink of the people of Earth,
- distant mirror of the Wheel, a drink called Ha'choclaet.
- Much joy did this beverage brink to Randy Carter and to
- Jennifer, also from that place beyond the world. But
- Auric drank not, for he lay upon the ground asleep unto
- the world. His wounds were grievous, yet not beyond
- Randy Carter to Heal, were she hale. But Randy Carter
- also did suffer during the landslide. Her body bore
- the chill of rock and mud. Almost did she die, yet did
- saidar sustain her in dream, for she did channel Air unto
- herself that she might breathe even as she lay buried.
- Healing was beyond her.
-
- Thus did Randy Carter let her body rest, as did Jennifer,
- also injured during the landslide, even as Akhel and Ulric
- prepared for themselves a game of stones, almost a fourth
- Support of all the worlds. For Akhel's horse was one of
- two that were found, and though the horse was dead, Akhel's
- provisions remained. But for himself Phil began to carve
- from wood strange forms, in the fashion of the Great Game
- of his people. Keilyndra din Djanin of the Atha'an Miere
- and young Haemish of the Taardad Aiel did survey the camp
- together, that none might approach unawares though the
- rain did fall.
-
- And so it was that they did hear a rider through the clouds
- and rain. Silently they marked his progress, until his
- purpose and destination were manifest. Then did they
- stand forth before this rider and Haemish did say "I am
- Haemish, Water Seeker of the Taardad Aiel" even as rain
- fell all about him, dripping from his hair and garments.
- Yet was his spear lowered and face unveiled. With great
- caution did they eye this newcomer. High above the ground
- did he sit upon his majestic warhorse, and his robe did
- seem to shift in its color.
-
- Even as he was halted in his progress, did the strange
- warrior reach for his sword, yet did Keilyndra Din Djanin
- advise against his drawing a weapon in most certain terms.
- She further demanded to know his name, and his purpose
- for travelling through this enchanting yet desolate place.
- Telas, did he declare himself, yet specified only the
- most vague of travel plans, save that a momentary but
- bright conflagration did attract this place to his notice,
- for the tree which Phil utterly consumed through his
- channeling of the One Power did not go unnoticed.
-
- Then did Telas ask to share their camp and fire, that he
- may dry himself off from the falling rain. But neither
- the child Haemish of the Taardad Aiel, nor Keilyndra
- Din Djanin of the Atha'an Miere found favor with this
- request, for in Telas they saw something they trusted
- not, though they knew it not. And so it was, that
- Keilyndra Din Djanin offer Telas the sanctuary of their
- meagre camp, arranged in haste, for she would not turn
- away a weary traveller. Yet one thing did she require
- of Telas, that he bring not his sword into their camp.
- But this Telas would not do, declaring himself a Warder,
- though no Aes Sedai was near.
-
- Then did Ulric Druss, Blademaster and captain of Tear,
- stride forth from the cave in which he and the travellers
- had taken shelter. Determined was his stride, and his
- eyes glittered with ice. His hand lingered above the
- hilt of his blade, emblazoned with the heron that announced
- his prowess to all with eyes to see. In simple but
- strong words did Ulric Druss explain to Telas that he
- may continue on his way, or warm himself by the fire
- without his sword, or die upon Ulric's blade.
-
- But this bold declaration did not sit well with Telas,
- drawing his swrod in readiness for combat. Jennifer of
- Earth also found disfavor with direct confrontation, Aes
- Sedai novice that she was. Yet Ulric remained undeterred,
- save for Akhel's dagger at his throat. Always did Akhel
- eschew combat in favor of more subtle solutions to the
- problems that beset him, for a man's lifeblood can be
- more easily poured out upon the ground than poured back
- into his body.
-
- With calm and deliberate words did Jennifer convince Telas
- to surrender his weapon and join them, promising upon her
- honor that neither she nor her companions would harm him
- in the smallest way. But in the manner of Aes Sedai her
- words said other than what was heard. Yet Telas gave his
- sword into Jennifer's keeping, and shared in the warmth
- of the cave.
-
- But even as Telas entered the cave, did Auric cry out in
- fear, shouting that he would never serve Telas again,
- for he had ordered her dead and then killed her, but said
- naught of whom she had been. Yet Auric lay near the fire
- in pain, not asleep yet not awake. For he had been sorely
- injured in the fall of rock and mud, and too weak was
- Randy Carter to Heal him in even the smallest measure.
-
- And further words did Auric speak, naming Telas Ishamael,
- Betrayer of Hope, shouting that never would he forgive
- what had been done to Klia. Silent notice did Akhel take
- of Auric's raving, even as Jennifer prepared tea and
- Ha'choclaet. But Keilyndra Din Djanin of the Atha'an
- Miere was filled with silent contempt.
-
- With bold strides did she stalk from the sheltering cave
- into the rains that did soak through to the very skin. But
- the Sea Folk know water, and on the Sea of Storms there is
- rain beside which this relentless torrent is like unto
- a sunny day. Then did Akhel join her, and spoke words
- most unlike him, asking after the welfare and mood of
- Keilyndra Din Djanin, for little escaped Akhel's silent
- gaze.
-
- Most surprised was Keilyndra to hear Akhel speak thusly, yet
- did she assure him that all was well, save for her disgust
- regarding the manner in which Telas had been taken into
- the camp despite Auric and his obvious fear. But Akhel
- assured her that Telas was no less worthy of her trust
- than others among her companions, and that Auric's words
- were the ravings of a man not completely aware of his
- surroundings.
-
- And so it was, that Akhel and Keilyndra Din Djanin rejoined
- the others. Auric had since awakened from his disturbed
- slumber, knowing not what he had spoken. Little more was
- spoken of this matter, save for a repetition of Auric's
- words spoken unawares. Many matters were discussed in that
- time and in that place.
-
- But in the morning, Randy Carter put forth her fullest efforts
- to Heal Auric of his injuries, of his broken ribs and his
- swollen head, yet lacked the endurance to repair his arm, for
- she did sway upon her feet like one about to fall. Phil did
- search the outlying area for plants that could be eaten in
- distress, for nearly all of the supplies had been lost with
- the horses, save for those of Akhel, for he had found his horse
- dead, yet were the saddlebags intact.
-
- And even as Phil searched the area for their lost horses and
- for useful plants, did he come upon Selene and Tsari, who also
- endured the rock, mud and rain apart from the rest, yet did
- they live. For Tsari did walk with bedraggled determination
- before Selene, no less beautiful for all the gracious lady
- must have suffered. With dignified grace did she bear her
- hardship, not revealing even a shiver though her discomfort
- surely must have been exceeedingly great, for her white garments
- were soaked through with water, almost transparent to the eye,
- save for the stole of white fur about her shoulders, too small
- to warm her. Upon her horse did she sit as though the day were
- warm, even as water streamed through her black hair.
-
- And when Phil did offer unto Selene his own garment to protect
- her against the rain, she did look upon him with great wonder.
- Only then did she realize that more suitable garments lay in
- her saddlebags, warm leather clothes of the purest white, proof
- against cold and water. Very different were these garments
- from her gracious gowns, yet in no measure did they diminish
- from her splendor. And her laughter at her own forgetfullness was
- like the long forgotten sun, shining forth upon the land.
-
- And so it was late in the afternoon that preparations had been
- made, and all of the companions were together, and Telas also
- was in their company, for he made mention of a cabin in these
- woods, not half of a day's journey from this meagre camp. The
- promise of a cabin and its provisions could not be ignored. No
- longer were these companions prepared to face the rigors of the
- highest slopes, which surely they must cross before they reached
- their destination, Manetherendrelle, that great city destroyed
- during the Trolloc Wars two thousand years in the past.
-
- And so it was after the sun had descended below the rim of the
- world, even as the sky assumed its nocturnal darkness, that
- Telas did halt their progress within the forest. Then did he
- go forth alone to search, for he declared the cabin unsafe on
- behalf of Aes Sedai who did torment the few people who lived
- in these parts. Though Keilyndra Din Djanin and Akhel did stalk
- his footsteps, yet did Telas evade their scrutiny, and in the
- fullness of time did Telas return unto the others. Only later
- did the two return unto the others, not having found the cabin.
-
- Then did Telas lead his new companions unto the secluded cabin,
- yet was the place disturbed, as though someone had been searching
- for something hidden, and cared not that evidence of the search
- should be discovered. Yet was the cabin sturdy and well provisioned,
- though only for one person, and nearby was a lake of water that
- did remind Keilyndra Din Djanin of the sea which never again would
- she sail in life or in death, most terrible of all fates for the
- Atha'an Miere. And each, in his own way did rest upon that night,
- Akhel in solitude, and the Earth people in warmth, and for a time
- dry.
-
- And Akhel did rise from slumber early, and he did see that the
- dawning sky was clear, and Keilyndra Din Djanin also did return
- to gaze upon the water, and Telas also. And so it was that the
- sun rose from below the horizon for the first time in too many days,
- like a promise kept.
-
- But the sky quickly greyed and clouds hid the sun.
-