Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

The World outside the Grey Tower is a vast place.
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Bella
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Location: New England

Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Bella » July 13th, 2017, 12:12 am

How many times had she been asked about her choice of Ajah? It almost made her laugh, although she knew that it was likely to be misinterpreted and she wasn't sure she could explain the feeling behind it. Instead, she simply gave him another small smile, keeping the knowing humor of it strictly to herself.

"I don't know that I would call it an easy decision," she replied easily, "but maybe not exceedingly hard. I did feel something of a draw, although not as strongly as others speak of.

"I considered other Ajahs, but in the end, the mission of the Red called to me the most. It seemed most suited to me. I'm not the type to stand on the front lines of a battle, so not Green. Yet more focused and active than the Blues." She hesitated here and the smile faded slightly as she determined how much further to take it.

Well, she had never shied from honesty about her life before. Why start now?

Now the smile returned, but it was rueful. "You see...before I came to the Tower, I was married. My husband and I were...unconventional at best, and we shared out life, and our marriage, with a woman. She was a lover to me, and to my husband. We were an inseparable unit, and all much in love." She watched him as she spoke, only glancing away to watch the path they rode.

"They were killed by a channeler of the Shadow, and it was then that I was discovered as a channeler. I could not save them, but their deaths spurred me on. Now I want to devote my life to ridding the world of those like who killed my sweet Belenus, and Chandra. I would spare others that pain, however I can."

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Andy
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Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Andy » July 13th, 2017, 11:00 am

When he had asked he had not expected the full story, dark personal details and all. It would have made him smile that she had trusted him with such information if it hadn't been such a sad tale to hear. What was more the parallels to his own recent past were too close to not feel it in his chest, to not sympathise and empathise with her past - and her present. He had not had the years to recover as she had, if you ever could recover, and as such it cut him deeply. Another senseless waste at the hands of the Shadow. He was silent until the story was over, focusing grimly upon their surroundings.

"I am sorry for your loss," he told her without reservation, "I too know what it is like to lose all that you had. My family were taken from me not too long ago now. Trolloc raid apparently, though never did get full answers" he stated, voice quite carefully wooden as he hardened himself against his own words.

There was a period of reflective silence after that, a time in which he went over his memories and thoughts, his plans and his driving desire for vengeance. The Citadel, looking back at it, had given him some outlet for that. Yet still the fires of wrath never dulled. He wasn't concerned, he'd use it. As Andraste surely used hers.

"If ever you need help with this sparing others then feel free to call upon me. If I am available I will help. I have never been good at letting things go and the chance to strike at the Shadow across all fronts is more than enough reason" he offered, a simple thing.

At some point I will have to choose which path I take. Battles, select strikes or whatever causes the Blue Ajah serves. Unless I stay Unbonded forever, then I suppose I could do all of them. Over time he told himself, not sure which was most attractive to him - specialising or doing it all. He dragged his mind back to the task at hand.

"Is that what we are doing in this town? Sparing some poor soul the pain?"

He found himself hoping that they were, it might give him a sense of achievement to go back to the Tower with. Something beyond the usual success at whatever task was required.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

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Bella
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Location: New England

Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Bella » July 18th, 2017, 2:30 am

Andra smiled gently. His reaction was simple, and she was satisfied with it. She detected no disapproval in his tone or bearing, and that was all she ever wanted. She inclined her head in simple acknowledgement for his condolences, then said, "As I am sorry for yours. It seems we can relate to one another on this, though it's a level of relation I would not wish on anyone."

She looked ahead and saw the town not far ahead. They would be there before too long.

"Of a sort," she said. "This is not a mission to directly remove such a threat, but part of a chain of investigation on my part. I am following leads towards what I think may be a channeler gone rogue." He was serving on her warder here, after all, so he deserved to know all that she could tell him. "I don't foresee us finding them here, but may find clues to eventually lead there.

"And should I find this person, and will know they have done what I suspect, that will help remove them from the world so they can hurt no others."

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Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Andy » July 19th, 2017, 11:09 am

"An old fashioned hunt the treasure then," briefly he wondered if that was why he had been chosen to accompany Andraste, his past was far from noble and had bred some skills well enough, "though this time it's a person. Harder. And not just because they move about either. People have loyalties, dark as they may be. Difficult to budge" he stated as a flicker of amusement came to his eyes.

He had always liked the game more than the theft, the hunt more than the roughing up. There was, in a foolishly romantic way, more elegance to the chase. Or, perhaps, he was not normal. Then again he had lost track of what normal was long ago. The settlement was almost upon them now and he found his fear at being inadequate slowly being replaced with the idea that he could get some small strike back against the Shadow. Something for them to remember him by.

"Should have brought a shield," he told himself as the memory of getting burned by fire twisted his lips, "good thing I don't fight fair then. Rogue channelers" he shuddered and shook his head.

"Do we have a name? Or description?" he asked as they approached within arrow distance of the wall and the chance to turn back passed. Not that he would have done.

It was no time at all and they were at the gate, a rag tag guard force he could have likely finished off by himself greeting them. The gate was only opened far enough to get one man through and his type was instantly recognisable to Alrim - a magpie. The sort of man who'd do anything or say anything if something shiny was waved at him. He stopped them and approached, eyeing the weapons carefully.

"What brings such fine folk here then?"

"Business" he responded with a smile.

"Ah trade...trade. Not sure you'll get much here without a wagon mind. No goods?"

"Who said we were trading goods?" Alrim tapped his purse, "but I am sure that we can hold our own in negotiations"

"That so?" the man sucked his teeth in consideration, "words is words but we runs on coin here"

Oh I bet you do he thought to himself.

"But of course, I am sure that such a fine place is worthy of looking after. Quite happy to pay the toll," he smiled down at the man and slipped a few silver from his pouch and flicked them through the air to him.

"Toll? Yes...yes! S'right! Something's got to keep the walls up..."

"And the people safe" Alrim suggested affably.

The man eyed them suspiciously for a few moments longer and decided to cut loose whilst ahead, waving them through and calling for the gate to be opened. They were through soon enough and Alrim looked at Andraste briefly.

"Yes, seems like my kind of town to me"
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

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Bella
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Location: New England

Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Bella » July 20th, 2017, 2:16 am

As they reached the gate, Andra watched Alrim at work. The ease of which he communed with the slightly shady character standing there reminded her time as a merchant. She'd had more than a few encounters with that time, and then the skill at which he worked reminded her of her own.

She restrained any show of her amusement until they were through the gate. That was when a small smile curved the corner of her mouth as she looked sidelong at him. "It seems my guard for this trip is well-suited," she said with earnest appreciation.

Once they had rode on a little while, and she felt a little distance from the prying eye of the guard, she considered how best to reply to the question he had asked but she'd not had time to answer. It was a delicate balance. If she was wrong, she didn't want to sully the reputation of a fellow Sister. But if she was right... Well. He needed to know.

"Understand that I do not yet know for sure if my suspicions are correct," she said carefully, "so I am wary of spreading any sort of misinformation. However, you need to know who to keep an eye out for. Physically, she is an average looking woman, with average height and weight, blonde with blue eyes.

"What will stand out about her, so I am told, is that she has scars all down the left side of her face. I have heard they look like vines that are perpetually red, never seeming to fade to time." She sighed softly. "If you hear the name Nykkolaia, or Zeran, then we are alerted."

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Andy
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Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Andy » July 20th, 2017, 3:24 pm

He shrugged at her comment about being well suited. He got the job done how he could, it just so happened he had dealt with unsavoury types before many times. Had they approached a reputable city he was sure it would have been quite different. He listened as they made their way down the wide street, towards the centre, where he presumed there would like as not be commerce and taverns. Places to find people, even if they didn't wish to be found.

Not sure I like the sound of this scarred woman. Means she's scrappy and probably doesn't care about starting a fight. Could be dangerous, especially if the sentiment toward Aes Sedai is bad here already he noted to himself.

"If they are smart then they probably won't be using their true names, unless the names you just said are already covers. Still," he scratched his chin, "scars usually get remembered. Especially in a town where death might be common. And if they are...not normal. Well, all the more remembered" he frowned to himself.

"As for misinformation, it doesn't matter. My job is to keep you safe. If you're wrong then you're safe. If not then best I know. Do you know if they have any habits? Like certain places perhaps? I could try to ask around by myself but instinct tells me to stick together"

As they made their way inwards the foot traffic thickened and he kept one hand upon his blade, just in case. There was no telling whether this woman knew they were coming or why. She could have already laid a trap and he wasn't about to get caught out in the middle of the street.

"I will follow your lead" he told her simply.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

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Bella
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Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
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QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Bella » July 22nd, 2017, 1:56 am

As they rode along, Andra became more serious and more watchful. She recalled the days when she and Belenus and Chandra had ridden through uncertain city streets, having to keep an eye on every corner of their carriage and whatever wares they had. She felt safer now than she had then, though, and with good reason to.

Now, she could channel. She was an Aes Sedai. And she had a Tower-trained Gaidin at her side.

"The woman apparently was something of a mystery in the Tower," Andra said thoughtfully, her eyes on their surroundings rather than Alrim. "Few people knew her at all and those who knew even that much, didn't really know her. She was reclusive. There was a bondmate, rumored to be more, but he hasn't been seen either for a long time.

"She herself left the Tower on some errand roughly, no one knows for sure, two and a half months ago. The only things I do know about her are that she is a Blue, and her cause was always children. Protecting them, aiding them. A place to start might be if there's a local orphanage, see if she's been spotted."

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Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Andy » July 22nd, 2017, 12:52 pm

A woman after my own heart, so long as she leaves it in my chest he told himself at the words about helping children.

"Let us hope that you are wrong then, children are easily led. If she and her partner are on the wrong side then I would not put it passed them to be raising their own underlings. Hopefully she is not smart enough to do so" he said without much hope of that outcome, Aes Sedai were educated even if some were smarter than others.

He was watching their surroundings also as they travelled but given the new information he was now on the watch for the usual street scamps that larger places had enough of to not know what to do with. It wasn't long before the odd beggar started to appear on the sides of the street. He wasn't sure that there would be an orphanage, at least not like the one at the Grey Tower. Possibly it might have had a small building somewhere. Children were always useful to those who could use them, that he knew well enough. They were eyes, ears and easily bought. Even Shol Arbela had such things.

"Follow the children it is then," he nodded and pointed out a group of them ahead, some playing and others asking people for coin, "not as good as an orphanage but a start. I think they might respond to your smile better than mine" he told her as he twisted around to check that they weren't being followed.
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

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Bella
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Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Bella » July 27th, 2017, 1:58 am

From what little Andraste had learned, she did not think this woman would be harming the children...even if she was Black Ajah; however, she may have been going too far in her cause to aid them, and not always correctly so. A vigilante whose aim was not reliable was a dangerous thing. No one would mourn a child killer, but one accused and killed...who was innocent?

Well, there were concerns and things that didn't add up. Thus here she was.

Andra saw where Alrim indicated and she nodded. It was a place to start, and children tended to respond better to women. It was a mother thing, she would imagine. Would I have had a child by now? Would Chandra? The errant thought slithered into her brain for the first time in a long time, and it nearly unhinged her.

She swallowed hard and ignored it, shoring up her face with emotionlessness. They rode closer to the group and then she gestured for them to dismount. She knew there was danger in being on foot, but kids usually were comfortable talking to adults on horseback.

Forcing the emotionless mask away, she put on the warmest smile that she could muster. "Hello," she called in her sweetest voice, holding her horse's reins as she approached. "I was wondering if you might be willing to talk with me for a moment. I have some questions."

"What's in it for us?" one of the oldest, a boy, asked. He was taller than the rest but had a shrewd look in his eye. She pegged him as the leader of the group. The way they all stood with their bodies slightly angled toward him, looking between him and her.

Andra kept her smile, but the intensity of her look increased as she met his gaze fully. A weave sprang into her subconscious, something she wasn't even aware she knew, but she had not embraced Saidar and so it remained just a lingering discomfort at the edge of her emotions. She waited in silence for a moment, until the boy was uncomfortable, then answered.

"I will compensate you for your time," she said easily. "I need to know if a woman has passed through here in your recollection. She would have been slightly taller than I, blonde, wearing a blue cloak with strange, vine-like scars up the left side of her face. Have you seen her at any point?"

They didn't reply, but a look in the older boy's eyes told her what she needed to know. "And if she was?"

Andra tilted her head a little. "I need to find her. She and I come from the same place, and I need to speak with her about something."

"If you two know each other, how come you don't know where she is?"

"That's for me to know," Andra said gently. "I simply need to know if you've seen her."

He scuffed a toe on the ground, seeming unwilling to aid her at all, but then gave in to her patient smile. "Yeah, we saw her. She came through a couple months ago. She came on us like you did. Asked some questions and gave us some coin and some food. She was nice like. I don't want her in no trouble."

"I just need to find her," Andra said again. Of course, she avoided committing to trouble or not. "What was she asking?"

"Just about old man Miller, where he was and what he was like and stuff," the boy said, still reluctantly. "Are we done now?"

She didn't think pushing would help anymore, so she let a hand vanish inside her cloak and emerged with a couple of coins. She handed them to the boy. "Thank you," she said simply and then mounted her horse. She nodded for Alrim to ride with her, out of earshot of the boys. "We should find this...old man Miller, but I didn't imagine they'd get more cooperative with more pressing. We'll have to find that intelligence elsewhere."

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Andy
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Re: Onto Adventure [Attn: Alrim Farshera Gaidin]

Post by Andy » August 6th, 2017, 6:12 pm

"Probably, such children have little trust. But you are quite persuasive it seems" he conceded as he wondered what the Aes Sedai they were seeking was up to in the city, if she were still resident.

He went through the possibilities in his head and as usual it came down to places of socialisation, it usually did when you were trying to find someone. Even within communities that were small villages there were places everyone went to talk and knew everyone there. Cities were a bit harder as there were usually a few places and the name, Old Man Miller, was not exactly precise. Still, he ticked off taverns, markets, herbalists and the rest.

Places everyone needs but hiders don't want to need he mused to himself, wondering if he were becoming ever so slightly more cynical over time.

"You got a name though I'd have preferred a full name. Old Man Miller could mean a few people, possibly. If you want more intelligence then I'd suggest a tavern for starters. At least we can get some food while we work. Taverns always know their locals. If we don't get lucky there then we move to the next place where people gather to wag their tongues, I would suggest"

It was a simple enough concept and she was likely smarter than he with this network business. There was another reason, however, that made him want to get inside. The fact that whilst they were outside upon horses they were more visible and open.

"I think it'd serve us well to get inside for a time anyway. The more we wander in the open without an exact direction the more time we have to be seen...or worse"
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~

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