Requiem of the Lost Ones (Attn: Leala Gymorraine Sedai)

Tel'aran'rhiod and Portal Worlds
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Sean
"A Crown of Swords"
Posts: 577
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:09 pm
PC: Valadin Manelle
Location: The Four Kings, Illinois

Requiem of the Lost Ones (Attn: Leala Gymorraine Sedai)

Post by Sean » April 25th, 2016, 12:54 am

Chapter One: No One's Home
The World of Dreams was desolate and beautiful. Everything was hazed in an eerie haze that fascinated the mind. Valadin had grown used to the suspicion of being tracked by hundreds of unseen eyes; used to it, yet still aware of the gooseflesh on the nape of his neck. Here, the throb of the Bond—evidence that Nykkolaia was still with him—was a weak, but perceptible persistence in the corner of his mind.

Night had barely touched the Waking World when he’d fallen into the trance-like sleep that immutably resulted in his arrival here. Time holds no hold meaning in the World of Dreams, reminded a gentle voice from years past. Accepted Siera.

It was a name that had not been thought of for many months now. Other names jumped to memory like firebugs to a hearth. Cynn, Kiellan, Daelar, Betrys, Saml, Garyas, Miahala Ives… The list went on without an end in sight until a conscious effort was made to stifle the thought. In Tel’aran’rhiod errant notions were dangerous distractions…specifically once given form and were of a mind to turn against their creator. Recalling a visit with Siera rekindled the unease that had kept Val from this place for so long despite its ethereal attraction.

Drawing a deep breath helped to cast away the troubles that ailed in the Waking World: the anger, the lust for battle, and the self-loathing. All that remained was wonderment, the Bond, and Saidin’s dull flame—dimmed here, but never extinguished.

For some nights now a voice had called from the Dream, crying for help. The person must have possessed considerable familiarity with the Dream to so clearly leave an impression and that was the reason for Valadin’s wariness in answering the call.

Unconsciously his attire was of the everyday garb for an Asha’man: dark slim-fitting trews, an equally dark collared jacket with a simple shirt of muslin beneath it, and tough boots fit for many occasions. Oddly, the pins and cord that signaled his rank or affiliation never manifested consciously…something Val saw no need to alter. Though it was largely unnecessary in a world where the imagined became corporeal, feeling the weight of a short sword at his waist offered security in a setting where little else was permanent.

The Grey Tower was a mass of stone and maze-like sections that sprawled for as far as the eye could see. In Tel’aran’rhiod his monolithic home was far more vast than its counterpart, but just equally easier to traverse as result of the Dream’s properties. I’m stronger than I was before, Valadin noted vaguely. Where once his thoughts strained to effect his person, now they could mold objects in his vicinity with relatively facility.
Danger…need aid…no hope...

Val closed his eyes, another act that served little purpose, yet it yielded results when circumstances demanded it. The haunting plea for rescue resonated within the World of Dreams making it seem to come from a thousand different directions, but there was a sense that its source was the Grey Tower—somewhere deep and inaccessible to those who knew not what to look for.

Filling his heart with a desperate need to be within the stone walls, Valadin’s next Step rushed him from the main grounds into the Ajah Quarters which had been fixed in his mind. Usually the lodgings that housed the various Ajahs was a never-ending hive of activity whether by servants or Brothers and Sister. To see them so vacant now should have been disconcerting, but each time a chair jumped from one place to the next or an outline of a person materialized before vanishing suddenly Val knew that was as it should be.

Beginning the search was difficult. Stone was everywhere and the corridors extended every which way like the innards of some great beast. Trying to listen for the voice again Valadin felt himself growing impatient as nothing came to him. Rather than waiting he took to roaming the hallways in the hopes that something would reveal itself in the process.

Since becoming Asha’man the only other Ajah that he’d visited was that of the Blue and that was solely when the need to see Nykk overcame him. It seemed to be the way of things among Asha’man and Aes Sedai; purpose and belief separated what should have been united army. Mired in these thoughts Val was startled when a woman materialized at the heart of the White Ajah rectory. Acting before rational thought could take root, Val Stepped towards the nearest shadow and willed the darkness to cover him like a living thing. He hadn’t been able to do that before.

From his hiding place he berated himself for being so foolish. He was in the Grey Tower. No Shadowspawn or Darkfriend would dare attempt to wreak havoc in the midst of so many gifted in the Power’s uses. Likely the woman would fade away harmlessly like all the others he’d come across this day.

Still something told him to hold fast so remain hidden he did studying this intruder to what had previously been his domain.

Leala
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 1191
Joined: October 8th, 2014, 3:13 am
PC: Leala Gymorraine, Aes Sedai of the White Ajah
SC: Torianin Soulane, Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah
TC: Jhanic, Asha'man of the Indigo Ajah
QC: Abby Soulane, Novice
Location: Tel'aran'rhiod

Re: Requiem of the Lost Ones (Attn: Leala Gymorraine Sedai)

Post by Leala » April 25th, 2016, 9:57 pm

Leala was not expecting to find herself in Tel'aran'rhiod that night. She had not visited in such a long time. Things had picked up lately, and well, more than lately. They had been busy since she took the helm as First Reasoner, really. Managing her Ajah and her lands was difficult, but she managed. She was glad to have the keepers of her land do most of the heavy lifting, but other things had begun to crop up as well. She really could have used the rest that true sleep brought that night, but she knew that her mind would not let her rest, especially now that she was in the World of the Dreaming. Looking around, she could see that she was in her quarters in the Grey Tower. Looking down, she saw that she wore the dress of an Accepted. With a mutter and a grumble that she would have let no one else hear, she quickly changed her garb to something more suitable. She now wore a silken white dress with minimal silver embroidery in the shape of vines at the skirts and the collar.

She took a look in her mirror, then added the pin of an Oathsworn sister. She knew that not all were in agreement with the plan to remove the Oaths, but when one thought about it, it would make sense if one wanted to remove them. The removal of the Three Oaths added centuries of life, and gave the channeler more advantages than before. Still. Leala kept hers for the people that she served, and for her own studies. Besides, House Gymorraine would end up being just her, if she stayed around for much longer than the Oaths allowed.

Stepping away, she went to her office, but that just made her think of everything she had on her mind. She needed clarity. Help... Lowering her brow, she looked around. What was that? Danger...need aid...no hope... As if from nowhere, like the unseen eyes of this place, the words had no origin, but it was like someone was trying to reach her. Or anyone. She Stepped into the White Ajah Rectory. She really did need clarity now, were she to be of any help.

Just standing in the room made for the White Ajah made her stress lessen. It was still there, but she felt as if she could think clearly now. Perhaps finding this person who needed help would aid her in sorting out what else she needed to do. "But, where..." she began as she turned around. She had the feeling that something had just moved, but she wasn't sure if it was a trick of the world or not. "Where would you be...?" she finished asking the air, as if it would help.
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Sean
"A Crown of Swords"
Posts: 577
Joined: May 25th, 2015, 9:09 pm
PC: Valadin Manelle
Location: The Four Kings, Illinois

Re: Requiem of the Lost Ones (Attn: Leala Gymorraine Sedai)

Post by Sean » May 2nd, 2016, 12:57 am

The spoken question echoed through the time and space of Tel’aran’rhiod, carrying a great distance in the largely vacant realm. Valadin recognized as a recent acquaintance. A single class and she’s named as a familiar, scoffed a suspicious inner voice.

If a single Aes Sedai is enough to give me pause then perhaps it’s better to stay away never to return, came his chiding reply.

Fear had ever been an influence in his life. Whether it was in the indulgence or resistance of it, Val could not deny that the concept had shaped his every thought and action as it did now.

There was still the matter of whether it was about him that Reasoner Gymorraine pondered aloud. That would mean her ability in the Dream was as potent as his own—or more so.

These concerns mingled in a confusing garble that fed upon itself until finally being snuffed out through force of anger at the indecision stalling action; the Green could not afford to be such and Valadin no longer abided it in himself. With a flicker of a thought, the covering of shadow vanished making him visible amongst the shifting desks and chairs of the White Ajah gathering grounds. Approaching the Sister he announced his presence with hopes to avoid startling her, “If it is me you are seeking Reasoner, I am here.”

Nearby an errant wisp of light resolved into an Accepted, brows knitted in concentration while eyes traced the words of a manuscript only she could read. Beneath her the chair solidified momentarily as the girl’s dreams touched the Dream world briefly. Val spared the errant dreamer no mind even when she squeaked at the sight of both he and the First Reasoner in such close vicinity before vanishing as was the ken of those who stumbled accidentally upon the Dream.

Offering a low inclination of his head Val appraised the Sister openly. Rank no longer held the same awe it once had. In his time as a ‘Servant of the Light’ nobles had lied, cheated, and killed. Aes Sedai and Asha’man had supplicated when they should have stood resolved. Unlike in the stories eavesdropped from beyond the windowsill of modest townsfolk compromise was abound outside of legends and fancy tales.

She appeared young. It was the first time chance had been given to really study her face. It wasn’t the agelessness granted those who utilized the Power often, but genuine youth added color to her waxen features. Pretty too if you’ve a mind for such things.

“If it is not me you seek then I would ask if you know whom you it is you are after.”
Of course the cry for help had come to him, but here, in the place where nightmare and dream alike were breathed into existence Val was uncertain if the plea had been in his mind or if others might have heard it.

Either way he kept his mind at the ready. Despite his ability with Dreamwalking as the Indigo had called it, there were still those who possessed skill enough to do him harm if he did not keep his wits about him. If the Reasoner was one of those then…you will enjoy the battle here as well.

Leala
"The Path of Daggers"
Posts: 1191
Joined: October 8th, 2014, 3:13 am
PC: Leala Gymorraine, Aes Sedai of the White Ajah
SC: Torianin Soulane, Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah
TC: Jhanic, Asha'man of the Indigo Ajah
QC: Abby Soulane, Novice
Location: Tel'aran'rhiod

Re: Requiem of the Lost Ones (Attn: Leala Gymorraine Sedai)

Post by Leala » May 25th, 2016, 1:32 am

Leala was not expecting the Green Asha'man to appear in her vicinity, but she had learned not to really expect anything here. One never knew when a nightmare might become real, or when someone else's nightmare was made real, either. Valadin asked if she was looking for him, or if she knew who it was that she was looking for. For a moment, she thought she knew the girl who had sat studiously at her desk. One of her former students, who she thought would likely choose the Browns when the time came. Turning to Valadin to address him directly, she studied him for a moment.

She remembered him from one of her classes, and she remembered that he was Andoran, like she was. She had never asked him what part he was from. The First Reasoner was disappointed in herself that she did not know that he could walk in the World of the Dreaming. She really was out of the loop, as it were. It was curious that he seemed to be waiting for her. She filed that way, choosing not to confront him unless it was necessary. This was a dangerous place, after all. "No, Brother, it is not you I seek. I would have at the very least thought your voice was familiar," she said, crossing her arms and looking around the hall, glancing at the other Ajahs' rooms. "And, truly, I do not know the identity of the one that I seek. They sound frightened, and they ask for my help. I wonder if someone is having a nightmare, or if this is a more permanent situation. Either way, I would like to help them, if I can."

Turning back to him, a delicate brow lifted as silver eyes met his again. "Have you heard the same voice?"
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