(Attn Seth) Zacharyn's arrival to the Grey Tower

[Zack]

"Excuse me! I was directed to come to the Grey Tower by an Asha'man in Illian. Could you tell me who I need to speak to perhaps?" Zacharyn had grabbed the attention of a young lady near the Tower's entrance. She was young, not much older than a boy of 12 or 13 who would work the bellows back in his father's smithy, and wore a plain white dress that stopped just at her ankles.

The young girl started at being addressed and smoothed her dress. "I suppose." She said with a look of slight irritation on her face. "Where you should go, and who you need to talk to will depend on why you were sent. Why were you told to visit the tower sir?"

Zacharyn began giving a brief description of the events that had transpired prior to being sent on his journey to Hama Valon.
"... and shortly after my father was healed, the Asha'man told me I may have been...born with the spark."

"Ahh, that makes much better sense. You're going to need to speak with the Master of Soldiers in that case. Follow me." She said turning, and began to walk down a hallway out of sight.

Zacharyn followed patiently for what felt like forever, winding through the tower behind the young lady until she stopped at a doorway in long hallway. "Please wait here for a moment." She said as she knocked on the door and entered. Moments later she came out a bit stiff backed, but took the time to address Zacharyn. "The Master of Soldiers will see you shortly." she said and walked off down the hallway.

[Cheiron]

Seth Arcuraim

Seth sat in his office, which was odd for only two reasons. First, he was quite young, and only recently raised to the cord, by most Asha'man's terms, even men who had worn it for a year were recently raised, though Seth hadn't worn his for a year quite yet. His face still betrayed his true age, as the agelessness hadn't taken a hold of him, and wouldn't for many years to come.

Secondly, Seth looked bizarre sitting behind the imposing desk, with the switch sitting on the far edge from him. He was more accustomed to standing on a stage performing, or sitting behind a similar desk while teaching, only because it made him look so intimidating and imposing. Sitting in an office, it didn't fit so well.

Seth would rather of been in the infirmary, tending to those that needed his talents. Instead he was sitting behind this desk looking over notes, trying to think of any excuse to get out of his office and over to the infirmary.

During a lull in his reverie, Seth heard the knock on his door. Looking up with a touch of confusion, he schooled his face smooth and called for the person to enter.

"Seth Asha'man," said the Novice. "There is a man here who has come saying that another Asha'man said he had the spark."

"Send him in," Seth said rather bluntly, which made the Novice stiffen her back as she left the room. Most everyone in the tower knew Seth for his bright, very un-Asha'man-like demeanor, obviously saying something bluntly in his position left most learning ranks stiff-backed.

Seth smiled though, it was the first new Soldier he had to enter into the books. He remembered everything from his own entry, and got everything ready. He lit a fire, and got out the massive book and placed it on the desk, open to the next open space. All of the crosses through names stood out, men who had either left the tower by being put out, or had died during their tests on the way to becoming Asha'man. Seth knew all too well how dangerous those tests were, he also knew never to tell anyone who didn't.

Seth walked to the door, and opened it, and said, "Enter, please."

Seth prepared in his mind the questions he would ask; name, age, where he came from, how he came to be at the tower. Looking at the man though, he looked only slightly younger than Seth was himself. Hopefully Seth got everything right, if he couldn't do this simple ceremony, if one could even call it that, how would he fair trying to get the ceremony right to raised one to the sword pin, or even the dragon?

Seth took his seat behind the desk, trying his best not to look as imposing and intimidating as the massive oak furniture piece.

---

OoC: Feel free to answer the questions that Seth has in his head, obviously after he's asked them, which you may write into your response (him asking the questions). Also feel free to ask any other questions. If we get this right, we should be able to get you six posts and therefore a Raising Requirement.

[Zack]

Zacharyn entered the office slowly, but standing straight as he could so as to not make the Master of Soldiers feel he was a slob. "H-Hello, my name is Zacharyn Mael'Din and I wish to..." Zacharyn stopped abruptly, not really knowing what he wanted in this place... "..Wish to be enrolled as a Soldier in the Grey Tower." He said a bit hastily bowing as he finished.

During his introduction, Zacharyn couldn't help but feel as though this was a great turning point in his life. Suddenly the weight of exactly what he was doing plunged down upon him. He had no idea whether Saidin was actually cleansed or not! From everything that he had heard, since the age of legend men had gone crazy from even touching the source. Fear coursed through him, and he began to trimble ever so slightly.

A helpful little plaque on his desk named the Master of Soldiers, Seth Arcuraim. Seth Asha'man I have questions if you're willing to answer them.

The Ashaman quirked an eyebrow at the giant trimbling mess in front of him. "You may ask as you please." He said giving a nod of consent.

"T-Thank you, Asha'man." Zacharyn paused and gathered himself for the battery of question he had suddenly prepared.

"Will I go mad?" Zacharyn asked, plainly as thought asking the time. Though he hadn't allowed his voice to quiver, the large blacksmith's frame quaked softly from the prospect of touching the Dark One's taint. "Who do I need to speak to in order to learn my first true weaves?" Zack was unleashing a torrent now, he felt like a nattering child still clinging to a mother's apron. "Could I have been channeling for years while I worked my forge? What could I do to make sure I don't lose myself to Saidin? How do I protect my friends and family?" Zacharyn finished steeling himself for punishment at having been so free while speaking to the Master of Soldiers. "I apologize for being rude toward you Asha'man." Zacharyn finished with a stern but empty look in his eyes. Waiting for answers he was sure would make him feel like a monster. He haid saved his father's life using Saidin, he was afraid he may take many other's once he lost his mind.

[Cheiron]

Seth Arcuraim

Seth remembered the man before him, from the Jumping Swordfish. It had not been that long ago that he had walked into that burning inn and used the full influence of his Dragon Pin. He wasn't usually as stern as he was, but his past as a Gleeman certainly helped with acting as he had, in control.

Once Seth had given leave for the questions, he braced before the torrent, but he didn't put a hand up to stop Zacharyn, nor did he interrupt. Seth sat patiently, waiting for the torrent to subside before providing the answers that the questions were seeking. Once the deluge was finished, Seth took a breath and started simply with the first question.

"No," he stated matter-of-factly. "I may have been using saidin for only a few years, compared to other Asha'man, but I can tell you for certain that there is no danger of madness.

Seth paused briefly, allowing his statement to sink in before continuing. "Once you are signed into the Soldier book," Seth indicated the tome on the desk, "I will organize someone to teach you the basics of seizing and controlling saidin, be it myself, if I have the time, another Asha'man, or a Dedicated of the tower."

Zacharyn was in the web of the tower, no matter what he said now to scare or disillusion the man, Seth would, by the end of their conversation, have written a new soldier into the book.

"It is possible, that you have been working saidin into your steel for many years. How long, is uncertain. I have heard of women in villages working as healers, capable of miracles, when it was in fact that they were channeling without realizing it. You would have to talk to someone else about that subject, for I have little light to shed on the topic."

Seth thought quickly, and realized that the deluge hadn't been as torrential as he had thought, with only one more question to answer.

"By being here, and learning to control your ability, you are taking the steps necessary to protect your friends and family, as you put it. Do not worry about your overflow of questions, for I am sure you have many more, but for now, we must sign you into the book, and begin you on the path to the Dragon pin."

[Zack]

Doubts still hovered around Zacharyn as The Master of Soldiers explained to him with limited detail that Saidin was suddenly free of the taint. Thousands of years of insanity fueling darkness just disappeared? It didn't add up, but Zacharyn had no reason to doubt this man.

It suddenly clicked with Zacharyn why he trusted the man, The Master of Soldiers, Seth Arcuraim had been the Asha'man he begged for healing from at the Swordfish! Embarrassment flushed in Zacharyn's face. He RARELY went into such places, especially ones he was caught up in a brawl in. "I-" Zacharyn squeaked a bit... " I-I'm willing t-to trust you on this matter..." Zacharyn began to regain some of his previous nerve. "...because you've demonstrated that you're obviously quite sane and a good person on top of that... I-I just want to let you know that I am still a bit trepidatious of the one power.

Straightening himself from his potentially foolish ourburst, Zacharyn Addressed his superior. "How do I sign the Book of Soldiers properly, and what does it entail?"

[Cheiron]

Seth Arcuraim

Seth stood from behind the desk, quietly. He moved to the door, and opened it, peered out and sought the Soldier or Novice that was usually posted outside his door.

"Soldier," Seth said to the man outside. The Soldier stood from his seat, bowed and responded with, "Yes, Asha'man."

"Please send for a uniform set to be delivered for our latest Soldier."

Seth closed the door. He didn't need to say much else, the servants that Zacharyn had passed were observant. By the time Seth had had Zacharyn sign the book and had officially greeted Zacharyn as a Soldier of the Grey Tower, they would have already sent up a uniform that would fit well enough until they had time enough to fit it properly.

"There is no right way for you to sign the books. I merely require your full name, and where you are from," Seth said, sitting once more, and picking up a pen and unstoppering his ink well.

"Once we are done with that, it is tradition for us to burn your clothes, signifying your going from your old life to your new one as part of the Grey Tower. You do not need to worry about leaving this room without clothes, that is why I sent for a uniform."

Seth sat poised to enter Zacharyn into the book, the last entry was in the former Master of Soldier's handwriting, and Zacharyn would be the first entry in Seth's.

"Name and country of origin, if you please?"

[Zack]

Zacharyn nodded in acquiescence, and in the finest script his hand could manage he wrote his full name.

Zacharyn Mael'Din
Kandor

Finishing his flourishing flowery script, Zacharyn shivered a bit. After serious thought, he had actually just committed his entire self to The Grey Tower. With his signature he became bound to the tower until he was deemed 'safe' by the administrators of this labyrinth that he was already lost in. Zacharyn was fearful, but at the same time an intense excitement coursed through him. Now he would be able to channel. Now he would be able to protect everyone he cared about! He may even be able to help advance the world instead of only protecting...

The possibilities seemed endless at this juncture and he got caught up in the moment, and began to do what he believed would hasten his journey to becoming an asha'man of the....hrm he needed to choose and ajah as well. Either way it didn't slow him pushing the book back toward the Master of Soldiers. Nor did it stop him from standing up and beginning to strip to his small clothes.

"D-do you need these too?" He asked the Asha'man, wearing the proudest blush of his life.

[Cheiron]

Seth Arcuraim

Seth sat patiently for a few moments while Zacharyn took off his clothing. He didn't blink. Seth was floating aimlessly in the void, saidin tickling him from behind his shoulder, enticingly. The void provided two benefits. He wasn't embarrassed by Zacharyn removing his clothing, forming a pile with them on the floor. Secondly, it allowed him close proximity to saidin if he needed to draw it into his grasp. He wasn't watching Zacharyn's struggle though, but rather paying attention to the footsteps outside the door, listening for the arrival of the new Soldier's Uniform.

"D-Do you need these too?" came the rather timid query.

Seth had to look at the blacksmith to find out what exactly the man was talking about. His clothes were piled on the floor, and Zacharyn was standing, his face bright red, with only his small clothes covering his modesty.

Seth forced himself not to roll his eyes. He waited for a bit, trying to hear the servant arriving with the new Uniform. If the man before him was blushing about standing in his small clothes, Seth wanted to give him to opportunity to dress as quickly as possible once the formalities were out of the way. Seth remembered his own arrival at the tower, and he hadn't been allowed to dress until his clothes were burned and the new uniform had arrived.

With the void making his voice as emotionless as he needed the response to be, "Yes, you have to remove those too."

Seth didn't remain seated, nor did he wait for Zacharyn to comply - though he was watching to see if the man shied away, or hid behind a chair or his hands. Seth moved over to the hearth and stoked the fire that had been crackling while they had been talking. Hurried steps outside the door stopped suddenly directly outside, Seth knew that the uniform had arrived. He turned to Zacharyn, looked to the pile of cloth on the floor, looked back up to the man's eyes and said,

"It is time to burn who you were, and accept your new life."

[Zack]

Zacharyn simply removed his small clothes. Any and all dignity to be saved in front of his new better was gone. It wasn't uncommon to bathe in large bath houses in Kandor, but he had hoped to retain some form of decency.

Submitting before the Master of Soldiers, Zacharyn gathered his discarded clothing, his past, and placed them slowly into the fire so as not to slow the burn. Tossing in the last piece of clothing Zacharyn inhaled slowly, the smell of burning linen wasn't pleasing, but today it was the smell of progress.

Zacharyn accepted the uniform of a soldier from the servant that stepped in the room just long enough to hand over regalia. It was simple, but sturdy, just the thing a soldier would need to learn in. He pulled the uniform on quickly, but carefully enough to make sure everything was in order properly. After adjusting his new clothing to the point that they were as settled as they could be, Zacharyn faced the Master of Soldiers, obsequious before his new better. "I would like to ask permission to speak freely, Asha'man." Zacharyn said. After receiving a chilling nod of approval, Zacharyn continued. "I came here to learn to better myself, and to protect those that I love. Now that I am a soldier, I wish to give my personal oath. I would like to say it here to you, as a representative of the Tower. I, Zacharyn Mael'Din, Soldier of the Grey Tower, dedicate my life and interests to the Grey Tower, and it's pursuits to protect the world from The Dark One, and his shadow spawn." Zacharyn finished with a fiery resolution, Passionate in his new found meaning and goal in his lifetime. With Seth Arcuraim, Master of Soldiers as his witness, Zacharyn Mael'Din had given his life to his new family.

[Cheiron]

Seth Arcuraim

Zacharyn was the first in a potentially long line of New Soldiers that Seth would sign into the books, and have stand before him, much as Zacharyn did now, burning away who they were, before turning to receive the beginnings of who they were to become. Seth was impressed that Zacharyn didn't shy away from removing his small clothes.

Once Zachryn was dressed and ready to begin his new life, he asked to speak freely. Seth nodded, he never minded being spoken freely to, though some Asha'man were different in that speaking freely tended to land them in Seth's office. What followed was an entirely unexpected spiel that Zacharyn described as a personal oath to the Tower.

Once Zacharyn had finished, Seth didn't speak for a while, then he said, "You'll be able to bind yourself more thoroughly to the Tower, once you attain the Dragon Pin. Until then, let me show you to your new quarters."

OoC: this post isn't done by my better standard, I'll come back and edit more in when i have time...