Mar a'Mael - The House of Hope
To the east of the Tower, on short road to the city proper of Hama Valon, is the Mar a'Mael, the House of Hope. The House of Hope is actually three buildings surrounding a courtyard with a beautifully manicured lawn. Each building has three floors plus a basement, and the exterior architecture is elegant, yet warm.
Like the infirmary, these buildings are not administered by any one individual. Instead, a collection of people from all Ajahs have come together to serve a common purpose. Decisions are usually made based on experience and seniority, although as an asset of the Tower, they are all ultimately under the command of the Triumvirate.
The West Building - The M'sanndane
The west building is named the M'sanndane, or Museum. The ground floor and second floor are open to the public, and it displays art and artifacts gathered from all around the continent. The collection contains both modern and ancient elements. The third floor contains offices for the curators of the museum - they are almost from the Brown Ajah, but a few members of other Ajahs also work within this building. Finally, the basement is used for storage.
Note that there are no Objects of Power in this collection. Any ter'angreal, angreal, or sa'angreal are carefully guarded in the Vaults of the Indigo Ajah inside the Tower. The Museum is strictly for the study of historical and cultural objects: paintings, sculptures, tools, etc.
There are also rumors of a secret tunnel connecting the basement of the M'sanndane to the Tower, to be used in case of emergency. The White Ajah scoffs, as it is logistically impossible for such a long tunnel to have been dug in secret, and would have likely flooded or caved in. But only the Brown Ajah knows the truth of the matter.
The North Building - The Sharom
The north building is the Sharom, or University. This place serves as a place of learning, where aspiring accountants can take lessons in mathematics, and accounting; where healers can come consult and learn the best treatments for illnesses; where soon-to-be lawyers can study the law and practice their skills in debate and logic; and many more. Many brothers and sisters take an active interest in teaching and learning from the community, and every Ajah has its representatives and teachers.
The ground floor opens into a large hallway with a large bulletin board that is updated daily to announce the latest lectures. The ground floor also contains two large lecture halls divided by a movable wall. The wall may be placed for two simultaneous lectures, or removed to accommodate one large gathering. More classrooms fill the second floor, while the third floor is used for offices and staff meetings.
The basement of the Sharom is connected to the basement of the east building. There is a small dining room for the use of students and teachers. This is not the same dining hall as the one that serves the children of the Mar siolin'an; the two dining rooms are divided by the kitchens. The basement also contains a few storage rooms for teaching material.
The East Building - The Mar siolin'an
The east building is called the Mar siolin'an, or House of Children. Inscribed above the entrance door are the words Mar far masiara ma'nien siolin'an rhyagelle, which in the Old Tongue means "house of beloved lost children who come home."
This is a lively place overflowing with children. Abandoned, neglected, or abused children are brought here for care. A few find adoptive parents in Hama Valon, but the vast majority grow up here.
The second and third floor serve as dormitories for the boys and girls. They are divided by age and gender. Each day, they are brought out in turns to play in the courtyard, learn in the classrooms of the first floor, or to eat in their dining hall in the basement. The teachers and administrators come from all Ajahs, although members of the Blue Ajah predominate, while members of the community have been hired to take care of the children's day-to-day needs. Younger children are allowed more leniency, but the older children are managed nearly as strictly as the novices and soldiers of the Grey Tower. All children help out with age-appropriate chores.
Older children may request to be tested for the ability to channel. They are also allowed to take classes in the Sharom. Around age 15, each student is assigned to a mentoring Aes Sedai/Asha'man/Gaidin/Gaidar who will help them determine their future path. Many begin to seek out apprenticeships in the community, to learn a trade. Others decide to join the Warder Yards. Still others see the Tower as their home and stay on as assistants, secretaries, scribes, or servants.
A few run away, but most willingly return for food and shelter. They are welcomed back with open arms. There is no definite age when support is cut off, but it is usually between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one and is up to the discretion of the child's mentor. Exceptions are not uncommon.
About the House of Hope
Re: About the House of Hope
Potential list of tasks for learning ranks:
The M'sanndane
- Label or sort objects
- Handle messages from Browns who are requesting objects to study
- Act as a museum tour guide for visitors
The Sharom
- Fetch tea or snacks for meetings
- Teacher's assistant during class
- Help grade homework, essays, or tests
- Distribute educational flyers in the community
The Mar siolan'an
- Watch/babysit younger children
- Prevent a food fight during meal times.
- Tutor older children
- Catch a child breaking the rules/bullying another student and reprimand him/her
- Introduce a new child to the school
The M'sanndane
- Label or sort objects
- Handle messages from Browns who are requesting objects to study
- Act as a museum tour guide for visitors
The Sharom
- Fetch tea or snacks for meetings
- Teacher's assistant during class
- Help grade homework, essays, or tests
- Distribute educational flyers in the community
The Mar siolan'an
- Watch/babysit younger children
- Prevent a food fight during meal times.
- Tutor older children
- Catch a child breaking the rules/bullying another student and reprimand him/her
- Introduce a new child to the school
meble kuchenne na wymiar cennik
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