A Taste of Ter'angreal (fanfic)

[Leala]

((This class I an archived class, taught by Asha’man Jerid Walker. http://www.grey-tower.net/Wiki/index.ph ... troduction This class is taken by Accepted Torianin and Soldier Jhanic, simultaneously. Torianin's portion is currently in progress.))
Lesson 1 - Torianin

The classroom was full of all learning ranks in the Grey Tower when Torianin arrived. There were faces that she recognized, and those that were new to her. This class must have been in demand. She had a very specific reason for coming to this class. For five years, a ter’angreal had been the instrument of her enslavement, and now she wanted to know more about it. She knew that ter’angreal were varied and vast in number, but this class should be a good starting point for her purposes.

Movement on her left made her turn around. A rather tall soldier sat next to her, his hair a different color of orange than hers, but he looked familiar. She hadn’t met him while she was a novice, so how… “Ah,” she said, getting his attention. “It’s good to see you again.”

The man smiled, making the scar along his jaw line move slightly. “I see you, Accepted. Yes, it is good.”

“I’m Torianin,” she said, offering her hand in greeting. He looked at it for half a second before shaking it in greeting.

“I am Jhanic,” he said. “I am glad that we have this opportunity to take a class together.”

“Me too,” she said with a smile.

After their short conversation, the class began. Asha’man Jerid gave a short introduction into ter’angreal, and how they differed from angreal and sa’angreal. Ter’angreal were the mystery. They were what caused all these studies. There was an entire world of things that one could do with ter’angreal. The metal cylinder was intriguing. If one had something that needed to be hidden, that would be a wonderful place to hide it temporarily. The flame-haired Accepted’s mind stopped for a moment when her teacher explained that there were ter’angreal that still had yet to be deciphered by the Indigo Ajah. Well, that would stand to reason, but it was still mind boggling.

Asha’man Jerid asked the class to tell him what they knew of ter'angreal before this lecture. There were so many things to know that an open discussion like this would be good to narrow down the field a bit. A lot of examples given were things that she had never considered before. She knew exactly what to say when the time came for her to speak.

"I know that because there is so much potential with ter'angreal, in making them do anything you want, that they can be used to control others," she said. This had become a point of why she had decided to pursue the Red Ajah. "Before I came here, I was subject to a ter'angreal called an a'dam." Before she cound continue, there was a flurry of murmurs. The a'dam was a sore subject among those in the Grey Tower, and for good reason. They seemed to know that it was an instrument to control channelers, but not much else. "It is able to administer pleasure and pain to the damane, the collared one. The sul'dam has complete control, able to read emotion, and whether or not the damane has channeled in the past, whether they are currently channeling, leaving the damane under the complete control of the sul'dam, the one that wears the bracelet. Even when the sul'dam is absent, the damane is still subject to the a'dam, causing physical pain when channeling is attempted, if the damane moves the bracelet, or if the damane attempts to unclasp the collar. Among the Seanchan, this is how all women who channel are dealt with. It has created a culture where those who channel are deemed less than animals, seen only how their sul'dam sees them. Those free of the collar are not wilders or Aes Sedai. They are marath'damane, those who should be collared. As for men who can channel... they are put to death. By taking this class, I'd like to understand how ter'angreal work, so that more dangerous ones do not fall into twisted hands and reshape the world in an equally twisted image."

She paused, her green eyes scanning her fellow students. She had not expected to say so much, but this was something that she felt strongly about. Arranging her banded skirts, she took a seat again, and the question was posed to Jhanic.

Lesson 1 - Jhanic

Jhanic sat in respectful silence as the Accepted next to him stood and told the class the plight that female channelers of the Seanchan Empire faced. That would explain the Illusion that he had seen her working on early that morning. He had not taken this class with such a passionate resolve, but mostly for scientific curiosity. He had many years to find an Ajah, but if he had to be honest, the Indigo Ajah would likely be his future home. It was his turn when Accepted Torianin finished and sat back down.

He made eye contact with her and nodded silently. She smiled as he stood up to address the class. "Channeling is something that is mostly left up to the Wise Ones among my people," he explained. "I must admit that I had not taken an interest in it until it was found that I could channel. But, there is a city in the Three-Fold Land where those who shape our community go to be tested, whether or not the they have the ability to channel. I have never been there myself, but it offers visions throughout time for those who venture into it, and many other things that I am not privy to." He left out many details of Rhuidean, but mostly to center on the question. "I believe that Rhuidean is full of ter'angreal, and like Accepted Torianin said, they are used to shape our culture, but in a different way. As I said, I am not sure how, but the journey is meant to give them a different view of our culture that others do not see.” Again, this was not something that he was told, but something he assumed after being among his people for so long.

“It is my understanding that ter’angreal have many more uses than this, but it also seems that given the right ter’angreal, they can be used to shape the world. I would like to learn more about their uses and the nature of their making to further my studies.” After his answer he sat down. Accepted Torianin had a rather amusing look to it. She seemed a little taken aback by what he had said.

[Leala]

Lesson 2 - Torianin

Torianin was heartily disappointed when the a'dam was denied. She needed to study it, but now wasn't the time, it seemed. When she began to look around the Vaults, trying to concentrate on anything else, the patient Aes Sedai with the warm gray eyes handed her a carved wooden tree, one of a set of many. The wood was pale gray, she did not know what sort of tree that it was made from, but all that seemed not to matter so much when she held it. Her body relaxed, and she held the ter'angreal gently, staring at it as he mind relaxed too. She could study the a'dam later. She could study this tree later too. Ah, well. Perhaps she should study it now, but it wasn't an urgent thing. Her feet moved toward the door, but the Indigo sister caught her shoulder. Oh. She wasn't allowed to leave with it, it seemed. She was shown to a desk within the Vaults. She had brought notes for this.

She set the carved tree on the desk in front of her, and her previous state of mind came back. Torianin retracted her hand and looked at the tree sideways, narrowing her green eyes. Then, she took out her notes and began to write.

This ter'angreal is a carved wooden tree made from a tree with a pale bark, perhaps hickory. It looks to be about a foot tall. When holding it, I feel strangely peaceful, despite my responsibilities and things that were causing me stress previously. I did not feel in a daze, but it was hard to concentrate on what I had set before me to do, because I felt a strong sense of peace. I did not channel into this ter'angreal in order to activate it. I noticed before I took hold of the ter'angreal, that there were others that looked similar to it.

For a moment, she paused in her writing and turned around to ask the Aes Sedai something. She thought the Indigo sister would be where she had been, but she was standing right behind her, supervising. After a short exchange, she had her answer.

There are thirty-seven of these tree-like ter'angreal in the Vaults. It seems that their purpose was to bring peace and calm to a large group of people. I suspect they may even have something to do with the Yellow Ajah. She remembered speaking with Betrys Sedai about Healing, and the different techniques, what forms of healing were used in ailments of the mind. Perhaps this was one of them. As she thought on this, she noticed that her hand had idly moved toward the tree. She snatched it back, then walked the ter’angreal back to the Aes Sedai.

Taking her papers back to her room, she sat down to finish writing. These ter’angreal may have even been made to calm a desperate group of people during riots. One is not in a daze, but a sense of peace is placed on them. Being someone whose nerves were rather rebellious, perhaps that was why she craved it. She would overcome that, though.

Lesson 2 - Jhanic

Jhanic made his way to the Indigo Ajah Vaults to study a ter’angreal for his class. It was after dinner, and he had finally found a time to stop his chores and studies to work on more studies. The monotony was stifling, but he understood the need for training. In fact, he was beginning to enjoy the routine rather than find it stifling. He felt like he was fitting into it, finally, and that he was ready to move on. But first, he had to prove himself, just like when he joined the Sha’mad Conde. He found an Aes Sedai on the other side of the Vault doors. “Good evening, Soldier,” she said with a smile on her face.”

“I see you, Aes Sedai,” he said, nodding his head.

She brightened her smile and turned to a table, and he couldn’t help but follow on her heels. This was all so fascinating. He wanted to study every one. The sister jumped slightly when she realized that he had followed so quickly. She laughed it off, then said, “I think I know exactly which one to give you.” The Aes Sedai bent down and picked up a tangle of metal. He noticed that her eyes were on him, rather than the ter’angreal. Was he really that interesting? Or was...the…

What is this? The ter’angreal in his hands looked to be some sort of puzzle. The metal links fit together strangely, but he could solve it easily. Yes. That piece goes there. So, that must mean that this piece followed, going this way. No, because the piece after that would go the way of the first one. He had to figure it out. It was so simple! He looked at it from every angle, prodded it from every way. He turned every metal ring, certain that he had found the answer. Nothing ever came. Why was this so difficult? He needed an answer. This needed a solution.

Suddenly, the puzzle was out of his hands, and he heard a thump next to him. He looked down. His hands were raised to his eyes, and the Aes Sedai stood next to him with her hand holding the ter’angreal. She seemed out of breath.

He cleared his throat. “I apologize for making you jump, Aes Sedai.”

She shook her head without looking up, raising her other hand as she set the puzzle down. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Yes, Aes Sedai. I think I’ll write my assignment outside of the Vaults, though.

She nodded as he left.

He found his quarters that he shared with Oen and decided to get to work. Reaching for his notebook and pen, he began to put words to paper.

The supervising Aes Sedai selected a ter’angreal that seemed to be some sort of metal puzzle. After that, I do not remember much else. I was drawn toward its strange shape, and all I could think about was solving it. I think it has this effect on everyone, as the Aes Sedai attempted not to look at it as she handed it to me. I don’t know how long I studied and attempted to solve the puzzle, but the only way that the ter’angreal broke its hold over me was when the Aes Sedai took the thing from my hands. After giving it some thought, the only reason that I could see that one would need a ter’angreal that purposely makes one forget the world around them would be to have an enemy stay put. Perhaps ancient Aes Sedai used this puzzle to keep spies in line as they plotted how to interrogate them. Or perhaps they set it out as a safeguard against thieves.

[Leala]

Lesson 3 - Torianin

In Progress Lesson 3 - Jhanic

Jhanic was one of the first students to come to the classroom after the last lesson. He handed his paper in to the instructor. He wondered for a moment if it was appropriate. He wasn’t a scholar, but he wasn’t completely ignorant, either. He had enjoyed his work, even if it had stolen his consciousness for a while. He sat down, and the Accepted came in soon after he did. The class began, and the tone of the class shifted quickly. As Asha’man Jerid explained the use of the ring ter’angreal, then explained the dangers involved in it. He knew that the Wise Ones entered the World of the Dreaming, but he did not know of the dangers they faced, although he did know that it was considered dangerous to enter without training. He wondered about using that ter’angreal…with guidance, of course. His teacher was right. These tools of the One Power were not to be taken lightly.

When class was dismissed, he went to the Master of Soldiers and begged to be able to go to the Vaults for the class. Well, he did not beg, but he did present a good case. It was to further his training. He also promised to come back and scrub the floors afterwards, before he wrote his paper. He agreed, but after warning Jhanic of consequences if he were not to return straight afterward.

At a quick pace, Jhanic walked to the Vaults, and met with the Asha’man there. He seemed surprised that someone was there so quickly after the class and finished. The Asha’man turned to the table that nestled the ter’angreal. He picked up one and handed it to Jhanic. “Do not channel when you hold this. Simply look.” Jhanic took the stone. It was crystalline, and it seemed to be made of a material he wasn’t familiar with. There were markings on it. Strange markings and he couldn’t decipher.

“It looks like a Portal Stone,” he said. “I’ve only ever seen them as drawings in a book, though.”

The Asha’man nodded and held his hand out. Jhanic gave the man the ter’angreal back. “A weave of Folded Light transports you to a different world. I will demonstrate, but do not leave. Time flows differently in the other world.” Jhanic nodded, and the man seized Saidin, weave the necessary weave, and he vanished. It wasn’t that the Illusion had blocked him from view. Otherwise, he could have felt the weaves, but he was just…gone, along with the ter’angreal. He waited for a few minutes, and then the man reappeared.

The Asha’man blinked and regained his composure easily. “The world that it takes you to operates on different time than ours…” As the supervising Asha’man explained what the world was like, and that he had really been gone for perhaps an hour for him, Jhanic took notes.

When he returned to his room, he began to write.

This ter’angreal is a small representation of a Portal Stone. It is crystalline in appearance, and it is made of cuendillar. While I did not directly interact with the ter’angreal, the Asha’man on duty in the Vaults demonstrated for me, and vividly described what happened. The purpose of the ter’angreal is that it transports the channeler to another world that co-exists with the world that we live in. This is done by a weave of Folded Light, the weave used to make one invisible. The user vanishes from our world, and enters another. Once in the world connected to the ter’angreal, time slows down immensely, while time flows normally in the regular world. I waited for the Asha’man to return for only a few minutes, but he explained that he had been gone for what seemed like an hour for him. He explained that not only did time move slower, but one can actually see the One Power simply resting in the other world, waiting to be used. It is in the air, in the ground, everywhere, and it is glowing. I can only imagine what the Vaults must have looked like to him. Included in the nature of this world is an increased ability to channel. The Asha’man estimated that his ability to channel was increased perhaps three fold.

As Jhanic wrote this out, he wondered what he would do in a place like this. He could hone his skills and study, but he could also risk burning himself out. He would save much time as well.

I believe dangers connected to this ter’angreal include that, given the right circumstances, one may become addicted to the way that the other world operates. It could be used to save time, to use the One Power more frequently. One may even become over confident in their newfound ability and sever their ties to the One Power, or even kill themselves. It was not explained to me what would happen if that were to occur. The Asha’man returned to our world when he let go of his weave. But, with power such as this ter’angreal holds, if one was to cut themselves off from Saidin or Saidar while inside the other world, I can only assume that it would be even more dangerous.

Hoping that was enough for a full report, Jhanic walked back to the classroom and handed his paper to his teacher. Then, he reported back to the Asha’man that had assigned him chores. Apparently, he wasn’t too late, but he promised not to go to his next meal until his task was complete.

[Leala]

Lesson 4 - Torianin

In Progress Lesson 4 - Jhanic

Jhanic noticed the Aes Sedai waiting in the back of the classroom. She was not the patient one that had given him the first ter’angreal to study, but she was of the Indigo Ajah as well. Taking a seat, Jhanic waited patiently for the class to start. The first ter’angreal that he had seen was interesting, but the second one… He wanted to study that one. But, he knew that he was not at that point in his training, so he would be patient for that and work up to it. After the class came in, Asha’man Jerid began the class. He was a little less grim as he explained that they would be learning how to make a very basic ter’angreal today. He demonstrated with a coin in front of him. He held it out in front of him and showed the class how it could enhance hearing. The weave he had used looked both simple and complex at the same time.

He held the ring that their teacher supplied and watched each student as they came up to try the weave. Some students successfully kept the effect, while others had the ter’angreal work only temporarily. He concentrated on each student’s weaves, even the females, since he could sense their weaves now.

Jhanic was called up, and he loped easily to the front of the class. Taking one of the silver pennies, he seized Saidin, the fight still there, but still won in the end. Fire and ice filled him as he selected Earth and Fire. He crafted the weave slowly, but methodically, making each flow interact and flow next to, through, and around each other, as he had seen before. He let the weave settle into the coin, and once they had disappeared into the coin, he let go of the True Source. Picking up the coin, he held it out to the class, full of gossiping young ones. He picked a pair of novices that were in conversation next to Accepted Torianin.

“…and I heard she was a novice for only a few months before she was raised!” one of them said. They both picked up their heads in surprise.

Torianin smiled kindly. “I had a few years of experience channeling before I entered the Grey Tower,” she explained, with the coin still lifted. The Accepted’s words seemed to be amplified as well, which was good. She deserved a chance to explain herself.

The two novices laughed nervously, and Jhanic was happy to see that the effect of the ter’angreal had lasted with him. There was something else he would need to focus on, in order to move forward with his studies. Thinking on himself when he had just enrolled, he wondered what punishments the Wise Ones would have had in store for him, had he been training under their tutelage. He likely would have been in pain and humiliation daily, but he would have straightened up a bit faster.

[Leala]

Lesson 5 - Torianin

In Progress Lesson 5 - Jhanic

When the final class started, Jhanic and Torianin arrived at the same time. She told him of the ter’angreal that she had studied at first. It was a small, carved tree that calmed her down. He had heard that Avendasora had a similar effect. Curious that it was carved into the shape of a tree. She grinned when he told her about the puzzle that had caused him to think of nothing but solving it until the Aes Sedai had to hop in order to take the ter’angreal from his hand. They both settled into the classroom, and waited attentively for the class to begin. They sat in silence, concentrating on what they had learned. Asha’man Jerid began the class with a lecture, summing up what they had learned. This was a fascinating subject. He was not surprised that there were brothers and sisters that spent their whole lives studying these instruments of the One Power.

The assignment sent a wave of excitement through Jhanic. Design his own ter’angreal? He searched through his thoughts and thought through what he would like to use. Nothing as complicated as the small Portal Stone, but something a bit more complicated than the puzzle. After a few minutes of thinking and plotting in his mind, he had it.

Bending down to his paper, pen in hand, he began to describe his intended ter’angreal.

The ter’angreal would be a smooth orb that fits in the hand easily. The material used does not matter, as long as it is reflective. There should also be a flattened edge on the bottom, so that it can stand on a flat surface.

The purpose of the orb would be to keep the user informed on things going on around them. Once activated with a small flow of Spirit, either from Saidin or Saidar, the orb will project the area around the user without showing the user themselves. If there is a sudden movement, the orb will focus on the movement in the projected image.

Any channeler can use this ter’angreal. It would usually be used if the channeler needs to be aware of their surroundings while concentrating on something serious. It would be more useful than a mirror, or another reflective surface in that is accounts for the space that the user takes up as well.

Along with the weaves of Earth and Fire used to make a ter’angreal, I would surmise that one would also use weaves of Spirit, to connect with the channeler that activates it, and also a small amount of Air with a small amount of additional Fire, to produce the Illusion.

As for wrong activations and dangers, I believe that channeling additional Air would cause it to heat up, interacting with the internal flows of Fire incorrectly. A weave of Fire would likely cause it to burst into flames. Earth would simply not activate it, as Water would also leave it inactive. The effect of the ter’angreal is solely visual, and does not effect the mind or the physical surroundings of the channeler, so the only danger one might face is becoming too reliant on it, or activating it incorrectly.

He wasn’t sure about the incorrect activations, because he had not actually made the ter’angreal, but he hoped this would be enough. With his work done, he stood and turned the outline in. Accepted Torianin was still working on hers, puzzling through the details. She was so focused that she did not look up, but she waved as he walked out of the room.