Jed looks toward Jasmine. "I will be going as well, of course."
I would not have it any other way Jed. Jasmine smiles and feels the protective warmth through the bond. It always is a comfort to know that he will be there for her and she for him.
In his room Jak rolled over on his bed for the seventh or eighth time. He'd plopped down without even kicking off his boots, but he couldn't seem to shut off his mind, which kept coming back to his worry for Alathea during this "training".
He responds irritably to the no one in his room, "No, I know he's trouble. Yes, I know it's dangerous for her to be practicing any channeling anywhere near this city. I just... Right, but I just think that... Fine! Fine! Light, I'll go keep an eye on her." He rolls back off the bed, heading over to the big mirror in the corner. Luckily, the innkeeper had someone put a pitcher of water out for him. He splashes some of it on his face to wake a bit. He does it again... no luck.
Finally, he just dumps the whole thing over his head, and his senses come alive a bit. "That's better."
It hadn't been five minutes since Jak left that he knocks on Alathea's door. When it's opened he stands there, head and shoulders soaked with water, with a water trail leading back down the hall to his room.
He shrugs, "I couldn't sleep. I guess I'll come with you all, then. Maybe I can help Fiallain keep you all out of trouble."
Alathea doesn't smile, but she is cautiously pleased. Perhaps the boy is growing up...
She nods at Jasper. "Thank you. I hope that we encounter nothing to harm us in the first place."
Alathea is overjoyed at Jak's reappearance. Why had she ever feared that Jak wouldn't come? Although she is still frightened at the prospect linking with a madman, his presence calms her down and soothes her fears, at least a little. With a beaming smile, she takes Jak's hands in her own and pulls him into her room. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Alathea doesn't smile, but she is cautiously pleased. Perhaps the boy is growing up...
She nods at Jasper. "Thank you. I hope that we encounter nothing to harm us in the first place."
Fiallain stands in open mouthed horror at Jak and his dripping clothes. What did you DO?!?
looking up from Alathea's eyes, seeing Jak standing there, Jasper smirks. Its supposed to go into the chamber pot, not on you. with a chuckle, Jasper leaves.
Jak can't help but laugh at the kid's jab, "That a fact? Well, i never claimed to be house broken, anyway." The laughter is still in his eyes when he looks over at Alathea and Fiallain, and he cups his hand around his mouth and whispers over-emphatically, "It's just water…" Even as he finishes, he slings his hair over towards the aiel woman, sending a spray of now-warm water across her. Before she can respond, he dodges back, settling in a comical bare-handed fighting stance, "We ready to go or what? This foolish linking won't learn itself."
Ryland rubs his eyes and reforms his top knot. Well it does not make sense for me to stay here by myself. I will join you also.
Light help us.
Jak claps a still-sopping hand on Ryland's back, "Good man. You can watch my back while I watch Fiallain's."
Fiallain seems to flinch as the droplets of water splash her. "It's -just- water, he says..". She stares at Jak a moment as if in disbelief before finally shaking her head as if to clear it.
You should not be so careless with what is precious, Jak Taboran! , she says in a stern, disapproving voice. Still, she can't help but crack a smile as he settles into a semblance of a fighting stance. Be glad we are not in the three-fold-land, or you may have needed those fists to defend yourself from my brothers and sisters for what you did. Striding past him, she gives him a 'gentle' whack across the backside with the butt end of a spear.
We had best get a move on else Jasper leave us behind.
Alathea smiles as Jak sprays Fiallain with water, and laughs outright as she smacks him in reprisal. "You should make Jak defend himself here! He is incorrigible; if you let him, he will just keep doing things like that to you!"
As her companions are preparing to leave, Alathea goes through her things and gathers up a dagger, a purse with some change in it, and the like. After they've all left her room, she closes the door with one last, longing look towards her lockbox, where she's left her Great Serpent ring, and follows them down towards the stables.
lets post a riding order out of the city and into the hinterlands.
jasper is willing to be second to last in the line
Jasmine will take her place in the middle of the group.
Jed would typically stay by Jasmine's side, but is willing to be last if no one else wants to.
single file
fiallian
Rylan
Jasmine
jed
alathea
jak
jasper
double up
Fiallian/Rylan
Jasmine/Jed
Jak/Alathea
Jasper
Everyone gathers together in the stables and saddles their mounts. Ryland and Jak sway a little as they mount, the night's "festivities" still weighing on them.
Riding out of the city, after about an hour or so you feel like you've reached a fairly deserted section of land far from prying eyes. Dismounting, everyone kind of mills around for a moment before Jasmine finally takes charge, grasping Pace's hand in hers. From what I know of women linking, physical contact must be made so it stands to reason that this would hold true in this circumstance as well.
Jasmine empties herself and can feel saidar moving just outside her reach. The two struggle to balance their controls until Pace manages to finds his inner moment and seize saidin just as Jasmine releases control to him sending saidar flooding through them as well. Both of their eyes go wide, neither prepared for the sensation. Pace's face goes rigid, his eyes focused. It's so beautiful, so calm and welcoming compared to saidin's torrent.
Jasmine's face blanches a little and she squeezes Pace's hand tightly. How do they deal with this raging current of raw power? Saidar is NOTHING like this! And the taint, I can feel it rushing through my being. Looking at Alathea and Fiallain, she gives a curt nod. Apparently the issue of control, at least with a single man and woman, is a moot point.
Some time later, the group of you return to your inn in Tanchico. The sun has fallen and the common room is busy with business.
Pace takes a position sitting at the end of the bar furthest from the front door. He makes small talk with the innkeep when the man has free moments, but spends most of his time working through a decent bottle of wine, looking thoughtful, and studying the room.
Alathea watches as Jasmine takes Pace's hands and sees the glow of saidar envelop her. She gasps as their eyes go wide: although she can't see saidin, she knows that they've done it. How can Jasmine be so calm? But I will have to be calm, too...
Alathea lets go of Jak's hand. She hadn't been aware that she was holding it, but now that she's let go, her hand aches from clenching it about Jak's. If mine feels like this, his hand must be ready to fall off! She tries to empty herself of all thought and focus on the blooming rosebud. Would she be able to surrender to saidar? She is certainly scared, but is it enough to overcome her block?
Her rosebud blooms, and saidar washes into her. It fills her with life and, more importantly, courage. She is still frightened, frightened almost out of her mind, but she knows that she can do it. She knows that she risks the Seanchan finding her, but she doesn't want to let go. I can't back down now, not with Jasmine linking with Pace. And I'd better do it quickly!
She can't bring herself to look at Jasper or Pace, but she speaks anyway. "Right. If I am to attempt this, I'd like to do it before the Seanchan find us here."
The emotions flooding into Jed's mind through his link with Jasmine are strong. It starts out with a bit of anxiousness, followed by a sudden surprise. She must have done it! The emotions continue to flood in, a little bit of fear, some more anxiousness, even curiosity. I can't even imagine what thoughts are running through her head. Or Pace's for that matter...
Jasmine has tried to explain the thrill of saidar to Jed, but he just couldn't wrap his head around it. Maybe I should ask one of the men about it. I'm sure they could explain better.
Jed sits next to Pace. "Mind if I join you?" He orders himself a mug of ale . "I'm... interested in what it feels like to embrace..." Jed lowers his voice, realizing that a conversation like this can lead to trouble if he were to be overheard. "To embrace the Power. I've spoken with Jasmine about it before, but I didn't quite get it. Men and women are so different in the way they perceive things, you know? Anyway, if I were to understand it, I think I may be better able to understand what Jasmine goes through. It could help, potentially, in the future."
Pace can tell that Jed is little embarrassed by the question, mostly because he is asking more out of his own curiosity than because he feels it'll really help Jasmine.
Jasmine goes rigid as the power flows through her and into Pace. A feeling of contentment and closeness washes over her that is battling with fear and awe at the raging torrent that is Saidin. Jasmine's rational and extremely curious mind is running quickly attempting to learn as much as she can about the male half while she is linked. She can feel the taint like a slick of oil over pure water over Saidin but is thankful that Saidar buffers her from its foulness. No wonder they go mad. To have to reach through that to get to the life of the one power must be maddening in itself.
Jasmine smiles at Pace and says Thank you for the trust, Pace. This will be a powerful weapon for us in the future should the need arise. Now if you would release the connection the others can try if they wish. She says looking at Alathea and Jasper.
Once back at the Inn, Jasmine requests two baths drawn from the innkeeper and a bottle of fine wine. Finding Alathea, Jasmine will see if she wishes to join her and talk away from the men.
The ride back into town has given Alathea time to calm down, but her nerves are still raw. Being so close to saidin had been terrifying, but what she had seen...it was seductive, and that was the worst part. She knows that saidin is dangerous and alien and tainted beyond belief, and that the men who use it are bound for a horrible end, but she still wants to experience it again. That terrifies her.
Alathea is lost in her conflicted thoughts when Jasmine asks her to join her in bathing. She must know what I'm thinking. And Light bless her, she knows what I need, too. She smiles at Jasmine and follows her lead. "Thank you, Jasmine. After that, I need a bath..."
Pace stares grimly down into his cup for a moment before leaning over the bar for another glass. He pours Jed a cup and pushes it over to him without making eye contact. He glances around the room, making sure no one is close enough to listen. Finally, he looks at Jed, staring into his eyes as he explains, "Today is the right day to ask this question because...what we just did gave me a little more insight into their side. Both towers use a lot of metaphors for The Power. To women it a slow moving river that can be directed but not contained, a light to embrace and fill them. To them it is peace, and light, and most importantly, life. To us it is a raging fire that must be contained, a storm that must be endured and then wrestled into submission. And that is without even talking about the Taint." He pauses for a drink. "To men it is fire, and storm, and most importantly, life. We experience it so differently, but for both we are most alive when we hold it." He takes a long swallow, shrugs, and then looks around again for unwanted attention. "In the end we are just men and women. The Power doesn't make us different than anyone else, it just tests us more." And then there is the taint destroying your soul...
Once Jasmine and Alathea have made their way into their baths, Jasmine sends the attendants away and pours a glass of wine for Alathea and then one for herself before sinking into the hot water. Letting out a luxurious sigh Jasmine says That was...terrifying...but I am glad we did it and for more than just the practice linking. The more we are able to bond with the men the more we will be able to be close enough to act should anything happen with them. You handled yourself with strength and I hope you do not think ill of me for having you link with Jasper. It seemed the best way to get past the tension between the two of you.
Jasper is staring out at the horizon, keeping an eye out for anything weird, when he feels the link established.
oooo, that powerhe moans as he turns, looking at Pace and Jasmine. a slow grin grows on his face.
how is it none of you can feel thathe directs his question at the nonchannelers, finishing with a pointed glance at Jak.
Walking up to alathea, Jasper holds out his hand. well, i thought it would be under other circumstances that id get you to hold my hand, but hey, i'll take what i can get he finishes with a chuckle.
completing the link, jasper is shocked at the power. Saidar and Saidan coursing, combined. A smile creases his face, a malicious smile. yes, the power. more! with a growl, jasper draws on more, drawing in all that both he and alathea can handle. mmmm...burn it all!! he starts to weave, a weave of pure fire, when a stillness, once an annoying pin prick at the back of the mind, now begins to assert itself. not in a controlling way, but in a soothing manner. both saidar and saidan slowly slip out of his grip and the power dissipates. looking at Alathea, Jasper drops the link. wow, you guys have it easy
Jasper, feeling the urge, channels the smallest amount of power and weaves it into an explosive force into a small rock. picking it up, he spins and throws it at a tree. with a low force, the rock blows up with greater force than expected, destroying the tree.
jasper orders some cheap ale and sits at the bar, talking with random people as they order drinks, and occasionally picking up the tab. hearing jed's question, and Pace's answer, Jasper adds his two cents.doesnt make us any different than anyone else? jed, can you do this? no, you cannot. logical statement confirmed, this does make us different. now, the real question is how do we handle this power. i could just as easily burn this entire inn to the ground or reinforce the structure to last for eternity. Just how we want to handle it.
women have it easy, its all flowers and tranquility. us, we have to use strength of will and concentration to bend this fire to our control. it is a battle, within and without. This power makes us great.
At Jasper's interjection, Pace gives a little smirk. "Power doesn't make or change a man, it just brings out what is already there. The greatness is there or it isn't. I have seen a noble lord break at the sight of a Trolloc horde. His power didn't make him any more or less of a coward, it just made his decision cost more people. You may think that power makes us great, but you would be wrong. It is our choices that make us great, or not."
Jak hadn't been sure what to expect at the clearing, but even had he not been dead-on-his-feet tired, he probably wouldn't have gotten much more out of it. As it stands, the best that could be said was that he got a bucket-load of frustration.
As he sits down heavily beneath a small, withering tree, he mutters to no one in particular. "These horses' ass idiots are slowly rotting from the inside out, and they don't have the decency to keep the foulness to themselves. You don't have to tell me twice, man." However much he grumbles and complains, he can't help but keep from curiously watching what they do with the women.
After a while he finds himself pushing towards the veiled source of power and life in the back of his mind. When he'd been wandering alone, he'd usually been able to control this persistent, itch-like need to figure out how to touch the source at will. In the proximity of so many people who can do it so easily, it was like having a sore in his mouth that he just couldn't keep from tonguing.
So his frustration slowly built, an annoying mirror of the slow heat that weighed everything down of late.
Jak wanders in through the door. The lack of sleep is getting heavier and heavier. The quick rush of a second wind he'd gotten on their ride to and from the clearing has been replaced with the dull blanket of fatigue once more. He nods to Ryland and Fiallain on his way by and catches a snatch of the hushed conversation by the bar. Without stopping, he claps Pace on the back with a tired smile, "Here, here!" he says as he drops a couple of marks down on the counter, "You all raise a drink for me in the name of cowards, fools, and the few of us who are actually great, no? We're all crazy on some level… some of us are just aware enough to realize it."
This is not the first time the darker side of Jak's particular brand of humor has risen to the surface, but before you can comment on it, he's continued up the stairs to go crash loudly on his bed. Something you're fairly certain you can hear from where you sit.
making a humorous look on his face, jasper chuckles at jak's proclomation. i like him better when he has no sleep. more fun
swallowing the last of his ale, and purchasing another round for the guys, Jasper looks into his new pint.our choices? We base our choices of what we can and cannot do off of our abilities. Lets do a thought experiement. Take you both, and put you into the middle of an open field, with only what have on you right now for equipment. and lets add a band of theives are coming at you, we will start with 5. 2 on horse, 3 on foot. Now, i am sure jed, being an expert swordsman, would have no problem taking out these common thugs. same with Pace. What about 10? 12? 15? What is your limit, Jed? How many would it take before you say "ummm, tis better to live and fight another day". I know that with the proper application of our "gift" pace here could possibly handle up to 10 without breaking a sweat.
ill grant you that the choices we make help temper the greatness, but in raw form, this gift by itself makes us great. finishing, Jasper downs his ale.
now, if you will excuse me, i must find a bush out back and properly water it standing up, and swaying a little bit, Jasper heads out back.
As she rides next to Jak, Alathea can tell that he's in one of his depressed moods again. She knows that he hasn't slept in over a day and a half, but that's not the problem: she knows Jak as well as anyone other than him can, and she's seen him withdraw like this before. But she knows that she needs to give him space: if she goes to coax him out of it now, she'll just make things worse. But she's certain about one thing: his depression started when she and Jasmine had attempted to link with Jasper and Pace. Is he worried? Angry with me for linking with a madman?
Perhaps after he's had a chance to sleep, he'll feel better. I'll give him what time he needs, and then we'll talk.
"Perhaps, Jasper. The One Power does make you more dangerous than I, true, but it is also a weakness, is it not? It will one day claim you, unfortunately. And while I may not be able to take ten men in battle all at once, I can tell you that a well placed arrow will end your battle just as well as mine." Jed is not offended in the slightest by what Jasper has to say. He recognizes it is the truth and offers his own thoughts in return.
Once Jasper leaves, Jed continues his conversation with Pace. "You say that to you the One Power is like a raging fire that you must control... I often find that in battle, in a desperate situation, I am filled with a fire for battle, that too must be controlled. If I let it control me, I make mistakes and tire myself out. I'm sure it is not the One Power that fills me, of course, but perhaps it comes from a similar place... Maybe the Power is in all of us, deep down, and only a select few can bring it forth."
making a humorous look on his face, jasper chuckles at jak's proclomation. i like him better when he has no sleep. more fun
Alathea sinks into her bath and savors the heat of the water on her skin. Her muscles unknot, and she allows herself to relax. Already she feels cleaner, even though she fears that she'll never feel clean again after her brush with saidin.
Alathea is silent for after Jasmine speaks, content to soak with her eyes closed. But after a few moments, she sits up and looks at Jasmine. "It was terrifying, yes? So much fury, so much filth. And yet..." She trails off and shakes her head. She continues more confidently. "I think there will always be tension between Jasper and I. It isn't just what he...is, but how he acts. It is as if he is being willfully difficult. I can almost forget about what Pace is, but Jasper, he never lets me forget... But I am to blame, too, yes? I will do my best to not let him bother me, and trust that eventually he will tire of his games."
You've apparently chosen a good inn as the night passes uneventfully, all the patrons enjoying a quiet evening with little roudiness to disturb anyone. You all depart for your beds at various times and arise the next morning rested and refreshed, some of you a little the worse for wear having enjoyed one too many beverages.
Stepping out of the inn's front door, the heat of the day hits you in the face and you can tell it's only going to get hotter as the day wears on. Heading into the city, you're soon swept up in the noise and grandeur of one of the land's grand cities. People crowd the streets, vendors hawking wears and all manner of people running their daily tasks that is the life blood of Tanchico. Veiled men and women walk by everywhere although foreigners aren't an uncommon sight either.
Surprising in their seeming lack of presence are the Seanchan. You happen across scattered patrols of strangely armored individuals but far fewer than one would expect in an occupied city. You've only seen one sul'dam, easily identifiable by the lightning panels on her dress and the small space that seems to accompany her as people quickly get out of her way. She walks alone, no damane accompanying her yet Jasmine's eyes still tighten at the sight of her until she is quickly lost to the crowd.
After a bit you arrive in front of the Panarch's Palace and it is as grand as people have said, rising up above the structures around it. The main entrance open to the public is easily identifiable, with guards stationed 4 on each side of the massive gates. Surprisingly, the guards look to be Taraboners rather than Seanchan, in fact there seems to be little in the way of Seanchan activity within the palace at all. There seems to be only a scattering of people interested in viewing the items today, the line small and moving quickly.
As you all stand on the opposite side of the plaza, you can easily see that those wishing to enter the Outer Palace to view the wondrous artifacts are surrendering any weapons they carry before being allowed entrance.
Jasper devoids himself off all emotions. He hardly stops as he walks through the gates into the palace, weaving between people, and making those that would stop him think otherwise from his cold demenor. Waiting for jak and alathea, Jasper glances around, taking in the architecture, and some of the various displays.
Nearing the front of the line, Jak subconsciously re-checks his hidden blades one more time. Winning any game of chance had to do with being able to change the odds. When the moment came, if you could guarantee a number of small things would fall your way, you stood a far better chance of winning the pot. In this case, that meant making sure he could be equipped with his tools and a few blades even in places where they weren't expected.
He was dressed in some of his finer clothes, a light wool but well-cut black jacket with matching pants and a soft white shirt. They were - as always - slightly rumpled, though Jak didn't seem aware of the fact.
He thinks back on the conversation he'd had with Lath and Jasper on the way over, "The easiest lie to get away with are ones that are simple and straightforward. Alathea and I are brother and sister, and you're our young friend. We're in town on business. Traders. We'd heard the Seanchan meant good trade, so we came to check it out. None of us have ever seen the Palace, so we thought we'd take a few hours to do so. But if it comes to it, let me do the talking. Jasper, you lie worse than an Aiel swims."
He snaps out of his reverie as he steps up to the guards, a smile coming to his lips. Well… time to toss the dice, he thinks as he surrenders the beautiful short sword he usually wears on one hip and the dagger that balances it on his other.
jasper laughs at jak's response
and you are easier to lieing than that 2 copper whore you had last night
Laughs louder
Jak just smiles back, "Some of us don't have to buy our company, Jasper." He begins looking around, "So which direction are we supposed to go?"
Jasmine looks at her companions and says Shall we gentlemen? before heading into the palace. Jasmine comports herself as the perfect lesser noble lady. She pretends to look unimpressed at the grandeur, sighing a bit and yawning prettily behind her hand. As the tour goes on Jasmine is on the lookout for servants entrances, any nobility she recognizes, Seanchan, and items. She is not only looking for the ter'angreal that they are looking for but any item that looks like it might have something to do with the power.
Not seeing the item, Jasmine leans over to Jed and Ryland and whispers This isn't working we are going to need to get into the inner sections of palace to really look. I have an idea so play along. At a moment when they are deep into the palace and it looks like an opportune time, Jasmine starts breathing deeply before swooning onto the floor, apparently fainting from the exertion of walking the grounds and from the heat.
Alathea is happy to see that Jak appears to have shaken his dark mood. She had worried about him all night, almost to the point of going to his room and waking him up. The fact that he hadn't slept in almost two days was the only thing that kept her from doing so. Although she worries less now that he's happy again, she still intends to speak to him about what happened in the field. Perhaps when they returned from the palace...
Alathea is dressed to match Jak's description of their party. Not her best dress, but a fine wool dress cut in the Ebou Dari style, deep red and detailed with white. It would serve well as a trader's dress. She smiles at the ease with which Jak invented their story: that man could lie better than the Dark One himself! It had always come so easily to him...
Alathea surrenders her dueling knife to the guardsmen at the palace without issue. She doubts that she'll need it to protect herself, and besides, there's only one person that she feels like challenging to a duel. She knows, however, that Jasmine would frown upon her for losing her cool with Jasper if she does so.
Fiallain watches impassively as Jasmine and Pace link, though under her expressionless features, her mind roils in indecision. Her heart skips a beat as Jasmine turns and nods, clearly at her before her gaze moves on to include Alathea. Light! She does know...
Swallowing hard, Fiallain closes her eyes and tries to soothe her fraught nerves, trying to summon the emptiness that usually fills her right before the power opens. The harder she tries though, the faster her mind races. Focus! she tells herself. In exasperation, she opens her eyes to find that Alathea and Jasper have already linked. The others are remounted. Her cheeks red, Fia growls to herself and follows the group back to town.
Mouth twisted in a half grimace, half snarl, Fiallain watches from a safe distance as the second group enters the palace. She glares over at Pace as if it's all his fault that she is swathed neck to ankle in that confounded contraption called a dress. If you laugh when I trip on this bloody thing, you'll regret it!
When they finally enter the palace, Fiallain surrenders her knife to the guards. Her spears are back at the inn along with her 'proper clothes', a fact that no doubt is not helping her foul mood. However, once inside, she subsides, partially in awe of the impressive place, and partly because she begins to focus in on the task at hand.