The rest of breakfast is one of relaxation and enjoyment. Knowing that, for the moment, you are protected and amongst friends (and those who know your situation), you enjoy the food and begin to joke amongst yourselves. Hilarity ensues as Ryvin tells the joke When did the Ogier cross the road? 30 years later after thinking through all the possibilities relating to the dirt and its composition and debating if another 30 years would be enough time to show his friends that he isnt acting in haste, like a human. Amorial, at first, feels a bit perturbed, but seeing it as a joke, laughs and laughs.
Breakfast concludes with Jasper saying simply we move after lunch. please be ready by then he stands and walks out the door.
The rest of the time is spent rushing about, speaking to servants about goods needed for the journey, a quick jaunt into town to see a clothier for ready made dresses and traveling clothes.
I began this journey with the grey man, many moons ago. I sought the differences between him and his cousins, the Green Man. The differences are huge. Where the green man enhances the beauty around him, the Grey Man seeks a form of balance, balance in nature on a global scale. If too many perform to much kindness, then a version of "evil" is imparted, to counterbalance the kindness. No greater proof of this is seen when the Grey man showed the Aes Sedai the proper location for The Bore. Up to that point, the greatness of Aes Sedai was vast, tipping the scales too far towards good. In an effort to balance, the Grey Man had to achieve a balance.
When the pendulum has swung so far one way, the pendulum swings far to the other. This occurred when the Dark One broke free. The War of Power was the tipping point, and everything that came after, the breaking, the Longing for the Ogier, all that was necessary.
Finally, lunch has arrived. You are directed towards the stable, where horses have been prepped with your traveling items stowed upon the horses and donkey. Jasper stands in the middle of the structure, his face like stone. 9 other asha'man surround him, with the same look upon their faces.
With no warning, a giant slash appears by a door. It twists upon a central axis, and opens, revealing a grass covered hill, overlooking a river.
The asha'man immediately leap through the hole and take up positions around it.
Jasper looks back at the group Shall we? he asks, the hint of kindness showing within his voice, the first time he has ever shown any kind of emotion.
Ryvin, now dressed far differently from before, breathes in sharply when she sees the hole in the air... but then nods and leaps through it, a burgeoning grin on her face.
The Ebou Dari looks very different from before. Shockingly, she is wearing trousers and boots under a riding dress of unadorned, black wool. Over the dress, she wears a chainmail shirt, as if she were planning to go to battle! A dagger hangs from her belt in the approved Ebou Dari style, but Ryvin is flouting her nation's customs by buttoning her dress all the way up and tying her black-and-white hair back in a messy braid.
The broad and very spiky dog collar she has put on her neck is just out of fashion everywhere...
Amorial looking at the hole with greater uneasiness then the last time he passed through one steps in behind Ryvin. The usually talkative Amorial has been quiet all morning and he remians quiet now.
[ooc]amorial, you can, itll be a gather information check. But there is a possibility that the time rolled may be greater than the time you have. you are in the library, and its about 2 hours before lunch. The gather information roll is 1d6+1 hours in length[ooc]
Jasmine walks calmly through the gateway and joins Ryvin on the other side. Looking around she too is holding the source and wary of potential attack. She is wearing a domani-cut riding dress of green and brown. It looks like it would be at home in a palace but also when looking closer, see that it is cunningly designed to allow freedom of movement should the need arise.
Jasmine takes a moment to look over the others as they come through, trying to gauge each ones strength in the power.
Ryvin
Litheene
Keelix, in true warder style, darts through the gateway ahead of Ryvin, his color shifting cloak pulled around him, and his hand on his blade's hilt.
Vala looks and walks into the portal in a new fresh explorers out fit of yellow and black. Her armor and swords are pristine and she looks every the official. she looked around and than looked back to litheene
Perception
After everyone is through, Jasper crosses the threshold, and suddenly the hole vanishes.
Casting your eyes about, looking for signs of threat, you take in a large wide open expanse. Rolling hills, some with signs of farming, others fallow, dot the country side. Far out, about a league away, sits a single farmhouse, smoke rising from its single chimney. A large barn stands a short distance away, its red paint and black roof presenting a stark contrast to the pale blond and yellow checkered fields beyond.
Opposite the farm house, you see a large forest begin, and stretch to the south and east of your position. The broad leaves of these trees prevent you from seeing very far into its dark depths.
We are two days north of Salidar. I know i said i would drop us only a couple hours north of the place, but i felt it prudent to allow the Warders that patrol these woods time to react to our presence. We are not invaders, but diplomats. Jasper says, cutting into your study of the surrounding area.
Asha'man, form up Jasper barks. Quickly, the men fall in around Jasper. A quiet discussion is held, with one man suddenly objecting loudly.
No! I do not like it. the unknown man speaks
Enough, Dashiva. You will take the men to the farm house and wait. I will send word through the usual means, every hour. If i do not check in, then you know that something has happened, and then you can swoop in and save me. Understand? Jasper says in a commanding tone.
Dashiva nods.
Turning his horse, Jasper rides up to you all, while his men turn and head towards the farm house. Shall we? He asks, waving his hand towards the south.
I can't imagine my sisters would wish to anger the Dragon or the M'hael by detaining one of his Asha'man, though of course I cannot speak for all of them. I have come from these so if you wish introduction perhaps it would be best to let me introduce you. Looking at the others she says Perhaps that would be best with all of you. I am not without influence among them and my introduction will carry some weight with the Hall and the Amyrlin.
Thats putting it mildly, Jasmine. Influence with the hall.
And suddenly, he laughs, a laugh that sounds odd, almost on the point of hysteria. Coughing suddenly, he glances about, his features stoic.
Sorry. I let myself get carried away. his voice devoid of emotion.
Ryvin frowns a little at Jasper -- and then approaches him.
"Look," she says, "I'm not an Aes Sedai, so don't think of me as if I were some Red Ajah-sister, arright? Don't have a clue how to cut folks off from the Source, so there's that, too. Now, I'm not a diplomat, I'm the daughter of a tanner and an armsman, so if I sound rough, don't take it to heart."
Ryvin slowly rubs her hands together while looking Jasper in the eye. "Let's talk plain: saidin is tainted. Using it drives men mad. I know a weave that gives a bit of ease. It only holds for one day, but I don't mind using it every day if that helps. We're all on the same side, right? I can help a bit, so I'm offering."
Her gaze takes in all of the Asha'man. "I'm offering to anyone who feels strained, or just nervous about what might happen. Don't hesitate to ask. If you want to do so in private, then that's fine, too."
Jasper and the men stop what they are doing, and stare at Ryvin.
Ease the madness? Jasper asks, looking at Ryvin and then at the men.
Show me he commands, getting off his horse and approaching Ryvin.
"I'm going to have to touch your head," Ryvin warns, "and channel at you. It won't wipe the slate clean, neither. But I won't hurt you on purpose. Still want me to do it?"
If Jasper answers in the affirmative, Ryvin gently takes him by the temples and closes her eyes.
Litheene and Jasmine can see Ryvin channel flows of Air, Spirit and Water, creating a weave in the style of the Aes Sedai.
Jasper can feel something not unlike to a wave of cool, cleansing water, sweeping away some of the debris cluttering his mind.
"There," Ryvin says. She lets go and backs up a step, sweat suddenly beading her brow. "I think that went... reasonably well. Not perfect, but I put a good bit of power into it. Should stay with you for a bit longer than a day, methinks."
a far off look overcomes Jaspers face.
I feel, better he says, turning towards his men. as if, a weight, no, a taint, has been lifted off of me. This is wonderful! Please, can you do this again? to the others? he asks, wonderment in his voice.
"Once more with the same strength," Ryvin confirms, nodding. "A few more times, too, but those weaves would be much weaker, and they'd only last a day, maybe two on the outside."
Jasmine looks over at Ryvin and says I know the weave as well. I would be happy to assist you so that you do not tire yourself overmuch.
Litheene rides carefully through the gate, puzzled over Amorial's emotions. He went to the library didn't he? What did he find there?
As Ryvin perfomrs the mind healing weave, Litheene moves to stand besides Jasmine. Ryvin, no need to strain yourself so, we might have much ahead of us. I'll be glad to assist as well, together with Jasmine we can aid all of these man.
Vala stands and listens her hands crossed under her breasts as she watches the three women interact with the male channeler.
Amorial remains silent as the Asha'men and Aes Sedai discuss issues related to the One Power and Madness. Disbelief fills him as he realizes that the Seanchan Ogier may have been correct in what they stated all along.
Amorial turns to Keelix as the others are distracted, "I know that our trip through the gateway has changed you, what do you remember from before our travels here?"
Amorial remains silent as the Asha'men and Aes Sedai discuss issues related to the One Power and Madness. Disbelief fills him as he realizes that the Seanchan Ogier may have been correct in what they stated all along.
Amorial turns to Keelix as the others are distracted, "I know that our trip through the gateway has changed you, what do you remember from before our travels here?"
** spoiler omitted **
you remember the journey from Dumai Wells, to cairhein, and battling the black ajah sister, but also remember spending the last two weeks traveling from Baeleron. But, these thoughs of the woodsman, the travel, are that of a different man...
Vala looks at Keelix and than Amorial. She than shakes her head,
"It is an interesting thought, I know you were once Amar, but Keelix is different and yet alluring?" she than smiles adn than looks at Keelix and than back to the area around them.
After jasmine, litheene and Ryvin finish up with cleansing the Asha'man, the two groups split up. The asha'man ride away, their looks of death slightly softer.
An hour passes as you ride towards the tree line. Keelix and Vala ride about, ensuring the security of the group. Amorial is lost in thought, pondering something that has him engrossed and withdrawn. Jasmine and Litheene discuss differences between their worlds, and surprisingly, Jasper has fallen in alongside Ryvin. He begins to talk to her, asking his own questions about her realm, her point of view, attempting to understand the differences between him and her. His questions, wide reaching at first, begin to become more specific to Ryvin herself, questions of her background, where she grew up, family, friends, training.
Keelix takes the lead as the group approaches a noticeable trail at the trees, well worn from the shod hooves of horses.
Just before you can cross into the trees, Jasper gasps and whirls his horse around.
He howls, urging his horse into a sprint back the way you came.
Looking back the way you came, you see Jasper tear up the side of a slight hill that you had earlier rode down. As Jasper begins to ascend, an odd force presses down upon the grasses in the field from the opposite direction. When it crosses Jasper, both him and his horse are thrown up into the air. Jasper is thrown clear of the horse, and both him and the horse land upon their backs.
Before you can react, the force slams into you as well. Its not a force, but a sound, an explosion, the likes of which you have never heard of before. The shockwave of sound throws you all backwards, into the trees.
Amorial awaiting anxiously Keelix/A'mar's response is caught off guard by the deadly explosion. Remarkably the huge Ogier responds with a nimbleness which heretofore he has never displayed!
Reflex Save
Ride Check
Damage
Jasmine is hurled through the air and slams into the trees, her breath leaving her body in a rush. Seeing her horse dead, a deep fire blazes forth within her as she attempts to push herself to her feet.
Typically day dreaming and lost in an interesting intellectual conversation with Jasmine, Litheene barely manages to understand that something is wrong, before Jasper is flying in the air with his horse. Reaching for her recently discovered ability to quickly embrace the source, Litheene suddenly finds herself upside down, with any connection to the power lost as both her and the horse are slammed into something, back first.
Dimly, through the bond, Litheene feels Amorial managing to dodge the shock-wave, and his realization of the power of the bond. Well, at least I've managed to help him with something Litheene thinks through the pain, as she tries once again for the power, while struggling to disengage from her horse.
Ryvin speaks frankly with Jasper, although she does not say too much about her family. About her world views and the little bit of training she had in weapons, and the greater amount in the One Power, she is open enough. "The White Tower's teachings seemed too static to me, but the Seanchan were worse. They don't trust those who wield the One Power, so they drill rote into them again and again. If I ever clap eyes on another sul'dam, I'll..."
Then Jasper goes rushing off, and Ryvin turns to look after him. 'Saidin?' she thinks -- and then the wave of solid sound hits her and flings both her and her mount like paper darts. Crushing pain shoots through her when she hits a tree...
Ride
Vala hears explosions and rolls from her horse to get to Litheene
damage
She shakes the damage and growls, and kips up
Acrobactics
Assuming Amorial sees Litheenes's phlight he will charge towards her to pull the poor creature off.
As soon as everything stops moving, Ryvin reaches out for saidar, the rush of life helping her to master the pain.
"Off... of... me," she grunts as she weaves Arms of Air and shoves the dead (?) horse off of her.
Ryvin's eyes open wide, and the bond she shares with Keelix fills with horror as she realizes the numbness beneath her waist is not going away...
The dead horse lying on top of Ryvin practically goes flying, albet safely away from the others. The Aes Sedai can see the glow of saidar around Ryvin, but it is shot through with swarms of red sparks.
"I can't move my legs!" Ryvin shrieks, tears flowing from under eyelids scrunched up in pain in terror. "I can't even feel my flaming legs!"