blast, we’re being attacked and we don’t know if this is a two way fight or a three way fight. Well I need to do something.’ Turning to the Seanchan warrior nearest him. ”We are five, there is a borderlander bowman on the roof above us that called out, and the Ashaman on the ground that you see, but there are also two ‘Maidens’ on the flanks, do not shoot us.”
As he steps forward, ’Well, this is what I signed up for, I wanted to be a blademaster, it has to start somewhere.’ focusing his mind, he attempts to release everything to form the void; positioning himself to begin ‘Leopard in High Grass.’ Waiting to see if any attackers make it to the rock.
Tiana draws her shortbow and pauses a beat, before releasing an arrow towards one of the creatures.
Not waiting to see if her shot hits, she slips down in to the underbrush and begins to move forward silently.
Jair shouts in response to the arrow growing suddenly under his position. In Response, Jair launches an arrow as well at an attacker, striking the man in the chest. He falls to the ground, out of sight in the thick foliage.
Isa, seeing the danger at the same time as Jair's warning, launches an arrow at another shadowy figure. The arrow flies wide, but the man takes cover under some sinewy brush.
Tiana, pausing momentarily, lines up a shot and looses at a figure, only to have her shot miss as well.
Elathras, hearing the warning, he shouts at the seanchan guardsman next to him about his companion up on the roof and out in the willows. As he explains the situation, he unsheaths his large Nodachi and swings it lightly in his hands, loosing up his muscles. He breaths, centering himself and becomes one wiht the Void. His stance shifts, awaiting an enemy that is foolish enough to threaten him.
Bormanes and Dalia work together in tandem, as a brother and sister will do, attacking Jamyn. Dalia channels a weave of water at the Slimy spy, while her brother attacks low. The shortsword forces jamyn to move and twist, yet Bormanes scores a hit upon the taunting man's left calf. The chaotic movements are too much for dalia, as her weave solidifies in the air just over Jamyns shoulder where his face was. A large clump of ice falls to the ground.
Lucius screams out so that everyone in the room . Lucius takes a step back from Jamyn, allowing him an opportunity to free his longsword strapped to his side.
Righteous fury fills Jamyn's face, contorting it into a sick mockery of humor. A snarl fills his face, and he raises his hands up to cross in front of his chest. He hurls them down to his side, fists upright; his head tilts back and he howls to the heavens, and from him this massive wave of energy rolls through everyone, hurling them to the ground. THe building itself explodes out in a violent explosion, causing Jair to fall out into the blighted foliage. Everyone else is rocked from their feet, and shoved to the floor. The rock below Jamyn's feet cracks and splinters, causing a crater to form.
For a moment there is a lull, as everyone is shocked at what is going on. There, standing before you, is not jamyn the annoying traveler, nor Naidan the Seanchan spy and master Criminal.
No, someone else stands before you all.
Instead of an old man, bent forward in his late middle years, a man of white and dark grey hair, a man with aged lines upon his face, wrinkles and withered fingers; a man young and in full health stands. He wears the same clothing, disheveled and dirty, but the man underneath acts like he is wearing the finest silk and satin. His head and hair still retain the similar features of the scars and stipes on his head, but blazing red hair has replaced the previous look. The scars run down his face, over his eyes and down his cheeks, scars that run up and over his head to behind.
The man known as Jasper Firewyn.
and the cautionary stories that are told at the Chapterhouses have woefully underestimated his power and abilities. When he crossed his arms, you felt him embrace the Source.
He was caught completely by surpise at the sudden roiling of the building and it was all he could do to hold onto his bow as he tried to leap off the building safely....
"Blood and bloody ashes!"
He managed to blurt out as he hit the ground and rolled, his breath exploding from his lungs. That was unexpected to say the least. He rose wearily to his feet drawing an arrow and looking for any foes that had come from the portal to fire upon.
Bormanes coughs as he shakes his head from the floor where he suddenly finds himself. Jamyn must have channeled something. Lucky it wasn't worse. Looking up, he sees the figure standing in place of where Jamyn was, a moment of confusion washing over him. Still, he's wearing the same clothes and standing in the same place. He could channel - perhaps he'd channeled a disguise. Still, odd the Asha'man hadn't noticed it.
Bormanes picked himself up off the ground and lunged towards Jamyn - or whoever he was - short sword thrusting forward.
For a moment Lucius simply stares at .. Not Jamyn! Not HIM! .. from where he lays on the floor, the expression on his face clearly shows his expectation of death at this man's hands. But Lucius will not go into that dark night without a struggle. Drawing deeply on the Source, Lucius crosses the threshold between what is safe and what could do serious damage to himself, and channels!
Fortitude Save Roll: 12
Overchannel damage table: Headache and fatigue result in -2 penalty on all skill and ability checks, attack rolls, and saves. You also take damage and cannot overchannel until after at least 6 hours of rest.
Instead of a blinding flare of light in front of Jasper's eyes, there is a blinding flare of light in Lucius' own skull as the forming weaves crumble with painful effects. A trickle of blood seeps from the corner of Lucius' eyes and he slumps back to the floor with the heels of his hands pressed to his eyes.
'Blast, that can't be good.' Slightly dazed, Elathras picks himself up off of the ground. grabbing his sword his sword he moves north, seeing Jair, he asks, "Are you ok?"
Dalia shakes out the dust from the blast dazed as she is she manages to hold onto the source though it is clear whoever this is, is not someone with whom she could go toe to toe utilizing the One Power, still, she had a duty to try!
Isa gapes for a split second as the carnage of the ruined building settles. She is unsure of what just happened, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good! she starts moving towards the enemy to try to head them off.
The unknown assailants in the field surrounding the location of an old hut fire upon the seanchan guard that just stood up next to Jair. The arrows arc in the night sky, the broadheads glinting like shooting stars. The arrows overshoot the guardsman, making him leap to the ground, taking cover behind a wall remnant no taller than 3 feet in height. You ok? he asks Jair in his seanchan drawl. Jair responds with Blood and Bloody Ashes!
I knew i should have brought a bow... he says remorsely to jair. Fayne, you ok? Lady Sheyun? Lord Barrak? he shouts out, trying to get situational awareness.
yeah...im still herethe man festooned with weapony replies from his position. Im hurt. Lady Sheyun is injured. Can you come back to me? Fayne, report! Lord Barrak asks sternly.
Elathras pushes himself to his feet, and weaves through the wreckage to where what's left of the door frame stands. He looks down and sees his short term guard companion laying not to far away from him. He blinks, and looks closer, seeing that the weird looking rock next to him is actually the seanchan guardsmans' head, and his body is 10 feet away, buried under some rubble.
Fayne is dead! Elathras says to help out.
Bormanes, adreniline surging through his veins, easily leaps up from the sudden blast and lunges at the Jamyn, no Naidan. Dalia, seeing an opportunity, weaves a thread of Air at Jamyn, attempting to pin his arms to his sides.
The weave begins to snare around Jamyn's wrists, only to have him jerk them out of the constricting grasp. Unfortunately, this leaves an opening for Bormanes to connect with his sword. His blade rolls slightly and slices Jamyn's thigh.
Lucius, a credit to his Chapter, attempts to defend the others around him. unfortunately, his efforts to overchannel leaves him rolling on the ground, his focus and concentration shattered by the surge of Power.
Manwhen Sedai moans next to Dalia, her arm sticking straight out as if pointing to something in the sky. her body begins to tremble, her feet kicking and scrapping the floor.
The Aiel in the field, Tiana and Isa, remain hidden...waiting for the proper time to strike.
The moon, playing a dance with the clouds, suddenly shines brightly upon the landscape. The moonlight is so bright, it allows shadows to be formed.
Shadows play out around everyone and everything upon the small rock plateau. As people move, the shadows move with them, but jerking about, as if somehow not connected to their objects frame. Where shadows interconnect and cross, they seem to make darker shadows as if in the noon day sun.
As sudden as the light appears, it is gone, hidden again behind the clouds.
But something has changed.
A large imposing figure has appeared out of nowhere, standing next to Elathras by the old doorframe.
Standing over 10feet tall, the figure resolves out of the shadow wearing the customary dark green plate armor as found on the Ogier Deathwatch guards that glows with a subtle red tinge. Waves of-something-emenate from the tall figures armor, giving a distorted image to those that look upon his stature.
In his right hand he weilds a massive axe that glows a bright ice blue, reminding you of a frozen lake. from the head and down the shaft rings of miniature lightning bolts move up and down, providing a slight tang in the air similar to a thunderstorm.
Covering his left hand is a large iron gauntlet. Upon each knuckle, short iron nails protrude from the ironwork. overlapping plates that subtly grind upon the other provides a protection.
Amorial. Jamyn says to the large Ogier in a grave voice. Gone is his crazed look, his maniacal smirk, his soulless gaze. Replaced is the look of a man who has met an equal.
Jasper. I warned you what would happen the next time we meet. the Ogier says, his voice sounding strange, lifeless. For the seriousness of the situation, the lack of emotion sends a quiver of fear down your spine.
Jamyn,( no Naidan, wait, jasper?) shrugs.Perhaps. But you cannot do anything about it now. As you can see, i have hostages. And if you move a muscle, i will destroy this entire mountain. Jamyn says, sweeping his hand dramatically at Weathertop.
What makes you think i care anymore about hostages? maybe this affliction has changed me from who i was to something else? Uncaring...like you Amorial retorts.
Jamyn nods, conceding the point. Hence why it pays to have a backup plan. Kill me, and you release a Forsaken upon the world.
Amorial looks upon Jamyn with open hatred. I knew you were twisted and cruel, but not that cruel.
Sacrifices must be made to bring the Dark Lord back. Jamyn says glibly.
Amorial pauses, his hatred gone, replaced with concern. What?! Bring back?
Jamyn nods again, silently. And i left instructions on how to complete the task somewhere...
"I'm fine."
He lied to the Seanchan soldier when asked how he was. He was doing his best to look calm, but truthfully his stomach was dancing about like one of those maidens in a fistfight. He tried to take in a deep breath before the chaos in the hald destroyed building caught his ear.
The Dark Lord coming back? He cant, Light help us he cant!
Like a rock he stood there for a moment longer before an old Borderlander saying, death was lighter than a feather, Duty heavier than a mountain. Honor... such a funny concept and word it seemed as the young man contemplated life for the briefest of moments... Duty.
"Just keep them from getting behind me."
He said to the seanchan soldier beside him as he rose up and drew another arrow, moving to the corner of the building and firing at the closing figure.
Kill him or release a Forsaken? Restore the Dark One? What is he talking about? Bormanes is very confused now. Where did this Ogier - Amorial? - come from ? And Jamyn's real name was Jasper? These two apparently knew each other, and one wanted to kill the other. It was obvious to him that he was caught in the middle of some plot or other, and he had no idea what was going on. Still, Manwhen Sedai was apparently disabled, Lucius was on the ground, and it appeared to only be him and Dalia in the remains of the hut - and whoever this Jasper was, he was clearly a grave threat. Bormanes takes advantage of the distraction of this Amorial and again lunges at Jasper, this time targeting his back.
Unfortunately, he trips on some rubble and misses completely.
Dalia is torn between attacking this horrific foe and aiding Manwhen Sedai... the appearance of this Ogier, a Seanchan?, and the prisoners' reaction to this new figure eases the decision making process, Dalia kneels down to her Superior.
blast, that rock took his head clean off. Not the worst thing I’ve seen but that’s close. Well, better him than me I guess.’ As he rises to his feet, seeing the destruction and realizing part of it is the fallen Seanchan he answers for the dead man ” Fayne is dead!”.
’Need to figure out who is alive… well, there’s Jair and the other Seanchan guard.’ Rounding the corner he’s relieved to sees Jair and the other Seanchan guard, he barely notices the odd change in the moonlight and the peculiar dancing shadows, until there is a large form beside him. ”Blood and bloody ashes! What the …” Jumping back from the huge armored form Elathras attempt to drop into ‘Leopard in High Grass.’ But is unable to focus as every fiber of his being is screaming to run. As the Ogier announces himself and his intentions the borderlander, breaths slightly easier.
’The Ogier will deal with Jamyn, darklord or no, we need to deal with the one’s surrounding this rock. Good Jair is moving to a point where he can shoot, the other guard has his back, I can take the flank.’ Quickly making a decision, ”Yeah, protect his rear, I’ll start with the flank .”
Quickly running off the rock, jumping down the five foot onto the stinking oozing blight below. He moves the short distance, Nodachi raised high, bringing it slashing down at the dark figure, Nearly stumbling as he misses the overextended attack, in the rush.
Lucius scoots back while the traitor that hunts Ash'aman is distracted, then rises cautiously to his feet.
Silently, Isa darts forward. Swinging around Elathras' flank she nearly slips around the enemy's rear to try and take him from behind, but in the confusion and darkness, her blow swings dreadfully off.
Jair moves out a low crouch, keeping to the available cover, and then rises suddenly. His bow twangs and an arrow launches out at the nearest black-clothed figure. Unfortunately, his arrow flies high, disappearing in the darkness.
Dalia, opened to Saidan, channels a slight amount, and Delves Manwhen. She quickly discovers that Manwhen's back is shattered, rendering her unable to move.
Elathras pushes forward, covering the flank and attacking another of hte black-clothed figures. His attack misses, yet he manages to recover his stance and maintain his defenses.
Isa, materializing out of the darkness from her concealed position, attempts to catch the figure off-guard while he defends himself from Elathras' attack. Unfortunately, Isa plants her foot in the wrong spot, the vine under her wriggling suddenly, tripping her up and making her loose her balance.
Bormanes lunges at Jamyn, yet stumbles to the ground. Jamyn looks down at Bormanes, and suddenly Bormanes' hand feels like its caught in a vice.
Bormanes, ignoring the incredible pressure upon his hand, manages to block out the pain of the attack and growls up at Jamyn.
Jasper looks down at Bormanes, a surprised look upon his face. Well, thats unexpected. Perhaps there is potential for you after all.
Amorial takes a step forward, closer to Jasper. He speaks, but not at Jasper, but to Dalia
Asha'man! Aes Sedai! Take your troope and head up the ramp to the summit of Weathertop. I will handle this man. Amorial instructs.
Without missing her stride, Isa maneuvers away from the tripping vine and attacks again, aiming a kick at the back of the figure's knee.
Move to flank then attack:
’Impressive, she came out of nowhere, blasted blight, the footing is atrocious. This one must have the darkone’s own luck…what was that? Ashman’s troops? I wonder what Manwhen will say about that. Well if we’re to bug out, we need to get free of these troops.’ Realizing the need to break off contact, Elathras, recognizes an opportunity when the Maiden kicks at their opponents knee. Resetting his feet he begins the Kata for ‘Leopard in High Grass,’ striking toward the dark-cloaked figures shoulders.
As he continues the follow-through he calls over his shoulder, ”Jair, are they headed this way?”
He had been taking aim when he heard Elathras call out and like a babe new to the bow he glanced back torwards where the man called from just as he fired. He cursed under his breath as he backpedelled torwards the Shenarian and maiden since that damnable Seanchan soldier seemed to be glued to the ruined building.
"This has become a bit of a dogs dinner Im afraid my friends."
He muttered to Elathras and the 'calm' Aiel maiden Isa
Bormanes shook his hand out to further relieve the pressure - whatever the man had done, it hadn’t affected him as expected. At the Ogier’s words, Bormanes glances over at Dalia, waiting to see what she wanted him to do - he was beginning to suspect he was overmatched trying to kill the man in front of him.
Isa and Elathras, better positioned, quickly strike from their flanking positions. Isa's kick crushes the man's knee, bringing him to his knees. Unfortunately for the man, this brings his neck in line with Elathras' attack. the blow severs the mans head from his body, causing a fountain of blood to spurt up, splashing both Isa and Elathras bodies.
Dalia screams at Bormanes, drawing his attention to his sister. She waves at him frantically, urging him to come to her side.
Jair's shot goes wide, but has the result of the man hiding in the bushes to, if possible, hunker down even more.
As if a switch had been thrown, the sul'dam and leashed damane suddenly scream in terror, realizing what is going on. A type of herd mentality overwhelms them, and they flee into the night, heading towards the ramp in an unorganized cluster.
The seanchan captain, seeing an opportunity, grabs his charge, Lady Sheyun, throws her over his shoulder, and then charges after the gaggle of channelers, using the raised stone platform as cover.
The supposed Forsaken damane scrambles backwards, crawling over rocks and stones in her haste to flee the area.
Amorial... just disappears. In a blink he is suddenly no longer where he was standing. yet for as fast as it takes for you to realize that he disappeared, he reappears just as quickly in front of Jasper. His ax swings in a high overhead arc, and cuts through Jasper.
Only that is what it looks like, for Jasper has moved just as fast away from the strike.
The axe hammers into the ground with earth shattering force, causing a massive 5 foot wide crack to split its face. The corner, free of the its parents weight, shifts slightly, causing Lucius to shift and scramble to retain his balance.
Jasper is suddenly illuminated as a massive ball of fire erupts from his hand, and streaks at Amorial. Heat emmenating from the ball scorces the land as it lances at the tall Ogier. Amorial, seeing the supreme danger the ball contains, steps quickly forward and puts himself between lucius and Jasper. The ball explodes upon amorial's body, and he gives a cry of pain as the world around him suddenly lights up as if its the middle of the day.
’well at least his death was quick, if he serves the dark one It’s better than he deserved.’ Looking to Isa, he nods his head, acknowledging her strike, ”Nice kick.”
He turns to see the Seanchan woman run toward the north-east followed closely by the Captain carrying someone. He smiles at the maiden as he shakes the blood off his blade. ”Looks like it’s time to get out of here, let’s get the others and get moving.”
’I hope she can find her fellow ‘Maiden’ while I cover Jair.’ turning and running past Jair, he tells his fellow northerner, ”Dog’s dinner is right, Let’s move brother.” He stops just the other side of Jair, letting his momentum shift into an attack, as he plants his right foot, sliceing his Nodachi at the darkling nearing Jair.
The maiden reaches up and wipes a bit of the splattered blood from her forehead with her fingers. Looking at Elathras, she returns his nod with an acknowledgment of her own. "Seems you knew how to take advantage of it. Well done." It is impossible to see her expression with the veil covering her features, but the voice seems to carry a faint hint of respect.
Following after the warrior, she soon outpaces the man as she heads in the general direction her sister should be, and into a position to intercept any enemies should they try to chase the retreating wetlanders. Along the way, another arrow slides into its place on her bowstring.
Bormanes rushes over to Dalia, leaving Jamyn, or Jasper, or whoever he is to the Ogier. I'll kill him one day, but that day is not today, I guess. Getting over to her, he says, "That Ogier has the right of it - we need to get out of here, although why the summit of Weathertop I don't know. Do you need me to carry Manwhen Sedai?"
Dalia has tears in her eyes but she holds firm, "Yes Brother, quickly let's move her, once we are sa... less in danger, I will attempt to heal her!"
Bormanes sheathes his short sword, then picks up Manwhen Sedai and moves behind Dalia as they flee the house.
Lucius moves quickly to Dalia and Bormanes, drawing his sword and preparing to defend them as they work to move the injured Aes Sedai, "If you wish, I am willing to link my strength to yours to heal the Aes Sedai, Dalia."
Lucius follows Dalia and Bormanes out of the ruined house.
Dalia nods to Lucius breathlessly as she runs.
As if an order was given, arrows begin to streak through the night from the shadowy figures hidden amongst the wasteland.
Arrows embed themselves into elethras, jair, and bormanes. One shadowy figue suddenly screams and then cuts off, falling to the ground.
Bright flashes of light erupt from around nighttime landscape, as Amorial and Jasper continue to hammer at each other.
It was only a graze - Bormanes was barely scratched by the arrow. Still, he'd come awfully close to death there, and they needed to hurry. Finding more speed, Bormanes began running faster, trying to put more distance between himself and the shadowy figures, while also ensuring Dalia wasn't in danger.
With a raising gesture, Lucius channels pure fire, bringing the fire into being in the clothing of one of their assailants.
He cried out suddenly as the arrow struck, completely caught by surprise at its sudden appearance. He shouldnt have been surprised Their foes were not going to just stand there and let him shoot them but still. It was the first time an arrow had ever found its mark in him.
'Pull it together Jair. You'll be fine, the Aes Sedai can heal this, just get to the Aes Sedai.'
He thought to himself.
"The Seanchan are fleeing the bastards. Where are the others?"
He called out to Elathras, drawing an arrow to his bow and returning fire before glancing back tapping Elathras' shoulder and rushing torwards the others.
Isa whips her head around as a volley of arrows suddenly hurtles through the air and cries and grunts of pain come from behind her.
Pivoting around on her foot, she focuses on one of the archers. Narrowing above the veil, her eyes do not leave him as her bow rises and its string pulls back past her ear in one smooth motion. A slight pause. Soft exhalation. Release. A single black-fletched arrow flies back towards the enemy... and Isa is on the move again.
Dalia did her best to keep up with her taller faster brother knowing she had to escape as did he if Manwhen Sedai was to live.
Weathertop.
A visible reminder of the Age of Madness. Of an age where men who channeled and went crazy, mad from the taint that came from the Dark One's retribution from the Dragon's strike on Shayol Ghul.
Pulled from the depths of the earth millennia ago, its very form begets those visiting the region to look upon it with wonder and fear.
Used as a communication relay station, a fortress, a jail, and recently a espionage exchange location, Weathertop has seen its share of combat and cultural expansion.
With its long history of warfare, it's sides have had twin trails chiseled from it's stout rock face. At first nothing more than foot trails, one side is a wide expanse of upkept road, where 4 horses can gallop abreast with room to spare. the other trail is a secondary trail, used as a means to observe the opposite side that the main trail wraps around.
At its summit sits a collection of buildings. A garrison, a jail, a watch tower with wood stacked high, and a large bowl carved into the center of the flat plateau top. At over 1000 feet high, the wind howls and moans constantly, causing loose window shutters to slam and bang.
The journey to the top of the natural tower was fraught with danger and dismay. The unknown assailants that attempted to kill you and the party harassed your heels for part of the ascension before turning and retreating down the trail. As you journeyed further up, you began to see large orange glows upon the horizon. Flashes of brilliant light, blue, orange, yellow, flared to life, breifly illuminating the surrounding areas of their birth.
Those...those are villages along the wall. someone says in a monotone voice.
but..but who? where... another voice responds before trailing off.
It's started then a third voice coughs. This voice is recognizable. It is Manwhin Sedai's voice.
Suddenly light expoldes in the night time sky, its origin in a place not to distant from you.
Kandelmar...it burns! Dalia says simply, unable to put into words what she is seeing.
unable to do much beyond witness the burning, the group finally turns and strode to the summit.
Here.Lucius says, gesturing in the dawns light at the standing garrison. perhaps we will be lucky to find dressings for the wounded.
inside you see a large hall, easily 30feet wide by 100 feet long. long tables set evenly with benches; bowls, plates, utensils bedeck the surface.
Bormanes carries Manwhen Sedai into the mess hall, rather achy and tired - running and carrying the older woman had been rather exhausting. He finds a suitably clear area to set her down, then stands and stretches. He looks at the older Aes Sedai, what he wants to say playing in his head. What in the name of the Light is going on? What was that about a sacrifice to the creature atop Weathertop? Why are we now up Weathertop? What happened with Jamyn, or Jasper, or whoever? Who was that Ogier? Why is Kandelmar burning? What has started? Answer me!
Out loud, what he says is, "Manwhen Sedai, why is Kandelmar burning? What has begun? What precisely just happened down at the negotiating hut, apart from the negotiations completely failing?"
Lucius leads the way into the hall, then turns to Dalia, "Are you skilled in Healing? Have you ever Linked with a man? I have only Linked a couple of times during my training."
Isa nods at Bormanes as she takes up a position to keep watch over the approaches to the party's shelter.
"I too would like to know what is going on."
’Blood and bloody ashes, that stings!’ Flinching, as he grabs the arrow in his shoulder, ’Need to leave be, taking it out will just make it bleed more.’ Elathras releases the arrow as he hears Jair curse the Seanchan for cowards. Feeling his fellow borderlander tap his shoulder, as he encourages him to flee, the swordsman nods. Swinging his large blade to distract the archer in front of him; he takes off after Jair, dripping blood as he goes.
Having hung back as a rearguard, Elathras is the last to peak. Barely noticing the fire, he sheaths his sword, and rests his hands on his knees. The loss of blood from the arrow in his shoulder now a trickle, but his mind fuzzy. Following Bormanes and others into the building, he looks from Lucius to Dalia, as their conversation turns to healing. Nodding in agreement, as he gestures toward the arrow. ”Yes, that would be good to know.” He nods towards the door asking. ”Do we need to set a watch? Or will our enemies not pursue us here?”
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The seanchan captain carrying his ward lays Sheyun down upon another table. Ill take watch. you deal with them the captain instructs Elathras.
Manwhin coughs slightly, pain filling her face, yet the cough is equally for physical and mental discomfort. potent questions, damning answers. she says, looking up at the ceiling above.
a long pause fills the room as the 3 sul'dam and 2 damane shuffle about, unsure what to do.
Kandelmar burns because it needs to. Manwhen sedai says, a calmness falling upon her. But, what is odd, is her sudden accent. It is strange, unheard of to your ears The idea was simple. under the guise of a spy trade, a contingent of Seanchan forces were to enter No-man's land. under the cover of night, they would attack a few vilages and one large settlement. Kandelmar was selected for such an attack. To show the nations of the West that the Seanchan Empire was attacking, a serious attack. Those stationed along the wall, who survived tonights attack, would descend upon the Seanchan holding Arad Doman. Within a few days, the Seanchan would be pushed from the nation of Arad Doman, and would then sue for peace.
Taking a deep breath, she continues But...what happened tonight...last night...so confusing..ah..Naidan...Jamyn...It was his plan. Bring in the Seanchan, kill the Norden...she pauses, looking at everyone in the room.
Bormanes feels a chill run down his spine as Manwhen's accent suddenly changes to one he did not recognize, and as she told them why Kandelmar needed to burn. Why were they inviting this war, and why had she conspired with this Naidan or Jamyn or whoever it was to start this? What made her think the Seanchan would sue for peace after an invasion of Arad Doman? Why would they not fight back and attempt to take more? And if this was the plan in the first place, what had gone wrong in the night?
Bormanes' arm still bled slightly from an arrow graze, but it wasn't bad all things considered. His voice took on a somewhat harsh aspect as he asked, "And just who are the 'Norden' you planned to kill? Why have some Seanchan break the truce to attack Kandelmar? And where are you from, Manwhen?" He intentionally left the honorific off of her name - he wasn't sure she was actually an Aes Sedai. He was also pretty sure that if he and Dalia were two of these 'Norden' she wanted to kill, his sword would be going through her chest, regardless. No one threatened his sister.
He almost didnt notice the change at first, He had been fussing with the arrow in his shoulder, slightly rocking back and forth. His eyes in truth had been watching the Sul'Dam and Damane shuffled about, they made him so nervous. Like Bormanes he shivered at the change in her accent, even more so for the cold admittance of that plan.
So many innocents in those towns dying under fire now....
He swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. That couldnt be some Aes Sedai plan could it? It was madness. He found himself looking to catch Elathras' eyes as he slowly tried to draw an arrow from his quiver...
"Yes DO continue to explain to us whats going on."
He added slipping backwards towards the wall. Whatever was about to happen he didnt want anyone behind him.
you are the Norden young Bormanes. All of you manwhens eyes sweep the room before falling again upon Bormanes.
Suddenly, Manwhen gasps and sighs. ahhhh...the pain, its lessened now. Why the Seanchan? Well, thats easy. You supplement the current ruler with one who is more favorable to your predicament.