********************************************************************** Hi, This is Ken Kofman, sending out yet another _As The Wheel Turns_ posting. I suppose I should put some sort of copyright notice on this, so here goes: Copyright, Ken Kofman (c) 1994. All rights reserved except for those that Tor and Robert Jordan deserve, and except that anyone who wants to copy this material may do so, so long it remains unaltered, including this notice, and so long as no fees of any kind are charged for its use. In other words, enjoy it, show it to all your friends, be inspired to run your own game, but since I'm not making any money off of this, you shouldn't either. I hope I did that right. Anyway, KenK ken@ictv.com ********************************************************************** Our next session will be on June 30, Thursday, 7pm EST. I hope you all can make it. If you cannot, please let me know in advance. If you have not yet received a copy of the game summary up until I began GMing, please let me know, and I shall send one to you. Comments, kudos and criticisms are always appreciated and acknowledged, even welcomed. In our last session... On the night following the battle against the Trollocs in the Two Rivers, Ezra dreamt a strange dream, in which he climbed unto a high place amongst the mountains, and saw a wondrous sight, a bush of roses that burned and was not consumed. Ezra did converse with the Voice that emanated from that living flame, begging forgiveness for past crimes. Then were words of forgiveness spoken unto Ezra, and a strange command, to go down unto the Pharaoh of Egypt and say 'Let my people go, that they might worship Me.' Ezra abased himself, and left the Presence and his shoes upon the mountain. Climbing down the treacherous slopes, Ezra's grip was confounded, and he did fall into the cloudy abyss, where a different voice mocked him until his body broke itself upon the ground below. And Ezra awoke from this dream, and slept again until the morning, for still it was night. And it was evening, and it was morning. Jennifer emerged from a restful sleep and did ask Kareina Sedai of the Green Ajah all manner of questions, many of which the Aes Sedai did answer. The people of the Two Rivers, unaccustomed to war as they were, nevertheless were of strong and stubborn stuff, and were about the business of rebuilding their village, Emond's Field, even as the outsiders were leaving for parts unknown. Accompanying Kareina Sedai, Ezra and Jennifer were Randy Carter, Suldan, Elaida Sedai, three young men from Emond's Field, and Selene. Then did Kareina Sedai begin to train Jennifer in the ways of saidar, the female portion of the One Power, of the True Source that turns the Wheel of Time, as she had done for Randy Carter only a few weeks before. But on the fourth morning of travel, Randy Carter and Jennifer awoke to discover that Kareina Sedai and the young villager, Rand al'Thor had disappeared from amongst their respective beddings. Their belongings were untouched, and their beddings undisturbed. Neither the woodcraft of Ezra and Suldan, nor the channeling of Elaida Sedai of the Red Ajah could detect any sign of abduction or secretive leavetaking. The Aes Sedai and the village boy were no more. Elaida Sedai searched Kareina Sedai's belongings, but if she discovered any clue she spoke no word. Kareina Sedai had left a letter addressed to her 'teacher, Elaida Sedai', and another letter for Randy Carter. Of her own letter, Elaida spoke no word. But of the letter addressed to Randy Carter, Elaida seemed of two minds, whether to keep it for herself, or to give it to Randy Carter. Finally, the Aes Sedai gave the sealed missive into Randy's hands. Kareina Sedai's final words were startling, for they spoke of a grave Foretelling, not to follow Elaida Sedai in her travels or otherwise travel with her in any manner whatsoever, for any Earth people who travelled in her company would surely be dead within the span of one month. Again did Kareina Sedai reaffirm her belief that Randy Carter should lead her own life and make her own choices, despite the wishes of others, perhaps older and wiser, yet did Kareina hint at her own wish, that Randy Carter stand in her stead at Tarmon Gaidon, the Last Battle, which Kareina had long known she was fated never to see. Kareina Sedai further told Randy Carter that she would not make withdrawal easy, were that her decision, for Elaida assuredly would release the warrior Suldan from her service, and into Randy Carter's, whether Randy Carter would or no, and that Ezra would surely go with her on his own volition. Randy Carter read these words, and Jennifer was anxious to read them as well. Kareina Sedai had been teaching Jennifer the ways of saidar, and Jennifer was thirsty for more of such knowledge. Yet still there was the great Tower of Tar Valon, with its knowledge of the world and of the Power; here she could learn. But Elaida Sedai was reluctant to take Randy Carter and Jennifer to the Tower, for that was her own destination, and she would cast no doubt upon the Foretelling of Kareina Sedai, for all their unspoken enmity. Only this did Elaida Sedai say, that since her own destination was the Tower, they could best preserve their own lives by going elsewhere, preferably in the opposite direction. Yet the Aes Sedai's words did not sit well in Jennifer's heart, for her thirst for knowledge and Power could best be slaked in the White Tower of the Aes Sedai. She mocked and cursed the Aes Sedai's words, and only the Three Oaths protected her from Elaida's anger, though Elaida did take the air from Jennifer's breath, advising her to mind her manners, and then allowed her to breathe again. Jennifer nodded an apology, but was undeterred. Thus did she set forth ahead of Elaida Sedai, reluctantly accompanied by Selene, Randy Carter, Ezra and Suldan, in the hope that perhaps she could be swayed from her current path. But if Jennifer's will could not be deterred, her horse was made of baser stuff, for the people of Earth know not the ways of horses, and how best to ride them. Then did Elaida Sedai and the two villagers overtake and pass Jennifer, for they were familiar with horses and Elaida Sedai possessed a singular ability to wring the most work from anyone, man or beast. Jennifer abjured Elaida Sedai to delay her own journey, but she would not dally, for to bend the words of Kareina Sedai's Foretelling was surely a child's foolishness. Then did Jennifer express her despair. Better to die than to live in ignorance. Randy Carter rolled her eyes in exasperation, but Elaida Sedai decided to give Jennifer what she asked for, what she deserved. Thus did Elaida Sedai hand Jennifer an ancient text called _The Nine Rods of Dominion_ which she herself had studied, and advised her to return to her with one of the Nine Rods of Dominion, supposedly lost in the Mountains of Mist. This surprised Randy Carter, who did not expect to be sent on an errand, but understood the intent of Elaida Sedai, who wished to preserve their lives. Yet Jennifer was undeterred. She demanded to know more about the Nine Rods of Dominion, whereupon Elaida Sedai advised her to read the book, for they surely have such on the strange planet Earth.