**********************************************************************

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

**********************************************************************

Creation

Nine Rods rule over all
Eight Ajah preserve and fall
Seven Ages of the Wheel
Six Bound to serve the dead
Five Flows create the Weave
Four Peoples born to live
Three Supports of all the worlds
Two Powers never to be whole
One Dragon on the winds of Time.


	Seeker's Song
	(of the Atha'an Miere, author unknown)
	(this can be sung to a real song, whose name I forgot)

Oh, I've sailed upon the oceans and I've sailed upon the seas
I've weathered storms and crashing waves that brought me to my knees
I've seen many a cargo lost amidst the salty brine
But I've always managed to survive.

Yes, I've watched my ship and crew go down amidst the churning ice
I've returned home from lands unknown with goods far beyond price
I've never known defeat nor have I fled before a foe
But now I fear my candle's running low.

I've laughed into the face of death and looked it in the eye
I've spat into a hurricane and still my face was dry
I've named the Dark One and he never did collect his due
But now I think that he is going to.

I've travelled through lands Blighted by the foul Father of Storms
I've fought against his evil in its uncountable forms
I've prayed for years that someday I'd return unto the sea
But now I know that fate is not to be.

:: But one last time I shall sing before I go to die
:: The sea and the sun and the deep blue sky
:: But one last time I shall sing before I go to die
:: The sea and the sun and the deep blue sky

I stood before the Fleetmasters who asked me if I'd go
I knew where I'd be going but I could not tell them No
I'd rather die on land than let another shed my tears
I pray you need not follow in ten years.

:: But one last time I shall sing before I go to die
:: The sea and the sun and the deep blue sky
:: But one last time I shall sing before I go to die
:: The sea and the sun and the deep blue sky


Summary of Session 5 of _As the Wheel Turns_  12-7-94

And these are the names of the people who returned
unto Emond's Field in the Two Rivers, which in long
gone years had been the great nation of Manetheren,
a land from which did spring a people far sturdier
that the very stones of the mountains:

Jennifer, Randy Carter and Phil of Earth, a place
beyond this Mirror of the Wheel.  And with them
travelled the warrior Tsari, and the trickster
Auric, and Kei of the Atha'an Miere, though she
wore not their garb.  Also in their company was
there the noble lady Selene, whose beauty was
beyond that of the moon and stars, and whose grace
was surely that of the Light itself.  And if,
amongst that noble company, another person did
travel in that time and place, then let that one
remain unnamed for now.

And so it was that these companions did come unto
Emond's Field.  And they saw the devastation the
Trollocs did leave in their noisome wake three weeks
past.  Yet the people of Emond's Field are as unyielding
as the mountain stone, and their fiber as resilient
as the sapling tree.  Though Emond's Field was not
as it once had been, much had been done, and any who
had not seen the smouldering village three weeks before
would surely discount as falsehood or as distortion
most flagrant any account of the Dark One's attack.
For nearly every damaged building had been rebuilt,
and the streets cleansed of any sign of the Dark One's
unwanted presence, save for a renewed determination
in the eyes of every Emond's Fielder.

Then were familiar faces seen once again.  Yet there
were some amongst the people of Emond's Field who
did not feel joy upon the return of those who had
stood with them in their moment of trial.  For even
as the travellers make their way through the village,
did Nynaeve, Wisdom of Emond's Field stand in their
path.  Behind the Wisdom were arrayed the entire Women's
Circle of Emond's Field, the bane of many a man.

And Jennifer did greet Nynaeve in the name of all those
who travelled, and she did beseech Nynaeve and the
people of Emond's Field to heal the dire injury of
their companion Phil.  But Nynaeve did not hear these
words of Jennifer, for she would know of Jennifer the
disposition of Rand al'Thor, Perrin Aybara and Matrim
Cauthon, for Nynaeve did not see these three young
men of Emond's Field amongst the travellers, yet did
the three venture forth from Emond's Field in this
selfsame company.  And so it was that Jennifer did
admit her ignorance of their fate, for she knew
only that Perrin Aybara and Matrim Cauthon did journey
toward the White Tower of Tar Valon in the company
of Elaida Sedai of the Red Ajah.  And of Rand al'Thor
she knew even less, for he did depart this world in
the same manner as did Kareina Sedai of the Green Ajah,
and at the same time.

Then did Nynaeve tug on her braided hair, and any
man of Emond's Field who might have been watching
did find himself a more productive endeavor.  Tsari
too showed great wisdom in the ways of women as he
did secret himself away from these proceedings unto
some other place.

Yet Nynaeve spoke no more of these matters.  Instead
she did turn her eyes toward Jennifer, and did subject
the young woman of Earth to discomforting scrutiny,
and she did also glance toward Phil, who had fallen
into a sleep near death from his injuries.  And the
Wisdom of Emond's Field did take Jennifer and Phil
unto her house of Healing, and she did pour noxious
fluids into Jennifer, and she did work her healing
arts upon Phil.  On this day was Jennifer filled with
great surprise, for Nynaeve's skill in healing held
as much efficacity as the miraculous healing powers
of Earth, and she had not known that in all the
worlds there did exist a taste so foul as the merest
sip of Nynaeve's healing potions.  And Jennifer found
no evidence of the One Power in any of the Wisdom's
doings.

But the other companions did join Tsari in the
common room of The Winespring Inn, for the honor
of the Wisdom's presence was too much to bear.
And with Tsari was Akhel, a traveller of dour 
words and looks.  And Akhel did claim that he
had no horse and no destination, and so it was
that Tsari, Auric and Kei did offer to provide
him with a mount, if he did join with them upon
their journey into the mountains.  For they did
say unto themselves that the known perils of such
a journey were great, and that the unknown dangers
could be greater still.  Better to share the trials
of the road ahead amongst a larger band, that many
might succeed where one must surely fail.  Yet Kei
of the Atha'an Miere did see no aura, no image of
any shape or form about Akhel.

And so it was that Tsari did have his fill of ale,
and he did take his leave from the Winespring Inn
that he might stand outside and practice his
sword.  And Kei did say unto herself that practice,
indeed, would be a goodly thing, so she did join
with Tsari upon the village green and they did work
their forms together.  Yet after a time, their
practice did become a competition, and both did
strive to prove whose skill was greater, Tsari
with his sword and Kei with her curved blade of the
Atha'an Miere.

For some time they both did strive, and neither warrior
did gain the advantage.  But then Tsari did tire and
weaken, until his skill availed him not, and Kei did
emerge victorious from the encounter.  Yet both knew
their skills equal to that of most trained warriors.
And so they continued to practice their skill, testing
themselves one against the other, yet did Kei continue
to win, for although they were of equal prowess, Tsari
would tire whilst Kei did endure like wind and wave.
And on each day they continued in this way, for Phil
remained in the care of Nynaeve.

But there was one amongst the villagers who did watch
Kei and Tsari at their practice, and on one morning
he did say a thing unto Tsari regarding his use of the
sword.  This did surprise Tsari, certain in the knowledge
that his skill eclipsed the meagre swordsmanship of
a farmer from a backwater village.  Yet such was Tsari's
kind nature that he did listen unto the man, farmer
though he may be, and Kei did also hearken unto his words,
yet the fullness of understanding was not theirs.  Then
did the villager borrow Tsari's weapon, and he did tell
Kei to assail his position, though he himself took up
neither form nor stance from which to defend.  Yet it was
Kei who found herself defeated in the moment of her
attack, her weapon on the ground even whilst the farmer did
explain the nature of his maneuver unto Tsari, still
panting with exhaustion, and the flaw in Tsari's skill.

Then did Kei and Tsari know themselves in the presence
of a Blademaster, great in skill and mighty in deed, 
yet did they wonder why one such as he eschew the
noble life his prowess should surely earn for him, for
that of a farmer or shepherd, scratching out from the
land a meagre existence.  Yet this man, who did call
himself Tam al'Thor spoke nothing of his past existence,
nor would he speak of his mighty deeds or of the terrible
circumstances that brought him to Emond's Field, at the
edge of civilized lands.  Nor would the Blademaster agree
to join Kei or Tsari upon their journey, for he did maintain
that now his place was here, and Kei and Tsari could as
easily pry Tam al'Thor from his insistence as they stop the
Wheel itself from turning ever onward.  But Tam al'Thor did
teach Tsari and Kei each day they did abide in Emond's Field.

And he spoke calming words to Kei, for he knew of her
desparate mission and doom though he was not of the Atha'an
Miere, and spoke assurances into her ear and she did listen
to his words.  For Tam al'Thor did determine that Kei was 
of the Atha'an Miere who every ten years are sent away from
the sea to either find the Coramoor or die on land, in
accordance with the most ancient traditions of the Sea Folk.

And during this time Auric did practice his skill with the
sword, for he was every bit as capable as Kei or Tsari, yet
did he lack sufficient strength to press an attack.  And
Auric also did desire to weave tales for the people of
Emond's Field to prevent them from learning of their
troubles with the Children of the Light.  But Jennifer did
hear of Auric's desires, and she did speak unto him
withering words, for she had stored many such words that
she spoke not unto the Wisdom of Emond's Field, and words
that she spoke not unto Elaida Sedai of the Red Ajah who
did teach her the One Power by night, and now she did
unleash a small portion of these withheld words, and
Auric did agree to forbear from speaking of their travels.

And so it was after seven days, that Phil did awaken from
deep slumber, and Nynaeve did allow him to walk about
Emond's Field, that he might recover his strength.  And
Jennifer and Randy Carter both did speak to him of this
new world in which he did find himself.  And they did
speak to him of the One Power, and of saidin and of saidar.
In the beginning, he did not believe.  But Jennifer did
surrender her being to saidar, and she did throw a stone
with Flows of Air, and Phil did not deny the evidence of
his senses.  And they spoke of the Dragon Reborn and of
the Age of Legends, and they made mention of strange
things of Earth, of beings they called Genes, and how
the Genes had taken from the Aes Sedai the power they
once did have in the Age of Legends.  But Akhel also
did listen to these  conversations, and he laughed,
for he believed neither in the Dark One, nor in the
Age of Legends, or even in the Light itself.

And on future days did Auric and Akhel vie for supremacy
on the dicing tables, and in the game of stones, and on 
each occaision did Akehl vanquish Auric, but each
contest was won only in the last moment.

But Phil did endure Nynaeve's ministrations.  Her salves
and potions did heal the body, yet they did wither the
spirit with their foul stench and fouler tastes.  And
the Wisdom of Emond's Field did have a disposition as
fragrant as any of her poultices, and she did place upon
Phil many restrictions, yet Phil did smile and endure
them, for Phil did always love the truth, for in his youth
he was a trustworthy, loyal and helpful child, friendly
courteous and kind to all, obedient yet cheerful, and he
did retain these qualities even when he did become a
man.  Yet even as Phil did smile and accept Nynaeve's
ever more fulsome potions and treatments did Nynaeve
devise a greater horror, almost as though to provoke
Phil into anger.  But Phil could not be deterred.

And so it was, that Nynaeve declared Phil fully healed,
though she had doubts about his presence of mind, for
there was not a man in all of the Two Rivers who would
have borne what Phil did, and with such equanimity.

Then did the travellers turn from Emond's Field, and
begin their journey into the Mountains of Mist, for
there, according to the words of Elaida Sedai of Red
Ajah, they would find at least one of the Nine Rods
of Dominion, in the ruined cities of Manetheren
high in the mountains overlooking the Two Rivers.