Let's Exchange The Experience (Elia)

Hama Valon, the city around the Grey Tower.
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Welcome to Hama Valon! The aptly named 'mountain guard' is the city that has grown up at the gates of the Grey Tower at the western edge of the Two Rivers. Like all cities, there are quiet quarters with pleasant inns, such as Elman's Creek, which used to be the nearest village when the Tower was young, but was absorbed as the new city grew; its Band of Brothers Inn is still a favorite relaxation spot for many of the Tower's denizens. And again, like all cities the world over, there are less pleasant places--narrow, nameless streets that house hells and other houses of ill repute. Most of the city falls somewhere in between, with hawkers crying their wares in the streets, respectable shopkeepers ready to serve you, and petty cutpurses happy to follow you.

Novices, Soldiers, and drin'far'ji must be accompanied by a chaperon when outside Tower walls or they risk being picked up as runaways and duly punished.
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Matty
"The Path of Daggers"
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TC: Maever Donovan, Asha'man (Yellow)
Location: Plain of Lances, UK

Let's Exchange The Experience (Elia)

Post by Matty » June 27th, 2018, 11:34 am

Nathaniel 'Brawn' Carridus The evening was wearing on, the heavy clouds overhead adding to the sensation of oppressiveness and being pinned down. Some of it was Nate's natural weather sense tickling at his consciousness when he let his senses wander. Some of it was a natural disinclination towards being in Hama Valon for an extended period of time; specifically, the Grey Tower.

But there he was, and to make the best of it the Blue took himself to one of the Inns in the city. He wasn't an Asha'man this evening, he was just Nate, and that involved shirking his uniform for something a little less formal. He wore a shirt without sleeves, the laces undone, and gave his hair the briefest of rakes back before heading on out without his hammer. It didn't take long to fall back dramatically over his shoulders, but the Blue didn't bother with tying it back up. Unless he was doing something important, it remained free flowing and fabulous. A good idea to grow it out, he would have to thank Bells for that sometime.

Elman's Creek was a pleasant enough village, years before the Grey Tower and Hama Valon absorbed the surrounding land. Nate made his way here now, preferring a quiet, modest establishment rather than one of the Hells he might have gone to with Bells. Nate didn't really fit the image of the usual clientele there but the fellow behind the bar served him without much of a pause, and he made his way to sit by one of the windows with his ale to hand.

"Grim weather we're having," the barkeep said.

"It's gonna get worse," Nate said, not really thinking about it. "Rain any time, and it'll let up in the early hours of the morning. I should've brought my jacket..."

The barkeep gave him an odd look, a look that was repeated about half an hour later when it began to rain in earnest. Nate took another ale without having to ask for it and leaned back in the comfy chair to listen to the patter of the rain on the thin pane, almost as loud as the gentle pluckings of a bittern in the far corner. The lights were low, the mood was mellow, and Nate figured that this was the most relaxed he was going to get. Not to mention, it was probably the most relaxed he'd been for quite some time. Perhaps it was the rain breaking through the clouds, easing the weight on his shoulders.
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------ Murdock -------------- Nathaniel --------------- Maever -------

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Craig
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PC: Ravak t'Sha'hal Darrow
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Location: Scotland

Re: Let's Exchange The Experience (Elia)

Post by Craig » July 23rd, 2018, 8:58 am

Elia Darrow
Late evenings were Elia's favourite time. The twins were off to bed with wards set around their room, giving her two or three hours to enjoy peacefulness with Dax. Today was a bit different as Dax was up at the Citadel, but she could still feel him across the bond, bringing her feelings of comfort and normality. The normal life of being just an Aes Sedai was still strange, mimicked by the tightness she felt from the four Oaths.

Despite the dangers that assuredly lay in the Shadow, Elia wasn't going to remain cooped up inside the questionable safety of her apartments. For as long as she remained alive, she intended to live. At this time, Hama Valon was the best place to find companionship, if only for a couple of hours. Removing the finely woven shawl from her shoulders to keep it from getting lost, Elia quietly closed the door to her room before warding it.
- - - She should have looked up before leaving the Tower. Once the rain started to come down, Elia sought refuge in the nearest public house but it was already too late. The green and purple dress was sodden, sticking to her skin uncomfortably. She could sense eyes on her when she entered but she refused to meet their stares. Seeking calmness, Elia bathed in the light of saidar, then wove Air and Water through her dress. Rainwater poured onto the entrance mat as her dress became a few shades lighter.

Still ignoring whatever attention she'd garnered, Elia made her way to the bar. She made a casual observation of the people already assembled there and saw nothing by way of company for the evening. If they weren't gawking at the Aes Sedai it was because they were as soaked in ale as the entrance mat was in rain.

She made eye contact with the barman. "An Altaran red if you have it. A Cairhienin white if you don't, although nothing from Cairhien itself." The vineyards around the city weren't as good as those in the countryside.

Putting her back to the bar whilst wine was procured, Elia looked around at the other patrons. She was mildly shocked to see a familiar face, and then was a touch embarrassed by being shocked. She really didn't know how common it was for Asha'man or Aes Sedai to go drinking in the city.

The barman had to politely intrude on her internal thoughts twice before she noticed him, and she paid for the wine without even seeing the provenance of the bottle. Her mind was stuck on trying to decide whether it was wise to approach Nathaniel, but her legs crossed that distance before she fell on a decision.

When she stopped at his booth by the window, she smiled affably and gestured to the seat opposite his with her wine glass. "May I join you?"

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Matty
"The Path of Daggers"
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Joined: December 16th, 2015, 8:19 pm
PC: Murdock Mather, Keeper of the Archives
SC: Nathaniel Carridus, Asha'man (Blue)
TC: Maever Donovan, Asha'man (Yellow)
Location: Plain of Lances, UK

Re: Let's Exchange The Experience (Elia)

Post by Matty » July 23rd, 2018, 11:31 am

Nate How could Nate not notice the Aes Sedai when she entered the Inn? The murmurs directed her way, the slight tingling across his arms as she channelled herself dry, the look on her face as she strode on in, not to mention her withered arm. People were quite calm considering, but then they must be used to channellers. He hoped.

It was hard to forget the face of a woman he'd, even if not quite in his right mind, craved to eat in pretty much every sense of the word at one point. It was a brief, violent torrent of emotions, and even years later the man wasn't sure how to handle the lurch in his chest that came with the mere memory of them. Nate looked away as soon as he realised it was her, only to give her an appreciative glance when she was facing the bar. It was easier to forget they existed when he didn't have to look at her face; the eyes were what held pools of fear, and that was the part that was most difficult to remember for Nate. He wished he didn't remember any of it, but the Wheel weaved, and remember it he did.

When she made her way over, channellers seeking channellers in this place he supposed, he'd gone back to looking out the window, not pointedly ignoring her but simply going back to his evening. It wasn't in his nature to be rude, but he was the sort of fellow who liked his own company, and he hadn't wanted her to think he was ogling her (even if he sort of did). That part was, he was pretty sure, just Nate being Nate rather than some foreign primal urges....

"Of course you can Elia," he said, his deep voice polite in response to her request. Haughty as she may be, he was an Asha'man now, and he was supposed to be personable. "A shame about the rain, no? I got here just in time, but I had a bit of an advantage there." He felt much better now it was actually raining, and his broad shoulders sagged a little as he took a sip of his drink. "What brings you out here?" He thought she would have been occupied with her family, but it was nice to see people who weren't joined at the hip doing their own thing. Casually Nate moved his hair from his face with one hand, whilst raising his mostly empty mug to indicate he was after another ale. A serving girl scuttled over with it and earned some coin for the trouble.
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------ Murdock -------------- Nathaniel --------------- Maever -------

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Craig
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PC: Ravak t'Sha'hal Darrow
SC: Elia Darrow
TC: Zarayne
QC: Farah Kattan
Location: Scotland

Re: Let's Exchange The Experience (Elia)

Post by Craig » July 25th, 2018, 6:44 am

Elia
Old habits were hard to brush off. When Nate questioned why she was here, her thoughts immediately branched in two directions. Mistruths began to form in her head as she started deducing the reasons behind the Asha'man's question. She was halfway towards her false answer before she caught herself. She smiled guiltily, more amused than embarrassed, as she took her seat.

She touched her lips with a finger before answering. "My children are in bed and my Warder is away. I thought I should try socialising. That wasn't something truly available to me when I was serving as the Amyrlin." Her green eyes flickered between the wine glass and the man before her, trying to catch a glimpse of his thoughts. "I've been negligent when it comes to making... friends." That final word rolled out of her mouth awkwardly, despite her aptitude for elocution. Aside from Dax, Elia really didn't have another friend.

Taking a long sip on her wine - it was a moderately fine Cairhienin - Elia gave the room another inspection. She didn't live in constant fear of the Shadow, but she was continuously watchful for its agents. No-one just stopped being a Darkfriend.

With her thoughts on darker things, the presence of Nathaniel sparked memories of Vaidulo, and to what had become of the Asha'man there. A slight queasiness rippled through her, one she assuaged with another drink.

After setting her wine glass back on the table, she offered half a smile. "And how are you doing?"
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Elan wrote:Of course, the problems with observing a chain of command arise when the one in command decides to do something unspeakably idiotic, like taking off on his own for no discernible reason in the middle of enemy territory.

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