The evolution of the Red Ajah

[Sunny]

I agree with the idea that a more concrete understanding of the Red Ajah's purpose would be very helpful to discuss OOC. Not everyone reads every thread, so things that are being built or will be built in the future for the Red Ajah should have an OOC write up so that everyone can understand.

This is a problem I have, too, and I AM Red. When I came back from my Shara / Retirement I had no idea what was going on because there was nothing available for me to scan OOC and I did not have time to read all the IC threads. I had newcomers in chat asking me questions that I could not sufficiently answer, and it was....kind of unorganized.

[Carra]

You have to remember I'm also coming down from an 'of all and none' and I have to rework my character's focus and goals too. There was some LOA in there for me too for a time (and kinda still). I work better with IC discovery, it's just 'my' thing. I honestly don't have an answer to give to most of this because there isn't one there at the forefront of my mind. So I am falling back on what I originally wrote up and giving my character some plot and tension to create that discovery. Carra is most likely the 'worst' Aes Sedai in tower history and it likely reflects in how she handles the Ajah. (I'm still undecided if I should let someone else jump in and take over the Ajah so Carra can just go do what she wants to do.... which I am not sure what that is yet....)

I was sorely debating a NaNo novella for her... but november really is a stupid busy month for me....

[Trent]

Coming to this discussion a bit late, but as I'm now in the All and None group I thought I'd put my two cents in.

I like the fact that this discussion is happening, and while I don't think we need anything absolutely set it stone, I also don't want the Red Ajah to die in the future just because people go inactive and there's no solid foundation. It's the reason, to be blunt, why we still have a White Ajah that's never going anywhere even though it's consistently low on members.

The balance between light and dark thing seems strange to me because not only does it bring the possibility of condoning dark actions, it implies the possibility of needing to work *for* the Shadow if the Light gets too strong or something. To me and what I understand of the WoT world is that with the Dark One always around and using his corrupting influence, there will never need to be any need to do anything but constantly fight against the darkness.

Some ideas of possible focus areas as I read this could be one or more of the following:
- The one that jumps immediately to mind, that is somewhat similar to White Tower book canon, is the fighting of channelers. Not so much the hunting of. Most people would turn to the Greens for battle weaves, but many Greens focus their learning on more military, "I'm an artillery cannon," type weaves. We don't have anyone necessarily that completely specializes in, say, fighting a Dreadlord, a Black Ajah member, or even a Forsaken. Some Greens and others do, but no Ajah is focused on it. There are very specific weaves and tactics one uses in fighting another channeler that one could easily devote their entire life to practicing, and those are very different than most traditional Battleweaves.

- Spymasters & Investigators. Instead of focusing on the negative side of espionage(assassination), why not think of someone to infiltrate the Whitecloak leadership so we know of their movements, someone to infiltrate a member of either other Tower. The Blues are good at gathering their own informant networks, but this would be an entirely different level altogether. Also, if there's a murder at the Tower, the Blues will often 'prosecute,' but who are the investigators? The Reds could make a mean Sherlock Holmes. This would give First Inquisitor a very solid foundation from either side.

[Sunny]

I have some concerns, but I really love both of your ideas Trent. They suit Jaryd SO WELL. *cough*

Anyway, I think they could be worked into one solidly awesome concept for the Ajah, and I'm suddenly really excited. I have to jump into three hours of conference calls, but I'll write out my explanation for why I love this when I'm done.

[Carra]

I can follow Trent's idea's as well. Carra's personality is very.. ... Neutral. She's what I would say as True Neutral, so killing is something that comes as easily to her as saving a runaway carriage with a baby in it. It has nothing to do with personal gain. And given Carra and Jaryd's... skillsets, Spys and unearthing intrigue are very much up their alley. It is a softer outlook to the hunter mentality that I can go with. Carra has gotten a little lost in her shifts of rank but Trent has hit things better than most, I feel.

Now, part of why 'fighting the light' comes in, its more the abuse of power for the sake of it being "in the light". Causes and intentions are genuinely good, personal convictions can sometimes cloud judgement and the understanding of scope. After all, it's what the road to hell is paved with.

[Trent]

I like that idea of neutrality, and I also really like the idea of an Ajah that's... 'gritty' for lack of a better term. I also love that idea of fighting the abuse of power even if it's 'for the light,' that resonates well with me. <3

[Trent]

This discussion makes me want to write a Red... even though I was going to do a Warder and a Grey next... lol. Too many characters!

[Jenny]

I also love the idea of fighting the abuse of power. That sounds like a wonderful, solid purpose. I can see it fitting very well with many traditionally Red ideals, such as being the ones in charge of preventing another Breaking of the world, or Egwene thinking of Reds as "vengeful". I think getting vengeance is a good thing; the Tower cannot allow evildoers to get away scot-free. Sometimes, punishment is definitely justified.

It also gives members of the Red an active duty, since it is a very action-oriented Ajah, but also provides enough freedom for personal interpretation of what it means. Some may interpret it as a call to become undercover agents. Others may choose to become advisors to rulers. Still others will think of it as a personal mission to stop personal abuses of power such as child abuse or sexual assault. I love how broad it can be, and yet it still provides the Ajah with a clear, unified purpose.

One more thing. I saw this once and slightly edited the Red Ajah line (and added the Indigo). It really fits in nicely.

Red Ajah: Because someone has to save humanity from itself.
Green Ajah: Because someone has to fight at Tarmon Gai'don.
Gray Ajah: Because someone has to keep the peace.
Brown Ajah: Because someone has to remember what happened.
Blue Ajah: Because someone has to keep the plan going.
Indigo Ajah: Because someone has to study the One Power.
Yellow Ajah: Because someone has to care for the sick and wounded.
White Ajah: Because someone has to be logical around here.

[Siera]

I just wanted to say, although i feel like i understand the Ajah I really like the idea about adding the ideal of fighting the abuse of Power

[Carra]

Red Ajah: Because someone has to save humanity from itself.
Green Ajah: Because someone has to fight at Tarmon Gai'don.
Gray Ajah: Because someone has to keep the peace.
Brown Ajah: Because someone has to remember what happened.
Blue Ajah: Because someone has to keep the plan going.
Indigo Ajah: Because someone has to study the One Power.
Yellow Ajah: Because someone has to care for the sick and wounded.
White Ajah: Because someone has to be logical around here.

^ THIS!!