The Grey Tower

Hello!

I'm submitting this as my official petition for Kaia to become the next Ajah Head for the Red Ajah.

A little bit about me: first and foremost, I love to write. I think that shows through in what I've written at the site thus far... or at least I hope it does. I'm passionate about role play, and I do it to have fun. My goal in every thread I'm in is to make it as enjoyable as possible for myself and for whomever I'm writing with.

I'm very active and I try to respond within 3-4 days, tops. (It's a little crazy with the holidays right now, but I'm trying!) I've written with a number of people since I've joined, and am always looking for new faces and characters to encounter. I enjoy the challenge of pushing myself creatively and putting my characters through all sorts of pleasant and not-so-pleasant things, so I'll roll with almost anything. I try to offer the same chances to the people I write and plot with, and am delighted when character growth happens because of it.

Sadly, most – if not all – of the places I used to role play at are no longer active, but I spent the bulk of my role play time writing for WoT, and was the most active at the Portal Tower, and at the STower/CTower (Cuendillar Tower)/Blightborder. I was Keeper of Chronicles and the Mistress of Novices at the Portal Tower, but this was back during the early days of WoT role playing, so there wasn't a lot of structure to follow. At the CTower/Blightborder, I was a Sitter for the Green and White Ajahs, as well as being board admin/society leader for the Randland group. We were the 'others'... Wolfkin, Seafolk, Aiel, characters that didn't want to be part of the WT, BT, or WY. I was responsible for seeing that everything ran smoothly and for making sure that members of Randland always had someone available to write and plot with.

I want to be the HoA for the Red Ajah because I am utterly fascinated by the fact that the GT version is nothing like the canon Red in the books. I can bring all of the passion and joy I have for writing and role playing into the HoA role.

IC wise, I have some thoughts and ideas.

In the books, and the way the Red Ajah is played out on most sites I encountered it's not an easy Ajah to deal with by any means. Outside of itself, the Red Ajah is not popular; inside of itself, it's full of volatile personalities, some with with illusions of grandeur. But that's the kind of attitude the WT Red Ajah promotes. I originally transferred Kaia over to play with Jaryd and Marla, but now that the HoA position is vacant, I want to explore the fact that in this reality Kaia was a WT Red... not a “typical” one, but she would have dealt with “typical” Reds. She would have been ostracized by an Ajah that prided itself on being insular. She would know how to handle volatile types, and she wouldn't bat an eye at being unpopular or what have you.

I would love to have characters willing to hate on the Red Ajah, or at the very least, be suspicious, hesitant, uncomfortable... that kind of thing. The Red is a new Ajah at the GT after all, and past history has shown that the WT version is not all puppies and rainbows. What would the rumours be if a WT Red (Stilled by the WT and Healed by the GT) became HoA? Brought to the GT by the only other full Red Ajah member, former M'Hael and infamous Jaryd Kosari? After Carra just... disappears? That has so many good RP opportunities... there would be intrigue, political maneuvering, romance, and maybe even a musical or two thrown in for good measure! There could be rivalries, friendships, enemies being made, all sorts of juicy things! And who doesn't like musicals??

Also, I would see to it that they're eventually moved out of the basement >.> and integrated into the rest of the Tower, like all the other Ajahs.

OOC wise, I don't really have many ideas, not like I do IC wise... but I consider being an active and available HoA would be of paramount importance.

Gah, this got long! I'm sorry for that. <.< Anyway, those are the ideas I have and the experience I've had.

Thanks for your time,
- Jenn (and Kaia).

I support this motion.

Honestly, before I put in my thoughts, I want to know what sort of direction you want to see the Red go. Plot concepts are good, but how will you advertise to new members? What additional plans do you have for evolving the Reds?

Marla and I got into a -very- heated debate over this, and I dont' expect you to take a side, how would you deal with this as HoA when you have two members with conflicting views on how to move forward?

From both a personal and an IC standpoint, I really really liked what Trent suggested in the original Red Ajah discussion thread. For the sake of simplicity, Jenny's post here summed things up nicely, I thought. (thank you Jenny!) #2 resonated the most with me, and was actually what got me initially excited about wanting to write for a Red.

I like the idea of the Red Ajah being a neutral entity that would be brought in or sent out to deal with those types of situations, where a channeler/channeling group is a threat or is abusing their power. Regular ol' abuses of power and threats could also be included in that. And I would say that to anyone looking to join the Red: The Red Ajah deals with those who abuse their power, or is a threat to the Grey Tower. Channelers included.

So I would definitely want to incorporate the Red Ajah being specifically trained to fight against others channelers, be they Dreadlords, Black Ajah, Forsaken, rogue, or threats to the Tower. And no, I'm not saying that all a Red would do is fight other channelers or make things explode. The other half of that glamourous lifestyle (:)) would also require a less confrontational touch. The Red Ajah would also need top notch information gatherers, and that could be done in any number of ways... such as infiltrating certain groups or organizations, sneaksie times, or even the thankless job of putting together disparate facts into a larger, more cohesive picture. Liberal use of the Eyes and Ears as well, obviously. (I'm listing things off the top of my head here, but there are so many more possibilities!)

I also think that the whole fighting the abuse of power goal would expand to include non-channeling problems/threats as well, but I would have to think more on it. Tentatively, I'm going to say for now that I would leave it up to the character and their writer as to whether or not they'd want to tackle the aforementioned aspect.

As for members with conflicting views, I don't expect everyone to agree with me, or with each other for that matter. I've always been of the mind that members will have different ideas and thoughts about what being part of an Ajah means for them and their characters. In that regard, I'm happy to live and let live. If there is a fundamental difference, however, such as what the Ajah purpose/goal is, then yes... obviously that will need to be sorted out. I would sit them down and find some common ground to build upon. If there is no attempt at communication or understanding, then I suppose I'd have them both write out their disagreement in musical format. I'd expect it to be fully choreographed as well.

… I'm joking, of course. I find that most people are willing to compromise/work things through. If it's really not going to happen, then I'd ask for input from the rest of the Ajah, before trying to resolve the difference of opinions again. If that still doesn't work, then I'd ask admin for help.

(And okie, seeing as it's Christmas Eve and I still have presents to wrap and stuff, so I won't be around much until probably the 27th!)

Okay.

So long as you are okay with keeping in open communication with all active Reds (aspirants too) on various matters that relate to all of us, and you work with us on all levels, then I am okay with you taking up the mantle. It really is important to me that those that are interested are included, and every voice matters.

I agree with all, except one point: aspirants are not members of the Ajah they are aspiring to, and therefore while it may be nice to ask them, it is in no way a requirement.

i'm not saying allow them to vote, i'm suggesting a level of inclusion. After all, they are much of the future as any other member of the Ajah. It's an investment. We are all members and players. And some have contributed just as equally if not more than others. <3

As we have reached consensus I will put the library updates on my to do list