The Grey Tower

This is the thread for discussion of the sticky, and for any discussion in general.

I'd like to figure out how the rank markers are awarded. Is the second marker (the bird facing the left) for full ranked Black members, and the third marker (bird holding the note) for the Black Ajah Head and Supreme Council?

Finally, is Matty wanting to join?

What about Gaidin? They are not Black Ajah in canon, but at the GT they are/were....

This is hidden in my wall of text: "Learning ranks may be considered Darkfriends. Non-channelers are also considered Darkfriends. They are very welcome to come plot with the Black Ajah! After interaction with a member of the Black Ajah, they may be given the black star of a Learning Rank Black Ajah. Gaidar and Gaidin Darkfriends may be given the second rank marker after successful completion of an important task for the Black Ajah."

I'm totally okay with non-channelers being considered Black Ajah. How would they be recruited though, since they can't swear the oaths?

I think it would just require some OOC loosening of the term 'Black Ajah' to indicate Darkfriends and Shadowsworn in general, and not just channelers.

Here's a (stupid) question, why don't we just use black versions of what the other Ajahs have? It doesn't look special or fancy, but it is very clear.

Not a stupid question at all! I think that we don't because our characters don't wear those items. After all, our Black sisters don't actually wear a black shawl and the Asha'man don't receive a black cord.

And also...it might be silly of me, but I like the special/fancy icons.

*Elia rocking the Black Shawl* Yeah, what up? Whatcha gunna do? *Compulsions all of the things*

Yeah, the icons are sweet. It was more for ease of comprehension than anything else.

I think that as an Ajah, we need to discuss the Oath-Breaking ceremony.

One idea that has been thrown around is that new recruits are forced to swear the Dark Oaths regardless of whether they are Oathsworn or not. This lasts for their testing period of a year and a day. Then, they are brought back and if they served well and showed initiative and loyalty, the Oaths are removed. If they fail the testing period, then unfortunately they die.

The problem is that anyone sworn to any Oaths in the Black Ajah would likely get eaten alive by other members of the BA. How can an Oathsworn Aes Sedai or Asha'man maintain their cover and ageless face without Oaths...?

Random thought, that verges on godmoding, but perhaps after the shadow oaths are dropped they swear useless oaths- like "I swear to never wear the color green." It doesn't matter what Oaths they swear, the effect will be the same.

Perhaps in exchange for being bound and losing half their projected life they are granted other freedoms within the Ajah.

/.02 from the peanut gallery