Taren scratches the grolm and nods to Riel, "We best finish our scouting then return to the others. They will get worried soon." He continues to pet his new friend as he looks around the area then back to the grolm, "If only I can understand your language, my friend." He says out loud. Then he has an idea and opens himself up to Riel then Assuri and finally to Marissa. He hopes doing that will let those back at the camp know all is well still. "I hope by doing what I just did will let the others know we are still good." He says to Riel as he motions her and the Grolm to follow as he continues on the scouting mission.

Opening yourself to the Source only really lets Raiel sense you given the distances involved (but it was a good idea), as the two of you continue your patrol.  The Grolm falls back, staying some distance from Raiel but definitely intent on not losing Taren.

It takes about a half hour to complete the patrol and as the three of you return to the glade, you see Marissa intent on making notes with Asurii and Addaru patrolling the glade.  There is the smell of smoke and the recent sign of fire, as one of the strange palm trees has been blasted by something.

Addaru and Asurii both take note of the Grolm following their friends but it doesn't seem threatening.  Asurii and Marissa both note that Taren is open to the Source.

As Marissa senses that someone is approaching that is open to the Source, she comes to the conclusion that what she wants to do is definitely possible but it would take some time to actually perfect and create.

"I can make ter'angreal to let us cut through whatever was blocking our access to the One Power. It might take a few tries."

"Taren, since you are back, I'd like everyone, including you to link with me in control."
Marissa knows the weaves will be challenging and would rather have the aide of the others for the power needed, so that she will have more powerful weave available if they are ambushed before they can rest.

Addaru looks puzzled, though he keeps his wary gaze on the Grolm.  "Are you going to try to make them now?  Do we really have the time?"

"I don't know. I'm afraid if we head in without them, we may end up in the same mess. I want to try one to test my theories and adjust the next attempt."

Addaru nodded, though his concern deepened.  "I suspect time is of the essence and might we not be tipping our hands if you draw enough of the Source that whatever or whoever is out there if they are female or have access to it might sense your channeling?"

"Perhaps. Let's hurry then."

"Before you start..." Addaru begins, pointing toward the Grolm and moving to the horses to make sure they stay calm.  "I want to know what the story is with that."

Marissa gets up and moves toward Taren and the Grolm.

OOC

Let's hurry was to keep going, not make the ter'angreal.

Addaru finally realizing Marissa's intent through the link turns and nods.  He rechecks the saddles as he waits to hear Raiel's or Taren's response.

Taren smiles and replies to Addaru, "This is my new friend." He scratches the creature and gives it another treat then looks to Marissa and the twins. He speaks with great concern in his tone, "I don't know if any of you heard of the Seanchan, but they are a race of people that collars and leashes female channellers. Well, they use alot of exotic animals like this Grolm here, Which I named Slash due to his slashed injury that Riel treated. I have reasons to believe we are in Seanchan homelands so if you channel, lets keep it to a bare minimum as I don't want to see them come here to try to colar you with their leashed channelers. Also, if I can befriend Slash here, I want to try to befriend those giant animals that nearly ran us down. We could use all the aid we can get." He pauses as he continues to pet his new friend while he waits for any replies or reaction from the others.

Addaru frowns, nodding once.  "We will have to lead the horses still given the light.  Asurii and Raiel take the lead.  Marissa and I will lead the horses.  Taren, keep Slash under control and all things considered I would like you to take up the rear just in case for a number of reasons."

"You certainly have a way with animals, first that big cat and now this strange beast.  He seems very leery of me still though but he, she or it, is definitely not letting you get out of site." I did heal it but that does not seem to see me in a better light..  Perhaps food will do the trick.  Riding one of these animals would make it easier for the horses to follow it would certainly clear the path before us."

"Yes, let us return. and as for you linking. All I could tell is that you were holding the One Power because I know how you look when you do it." She grins at Taren mischievously  not bothering to explain what she said.

Asurii did not pace about the clearing as Addaru did nor practice she skills she kept a sharp lookout for any signs of movement or for sounds she might believe to me animals of men moving through the heaving growth of this place.  She did not like this not at all.  Ir was so heave you could not see more than a handful of paces into the woods beyond the clearing. That kept her on her toes with eh spears out and not her bow.  At this distance her spears were better and more deadly.

As Addaru waited for his companions to agree or ask for a slight change in the order of things, he considered starting up the training duels with Asurii and Raiel again.  It would be good for both of them though a few years ago he would never have considered such a thing.

It was odd that it even felt comfortable now.

Marissa had no qualms over the order and continued to lead the horses.

The companions set out for the edge of the glade.  As they approach, the green light becomes far more intense as does one other thing that slaps against their senses.  The scent of death.

Within the glade is lit by the harsh glare of a garish green light that casts everything in an odd, uncomfortable hue.  The first thing that catches your attention is the cause of the light, a pillar of green light that shoots skyward as far as the eye can see.  The pillar transcends skyward from the ruins of an obsidian tower, one clearly blasted apart some time ago from the apparent age of the stone cast about the glade.

The tower itself was built upon a small rise to increase defensibility but that may be compromised as you can see that a cavern opening exists in the rise leading into the ground, the garish green light protruding from the opening.

Around the glade is evidence of a struggle, a pitched battle that lead to the death of many.  There are dead everywhere.  Grolm and the large beasts that nearly trampled you earlier.  The Grolm have saddles and the other beasts, some have baskets with armored-insect-like creatures hanging and twisted in grostesque postures.  There are other insect-like humanoids that are closer that upon a longer look you realize it is the armor of the Seanchan.  Many of their soldiers died here, apparently defending this glade.  Strewn among the defenders are strange bodies...large humanoid bodies with scales that look to be a cross between a fish and a frog.

Several of the dead have injuries consistant with the use of the One Power as a weapon...

There are sounds of battle, the clang of metal and the clash and ring of weapons on armor or perhaps the screech of claws trying to rip open armor and it seems to be coming from within the opening in the rise itself.

Marissa embraces saidar, ready to use it to defend or kill equally. She looks at the tower and the light coming from it.
OOC
How far away is the tower?
15:48, Today: Marissa rolled 27 using 1d20+20. Knowledge Arcana for tower.

Any idea what the light it. Would destroying the obelisk eliminate the light?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Sun 26 Dec 2010.

The tower appears to be around 100 to 140 feet away set in the center of this glade.

[Private to Marissa: OOG: The tower or at least its ruins are not familiar to Marissa but she is certain that the light itself has something to do with the One Power.  It is unlikely that destroying anything here on the surface would destroy the beam but that cannot be ascertained from here.]

Addaru glances at Marissa as he feels her ecstacy at embracing the Source.  "I do not like the look of this.  We do not know what we are walking into and I am concerned on a number of fronts.

"How quickly can you learn this location and open a gateway to your manor stables?  We cannot afford to let the horses stay free and we cannot leave anyone to guard them at the moment I think given the carnage.

"I recall you mentioning the servants knew to take them in when they saw arrivals that could not be explained."

Marissa nodded. She could learn the area quickly with the One Power. It helped that they had been traveling in the area.

"Let's move back this way a bit," she suggested. She'd rather not open a gate where others could see. If these were seanchan lands as seemed most likely, she didn't want them learning to Travel.

Unless Addarui objected, Marissa moved back to where he channeling would be unseen by others, took a bit longer to learn the location they'd already spent time walking through, then opened a Gateway with an inverted weave. It was the smallest gateway she could make as she looked across the water of the drinking pond to be sure no animals were in the area. She let that gate snap shut and opened another with an inverted weave, where the land was clear, and within sight of the stables and Manor.

"Home," she said, knowing her horse and then the others following, would head back to have their saddles removed and be taken care of.

Once done, she closed the gate, unweaving the threads carefully.

Addaru dropped back with Marissa, "Asurii, Raiel, and Taren keep watch while we fall back and do this." he stated quietly just before following Marissa.

He waited for her to study the area then sent each horse after hers, giving Mothem's nose a rub in brief farewell.  It might be the last time he saw his trusty mount.

Nodding to Marissa, "Thank you.  That is one less worry.  Shall we head back and do this."

Marissa walked over to Addaru. He could feel that she still held saidar and would through the rest of whatever happened. She hugged him, then kissed him passionately. It might be the last chance either of them had to do it before death.

There was no need to say she loved him. He could tell far more through their bond as could she.

She took his hand and walked back towards the glade, only releasing it when they came near the others.

Addaru returned her passion, letting her lead him back to the glade.  He looked at her for a time then whispered quietly just before they reached the others, "If we live through this I will have to embrace my destiny presuming there is more."