As everyone settles in behind the ward most exhausted and hungry, others heart-broken or heart-sick, a small fire is prepared for warmth and comfort as well as the preparation of a hot meal.  Something needed even though food had only been consumed a short time ago.

Marissa leaves all that to the rest of you as she carefully undoes the various straps of the pack and begins to remove various items that are carefully stored within.

Besides a rather large book and a writing kit, some clothes that would fit Sarah, a mess kit and some trail rations there are six items of note.  The largest a helm, a pair of boots and a belt.

Three other items are wrapped in silk cloth, two rings and an wrist bracelet.

The leather bound and clasped book is clearly Sarah's journal glancing at the first few pages, a journal that goes back for just over a year.  This must be her most current journal.

[Private to Marissa: You know that Sarah was forever keeping a journal as she was always having this idea or that thought and without it down on paper it was hard to keep track of everything she had going at once.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Thu 08 Jan 2009.

<<Watch, I will cook.>>> Asurii's fingers signed.

In typical Aiel fashion Asurii ignors her injuries and moves to get a fire going. She set up a tri-pod to hang the cookpot over the fire, which she kept low and as smokeless as possible.  Then she gathered supplies to make a nutritious soup.  Normally, she or Raiel would have hunted for meat for the pot, but she made do with what was packed at Emond's Field, better to not leave the warded area.  She stared with water and dried meat and cooked it until it was almost tender, added, some smoked sausages cut up, and vegetables. To thicken the soup she pulled apart bits of bread and cast it into the pot, stirring it till the bread fell apart and the broth thickened.

"The Soup is finished,"  She stood and beckoned Raiel to eat as she stood up to take watch.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

Marissa flips through to the last few pages and begins reading:

   A few weeks ago I came across six items at the dig at Heris, locked in a strong box and protected by a failing weave to prevent the contents from aging.  I believe these items are from the Breaking and the parchment scrolls that I found with them would seem to indicate this as well.

    It was a prophecy written by Kessa, a woman known to have the Sight in that age and who accurately foretold of events within her visions.

    This one speaks of a time when Tarmon Gai'don is near where the Three - a Triad of powerful servants of the Dark One join together to attempt to circumvent the Dark One's prison.  Blessed with abilities beyond normal kin, she prophecied that these three would attempt to break four seals on the Serpent's prison and if they succeeded that he would walk the world before the Light was ready to meet him in the Final Battle.

     Kessa claimed they would invoke a mighty ritual between them but it required the souls and minds of a Wise Woman, a Madman, and an Archer from without the Wheel.

     That five would oppose but without the six items of power that they would fail.  The Helm and the Belt she said must go to the one who takes others burdens.  The Dawnstar to the one who Sees Without Seeing.  I can only surmise that she means the bracelet.  The rings to be worn separately by two who are one and the Boots to the Noble Seeker of Love and Family.

     They were named in the parchment as follows Attanu's Belt, the Boots of Suran, the Dawnstar, the Helm of Majesty, the Ring of the Maiden and the Ring of the Spear.

     The prophecy does not speak of who these Three are but indicates that they are powerful.  Then Darkfriends took Roger Riverside but I managed to make one talk after I captured him.  I learned that they were also after Jennor Elan and from what I have learned he has disappeared.  Could they be the Madman and the Archer for my sources say and the Darkfriend confirmed that they were serving a special master, one that stayed aloof from the Forsaken though I wonder if they too are Forsaken after a manner...but who then would be the Wise Woman.

     The Prophecy mentioned where the five would be and as near as I can tell it will be on the wild plains many leagues east from Tar Valon near the Spine of the World...that they will be traveling to find the one whose body lives without.  I do not understand this yet but I will...I must get to the site as it is only a few short weeks away.  I wish I could talk to Marissa, she would know more about this.

---

     I am here now.  Sher'tem has gone ahead to scout.  Something isn't right here.  He believes we may be near the fortress of one of the Three.  The one in fact who took Roger, poor Roger...I have gleaned what will be done to them and if I do not find the Five in the next week, the ritual where he will be sacrificed will break one of the Seals and his soul...oh his poor soul...

---

     Sher'tem is dead now...I felt the Darkhounds kill him.  They are coming for me now.  I am sure he found one of the Triad's residences to the east or at least an indication that it was near.  I cannot outrun them.  Whomever finds this, I beg thee find the five and deliver these to them.  The Prophecy claimed they are three women and two men.  I beg thee as well if you are of good heart and mind travel east, find the One who is of the Three, of the Triad and rescue the one known as Roger Riverside before one of the Seals is broken.  I beg thee...

     Oh mercy...I can hear them now.  I must protect this all.  May the Light bless what I have tried to do.

     Sarah Sedai.

The date written at the bottom is today's date.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

Raiel took up the first watch as Asurii perpared a meal.  Taren has sat sown and barely stirred, Addaru kept near Marissa but was also quiet. Marissa was examining the pack of the fallen friend.

The day had included a hard fought battle, costly in terms of injuries and the woman who had lost her life. Especially since she  was known to Marissa and had been called sister. The burning of the body was strange to her.  Aiel did things much differently, the dead were buried standing up and facing ease towards the sunrise where they would greet He Who Comes with the Dawn when he returned.  However, they were alive and with rest would recover.

When Asurii called out sometime later that the soup was ready she waited until Asurii ate first and then took her post and went to eat a bowl of soup. thought before eating her own portion she passed out a bowl of the hot steaming soup to Taren, Addaru, and Marissa. Here this will help and then you need to rest.

The warmth of the hot soup was appreciated, a bread-thickened broth of dried meat, spicy sausage and vegetables was hardy and would sustain them well. Asurii had a good hand for cooking. She frequently kidded her about being a good prospect as a wife.  Asurii usually would take s swing at her for that.  Raiel would bloke it mostly but sometime Asurii got through to her.  Either way they would end up laughing about it all and both woudl swear they would never give up their spears for a man.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Mon 15 Dec 2008.