Addaru slips an arm around Marissa's tiny shoulders as they settle in for the night and gently cradles her head against his chest, laying his blade and his bow within easy reach and his other weapons nearby.  He is fast asleep though and stays that way until the early morning hours.

Taren slept heavily throughout the night, exhausted in both mind and body and heavy of heart.  Waking in the morning, it took him some time to gather himself and rise just before the coming of the dawn.

The battle with the Darkhounds had cost them a half day's travel and now Marissa was proposing another delay.  Taren kept his patience and quietly approached Marissa as she sat on watch, "Must we really go east?  What about Mirya?  Every moment we delay could be the moment that this all becomes fatal for her?"

The anguish in his voice is clear as he struggles with his desire to rescue Mirya and the knowledge that they were in a position to stop a great evil and may even be the prophecied ones.

"What else can you tell me about what Sarah's notes or was it a journal said?"

[Private to GM: she will first try to figure out why her weave is being drained away, then try to figure out if the bracely holds an active weave, so the channeler doesn't have to, or if it holds a weave, waiting for the wearer to release it.]

Marissa hands Taren the journal. "It was written in her journal. Luckily for us, she kept copious notes to keep track of the many ideas and projects filling her mind."

Taren gently takes the journal, reading the relevant passages.  With each passage, his shoulders slump further and the young man almost wilts.  Closing the journal he hands it back to Marissa, "We do what we must but we needs be quick about it and done with it.

A short time later Addaru rises and begins a series of stretching exercises to take the stiffness out of his muscles.  After a time he joins Marissa and Taren clearly giving them time to complete the conversation they are having.  Giving her a light kiss on top of her head, he crouches down beside them.

"Any sign of those Darkhounds?"

[Private to Marissa: It appears to store the One Power, absorbing its energy.  It appears to be used for counter-channeling (spelling) other uses of the One Power ... but not on a small scale.  There is a limit to how much it can hold but for the moment, Marissa is uncertain as to the amount.]

Asurii had risen with the first morning stirrings.  As Taren spoke of the delay getting to Mirya, she stepped soundlessly up to him.  "Taren," she said softly as she reachedd out a nand to his shsoulder.  It would seem that whomever we go to deal with is either directly or indirectly involved in Mirya'd capture.  From what Marissa read, she will be kept alive as along as they need her for the ceremony."

Marissa smiles at Addaru. "Not within range that my weaving will detect. The bad news is, if the stories are to be believed, they can track our sent no matter the distance or passage of time, until they are killed."

Looking at the twins she says, "This bracelet cancels other weaving, using energy stored within. I know not how much it will hold yet, but I think it might hold as much as I can channel unaided, perhaps more."

Marissa walked over to Taren, looking at him as an older sister might. "This tower or stronghold is closer, and if we can stop this ritual, or the next, then they will have to wait to get replacements, since it requires all three in order to work, like taking a building apart, stone by stone."

she can understand, perhaps better than the others but not by much, since Mirya was like a sister to her, and she knows how she would fee were Addaru in the same predicament.

Mirya is a Wise One and Aiel, neither she, nor any other Aiel should be used so.  This ritual must be stopped so that they can never perform it, even if it means trying to destroy the Forsaken themselves." Raiel states with feeling.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Tue 30 Dec 2008.

In reply to Raiel (msg #37):

"It would be best to recuse all those taken for the ritual."  Asurii looks to the others.  "There may be something that also needs to be used to break the seals and if that is destroyed also, then we would eliminate the danger of the victims being captured again at a later time.

"Marissa is there anything in the book to indicate some artifact that is needed to perform the ritual?"

"No, It says it is a ritual, but we can't assume the Seer from the Age of Legends saw all, or that there are not any items needed by the Triad to complete the ritual, besides the souls and minds of the Mad Man, the Archer, and the Wise Woman."

Taren nodded, clearly bowing to the inevitable course.  "I know we must do this but I do not have to like it.

"Since we must, I would ask that we do this as quickly as we can, for I wish not to tarry until I know Mirya is safe."

Addaru nodded, "There is at least some truth to those tales.  Then we will have to endeavor to kill them.  I have been thinking that I may need to gather warriors to aid us.  I have heard through certain sources that there are several that are attempting to catch up with me.

"As much as I am not pleased with the idea, it is said that they wish to follow me.  Yet there will be need."

Addaru sighs and for the first time Marissa notes that he is wearing the helm and the belt.  His tone is more melodius and charming, hitting just the right pitch to calm listeners and win them over.  His face almost seems to shine with an aura of charisma and when he smiles, it is a smile that could easily win over most.

Marissa smiles and as she leans in to give Addaru a kiss, says, "The garb of a charming leader. I'd best be careful lest someone be charmed out of their senses and into your bed. They'd not be of much use as bubbles of ether burned from the weave."

Her smile was as sweet and warm as ever, her kiss and the emotions he could feel as passionate as ever, but it was clear she would give any border woman a run for hardness and protecting what was hers.

ASurii woke early and set herself the task of delving into the ring and learning its secrets.  Asurii will begin to ply the ring with the individual powers of Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Spirit.  If nothing seems to come of that then she will begining to use pairs of poweres and then finally triads of power.  If there is enough time she will keep trying until she finds the right combination or she gathers together all five powers and channels them into the ring.

As Marissa and Addaru speak and the Warder speaks of others he might gather to help them she addds her own thoughts."

"It would help if we as a few septs of Aiel Warriors." added Asurii.  "Putting a spear into the Leafblighter's plans would be something they would gladly do."

She sight, "Unfortunately Manetheren is too far away for call for aid, and there is the shadow creature that they must deal with."

"Addaru, where would these people be? Is there anyway of knowing? We could gate to them, maybe we could gate to Rhuidean and gather warriors and Wise Ones to aid in this battle."  With all the Foresaken could bring to bare a fight, we could not hope to counter it all."

"By the Light, we must use everything in our power to stop the ritual."

Raiel  cannot help but overhear Marrissa's comment to Addaru.

"It is gooe that you let him know you will not share him with Others but what about with  a near sister? or sister-wife?" she asks qurious about Wetlander customs.

Addaru smiles, lightly stroking back Marissa's hair, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers, "You are my heart's desire Love.  My heart and my desire only have focus for you."

Wrapping an arm around Marissa's shoulders, he chuckles then quietly whispers into Marissa's ear as he leans over her.  [Private to Marissa: "I am looking forward to a nice quiet winter together where we're snowed in and can stay abed for hours."]

Addaru releases Marissa and turns to address Asurii, "I have been hearing rumors and have been approached a few times but have usually turned them away.  I am sure if I stayed in one spot long enough they would find me.

"Unfortunately, at least not right at this moment, we do not have time to go find them.  We do have to investigate, at least scout out this region and see what we are up against.

"If it turns out the way I think it will then we can fall back, gather any warriors brave enough to follow me and deal with what must be done."

Addaru shakes his head, "But first we must find this place without being detected and get a lay of the land.  Can you each take turns using the One Power to sense for Shadowspawn so we are not surprised again?"

Taren certainly looks interested in the three women's answer to Addaru's query.

Marissa smiles at Addaru, then listens.

In response to his question, she says, "It is not a hard weave. We could tie it off to keep it active. One to sense shadowspawn, one to sense darkfriends, and one to detect channelers."

"I was careless in not having though of it before. Gating is clearly not enough of a surprise to the enemy."

Addaru nodded, "So all of you are proficient in this weave then?"

Glancing at Marissa, "Perhaps it is not enough of a surprise or the Darkhounds had time to recover as we were coming through and launched their own assault which seems to me more likely.

"However, I am wary given what warnings we have had that our foes have made note of us and may be tracking us by our very means of travel."

"We must do what we can," Asurii comments, "even an Aiel can be tracked." It was a saving that only an Aiel can track an Aiel.

"We do have one advantage, the Light is on our side."  It was something the Asurii had felt for some time, that all that had transpired to she, Raiel, and now these others, friends and comrades; they had been guided by the Light.  Yet not pushed for the Light offered choices and by ones choices did they live, and grow.  Even as they were all growing to be whatever was needed at Tarmon Gaidon, at the Last Battle.

Addaru nods though the frown on his face indicates he has some issues with that comment, "Many people believe that they have the Light on their side but that is not always enough even when one applies themselves.  The Light does not help those who do not help themselves and even then ... even then it is not always enough.

"But we must do this for we are the ones that are here, even if we may not be the ones so prophecied, we cannot turn our backs on this.

"If such weaves need to be taught then I would suggest that the teachings commence immediately as we should not tarry over long before we set out."

Marissa nods.

"You saw the weave for shadowspawn? Did you learn it?" If they both learned it, then she continues, "the others are similar." She shows them the weave against channelers, and one to detect darkfriends.

The three were similar weaves, yet very different in the pattern woven with like elements.

They were all simple to learn.

It took some practice but in fairly short order, taking only a few hours, the Twins had learned the weaves that Marissa displayed that they had not as yet learned.  By this point it was approaching mid-morning.

After Marissa finished asking the twins if they had seen the weave, Raiel shakes her heard, "I saw but not enough I was busy if you will show me again I will have the chance to learn it. I will do my best."

An hours of so later Raiel and Asurii both could make the weave.

"Thank you Marissa you are an able teacher."

"Now Addaru one of us will go with you  Asurii and I will toss the spear for it.   With that Raiel tossed her spear up in the air to let Asurii catch it in her hand the hand nearest the top would win.  hand over hand they clasped the shaft of the spear.

Raiel won the toss she was able to get her whole hand on the last bit of the shaft leaving only a finger or two of width for Asurii.  With a smile of pleasure at winning she nods to Addaru,  "I will go with you."