He makes a pained expression and goes on at length at how the food is supposed to go directly to Falme, but effectively monologues into excusing selling to you as you are a refuge. So it’s like it going to Falme. He does however counter with 8 marks.

He wishes you well after the exchange and adds your coins to a large pouch with a smile and an eager expression as he looks towards the horizon. And with that he sets off.

——————————

With food sorted away and now plenty to easily reach the mountains and have several days time to search for Rand and the others, you head off.

After two more days, you’re beginning to enter the slopes of the mountains where the trails are closer to hiking trails that cart paths. In the distance you see a few Shienaren soldiers filling water skins.

I part with the 8 mark while grumbling under my breath so that I appear normal.

I pack the food away and move on my way.

-----------------

Recognizing the Shienaren uniform from my time in Fal Dara. I smile. These are probably the soldiers that went with Rand to find the Horn.

I move out of sight and then change in to my more Noble like practice cloths.

Then I will head Directly to the Shienaren and Hail them so I don't Surprise them. (Although I doubt that I am that sneaky. )

"Hail Shienarens! I am Eli Bumbalough! And I am looking for Rand Al'Thor!"

They look seriously as you approach, but ease slightly at the sight of you. One of them responds to you with ”Hail and well met Eli, May peace favor your sword.” And he bows respectfully. ”What is it that you seek Rand Al’ Thor for?”

I stayed at Fal Dara for about a month. So I might Have picked up a bit of knowledge about their customs. So I will bow back the expected amount. (Or at least what I think that is.)

"I have a feeling that I will need to join and aid him on the next part of his journey. I also have a feeling that some of my friends are with him. And I would like to met up with them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:52, Mon 20 May 2019.

"Who are your friends that might be with him? You can tell that the Shienaran is trying to validate you are a friend of Rand's, without directly challenging you on it. From your time with them you know that pride and honor are huge tenants of Shienaran culture, so they are careful not to imply one is lying without cause.

"I know that Perrin Aybara and Matrim Cauthon when with him.

I believe that Moiraine Sedai and Al'Lan Mandraggaran when with him as well."

He smiles at you, "You keep quite noble company my friend, an Aes Sedai, her Warder, and two of His closest friends. I hope you'll forgive me for being cautious, but the friends of the dark are everywhere it seems"

He goes and finishes filling a few more water skins and gestures for you to follow.

"We can't take you immediately back to the camp, we have another three hours to patrol. We could give you directions or you could join us for our patrol and we'll bring you back to the camp at the end."

"Your Caution is completely understandable my Friend."


I'll let them fill their water-skins. Then I'll follow.

"I'll join you on your patrol. Another set of Eyes and Ears is always helpful on patrol.

I'll Embrace the Flame and the Void. The One Power's sweet call is there. But I don't need it at the moment. So I Ignore it.

I'll do what I can to help their patrol.

Their patrol passes rather uneventfully. They are covers two mountain trails, with a somewhat unpredictable routine, which occurs to you is to prevent one from being able to study their route as a way to sneak past them.

At the end of the three hours, they are relieved by three more Shienarans who raise an eye when they see you but say nothing about it. After the exchange of guard duty, the Shienarans you were patroling with lead you up one of the routes you were patrolling. On the way you see that the two trails eventually join back together before leading through a narrow pass between two sheer mountain slopes. Past the narrow pass by about half a mile you see a clearing that opens up considerably, with various tents.

There is also a half circle of elevated terrain, with a handful of tents set up. The one in the center has the Dragon Banner flying.

I'll look around the Dragon Banner and see who I can find. I am needing to talk to Rand and Moiraine about channeling.  But that can wait until I can talk to them alone.

You make your way through the camp, up to the tents on the upper section. The Shienarans who recognize you greet you with the familiar greeting of "Peace favor you" or "Peace favor your sword, Eli" The second greeting is more common among the older Shienarans.

When you get to the top you notice that candles have been lit inside the tents, all except the one in front of the Dragon Banner. All of the flaps are tied shut however, even on the lit tents.

So far you've not seen Rand or Moiraine.

I'll check the Tent with no candles are lit.

If I don't find anyone in there, I will ask around to see if the Shienarans know where Moiraine Sedai or Rand are at.

You undo one of the knots on the tent and peer in. Your eyes are just beginning to adjust to the darkness in the tent when the world shutters. You feel an intense way of awe-inspiring power and are then thrown through the air backwards as the earth bucks like a wild bronco.

You fall backwards and barely catch yourself before careening down the steep slope between the lower portion of the camp and these tents. The earth is violently rumbling and tossing and you feel a pervasive menacing power unlike any you have felt before.

I'll stay on all fours until the earthquake stops to prevent myself from Falling and hurting myself.

What is this power I feel?

I'll wait for the quake to stop and then head back to the dark tent.

"Hello? Is anyone in there? It is Eli."

The earthquake continues for what feels like forever, as you see the mountains around the camp loom and threaten to cave in and collapse on you all. And then they suddenly stop and the power you sensed vanishes.

When you stand back up and look back in the tent you see no one, just a slightly messy tent with some fine clothing with embroidery about. No one responds from within when you call in.

Well. That is probably Rand's tent. So he will probably show up here eventually.

I'll wait until someone shows up.

After ten minutes or so you see Rand approaching his tent from an opening in the back mountain pass with a waterfall behind it. He carries himself with more confidence than you remember and radiates an aura of nobility.

And then there's his scowl, which looks like it could make stones turn in terror. After a moment approaching though he sees you and his visage brightens as he calls out to you, "Eli! Where did you come from? And how in the light did you find us?"

He continues walking towards his tent and gestures for you to enter, pulling you up a chair and sitting in one himself.

I'll Follow him in.

"Well. I just did a long walk from Falme. As for how I found your camp, You are not the only one with Talents. Basically I felt like this is where I needed to go."

I enter and take the offered set.

"It's good see you Rand. How are you doing? Are Mat and Perrin here as well?"

<aqua>"So long as how you found the camp wouldn't be easily replicated by others, you may keep your secrets on it. It is good to see you again. I am doing as well as could be expected for one destined to go mad. Matt is on his way to Tar Valon to be healed of the dagger, but Perrin is in camp."

"It wouldn't be much of a secret if I said it out in the open.
But I think that this one should be be shared among those like us.

The Method I used chould only be used by Ta'Verin that are linked like we are. I focus and meditate on our connection. And then I a impression of what you are doing. Or was doing.or will be doing. And a feeling of which direction you are in.
Please forgive me for intruding on your privacy. It only gives a few seconds and I think I need the glimpse to follow you here.

As for the madness... it is good to be Cautious about it and to limit your Channeling to just when you need to use the One Power. That will let us hold on as long as possible. But I have a feeling that... Something will happen to change the situation.  The Light needs us to succeed.

That segways into the next Dangerous secret. I had a viewing from Min Farshaw in Tar Valon. She was being kept there so the Aes Sedai could study her power. She sometimes sees things in the Auras of people and sometimes she knows what will happen. I'm inclined to believe she has that power. The viewing basically says that I will save you in the future and the Fate of the Wheel depends on it. The viewings also say that I will Channel and that has come to pass."

He looked confused at what you describe with the scrying-like ability, but nods anyway, apparently not concerned about it.

His confusion begins to shift to concern when you use us instead of you, and shifts to partial shock when you mention Min's viewing and that you can channel.

"Min had a viewing of you like THAT? Do you remember exactly what the viewing was? It may be an important part of the prophecy, and not everything was recorded throughout the ages. I need to learn more about the prophecies but there's so precious little information at hand."

He then takes a deep breath,
"Also, you must tell no one else other than me that you have channeled. It won't be safe for you, even here. They only follow me because I am the Dragon Reborn, I don't think they would stay their hand for a friend of the Dragon who can channel. We should speak more of this in the morning, when I can get some of Min's time. For now it's best that I'm not seen out at camp... after that disaster I caused earlier. I can't bear to see the pain people are in due to my inability to control the power.

"I see. So that was your power.
I understand and I don't hold it against you.
Apparently I can feel it when you Channel.

So Min is here. That makes things simpler to check if I made the right choice.

As for her viewings it was a collection of viewings. The first one she didn't tell me what the exact image was only that I will have a choice to save your life and thus save everyone.  Or let you fall and doom us all... So obviously I am going to save you.

There where two viewings that where Fighting each other for control of my future. One was me in a black coat with two pins on the collar. Surrounded by a golden aura and holding a flame in one hand and a sword in the other.
The other image was me frail and decrepit and rotting.
The meaning the two images is this. I will channal. For the first time, I must Channel to protect someone that will also save your life in the future. If I did it too soon, Madness and the taint will overwhelm  me.

Hopefully I chose correctly.

What about Moiraine Sedai. She swore to help you win the Final Battle. Do you think she would accept the help of a male Channeler?

...When you Channel, do you use the Flame and the Void to access the Power?"

“You should not intrinsically trust any Aes Sedai, at least for now. They are sworn to bring those like you and I to be gentled, and they may not ask many questions first. I trust Moiraine most, due to some of the things she has done, but for now this should be kept secret.

And yes, I use the flame and the void to grasp the power, I believe it’s the only way for men.”

"ok. I will stay silent for now.

I think that is correct.  It is how I learned to do it. Although I have almost no clue what I am doing. Besides pulling on it and then forcing it to do what you want. The Technique seems to be splitting it into streams or threads or lines of power. Then draw a sigil. Or maybe it is weaving it. Then the thing I drew or made does the thing I wanted to do.

But the problem is I don't have a clue how it does it.

I know there are certain parallels to the way men and women do this. And I also know there is critical differences.
"

He chuckles, ”I wish I could tell you how, but I hardly have control. Most of my channeling has just happened. I need to learn faster... I can still do so little. Anyway we really should talk more tomorrow, it will appear strange if I spend too long talking with you. We need to be careful lest people learn too much. And it doesn’t take much for Moiraine to learn too much.”