Riley's Background Story and Journal

[Riley]

The evening was dreary, rain pounded against the windows of the house. Andion Talvathar paced back and forth on the carpeted rugs in the living room, his wife, Miriel, lays in pain due to her pregnancy on the couch. Something was terribly wrong he thought, its been over two hours ago since he met with the Two Rivers Wisdom. She promised to be over as soon as she finished with another pressing matter.

Half past seven a soft but abrupt knock came at the door. Andion was a bit frustrated about how long it took the wisdom to get there, she brushed past him without hardly saying a word to him. She delved into Miriel’s body. After, a few minutes she realized that Miriel was suffering from internal bleeding, and that the umbilical cord was strangling her baby’s life.

Without taking her eyes off Miriel, she spoke, “There’s nothing I can do to save both of them, I can only save one of them, choose now before it’s too late.”

Andion felt like he had just had the wind knocked out of him. He loved his wife dearly, but he also felt as if he could not let his child die.

His voice wavered as he knew what he was about to say, “Wis.. Wisdom please save our baby.”

The Wisdom without hesitation used the power to make an incision into Miriel's belly. She slide her hands into the incision, carefully unwrapping the umbilical cord from the baby and pulling her out to safety. But, all was not well yet. The baby’s body was weak, and only the faintest of a heartbeat could be felt. The Wisdom severed the umbilical cord with her powers, and channeled to heal the baby. After a long 20 minutes, the baby started crying on her own, and regained her strength.

“Andion,” the wisdom said, “What shall you call her?”

“Riley shall be her name, Wisdom.” replied Andion.

The Wisdom swaddled Riley in a blanket and handed the little one over to Andion.

“Remember, Andion she was healed by the One Power, and will require lots of rest and nourishment,” stated the wisdom.

The wisdom closed Miriel’s eyes, and closed her wound from the emergency c-section by stitches. She pulled a blanket over Miriel’s body. “I’m sorry for your loss Andion, may Riley outshine her life in everyway.”

Andion nodded to the Wisdom, “Thank you, and peace be with you.

As she was about to leave, she looked back, “Andion, on the morrow we will have the funeral.”

After the funeral of her mother, and raising Riley on his own he still had a rough time being a single father. Andion was a master tanner, so between work and caring for Riley his time was scarce. Riley never did get a chance to know the loyal and caring mother she would have had. Instead her toddler years were very stressful. Any time she stepped out of line she didn’t have the caring and sensitive mother, who would of held some compassion when she got into the slightest bit of trouble. But, instead she had to face daddy’s leather strap.

As she grow up she learned a lot from her father, the art and skill for hunting, was her biggest achievement throughout her life. But, she really fancied the boys playing with their swords in the fields, sparring with each other. She became very skilled with short blades from over the years, but never was able to afford to buy any type of sword to be able to practice with, but knowing her strengths from hunting, she approached her father with the aspirations of becoming a warder.

She set off for Tar Valon the day after her 17th birthday, and was mostly awestruck by the magnificence and splendor of the city itself. While asking around the city about who and where she could enlist to become a warder, the city folk mostly laughed in her face. Some were even as ignorant and drunkenly slurring childish things like, “Listen lass, you couldn’t even hurt a fly.” or “You’re just a little runt.” some even were as ruthless as like “You can play with my sword, wench.” Needless to say, she was asking in all the wrong places. But, she figured most taverns would be willing to give anyone the information they wanted, but living in the Two Rivers all her life, she was sheltered from the rest of the world.

She finally stumbled across some public boards that had some information listed on it to visit with Gaidin Gregdal. Now that she had the information that he was on the first floor of the White Tower, she set off in that direction. At least she didn’t have to ask directions this time, since you would have to be a complete idiot not to be able to see the splendor of the White Tower from anywhere in the city.

Once inside she got lost, but wandered around a bit until she ran into a gentleman. She mentioned to him that she came to Tar Valon to become a warder. He introduced himself as Gaidin Sargon, and explained to her, that if she enlisted her chances to become a Warder wasn’t certain. He also mentioned the tuition fees to train with them. At which point she thanked him for the information that he had given to her and Gaidin Sargon escorted her back to the White Tower's entrance. But, since she was a woman he asked Riley if she wanted to know if she could channel. So, she said, "Sure", and he escorted her to meet the Mistress of Novices. After, being formally introduce Riley asked, "Merean Sedai can I learn to channel?" to which the Mistress of Novies at the time was not certain at the moment. Gaidin Sargon escorted Riley out to the entrance of the tower again, and formally gave her a farewell.

A few days later Riley was still intrigued if she could she could channel, this time the Mistress of Novices answer was that she could learn to channel. Not really knowing what that meant at the time because she never was in town at the time when the Aes Sedai came through Two Rivers to bring back girls that could channel, she was actually quite stunned at what happened next.

First off, she was told that she wouldn’t be able to wear all her current clothes. Secondly, that she would be getting a room in the tower, and that her new clothes would be in her rooms that she was expected to wear, keep clean and neat.

Riley felt like she got the wind knocked out of her as she pretty much right than had to come to the realization that her dreams of becoming a warder were shattered. All that lies before her now is the decision to become an Aes Sedai or to burn herself out before she gets to the point that the exhilaration of Saidar coursing through her body is greater than her will power to live.

[Riley]

***WARNING OOC NOTICE: Anything found in this diary you can not use against Riley. If you choose to read it, by all means do so. But, in the spirit of role-play your in character player can not gain knowledge to the contents of what is contained within this journal, unless you physically find Riley's room within the White Tower, there is no physical object of a journal in her room so you will have to pretend. ***

****OOC EDIT July 10, 2013 There is now a small notebook in my quarters, serving as my journal.


Day One:

After getting my chores from Merean Sedai, I followed her instructions to find my new room. The room is smaller and rather depressing than my old room in the Two Rivers. It was my choice to come to Tar Valon, so I guess I have to face the consequences of my actions. Though I can't become the Warder I wanted to be, perhaps I'll be able to become an Aes Sedai in time.

Even though it was late at night, I still went to do my chores. I had to do the laundry. A tedious task at any rate. I fell asleep for a few hours, when I got so tired from waiting for them to dry. When I awoke I noticed the sunlight was starting to appear on the horizon. I hurriedly finished with the laundry, and went to my rooms.

[Riley]

Day Two

I went to see what I could learn from the other accepted in the Tower, and after those lessons I went to see what my chores for the day was. Laundry AGAIN! I could still feel the wrinkles on my fingers from the previous night. But, I smiled and curtsied, and left without a word to go do my chores. At least I could pass the time, while waiting for the clothes this time to practice my meditation. Trust me waiting for laundry to dry and trying to meditate is no easy task! Almost as bad as watching a pot to see when it boils.

[Riley]

Day Three

I'm starting to learn my way around the tower, or so I thought. I managed to get lost on the floors with the different Ajahs. I had a terrible time trying to find a way back down to the ground after I finished cleaning the fireplaces, I'm sure I could have jumped out of a window, but alas, I don't know how to fly.

I did run across a Yellow Aes Sedai that needed help in finding something she lost, so I went to go search for it. But, after she said where I could find it, I got sidetracked. The memories of my childhood not long ago resurfaced, and I sat beneath a tree in the center of the training grounds watching the warders train. Watching them dance with their swords reminded me of the days the Two Rivers boys dueled with wooden practice swords. Sometimes, came to the extent that one boy needed to be sent to the Town Wisdom for healing.

Accepted Blossom caught me channeling in the kitchen area today, weaving clean. I told her my chores were done for the day. After, talking to her for awhile I think we might be able to be friends, or at least be able to get along with each other. Only time will tell. Daddy has always said men will always have tells when they will turn on you, but women will always stab you in the back.

[Riley]

Day Four:

Nothing really interesting to report on today. Just had to clean the dishes for the meals today. What is up with chores having to involve all this water??? Be so much easier if we were allowed to use the One Power to do our chores.

In my lessons for the day I learned the weaves for Trace and Create Water. I'll have to practice them more some other day. I feel like I'm getting behind in my proficiency of weaves. But, I keep working on them, my chores were a big distraction today, in that I wasted so much time trying to figure out where the dishes were that I was to wash. At least Merean Sedai didn't seem to notice that I was pretty slow in getting my chores done today.

[Riley]

Day Five:

Was a slow day. At least today's chore was actually quite simple. Find big spots of dust on the floor and clean it up. Merean Sedai never did say to scrub the entire floor after all.

I find myself wanting to see what my limits are with the One Power, but also at the same time I fear what might happen if I try to hold more than two weaves at a time.

I suppose it's nice that not a lot of Aes Sedai are in the tower of late either. Otherwise, I think I may be seeing the Mistress of Novices on a quite regular schedule.

I do hope my journal is treated with the privacy of my personal belongings. I don't think I would be too thrilled if someone showed this to an Aes Sedai.

[Riley]

Day Six:

Was a rather boring day today. Doing chores and tasks, is this all we do? I'd love to be able to get out and see the surrounding area again. You know they say men go insane from the taint of Saidin... But, I think the women might start to go insane from the boredom of being trapped in this tower!

Today, I even thought about channeling cause drunkenness on the inhabitants of the tower, but than I thought for sure I'd be caught and be sent straight to the MoN's office!

[Riley]

Day Seven and Eight:

I've been too busy with practicing my weaves and chores, and just trying to get enough sleep. To get through the next day, I haven't had a chance to write.

I got to meet with Accepted Krinata, I hope I made a good impression on her, but I'm not sure what she thinks of me in return.

[Riley]

Day Nine and Ten:

Yesterday, Accepted Blossom and I had a chat in the Novice's courtyard. Which weighed on my mind too much to fathom to write last night before bed. But, I finally made up my mind what to do. Thus, this morning, I went to Merean Sedai's office and spoke to her about what was said. Maybe I'm reading into things too much for my own good, but receiving any punishment now is better than if what I believe she was talking about is as worse as what I suspect it is. Well I'd rather take my punishment now than two fold. I don't care if I'm branded a snitch in the White Tower. I feel like everything we do we are held accountable for in due time. Maybe one day I'll hand this journal over to an Aes Sedai, and see what comes of it. But, whatever, I have to do, or pain I have to endure. I will strive to do what I think I must do.

I reprimanded Accepted Blossom yesterday for embracing Saidar in anger, and I felt as if she would have lashed out on anyone, that would stand in her way of knowing the truth. [I know that truth now.(scribbled out)]

I also fear that she will be leaving the tower, with the help of a woman in the city. She has learned a weave that uses alot of the water element, from the woman I do not know. She also said that the woman was helping to get her freedom back. I can only imagine that she is trying to runaway from the Tower, since the weave creates an item that alters the way she looks to others.

I just couldn't keep dwelling on all this, if I have to pay for speaking what I heard to Merean Sedai this morning. Than I have to pay.

I did get into trouble for reprimanding Accepted Blossom, which I figured I would. But, at least if my gut feeling is right I won't be going down with the knowledge of what she told me, and not telling anyone. At least I'll be able to eat and drink again, and have the strength for cleaning Lara's soup pans for the next 3 days. Dishes at home are alot easier to clean up than burnt on food from the bottom of those soup pans. And having to get them cleaned to perfection is a joke.

[Riley]

Day Eleven:

Only two more days of "offering" to help Laras with cleaning her soup pans. The words the Aes Sedai use are completely off the wall. I was tempted to use the one power to help today with cleaning the soup pans. It's almost as if Lara's knows I'm being punished and deliberately burned food on the bottom of her pots. Took me a few hours to get them clean. At least the water to wash them in is scalding hot, which helped a little. At least I don't have to wash the pots in cold water. They'd never be clean enough to pass Lara's inspection! At least what is left for the rest of the day I can practice some of my weaves before heading off to bed.