AAR - Wheel of Time - Chapter II posted

[Anderhil]

First of all, this is my fifth aar, or so I suppose. In nearest future, I maybe continue my previous one ''A storm over Calradia'', but now, I'll start new aar using The Gathering Storm mod. There are magic, myth monsters in this mod. It is really awesome mod, my favorite after Europe 1200 and Prophesy of Pendor (which is really hard btw). Firstly, I was planning to make narrative aar or history book, but I'll make it as a diary. I hope you will like it... Read well.



Introduction


My name is Altor al'Mandrag, or I suppose it is, since I recently learnt that I was not from land where I was raised, and I'm not one of people who raised me. I've been living in Emond's Field, in Two Rivers for my whole life. My father was.. at least man who raised me, Basan al'Mandrag. I never met my mother.. Basan said she died when I was two. My father was shepherd, so i. I kept sheeps together with my friend, Rand al'Thor, who left Emond's field after attack of trollocs on Winter Night, with Aes Sedai Moiraine, fire burnt her. Also, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara dissapeared too in same night. Since then, Emond's field changed. Few days afterwards, it was my turn to leave. Zennain Sedai came to village. After one day, she said my friend Serdar and I have to come with her, because about some ta'veren thing. You cannot refuse Aes Sedai, so we had to come. When we arrived to town of Baerlon, after passing river Taren, I found this little book on one of tables in inn where we decided to sleep. As I opened book, I saw all pages are blank and decided to write diary about my journey.

--

Author's note:

I will make vocabulary about what is ta'veren and Aes Sedai so you can know what I'm talking about..




VOCABULARY:


Aes Sedai - In the Old Tongue, Aes Sedai means "servants of all", and the Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends lived up to this definition. They aided mankind as scientists, healers and philosophers. Women use saidar and men saidin, although it is believed that channelers in the Age of Legends were much stronger, or at least more knowledgeable in the Power than their modern equivalents; it is believed that they could fly, and things that would seem miraculous today were supposedly commonplace to them. Some of their lost Talents, such as Traveling and Dreaming, have only just been rediscovered. One thing is clear, however; the greatest works were wrought by male and female channelers working together.

Altor al'Mandrag - Young shepherd that left his home with Aes Sedai because he is ta'veren.

Basan al'Mandrag - Adopted father to Altor al'Mandrag.

Moiraine - Aes Sedai from White Tower.

Mat Cauthon - peasant from Emond's Field. He is ta'veren.

One Power - The One Power comes from the True Source, the driving force of creation, the force the Creator made to turn the Wheel of Time. Saidin, the male half of the True Source, and saidar, the female half, work against each other, and at the same time together to provide that force. Saidin is fouled by the touch of the Dark One, like water with a thin slick of rancid oil floating on top. The water is still pure, but it cannot be touched without touching the foulness. Only saidar is still safe to be used...
The True Source cannot be used up, any more than the river can be u

Perrin Aybara - blacksmith apprentice from Emond's Field. He is ta'veren.

Rand al'Thor - shepherd from Emond's Field. He is ta'veren.

Sedrar al'Yraja - apprentice blacksmith from Emond's Field.

 

[cyrileom]

Good luck, and I hope you do a better job with this mod than me.

 

[Anderhil]

Hehe, thanks. I'll try... and I hope you will like my aar..

 

[cyrileom]

Depends. Try not to go too mass channeler, that breaks the game. Taking Tar Valon with under 100 casualties is... not realistic.

 

[Anderhil]

Hehe, I just learnt how to use fire weave. Killing 100 bandits alone, so easy.... I'll see how it affects my storyline.

 

[Anderhil]

Chapter I






----

I woke up.. I was still lying in bed. We were riding whole day from Emond's Field to Baerlon. It was first town I ever saw. So many people at one place. In one street, there was more people than in whole Emond's Field. I don't understand how can those people live. I didn't mentioned that food is much more expensive than in Emond's Field. Sedrar and I somehow persuaded Zannein to let us see how's town looking like.
We meet some Whitecloaks, Children of Light, fanatics. They would accuse you that you are Dakrfriend only because they don’t like you, and even If they have no clue that you are Darkfriend. I have always imagined towns with big white tovers, with cobbled streets, in which poor people do not exsist. Baerlon disappointed me a lot. Once I had a big opinion about towns…

隐藏

Town of Baerlon


In the morning of same day, I learnt I am ta'veren, as well as Sedrar. Ta'veren is person, who is destined to bring change to the world. At first, I was surprised, and I didn't liked it at all. I know I always wanted adventures, but this adventure didn't seemed good. In the afternoon, we decided to travel to Tar Valon, residence of Aes Sedai. Well that's something I really didn't liked. First, there is so many Aes Sedai, as one isn't enough. Second, One Power is being used there, and since I saw how Moiraine Sedai healed Rand's father using One Power, my opinion about True Source decreased.

At evening, we arrived at village named Four Kings, which was attacked by Darkfriends, servants of Dark One. I cannot say his name, Light burnt him, because I'm scared. I will write in nearest future why's that.
Darkfriends were slaughtering villagers of Four Kings. Servants of Shepherd of Night, wore black tunic, and were holding or sword or night in each hand. I learnt reason why they attacked village. Once, most people of Four Kings were Darkfriends, but were exiled by loyal Andorans, and Darkfriends probably wanted revenge. Nevermind that, this was first time I saw Darlaan, Zannein's warder in battle. It looked like he danced. He killed about ten Darkfriends easily on his horse. But on his feet, he was even more amazing. So much spins and swings. I could barely see Darlaan, but I saw a lot of Darkfriends falling to ground, like a rain. I know they are Darkfriends, but this was first time I saw slaughtering. On smell of blood, my horse was nervous. Once, I could barely stop him to throw me out of saddle. I rode to the nearby hill, only to see Four Kings burns.

On my luck, few moments later, I saw Sedrar, Darlaan and Zannein Sedai riding towards me. What a relief. I believe I couldn't survive without them. We continued our trip and arrived at Caemlyn, capital of Kingdom of Andor. From Zannein I learnt Two Rivers were part of Andor. Two Rivers are backwater. Tax collectors weren't coming to Emond's Field, as well as nearby villages Devon's Ride and Watch Hill, except to Taren's Ferry, which was near to Baerlon.

On march 27th, we arrived at Tar Valon.

Tar Valon, residence of Aes Sedai



. I felt... I don’t know how to say it, but I just knew it is not good. So many Aes Sedai around. Zannein said that every year, number of Aes Sedai is decreasing, and that is not good. Who will fight in Tarmon’Gaidon, the Last battle. Amyrlin Seat, head of White Tover, invited us. When we got into her room, I opened my mouth, terriffied. It was Egvene al’Vere, girl I grew up with.
She widened here eyes when she saw Sedrar and me. I’ll describe our little talk

’’Sedrar, Altor! What are you doing here?’’ – she asked, confusion on her face.

’’Err, Egvene...’’ – I said, when Zannein interupted me.

’’Amyrlin Seat! You must say Amyrlin Seat!’’ – Zannein yelled.

I looked at her with confusion.

’’No, Zannein..’’ – Egvene said. ’’I grew up with him, it is okay. Now, why are you here?’’

Zannein looked at me with anger. ’’They are ta’veren, Amyrlin.’’

’’Too?’’ – She bursted. ’’It is enough that Rand, Mat and Perrin are ta’verens, but Altor and Sedrar too. What is happenning in this world?’’

’’What are we going to do, Egvene?’’ – Sedrar asked.

Egvene raised her look and said. ’’You are staying here.’’

’’I don’t want to stay at bloody Tar Valon!’’ – I said, when Egvene raised her brow. ’’I am sorry, I won’t swear anymore.’’

Even in Emond’s Field, Egvene didn’t liked when someone swore near her.
It was looking like we have to stay at Tar Valon, much longer than I thought

--

World of Wheel of Time, actually one part of it.

 

[Anderhil]

Chapter II




I was in my room in White Tower, sitting on wodden chair thinking about what Zannein told me. I was ta'veren, she told me. ''An Aes Sedai never lies, but the truth she speaks, may not be the truth you think you hear.'' Last night, I had strange dream. I was in front of big mountain. I couldn't se it's top. I only know it's dark as tar. I heard voice in my head ''Serve me in life, or serve me in death.'' I knew who was that. I knew where I was. I was in front of Shayol Ghul, where prison of Dark One is. Dark One spoke to me.
''Light burn you Shai'tan!'' - I said to him when I made one step and fell into Pit of Doom... and then I woke up. I found out that I was covered in sweat. I haven't told Zannein anything, or even Sedrar. I kept this dream in secret, it was too strange to have a dream about Dark One. I don’t know if saying His name in dream would have same effects of saying it in reality. I do not want to attract his attention.

When I got out of my room, I saw Sedrar. As I approached him, I felt something strange. It was just for a moment… and it disappeared. What was that? I don’t understand. I should have talked to Zannein, but I decided to keep this a secret too. I saw a man walking through halls of White Tover. He was tall, and though sit hairs on temples, he looked pretty strong, and confident. He walked like warder, like Darlaan. Death followed him like a pet. He smelled like a death. I didn’t understood how can I smell death, but that is probably imagination. At other end of hall, Zannein stood, smiled to see this man.

‘’Lord Gareth Bryne.’’ – she said.

Gareth Bryne nodded ‘’Zannein Sedai. If you would excuse me, I am in hurry. My wife Siuan is kidnapped by Myddraals last night. I am preparing my cavalry for rescue.’’

‘’No need for that, Gareth.’’

He looked at her, confusion on his face. ‘’No need?’’

She nodded and replied. ‘’Leave it to me and my small group.’’ While talking to Lord Gareth Bryne, Zannein looked at me. ‘’Leave it to us.’’

--

In the end, what Zannein said to Gareth Bryne was true. We had to go and rescue Siuan Sanche. She is former Amyrlin, and strong Aes Sedai, more capable than many present Aes Sedai. While I was preparing my saddlebags, I heard from residents rumors that Shienar army led by Lord Agelmar and King Easar defeated trolloc five times bigger army at Tarwin’s Gap. It is said that Creator himself appeared there and smashed trollocs with his might.

--
Borderlands separated Westlands and The Great Blight. It looked like winter never ends there. Snow was falling even on spring. At Tarwin’s Gap we encountered a group of Whitecloaks, charging to fight trollocs. At same moment, I saw Darlaan charging at trollocs and Zannein firing fireball at one trolloc. I drew out my sword and charged. Trollocs were bigger then humans. When I charged, one knocked me out of my horse.

He swinged his sword tovards me, but I blocked his attack, as Darlaan taught me when he had free time. I spent some time blocking trolloc’s attacks, but in the end, he was the one to die.

That was first trolloc I killed. At the end of battle, which was won by us, Whitecloaks were preparing to attack Zannein, because they didn’t liked Aes Sedai at all. Darlaan knocked out few Whitecloaks, and when they saw his skill, they turned their horses and rode in unknown direction. Darlaan’s face looked like it was made of stone when he fought Whitecloaks.

In the meanwhile, we continued our pursue. We followed trollocs all the way to the Blight. We saw them entering one fortress. Darlaan showed me one big mountain few miles away.
Shayol Ghul.
I was afraid. I was never afraid as that day. In the night, we infiltrated the fortress. We separated in order to find prison faster. I had to sneak a lot, because I saw more than two hundred trollocs in fortress. I was first to find prison guard. He was a man, lucky man who didn’t got eaten by trollocs. Prison keys were hanged on his belt. He held big two-handed sword, forged by Forgers of Thakan’Dhar. I attacked him with my full strength. I swinged my sword, but he was too skilled and knocked me on the ground. He tried to pierce me, but I dodged and cutted his throat.

Darkfriend Prison guard charging at me



He fell on bloody ground. I took the keys and entered the prison. Siuan Sanche was standing on cold floor, looking at wall in front of her.

‘’Siuan Sedai?’’ – I asked.

She turned and nodded ‘’Thank the heavens you have come, young man. Lead me out of here, now!’’

Well, this is not the ‘’thanks’’ I ecpected, but better anything than nothing. When we got out of prison, I saw about ten trollocs standing before me.



‘’Use One Power!’’ – I yelled.

‘’I am too tired…’’ – she replied ‘’I am too tired. Try to kill them by yourself.’’

Damn Aes Sedai. She won’t help when she is most needed. But nevermind, I’ll kill them by myself. I charged at them, killing first, second, third…. In the end, all of them were lying on ground, dead. How I did this I didn’t knew. Somehow, I managed to lead Siuan out of fortress, and we, by that I mean Zannein and others, galloped out of Blight next day.
When we got to outskirts of Fal Dara, we set up the camp. Darlaan cooked rabbits he killed in woods. I was sitting on log next to campfire, eating my meal.

‘’Young man.’’ – Siuan said. I knew it was me, so I raised my look. ‘’I saw your skill how you fought trollocs. How old are you?’’

‘’19.’’ – I replied, maybe too fast.

Siuan smiled ‘’Did Darlaan taught you how to fight. He is one of warders Aes Sedai could only dream. Zannein is lucky she got him.’’

I nodded ‘’Every day I trained. I am ta’ve….’’ – maybe I said too much.

‘’Ta’veren!’’ – she widened her eyes. ‘’Ta’veren..’’-  she said second time more calmly. ‘’Interesting.’’ – she didn’t said anything after that.

After I fell asleep, I had a dream about Dark One again. This time, he introduced himself as Ba’alzamon.