Talshadar
23-04-2005, 20:17
[OOC: Hi, this is my first post with this new nation, i hope its OK and the reactions aren't too bad :)]
The Wheel of time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one age, called the Fifth Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose among the spires of the coastal city of Shar Honelle. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
Westwards the wind travelled, stirring up eddies by the side of the Talshadar March, brushing the clothes of the people making their way along it, some wept, some comforted the weeping, others simply walked on. Further west the wind blew, past jo-cars of all varieties, as it passed over the horizon another vista appeared before the stirring of air; but this was broken with the topless towers of Talshadar.
Talshadar was as a jewel on the landscape, people streamed in through the four gates in the Shield Wall surrounding the city, streets criss-crossed the cityscape, connecting to wide boulevards and the Grand Avenue itself running from north to south down the centre of the city. Chora trees lined the centre and rose upon either side of the Avenue, providing shade and passing their calming influence to all beneath their branches, the streets were paved with stones of black marble laced with veins of midnight blue and faint rose.
But at the southern end of the Grand Avenue stood the crowning glory of the city, and the focus of the people; the Hall of Servants, the floors here were not of marble but of white elstone, the gateway facing the people was fashioned out of a single crystal of quartz edged with the purest pearl, splitting and refracting the light that struck it; creating shimmering veils of colour on the floor and within the glowing crystal, which shattered the light still further into an iridescent display of the power of the sun. The gates were of polished walnut with half the symbol of the Servants of All; the Aes Seadi on each door, the white on the left, and the black on the right.
Through these open doors did the masses come, they came in their thousands to pay their respects to Serian Telande, leader of the Aes Sedai, Guardian of the Seal, Rose of the Sun, Tamrylin, First Among Servants, beloved of the people, who had died but five days before. She lay on a white marble bier, the sides carved with depictions of a great and ancient battle, the exact nature and importance of which had been lost through the turnings of the Wheel, writing had been carved above the figures, but these had been worn away to be almost utterly unreadable. She was dressed in a simple flowing white robe with silver lining on the collar, sleeves and hem, upon the third finger of the left hand was the Ring of the Tamrylin, the only symbol of office that she wore throughout her life.
The body of the Ring itself was of Power wrought gold and silver, the front was shaped into a disc with a rim; in which sat a smaller version of the Seal, the white formed of elstone while the black was carved of obsidian. From her ascension to her passing the Ring had never been removed, and would be preserved with her for eternity. Each Ring was unique to the ruler who wore it; upon the appointment of the Tamrylin the rim around the Seal is plain and unadorned, but at any point, using the Power the Tamrylin may carve an inscription into the rim of his/her choosing. Upon the one that Serian Telande wore was this:
Asha’man far al atha’an
(Guardian of the people)
Four feet around and above the bier was a faint shimmering that told of the Keeping that had been woven around the body, ensuring that it did not waste away before the Preservation, for it may be several days yet until all are assembled to witness it. And all this time the people still came to see the Mother.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the pre-dawn air, when the dew still glistened on the leaves of the Chora trees of the Grand Avenue and the stars still speckled the night, in that rare moment before the animals of the day rise and after the nocturnal animals sleep, when the world holds its breath before the coming of the dawn, the last journey of Serian Telande began.
Thirteen Aes Sedai, seven female and six male stood in a circle around the bier. Without exception they all wore white cloaks emblazoned with the Seal, fringed in gold on the back and above the left breast. They linked, drawing upon saidin and saidar, the two halves of the One Power that worked both together and against each other, the Keeping around the bier dissolved, and the body of the Tamrylin rose gently into the air, floating a few feet above the ground. The assembled Aes Seadai rotated the body into a standing position, and by manipulating flows of Fire, encased her in a glowing halo so that the crowds gathered could see her.
The people slowly parted to create a corridor down the Grand Avenue for the body to pass through, the Aes Sedai heading for the north gate neither hurrying nor holding back, there were no tears among the populace, the Chora trees spread their aura of contentment around them so that the crowds felt a calmness in them that mirrored that of the world, they smiled in memory of her long life and the knowledge that she would be reborn when the Wheel came full circle again. As the procession moved on the crowds closed up and began to follow, keeping a respectful distance from the channelers.
As the procession cleared the north gate, the Aes Sedai turned east off the road and headed to a hill three leagues away, as they walked the populace, now numbering in their hundreds of thousands turned to follow, the body of the snake following she who had been the head for over six hundred years. The silhouette of the hill could be made out ahead of them as the sky lightened with the coming of the sun, the circle of Aes Sedai proceeded up the green slope, looking neither left nor right, while the citizens of Talshadar divided and spread around the base.
Upon the summit of the hill the Aes Sedai came to rest, looking at a sight of which few had seen before, and even fewer would see again. The sky, midnight blue above them, faded to grey as it approached the horizon, upon the earth in front of the hill stood every Aes Sedai that currently served Talshadar, and beyond them, in front, to the side and behind the hill on which the circle stood was the assembled population of Talshadar, over twenty million people gathered to see the last farewell of the Mother.
The Aes Sedai turned inwards, facing the still glowing, floating body of Serian Telande, the fiery halo around her faded as all but one female and one male Aes Sedai stopped channelling. The man drew back his cloak to reveal a crystal sword by his side; Callandor, the most powerful male sa’angreal in existence, he drew it forth and placed its point on the ground with his hands clasped around the hilt and looked at the woman. The woman then drew back a sleeve of her cloak to reveal a silver vambrace covering her left forearm; Thellandor, the sister of Callandor and the strongest sa’angreal for female Aes Sedai. The two nodded and as one turned to face the coming dawn, the remaining Aes Sedai on the hill drew back to give them room; the sa'angreal burst into light as, linking once more the two Servants of All again created the glowing halo around the body of the Tamrylin, but this time strengthening the weaves of Fire so that it brightened until it eclipsed even the light from the two sa’angreal. All this time the sky was fading to grey with the first flecks of blue just above the horizon, and as the sun heaved itself over the rim of the world the two Aes Sedai drew yet more deeply on the One Power, the combined light of Thellandor and Callandor were as another sun atop the hill, enough Power to reduce a metropolis to rubble, but now weaves of Earth and Spirit intertwined themselves within Serian, her body flashed to Cuendillar within a heartbeat, preserving her forever as the people would remember her, calm, serene, and loving.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Serian’s statue was placed in the Hall of Servants and interred with the other Tamrylins that had lived and died through the Ages. But now the Aes Sedai looked forward, and to the one who would lead them. Each new First was secretly chosen by the previous, and written down in his/her will to be opened one week after the Preservation, during that week businesses and schools were only open for half days while the country went into national mourning, black cloaks were commonly seen among the populace, along with armbands and headscarves. After the one week the Sitters of the Hall gathered to hear the will of their predecessor, the doors of the Hall of Servants were closed and the Hall itself was warded, rendering it soundproof.
On the eighth day after the Preservation, during the afternoon rush hour from work, the doors of the Hall of Servants opened again, a man walked forward and stood under the arch of quartz and pearl, he lifted his arms above his head and proclaimed in a voice that could be heard from one end of the city to the other, “Ye misain al Dazar’ande, al Carneira Sa Sedain!” (I am the Eagle of the Sun, the First Among Servants!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To all nations who receive this letter,
Though the announcement to my people and country of my ascension was based on ancient protocol I do not officially take up the responsibilities of Tamrylin until the Concion in nine days time. I invite you to Talshadar to witness my appointment and to engage in the festivities that will follow after. This event has not been seen for six hundred and seventy-two years, and I believe that this period would be a golden opportunity to forge new friendships and alliances with the other nations of the world. Any transport that you require, special arrangements to be made for your representatives can almost certainly be provided for.
Suravye ninto manshima taishite: Peace favour your sword.
Darin Taldar
Guardian of the Seal
Eagle of the Sun
Tamrylin
First Among Servants
The Wheel of time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one age, called the Fifth Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose among the spires of the coastal city of Shar Honelle. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
Westwards the wind travelled, stirring up eddies by the side of the Talshadar March, brushing the clothes of the people making their way along it, some wept, some comforted the weeping, others simply walked on. Further west the wind blew, past jo-cars of all varieties, as it passed over the horizon another vista appeared before the stirring of air; but this was broken with the topless towers of Talshadar.
Talshadar was as a jewel on the landscape, people streamed in through the four gates in the Shield Wall surrounding the city, streets criss-crossed the cityscape, connecting to wide boulevards and the Grand Avenue itself running from north to south down the centre of the city. Chora trees lined the centre and rose upon either side of the Avenue, providing shade and passing their calming influence to all beneath their branches, the streets were paved with stones of black marble laced with veins of midnight blue and faint rose.
But at the southern end of the Grand Avenue stood the crowning glory of the city, and the focus of the people; the Hall of Servants, the floors here were not of marble but of white elstone, the gateway facing the people was fashioned out of a single crystal of quartz edged with the purest pearl, splitting and refracting the light that struck it; creating shimmering veils of colour on the floor and within the glowing crystal, which shattered the light still further into an iridescent display of the power of the sun. The gates were of polished walnut with half the symbol of the Servants of All; the Aes Seadi on each door, the white on the left, and the black on the right.
Through these open doors did the masses come, they came in their thousands to pay their respects to Serian Telande, leader of the Aes Sedai, Guardian of the Seal, Rose of the Sun, Tamrylin, First Among Servants, beloved of the people, who had died but five days before. She lay on a white marble bier, the sides carved with depictions of a great and ancient battle, the exact nature and importance of which had been lost through the turnings of the Wheel, writing had been carved above the figures, but these had been worn away to be almost utterly unreadable. She was dressed in a simple flowing white robe with silver lining on the collar, sleeves and hem, upon the third finger of the left hand was the Ring of the Tamrylin, the only symbol of office that she wore throughout her life.
The body of the Ring itself was of Power wrought gold and silver, the front was shaped into a disc with a rim; in which sat a smaller version of the Seal, the white formed of elstone while the black was carved of obsidian. From her ascension to her passing the Ring had never been removed, and would be preserved with her for eternity. Each Ring was unique to the ruler who wore it; upon the appointment of the Tamrylin the rim around the Seal is plain and unadorned, but at any point, using the Power the Tamrylin may carve an inscription into the rim of his/her choosing. Upon the one that Serian Telande wore was this:
Asha’man far al atha’an
(Guardian of the people)
Four feet around and above the bier was a faint shimmering that told of the Keeping that had been woven around the body, ensuring that it did not waste away before the Preservation, for it may be several days yet until all are assembled to witness it. And all this time the people still came to see the Mother.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the pre-dawn air, when the dew still glistened on the leaves of the Chora trees of the Grand Avenue and the stars still speckled the night, in that rare moment before the animals of the day rise and after the nocturnal animals sleep, when the world holds its breath before the coming of the dawn, the last journey of Serian Telande began.
Thirteen Aes Sedai, seven female and six male stood in a circle around the bier. Without exception they all wore white cloaks emblazoned with the Seal, fringed in gold on the back and above the left breast. They linked, drawing upon saidin and saidar, the two halves of the One Power that worked both together and against each other, the Keeping around the bier dissolved, and the body of the Tamrylin rose gently into the air, floating a few feet above the ground. The assembled Aes Seadai rotated the body into a standing position, and by manipulating flows of Fire, encased her in a glowing halo so that the crowds gathered could see her.
The people slowly parted to create a corridor down the Grand Avenue for the body to pass through, the Aes Sedai heading for the north gate neither hurrying nor holding back, there were no tears among the populace, the Chora trees spread their aura of contentment around them so that the crowds felt a calmness in them that mirrored that of the world, they smiled in memory of her long life and the knowledge that she would be reborn when the Wheel came full circle again. As the procession moved on the crowds closed up and began to follow, keeping a respectful distance from the channelers.
As the procession cleared the north gate, the Aes Sedai turned east off the road and headed to a hill three leagues away, as they walked the populace, now numbering in their hundreds of thousands turned to follow, the body of the snake following she who had been the head for over six hundred years. The silhouette of the hill could be made out ahead of them as the sky lightened with the coming of the sun, the circle of Aes Sedai proceeded up the green slope, looking neither left nor right, while the citizens of Talshadar divided and spread around the base.
Upon the summit of the hill the Aes Sedai came to rest, looking at a sight of which few had seen before, and even fewer would see again. The sky, midnight blue above them, faded to grey as it approached the horizon, upon the earth in front of the hill stood every Aes Sedai that currently served Talshadar, and beyond them, in front, to the side and behind the hill on which the circle stood was the assembled population of Talshadar, over twenty million people gathered to see the last farewell of the Mother.
The Aes Sedai turned inwards, facing the still glowing, floating body of Serian Telande, the fiery halo around her faded as all but one female and one male Aes Sedai stopped channelling. The man drew back his cloak to reveal a crystal sword by his side; Callandor, the most powerful male sa’angreal in existence, he drew it forth and placed its point on the ground with his hands clasped around the hilt and looked at the woman. The woman then drew back a sleeve of her cloak to reveal a silver vambrace covering her left forearm; Thellandor, the sister of Callandor and the strongest sa’angreal for female Aes Sedai. The two nodded and as one turned to face the coming dawn, the remaining Aes Sedai on the hill drew back to give them room; the sa'angreal burst into light as, linking once more the two Servants of All again created the glowing halo around the body of the Tamrylin, but this time strengthening the weaves of Fire so that it brightened until it eclipsed even the light from the two sa’angreal. All this time the sky was fading to grey with the first flecks of blue just above the horizon, and as the sun heaved itself over the rim of the world the two Aes Sedai drew yet more deeply on the One Power, the combined light of Thellandor and Callandor were as another sun atop the hill, enough Power to reduce a metropolis to rubble, but now weaves of Earth and Spirit intertwined themselves within Serian, her body flashed to Cuendillar within a heartbeat, preserving her forever as the people would remember her, calm, serene, and loving.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Serian’s statue was placed in the Hall of Servants and interred with the other Tamrylins that had lived and died through the Ages. But now the Aes Sedai looked forward, and to the one who would lead them. Each new First was secretly chosen by the previous, and written down in his/her will to be opened one week after the Preservation, during that week businesses and schools were only open for half days while the country went into national mourning, black cloaks were commonly seen among the populace, along with armbands and headscarves. After the one week the Sitters of the Hall gathered to hear the will of their predecessor, the doors of the Hall of Servants were closed and the Hall itself was warded, rendering it soundproof.
On the eighth day after the Preservation, during the afternoon rush hour from work, the doors of the Hall of Servants opened again, a man walked forward and stood under the arch of quartz and pearl, he lifted his arms above his head and proclaimed in a voice that could be heard from one end of the city to the other, “Ye misain al Dazar’ande, al Carneira Sa Sedain!” (I am the Eagle of the Sun, the First Among Servants!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To all nations who receive this letter,
Though the announcement to my people and country of my ascension was based on ancient protocol I do not officially take up the responsibilities of Tamrylin until the Concion in nine days time. I invite you to Talshadar to witness my appointment and to engage in the festivities that will follow after. This event has not been seen for six hundred and seventy-two years, and I believe that this period would be a golden opportunity to forge new friendships and alliances with the other nations of the world. Any transport that you require, special arrangements to be made for your representatives can almost certainly be provided for.
Suravye ninto manshima taishite: Peace favour your sword.
Darin Taldar
Guardian of the Seal
Eagle of the Sun
Tamrylin
First Among Servants