The Wheel Weaves... [IC]

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Your words only seem to scare the boy more, but he manages to control himself, and nods once, then again more firmly. "Ok. I'll come with you, just let me get some things." He disappears into the house, and after a few seconds you here his feet pounding on the rickety staircase.

[Tylerb7]

Lukas releases the weave and walks over to Luran and Berin---who seemed to have been watching---to tell them a censored version of what happened: That the young man had noticed Lukas after he'd questioned the mother for information, and that he'd decided to join them for a time.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Anyanna raises an eyebrow at that, aware of the two women with them already, who had remained behaved at the moment, hidden as they were at the back of the group.

Spoiler

In future I'm going to need some instructions as to what you do with the damane (since she's wearing the a'dam, which now most of the people you meet will recognise)

[Neo_Leviathan]

Spoiler

Since Anyanna is being DMPCed I figure the easy assumption is that Anyanna stays back from the group when we go to meet people so that she's either not in sight, or far enough back to be a bit inconspicuous.
She stays with the Damane & Sul'Dam, and if anyone comes near them can move to hold her hand behind the Damane's back so the leash isn't quite as visible.

I also think putting the Damane into a dress with a high collar to conceal the a'dam around her neck (at cursory inspection at least) is a good plan.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Spoiler

I thought it would be something like that, just wanted to know your preferences.

[Holice]

As Lukas returned to the group, with a boy following him, Berin raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

Listening to Lukas's idea, Berin instantly replied, "Absolutely not!"

"You know the troubles that face us a head, we can not be traveling with a child. It is not safe for him, and it would put us in jeopardy having to look out for this boy."

Looking at the other members of his party for agreement, he asks openly, "Does anyone else agree with me on this?"

[Neo_Leviathan]

Leilanna nodded to Berin and spoke, her voice apologetic. "Lukas, I'm sorry, but how can we take this boy along with us? You know where we go, what we are likely to face, and everything else" Leilanna silently motions towards where Anyanna and the two Seanchan women are, hoping the boy doesn't notice. "It would simply be too dangerous, both for him and for everyone else. Plus, how would his parents feel if he were to run off with us?"

[Starbin]

Gazing at the lad, Luran shook his head. "I wouldn't say he's a child, but the road will be dangerous."

He spoke directly to the young man. "Why do you want to go with us? There's plenty of work here for you to take care of ... your mother, the village ... what's so important that you need to leave now?"

[al'Lan Mandrag]

The boy glances anxiously towards Lukas, before muttering: "It's dangerous here as well, I need to get away."

Spoiler

Sense motive checks (DC 10 to know something is up, the more you beat it the more certain you are and the more you guess-though no 'guessing' he's a potentially-crazed male channeller... )

[Starbin]

Luran snorts, focusing on the boy's clear lack of responsibility (and completely missing any subterfuge). "Is that so? Well mighty nice of you to leave your mother to it ... alone. I have half a mind to tan your hide for being that selfish."

Glancing at the others, he shook his head. "I've got no use for that ... if he's worried about danger here, he'll probably run at the first sign of trouble on the road."

[al'Lan Mandrag]

The boy is taken aback by your plain disrespect, but after paying more attention to you he pauses and mutters (almost inaudibly): "I dreamed you last night!"

[Neo_Leviathan]

Leilanna cocked her head and looked at the lad, trying to work out *why* he was so eager to leave. About to speak when he started blurting about dreams, she opted to remain silent, wondering what response this will elicit.

Spoiler

Sense motive roll: (1d20+9)[15]

[Holice]

Puzzled by the boy's response, Berin cocked his head a bit.

"Dreamed of who last night? Him?" while pointing at Luran, "Or all of us?"

This is an odd predicament either way, and while a week ago this would seem exceptionally odd to me, the recent past events have me thinking that anything can happen.

[Starbin]

Luran shook his head. "So that makes it okay to travel with us? I still vote no. Stay and help your mother, kid."

Spoiler

I don't think it would take a genius to figure out Luran is uncomfortable ... But for the sake of our resident Sherlock Holmes' (who appear to be suddenly caught up in this boys muttered statement and waiting for confirmation/denial), I suppose I'll provide a Bluff check. That way the group can REALLY work thru some trust issues.

(1d20)[19]

[al'Lan Mandrag]

He glances between your group, looking between Luran and Lukas, a pensive expression obvious on his face. "But he said I should come," the boy said, indicating Lukas and obviously unsure who had authority, "I need him to protect me."

Spoiler

Trust issues shouldn't be in short supply what with the pair of male channellers...

[Starbin]

Luran just stared between the boy and Lukas, wondering what he needed protection from ... and what game Lukas was playing.

[Tylerb7]

"Listen. His village was overrun by these 'Seanchan' invaders; all his friends---all able men---dragged away to the Light knows what. Women chained up like we've already seen, made to be worse than slaves. And after all that, you flaming wonder why we should let him come with us? Blood and ashes, you're only here because of a dream and a whim; and it seems that he has that and more.

"Now, I can't say I know what we'll find when we move coastward. Maybe just a minor group making headway into the nationless Almoth Plain, small enough to be easily dealt with by Tarabon or the Domani. Maybe force of arms strong enough to make the Aiel War seem a fond memory. Strong enough that these people---his people---may need to be told they need to leave now, permanently, before they lose what little they have left. Either way, this is his right."

Spoiler

Bluff check? I don't think I'm lying, though, just using an alternative truth.

Turning towards whom he still considered the leader of the group, Lukas says,"Anyanna?"

[Starbin]

Luran shakes his head. "My sister was headed this way ... I have more than just a dream or whim. I have family. His is here, and yet he's leaving that behind ... to face all those horrors you named. I don't know what you promised him, but if he comes, hopefully you'll be more inclined to act when there's danger than you were before."

As the man turned to Anayanna, he grumbled and wandered over to the horses, muttering, "Do whatever you want ..."

[al'Lan Mandrag]

The boy cringes, caught in between this tirade. He stays mute though, and when both parties seem to appeal towards Anyanna turns to her as well.
She pauses, obviously unsure and slightly bemused by this talk of dreams (and still trying to conceal the bracelet on her hand). In order to move the attention away from her, she hurriedly decides: "He should come with us. Lukas has been my protector and he seems up to the task." The look she throws towards Luran is apologetic: she is yet to learnt he fine art of diplomacy or Aes Sedai imperiousness.

[Starbin]

Luran glowers for a moment, then he turns takes a deep breath and releases it. After a moment, he turned back, his face relaxed. "If that is the answer, so be it. No use crying that the ledger is messy ... best to clean up the ink and start anew. When do we leave?"

Luran figures that harboring resentment isn't going to do anyone any good, so it's best to just press on and make the best of a delicate situation.

[Tylerb7]

OOC:

Spoiler

Here's hoping the kid isn't crazy!

(Here's hoping I'm not crazy.)

[Neo_Leviathan]

Leilanna frowns slightly at the verdict, and then chuckles "Dad, you're never going to believe my story"

Decision made and seeing no need to complain about it, Leilanna smiles at the boy "So my young friend, it would seem that the pattern has added yet more people to our ecclectic group. Tell me, why would it have brought you with us? Do you have any special skills? A prodigy with a bow perhaps? Or a natural with the sword? Perhaps you're as silver tongued as a diplomat or can sing like a Gleeman? Or maybe you're descended from a King and an unknown Heir to forgotten land? Does the Old Blood flow strongly through you, casting your mind back to times long past?"

She turns and gives a mischievous look at Lukas "Or perhaps the pattern simply things we need a 'striaght man' on this voyage of fools."

Spoiler

Incidentally, let me know if you think Leilanna is getting too.. fourth-wall-breaky or genre-savvy.
Given the whole "The pattern clearly wills this" theme of the WoT books and the fact that she's a gleeman's daughter, Leilanna will definitely be discharging tension by implying that the Pattern is pulling them into a story. But if it starts getting too immersion-breaking, just let me know.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

To Leilanna the boy looks nervous as he mutters: "I guess I can fight a bit" but Luran takes this as a young boy's statement of fact.

Anyanna suggests you get moving: "There is nothing here it seems, so I suggest we move on, we still have a good half day's ride at the least before we need to camp again."

With that the party sets off, the boy unsteady on a borrowed horse (obviously unaccomsted to riding such a large beast). You make good progress, settig out once more into the rolling countryside of Almoth plain, and after about an hour, when he thinks no one notices the boy rides over to Luran, and trying to be quiet, says: "Hi, my name's Kannet. I was wondering, um, can you do what I can do as well?"

[Starbin]

Luran glances over, eyebrows raised. "What do you mean? Are you talking about your dream? I ... dream things from time to time."

[Holice]

Still confused about why we accepted a child when we know the danger ahead, Berin went along with it all.

Besides he was more concerned at this moment with getting accustomed to his new mount and hoping his mount became the same. This stallion was a most grey with white washed in at its back. He named him Mist, as it reminded him of the mist on the river near his home with the water crashing over the rocks.

Keeping his bow at the ready, he let loose a few arrows while on horseback, aiming at nothing in particular, but noticing that indeed this horse was trained for war, now Berin just needed to practice, so he too could be trained for war.

With a calm journey thus far, there was very little talking, but the peace was welcomed.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Kannet paused, then said: "I didn't know that was part of it, not from the rumours. So is that all you can do?"

[Starbin]

Luran frowned for a moment, then turned to look at the boy closely. "I don't know ... what all can you do?"

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Kannet gives Luran an odd look, one that shows he wants to say something, but is also holding it back. "Well, like I said I can fight, even if I don't look like it." He tries to sidle away from Luran, prepared to slip in with anyone who offers him even a kind look.

[Tylerb7]

Relieved to see Kannet break away from Luran, Lukas steers his donkey-and-cart toward the former. He reaches out a hand to pat the boy reassuringly on his shoulder and says, "I think I'll give you a lesson with the sword tonight. But for now, know this: never let your guard down." Lukas seizes as much of saidin as he can to make his true meaning clear.

Spoiler

Assume when we stop that I will take the kid away a bit, weave a ward against eavesdropping, and teach him as much as I can about the Power itself (without releasing the weave, of course).

I'm not sure how much my character ought to know, though. He's channeled for a few years and isn't dead, and he's lived in Tar Valon all his life, and he's put ranks into the appropriate Knowledge skill (meant to be understood as him beginning to study channeling and channeling traditions, for obvious reasons).

Presumably he should know all the basics about Aes Sedai (Novice-->Accepted-->Aes Sedai; the Ajahs; Warders; the Oaths; et cetera), most channeling basics (five powers, men and women generally stronger in different ones). But should he know what a circle is, or what ratios of male to females make one work? Or, since he was exposed solely to female channelers, any of the many differences men have when it comes to channeling, such as when it comes to determining power?

[Starbin]

Luran watched the boy ride away, somewhat relieved to not be under his scrutiny ... but also curious as to what the boy was not saying. Did the lad have more control over his dreams that he was saying? Was there something else he could do? And why did Lukas care in the first place?

Curiouser and curiouser ...