09/04/2000

Courtyard, The White Tower, Tar Valon

Marble tiles gleam from a straight path which leads from the Gates of the
Tower to the wide double doors which announce its entry point. Soft grass
and well planned patches of flowers can be found to either side, with the
occasional shady tree. Accepted and novices sit on stone benches, some
practicing their Power to the dismay of uneasy petitioners passing through.
To the side there is a stable, near the fenced entrance to the clearly
visible yard where shirtless boys go through sword forms through the day.

Guards take the weapons of those wanting to enter, though the Gaidin spread
about the courtyard, seemingly about their leisure, look ready to pounce on
any men who "forgot" a dagger at the gates. Aes Sedai pass through on
various errands, some nodding to acknowledge bows or curtsies. The
atmosphere is busy, but calm.


Lisia walks in from the city, a small bag tucked under her arm.

Vorsha comes walking from the Tower. Skipping, really. She's nearly done.
She'll be Aes Sedai before the week's out.

Neelkan sits on a bench over by himself, leg brought up into the flat
surface and bent so he can rest his arm on his knee while the other leg is
over the side, foot touching the ground. He looks to be thinking on
something, and whatever it is doesn't seem to have him in a very good mood.

Lisia smiles to the occupants in the courtyard, nodding her head to each in
turn. "Light Shine on you both."

Vorsha curtseys to Lisia. "Wind to your Sails, Aes Sedai." she says as she
does so. Wait... "Pardon me, Aes Sedai, but are you not Lisia Sedai? Of the
Blue?"

Lisia stops walking to answer Vorsha. "The last I checked, I was. Though
some swear I'm more Brown than Blue, but that is my Ajah. Can I help you
with something?"

Neelkan glances up and gives a soft grumble under his breath before noding
towards the Aes Sedai. He watches from where he sits without saying much,
and still looks to be having a mental conversation with himself. Not
literally though. He may be considered strange, but he isn't crazy.

As a Lady of a House, Lisia carries herself proudly and tall, her shoulders
squared and her head held high. As an Aes Sedai, the pride isn't magnified,
but instead it deepens. She moves quietly yet quickly, and she looks quite
young for her age. Her dark hair, almost black but streaked with bright red
strands, is worn loose and flowing, for Lisia dislikes being restrained by
anything. Her equally dark eyes shine with intelligence and humour, though
they are also proud. Her clothes are equally as refined as she is. Her blue
silks are brushed to a matte shine, the neckline not too low yet not very
high at all. She wears small boots on her feet, and very spare jewelry. On
her finger is the Golden Serpent ring of the Aes Sedai.

Vorsha nods. "Yes." she says as she digs around her pockets. "I'm supposed
to see a Lisia Sedai about some work in the field of the Blue." she says
with a smile.

Lisia smiles warmly, a laugh escaping her lips. "I would be glad to help
you with that. You must be Vorsha then...Wyntere Sedai said you would be
looking for me. I'm scheduled to teach a lesson in a short while, but I'm
more than glad to help you until then, and even after." She gestures to a
bench as she herself sits. Please, sit with me."

Vorsha has a seat and nods. She looks over at Neelkan and winks to him real
quick befoer turning her full attention on Lisia.

Lisia says "Well, I should ask first if you have any questions that you
would like to ask?"

Twisting in his seat, Neelkan moves his arm to rest on the back of the
bensh so he can look at the two more thoroughly. He smirks at Vorsha's
wink, probably the first lightening of his mood all evening.

Vorsha blinks a few times. She pulls out a deep blue rose and hands it to
Lisia. "Oh, I thought you might like this." she says. "I would like to know
how the Blues see themselves and how they fit into the Tower as a whole."

Lisia looks surprised as she takes the rose. "I've never seen anything like
it, but it is certainly beautiful." She takes a minute to tuck it into her
hair before answering, "How the Blues see themselves...that's a good
question indeed. We see ourselves as the information gatherers of the
Tower, I guess. We go out and collect what we need to know, in order to
fight the Dark One and win."

Information gatherers. Neelkan watches for a few moments, and then almost
immediately seems to zone out. He's still looking in that direction, but he
doesn't seem to be watching anymore, like his eyes are passing right on
through.

Vorsha nods as she listens. She smiles at her compliment of the rose. She
keeps listening. "How do you gather that information?" she asks. "I can
understand if you don't want to tell it all to me, or are unable to, but
that that you can?"

Lisia says "For example, there are times when a Blue Sister will be
commissioned to speak with diplomats, in order to learn what is going on
with their specific country. That is an obvious form of information
gathering. But it can be just as covert, like sneaking into a place to
gather papers that could be of use to us, or scouting out an area before a
Battle."

Lisia smiles. "There are definatly things that I cannnot speak of, but
there are certainly things I can. That's one of the most important things
about being a Blue, by the way, is knowing when secrecy is needed in order
to further the interests of the Tower."

Vorsha continues to nod and listen, letting Lisia fill her in on what she
can.

Lisia says "As for how the Blue Ajah fits in as a whole, I would say that
we work with the other Ajah's, and that's our most important job. In fact,
I would dare say that's the most important job of any Ajah. It doens't help
anyone if one Ajah goe sout on their own."

Vorsha nods slowly. That makes sense. It is an important job. But the most
important? Can any one job be done without the others?

Lisia says "We compliment the other Ajahs, so to speak. We gather
intelligence for a battle which will aid the Green Ajah, we pass along
information to the Gray Ajah that will settle a dispute, and so on."

Vorsha nods slowly, taking it all in. She grins. "And how best can I get
involved with some field work?" one of the few things she has left to do.

Neelkan is still a little zoned out, but at the mention of grabbing battle
intelligence he mutters under his breath, "Kinda like scouts." Then shakes
his head and stays silent.

Lisia contemplates this for a moment. "The easiest way is to find an Aes
Sedai who is travelling to the Consulates Circle, and join her party. See
what she does, and how she acts around diplomats. Or, you could ask the
Mistress of Novices if you could join a scouting party, but that takes a
bit more work, and the approval of the Amyrlin."

Vorsha nods. "Thank you, Lisia Sedai. I will do one or the other."
Cousulate Circle, hmmm? She's already done some of that.

Lisia says "You definatly should. It's quite the opportunity. Do you have
any more questions?"

And it's very obvious how Neelkan feels about the idea of women on scouting
parties as he shakes his head crossly and mutters something about then
getting themselves into trouble and needing a man there to bail them out.
"'ey do things like 'at just to cause trouble f'r men."

Vorsha shakes her head and stands with a curtsey. "Thank you, Lisia Sedai."

Lisia smiles. "If you want, your more than welcome to stay for my Dreaming
Lesson in a few moments."

Vorsha shakes her head. "I've been most busy of late, Lisia Sedai. But I do
thank you for the offer. I've little talent in the area." And if she really
wanted lessons, Kaomi would probally teach her if she asked.

Lisia shrugs and touches the blue flower in her hair. "Thank you again for
the flower, Accepted. If you have any question, please feel free to ask."

Dreaming lesson? Neelkan starts straight up in his seat on the bench, his
other leg sliding off to hit the ground. For a moment it looks as if he
might decide to head towards the Practice Yard to avoid whatever startled
him. Then he shakes his head and asks outloud, "Trainees're 'llowed t' sit
in?" in his butchered version of speaking.

Vorsha curtsies and heads for the Tower. "I will." she says over her
shoulder.

Lisia looks to Neeklan and nods. "Of course. If you can get credit for
this, then I"ll send a note to the Master Gaidin that you attended."

Nodding, Neelkan pushes himself up and moves over to stand nearby,
"A'right. 'n e'en if I don't, ne'er know when it might be useful." He
shrugs lightly as if he doesn't have any reason at all to want to take a
class of dreaming, but his eyes hold a great deal of interest that he's
trying to mask.

Lisia smiles again to Neelkan and nods, moving to face the small yet slowly
growing crowd who wish to attend the lesson. "Alright then, I guess I'll
begin."

Sunan seems to have overheard, and quickly rushes over towards Lisia's
group. In a perfect monotone, he announces, rushing his words together, "I
would like to attend the seminar lesson on Tel'aran'rrhiod and Dreaming,
Lisia Sedai." He simply stands there, near Neelkan, waiting for her
confirmation.

Lisia looks a bit surprised at the sudden announcement by Sunan, yet nods
all the same. "Of course. Please, have a seat." She smiles, which she seems
prone to do, and takes some notes out of her bag, shuffling them around.

Lisia says "Well, to begin, Dreaming is a Talent that does not require the
One Power. In other words, anyone of you could have this Talent. There are
multiple ways of testing for this. and if you have any questions about
that, I would ask that you speak with me after the lesson and we'll speak
more on this."

Moving to sit down nearby, Neelkan bends his knees and rests his arms on
them, his eyes narrowing slightly. Tel'aran'rhiod, huh? He nods towards
Sunan, offering him a light grin, "'ey Sunan." then waits to hear what the
Aes Sedai has to say on... Dreaming. And silently wishing that Sunan wasn't
there. Not because he dislikes the boy, but because of the subject. He
takes a breath at the first words. Doesn't require the one Power... He nods
slowly at the end of that, despite himself.

Sunan breaks in, "Affirmative." He tilts his head to his brother.
"Greetings Neelkan." Ten back to the Sedai, "If one is not a Dreamer, can
one still access the World of Dreams? Beyond brushing by it for a few
seconds?"

Lisia blinks and shakes her head. "I'm already getting ahead of myself. Let
me clarify the difference between Dreaming and Dreamwalking..." she quiets
at Sunan's question. "Yes, but it takes some work. It's not as easy as
sleeping and being there. If your a channeler, then there are many
Ter'Angreal that will take you there by simply channeling Spirit into it.
However, we do have a few items that will allow you to enter the World of
Dreams simply by letting it touch your skin as you sleep.""

Neelkan asks softly, "All... 'Dreamers' can go into this... Dream World
place? Or is 'ere more too it 'en 'at?" He seems to be asking as if he
already knows the answer. "'n how can ya tell the difference between just
dreamin' 'n bein' in this... other place."

Sunan gives Neelkan a look as if he knows the answer, and wants to share,
but doesn't. Then back to Lisia, "Can I borrow one of those for a night?
I'd really like to go there." But of course, he knows the response...

Lisia thinks on this a moment before answering. "Before I continue, let me
clarify the difference between Dreaming and Dreamwalking. To be a Dreamer
is to have Dreams that sometimes see the Future. Dreamwalking, on the other
hand, is to be able to physically enter the World of Dreams. Not all
Dreamers can Dreamwalk, but all Dreamwalkers have Dreams that predict the
future. It's very hard to interpret these dreams though and it takes years
to gain that skill."

Rhys wonders to himself....perhaps a Dreamer could help him. Maybe the
answers he seeks are in his dreams...but he stays quiet

Lisia laughs softly. "Can you borrow one of these? No. Not without an Aes
Sedai who has the Talent, at least, and then not without permission of the
Master Gaidin, and not without a very good reason. Though if your intent on
doing this, it's definatly something that can be discussed.

Neelkan flinches slightly at something said in there and mutters darkly
under his breath. Oh well. Last thing he needed was more to it. He can do
without Dreamwalking too. But he says nothing. Though he might not have to
if people watch him close enough.

Sunan nods, "Very much so. I want to experience the place."

Lisia nods and makes a quick note on a piece of paper before continuing. "I
think someone asked a question before about touching the world for a few
moments, and I'd like to explain. Though not all of us have the ability to
use Dreamwalking, in some point in our lives we will all touch the world of
dreams, for a few seconds. These are dreams that seem incredibly clear, as
if you could swear that you were there."

Neelkan looks back up and stares at the woman a few moments. Clear, real
dreams? He glances over in the direction of the Tower and then back again.
muttering a soft oath under his breath. Then he shakes his head and falls
silent.

Lisia says "Which leads me to my next point about this Talent. For even
those who touch the dream for only a few moments, anything that happens in
that dream to you will be with you when you wake up." Lisia begins to roll
up a blue sleeve, to display what looks like a long scar across her wrist.
"Though I'm not going to go into it in detail, let me just say that I
recieved this injury while Dreaming. I woke up covered in blood, and had to
be Healed right away."

Rhys wonders out loud "So the Dreaming world is a reflection of this one?
Does it offer insight into the true state of things? Or is it something
completely different?"

Sunan seems very interested, "So Tel'aran'rhiod feels like the most clear
dreams I've ever had?" He winces at this when he sees it, but it seems he
expected it. "The Mother - A healer - in Tear said I could lucid dream.
Controlling my own dreams. IF I brushed by the World of Dreamns, could I
make myself stay there?"

Neelkan sits there in silence again, then glances over his shoulder at the
questions. Then he outright /stares/ at Sunan and instantly says, "Why in
the bloody Light would ya want t' /stay/ in a dream 'at's real! Ya hear
what she said! Ya might wake up with yer bloody arm gone, 'r worse." He
then closes his mouth and looks back at the Aes Sedai. "Sorry..."

Lisia turns her head from Rhys to Sunan, considering both of their question
for a minute. She's actually quite impressed with the caliber of questions
that the Trainees are asking. She points towards Rhys. "I'll answer yours
first. It definatly can. As a member of the Blue Ajah, and as a gather of
information, Dreaming is very useful. I have the ability to find things
that I wouldn't have access to in the waking world."

Rhys nods once, thinking for a moment "So can you gain insight into a
person in the dreaming world? Not just information, but internal things?"

Lisia swivels on the bench towards Neelkan and raises an eyebrow, but says
nothing for now. "Yes, if you possess the Talent strongly enough. Some of
us are able to enter the actual Dreams of a person, if they are willing
enough, and are open enough. It takes a lot of skill, and sometimes years
of practice to do this, which is why not everyone is capable."

Rhys nods to himself, and then to Lisia "Thank you..."

Lisia returns to Sunan's question. "If you don't have the Talent? Then, no,
you probably could not make yourself stay there. Lucid Dreaming, though, is
another way to explain this Talent." Again, she writes something down on a
sheet of paper, though she tucks this into a pouch at her waist.

Lisia turns a page in her notebook and continues the lesson. "Now let me
explain what exactly Dreamwalking is. Let me begin by saying that the World
of Dreams is this world, just without the people walking around. Everything
that is here is also there.

Sunan nods in response, "Then elaborate. And oh, I have a few other
questions. If Tel'aran'rhiod is a reflecxtion of the waking world, does
what happen in the reflection happen here? Do we exist in the reflection,
too?"

Neelkan lowers his head lightly and looks at the ground for a few moments.
He didn't mean to make an outburst. He just... Ok. Yeah he did. He reaches
his hand down and starts to pick at some pebbles on the ground lightly,
grumbling under his breath.

Lisia nods slightly. "Yes, to an extent. If a tree in this courtyard dies,
or is removed, then it will not be in the Dream world. But do you exisit
there? No, because your not there. IT's a very physical concept."

Sunan considers ths carefully, "So you are saying taht all life save humans
simultaneously exisst in the Wolrd of Dreams. Save us."

Lisia thinks on this before nodding. "If you put it that way, then yes.
Like I said, it's very phyisical. Everything here would be there...except
you. However, Dreaming is like transplanting yourself from here to there,
so I would know that you exisit. Pretty much, think of it like this: If you
can't see it, it's not there. Now, things can be created, which is what the
next part of this lecture is based on. With some skill, objects can be
created that aren't already in the area. I could create a chair to sit if
there are none, I could change my dress if I wanted to. But I cannot create
people."

"So things exist there?" Neelkan asks absently. "'n if I... say... Took a
sledgehammer t' a bed in the Dream world, would it get messed up 'ere, 'r
would it just fix itself there? Or if I killed a mouse in 'ere, it would
die here?"

Sunan has his own questions, "How does one access dreams there? Are there
two parts to Tel'aran'rhiod?"

Lisia says "Yes and no. If you break something there, then it will be
normal here. But if a mouse died there, then it would be dead here."

Lisia looks at Sunan and raises an eyebrow. "I"m not sure what you mean.
Could you clarify, please?"

Neelkan listens with a little too much interest that he is trying
desperately to hide, but seems to let Sunan ask the questions for now.

Sunan wonders, "If you're in the world of dreams, how do you get into
someone else's dream? Is thee anothe rpart to it, or do the dream sfloat
around Tel'aran'rhiod?"

Lisia says "Thank you kindly. In answer to that, I really don't know. I've
only done it a few times, and each time I've had to, it's been very vague.
From what I can remember, I only remember reaching out towards the person
whos Dream I wish to enter." She smiles a bit sheepishly. "If you wish a
better answer, though, I"ll do a bit of research and get back to you."

Neelkan is sitting off where the lesson is, playing with pebbles at his
feet with his knees bent and his arm resting over them. After a few moments
of silence he asks lightly, not looking up, "Is 'ere anyway t' get rid of
it?" After a pause he adds, "I'm just curious. Sounds lika a bloody buncha
trouble t' me."

Rhys sighs quietly at Neelkan's question, he seems intrigued by the
possibilities of this world of dreams, and will make a note to speak with
Lisia at a later time about it.

Lisia looks surprised. "To get rid of it..?" A frown appears on her face.
"As far as I know, since it's not a channeling specific Talent, then there
really is no way to get rid of it. You can control entering it, though, but
that requires Training, and if you never wanted to enter the world, then
you probably wouldn't want to learn."

Lisia says "I'll pause here to answer anymore questions that anyone has.
Please, feel free to ask anything. If I don't know the answer, then I'll
look it up and get back to you about it."

Denn'ryiel exits the Tower quietly, and pauses at the top of the steps to
fasten a cloak around her neck. She looks out onto the Courtyard as the
does so with a small smile. She descends the steps then one at a time.

Neelkan glances up briefly, "So ya have t' learn how t' touch it? If ya
don't want t', ya prolly won't?" That sounds like a relief to him. "What
'bout the dreamin' thing? The one 'at all Dreamwalkers can d'? No way t'
stop 'at either?" One of the trainees seems totally eager to, and another
wants to know how to stop. Interesting bunch, huh?

Lisia shakes her head. "You don't have to learn how to touch it. As you
dream, you'll touch it without trying, though rarely. About having Dreams
that mean more than what they seem - that I don't think you can stop.
Dreaming is linked to the Foretelling, and that's something that definatly
can't be controlled. So no, I don't think you can stop having dreams that
tell the future."

Sunan seems to be swimming with questions, but is having trouble wording
them. "Who can walk Tel'aran'rhiod consciously? Tower Dreamers, and Dreamer
"Wilders?" Any other groups or organizations?"

Neelkan glances over at Sunan and glares mildly. He grumbles something
under his breath that sounds like an oath and something about how he
wouldn't be so interested if he... something or other. He digs up one of
the pebbles and tosses it in the direction away from the Aes Sedai and the
lesson. In the direction of the Tower in fact. And notices Denn decending
the stairs. His mood lightens a bit it seems, and he offers her a grin.

Lisia seems to itch to write things down, but controls her hands for now.
"Why yes, and that brings us to the next point. Wolfbrothers can also walk
Tel'aran'rhiod. I wouldn't call them Wilders, but they don't seem to have a
group that can teach them. If they can meet up with another person with the
ability, then they obviously benefit. But if they don't, it's not unusual
for this group to have to learn on their own."

Sunan speaks up, "Wolfbrothers. I have heard of them. They have the ability
to speak with wolves, correct? So wolves can walk the World of Dreams? What
else do you know about Wolfbrothers?'

Denn'ryiel smiles back to Neelkan, and begins to cross the Courtyard
towards him. Today, she is wearing a pale green dress, though the style is
hardly different. "Peace favor you Sister," she offers Lisia first, and
then gives a warm nod and smile to the others. Neelkan perhaps above the
rest.

Lisia nods in Sunan's direction. "That they do. Wolves are often guides for
other Dreamers, and they seem to have a much better grasp on TAR then
humans. At least," she grins at this and laughs softly," they have a much
better grasp than I do at times. "

Neelkan shifts around as Denn gets close enough to hear what the lesson is
about and he looks a little abashed for a moment. And all this talk about
wolves in dreams just goes right over his head. He rubs fingers through his
odd white streaked red hair and listens for now.

Lisia looks up and smiles to Denn'ryiel. "Greetings Sister. I'm just
finishing up a lesson on Dreaming. Do you have anything you wish to add?
Perhaps some insight that I failed to mention?"

Denn'ryiel sighs slightly and shakes her head. "I'm afraid that is a
subject I have not studied often. I'm certain you've already covered my
knowledge of it already."

Lisia shrugs and turns back to the crowd. "Well then, I'll entertain
questions once more before I dismiss you all. Anything else you wish to
ask?"

Neelkan sits there silently for a few moments, then shakes is head slowly.
Though he glances over at Sunan as if expecting him to have a thousand
more. He's the question asker after all.

Sunan nods, "I have some more. What else is special about Wolves and
Wolfbrothers, and how can I talk a Dreamer into taking me there for a
night?"

"Forgive my interruption then," Denn says to Lisia. "I should have
recognized a class being taught." With that and a nod, she starts back
towards the Tower.

Lisia thinks for a second before answering. "Well, Wolves have a much
better affinity for TAR than regular humans. When I say Wolves, I include
Wolfbrothers. Though they are not exactly the same, they have some of the
characteristics of Wolves. For example, Wolfbrothers develop golden eyes
over time, and if they are not careful, they can take on too much of the
wolf traits. They can give themselves over to their wolf side and forget
that they are human as well. It is a sad things to see, and as far as we
know, there is nothing that can be done for this at this time."

Lisia says "Also, from what I've read, and mind you my knowledge of this
topic is a bit limitied, Wolfbrothers can sense each other if they are
near. This also extends to TAR."

Neelkan raises his eyebrows, Neelkan mutters something under his breath,
then pushes himself up and says, "I have t' go." And either way, he doesn't
bow, or mutter apologies, he just starts towards the tower, rubbing at his
hair.

Sunan nods, seeming very interested, "I see. Can you take my to
Tel'aran'rhiod tonight, Lisia Sedai? Please?" He's begging, trying to look
very nice. He doen't care. He wants to go!

Lisia nods towards Denn and Neelkan as they leave the small group. She
returns to the other half of Sunan's question. "As for spending a night
there, I would ask you to come speak with me after this lesson, if you
would." Towards the rest of the group, she smiles and nods. "If that is
all, then you are all dismissed. Thank you for coming, and if you have
question, feel free to speak with me at a later date." She dismisses them
quickly, as she seems interested in Sunan specifically now. She stands and
walks towards him. "Trainee, would you care to explain to me your extreme
fascination with this? Why are you so eager to enter TAR with me?" Blunt,
isn't she...?