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Hi,

This is Ken Kofman, sending out yet another _As The Wheel Turns_
posting.  I suppose I should put some sort of copyright notice
on this, so here goes:

Copyright, Ken Kofman (c) 1994.  All rights reserved except for
those that Tor and Robert Jordan deserve, and except that anyone
who wants to copy this material may do so, so long it remains
unaltered, including this notice, and so long as no fees of
any kind are charged for its use.

In other words, enjoy it, show it to all your friends, be inspired
to run your own game, but since I'm not making any money off of
this, you shouldn't either.

I hope I did that right.

Anyway,

KenK        [e-mail]

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The Nine Rods of Dominion

One to come and one to go
One above and one below
One a friend and one a foe
One to hide and one to know.


Creation

Nine Rods rule over all
Eight Ajah preserve and fall
Seven Ages of the Wheel
Six Bound to serve the dead
Five Flows create the Weave
Four Peoples born to live
Three Supports of all the worlds
Two Powers never to be whole
One Dragon on the winds of Time.


Summary of Session 11 of _As the Wheel Turns_  2-8-94

Then did the company set forth once again toward ancient
Manetheren, mountain heart of that once great nation.
Yet only a short distance did they travel, unto a place
less exposed to wind and water, a place of refuge.

For more than two days had they fled before the Shadow.
Through damp chill did they flee, sleeping not and
resting little.  And in days previous did they endure
the falling rain.  Also did they endure falling rock
and mud from the mountain heights.  Other trials did
these companions endure, yet of these things much has
already been written.  Weary were the travellers, even
young Haemish of the Water Seeker sept of the Taardad
Aiel, born of the Waste, and even Telas who did name
himself Warder, though he spoke ill of the Aes Sedai,
servants of all.  Yet did Phil of Earth, channeller
of saidin sleep.

And so it was that Ulric Druss, Blademaster and once
captain of mighty Tear, did find a place of rest
acceptable unto him.  Still was he wary, still did he
relax not his guard against the Shadow that cometh by
day or by night, or against whosoever might assail
him or his fellow travellers.  But no Trollocs or other
foul minions of the Dark One had Telas discerned, save
for the remnant of a remnant of a force of five fists
or more.

Then at the behest of Ulric Druss did Akhel, and Haemish
of the Taardad Aiel search along the margins of devastation
for enemies hithertofore unseen, yet none did they find,
for the destruction was well nigh complete.  Slow was
their progress and stinging was the air in their nostrils.

Where the Fire had raced across the ancient forest, only
the mightiest of trees remained, and these stood as
charred spires.  Smoke hung in the air, mingling amongst
the mists.  Along the margins did the vegetatation
smoulder, yet did the forest not set itself ablaze, so
steeped was it in water.  And the holocaust extended
further than the eye could see, a path of death through
the wilderness, a grand avenue of apocalyptic desolation.
Yet was their goal further to the north.

And so it was after a day and a night of rest that the
company turned again toward ancient Manetheren.  Theirs
was not the sleep of satisfaction, nor was theirs the meat
of satiation.  Cold and huddled was their sleep, and they
awoke tired still, yet did they not fall from exhaustion.
Comfortless was the food they ate, yet it filled the body
and staved off hunger.

But with even less pleasure did they travel.  For many
days did they ascend further into the mountains.  The
road they had once thought difficult now was recalled
with longing.  At night the mists froze from the cold,
and by day the air filled not tired lungs however
deeply breathed.  And on some days did they stop to
hunt, yet was there little shelter from the cold winds
descending from the higher peaks, and the damp mists
that penentrated even the warmest garments.  And still
did Phil sleep, bound to a pallet and pulled by a horse.
Slow was their travel, yet was Jennifer jealous of the
days lost.  Yet too tired was she to learn from Elaida
Sedai in Dream, nor had she or Randy Carter done so since
first the Trollocs attacked.

But after a fortnight and halfway into the next were many
amongst the company ill from exposure, not Ulric Druss,
hardy Blademaster and once captain of mighty Tear, nor
Telas the Warder or young Haemish of the Taardad Aiel,
who had lived his life in the Waste, nor radiant Selene.
Yet of the remaining companions, those not already sick
must soon succumb.  Even Jennifer of Earth could continue
no longer.

With great reluctance did the companions bow to necessity.
And Telas the Warder, together with Haemish of the Taardad
Aiel built a more permanent place of rest.  A place of
comfort did they erect in the wilderness, for even their
own spirits had been dampened by wind and water.  For many
days would they stay in this place, until full health
returned unto all, even unto Randy Carter most harshly
stricken, and even unto Phil who slept the sleep of death,
though still he breathe.  Ulric Druss also helped in this
work, though wind and weather were enemies less familiar
to him than armies and swords.

And when the shelter was completed, then did they turn toward
hunting meat and gathering wood, and provisioning themselves
as they could, both for the time spent in resting and for the
days ahead, that they need halt their journey no longer to
search for food.  Yet some provisions were sorely lacking.
The ropes and picks brought forth from the Two Rivers were
lost with the horse that bore them.  None had they save for
the meager equipment found in the cabin Telas revealed.  Blankets
and furs also were few and shared.  And then even young Haemish
of the Taardad Aiel found time to rest, and even Telas the
Warder.

And so it was, upon a night no less cold than those previous,
that Haemish of the Water Seeker sept of the Taardad Aiel did
find himself again amidst the Aiel Waste, called The Threefold
Land by the Aiel themselves though they speak little of such
things and little more of much else, though he slumbered still.

And he did know himself to be standing before those women of the
Aiel known as Wise Ones, their eyes fixed upon him.  And Haemish
quailed before their gaze, he who shrank back from nothing.  No
word did they speak unto him, yet did he wither beneath their
gaze as a wetlander beneath the cruel sun.  And still did they
wait.  But no word could Haemish speak, nor could he turn aside
from their implacable will.  Yet patient were the Wise Ones,
unmoving and unmoved.  Like the lifeless rock were they patient,
like the cruel winds of The Threefold Land that erode even the
strongest mountain and the surest will were they patient, like
the water biding its time outside The Threefold Land were they
patient, and Haemish crumbled beneath their will.

In torment did he cry out, "I cannot!" yet did they acknowledge
not his words.  Then did Haemish of the Water Seeker sept of the
Taardad Aiel beseech them and plead that surely there must be
another way, but still they kept their counsel.  Then Haemish
begged them to do with him as they would, even to kill him, if
only they would speak unto him.

Then did one of the women speak unto Haemish.  But her gaze did
not soften nor her expression change by even the smallest amount,
even as she informed the boy Haemish of the Water Seeker sept
of the Taardad Aiel that he had not received permision to leave
his sept.

And Haemish bowed his head before the Wise One, and admitted that
he could not accept his fate, and craved permission to substitute
the perilous search for the Nine Rods of Dominion for that other fate
of which he spoke not.  But the Wise One was not placated, for she
asked him of ji'e'toh, the code of honor and obligation that is life
and more than life to the Aiel, the code which the child Haemish had
in some manner violated.  Then did Haemish declare his hope, to
regain ji and discharge his toh through helping the other companions,
yet the Wise One relented not.  For Haemish had known there could be
no ji in what he did when first he ran away, nor could he discharge
his toh.  And with these comorting words in his ears did Haemish
awaken from sleep.

And so it was that Haemish took himself apart from the other companions,
and spent his time in solitude, for he could not endure their presence.
Even by night did he sleep outside in the cold rather than
accept another's company.  But the Wise Ones did haunt his dreams.
And of all those who sojourned in this place, only Haemish improved
neither in body nor spirit, and even worsened.

Yet the other companions did recover their health and their color.  And
so it was that Auric Draco of the Borderlands did speak unto Akhel,
to pry from him the secrets of which he spoke nothing, yet which surely
he harbored within.  With great contempt did Akhel turn aside that
which Auric asked of him.  Many things did Auric insinuate, that
Akhel was of Earth, that Akhel was a Darkfriend, that Akhel did in
secret search for the Horn of Valere, that selfsame horn of which
much is spoken in myth and legend, though Akhel claims to believe
in neither.  And even as Akhel did turn aside these unspoken accusations,
and others, so did Auric redouble his attempt to break through
Akhel's reticence.

And Jennifer did teach Telas the Warder of the Great Game of her
people, a game of horsemen and fortresses, of kings and queens,
of Children of Light and Children of Darkness, and even of pawns
to be used by the mighty.  For many hours did they play, even
as Jennifer threw off from herself illness and malaise, and they
spoke of many things.  Much did the Great Game of the world from
which Jennifer came forth, that distant Mirror of the Wheel
known only as Earth, though some say America, remind Telas of
another game, that of Daes Dae'mar, the Great Game of this
world.

Yet Jennifer did laugh upon learning more of this game, for her
people also played that game, though they gave it a different
name, politics.  Then did Jennifer wonder why Elaida Sedai
did send her, Randy Carter and only a few others on so important
a journey, when the search for the Nine Rods of Dominion, or
even one of the Nine was surely a task worthy of fully trained
Aes Sedai and Warders, for there had been no Blademaster amongst
this company when first Elaida charged Randy Carter to bring
forth from Manetheren at least one of the Nine Rods of Dominion.
Nor had Telas the Warder been present, or young Haemish of the
Taardad Aiel or stealthy Akhel or Keilyndra Din Djanin of the
Atha'an Miere, or Auric Draco of the Borderlands.

And Telas was surprised to learn that Elaida Sedai of the Red
Ajah was involved in the matter of the Nine Rods of Dominion,
and even more surprised to learn that Kareina Sedai of the
Green Ajah also had been involved in the forming of the company,
for the Elaida Sedai and Kareina Sedai did stand on opposite
sides of the Hall of the Tower, each against the very wall,
for their complete divergence of perspective had quickly become
legend in the Tower, though fewer knew that once they had been
teacher and student.

And Telas the Warder did speak of his suspicions, that some
from amongst the Blue Ajah might be responsible for the
disheveled state of the cabin he had revealed unto them
more than two fortnights previously.  And his words bore
truth, albeit from a certain perspective.

Other matters were also discussed, in this place and in this
time.  Then did Jennifer of Earth say unto herself that Daes Daemar
was not played within her Mirror of the Wheel as she now
saw it played, for all about her harbored secret thoughts and
intentions of which they would not speak, save in small increments
as needed.  Yet no word did she speak of her own secret thoughts.

And so it was that much was spoken, but little said.  Many games
were played, of stones, of Chaes, the Great Game of Jennifer's
people.  Perhaps even Daes Daemar was played, in that time,
in that place.

Then did Ulric Druss, Blademaster and once a captain of mighty
Tear, join in a game of stones.  With Auric Draco did he play.
And the two men did set themselves a wager.  One silver mark
did they set as the stakes of that game.  But as is the way
of those who play stones for silver and for gold, also were
tokens of doubling provided.  And so it was, even as the
game proceded from the opening claiming of borders to the
first skirmishes and to the intermediate battles for territory,
the stakes doubled and redoubled and redouble yet again, for
the game seemed hotly contested.  But when the stakes had
risen to 32 silver marks, then did Ulric Druss, Blademaster
and once captain of Tear attack the most secure position
of Auric Draco, and Auric did see marginal victory become
overwhelming defeat.  But Akhel did watch the game proceed
in silence, and then he knew Ulric Druss for who he truly
was, yet spoke know word upon the matter.

And still did the oppressive weight of secrets unspoken hang
amidst the air, yet were spirits high.  The many days of
rest had cured the body of illness and the heart of oppression.
And Ulric did forgive Akhel his baring a dagger against him
many days ago when first Telas joined them.  Haemish and Ulric
spent much time in the practice their art, and even as Ulric
defeated Haemish in contests of arms, so did Haemish defeat
Ulric in contests unarmed, and each took the other's measure.

And when Telas the Warder no longer was willing to speak about
Aes Sedai and their maneuverings, or of Daes Dae'mar, then did
Auric Draco speak, of the Great Game and its maneuverings, and
how the Shadow pulls many of the strings in secret.  For wheresoever
there is Light, also there is Shadow sequestered in the darkest
corners, and the deepest hearts of men.  But joy spilled across
Jennifer's countenance upon learning this dark knowledge.  For
now, she said, she understood the purpose of Elaida Sedai, to
send untrained people who know not of this world on a mission
of paramount importance, for she trusted not her Sisters in the
Tower, not even those of her own Ajah.  For any person could
be a Darkfriend, high or low, farmer or Aes Sedai.  Even Elaida
Sedai herself might be not of the Red Ajah, but of the Black.

And still did Phil sleep.