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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 3 of _As the Wheel Turns_  5-7-94

And so it was in the darkness of night, that Randy Carter
did awaken from Dream.  Grievous injuries did she suffer
in those realms of deepest slumber, yet did she return
from tel'aran'rhiod, the world of true Dreaming, to find
herself awash amidst her own blood, her spirit floating
amongst dizzying heights from which few return.  Yet did
she retain strength enough to cough.  Her intended words,
surely are lost to time and the Turnings of the Wheel,
yet did Jennifer and Selene rise to the sound of Randy
Carter's distress, and they did attend to her to the limits
of their abilities.

For Randy Carter's wounds were many and grievous.  Her body
bore the foul clawings of a Trolloc, and those of something
fouler still.  Her legs were splayed unnaturally, as though
some monstrous force had begun to split them asunder.  In
horror, Selene did voice her thoughts in soft spoken words,
that perhaps Randy Carter did acquire these words in Dream,
for all who had accompanied Kareina Sedai and Randy Carter
did eventually learn of Randy Carter's rare Talent for
Walking in Dream, though this Talent was untrained.

But in her anger, in her fear, in her dark despair, Jennifer
did scorn Selene's gentle words, ordering her to boil
water.  Yet the gracious Selene said no word, and she did
boil water at Jennifer's command.  Then did Jennifer
marshal the little she knew of her world's wonders toward
the goal of healing Randy Carter.  And the wonders of that
wondrous place, the place called Earth were such that the
merest glimmerings of their deep knowledge allowed Jennifer
to preserve the life of her companion, Randy Carter.

Jennifer did manage to staunch the flow of blood until the
life of Randy Carter was no longer in jeopardy, and did
keep her wounds from the ravages of infection.  The lady
Selene did surely learn much in those early morning hours,
as she helped Jennifer in whatever small way she could.

Yet to heal Randy Carter's legs was beyond the skill of
Jennifer, and Selene's meagre assistance could not be
enough to sway the balance.  Then did an exotic woman
come upon this scene of misery.  Little did she say about
her past, calling herself only Kei.  She was not a healer,
not did she claim any Ability to channel the One Power,
but some skill in survival she did have, and her ability
extended even into skills that might be called healing,
though her skills were but rudimentary.  Still did the
woman Kei pull Randy Carter's legs back into place, that
they might heal of themselves.  All of her strength did
Kei throw into the effort, until finally the deed was
done.  But Randy Carter had fallen into a deathly sleep
from the pain and from the blood that no longer flowed
through her veins.

Then did Selene notice the ter'angreal that Jennifer had
seen when first the two women, so different, joined
to preserve the life of Randy Carter.  This ter'angreal
in the form of a statue, a woman in stately repose, was
a parting gift from Kareina Sedai to Randy Carter.  But
the ter'angreal had lost its nobility, for the statue
was bent into contortions similar to yet worse by far
than those suffered by Randy Carter.  And it's face was
racked with agony.  Surely, such injuries could only
kill even the strongest warrior and surely Randy Carter
herself.  Yet, Selene believed, Randy Carter had suffered
those injuries, but was protected by the mysterious
power of the ter'angreal, power that had exhausted itself
in the ordeal.  But Randy Carter did survive.

And when these matters were brought to a temporary conclusion,
then did Jennifer turn her attention toward the newcomer,
toward Kei, for Kei and her people, now gone, had been
attacked by Trollocs, perhaps the very same that attacked
Emond's Field in the Two Rivers only a few days past.
And in her dazed despair over her loss, did Kei, younger
even than Jennifer or Randy Carter, speak words that did
frighten Jennifer, for she spoke of Trollocs who had just
attacked her, though this had happened a few days in
the past.  And Jennifer dealt forcefully with Kei, for
Jennifer would know of the Trolloc threat and from whence
it came.

But Kei was more concerned about Suldan, whom she knew not,
and when she and Jennifer approached his blankets, they did
find him dead, torn asunder though he had taken no step
from where he slumbered.  But Jennifer was concerned about
the immediate danger facing them all, for without Aes Sedai
or brave warriors, Trollocs are a most fearsome threat.

And Jennifer did command Selene to build a stretcher to
bear Randy Carter.  And Jennifer did begin to set fire to
the trees around her, to ward off Trollocs.  But then
she had a change of heart, deciding that a few moments
of rest, quiet contemplation, and a cup of hot tea was
a more prudent course of action.  And Selene did brew
tea for Jennifer, in accordance with her wishes.

And it was evening, and it was morning, a new day.  And on
that morning did another traveller come across these
weary companions, a man named Auric.  And he did convince
them to bear Randy Carter unto the city of Baerlon, for
there might be found a healer of skill and deep knowledge,
whose healing would be slower but no less sure than that
of an Aes Sedai, wrapped in the power of saidar.

Then, in the small city of Baerlon, did the travellers stay.
Auric did scour the small city for the best healer of Baerlon.
For six days did the Healer come unto the inn, unto The
Juggling Fool, to pour vile fluids into Randy Carter's mouth
and to spread foul ointments into Randy Carter's skin.  On the
first day did the healer command Randy Carter to stay abed,
and to this command did Randy Carter adhere with fervent
devotion, for she could do naught else, even had she tried.
And on the first night she did sleep, and did not dream
nor did she Dream.  And so it was for all six nights of
Randy Carter's recovery under the able ministrations of the
elderly healer, wise in the ways of medicine.  The people
of Earth itself, with all their power and knowledge, could have
done no better, even had they poured blood into Randy Carter's
veins and arteries.  But by the sixth day, Randy Carter did
become restless, her bed did become a place of confinement.
Only the stern word of the Healer did keep Randy Carter in
her place, though she felt herself in full health.

And on the sixth day did Auric test his skill at word against
the Children of the Light, who did frequent Baerlon in no
small numbers in that time, yet did the obdurate Children
see through his subterfuge, and through his foul accusation
of a woman he had never seen been before that day.  For he did
tell the Children of the Light that she was an Aes Sedai of
the Black Ajah.  The hatred which the Children of the Light
harbor toward all Aes Sedai of all Ajah is known throughout
the world, and so, when the Child of the Light raised his
sword to strike down the Aes Sedai where she stood, he did
not find himself bound by the Power, nor coerced in any way.
Thus did he know the woman innocent, for to a Child of the Light
there are few crimes worse than channeling the One Power, or
calling oneself an Aes Sedai.  Then the man Auric did flee
that place, followed by the Children of the Light, and all of
Baerlon did see this flight.  Auric did elude the Children of
the Light, but his memory would not be lost to Baerlon for some
time to come, yet his purpose in this matter remains unknown,
until this day.

Also as the sixth day drew to a close, and the seventh evening
begin, did the strange bookseller Nirevmai and her husband,
Albert, come into the city.  Not since last a Gleeman set foot
in Baerlon was there a spectacle such as this, for she did
set up her wares as though she were setting up a carnival.
Many people did enter the gloom of evening streets to see
what could be seen, and some did purchase books, despite
themselves.  Even Kei and Selene did look upon her wares,
but Selene did not buy, for Nirevmai was selling books
of adventure signed by Jain Farstrider himself.  Yet did
Selene sniff to herself, and say only, "That's Jaim Farstrider,"
in a voice that only Kei could hear.  But Selene, Nirevmai,
Kei and Albert did share dinner upon that evening, and
interesting conversation.  Yet Albert shared neither his
conversation, nor his dinner, of which there was a great amount.

And so it came to pass, that on the seventh night, for Randy
Carter did first arrive in Baerlon as the day drew toward its
close, that Randy Carter did find herself in Dream, as she had
done once before.  And in dream she did behold a great map,
indeed, that selfsame map of the Metro in the exact place that
she did find herself before.  Then did the lure of Unknown
Kadath draw Randy Carter toward the train, and its press of
people.  Once before did Randy Carter travel along this Line
in Dream, and now she did so again.  For to attain the city of
Unknown Kadath was her life's goal, a purpose that required no
reason, no explanation.

Then did the train empty itself slowly, even as it had done
once before, and Randy Carter did leave this train for
another, as she had done before.  All was as it had been,
yet there were new signs among the others, telling people of
a book called _The Nine Rods of Dominion_.  At every station
of the train was such a sign, for that is the way of signs
on Earth, even in the city of Montreal, for the people of Earth
require many signs before any signs are heeded.  Some believe
that the people of Earth see too many signs, and any new signs
must be revealed again and again, lest they be lost amongst the
older, more familiar signs.  Yet this sign did disturb Randy
Carter in some unspoken way, even as the second train made
its way into the place of Change called Station, even as
Jennifer appeared behind Randy Carter, assessing the danger.

But in Dream, as in life, did Jennifer go forward, as did Randy
Carter, for she would not be deterred from Unknown Kadath.  And
as did happen once before, so too did it happen again.  For
Trollocs did come forth into the empty train where Randy Carter
and Jennifer did watch for danger, yet Kei and Auric now were
with them, and stood bravely though neither was a warrior skilled
and strong, or an Aes Sedai channeling flows of the True Source.
But more Trollocs there were also, and Jennifer did in desperation
use her ter'angreal.  Seven times did her ter'angreal make a great
and deafening noise, and five times did a Trolloc fall, until
the Trollocs were almost upon her.  Then she did raise her bow to
kill again, but the bow was quickly broken.  In her other hand
did she hold a knife of metal wrought by the unknown Powers of
the place called Earth, and this blade did she thrust into the
Trolloc looming before her, even as the Trolloc did crush her with
a mighty blow.  Awareness left her.

Surely would Jennifer have died, yet the Trollocs turned toward
Randy Carter, somehow overcoming their instinct to eat whatever
was most easily available.  Yet Randy Carter did, in desparation
summon forth her vast Talent in tel'aran'rhiod, and forced the
Trollocs away, banishing them to another's dream or to oblivion.
And the two remaining Trollocs did back away in terror, for each
had been fighting with Kei and with Auric, unable to vanquish
yet a foe beyond the ability of either.

Thus did Randy Carter find herself on the brink of the Second
Change, when she must leave the relative safety of this train
for the unspeakable horrors of the next.  And Randy Carter
did attempt to return her companions to the waking world, yet
in her heart she wanted the comforting presence of others on
her quest for Unknown Kadath, and so her friends remained in
Dream.  Eager were they to face danger on her behalf, though
they knew not for what they stood ready.

But as that third train drew nigh, belching horrible smoke
unto the heavens, Randy Carter had a change of heart. Jennifer,
at least, she would return to the waking world whether she
would or no, for Jennifer was injured and could be of no help
along this journey.  For only the briefest moment could she
stand against a Trolloc, or even stagger, and on this train
there were things worse than Trollocs.

Then did Randy Carter summon forth her will and pushed Jennifer
out of Dream.  And in the growing use of her Talent did Randy
Carter realize that in Dream she could take unto herself the
power of those without her Talent.  Her own abilities could
she fuel with the embers of their very being, body and soul.
As she banished Jennifer she tasted her vast potential, and in
returning her to the waking world knew that she could turn
such potential to her own purpose, toward the purpose of
attaining Unknown Kadath.

Then did Randy Carter know that Unknown Kadath lay within
reach, the goal of a lifetime.  Jennifer was now gone, but
two others remained, Auric and Kei.  Randy Carter could
not feel any trace of saidar in either, but in Dream could
sense that they too possessed incredible raw potential, if
not equalling that of Jennifer.  But Randy Carter did
send Auric to his body, perhaps fearing what she might do.
Now only Kei remained, and Randy Carter still knew that with
Kei's raw ability, she still could attain Unknown Kadath,
though through great trials.  Randy Carter closed her eyes,
even as the attainment of her dream faded to darkness, and
then returned Kei to where she belonged.  And then willed
herself awake.

Jennifer was injured, for wounds suffered in tel'aran'rhiod
persist in the waking world, and death suffered in
tel'aran'rhiod is as final a death as in the waking world,
yet did Randy Carter Heal Jennifer as best she could, though
she remained untrained, and the Healing incomplete.  And in
utter exhaustion did Randy Carter fall again into slumber,
to find herself in Montreal, standing before the map.  Yet
on this occaission did Randy Carter eschew the Metro and
the lure of Unknown Kadath, nor did she seek other destinations.
Instead, she ascended unto the streets of Montreal, a city
greater than any upon the  world, yet not considered  among
the great cities of Earth.  And she did meet a man, offering
passage to Unknown Kadath, but would pay no price, again
turning from awesome temptation, turning toward the city
of her youth, the air as fresh as a dream and the familiar
sights and sounds of home.  And in this Montreal of Dream
she did wander, to places left undisturbed by myth or
legend.  Then did she awake, even as the sun's first rays
did peek through the shuttered window of her room, in the
Juggling Fool, in Baerlon.


And it was evening, and it was morning, the seventh day.