Plot Party: Blue and Yellow Ajahs

[The Dark One]

Lead by The Lace of Ages and The Creator

What are the current events for these two ajahs?

Summary:

Blue Ajah

Kay: To briefly summarize our prior discussions and thoughts on the Blue Ajah, they are the Ajah that focuses on causes. In the Fourth Age, driven to be organized and carve out a niche, this has often meant that they organize around ways to improve the common good. Our blurb on the site references soup kitchens, shelters, and other forms of welfare to people in need, though this doesn't preclude them from having their own causes. Because, really, that's what being Blue Ajah is about: having a cause you believe in deeply and fighting for it. With that in mind, I have a few questions to hopefully prompt discussion, but as always feel free to contribute your own thoughts!

First, the Blue Ajah's organized calling likely limits their official structures to areas greatly in need. Do we have any idea what those are, or how they assist? This is a bit of a broad question, and kind of pokes at the underlying fabric of the world we're building, but considering their responsibilities it's good to hash this out.

Shai’tan: I guess that would depend on when the ajah started to change into more hands on b/c different places have been war struck at different times. 23 FA –Arad Doman is lost within months (seanchan invasion) so if the changes started that early they could have started there, after the war. They did make friends with tai'seanchan right after that so it could be complicated, but as a war torn nation, they need that outreach and the white tower wouldn't like them making friends with tai'seanchan. I didn't mean they would boss arad doman around, I mean they would be like...hmmm lets make sure they love us and not the tai'seanchan

Kay: Providing humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the Seanchan war, starting in Arad Doman. And if we're talking tricksy Aes Sedai, they could use that as a Tai'Seanchan backchannel too. This was an idea that I've incorporated already in one of my bios, but would like to point out and possibly expand out. Tai'Seanchan officially allows for the release of damane and marath'damane, though in practice the process is significantly more complicated and less likely to work out. There is an official White Tower embassy in Falme to keep an eye on such things, but in Ciawin's backstory I included some 'unofficial' eyes and ears working on behalf of the Blue to smuggle people out of the country. Does this align with the Ajah as a whole? This is likely going to be Ciawin's cause...whenever she advances, which is a long long way off, but I can see it being an area of interest for other Blue sisters.

Kay: I think Altara, Murandy, Arad Doman, former Ghealdan all make good sense as major centers for Blue Ajah activity. Not that they're only in these places, but they're more visible and organized there.

Tseia: Given that "social support" would be a relatively new thing, combined with them being run by (or at least sponsored by) Aes Sedai, I imagine they'd have to combat stigma in accepting such aid?

Kay: It depends on the national culture where they're established, but yeah almost certainly

Shai’tan : I also feel like that is one reason for all the outreach programs. They have more influence if the people love them.

NatGeo: I would say that the Blue Ajah's internal structure would have changed a lot. I'd say that there would be sisters organized on a regional basis that would have considerable influence (perhaps rivaling sitters?)

Kay: Their population level is pretty low, no? That might be somewhat tricky.

Shai’tan : I would see them more helping set up shelters etc, like community organizers, rather than run them, b/c what Aes Sedai realistically would do that?

NatGeo : maybe these shelters could be helped run by the Kin as well?

Kay: I think it might be more involved with non-channeler organizations? Local volunteers, and the like. The Kin I feel like we've established as trying to come into their own, politically and socially. I'm not sure this is how they'd spend their time, outside of personal conviction.

Shai’tan : yeah...I kind of feel like a part of this whole push to help the people and be servants of all again would be to get the people to like them instead of the kin who are out there winning hearts. Also, with the Kin trying to not work for the Aes Sedai I feel more of competitors imo.

NatGeo
oh yes, but I would also say that the Aes Sedai numbers have expanded so much definitely not all would be interested in politics and quite a few would like to work the small stuff, much like how Brown Ajah sisters get lost in archives.

Kay: Oh, yes for sure. And Blue Ajah are perfect for those who have their own particular causes they want to work on, and advocacy they want to pursue. When put like that I could see a bit more hands on, though Aes Sedai culture as a whole probably disincentivizes that, somewhat.

Shai’tan: For the most part, those with means who are passionate in political causes end up as organizers, not canvassers.

Tseia: So in terms of IRL non-profits, Aes Sedai would be like the fundraisers or grant writers, as opposed to those "on the front lines" of the cause.

Kay: I'd imagine the former is the rule, but there are always exceptions
Aes Sedai as a whole don't want people to see them cleaning pots in a soup kitchen, whether they've refocused themselves into public servants or not So there's going to be some strong pressure to not do those things, which will uncommonly be broken by some people.

NatGeo : a small percentage to be sure, but with new blood and progressive voices trying to shake off the old ways I'd imagine more than expected, not serving soup but like being, for example in a restaurant, the manager.

Kay: this is my new addition thanks to Nat, we have currently ongoing a traditional/progressive split in the Tower, that largely cuts between Ajahs depending on the Aes Sedai. That said, the Blue Ajah seems uniquely positioned to largely be on the progressive side, often shaking up Tower convention.

Kay: Finally, in the Third Age despite their small size the Blue Ajah held the Amyrlin Seat more often than all the other Ajahs, often quite successfully. In the Fourth, they've not held it once. Has this lack hurt the Blue's reputation? How has it impacted their political standing in the Hall, and the Tower in general?

Shai’tan: they are busy changing the public image of the tower to the every day ppl. That would earn respect from other ajahs, even if they aren't producing amyrlins.

NatGeo : I think traditionally they tended to win because the White was aligned with them against the Red and White tended to be neutral...so it was 4-3 in the Third Age, but now there are 3 factions instead of 2 so each faction only has 2 Ajahs, so harder to gain majority support and get the rest to capitulate

Kay: It may also lean toward why Kat got the nod; if the Blue Ajah is largely progressive, and she's from the progressive faction, having a full Ajah behind her nearly by default makes it easier.

NatGeo :
what are Red and Blue tensions like now?
I know we said less than TA
but to what extent?

Kay: This is sort of reductive, but I'd say it's like a sports rivalry where one of the teams hasn't been good for awhile. There's still underlying tension and they don't like each other, but there's no sort of vehemence to it

---

Yellos Ajah

Shai’tan: my notes say Kat didn't start her initiative to change the yellow ajah until the seanchan invasion.

Kay: yes from Kat's bio:
With the support of the First Weaver and the Yellow Sitters, she taught her Ajah sisters the benefits of healing herbs, to the chagrin of many of them. However, Kat insisted it was useful knowledge to have to be able to teach non-channeling healers how best to help themselves. She, along with the leadership of the Yellow Ajah, encouraged experimentation with herbs and non-channeling healing methods. Each Yellow sister was scheduled to spend time traveling to more remote regions to teach healers and to be sure that no diseases were allowed to run rampant before word could reach Tar Valon. Even the most remote villages could expect to see a Yellow sister at least a few times a year.

Eve: Yes, Kat began really politicking the use of herbs after the War, and we have Sumeko as a Yellow sister (Sitter? Head?) until 81 FA, and Sharina is Amyrlin from 54 to 80 FA So she had two canon and (possibly in Sumeko’s case) powerful Yellows to help lift up that cause. 

NatGeo
I think Healing was her main goal anyway so the Sitter political life wasn't for her
I can see her being First Weaver though, yes

Eve
I think we can use that to our advantage, yes. So a young and ambitious Kat gains the ear of the First Weaver and greatly advances her personal mission: to bring healing to the greater public. Having the First Weaver and possibly even the former Amyrlin on her side would have helped the program get off the ground even without full support of the Ajah
And we know the Yellow are strongly allied with the Blue, so also likely they would have set up their clinics and healing schools alongside the Blue establishments. The countries the Blues set up shop in would also be in the greatest need of healers and of learning to heal themselves, with little to no ties to bring in Sisters to Heal.

NatGeo : Maybe the Yellow Blue alliance only really took off after the Seanchan war? so maybe all the old Ajah alliances were broken after the Last Battle...maybe the Red/Green alliance came into being first what with rebuilding and trying to reestablish order in various places and then their faction had the most influence, until the Blue/Yellow faction appeared after the Seanchan war? I think if the Red/Green alliance was solidified first, then they'd have the most influence for a while until other Ajahs started to unify

Kay: It doesn't really mesh with me, as we have a Brown Amrylin as really the first Fourth Age Amyrlin (excluding Cadsuane). If they did form a firm alliance before the other Ajahs started, I'd say that it likely caused other people to start looking for their own. I can't imagine the Aes Sedai waiting while a power bloc forms and not trying to counter it, y'know?

NatGeo: Maybe Saerin's raising was a reaction to that power bloc

Kay: totally possible!

Eve: I can’t see Reds being a “power” with an alliance or not, after how badly their reputation was ruined. More damage control than gaining favor

Kay: The Green might have been the face of it, while the Red was getting their house in order
And I'd say the Red are probably still not quite powerful on their own. They're too controversial

Eve: The other point on Jair's notes was the Yellow's/Kat's eyes and ears network, which I think can largely stand on its own?

Yellow eyes-and-ears network to be second only to the Blue. Although the purpose of them would be different. The Yellow's informants would be concerned about outbreaks of disease, mostly. So I feel like most village wisdoms/whatever they're called in their part of the world should probably be included in the network. And it should be less secretive. Like they would make sure the word was out that they are the person to go to so that the Yellow Ajah can swoop in and do their thing. So it'd really be nothing like most eyes-and-ears networks.

NatGeo: but I'm sure they'd phrase the organization differently

Kay: Fair enough, but it's likely modeled after those networks because Kat was the yellow's spymaster

NatGeo: maybe the recruitment process would also be public? that would strip the secrecy for this particular network.

Kay: maybe just part and parcel with the education? Like, if you get medicine training, it comes with the contacts of who to tell when things go south, and everyone knows those people anyway?

Eve: Yeah, certainly not a secret at least
The other thing I have for Yellow is how closely are they allied with the Water Legion?
They’re all Healers, though Water is a bit army medic and Yellow a bit Doctors Without Borders...

Kay: Yeah...I'm not really sure? I mean, I feel like there's some overlap, particularly in methods and training and whatnot (especially for nonchanneling medicine). They probably share info. But in terms of day to day duties...

Eve: There would have been a lot of Healing to do with the Tower War too, so I can see Yellow not wanting to exactly jump on forgiving and forgetting

NatGeo :They're probably the forgive but not forget type and will probably use the Tower War to wrangle all sorts of things from the Water Legion...i mean...Aes Sedai are super-into the guilt-tripping thing. I could see the Yellow as working with them and trying to force all sorts of concessions from them or something haha

Kay: I do think it's likely that they're not as close as initially thought. Combined with the Water's added responsibilities and the Yellow having to pick up the WT's pieces in the war, I think it's a bit more strained than, say, the Spirit Legion and White/Brown.
Or even the Air and Gray, for that matter. But there's enough there for them to find moments to work together

Eve: I definitely think they continued to work together, but probably not “friendly” just yet
At least not for any who were actively healing during and immediately following the war
All healer-types I can think of tend to mourn the loss of a patient and that can easily lend to anger toward the cause of that loss

There’s a lot of heart in healing, harder to disassociate than the logical/pragmatic types

unanswered question:

Kay:
What do these clinics/hospitals look like, do we think? @angela if you get a chance to chime in on this that'd be cool! But, basically, we have that as their major FA project, so it's good to know what we're working with