Post by Ciawin Nelarme on Apr 11, 2020 23:35:15 GMT
Name: Ciawin Nelarme
Age: 17
Nationality: Tai’Seanchan
Place of Birth: Falme, Tai'Seanchan
Place of Residence: The White Tower, Tar Valon
Affiliation: Tar Valon
Rank/Title: Novice
One Power Strength: 1 (4)
Air: 2 (5) | Earth: 0 (2) | Fire: 0 (1) | Spirit: 2 (7) | Water: 1 (5)
Date raised to Novice 112 Fourth Age
Weave Affinities:
Weapon Skills:
Martial: 2 (4) | Hand-Held: 1 (6) | Mounted: 1 (3)
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs
Build/Complexion: Curvaceous/Pale
Eye/Hair Color: Light brown/Copper-brown
Distinguishing Features:
Ciawin is tall for her age and quite pretty, though she's not aware of that. Her ancestry is impossible to determine from looks alone, though her accent certainly tells the tale of where she was born. While Ciawin talks and acts with confidence, her movements are strangely subdued and quite precise.
Confidence bordering on arrogance and an overly smart mouth have not been helpful traits to Ciawin, but they're what she has to work with. Ciawin believes deeply in herself and her causes, with a headstrong stubbornness that has earned her trouble both back home and in Tar Valon. She's quick to respond with sarcasm, sharp-edged and slightly cruel if she dislikes the target, friendly and teasing if not, regardless of whether that is wise or not. Cianwin is driven, clever, and even manages to be quite charming so long as her temper hasn't been raised, but she remains deeply inexperienced about both life at the White Tower and the wider world.
Beneath her sarcastic bravado, Ciawin hides a fragility most would not expect. Life has not been kind to her, and much of it seems horribly unfair. Ciawin generally channels it into her public persona, but at times the weight of the world's injustice seems too much to bear, leaving her withdrawn, quiet, and moody.
Life in Falme, Ciawin eventually learned, is full of variety. From the highest heights of the Tai'Shar in the Imperial Palace to the lowest lows of the da'covale, from the Tai'Seanchan to the strange Westland ambassadors, Falme is a large slice of the world in and of itself. And yet, despite being born and raised there, Ciawin's life was very, very small for many years.
Her mother was da'covale -- one who is owned. Allowed only the name Eliya, she was little better than property to Lord Mikhel Jarath, one of the many Low Blood members of Falme's nobility. Ciawin's father was Lord Mikhel, but one's station always follows the mother; Ciawin's inheritance was her sentence as da'covale. Ciawin grew up knowing nothing else; she spent her days playing, cleaning, and learning how to respect her betters, of which there were many. She learned, and grew, and began to see the walls and limits of her life, of which there were many. Her curiosity earned both herself and her mother trouble more than once; Ciawin's paternity earned her no favor from Lord Mikhel or his noble family. The limitations placed on her chafed even at a young age, though there was little Ciawin could do about it. On the rare occasions that she was allowed to leave the small Jarath manor, she often found her way to a small, well-kept house by Falme's docks. She'd found the house, and the kindly woman who lived there, almost by chance; the woman's name was Leilwin Nelarme, and bit by bit over the years she taught young Ciawin to read, to think, and to fight.
Life took a turn when Ciawin was 15. All girls in Tai'Seanchan are tested to see if they can be held by an a'dam or whether they were able to hold the leash. Ciawin almost hoped that the a'dam would work; by law and custom, none may be collared against their will, and no marath'damane could stay in Tai'Seanchan without submitting to the collar. Ciawin (perhaps naively) thought it might be a path to freedom. The collar did nothing when Ciawin put it on, to her mother's relief and her father's disappointment. The bracelet, however, was another matter entirely. When Ciawin put it on, she was able to feel the damane--the person on the other end, and it shocked her. Her mother and father were both ecstatic: sul'dam were valuable and had room to advance, even if they were da'covale to a Low Blood. The position was, perhaps, more feared and less respected than it had been in the past, but it meant a life beyond Ciawin's humble beginnings. Ciawin was taken to the Imperial Palace to begin her training that day. She would learn to handle damane, to train them, and to use them. From the very beginning, Ciawin hated it with every fiber of her being.
It was wrong. Everything about her life was wrong. Ciawin had felt it for years, but it was only by being taught to enslave another that she could truly articulate it. Even in the highest places of the Tai'Shar, injustice reigned. Ciawin had been mischievous and curious before; under the tutelage of the Imperial der'suldam she became downright rebellious. It became clear to everyone that Ciawin wouldn't last long; she would be returned to Lord Mikhel and remain a lowly da'covale, or suffer a worse fate because she couldn't temper her tongue and made no effort to try. Then one day, less than two months after beginning her training, Ciawin vanished from the palace.
Leilwin Nelarme saved her. Ciawin had found her way to that small, well-kept house one final time, and she broke. Ciawin could keep nothing in; every fear, every doubt, every bit of anger spilled from her. Leilwin listened, held her, soothed her, and made her a promise: Ciawin would be out of Tai'Seanchan in less than a month, and there would be a place for her elsewhere if she wanted it.
It turned out that Ciawin was not the first person that Leilwin Nelarme had smuggled from Falme. Within a day, Ciawin found herself in the hold of a ship bound for Ebou Dar, hidden in a small smuggling compartment. The trip was long and uncomfortable, but when Ciawin arrived in Ebou Dar she was free and found her future waiting for her. Another woman met her on the docks and, in the discussion that followed, Ciawin learned the truth. Leilwin was an agent for the Aes Sedai of Tar Valon, in particular a member of the Blue Ajah's eyes and ears network. She sought out those who wanted to leave but were unable to manage; it was a slow and dangerous process because even some of those most in need refused to leave. With discovery meaning likely death or being made da'covale herself, Leilwin couldn't risk telling anyone who might reveal the truth to the Tai'Shar. When Ciawin had gone to her house that day, it was all Leilwin needed to make arrangements. And Ciawin's case was special, too: as one who could be sul'dam, she could also become Aes Sedai, if she wanted it. That was the offer, offered freely, and Ciawin took it. The Aes Sedai had saved her, and she wanted to do the same for others.
Books read: All of them!
Age: 17
Nationality: Tai’Seanchan
Place of Birth: Falme, Tai'Seanchan
Place of Residence: The White Tower, Tar Valon
Affiliation: Tar Valon
Rank/Title: Novice
One Power Strength: 1 (4)
Air: 2 (5) | Earth: 0 (2) | Fire: 0 (1) | Spirit: 2 (7) | Water: 1 (5)
Date raised to Novice 112 Fourth Age
Weave Affinities:
Weapon Skills:
Martial: 2 (4) | Hand-Held: 1 (6) | Mounted: 1 (3)
APPEARANCE
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs
Build/Complexion: Curvaceous/Pale
Eye/Hair Color: Light brown/Copper-brown
Distinguishing Features:
- Frequently smirking, often to the point of being told to school her expression.
- Despite her behavior, her body language is very subdued and precise, rarely taking up much space or expressing herself.
- Speaks with drawl that marks her as Tai'Seanchan
Ciawin is tall for her age and quite pretty, though she's not aware of that. Her ancestry is impossible to determine from looks alone, though her accent certainly tells the tale of where she was born. While Ciawin talks and acts with confidence, her movements are strangely subdued and quite precise.
PERSONALITY
Confidence bordering on arrogance and an overly smart mouth have not been helpful traits to Ciawin, but they're what she has to work with. Ciawin believes deeply in herself and her causes, with a headstrong stubbornness that has earned her trouble both back home and in Tar Valon. She's quick to respond with sarcasm, sharp-edged and slightly cruel if she dislikes the target, friendly and teasing if not, regardless of whether that is wise or not. Cianwin is driven, clever, and even manages to be quite charming so long as her temper hasn't been raised, but she remains deeply inexperienced about both life at the White Tower and the wider world.
Beneath her sarcastic bravado, Ciawin hides a fragility most would not expect. Life has not been kind to her, and much of it seems horribly unfair. Ciawin generally channels it into her public persona, but at times the weight of the world's injustice seems too much to bear, leaving her withdrawn, quiet, and moody.
HISTORY
Life in Falme, Ciawin eventually learned, is full of variety. From the highest heights of the Tai'Shar in the Imperial Palace to the lowest lows of the da'covale, from the Tai'Seanchan to the strange Westland ambassadors, Falme is a large slice of the world in and of itself. And yet, despite being born and raised there, Ciawin's life was very, very small for many years.
Her mother was da'covale -- one who is owned. Allowed only the name Eliya, she was little better than property to Lord Mikhel Jarath, one of the many Low Blood members of Falme's nobility. Ciawin's father was Lord Mikhel, but one's station always follows the mother; Ciawin's inheritance was her sentence as da'covale. Ciawin grew up knowing nothing else; she spent her days playing, cleaning, and learning how to respect her betters, of which there were many. She learned, and grew, and began to see the walls and limits of her life, of which there were many. Her curiosity earned both herself and her mother trouble more than once; Ciawin's paternity earned her no favor from Lord Mikhel or his noble family. The limitations placed on her chafed even at a young age, though there was little Ciawin could do about it. On the rare occasions that she was allowed to leave the small Jarath manor, she often found her way to a small, well-kept house by Falme's docks. She'd found the house, and the kindly woman who lived there, almost by chance; the woman's name was Leilwin Nelarme, and bit by bit over the years she taught young Ciawin to read, to think, and to fight.
Life took a turn when Ciawin was 15. All girls in Tai'Seanchan are tested to see if they can be held by an a'dam or whether they were able to hold the leash. Ciawin almost hoped that the a'dam would work; by law and custom, none may be collared against their will, and no marath'damane could stay in Tai'Seanchan without submitting to the collar. Ciawin (perhaps naively) thought it might be a path to freedom. The collar did nothing when Ciawin put it on, to her mother's relief and her father's disappointment. The bracelet, however, was another matter entirely. When Ciawin put it on, she was able to feel the damane--the person on the other end, and it shocked her. Her mother and father were both ecstatic: sul'dam were valuable and had room to advance, even if they were da'covale to a Low Blood. The position was, perhaps, more feared and less respected than it had been in the past, but it meant a life beyond Ciawin's humble beginnings. Ciawin was taken to the Imperial Palace to begin her training that day. She would learn to handle damane, to train them, and to use them. From the very beginning, Ciawin hated it with every fiber of her being.
It was wrong. Everything about her life was wrong. Ciawin had felt it for years, but it was only by being taught to enslave another that she could truly articulate it. Even in the highest places of the Tai'Shar, injustice reigned. Ciawin had been mischievous and curious before; under the tutelage of the Imperial der'suldam she became downright rebellious. It became clear to everyone that Ciawin wouldn't last long; she would be returned to Lord Mikhel and remain a lowly da'covale, or suffer a worse fate because she couldn't temper her tongue and made no effort to try. Then one day, less than two months after beginning her training, Ciawin vanished from the palace.
Leilwin Nelarme saved her. Ciawin had found her way to that small, well-kept house one final time, and she broke. Ciawin could keep nothing in; every fear, every doubt, every bit of anger spilled from her. Leilwin listened, held her, soothed her, and made her a promise: Ciawin would be out of Tai'Seanchan in less than a month, and there would be a place for her elsewhere if she wanted it.
It turned out that Ciawin was not the first person that Leilwin Nelarme had smuggled from Falme. Within a day, Ciawin found herself in the hold of a ship bound for Ebou Dar, hidden in a small smuggling compartment. The trip was long and uncomfortable, but when Ciawin arrived in Ebou Dar she was free and found her future waiting for her. Another woman met her on the docks and, in the discussion that followed, Ciawin learned the truth. Leilwin was an agent for the Aes Sedai of Tar Valon, in particular a member of the Blue Ajah's eyes and ears network. She sought out those who wanted to leave but were unable to manage; it was a slow and dangerous process because even some of those most in need refused to leave. With discovery meaning likely death or being made da'covale herself, Leilwin couldn't risk telling anyone who might reveal the truth to the Tai'Shar. When Ciawin had gone to her house that day, it was all Leilwin needed to make arrangements. And Ciawin's case was special, too: as one who could be sul'dam, she could also become Aes Sedai, if she wanted it. That was the offer, offered freely, and Ciawin took it. The Aes Sedai had saved her, and she wanted to do the same for others.
The trips to Illian, Tear, and finally Tar Valon were made in cabins and significantly more comfortable. When she arrived in Tar Valon, she was brought to the White Tower and signed her name in the Novice book. She signed it Ciawin Nelarme, in honor of the woman who had saved her.
TIMELINE
97FA - Ciawin is born to the dacovale, Eliya, and Lord Mikhel Jareth of the Low Blood.
103FA - Ciawin makes her way to the house of Leilwin Nelarme, an agent of the Blue Ajah of the White Tower. Leilwin provided a kind ear for the rebellious dacovale, and bit by bit over the years taught her to read, to think, and to fight.
112FA - Ciawin is tested and discovered to possess the potential to be sul'dam. Eliya is thrilled, as is Lord Jareth. Ciawin is, however, repulsed and flees from her training. She is saved by Leilwin, who smuggles her out of Falme and to the White Tower, where she becomes a novice of the White Tower under the name Ciawin Nelarme.
Books read: All of them!
