Post by The Dark One on Apr 19, 2020 4:23:21 GMT
Lead by The Creator and The Dark One
pre party notes by Jair:
The Field of Merrilor is on the northern border between Shienar and Arafel. That's where the Dragon's peace meets.
The landscape of the Field of Merrilor has changed:
Later Egwene, while battling M'Hael, used again this weave as a direct counter and opposite to balefire, a weave of pure creation as opposed to balefire's pure destruction. She called it the "Flame of Tar Valon". This "Flame" used at the maximum power that the Vora sa'angreal could provide was able to stop a blow of balefire and then to crystallize the body of Mazrim Taim from inside out like freezing him in ice. A multihued, beautiful crystal grew from him, uncut and rough. Somehow Egwene knew that the Flame would have had much less effect on a person who had not given himself to the Shadow.
Just moments after stopping Taim, Egwene realized that she drew far more power than she was able to wield safely, consequently she released it all around herself using an explosion of the Tar Valon Flame weave, and so she died while hitting and saturating with the One Power everything around her on the Polov Heights.
As a consequence the entire area which was badly damaged by the balefire got covered like a blanket of crystals coating the ground, filling all cracks with crystal and healing them; also all the Sharans that were surrounding her were immediately frozen into crystals. Egwene herself turned into a giant pillar of crystal column, wide as an ancient leatherleaf tree, rising some fifty feet in the air having Vora's sa'angreal frozen in its center.
Just moments after stopping Taim, Egwene realized that she drew far more power than she was able to wield safely, consequently she released it all around herself using an explosion of the Tar Valon Flame weave, and so she died while hitting and saturating with the One Power everything around her on the Polov Heights.
As a consequence the entire area which was badly damaged by the balefire got covered like a blanket of crystals coating the ground, filling all cracks with crystal and healing them; also all the Sharans that were surrounding her were immediately frozen into crystals. Egwene herself turned into a giant pillar of crystal column, wide as an ancient leatherleaf tree, rising some fifty feet in the air having Vora's sa'angreal frozen in its center.
Summary:
Shienar
They’re a people who are formal and tradition bound, with a strict sense of propriety (though a different sort than might be found in the south.) According to the World of the Wheel of Time, they love peace, beauty, and life above everything (though as we see multiple times in the series, they’re more than ready to fight to protect them.) They have a (relatively) unique relationship to the earth, believing that they come from it and are returned to it upon death.
NatGeo: It reminds me of the Korean Hwarang
Kay: I'm not at all familiar, so I'll take your word for it But google makes me inclined to agree. They are in tune with the world, honor bound to a fault, shame is a huge motivator in their culture, and they can slice up the bad guys with the best.
Kay: I'm not at all familiar, so I'll take your word for it But google makes me inclined to agree. They are in tune with the world, honor bound to a fault, shame is a huge motivator in their culture, and they can slice up the bad guys with the best.
I see the new Malkier being something that's widely praised by Shienarans, while perhaps being annoying for their more structured military types to coordinate with
NatGeo: Well, I frankly could imagine that some Shienarian minor nobility could have moved to Malkier, strengthening ties. we also need to consider the fact that for the first few decades the Blight was not in existence which could possibly open up a lot of possibility for resettlement in the case of available land
NatGeo: Well, I frankly could imagine that some Shienarian minor nobility could have moved to Malkier, strengthening ties. we also need to consider the fact that for the first few decades the Blight was not in existence which could possibly open up a lot of possibility for resettlement in the case of available land
✨Eve: I think that can compliment Kay’s frontier vibe really well...Settling the “new frontier”
Kay: Malkier would have been on the frontier for awhile; as the Blight receded, I could definitely see an influx, leading to more people available to fight back. And yes, though in terms of what that means for Shienar, I think it means that bloodline and family wise, they'd have strong ties with Malkier.
NatGeo: Well, as the Blight receded, I could imagine Aes Sedai and Asha'man being dedicated to clearing the entire area out and burning the Blight to the ground and since the Dark One's influence was gone what was burned away would stay that way
Shai’tan : I'm starting to feel personally attacked by this plot party....oh my beautiful blight! I should have said, but it's not the same...also, can we keep part of the original blight in Seanchan?
NatGeo: Well, as the Blight receded, I could imagine Aes Sedai and Asha'man being dedicated to clearing the entire area out and burning the Blight to the ground and since the Dark One's influence was gone what was burned away would stay that way
Shai’tan : I'm starting to feel personally attacked by this plot party....oh my beautiful blight! I should have said, but it's not the same...also, can we keep part of the original blight in Seanchan?
✨Eve: So for Shienar, we just know they have strong ties to Malkier and some of their (probably younger) nobles and other citizen may have gone to Malkier for the excitement of settling a new land
Kay: Yup. Though by this point these transplants would definitely qualify as Malkieri, I'd assume. But the blood ties would be there.
The other thing to consider is the Ogier. Shienar already had great respect for them in the canon, and revere the earth in a similar way the Ogier revere nature. They also have three steddings within their borders. We haven’t talked about the Ogier much to date, but if they’re more active in the Fourth Age Shienar could be an excellent tie for them to have.
NatGeo: I feel that Ogier presence would be more felt everywhere, honestly, not just Shienar. why would they concentrate on Shienar in particular?
Kay: Less concentration, more socialization. Ogier largely keep to themselves, but they could be more interconnected with the Shienarans. They'd still be active elsewhere, but there are commonalities they could use to forge ties.
NatGeo: I'm sure that due to Loial's ties, the same could be said for Manetheren?
NatGeo: I'm sure that due to Loial's ties, the same could be said for Manetheren?
Kay: I picture three nations that would have uncommonly close ties to Ogier. Manetheren, for reasons you mentioned, Shienar, and Tai'Seanchan.
NatGeo: That sounds good to me! Altho I imagine that the Ogier's ties to Tai'Seanchan are ... more complicated than most tho due to the unique nature that Tai'Seanchan has with their Deathwatch Guard...which you already mentioned in the Tai'Seanchan page
Kay: Yup! In any case, as I said I could see Shienar as one of the human societies the Ogier mesh with really well. Multiple steddings and people that are on a similar wavelength might make them a good place to 'come home to' even as they get more active in the world.
NatGeo: That sounds good to me! Altho I imagine that the Ogier's ties to Tai'Seanchan are ... more complicated than most tho due to the unique nature that Tai'Seanchan has with their Deathwatch Guard...which you already mentioned in the Tai'Seanchan page
Kay: Yup! In any case, as I said I could see Shienar as one of the human societies the Ogier mesh with really well. Multiple steddings and people that are on a similar wavelength might make them a good place to 'come home to' even as they get more active in the world.
The above was shipped by all
Kay: The thing that occurred to me was House Shinowa, mostly because I have a soft spot for poor Ingtar. Did they survive?!
NatGeo: No idea. We could say they did
Kay: That's what I was hoping/leaning for
NatGeo: No idea. We could say they did
Kay: That's what I was hoping/leaning for
Arafel
City of braided bells and Double swords
✨Eve: Kay was so kind as to find a more thorough bit in the companion earlier.
"Arafellin saw shame as less important than did Shienarans..." (though that's still second highest for the Borderlands.
"Arafellin would go to extremes to meet what they considered a debt of honor. In fact, in many ways, they were very close to Aiel in their beliefs, though without the formality of the Aiel ji'e'toh"
"In general, Arafellin were extremely touchy. In duels, the choice of weapon went to the challenged. The choices were sometimes odd, such as two men on horesback with bows, or two men fighting in a darkened room. Women had been known to fight duels in Arafel, but this was considered improper by the women themselves. Even women who had fought duels would have denied that it had been done. Although women's duels rarely if ever involved swords, they did involve daggers, bows, lances, and even whips."
"In Arafel adn Kandor, unlike Shienar or Saldaea, these laws [no hiding of the face to deal with Fades] came to be modified to allow women to wear veils, though the veils were to be of lace or else transparent..."
"Arafel always had a king. The wife of the King was called the Queen, and was expected to rule in his place when he was on campaign. It was traditional in Arafel that certain matters were left in the hands and under the authority of the Queen at all times, even when the King was not campaigning."
"Arafel had a fair number of gemstone mines producing gemstones other than diamonds, most notably firedrops, and les important mines of furbies, emeralds, and sapphires, and a moderate number of gold and silver mines. Timber and furs were major exports."
"Arafellin would go to extremes to meet what they considered a debt of honor. In fact, in many ways, they were very close to Aiel in their beliefs, though without the formality of the Aiel ji'e'toh"
"In general, Arafellin were extremely touchy. In duels, the choice of weapon went to the challenged. The choices were sometimes odd, such as two men on horesback with bows, or two men fighting in a darkened room. Women had been known to fight duels in Arafel, but this was considered improper by the women themselves. Even women who had fought duels would have denied that it had been done. Although women's duels rarely if ever involved swords, they did involve daggers, bows, lances, and even whips."
"In Arafel adn Kandor, unlike Shienar or Saldaea, these laws [no hiding of the face to deal with Fades] came to be modified to allow women to wear veils, though the veils were to be of lace or else transparent..."
"Arafel always had a king. The wife of the King was called the Queen, and was expected to rule in his place when he was on campaign. It was traditional in Arafel that certain matters were left in the hands and under the authority of the Queen at all times, even when the King was not campaigning."
"Arafel had a fair number of gemstone mines producing gemstones other than diamonds, most notably firedrops, and les important mines of furbies, emeralds, and sapphires, and a moderate number of gold and silver mines. Timber and furs were major exports."
Except for the part that says they’re mining furbies (I assume it was supposed to be rubies! )
NatGeo: I would assume that the mine production would increase because they could mine into the Mountains of Dhoom as the Blight territory was reclaimed
Kay: That seems reasonable to me. Perhaps they're more of an economic power now?
NatGeo: Maybe before the return of the Blight?
NatGeo: Maybe before the return of the Blight?
Kay: I could see their economy launching up as they reclaim territory, and perhaps a clamp down over time, but still stronger than before
NatGeo Yes I definitely can see that happening
Kay: I don't know what else I would change, per se, but the dueling culture is interesting and should be kept haha
NatGeo Yes I definitely can see that happening
Kay: I don't know what else I would change, per se, but the dueling culture is interesting and should be kept haha
Terrac’s/Menethil: a bit more interesting than Ebou Dar imo, since the duel could take place in any environment.
✨Eve: A big difference from the Ebou Dari though is women not (openly) participating
Kay: True. Women will absolutely cut you up in Ebou Dar. Arafel and the Aiel probably have even closer relations than Shienar, I'd think, given their culture...
✨Eve: A big difference from the Ebou Dari though is women not (openly) participating
Kay: True. Women will absolutely cut you up in Ebou Dar. Arafel and the Aiel probably have even closer relations than Shienar, I'd think, given their culture...
✨Eve: They’re removed from the Waste by a whole country, but with Aiel roaming as peace keepers, I think they definitely could have gravitated like to like a bit with Arafellen. As far as neighbors go, pretty much all Borderlands don’t have qualms with one another
And in earlier parties we had mentioned Arafel being pretty neutral between the Black and White Towers, not favoring one over the other
And in earlier parties we had mentioned Arafel being pretty neutral between the Black and White Towers, not favoring one over the other
NatGeo :also a lot of the Earth Asha'man who deserted during Rahlin's time probably ended up in the Borderlands...And I would say that the Borderlanders in general would have taken them in...both out of necessity and as a dig towards Rahlin. I can see a lot of Water Legion ending up thee too.
Kay: The Borderlands don't play politics, I assume that means they'd tell Rahlin to shove it if he gave them trouble about deserters, and they wouldn't turn away combat capable channelers either.
Note from Jair: Would these asha'man mostly have returned after or to end the tower war or no? If not, how does the BT feel about their besties harboring deserters?
✨Eve: One thing I’m interested in. It says Kings rule and their Queens fill in when they’re off campaigning, but that the Queen has certain duties exclusively... what are they?!
NatGeo: they could possibly be in charge of the economic matters? or maybe political relations?
Kay: My first instinct is issuing judgements on disputes or crimes, for some reason.
NatGeo: or maybe ... domestic issues? I mean, before Faile ran away she got an education on diplomacy and economics etc. which came in handy when Perrin became a Lord.
Kay: A good point, and probably a pretty good representation of what noblewomen learn in the borderlands as a whole
NatGeo: it would make sense too, that in a land often dominated by women politically (at least in the days before the LB) they'd be in charge of these important matters.
NatGeo: it would make sense too, that in a land often dominated by women politically (at least in the days before the LB) they'd be in charge of these important matters.
Terrac’s/Menethil: It could be as simple as the King handles foreign affairs and the military side of things, possibly economic things if it relates to defense and the Queen rules over the rest of the affairs.
✨Eve: I like that Ian!
Terrac’s/Menethil : It just makes sense to me since the Borderlands are such a martial culture, Yes women fight but they mostly defend the home from what I remember. And given that, would anyone really want a man who's on campaign making decisions about things related to domestic issues?
✨Eve: That reminds me of something. We see a lot of Queens in the series but besides Andor we don’t see any countries that only have them, it seems more or less implied that a suitable heir will rise to the throne regardless of gender. Is that how we want to go with our two countries tonight? Arafel says Kings and their Queens, but it also lists a Queen (only) as the first ruler after the founding of the nation, so I don’t think it’s a “first born son” sort of thing
Kay: I'm as a rule in favor of generally egalitarian succession systems, because it opens up more options for us
Terrac’s/Menethil : It just makes sense to me since the Borderlands are such a martial culture, Yes women fight but they mostly defend the home from what I remember. And given that, would anyone really want a man who's on campaign making decisions about things related to domestic issues?
✨Eve: That reminds me of something. We see a lot of Queens in the series but besides Andor we don’t see any countries that only have them, it seems more or less implied that a suitable heir will rise to the throne regardless of gender. Is that how we want to go with our two countries tonight? Arafel says Kings and their Queens, but it also lists a Queen (only) as the first ruler after the founding of the nation, so I don’t think it’s a “first born son” sort of thing
Kay: I'm as a rule in favor of generally egalitarian succession systems, because it opens up more options for us
Agreed by all
