The Scholar's Guild

[+Sorana she/her]

54 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

Aln gave Temeria the spanreed. You can start responding whenever.

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She did? I have to admit I was a bit surprised why your post stopped without handing it over, but didn't want to accidently godmod Aln...

Temeria took the spanreed and twirled it around in her fingers, unsure what to write. What did you write to a brother that was kin and stranger alike? Pausing she finally went with Hello Torenat. It sounded lame, but she didn't know him. She knew nothing. But he was her brother. Her hand toyed with the coin again and she anxiously waited for his reply.

[AonEne he/him]

6 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

Aln responded, and then slid the pen and notebook over to Temeria. 

 

[Rushu42 she/her]

7 hours ago, Sorana said:

Temeria took the spanreed and twirled it around in her fingers, unsure what to write. What did you write to a brother that was kin and stranger alike? Pausing she finally went with Hello Torenat. It sounded lame, but she didn't know him. She knew nothing. But he was her brother. Her hand toyed with the coin again and she anxiously waited for his reply.

Hi, Temeria. I can't believe you're in the Alleyverse. How did that happen?

[+Sorana she/her]

5 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

Hi, Temeria. I can't believe you're in the Alleyverse. How did that happen?

Temeria read through his words once, then a second time. They sounded cold. Like from a stranger.

Travelled.

She replied, and then added because she felt bad about her short reply. Spend some years in Idris first, fought in their army.

[Rushu42 she/her]

5 hours ago, Sorana said:

Temeria read through his words once, then a second time. They sounded cold. Like from a stranger.

Travelled.

She replied, and then added because she felt bad about her short reply. Spend some years in Idris first, fought in their army.

The pen began to dance again, spelling out, in Trent's rough handwriting, Idris? That explains why I never saw you when I went back to visit. I wish I could talk to you in person.

As the exchange continued, Aln sat back, feeling awkward. Eventually, glancing at Temeria, she pulled a book from the shelf and tried to read. She had little success, though; her thoughts were still in turmoil. 

[+Sorana she/her]

3 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

The pen began to dance again, spelling out, in Trent's rough handwriting, Idris? That explains why I never saw you when I went back to visit. I wish I could talk to you in person.

As the exchange continued, Aln sat back, feeling awkward. Eventually, glancing at Temeria, she pulled a book from the shelf and tried to read. She had little success, though; her thoughts were still in turmoil. 

What did they tell you about me?

She asked, suddenly curious what her parents were thinking. She had had no way to tell them that she was alive, that she had messed things up completely. That she had gotten blood on her white vest.

Aln fetched a book for herself and Temeria lowered her head, realized that again she wasn't interesting enough to keep her sister's attention. She'd never been. Only because Aln talked to her - she would never be interesting enough. She'd tried, tried so often to talk to her, to belong. But she'd never really managed.

[Rushu42 she/her]

1 minute ago, Sorana said:

What did they tell you about me?

She asked, suddenly curious what her parents were thinking. She had had no way to tell them that she was alive, that she had messed things up completely. That she had gotten blood on her white vest.

Aln fetched a book for herself and Temeria lowered her head, realized that again she wasn't interesting enough to keep her sister's attention. She'd never been. Only because Aln talked to her - she would never be interesting enough. She'd tried, tried so often to talk to her, to belong. But she'd never really managed.

They said that you had vanished. Father seemed to think you were dead, and he was deeply grieved by the prospect. Mother, though, the pen hesitated for a moment before continuing, well, you know what she's like. She thought that you had "ended up like Alanis", which to her is the worst fate imaginable. But none of that matters; you're alive! How have you managed the last few years? I mean, you were alone on another planet. It must have been hard.

 

Aln glanced at Temeria. She looked troubled. What was Trent saying to her? She switched her gaze to the pen, now moving, but she couldn't see the paper without shifting in an obvious way. Instead, she tried to focus back on the words in front of her. "The phenomenon of Preservation's perpendicularity is repeated..."

[+Sorana she/her]

9 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

They said that you had vanished. Father seemed to think you were dead, and he was deeply grieved by the prospect. Mother, though, the pen hesitated for a moment before continuing, well, you know what she's like. She thought that you had "ended up like Alanis", which to her is the worst fate imaginable. But none of that matters; you're alive! How have you managed the last few years? I mean, you were alone on another planet. It must have been hard.

Must have been hard. The words, honest or not struck a chord and she gripped the pen tighter. They sounded empty and caring and she hated him for them.

You suddenly care? She wrote back. It was easy to be angry at him, at some far distant person she had no picture in her mind of. Alanis was here, but her brother, her brother was nothing but a word.

You never did before. You don't know who I am. If you recall the color of my hair it's a great feat. Don't pretend to care when you don't.

 

[Rushu42 she/her]

Just now, Sorana said:

Must have been hard. The words, honest or not struck a chord and she gripped the pen tighter. They sounded empty and caring and she hated him for them.

You suddenly care? She wrote back. It was easy to be angry at him, at some far distant person she had no picture in her mind of. Alanis was here, but her brother, her brother was nothing but a word.

You never did before. You don't know who I am. If you recall the color of my hair it's a great feat. Don't pretend to care when you don't.

 

There was a moment when the pen just stood there, still. Then, slowly, it started to write again.

I'm sorry.

I do care about you. You're my sister; how could I not? The way we parted has long been one of my greatest regrets.

[+Sorana she/her]

2 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

There was a moment when the pen just stood there, still. Then, slowly, it started to write again.

I'm sorry.

I do care about you. You're my sister; how could I not? The way we parted has long been one of my greatest regrets.

Temeria read through his words, wished that she could believe them. That they were true. It was so easy to write something like that.

She covered her face with a hand for a moment, then slowly started to reply. Trust him. It sounded so easy, but he was the same like Alanis. They both only wanted to make things up with their mother's doll. And she wasn't that person anymore. Temeria repeated it again and again in her head, but yes she had changed. But she still wished for them to hold her, to include her.

I've begged, then joined the army and fought in their wars. Dropped out after several years. What about you?

[Rushu42 she/her]

15 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Temeria read through his words, wished that she could believe them. That they were true. It was so easy to write something like that.

She covered her face with a hand for a moment, then slowly started to reply. Trust him. It sounded so easy, but he was the same like Alanis. They both only wanted to make things up with their mother's doll. And she wasn't that person anymore. Temeria repeated it again and again in her head, but yes she had changed. But she still wished for them to hold her, to include her.

I've begged, then joined the army and fought in their wars. Dropped out after several years. What about you?

Well, after Mother enlisted me in the army, I served for about a year. Through my really quite poor fighting ability, I landed myself a position as a lookout. That was relatively safe, but when I returned from my travels with Aln, I got reassigned as a footsoldier. I got wounded very quickly, and have hardly been able to walk since. I joined the ardentia after a couple years. I always found it rather ironic that, after all that, I ended up doing just what Mother wanted me to: fighting in the army, or at least becoming an ardent.

[+Sorana she/her]

10 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

Well, after Mother enlisted me in the army, I served for about a year. Through my really quite poor fighting ability, I landed myself a position as a lookout. That was relatively safe, but when I returned from my travels with Aln, I got reassigned as a footsoldier. I got wounded very quickly, and have hardly been able to walk since. I joined the ardentia after a couple years. I always found it rather ironic that, after all that, I ended up doing just what Mother wanted me to: fighting in the army, or at least becoming an ardent.

Temeria couldn't help herself, she felt sorry for him. She'd been in his spot, the first line was the one sent to death. Contrasting him, she'd been lucky.

At least one of us isn't a disappointment, then. Which weapon did you fight with?

She replied, shook her head. Did it still matter so much to him what their mother thought? Temeria was done with that, had left it behind. Her mother was her mother. And despite everything, Temeria loved her, as she loved her father.

Could you tell them that I live?

[Rushu42 she/her]

4 hours ago, Sorana said:

Temeria couldn't help herself, she felt sorry for him. She'd been in his spot, the first line was the one sent to death. Contrasting him, she'd been lucky.

At least one of us isn't a disappointment, then. Which weapon did you fight with?

She replied, shook her head. Did it still matter so much to him what their mother thought? Temeria was done with that, had left it behind. Her mother was her mother. And despite everything, Temeria loved her, as she loved her father.

Could you tell them that I live?

I used a spear, although you might not call it fighting so much as random flailing. 

A pause, then: And of course I will.

 

[+Sorana she/her]

18 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

I used a spear, although you might not call it fighting so much as random flailing. 

A pause, then: And of course I will.

 

Thank you. I hope your life will treat you better in the future.

She wrote back and then looked over to Aln, unsure what else to write. "Do you want speak with him for a while?"

[Rushu42 she/her]

2 hours ago, Sorana said:

Thank you. I hope your life will treat you better in the future.

She wrote back and then looked over to Aln, unsure what else to write. "Do you want speak with him for a while?"

Aln, who eventually had managed to begin reading in earnest, could not hear Temeria's question, and made no response. 

As Temeria spoke, the pen once more began to move across the page.

I hope that yours will be the same. I would ask you to come visit me, but Roshar's hardly a hospitable place at the moment. 

Edited October 26, 2019 by Rushu42
Rewording

[+Sorana she/her]

5 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

Aln, who eventually had managed to begin reading in earnest, could not hear Temeria's question, and made no response. 

As Temeria spoke, the pen once more began to move across the page.

I hope that yours will be the same. I would ask you to come visit me, but Roshar's hardly a hospitable place at the moment. 

Ignored. Oh well, Temeria sighed, looked down at the page. It fit Aln. Temeria was no mystery anymore, so she ignored her. And despite all the years - it hurt. Hurt more than she had expected. Out of the corner of her eye she eyed Aln, wondered if she had meant her earlier words. Maybe - maybe not.

I've seen war. She replied simply. Maybe we find another possibility to talk another day.

 

[Rushu42 she/her]

5 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Ignored. Oh well, Temeria sighed, looked down at the page. It fit Aln. Temeria was no mystery anymore, so she ignored her. And despite all the years - it hurt. Hurt more than she had expected. Out of the corner of her eye she eyed Aln, wondered if she had meant her earlier words. Maybe - maybe not.

I've seen war. She replied simply. Maybe we find another possibility to talk another day.

 

I would hope to. Perhaps I can find a way to procure another spanreed, although resources are in increasingly scarce. The pen began to write something else, then stopped. There was a moment of silence, then the scratching of the pen resumed. I just had a thought. When did you last get word of the events on Roshar?

[+Sorana she/her]

On 26.10.2019 at 8:08 PM, Rushu42 said:

I would hope to. Perhaps I can find a way to procure another spanreed, although resources are in increasingly scarce. The pen began to write something else, then stopped. There was a moment of silence, then the scratching of the pen resumed. I just had a thought. When did you last get word of the events on Roshar?

When I left.

She replied quickly, wondered if he thought that she was interested in it. She considered the thought. Was she interested? She wasn't even sure. But if it made him happy to write all of this down, then she wouldn't object either. Als was still reading and Temeria looked up, glanced outside. She would leave after this spanreed conversation. There was no real point to stay here longer, to watch her sister ignore her and listen to a brother she didn't know write down history. Somehow she wished, that she had ended elsewhere, in a different world. Somewhere, where she could simply start a new life instead of sorting through her old mess.

[Rushu42 she/her]

29 minutes ago, Sorana said:

When I left.

She replied quickly, wondered if he thought that she was interested in it. She considered the thought. Was she interested? She wasn't even sure. But if it made him happy to write all of this down, then she wouldn't object either. Als was still reading and Temeria looked up, glanced outside. She would leave after this spanreed conversation. There was no real point to stay here longer, to watch her sister ignore her and listen to a brother she didn't know write down history. Somehow she wished, that she had ended elsewhere, in a different world. Somewhere, where she could simply start a new life instead of sorting through her old mess.

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I'm going to put his response in a spoiler tag, since it does spoil much of the Stormlight Archives.

Spoiler

Storms. A lot has happened. Where to begin? Well, the Desolations have returned, as have the Knight Radiants. A highstorm has begun blowing the wrong way, turning Parshmen into Parshendi, and devastating the land. The lost city of Urithiru has been rediscovered, and we all live there now, since Alethkar is occupied. And... I'm not entirely sure what happened, but there was a big battle, and a huge pillar of light, and somehow that's going to help us win. It's been a crazy few months. Oh, I'm not sure if Aln wants me to tell you this, but I will anyway. She's also a Knight Radiant, a Truthwatcher. 

 

[+Sorana she/her]

6 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

I'm going to put his response in a spoiler tag, since it does spoil much of the Stormlight Archives.

Temeria watched the spanreed write down a story of war and death, or storms and light and she sighed. Aln a Truthwatcher. Trust her sister to become a mystical Knight Radiant. As usual she was brilliant in everything she did. Like this guild. She owned such a huge building, people who worked for her. She had everything. Seeling lonely she took the spanreed up. Stay safe. She replied, mostly because it was the only thing she could think of. I can't help you, or Roshar. I don't know how to travel there, and honestly, I don't want to return. Not now. Maybe in a few years, I don't know what will be in a few years.

She put the spanreed down, read through her words and felt sorry. I can try to find a way for you to travel here though. I met someone who said he could and I know where to find someone elses that should be able to.

[Rushu42 she/her]

8 hours ago, Sorana said:

Temeria watched the spanreed write down a story of war and death, or storms and light and she sighed. Aln a Truthwatcher. Trust her sister to become a mystical Knight Radiant. As usual she was brilliant in everything she did. Like this guild. She owned such a huge building, people who worked for her. She had everything. Seeling lonely she took the spanreed up. Stay safe. She replied, mostly because it was the only thing she could think of. I can't help you, or Roshar. I don't know how to travel there, and honestly, I don't want to return. Not now. Maybe in a few years, I don't know what will be in a few years.

She put the spanreed down, read through her words and felt sorry. I can try to find a way for you to travel here though. I met someone who said he could and I know where to find someone elses that should be able to.

Your offer is kind, and I admit that I'm tempted. Still, my home is here. The Alleyverse would hold no place for me. I do hope to stay in touch with you, Temeria. Can I call you Tem, by the way? I have been in my head for years. Anyway, for now I suppose I'll send messages through Aln. 

[+Sorana she/her]

7 hours ago, Rushu42 said:

Your offer is kind, and I admit that I'm tempted. Still, my home is here. The Alleyverse would hold no place for me. I do hope to stay in touch with you, Temeria. Can I call you Tem, by the way? I have been in my head for years. Anyway, for now I suppose I'll send messages through Aln. 

Sounds like a good plan. I wish you a good day.

She replied and put the pen down. "I'll leave now. I will come back tomorrow." She told Aln, although she doubted that she would react. She had started to ignore her again, and Temeria feared that this wouldn't change soon. She wasn't interesting anymore. Slowly she got up and reached out for her sword, slung the belt around her hips. She took her time somehow wishing that her sister would look up, would react in any way, when she turned around and walked towards the door.

[Rushu42 she/her]

2 hours ago, Sorana said:

Sounds like a good plan. I wish you a good day.

She replied and put the pen down. "I'll leave now. I will come back tomorrow." She told Aln, although she doubted that she would react. She had started to ignore her again, and Temeria feared that this wouldn't change soon. She wasn't interesting anymore. Slowly she got up and reached out for her sword, slung the belt around her hips. She took her time somehow wishing that her sister would look up, would react in any way, when she turned around and walked towards the door.

Aln glanced up, noticing movement out of the corner of her eye. Temeria seemed to be headed toward the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, a little startled. Her eyes darted to the spanreed, now motionless, and back at her sister. She was leaving so soon? Aln stood, searching for an objection. She had panicked when Temeria had arrived; why was she now so desperate for her to stay? 

[+Sorana she/her]

31 minutes ago, Rushu42 said:

Aln glanced up, noticing movement out of the corner of her eye. Temeria seemed to be headed toward the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, a little startled. Her eyes darted to the spanreed, now motionless, and back at her sister. She was leaving so soon? Aln stood, searching for an objection. She had panicked when Temeria had arrived; why was she now so desperate for her to stay? 

"Outside." Temeria replied, because she wasn't really sure where she was going. "You fell silent, didn't reply, so I figured I was disturbing you."

She tried to keep her voice calm, but couldn't really hide the way it shook. "You've got a guild to run, and I'm only in the way, so, I don't know, " she turned around completely. "I just thought, it might be better if I left, maybe came back later?" Please don't tell me to never return at all. She added a silent plea, although she knew that Aln would. She was of no use to this guild. Not even a little bit.

[Rushu42 she/her]

1 hour ago, Sorana said:

"Outside." Temeria replied, because she wasn't really sure where she was going. "You fell silent, didn't reply, so I figured I was disturbing you."

She tried to keep her voice calm, but couldn't really hide the way it shook. "You've got a guild to run, and I'm only in the way, so, I don't know, " she turned around completely. "I just thought, it might be better if I left, maybe came back later?" Please don't tell me to never return at all. She added a silent plea, although she knew that Aln would. She was of no use to this guild. Not even a little bit.

"No, I-" Aln didn't know how to respond. "I couldn't hear you." The excuse felt lame even before it left her mouth. If Temeria wanted to leave, she should just let her. But as she moved away, Aln finally let herself acknowledge the truth: she was desperately, profoundly lonely. Suddenly she was 16 again, alone, the words of strangers invisible. She was once more trying desperately to summon Stormlight, to hear the voice of her spren, as the cries of her friends vanished to her eyes. Temeria would be in the way. Her presence made it increasingly difficult for Aln to function. It would be better for all parties if the two went their separate ways. But Aln didn't care.

"You could stay," she ventured. "Or- or I could come with you. Outside."