aviendha

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Ezmeralda I'm not saying "I'm the GM so do as I say.", I'm saying "I'm the GM, so please respect that, the rules of this forum, and please respect me and my decisions when I explain the history of the world that we're working in, and do not constantly say that I am wrong or otherwise mistaken when I provide ample evidence and explanation to prove my point."

If you don't agree with my assessments as GM, then you don't need to be in the RP, it's that simple. I'm happy and willing to work within the predefined constraints of the world, I can be really flexible. Just, don't argue when I've already said no, unless you've got a very, very compelling argument, backed by reputable sources (Jordan himself or the big 3).

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

This is in the Mod Rules for this section of the forum, copied and pasted, word for word, with important bits in bold:

GM Autonomy – in most matters pertaining to the thread, the GM has the final say, as it is their plot and we do not wish to interfere with running RP's. Who is in, who is out, calls regarding the storyline and the rules by which RP's run (including how many paragraphs, post rate and order, etc, etc...) who needs to leave and so forth. The only time the moderators tend to step in is when the rules listed above are being violated, otherwise the GM is left to sort it out and deal with their problem players. Of course, the GM can also call us in, but that's usually when someone refuses to leave an RP alone after being asked to leave. Eventually the GM's will have the power to even more closely moderate their thread, but in the meantime, the mods will enforce that power if push comes to shove. If asked to leave by the GM, it's advised you just leave with a little dignity.

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Ezmeralda ....noble means of higher birth. There really isn't a midrange of nobles in the world of the Wheel of Time, especially this close to the Breaking. The Ten Nations were only just established- they haven't really had time to establish a lengthy hierarchy.

That attitude developed way, way later, hundreds of years after the Trolloc Wars. During the Trolloc Wars, the Aes Sedai were celebrated as they were the only Westlanders who were successfully able to drive off Shadowspawn, against incredible odds.

Again, not just pulling this out my ass, I do know what I'm talking about. And, I'm the GM. So when I say no, it means no. That's one of the basic rules of the RPGuild forums.

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Ezmeralda Andor doesn't exist yet, choose from the Ten Nations- or rather, the ones not yet destroyed by the Shadow.

Aelgar- A coastal land renowned for its tremendous wealth and power.
Almoren- The nation next to Tar Valon, filled with mountains and forests.
Eharon- A coastal kingdom bordered by rivers, and spotted with forests.
Essenia- Known for its philosophers and stores of knowlede, filled with plains and swamps.
Manetheren- The home of the Two Rivers, ruled by Aemon and Eldrene.
Safer- This is the vaguest nation, I honestly could not find any solid info about it.

As I explained above, at the age of 16-20, girls would be married off, and leave their families anyways, so that's an irrelevant concern that makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever. Alongside my like 50 other points. I want to maintain the atmosphere of Jordan's world- he was very particular about the attitudes towards Aes Sedai during the different Ages.

The Guild

As Kaito focused on the arms, the shadow took that opportunity to slice into his side. The blade sank into his skin, just above his hip, and the shadow seemed to relish in that moment. It then twisted the sword, deepening the cut, before withdrawing the sword, and raising it to defend from an attack by Kaito. It swung downwards with the other sword towards Kaito's exposed leg, only to shift the trajectory mid swing to defend from another attack. Engaging with each blow with speed equivalent to Kaito's own, it did not attack, except in feints- it merely defended, prolonging the fight.

The tired Grey let out a tenuous yawn, and laid down on the ground. Staring at the fighters, she admired her handiwork. She sang a few words quietly, barely audible, though this time recognizable in the common tongue, too tired to speak with the shadows' language-

"Pillow, please. Also a knife."

The shadows obliged, tenderly placing a pillow underneath her head. Grey shut her eyes, grasping the now ethereal knife in her hand, waiting for enough time to pass that it could solidify. She did not sleep, merely laid there- falling unconscious would unravel her constructs.

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Lucky Knight Except that they wouldn't be giving her up, nor would they be losing her- they'd be allowing her to pursue her literal birthright, with no guarantee that she'd actually become an Aes Sedai.

In point of fact, most women who train at the White Tower were turned away after they were trained to the point where they wouldn't kill themselves, if they weren't strong enough, or didn't want to become Aes Sedai. The ones who did become Aes Sedai would always have the option to turn around and go back home, and support their nation/family/whatever. They wouldn't be giving her up- no matter what, they'd be helping her, knowing that she would be able to come back home, the better for it.

Most novices are between the ages of 16 and 20 during this time, meaning that their parents could have the same amount of time with their kid as any noble parent, since most daughters would be married off to strengthen alliances with other nations and cities and the like at that age, especially considering the importance of alliances during wartimes... so once again, makes 0 sense.

The Guild

At the moment when Kaito threw his sword, and unsheathed his last, the monstrosity of dozens of arms caught the sword in one of its bulges, slowing it further. At the same time, it reached out to grab his legs, as his arms were preoccupied. They held on to his legs with an immensely tight grip, which would have forced any normal man to stand in the same spot. This elf, though, would probably only be slightly slowed, his stance now hindered by a dozen or so arms. The creature spat out the sword from its bulge, letting it land outside of the circle.

The shadow version of Kaito maintained his two swords, mirroring the skill and mannerisms of the real thing. It engaged with Kaito, finally, jumping and twirling around with relative ease, the dexterity of a thing without any real weight. As though made of water, it fluidly shifted its shape through the dances it had learned from its observation of Kaito; unlike the joints of a human being or natural animal, it just flowed through the motions.

It was not she who had learned Kaito's style. She had allowed the creature to learn, through observation- it would only last until the end of the fight, or the end of the hour, whichever came first, then the creature would dissipate back into the darkness, the knowledge forgotten.

Satisfied with the abilities of her creation, Grey stopped her song. She opened her eyes, and lowered her arms, and watched the fight. Indeed, she even sat on the ground, crossing her legs beneath her. Her eyelids were low, and a long, extended yawn betrayed her exhaustion. It was clearly taking all of her energy to stay awake.

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Lucky Knight Except that there's a difference between irrationality and impossibility. Given the nature of the attitude of nobles during the Trolloc Wars, with the air of nationalism, the pride for one's family and want to help in the fight, the deference towards Aes Sedai, not just for their prowess, but for their status as the only Westlanders who might be able to defeat the Shadow, the rarity of strong channelers, the fact that most channelers who aren't trained will die by their own hands... yeah, no. No noble parent would think "I want my kid to potentially die knowing that I could have done something about it, either from misuse of the One Power, 'old age' that is unnatural for them, or from the hands of Shadowspawn, when they could have otherwise fought back, or a variety of other reasons, when they could have otherwise fulfilled their potential and birthright."

The Wheel of Time - Trolloc Wars

@Lucky Knight

it was within the realm of possibility for a family (even an aristocratic one) to resist giving up their daughter even if it meant that they would be spitting in the face of enormous honor or denying their duty;

Maybe in times of peace, perhaps, if they were particularly jaded against Aes Sedai, but during the Trolloc Wars, no. Not a chance. Not when the Aes Sedai are literally the only people in the entire Westlands that can actually defeat the Trollocs. Not a chance in hell.

human beings are not universally charged towards the good of their fellow human beings, and I could certainly believe that a mother and a father might not care about "the world" as much as they do their own child.

Maybe if they weren't nobles, but a noble's first duty in the Wheel of Time is to their people, to their nation- NOT to their family. That's why they are in the role of leadership- that is what the whole Treaty written for the Ten Nations was all about. There was intense nationalism during this time, too, hence no one unified army- only individual armies for each individual nation.

Especially if -- as a generic example -- they believed that the war against the Shadow was a hopeless one and no amount of conflict or resistance would change it. Indeed, they might actually want to spare their child the horror of an unwinnable war and keep her safe against the strong possibility of a premature death.

Except that every single one of the nations' leaders and nobles- even the ones whose nations fell- continued to fight to the very end. And do you know why? Because they saw the possibility of a win, because they could drive the Shadow Forces back when- guess what- AES SEDAI were there.

To let others die in her stead so that their daughter might live as long as possible before the ultimate end of the war. So in essence a response that would be neither rational or logical, bur rather emotional and selfish.

Except that Aes Sedai live for 500+ years; channelers not properly trained have normal lifespans, at the best- most channelers who aren't properly trained end up killing themselves, purposefully, or accidentally. So, their best chance of having their daughter actually live through the war would be- oh holy shit I don't believe it!- to allow her to become an Aes Sedai.

So... literally none of your points make sense here, sorry.

The Guild

Reminds me of this: