[pfsb] investigations and explorations

[blue_ajah]

Two days after Moiraine brought Wei Wuxian's talismans back to Twin Peaks, after she has taken the time necessary to review all of her notes as well as the histories she has been collecting, she calls Dale Cooper, who is still in Olympia, now, rather than Seattle.

All things considered, the conversation could have gone much, much worse.

She is well aware that they are going to have a much longer discussion after he returns in a few weeks, but he had agreed not to ask her to wait. She, in turn, had agreed, as before, not to go to Glastonbury Grove alone, or at night. She also agrees not to approach the pool closer than necessary to place the talismans, or to test it with her own weaving - not at present, anyway.

Hawk had been her next call.

A few days later, after he has had time to consider and to consult with the Bookhouse Boys, Hawk knocks on her apartment door and agrees to her request.

* * * * * * *
When Moiraine returns to Milliways, she leaves a sealed note with Bar, addressed to Wei Wuxian.

Master Wei--

I made the trial of your talismans according to your instructions. When I activated the one at the northernmost point, glowing red energy swept inward from the circle in a wave focused on the pool at its center.

The pool absorbed it all. It vanished into the depths without a ripple, and without a trace.

Nothing else has happened. Yet.

--Moiraine Sedai

That task completed, she settles at her preferred table with tea and begins sketching something in a notebook.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

"I understand," she murmurs, thinking of letters she has left in the past, expecting them to be the last that others ever heard of her.

"I shall, of course, hope that your departure will be a triumphant one, and your return here assured."

[we_bring_hell]

She inclines her head, acknowledging the well wishes.

"Even if I ascend to Lyctoral glory, I imagine the Emperor will have much for me to do in the days to come."

"I believe if I am spared--if I am given a little more time--I may yet succeed. Palamedes and I both together, perhaps, but I believe I could resign myself to spend eternity with him. Between the two of us, we are close now."

[blue_ajah]

"Oh? I am pleased to hear it," Moiraine says. "I recall that you had some concerns on that score in the past."

She flips over to a blank sheet of paper and begins sketching a circle, followed by cross-hatching across it, as she talks.

[we_bring_hell]

"Yes, well," she says. "I had some assistance in reconnaissance in my world as it stands currently, and I believe the matter of his trustworthiness is probably resolved."

She considers what Wei Wuxian had told her he had seen.

"If I can regain Gideon's trust--and we can remain ahead of the bone construct--then I believe we should be able to open another door together, and between us have six of the eight Lyctoral theorems."

[blue_ajah]

"Perhaps, with nearly all of them, you will be able to deduce something about the remaining two."

She adds key points at the sides and top of her drawing, and marks a color legend at the bottom.

[we_bring_hell]

She peeks circumspectly at the diagram. "Indeed. Already certain consistencies begin to emerge, but there are still gaps in the whole."

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine catches the glance, and turns the paper so it is more clearly visible as she sketches braided lines along the top and sides, and draws arrow-pointed lines from each part of the frame to intersecting points.

"Then, if you would, double-check this notation to ensure it makes sense to you," she says, and rises to her feet. The Aes Sedai takes two steps to the side, focusing on a clear area, and channels.

A gleaming gateway appears, showing a clearing with fir trees on the other side. The Aes Sedai holds it with ease, and glances at Harrow.

[we_bring_hell]

Harrow looks over the notation. "This is the weave for gateways, isn't it? The notation methodology is much improved... yes, this is excellent. Very readable, even for an amateur."

She sets the paper to one side and rises to look at, and through, the actual portal. "Is this your home? I mean--where you dwell now?" The huge, slightly terrifying open sky is familiar from the First House; the nip of chill more homelike than anything she's seen in Canaan House. The clean sharp smell of pine, though, is wholly new to her.

[blue_ajah]

"As long as it accurately reflects everything that you see in the one that I now hold open," she says. "It would be unfortunate in the extreme if it were not correctly drawn."

She watches Harrow as she moves close to the opening.

"Outside of it. Not too far from a location near a lake, where I often sit."

[we_bring_hell]

She goes back and takes the page, circling around the shining circle of the entrance as she traces the complexities of the weave. The breeze ruffles the paper in her ungloved hands. "Yes, I believe so. There is a corresponding structure on the opposite end, correct? The.... reverse side of this weave?"

[blue_ajah]

"It is the same structure," she says. "You may think of it as opening a similarity between two places across a single threshold."

A beat.

"I could tie it temporarily, but have been hesitant to do so from here."

[we_bring_hell]

She nods. "I would not have you take any untoward risk," says Miss Untoward Risk 12020.

She regards the weave from its infinitely narrow edge, keeping her distance.

"May I attempt to shoulder the weave, however?" she asks. "Or perhaps I do not know the destination well enough?"

[blue_ajah]

"Not this one," Moiraine says.

"Not across worlds until we are sure you have mastered it. If you wish to attempt it, we may do so first across a short, well-learned distance at lakeside."

[we_bring_hell]

She nods. "That is sensible."

"I feel relatively comfortable transferring weaves back and forth. It is only that I have had no success in originating the energy. Your Source is... inimitable," she says, with a respectful tilt of her head.

She moves, able to see through the portal again. "A lovely place, it seems. Very alive." Instantly, her face heats; of course it's very alive. It's a living planet.

[blue_ajah]

"For this weave, it is more than transferring alone," she says. "It is rooted in the place where it originates."

A small smile curves her lips as she watches.

"It is a lovely place. Perhaps, some day, you might visit."

[we_bring_hell]

"I would like that," she says. "I am sorry your glimpse of Canaan House was so hurried, but in truth, I do not find it beautiful. Decadent and holy and... romantic, perhaps, in a way, but unlovely."

"What is the maximum distance for a gateway such as this?"

[blue_ajah]

"It depends somewhat on the strength of the channeler, but in fact it is size that is the more difficult dimension," she explains.

"Another time, another place, perhaps."

[we_bring_hell]

"I was thinking of... at this time of year, perhaps 5 billion kilometers," she says wryly. "Most likely not."

[blue_ajah]

"You will know, because if you cannot reach that far, you will not be able to stabilize the arrival point. It may not be impossible."

[we_bring_hell]

"I suppose not, if it can bridge the unmeasurable gap between Milliways and other worlds."

She holds up the diagrammed weave. "May I keep this?"

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine smiles.

"Yes. I made it here today for you."

She continues,

"But I would ask you to not try it alone for the first time."

[we_bring_hell]

She nods. "I will not. But I will work to memorize it. I would be pleased to practice with you, as well."

"If the location and destination are integral to the weave, transferring control of the finished weave would not work, is that so? I would need to complete the weave as you channel the energy to me?"

[blue_ajah]

She nods.

"To weave a gateway, the channeler needs to know their location, and then build the weave upon it. I am uncertain if you would be the one who needs to know it or if I would, if I am feeding you the energy through a link, but I would presume that it would be you if it works as other links have."

[we_bring_hell]

"You have said it can be exceptionally dangerous if it goes awry," she says. "What are the dangers?"

[blue_ajah]

"Among other things, death of the channeler or of someone attempting to pass through the gateway," Moiraine tells her.

"Or if they do not die, the channeler may be burned out, and lose their ability entirely, forever."

She pins Harrow with a level look.

"I do not think you would appreciate experiencing that."