The 2019 Maintaining the Tower Fundraiser!

The sun shone upon the White Tower, making it glisten majestically to the crowd of onlookers. Serinia Sedai stood among her fellow denizens of Tar Valon, as they watched the Ogier finish their masterful work. She was proud of her shining city and all they had done together to fix this crisis. The Ogier stood around the Tower in a wide circle and sang a peaceful song, imbibing the surrounding area with power and strength. Serinia Sedai felt herself bolstered by the Ogier song, and she could see the faces around her relax and smile. Their home, that precious beacon of Tar Valon that was recognized and respected all across the world, was going to be okay. As the Ogier finished their song and began to say farewells, Serinia glanced at Mieriana Sedai of the Blue Ajah and nodded. They quietly left the cheering crowd, and began to climb up the stairs toward the Amyrlin’s Study. “Serinia…” Mieriana paused, looking at her Blue Sister, thinking how well she would look when she wore the Amyrlin’s Stole upon her shoulders. “Did Mother and the Keeper ever finish their Great Final Quest of Mystery and Secrecy?” Serinia smiled and nodded. “Oh yes, Sister. They were successful, indeed.” She looked as if she would not elaborate, so Mieriana broke down and asked with exasperation, “Well what in the Light were they looking for?” Serinia chuckled as they reached the door to the Amyrlin’s Study. She pushed the door open, turned toward her Sister and said, “Pizza, Mieriana. They were searching for the best slice of pizza in all of Randland. They said they found it in a place called Chattanooga!” Mieriana sighed and shook her head, closing the door behind them with a soft click. Of course they had…

Deep beneath the Tower within the 13th Depository… Sela Sedai had finally reached the inner sanctum of the library. The 13th Depository was set up in a large circle with towering book shelves that reached toward the vaulted ceiling. The rows of shelves were set up in a way that made the Brown Sedai feel like she was moving through a maze, creeping ever closer to the center. She had battled her way through numerous traps and safety measures that her Ajah had set up to protect this library from the outside world. Sela Sedai was near exhaustion as she finally cleared the final shelf and saw Elia Sedai. The errant Brown was standing on a raised platform, a plain bookstand placed before her. A bright bubble of light surrounded the platform, and Sela shielded her eyes with one hand. Elia was reading from a small nondescript book, her face gleeful and her eyes shining. She was so absorbed in the little book that she had not noticed Sela walking closer. The air hummed with an aura of power, and Sela took a deep steady breath. “ELIA LEPHANT!!!” She yelled at her Brown Ajah Sister. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”

Elia blinked and looked up dazedly. “Se… Sela?” She shook her head, as if clearing her thoughts from cobwebs. “What are you doing here?” Sela marched up the platform and grabbed Elia by the ear. “You’ve worried everyone sick, and caused a lot of trouble, young lady!” Elia sputtered and struggled in Sela’s strong grasp. “Young lady? I’m 300 years old, thank you very much!” Sela rolled her eyes. “As I said, young lady, you’ve been up to mischief again. You nearly sunk the Tower into the ground! You know for a fact we aren’t supposed to open that book, and look at you.” Sela huffed and dragged Elia down the platform, away from the beckoning book of mysterious power. Elia stood, seemingly chastened with her hands held before her. “I... sunk... the Tower?” She whispered. “That’s… THAT’S AWESOME!” She looked up and grinned, making a thumbs-up motion.

Sela pulled her shawl tight in irritation and stalked back toward the book. She reached a tentative finger toward it, and then quickly flipped the cover closed. She stared at the beautiful cover design for a moment, feeling a strong urge to open it again and read it for herself. The book whispered in her mind... She would only look for a moment… Nothing bad would happen… She wasn’t as foolhardy as Elia… Open it... OPEN IT! Sela sniffed and pulled herself together, spinning and walking determinedly away. “Alright, let’s get you out of here before something else happens. You better prepare yourself for penance, Elia. You’ll be planting beans at the farm for so long they’ll call you Bean Sedai for years to come.” Elia bounded after her beloved Sister, her arms swinging wildly at her sides. Just as they were about to enter the maze of bookshelves, Elia turned to take one last look at the book. She smiled wickedly and followed Sela out of the 13th Depository. After all, you cannot expect a Brown Aes Sedai to never finish their book. :evil

The light in the room dimmed as the Brown Sisters left the 13th Depository, and the book still sat upon the bookstand. Where had the book come from? Well that's an interesting story indeed... For they say it had come from the Aelfinn and Eelfinn - from another world entirely. It was written by a master romance novelist from a place called Earth, and it held immense power. A gentle wind seemed to ruffle its pages, and its beautiful cover began to glow softly...