Name: Mirazhe Tomai
Origin: Tifan’s Well in Arafel
Current age: 58
Age when started to channel: 16
Age when raised to Accepted: 26
Age when riased to Aes Sedai: 58
Current Strength in Power: Below Average - 66
Base Strength: 24
Flow Affinity:
Water: 5
Air: 4
Earth: 7
Fire: 8
Spirit: 9
Talents: Illusion (M), Warding (m)
Appearance:
Mirazhe gives the appearance of being a relatively delicate woman. Her features are fine rather than prominent, and her slightly shorter stature (5 feet 5 inches) only adds to that look. She has the typical dark hair and eyes of the Arafellin people, though her waist-length hair is either kept down or in a loose bun instead of in the typical Arafellin fashion of two braids. Blushes come easily to her fair skin, as well as do sunburns.
Though not obsessed with her appearance, Mirazhe does make an effort every day to look nice. She doesn’t wear any jewelry besides her Great Serpent Ring, though she might thread a ribbon through her hair every now and then. Her dresses are on the simplistic sides, both in appearance and material.
She’s pretty enough, in a sort of sweet way, though she’ll never be any sort of outrageous beauty. This is good, because she is the shyest around men. It’s not that she doesn’t like men, it’s simply that she feels ill at ease around them.
Personality:
The many years Mirazhe has spent in the confines of the White Tower have done little to alter her personality. She is still an introvert who loves nothing more than to learn as much as she can, and a kind woman always willing to help out. However, the ways in which she expresses herself have changed subtly, causing her to go from a shy, young girl to a mature Aes Sedai. She has learned to channel her awkwardness and shyness into the expected Aes Sedai mask of serenity and reservation. However, she is an extremely emotional person, and will never quite perfect that look as well as other. Her emotions will always be written on her face, no matter how much she tries to hide them.
One of Mirazhe’s biggest aims in life is to make things as comfortable for other people as possible. She doesn’t necessarily care if she’s happy, so long as the other person is. Her demeanor is almost kind and encouraging, though less so if it is towards someone she dislikes. Despite being naturally shy, she won’t hesitate to enter into a conversation if she feels she has something important to say, or if the conversation (or lack thereof) is becoming uncomfortable.
For some strange reason, she has almost big-sisterly type of personality with the younger members of the White Tower, especially the novices. Her temper is virtually nonexistent( (it really takes a lot to get her angry) and she has a difficult time saying ‘no’. She’s always hesitant when it comes to delivering punishments, hoping that the situation will be resolved in other ways. This could be construed as a weakness, or perhaps naïveté, but she believes that it is the right thing to do. She also doesn’t believe in violence.
Of course, being an Aes Sedai, she knows that there are dark things in life that must be accepted. She doesn’t shy away from things that would normally frighten her, and will do her best to argue for what she thinks is right. Granted, what she thinks is right isn’t always necessarily right, but fight for it she will. She’s grown some backbone during her time in the White Tower, and that has been all to the good.
Strengths:
--Loyal. She gives her trust completely to her friends, and never imagines that they could betray her.
--Smart. While not a super-genius, Mirazhe’s still got brains and buckets of common sense – and a knowledge store the size of an ocean.
--Determined. Mirazhe’s never thought about giving anything but her all, since she wants to make her mother proud.
Weaknesses:
--Modest/Humble. It doesn’t seem like a bad thing, but she always tries to make herself into less than she really is, and sometimes she starts believing that’s she’s not as good as she should be. This occurs less as an Aes Sedai, but it still happens every now and then.
--Can’t hurt people. Oh, she can yell, and say things she doesn’t really mean, but when it comes to hurting people, whether it’s physical or mental pain, Mirazhe can’t bring herself to do it.
History:
The only child of an Arafellien soldier and a Kandori woman, Mirazhe Tomai was born on the day of the winter solstice. It is often said that midwinter babies have a cheerful and determined outlook on life. Since they are born on the shortest day of the year, they are always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. It was certainly true with Mira, as her parents called her. Nothing could stop her for long. Thus she learned to walk at an early age and was forever trying out new sounds on her tongue.
Lucien and Cíara were very proud of their little daughter, and though they lived a simple life, they did their best to give Mira everything she wanted. Her father taught her about the Borderlands and about their neighbors to the east and west. Her mother taught her how to read and write. Mira loved to read. The family had only two books, both of which were read almost to despair. But Tifan’s Well was a close-knit community and everyone was always willing to share.
Her childhood was spent helping her mother in the garden and playing games with the other children. In the spring, she would help her mother plant the seeds in the small garden behind their house. Most were vegetables, to help them through the winter but there were also a few flowers and some herbs with simple healing properties. Summertime was watering and weeding time. When the flowers bloomed, Mirazhe’s mother would let her pick flowers for the centerpiece on the table. Mira always made sure to pick some of each flower.
The children in the village welcomed Mirazhe into their small group. She was quiet and shy, but the children poked and prodded, and soon unleashed a funny little girl, always willing to participate in a prank. It was a common sight to see the kids running from a mother, something concealed in their shirts. The other kids always gave Mira the chance to be the leader for a while, but she was always content to follow their leads. She spent a lot of time with the other kids, but she also spent time alone, wandering the forest behind her home. There, she would sit quietly, and read a book that she had borrowed from the neighbors.
During the cold winter nights, while the wind and snow blew outside, Mira would sit on her father’s lap and listen to him tell stories about heroes form the Age of Legends while her mother mended the clothes. They sat in front of a small fireplace in their snug little cottage. The cottage had two floors, with the bedrooms on the top floor and kitchen and fireplace on the bottom. It was small, and occasionally, it felt cramped, but it was home and Mira was happy there.
Years passed. The girls grew into pretty young women, and the boys began joining the army and training as soldiers. Boys were no longer considered ‘stupid’ and ‘clumsy’ and the girls were now graceful and charming. Mirazhe was quite pretty herself, with her large dark eyes and long black hair, which was often worn in two braids down her back. But while the others girls were flirting and learning to be a good wife, Mirazhe was learning how to use a dagger. Her father had decided that, at fifteen, Mirazhe was old enough to learn how to defend herself. “Just in case some unlucky young upstart tries to stick a hand down your skirts,” her father had said, with a wink.
Thus, it was that Mirazhe spent an hour or two with her father every afternoon practicing with her father’s small daggers. Lucien had somehow gotten a hold of some paint, and had painted targets on some of the trees nearby. Mira’s first attempt was abysmal. It landed halfway between her and the tree she’d been aiming at. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to learn how to use a dagger. She wasn’t all that graceful, and was worried that she might accidentally hurt someone. But her father told her not to worry and showed her the correct way to throw a dagger. Slowly, she got better. She began to look forward to her afternoon lessons and was ecstatic when she hit her first target. By the end of summer, she could hit a stationary target 9 times out of 10 with her right hand and was working on moving targets. She was also learning to throw with her left hand.
For her sixteenth birthday, her father got her a small dagger. Accompanied by a leather sheath, it had many flying phoenixes carved on the hilt. Mira loved it the moment she saw it. She had hugged her father tightly and thanked him for it. She hadn’t known that that would be the last time she ever saw her father. The next day, at breakfast, her mother told her that her father had been called away and wouldn’t be back for a while. Mira felt a little uneasy, but shook it off. She took her little dagger and made a place for it on her belt. She wore it always, except when she was sleeping. Then, it rested on a little table by her bed. Life continued as normal. Winter turned to spring. There was no sign or word from Mira’s father.
Then, one day in spring, there was a knock at the door. A soldier stood in the doorway, his face grim. He told Mirazhe and her mother that Lucien was dead, killed a battle. Mirazhe and her mother cried for weeks.
The weeks after that were a blur to Mirazhe. Her mother was in a state of perpetual grief. Mira herself was always dry-eyed, having shed all her tears the night before. Dishes were left unwashed, and dust collected everywhere. Mira tried to do the chores, so her mother could rest, but sometimes it became too much, and she had to stop and cry for several minutes before she could continue. Her mother started staying in bed later and later, and Mira began to worry. She went to the village Wisdom, who told her that her mother was probably just suffering from grief and would get better soon.
But Mira’s mother didn’t get better. She got weaker and weaker. She ate less and less each day and some days, she was so weak she couldn’t get out of bed. It was summertime, but Mira’s mother stayed in bed all day. Once again, Mira ran to the Wisdom for help. The Wisdom tried everything she could think of, but to no avail. There was nothing she could do for Mira’s mother. Before she left, she told Mira that there were rumors of an Aes Sedai heading their way. If Mira’s mother could hold on for a couple weeks, there might be a chance for her.
Mira waited patiently. She listened to gossip everyday and asked around, but there was no news of an Aes Sedai. Days turned into weeks, and Mira’s mother became sicker and sicker. Mira began to lose hope.
One evening, two riders came into town and stayed in the village inn. Nobody knew who they were. The next morning, the news spread like wildfire. They were an Aes Sedai and her Warder! No one had ever seen an Aes Sedai before. Mirazhe could barely contain the hope welling up inside. She went out and tried to find the Aes Sedai so she could ask her for help. She hunted around town, with helpful townsfolk pointing in the direction they had last seen her going.
Mirazhe finally found the Aes Sedai in the common room of the inn. The wise ageless face looking at her made her nervous, but she managed to get out her request. Wordlessly, the Aes Sedai and her Warder stood up, and Mirazhe led them to her cottage.
Her mother had had a fever for the past week and had lost a lot of weight. She was sleeping fitfully when Mirazhe and the Aes Sedai entered the bedchamber. When the Aes Sedai saw her, she began saying comforting words to Mira’s mother, while running her hands over Cíara’s face. Soon, Cíara was sleeping peacefully, and her fever had gone done. Mirazhe thanked the Aes Sedai gratefully for all she had done.
The Aes Sedai studied her for a minute, then told Mira that she could channel. Mirazhe was speechless. The Aes Sedai ignored Mira’s shocked look and went on to explain the dangers of having the ability to channel untrained. She strongly suggested that Mira come with her to the White Tower when she left tomorrow. After her initial shock was over, Mirazhe began to feel excited. She could train to be an Aes Sedai! There was only one catch. She couldn’t bring her mother with her. There would be no place in her new life for her mother. Leave her mother behind?? Or stay, and risk harming people in the next few years? The Aes Sedai told her to think about it and give her answer the next day, before they left.
Mirazhe’s mother was up and about the next morning. She seemed awake and happy after so many weeks of staying in bed. Mirazhe wanted to cry. She told her mother that she would be leaving for the White Tower that evening with the Aes Sedai. She promised her mother that she would come back. Mirazhe took her small dagger from its place on her belt and gave it to her mother.
“I’ll come back for this and for you, Mother. I promise, with all my heart.”
It was with a heavy heart that she rode away from the village that evening. The wind blew her cloak to and fro, and her cheeks were wet with tears. She wasn’t sure what she would find at the tower, but she was determined to work hard to earn the title of Aes Sedai. She had to, if she wanted to see her mother again.
It took them several weeks to reach the White Tower and during that time, Mirazhe learned the first of many lessons; how to ride a horse. Her father had had a horse as a soldier, and she had been on the creature once or twice, but she’d never actually ridden before. However, the fastest way to get to the White Tower was by riding, so during the several weeks it took, Mirazhe learned how to ride a horse. Her skills were far from perfect, but she managed well enough. Nevertheless, her backside was black and blue by the time they reached the White Tower. The journey may have been done, but her troubles had only started.
She was put in a room with several other girls, and given the white dresses all novices were expected to wear. Classes were attended and chores to be done. It wasn’t easy. Homework and chores were easy but her people skills were tried everyday. Being awfully quiet and shy, it was easy for her to get pushed around by some of the more aggressive girls, especially the nobles. Mirazhe did make a few friends among her fellow novices, but more often than not, girls ignored her, or teased her. But she took it all in without complaining.
Mirazhe settled in after a while, enough to join with some of her fellow novices and play some pranks. She was caught both times, and sent to the Mistress of Novices, Cayana Alhi, for punishment. It was shaming for her, but after that, she learned to open up a bit, and become more determined. This resulted in a couple of scuffles with some of the ‘noble’ novices, but at least she wasn’t the shy crybaby she had been before. Life settled into a routine of classes, chores, and free time. She learned how to channel, and grew proficient at it. A slow learner, but steady in her ways, she was a good student, and practiced whenever she could.
Ten years passed. Then one day, she was called to the Arches. It came as a surprise, mostly because Mirazhe never actually thought about being raised, even though that was the goal she was working towards. At first, she was extremely nervous about the whole thing, afraid that she was going to fail and the Aes Sedai were going to kick her out of the Tower. But she went through with it, because she had to do it for her mother. So she went in…and came out, once, twice, three times. Each time was worse than the last, but somehow she managed to stagger out each time. It was done; she was Accepted.
Life was different, and yet the same when she became Accepted. It was the same because the ever-present classes were still there, only now she had the option of teaching as well as taking, and the piles of homework all novices had were still there (never a worry as Mirazhe loved doing homework). Present along with the class work were the chores, less in number but still occurring every now and then.
It was different because she’d reached the second tier, above the novices but below the Aes Sedai, and she was one step closer to her goal of becoming Aes Sedai. Mirazhe had a say in how her life went now, a little at least, and she was given more leniency than she had been given before.
The first few weeks were disconcerting, having to get used to the title of ‘Accepted’ and receiving curtsies as well as giving them. She was supposed to be a role model for the novices now, a good and obedient person. Perhaps a little too obedient.
She’d hadn’t exactly been accepted as a novice, her studious and homework-loving ways considered something of an oddity, and it was no different now. All her free time was spent in the library, surrounded by stacks of old books, researching this or that. It did absolutely nothing for her social life, and thus her friend status stayed about the same as it had been as a novice. Sure, she had plenty of novices that she saw on a regular basis and said greetings to, but they weren’t friends, just acquaintances.
The only major difference was that she now had a huge task to prepare for: her Aes Sedai test. It was common knowledge of what was expected, but it was a task that required hours on end of hard practice. Mirazhe, being the somewhat slow learner she was, toiled at the task, and often found herself in tears at the end of a day of practice. The only consolation she had was that she still had many years in front of her to practice. She could only hope that it was enough.
And so the years passed, filled with learning and new acquaintances and practice, endless endless practice. It was during these years that Mirazhe slowly realized that she would never see her mother again. After all, she’d already spent a good twenty years in the White Tower, and was sure to spend that same amount to reach Aes Sedai. No doubt by now, her mother had changed considerably, if she was even alive. The realization depressed her greatly, since she distinctly remembered promising her mother that she would return. There was no point in returning if her mother was there to welcome her back.
Something changed inside of her then. Her hair didn’t have to be braided up every day, and she didn’t have to pretend that everything she did at the White Tower affected her mother in some way. She let go of her childish fantasies then, said a mental goodbye to her mother, and let herself grow up.
Thirty-two years after her Accepted test, she was called down again, this time for the final test. The Aes Sedai test. If she didn’t pass, she had nothing left. Her family was gone, crumbled into dust and ashes, and she had no life outside of the White Tower. If she didn’t make it….But she did, despite all odds, and she emerged from the ter’angreal an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.