Name: Evei Atrium
Age: 27
Nationality: Former Tuatha’an (Half Tuatha’an, half Andoran)
Height: 5’9
Weight: 124
Hair color/length: Long, dark brown. Almost black.
Eye color: Brown.
A quick overview of personality: While Evei was once an awkward sort of person, the arches have erased that side of her. While she still believes herself to be inferior to those above her, Evei understands her new position is one that demands the respect of some. This fact has banished parts of her inferiority complex. Evei is a very logical and intelligent person that loves both learning and finding out how others think. She has a suspicious mind, and a love of the complex. She is always observant, and files almost everything away in her mind. Evei is quick to formulate opinions about both situations and others, but she mainly keeps her thoughts to herself. She is usually calm, though now and then she can become extremely angry, though her anger is kept bottled inside of her and is only shown outwardly with cold viciousness. Evei has learned to hold a grudge, though she is usually kind. However, when confronted with hostility, she can become very cruel. Usually, Evei is always manipulative, as very few situations can shock her out of that mindset. The deaths of all those that she loved shadows her, as does her loss of the Tuatha’an way. Because of this, Evei is determined to become an Aes Sedai and extract any revenge she can. After the arches, Evei’s moral beliefs suffered a blow. No longer does she believe killing a darkfriend is wrong, but rather thinks that darkfriends will get what they are due. She can now become very hostile and venomous, and in some ways very pugnacious. Evei is cruel, and uses everything she has against someone she dislikes to her advantage. She believes that the ends justify the means. Once, Evei was a hopeless romantic. Now, however, Evei demeans her emotions by hunting down logical reasons for them. Evei believes that all of her accomplishments mean nothing, and always pushes herself to do more than she thinks is possible. In some ways, she is a perfectionist.
Current strength: 37
Base strength: 26
Age when started to channel: 16
Current Age: 27
Flow Affinity
Water: 4
Air: 10
Earth: 5
Fire: 3
Spirit: 7
Talents: Air Elementalism (Major)
Milking Tears (Minor)
Inverting Weaves (Minor)
Block: Evei can only channel while playing a musical instrument.
History: Evei was born as the product of a mistake caused by drink. Her father, Ji’in was a well respected Tuatha’an. Ji’in followed the Path of the Leaf well enough, even if he didn’t mind finding his pleasure in other places then the caravan. (“It isn’t right to do so within the caravan. You loose friends that way.” Ji’in remarked.) It was at a small village in Andor that Ji’in met Evei’s mother, Celosia. Celosia was from a profitable enough merchant family. She looked forward to having her own place in the family business, but her friends decided a little celebration was in order before Celosia formally took up her responsibilities. (“Just because you’re going to be a respectable woman soon doesn’t mean you have to be one now!” they chorused.) And as a result, Ji’in and Celosia sat down for a few cups of ale. Ji’in trusted that Celosia knew what she was doing, and Celosia trusted that Ji’in was just as much as a gentleman as all of the others she knew. They were both wrong on their presumptions.
Ji’in left, lighthearted, without ever knowing that he would soon have a daughter. Celosia went back to her family, her head spinning and eyes filled with tears, unsure of what had happened that night. The memory returned to Celosia in the morning. (“It’s said,” whispered the barkeeper, “That the screams could shatter your ears. Tis strange, though, for no one has seen Celosia since after the screeching. Perhaps the incidents are related... But you make your own assumptions.”) Celosia was an honest woman, and her family was a respectable sort. They were kind enough to wait and see if Celosia showed any signs of pregnancy, and then polite enough to let Celosia stay until the birth of her child. After that, though, with no marriage in sight to change the girl from a bastard, Celosia’s family discreetly sent her away to her aunt in a distant and even smaller village.
Celosia had little interest in the child that had taken her away from the life she knew. (“Idiot tinker, saddling me with this... this thing!” Celosia raged. Yet her aunt simply ignored her, cooing down at the baby. “It has been so long since I’ve seen a proper child,” Celosia’s aunt mused. “Since you have no name, I think I’ll call her Evei. After my mother, of course. She was a great woman.”) And so Evei was raised by her aunt, Fyfe. She was taught to cook and to clean, to mend and to sew. Celosia was a weak woman then, who kept to her bed. Still, when Evei’s mother saw what her daughter was becoming, she was quick to have Fyfe send for some learning books. (”I won’t let her turn out like that good for nothing father. She’ll be a proper Atrium, and educated one. She won’t fall for the sort of ply that trapped me, let me tell you!” Celosia hissed down at Fyfe, her eyes narrowed.) Evei then learned to read and write.
It was then, while she labored over tomes of the Dragon Reborn, Al’Thor, and such history, that Evei began to believe that her mother cared for her more then she let on. However, when Evei brought up the subject to Celosia, her mother was quick to shoot her down. (“I simply wish for you to understand the truth of this world and violence before I unleash you on the Tinkers. I don’t care if you become Tuatha’an, but you will be a smart Tuatha’an, unlike that woolheaded idiot. And you will become Tuatha’an. Fyfe assures me that the caravan will be around in a few years, like it always does, and you’ll be free to... embrace your Tinker heritage.” Celosia declared, her eyes narrowed to slits as she inspected her nails.) Evei took the news badly, and only Fyfe seemed to be able to cheer her up. All of her friends were long gone by then, shocked by both Celosia and Evei’s strangeness.
Celosia was annoyed by Evei’s change of mood, and took it upon herself to both teach Evei the meaning of violence as well as a bit of Atrium family lore in order to bring back the daughter she knew. Celosia wanted Evei to know what a fool thing the Way of the Leaf was, and the only lore she knew was how to barter. The teaching seemed to fit with the time for Celosia. ”To barter,” Celosia began, her eyes scanning the passerby in front of the booth, “you need to understand how your customer thinks. Know his deepest desires, and his shallow wishes. When you know him forwards and backwards, you have the power. You’ll be able to sell him almost anything for all the right reasons. We Atriums have done this for years.”) Evei took both lessons to heart. Fyfe was disturbed by it, knowing that Evei was destined to be Tuatha’an, if only by Celosia’s will. (“What kind of Tinker will she be now, Celosia?” Fyfe demanded. “She will never embrace their cause, will never be able to live like them.” Celosia only turned away.)
It wasn’t long after that when the Tuatha’an caravan came into the city. Celosia and Evei were the first out to meet them, and Evei was rather shocked to see bits of herself reflected in their faces. The Tuatha’an Mahdi, Simil, hardly seemed as surprised to see Evei. (“So Ji’in left another one, eh? Well, we’ll be happy to take her out of your hands if you wish.” Simil sighed, one finger scratching his forehead, as he watched Celosia nod silently. “What’s her name, then?”) It was settled all to fast in Evei’s opinion. The next morning, Fyfe escorted her to the caravan and waved a tearful goodbye. Evei couldn’t help but view her new home and family with fear. Stories about child snatching Tinkers were widespread, and it seemed so true to her now. But, the Mahdi and her uncle, Simil, was quick to soothe her doubts. (“Hello, Evei.” He smiled as he crouched down to her eleven year old height. “Would you like a Tinker name?” At Evei’s enthusiastic nod, Simil straightened. “How about Esoria?”)
So Evei became Esoria. As Esoria, her life was even harder. She couldn’t find it in herself to embrace the Tuatha’an lifestyle, nor the Way of the Leaf. Celosia’s teachings of violence had gone a long way, and the Tinker way of life gave her headaches. Esoria couldn’t comprehend living off the land like the other Tinkers did, nor could she stand to wear the bright clothes. It took a long time for her to realize that she had not met her father, Ji'in. When she questioned Simil about Ji'in, her uncle simply sighed and told her that the man had went to the Black Tower to become a soldier. It wasn’t until she met Diju that Esoria started to settle into her new lifestyle. (“So you’re Esoria, then?” The boy beamed down at her, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. “I’m Diju. Want to dance?”) Diju was one of the few friends at the caravan, and the only one of the children that thought to introduce her to Tuatha’an customs. Diju tried his best to teach Esoria to dance, but Esoria’s clumsiness did not fit well with the catlike grace of the Tinker steps.
Esoria seemed to shrink into herself after Diju’s impromptu dance lesson. It seemed to her that she would never be a true Tuatha’an if she could neither dance nor understand the Way of the Leaf. Only Diju spent time with her now, for all the other children were shocked by her drab clothing and bumbling steps. It was Simil that sensed the beginning of a solution. ”Hello, Esoria! I’ve brought you a present.” Simil brought out a small case from behind his back, and unclasped the clasps. “It’s my old violin. I thought you’d like lessons, so you could play while everyone dances.” Esoria’s smile surprised even Simil.) It was then that Esoria learned to fit into the Tinkers and don the bright clothes of the Tuatha’an. She was a quick student at the violin, and soon joined the ranks of the many men and boys that played music while others danced.
For a while, Esoria was troubled, for she was the only female on their makeshift orchestra. This time, it was Diju that soothed her doubts. (“Don’t worry, Esoria. I can dance enough for the both of us.” Diju’s smile was so bright that Esoria couldn’t help but think the sun was about to rise.) So Diju danced and Esoria played the violin. Her music was not the ilk of the other Tinkers. It seemed to echo in everyone’s ears, and weave around them like a dance. The tune of her playing vibrated through the grove, carried by Esoria’s air. It was the first time she ever channeled, and not the last. Every time she played, her music twisted and wove about the other Tinkers like a wisp of smoke. The other Tinkers couldn’t help but let their hearts melt when they heard Esoria’s music. They accepted Esoria as only truly gentle people could, sure that Esoria had made the change to Tinker.
And she had. Even though she knew that man could hardly live without violence, Esoria began to single mindedly follow the Way of the Leaf as she grew farther into her teens. It was then when Esoria’s interest in Diju moved past simple friendship. Esoria was lucky, for Diju loved the idea of Esoria. (“Without Esoria, I’d be nothing.” Diju remarked to Simil as they both watched Esoria tune her violin.) Their courtship was a simple and easy going one, as Tuatha’an courtships always were. Diju and Esoria soon became engulfed in their young love, and the other Tuatha’an were only to ready to accept it. They were married by Simil only a few years later.
As a wedding gift, the whole caravan of Tinkers stopped for lumber and built Diju and Esoria their own wagon. However, Simil came forward and offered a gift as the Mahdi: a new violin. (“I know you love to play almost as much as you love Diju.” Simil twisted the violin case in his hands, rather bashfully. “So I thought that a new violin was in order to celebrate.”) And so it was the Esoria played her new violin on the first day of her marriage.
Esoria was happy as Diju’s wife. It was everything she had ever wanted. Even as her belly swelled with her first child, Esoria was the epitome of happiness. She and Diju had a dream marriage, one that even few Tuatha’an enjoyed. Diju almost floated with joy when he learned of the coming baby, and all the other reactions were the same. (“Oh, Esoria.” Simil’s grin was so wide that Diju thought it was about to split his face in half. “I’m so happy for the both of you!”)It was the first time Esoria was truly at home for a long time. It seemed like only a second until the baby was ready to be born. Esoria wasn’t prepared for the pain, but she was more then prepared to cradle her son in her arms. ”Shall we name him Malkir?” Diju questioned as he rested his head on Esoria’s shoulder, staring down at their child. “He looks like a Malkir.”) The time passed quickly, filled with joy and Malkir’s slow growth. Esoria was filled with a mother’s pride, and Diju felt like he was going to burst with pride as Esoria grew into a graceful Tinker woman who could dance well enough when she tried.
But it was then when disaster struck Esoria’s happy life. Malkir became ill, and nothing Silim could do seemed to make it any better. It was a frightful month until Malkir died, and an even more horrible year after Esoria played the funeral tune on her violin for the first time. The sorrowful music seemed to echo in everyone’s ears, as if Esoria was loathe to stop her playing and admit that Malkir was gone. The Tuatha’an tried to cheer up both Esoria and Diju by telling them both that there was always time for another child. But both knew that Malkir could never be replaced. He was their first born and the one thing that had truly united them. Still, they tried for another child, a second Malkir.
But it never came. A year passed, and no child was in sight. It disheartened Esoria, but what hurt Diju the most was how Esoria seemed to transform back into the person she had been when she had first came to the caravan, so many years ago. (“It’s as if she thinks I’m better then her.” Diju confided to Silim, his expression troubled. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.” Yet, Diju had little time to worry. While they were passing through the borderlands, trollocs came.
They were such frightening creatures, with their bulky muscles and huge heights. They came in with a yell, and not a single Tuatha’an raised a hand against them. (“I suppose it is time, then.” Diju whispered into Esoria’s hair. “Fate has never been a kind mistress.”) It was like torture for Esoria to watch the Tinkers she knew run, but never raise a hand against their attackers. It only served to make her think of her mother, Celosia, and the long ago lecture on violence. (“You see, the Tuatha’an are martyrs. They reject violence, but they have no followers. And, without violence, they have no way to protect themselves against those that believe them of wrongdoing. They are a dying breed, Evei.” Celosia leaned forward, her gaze intent on her daughter. “When you are in that sort of situation, I expect you to act. The Way of the Leaf will only get you killed. Survive, and mourn your lost life later.”)
It was then that Esoria realized she was more of an Atrium then she was a Tuatha’an. (“I am Evei, Diju. Evei... My mother’s daughter.” Esoria whispered, even as she watched the trolloc stand over her husband’s body. “I am Evei.” She ran, stumbling toward her wagon, toward her violin. “Diju would want the last song, though. Oh, Diju...” But her love won over her survival, and it was not long until Evei cradled her violin in her shaking hands.) She played the funeral tune with all she had, even as she wished with all her might for the creatures to choke on her music. (“You don’t deserve to hear Diju’s last song, you monsters.” Tears streamed down Evei’s face, even as she watched from her doorstep as the trollocs looked up at the sound of her music. “Let you be strangled on his song. Please...”) It was strange, for her wish to come true. That feeling she only felt while playing... It rushed through her, and it was as if Evei could see strands of her music wrapping around what the creatures called throats. The things convulsed, the life draining out of their faces. Then they slumped forward, dead at Evei’s feet.
Evei moved in a daze, gathering her things. Her violin, a change of clothes, bread... She saddled one of the few horses left, the mare that had pulled her wagon for years, and rode out of the circle of wagons without a backwards glance at her old life, at Silim, at Diju. It was over now, and Evei recognized the fact. The steel that Celosia had taught her rose, and Evei’s urge to survival bubbled to the surface.
She rode for days before she reached a lone farm. A woman met her at the gate and took in Evei’s bloodstained clothing and weary posture. Galyne, the landowner’s wife, took her into her home without a word. Evei found herself in a bathtub of steaming water with a cup of tea in her hand before she even learned her savior’s name. Galyne was a sweet woman who listened to Evei’s tale and judged her for nothing. (“You did the right thing, child. I doubt your Diju will blame you for surviving and living to tell his tale.” Galyne comforted her, one hand stroking her hair.) Still, it was as if the Way of the Leaf had been ripped from her. Evei felt empty and lost, left only with her logic and her love of the complex. She found it to easy to simply analyze Galyne, in order to understand why the woman was helping her instead of loving the woman for her compassion.
It was months on the farm, working with Galyne and her husband with the harvest before Evei felt like a person again. It was good, honest work, and she was grateful for being given a chance to be a productive being. She lived at close quarters with her hosts, and they soon regarded her as a daughter, and begged her to stay. But Evei was adamant. (“No,” Evei shook her head, even as Galyne stared up at her with a shocked expression passing across her face, “I won’t do that, Galyne. I won’t burden you with my troubles. You know little of me, and you will never be happy with my judgments. Please, let me leave while you still think of me as a daughter.”) Galyne and her husband gave in, and sent Evei on to their relatives in Caemlyn, who owned an inn ironically called ‘The Dancing Tinker’.
It was there that Evei found work as both a waitress and an entertainer. The patrons cared little that she was not a true Tuatha’an and not a true dancer. (“It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance it properly.” Harisa, the inn owner, laughed. “It only matters that they think you can.”) The Inn rose quickly in popularity due to the echoing tone of Evei’s violin, her stories of the Tuatha’an, and the few Tinker dances she knew. It was only a few months until figures such as Asha’men began to frequent the inn. Harisa knew it was due to Evei, so Evei never heard the end of Harisa’s gratitude. Still, it was months longer before the first Aes Sedai laid foot in the Dancing Tinker.
Her name was Yalraline Sedai, and she was a sister of the Yellow Ajah. She came not for the accommodations, but because she had heard news of the Tuatha’an that could play the violin like only master bards could. (“You see,” Yalraline Sedai spoke, her tone mild, “The fact that your music seems to reverberate is a good chance that you have been channeling. I believe you may have a block, but if you submit to testing and can channel, you will be sent to the White Tower.”) Evei had only heard good things about the Tower from Celosia, and was quick to consent to the test. After all, her life at the inn was an empty one without any purpose.
Yalraline was pleased to tell Evei that she could in fact, channel, if not very strongly. Evei was only too glad to abandon Harisa and her unnecessary and unearned gratitude for a new chance at life. The thought of the White Tower was a strange one, as was the image of her as Aes Sedai. But Evei prevailed, fueled by the thought of a more thorough revenge on Diju’s life and the person she had once been, Esoria. Traveling was interesting, if only because of Yalraline Sedai’s channeling lessons and Tower etiquette lectures. Yalraline quickly proved to both Evei and herself that Evei did indeed harbor a block, one that only allowed her to channel while playing the violin, but the news didn’t trouble Evei at all. She knew there would be more then enough time for that sort of thing when she reached the Tower.
Once at the White Tower, Evei threw herself into her studies. She did the best she could to learn to channel with her block, and even met another novice, Kaelyn, who decide to work with her to break their mutual blocks. Evei then heard of the Red Shen, and became very interested in what it implied. She found herself a partner, Ren, though she maintained the lie that her name was Esoria for her own personal reasons. However, even after Ren found out her true name, their friendship continued. It was then, with her block still unbroken, that Evei faced her fears in the arches and became Accepted. She learned to understand the arches and what they meant, and it changed her into the type of person who cannot help but be attached to the White Tower.