The State of the World for 999 New Era

This edition of the State of the World covers the time span of November 21, to April 11, 2000. In game time that's the year of 999 NE. A special thanks to Alderic for help in creating events and writing entries.

Towards the end of the year 999, rumours of a woman with the ability to see the future spread throughout the Borderlands and the central nations. Tireena was travelling from Arafel in the Borderlands, and there were many rumours as to why she travelled. Some said she was kicked out of every community when the disasters she foresaw inevitably came true, others said she travelled to warn the world of some major impending event. She caused a bit of a stir in Caemlyn, and then moved on to Tar Valon. During a visit to the Great Tree Inn, she was drawn to one of the other patrons, the scholar Heronimus. She proclaimed he had a great destiny. Disaster would fall on Tar Valon should he stay, and that he must travel to Kandor to avert disaster there. Rumours flew that Heronimus might even be the Dragon Reborn.

Not long after, rumours naming another man the Dragon began. During the celebration of the festival of Saradu in Illian, Dain approached King Kurrad and revealed that he had the Horn of Valere. A golden dragon appeared in the sky against a backdrop of clouds at the same moment as he presented the Horn to the King and crowd. Dain proclaimed himself to be the Dragon Reborn, and after a scholar named Akaina authenticated the Horn, the King of Illian himself bent knee to Dain and invited him to stay in the Palace. After a short stay, Dain led a number of Dragonsworn south from Illian, the banner of the Dragon at the head of the party. Another banner waved above the group, that of the adventuring band known as the Valavendil, which had sworn itself to follow Dain.

Meanwhile in the Borderlands, Blight scouts reported a great Shadowspawn army was marching towards Canluum, Kandor after breaking through the defenses at the Blightborder - the first sighting of Shadowspawn for almost 15 years. Heronimus and the members of his party joined the army of defenders prepared to lose their lives in the protection of Canluum. The biggest Shadowspawn army seen since the Trolloc Wars descended on them, and the battle went poorly for the defenders. In the Charge at Stone Field, fully 90% of the defenders died, and 70% lost their lives in the Blood Grass Massacre battle. Fewer died at the Stalking Trees battle, perhaps 60%. The fewest losses were sustained in the area of Great Oak Hill, where Heronimus fought, with only 45% dying. Explosive air and fire, weapons of the Power woven by Heronimus, turned the tide of battle and soon had the Shadowspawn on the run. Tireena proclaimed it all to be as she had seen, and many of the grateful Kandori proclaimed Heronimus to be the Dragon Reborn. The Lord of Canluum invited Hero and his party to stay at the city's palace fortress, Stag's Stand.

The Borderland nations went into a state of increased readiness following the battle at Canluum, but the Blight seemed to return to the quiet that has gripped it for the last 15 years, and no Shadowspawn were sighted other than a few stragglers fleeing the battle.

Soon after the year 999 began, the Wise Ones called the Clans to Alcair Dal for a meeting to discuss what the fall of Sky Leaf and other prophecies and legends might mean for the future of the Aiel. As with all such gatherings, it was also an opportunity for Aiel merchants and the enjoyment of festivities, including a contest of wits and a scavenger hunt. Serionus took first place at the wits contest, with second going to a silversmith, and Bayael and Bruadhin sharing third place. Mirandra was the first to collect the list of herbs for the scavenger hunt, with Cindrah close behind her. Bayael and Bruadhin again shared third place. As the summit of Aiel leaders drew to a close, the Chiefs announced that once again the Aiel would cross the Dragonwall, in search of a cutting of Avendoraldera they recently learned survived the crime of Laman's Sin. Several Aiel of the Shaarad Clan volunteered for the mission. All volunteers were required to swear oath to shed no blood in the Wetlands.

The Aiel spread throughout the Wetlands, where they had many unusual encounters, most notably in Tar Valon and Caemlyn. There were a couple of altercations in Caemlyn, but the Aiel fought without shedding blood or killing. In Tar Valon they approached Oludra Sedai, who had made a great study of plants throughout her life and had even studied Avendoraldera. Clues were found in various books and even a painting which depicted the grotesquery of Laman's Sin.

In the last few months of 999, the Shaarad Aiel converged on Tar Valon, seeking Oludra Sedai in the belief she held the final key to the puzzle, only to learn the White Tower itself was seeking the woman, who had disappeared following a night of a great slaughter in the Tower. The Aiel joined a party from the Tower and this unusual group followed a pair of Ogier into Tar Valon's Waygate, emerging a few days later outside Fal Dara.

After days of scouring the countryside around Fal Dara for a dilapidated farm the Aes Sedai were convinced was the hiding place of Oludra and the sapling, both were found, and in the nick of time. Oludra was caught by surprise in the last stages of a ritual to turn the precious sapling to the Dark. Both Aiel and Tower fought bravely against the Faceless that protected Oludra, and after long battle captured both woman and sapling. Following a long debate about who should take claim of the sapling, the Aes Sedai cleansed it of the taint Oludra had placed on it and the Aiel escorted the sapling, now dubbed Avendoralan, to be planted in Stedding Maotai, and returned home at year's end.

Most of the region fared well in the early portions of the year 999, but things were hard in Falme which had suffered much damage in a hurricane in 997 and then an earthshake in 998. The people of Falme worked to repair their town once again, but a cloud seemed to hang over them, and many were despondent, fearing more disasters were yet to come.

When a large portion of the Children of the Light stationed in the area were pulled out, that sense of dread spread to other communities, a dread that was soon fulfilled. Without large numbers of Children to hold them back, both Arad Doman and Tarabon made incursions into the plain throughout the summer, although they fought as much with each other as with desperate villagers trying to protect their homes and freedom.

As the end of the year approached, heavy rains and storms pelted the coast. The hardest hit settlement was Falme, which experienced heavy flooding. Rumours travelled up and down the coast that the Creator had turned his eye away from Falme, and a few even whispered that three years of disasters must mean a Darker force has turns its eye towards Falme.

The year 999 began with tensions between the two current powers of the land - Queen Adreana and the man many felt would soon seek her throne, Lord Carleson of House Rianande, rich in both might and wealth. Adreana sought to strengthen House Tansabar's position by marrying her eldest son and likely heir to the most powerful House whose support Carleson was courting. Adreana also began to woo another House, attempting to create another ally through marriage to her youngest daughter.

As the year drew to a close, Adreana was distracted from her adept political machinations by a personal tragedy, and one which is also likely to have profound ramifications for her House, perhaps even her throne. Her eldest son Taslan, recently married, was slain in a duel. The Queen, shaken by bottomless grief, has withdrawn into herself, leaving matters of administration to her ministers and younger children. The poor inhabitants of the Rahad seized upon this weakness in the Tarasin Palace and the relaxing of the Queen's grip to run wild in the streets. Some report this outburst was even worse than the legendary Wine Riots. Many in the Palace believed the Queen's Aes Sedai advisor would seek the assistance of the Tower in restoring order.

After two years of agricultural woes blamed on suspected channelers and their Ghealdin neighbours, the weary citizens of Amadicia were relieved in 999 by a moderate Winter and fine growing weather throughout the rest of the year. The sickness which had afflicted cattle and hog herds seemed to vanish, although it will be some years before the herds are restored to their previous numbers. Accusations and attacks against suspected channelers decreased in light of the improved conditions.

Peace of mind in Amadicia was not to last long, however. As the year drew to a close, rumours reached the country of two men being named the Dragon Reborn. Some citizens of the country, primarily the very poor, supersitious, and those financially devasted in the past few years, were ready to believe that the end of the world was at hand, and left their farms and families behind to flock to Dain's banner as he passed northwards from Illian through Murandy. Most people, however, just became more suspicious of foreigners and anyone at all unusual, and the country as a whole became much more insular.

The year 999 began with tensions between Andor and its neighbour, Murandy, tensions that simmered throughout the year. These began at the end of the previous year, when Murandy's Queen Sydelle was assassinated in Andor's Royal Palace during an official visit. The Andoran investigation concluded that the assassinations of Queen Sydelle and Duchess Cathryn Roesone were the work of an unknown drugged man who was found dead in Cathryn's quarters, but many Murandians remained suspicious of their northern neighbour.

As the year opened, there were 20,000 Queen's Guards camped around Caemlyn. Within the month this force was split into two groups, one travelling to the village Tolmec in the Mountains of Mist, where they assisted in the reconstruction of the mining town which had been devastated by an attack in 998. The other half split still further and took up positions three days in from the border with Murandy. Those troops engaged in training for a month or so and then dispersed into smaller patrols that rode off in all directions. The troops mustered in Andor began to affect the economy in both that nation and the rest of the world. Prices for staple goods rose slightly in Andor, and the number of exports from Andor decreased slightly. Durnik was removed from his post as Captain-General, and Kellian appointed in his place. During the ceremony it was also revealed that he is in fact the Queen's kin, and he resumed his title of Lord Kellian Versyr.

The Tower dispatched delegations to both Andor and Murandy in an effort to prevent war between the two nations. The High Court of Andor was called. The ambassador sent from Murandy turned out to be not Milton Trigaran, but Renford Fiores, the new King of Murandy. He presented a decapitated head in a box of a man he claimed to be a member of the traitorous House of Errene, Johan. Renford was placed under house arrest until his claims were proven, upon which he was released and returned to Murandy. Caenna Sedai, leader of the Tower delegation in Caemlyn, was found dead in an abandoned cart in Caemlyn soon after the delegation left Caemlyn to return to the Tower. She was dressed in a simple white shift that smelled strongly of herbs, with a knife protruding from her chest. There were signs that she had been blindfolded and manacled. The knife was marked with the crest of House Roesone.

The year 999 was marred by several deaths amongst the nobility. Duke Magnus Trigaran, a quite elderly man, died of pneumonia. Calisa, stripped of her title as a Lady of Hune in 998, was reported to have been attacked and killed by bandits in Ebou Dar. Kael, Steward of House Roesone in Tar Valon, was found dead. Nothing was stolen from his person, and from the markings on his body it was clear that whoever perpetrated the crime intended him to suffer. The outpouring of grief this brought on in his pregnant wife caused her birthing pains to come early, and she was delivered of a stillborn son. Lord Greydon Pyrrhus Versyr, husband to Queen Aislynn, was declared dead after having gone missing for almost two years, and the royal marriage was thus dissolved. He had left after a terrible fight with the Queen following the birth of their son, vowing to journey to the Blight and fight there.

Jaelinn Acacia of House Li'Thrain, traitor to Andor, was discovered at the Rose and Lion Inn with her companion, Farai. The two were taken to the camp of the Children of the Light for questioning. Jaelinn, convicted of High Treason for her part in the 13th Andoran War of Succession, finally met her death on the gallows. The Children charged Farai as a Darkfriend. She was executed a few days later, proudly clinging to her Dark oaths even as her life slipped away. Both their severed heads were mounted on the gates leading into the Royal Palace as a reminder of what comes to those who oppose the Light.

The visit of Queen Mother Tabitha of Shienar fared better than that of Queen Sydelle. Tabitha was surprised to find her daughter Tevarra in Caemlyn after the girl was arrested under suspicion of stealing a horse. Queen Tabitha had believed her to be in her homeland of Tear, but the Princess had run away to become a Hunter for the Horn. Caemlyn was also visited by the Kandori Princess Elyse, and rumours of an alliance between Kandor and Andor were proved true when First Prince Theowyn and Princess Elyse announced their engagement on the last day of the year during the Feast of Lights.

Soon after Lady Cathryn's death at the end of 998, documents were found declaring her choice of heir to be Turail. These documents were later discovered to be forgeries, and Turail was forced to step down in favour of his half-brother Gaidin Paedrig, Cathryn's closest blood relation. Turail took a commission in the Queen's Guard, and he and his wife Janeva were divorced. Lord Deleamar Hune married Mistress Kismet, a hurried marriaged rumoured to be necessary due to her pregnancy, a rumour supported by the fact that Duke Paedrig refused to recognize Kismet as a noble of Roesone.

Those who do not move in such exalted circles remember other unusual events in 998. The first of these was the unprecedent sight of Aiel in the very city of Caemlyn! They came in small numbers and seemed not to have any violent intentions, but their presence still resulted in a number of altercations. Queen Aislynn herself and her advisor Rio Sedai even stepped in to one of these, using the One Power to prevent further violence while the Queen's Guard broke up the fight. After a few months in the city, all the Aiel seemed to leave.

The second troubling event was the occasion of the Queen's Bounty, normally a happy and auspicious event. However on this occasion, Queen Aislynn seemed dour as she watched her servants pass out clothing and food to the needy, and snapped at a man who remarked about the lack of coin that is normally also given out. She ordered him put into the stocks, and when there were further grumbles from the spectators packed all the food back into the carts, even confiscating that which had already been given out. The man was held in the stocks for three days without food or water, held until the Queen herself rushed into the square to order the man freed, declaring a great injustice had been done. Captain-General Kellian berated his men for failing to "recognize their own Queen", and both he and Aislynn insisted that they be placed into the stocks themselves. As the gathered dignitaries attempted to dissuade the Queen from this rash act, Princess Elyse of Kandor began to sing the Andoran national anthem, which brought the Queen back to her senses. After she was released Aislynn began to dispense the Queen's Bounty to the crowds. Some whispered about an imposter, others murmured that the Queen was mad, or influenced by ta'veren.

The last unusual event began with the arrival of rumours of a woman with the ability to see the future in the Borderlands, soon followed by the arrival of the woman herself. Tireena foresaw a duel between two commoners in Caemlyn, which came to pass. She left the city ranting about a change coming with the millenium. The second herald of that change was the arrival of Lord Dain near Caemlyn, accompanied by thousands of Dragonsworn who named him the Dragon Reborn following his announcement in Illian that he held the Horn of Valere. The group camped east of the city, with only a few of their number entering Caemlyn for supplies. Nonetheless, the year closed with a series of small skirmishes between nervous citizens and the Dragonsworn.

As the year 999 began, King Vadim came out of his period of mourning for the loss of his beloved wife, and took back the reins of government from his son Balsim and his Aes Sedai advisor Kinjua Masciev of the Blue. There were also rumours of his taking a lover, Lady Dareane of House Dhamsid.

A few months into the year saw the arrival of an ambassadress from Saldaea, Lady Vanya of House Korenze. The fact that Beah sent her own beloved neice, and Vanya's adept political manner and personal charm, went a long way towards dispelling King Vadim's fears of a possible invasion from his northern neighbour.

Lady Dareane was not long after sent as ambassadress to Tar Valon. Some considered this an indication of how highly the King regards her. Others wondered if she was being sent away to allow him more time with the captivating and more politically desirable Lady Vanya.

After the bulk of the Children stationed on the Almoth Plain moved out, Lord General Samir of House Hussar took the opportunity to mount several incursions into the region.

The Arafellin court continued to be consumed by King Bromm's romantic affairs as the year 999 began. The King and his court are torn between his duty to his much-beloved Queen, Solanna, and his infatuation for the alluring Lady Cristasse of House Jachenni. The Queen left the court to escape the King's blatant attentions to Cristasse in 998, although many of her supporters argued this did little to strengthen her case.

Affairs of the heart were also rumoured to be at the center of a dispute involving House Vorneyo. Lord Trandar Vorneyo and Lord Luan Ayadar duelled over a young Arafellin woman, Briallen, in Tar Valon. There were accusations against each man that he was sworn to the Dark. The rumours about Arafellin Darkfriends resulted in a few mob attacks against Arafellin in Tar Valon, and for a time many merchants refused to serve Arafellin clients until the hysteria passed. Towards the end of the year, Lord Thaled, High Seat of Vorneyo and father to Briallen, paid a visit to the members of his House in Tar Valon, and it was announced that his daughter was engaged to Lord Trandar.

The court gossip was overshadowed by other rumours amongst the common people a few months into the year. The rumours spoke of a young woman from a farming community in the south of the country who had the power to see the future. At first there were those who flocked to travel to Tireena's home seeking news of their own futures, and it was rumoured that even a member from court came, trying to learn which woman the King's heart would choose. But people soon grew weary and suspicious of Tireena when it seemed that almost all her visions were unhappy ones, the moreso because they did come true. Soon whispers began that she was not seeing the future, but making it, and she was hounded out of her community. After suffering a similar fate in other Arafellin towns she left the country completely, heading south for Andor.

News of a Shadowspawn attack on Canluum, Kandor seemed to wake the country from its romantic intrigues. The first sighting of Shadowspawn in almost 15 years galvanized the King into strengthening the patrols on the Blightborder. The Queen immediately returned to court to lend her support, and Lady Cristasse kept herself to the background, allowing the royal family and their generals to concentrate on the potential menance. The King accepted a new Ambassador from Saldaea, Lady Eione of House Jorvande, and she and the King's Aes Sedai advisor made great strides in persuading the King to dedicate more energy to resolving the border conflict with Kandor so that both nations can stand strong as part of a united Borderlands should the attack on Canluum prove to be only the first in a renewed battle for the Blightborder.

The start of the year 999 saw a successful end to the peasant revolts in eastern Cairhien, which many rumoured to be sponsered by Queen Healy herself and in which some of her most fractious nobles lost their lives or suffered damage to their lands.

The entire country was thrown into an uproar of panic when reports reached Cairhien that Aiel had been spotted on this side of the Spine midway through the year. That sense of panic only increased when rumours suggested that the Aiel were seeking a sapling of Avendoraldera that survived King Laman's sacrifice of that tree to create a splendid throne for himself, an event which precipitated the Aiel War in 976. Although there were a few sightings of Aiel in Cairhien, there were no reports of violence.

Queen Healy continued her attentions to young Lord Taliar, who is son of Kale Na'uin, a High Lord of Tear, although she did not make any open declarations of any attachment and accepted the wooing of many others. Interest in Taliar grew sharply at the end of the year when it was learned his older brother, Lord Dain, had been declared the Dragon Reborn in Illian. More noble Houses than the royal Cordaevell made overtures towards Taliar in a complex dance of daes dae'mar of expressing interest without commitment such that only Cairhienin and Tairens could make.

As the year 999 opened, Lord Captain Inarin ordered numbers of the Children to scour the lands for green crystals that dropped in the wake of the falling star that passed over the area of the Caemlyn farm in 998. It is believed that the Tower has been making a similar search for some time. Some months later those crystals which had been collected were stolen in the night after the two men guarding them were drugged.

The Children in Caemlyn had need of their exacting military training on several occasions in 999, as there were two separate attacks. High Inquisitor Lazerus was injured in the first. The second occurred during an investigation into rumours of Cairhienin soldiers spotted in the Caralain Grass. The unit was led by Lord Captain Inarin and Captain Verus.

Not long after that, the Children began patrols of up to 100 men through the countryside of Andor, concentrating on the border with Murandy, and taking pains not to engage or stop anyone, simply observing. Mass movements of Children acting similarly were noted throughout the world. Much of the manpower for these patrols was drawn from the force of men stationed in the Almoth Plain, and those that remained were unable to hold back all of the Domani and Taraboner incursions into the area.

A few months before year's end, the witch Caenna was found dead in an abandoned cart in Caemlyn. Hand of the Light Lord Daric fell under great suspicion from the Tower-swayed Queen Aislynn and many of her countrymen, but the evidence against him was nothing more than statements he'd made against Aes Sedai, the fact that the knife which killed her bore the Roesone crest, and because there was reason to believe that the murderer had knowledge of the use of herbs.

At almost the same moment as Caenna's death, Lord Captain Commander Emrich tore through the CoL farm in a fit of rage, requiring six men to hold him down and tie him to his bed to prevent him from hurting himself or anyone else. He became apathetic and listless, barely eating or sleeping.

As 999 drew to a close, the Children were instrumental in the downfall of two foul Darkfriends. Jaelinn Acacia of House Li'Thrain, traitor to Andor, was discovered at the Rose and Lion Inn with her companion, Farai. The two were taken to the camp of the Children of the Light for questioning. Jaelinn, convicted of High Treason for her part in the 13th Andoran War of Succession, finally met her death on the gallows. The Children charged Farai as a Darkfriend and held her for further questioning in a matter related to her former employer, the late Lord Kaanath of House DeVorae. Farai was executed a few days later, proudly clinging to her oaths to the Dark even to the moment of death. Both their severed heads were mounted on the gates leading into the Royal Palace as a reminder of what comes to those who oppose the Light.

No update given.

999 was a quiet year with little more than occasional tensions on the border with Amadicia, the previous winter was moderate and led to a good growing season. King Orsini celebrated the new year with a great three day festival in his capital, and there were many feasts and frolics. Controversy broke out during a masque at the palace, however, when Lord Basyle began to loudly complain of raising another man's child while well into his cups. It was fortunate that neither Lady Maiza or King Orsini were present to overhear him, however, and all that came of the matter was a rebuke from the Queen who reminded him that the son he had was his own and none else's under the law. Lady Maiza's birthing of a second child, a daughter, borne almost precisely nine months after the masque, was greeted with little surprise.

The year 999 in Illian began with two more Blessings for Hunters of the Horn. The first was announced with very little warning. The second was preceded by a costume party where the revellers dressed as fish, and concluded with a fine display of Illuminations.

As the year drew to a close, the annual festival of Saradu was celebrated. Lord Dain, the son of a High Lord of Tear, approached King Kurrad during the festivities. Dain revealed that he was in possession of the Horn of Valere, and he showed this glorious object to King and crowd. As he held it up, a golden dragon appeared in the sky against a backdrop of clouds. Dain proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn, and many present took up the call. After the Horn was authenticated by Dain's scholar Akaina and King Kurrad's advisor, Hiruna Sedai, King Kurrand himself bent knee to Dain and invited him to stay in the Palace for the duration of his stay in Illian. That stay was brief, and when Dain marched northwards out of Illian, a contingent of the Companions marched with him. It was remarked soon after that Hiruna Sedai seemed to be missing.

Midway through the year 999, Varro en'Sajanor returned to the Tar Valon area. He had suffered from illness for the past two years, an illness that began at a dinner party where no other diners were afflicted. He did not travel to the embassy, but rather was borne on a stretcher to the White Tower. There he was discovered to have been suffering from two different types of poison. He was taken under the charge of the Mistress of Novices, Neri, and stayed in her rooms during his recovery. Once fully recovered he left the Tower, and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Princess Elyse J'equel Sylia Kamikatsu left Kandor in 999 on a visit to Caemlyn, and several of her siblings also left the court. There were rumours of concerns about the safety of the royal children.

The Winter of 999 began with a series of fierce blizzards. Winter is ever hard in the Borderlands, but this year's left several people dead.

As the year drew to a close, the country was reminded of the danger of the Blight. Blight scouts reported a great Shadowspawn army marching on Canluum after breaking through the defenses at the Blightborder. As the brave citizens of that city prepared to give their lives defending their homes, they found support from an unexpected quarter - a man named Heronimus and the travellers accompanying him.

The biggest Shadowspawn army seen since the Trolloc Wars descended on them soon after, and the battle went poorly for the defenders. In the Charge at Stone Field, fully 90% of the defenders died, and 70% lost their lives in the Blood Grass Massacre battle. Fewer died at the Stalking Trees battle, perhaps 60%. The fewest losses were sustained in the area of Great Oak Hill, where Heronimus fought, with only 45% dying. Explosive air and fire, weapons of the Power woven by Heronimus, turned the tide of battle and soon had the Shadowspawn on the run. Tireena proclaimed it all to be as she had seen, and many of the grateful Kandori proclaimed Heronimus to be the Dragon Reborn. The Lord of Canluum invited Hero and his party to stay at the city's palace fortress, Stag's Stand. A few days later a feast to celebrate the city's survival was held in Canluum.

On the last day of the year 999, First Prince Theowyn Lancelyn Versyr and Princess Elyse J'equel Sylia Kamikatsu of Kandor announced their engagement. They declared their intention to marry a year and one day later in accordance with Andoran tradition.

Late in the the year 999, Lady Aselain, sister to First Leilah, renounced her estranged husband with no apparent cause. Claiming personal distress at the failure of her marriage, she firmly put to a halt her official duties and retire to her private estate outside of the city. Shortly after, reports appeared of messangers travelling back and forth between the city and Aselain's estate, and certain nobles quietly paid their respects at her manor. When rumours begin to surface that one of the most frequent visitors is Lord Chalien, the lady's brother-in-law, tension grew even further.

Tempers in Murandy were at the boiling point as the year 999 began, following the assassination of Queen Sydelle in Andor at the close of 998. And they boiled over when the official report of the Andoran investigators concluded that the assassin had nothing to do with the Andoran government. Sydelle's murder and those of others were pinned on a drugged man found at the site of Lady Cathryn Roesone's murder, a man who died before he could be questioned.

In such a politically divisive nation as Murandy, it is often the case that the death of a ruler is the cause of internal squabbles as the most powerful nobles of the land seek to gain the throne for themselves. The Houses in Murandy had been sharply divided between support for Queen Sydelle and her up-and-coming rival, Lord Renford of House Fiores. The supporters of Sydelle's House fell to squabbling, arguing over whether to find a Regent for Sydelle's twelve-year-old son or switch allegiance to Fiores. While many condemned Renford for past brutalities, he was also widely acknowledged as a strong leader.

The nobles of the land soon found the decision made for them. Rumours of an Andoran army marching on Murandy galvanized the commoners into a state of revolt, and the resulting mob rallied behind the promise of a strong leader, throwing its support behind Renford. Even as he was installed on the throne the members of Sydelle's family were hunted down and killed. This, too, was blamed on the mob, although those with cooler heads questioned why people outraged by the death of a Queen would kill her relations. Whatever happened, House Fiores was the royal House of Murandy before Spring, and the only people with the right to challege Renford's claims to the throne were dead.

Renford began his reign in an odd way, spending little time in the capital. Few of the bureaucrats in the city even met the man. Rumours placed him in a fortress to the north. As the seasons turned to Summer, the Tower sent delegations to Murandy and Andor in an attempt to prevent war between the nations. The Aes Sedai were not best pleased to find Renford away from his court and were completely frustrated in their attempts to meet with the King.

A month or so later the mystery of Renford's location was resolved - the King was in Andor! He had travelled there in the guise of an ambassador, and revealed his true identity at a session of the High Court. He laid the blame for the tensions between Andor and Murandy at the feet of the rebel Andoran House, Errene, and presented Queen Aislynn with the head of one of its members, Johan along with his pledge to work towards peace. If this incident soothed the fears of Andor, it only inflamed outraged tempers in Murandy, for the Andoran government placed Renford under arrest until his claims could be proved. He was released and allowed to return to Murandy as soon as his identity was confirmed, but this did little to quell the outrage of the Murandians at the sleight to their King and increased the general opinion that Andor's head had gotten too big for its cap.

The country was not too caught up in its own troubles to take note of the man named Dragon Reborn that travelled through its lands as the year came to a close, and there were those Murandians who joined themselves to Dain's Dragonsworn, many with hopes that he was leading the army he was building toward Andor to begin his conquest of the nations there.

Throughout the year 999 NE, several Ogier became involved in a search made by the Aiel for a lost sapling of Avendoraldera, the branch of the Tree of Life which had been given to King Laman of Cairhien and cut down by him to make a mighty throne. The Aiel had reason to believe that a cutting had survived Laman's Sin and came over the Spine of the World to search for it.

The great lore of the Ogier was naturally valuable to this search, and even more so was a painting by the famed artist Ravan. Many copies were found, but the original was finally discovered in a stedding some days distance from Caemlyn, and revealed that an Aes Sedai named Oludra may have been present when Laman cut down Avendoraldera, and may have preserved a cutting of that tree.

The White Tower was also searching for Oludra, who had recently disappeared, and when the Aiel arrived in Tar Valon, the two group decided to join forces. Once again the knowledge of the Ogier proved invaluable to solving this mystery, as the group needed to travel through the Ways for speed. Fenisen agreed to guide the party, and was accompanied by Jureim, Son of Mathaer, Son of Pedrum.

After days of scouring the countryside around Fal Dara for a dilapidated farm the Aes Sedai were convinced was the hiding place of Oludra and the sapling, both were found, and in the nick of time. Oludra was caught by surprise in the last stages of a ritual to turn the precious sapling to the Dark. Both Aiel and Tower fought bravely against the Faceless that protected Oludra, and after long battle captured both woman and sapling.

Then began a long debate about who should care for the sapling. Fenisen put forward many logical arguments about why the Ogier were most suited for this role, but the Aes Sedai were adamant that the sapling presented dangers in its current twisted state. Finally it was agreed that the Aes Sedai would attempt to remove the taint on the sapling, and their attempt was successful. The Aiel accompanied the Ogier to stedding Maotai where the sapling, dubbed Avendoralan, was planted.

The nation of Saldaea fared well in the year 999 NE, recovering handily from the outbreak of illness it sustained the previous year. Queen Beah's grand construction efforts continued to progress more slowly than originally forecast as the Queen diverted a number of the most skilled stonemasons and crafters to Shienar to aid in the rebuilding of Fal Moran, when it was gutted by fire in 998. When the Shienaran court moved to Swordham until such time as the capital was fit for habitation again, the King requested the removal of a number of foreign representatives to reduce the strain and crowding in the Fal Daran fortress. Beah sent her nephew Adram and most of his family and retinue to Tar Valon, leaving only a few representatives of House Zadnere in Shienar to represent Saldaea.

Several other ambassadorial appointments were made this same year. Beah sent her own beloved neice, Lady Vanya, as Ambassador to Arad Doman. Some considered this a move designed to soothe Domani fears of Saldaean expansion. Others felt the choice of ambassador was an attempt to build a more permanent alliance. King Vadim of Arad Doman was recently widowed, and Vanya is widely known throughout Saldaea for her charm and beauty. Support for the likely success of this tactic grew when King Vadim sent the woman believed to be his lover to Tar Valon, suggesting he was indeed quite captivated with Vanya.

When Shadowspawn attacked Canluum, Kandor after almost 15 years of quiet from the Blightborder, Beah was able to press the issue of sending a new Ambassador to Arafel. After her arrival Lady Eione of House Jorvande was able to make great strides in persuading the King to dedicate more attention to negotiation in the border dispute with his Kandori neighbours.

The one political blight on the country in this year was the growth of rumours that Queen Beah is becoming a little eccentric. The maiden Queen has in recent years expressed increasing bitterness about her advancing age and fading beauty, and this year dismissed all of the Demoiselles of Honour at her Court, and forbade all her nobles to bring any daughter to Court who is younger than five and twenty years of age. Further, it was said that Beah is ignoring the counsel of her Aes Sedai advisor, Maesin Chunes of the Green Ajah, who has been barred from Beah's Small Council on several occasions.

As the cold season began, but before the worst of the winter snows were flying, Queen Beah assembled a large retinue and began a journey to Tar Valon. She was accompanied by Lady Novaria and Lord Torvar, among others. Her Aes Sedai advisor was notably absent. Upon her arrival the Queen's party ensconced itself at the embassy run by her nephew, Lord Adram. A few days later Tar Valon hosted a great ball to welcome the Queen to the city. Following the festivities, Beah paid a visit to the Great Tree Inn, where she was witness to the spectacle of a seer, Tireena, pronouncing that one of the patrons had a great destiny. Tireena said that should the scholar Heronimus not leave Tar Valon and travel to Kandor, great diaster would fall on both places.

No update given

Early in the year of 999 the mystery of the horrific murders which had plagued Fal Moran for two years was finally resolved. The two main suspects were the former King, Saagen, and Lord Dayne, suspected by many to be the lover of Queen Mother Tabitha. The murders ceased when both men left the city, Saagen to become a Hunter for the Horn, and Dayne to visit his family in the country. When the young daughter of Lady Orella was found murdered soon after Dayne's returned, it seemed to confirm that he must be the culprit. However, that very night another victim was found, just outside the Queen's quarters. Lady Emaine barely clung to life when she was found, and as she died she revealed that it was Saagen who had attacked her before continuing on to the Queen's quarters. The investigators burst on the scene to find Dayne and Saagen dueling. Distracted by the tears of Tabitha, no doubt intended to be his final victim, Saagen lost the duel. Young King Menel found himself in the unenviable position of judging a trial against his own father. Saagen was found guilty and sentenced to death. The beheading was carried out in private. Menel and his mother secluded themselves for a time, deferring all court sessions and social business. Princess Teverra was sent to Tear to join her older sister Lina on Tabitha's family estates.

The cloud of troubles which had plagued Fal Moran was not lifted with Saagen's death. On 21 Adar, alarms split the quiet night in Fal Moran, summoning citizens to the safety of the Fortress. The emergency was not an attack from without, but rather the danger of a massive fire. The blaze began in Banners Plaza and quickly spread throughout the city. Amazingly there was only one death, an old man who suffocated from the smoke while rescuing his grandson. The government relocated to the town of Swordham until the reconstruction is complete, and many residents of the city moved to Fal Dara. At Menel's request due to crowding in Swordham, Adram Zadnere left a few family members as ambassadorial representatives and removed himself and the rest of the Zadnere delegation to Tar Valon. Saldaea assisted further by sending skilled masons and craftsmen to aid in the rebuilding.

As winter began, Queen Mother Tabitha made a formal visit to Andor, where she was surprised to discover a young girl accused of horse theft to be none other than her own daughter, Princess Teverra. She had run away from her family in Tear to become a Hunter for the Horn.

No update given.

Criminal activities returned to their normal low level in the year 999, but were not absent altogether. A mysterious woman veiled in black planted a dagger into a well-dressed woman in the streets of Tar Valon in broad daylight. Before vanishing into the streets the assassin tossed a round piece of black glass to one of the victim's servants saying, "No one betrays us. Your mistress was presumptuous. I am the Sat'shien. Remember me." Due to the small black tattoo on the victim's wrist, she is believed to have been a member of the Black Suns who vainly tried to escape that organization. Evrina and Brilanna Methraine were returned home after being found by their family in Illian. The Black Suns had tried to take credit for their disappearance in 998, but as suspected at the time the girls had run away of their own volition.

The popular Tar Valon night spot the gaming barge burned to ruins following a night where its proprietor, Erim Sarev, had annoyed and chased off his customers with his foul mood. Neither his body nor any other was found in the wreckage, but a lot of blood was found at the scene, blood in a shape reminiscent of a circle, and Erim is believed to be dead. A severed hand was found floating nearby in the water, identified as belonging to Tremos the Gleeman by a ring it wears.

Lord Kaanath, the High Seat of House Devorae who had been resident in Tar Valon for some two years died early in the year, and rumours about the cause of death varied wildly. His son Raellin inherited the position of High Seat. One of his first acts was to bar Korathe Devorae from the manor and House following a marriage Raellin did not approve of.

Lady Dareane of House Dhamsid arrived in Tar Valon to take up a position as ambassadoress for Arad Doman. She is ruputed to be the lover of Vadim, King of Arad Doman.

Nobles from the Borderlands caused the biggest stirs in 998. Two Arafellin nobles, Lord Trandar Vorney and Lord Luan Ayadar, dueled over another Arafellin, Lady Briallen Vorneyo. Accusations that each man was darkfriend began to work their way through the city, rousing citizens to a fever pitch of paranoia that culiminated in mob attacks against Arafellin visitors and refusals by many businesses to serve Arafellins. High Councillor Alderic established a temporary curfew in an attempt to quell the violence.

A few weeks later, Lord Trandar son Bhera was found injured, and taken to the Tower for treatment. Some accused his own father, others his father's sworn rival, Luan. Trandar attacked Luan's guards in a frenzy, trying to reach Luan himself, and accidentally injured a young lad named Amani, who would have died but for Roseana's Healing. Trandar, De'Leon, Luan and Luan's guards were all escorted to the city jail. Amani, who was not fully Healed, was brought to the White Tower for further recovery. Once all of that was sorted out the Vorneyo family enjoyed a much happier event, a visit from their High Seat, Lord Thaled. It was during this visit that Trandar's betrothal to Briallen, Thaled's daughter, was announced.

Near the end of the year, the elderly Queen Beah of Saldaea arrived with a large escort which included Lady Novaria and Lord Torvar. The Queen and her retinue took up residence with her nephew, Lord Adram Zadnere. Tar Valon hosted a great ball to welcome the Queen to the city, but it was likely her visit to the Great Tree Inn following the festivities which made more of an impression. Tireena, considered by many to be a seeress, was drawn to another patron, the scholar Heronimus. She proclaimed that he had a great destiny, and that if he did not leave Tar Valon to travel to Kandor disaster would fall upon both places. Heronimus left soon after, accompanied by several adventure-seekers. Rumours flew that he might even be the Dragon Reborn. Not long after rumours from further south reached the city proclaiming another man Dragon, Lord Dain of House Shenera, who had unveiled the Horn of Valere during a visit to an Illianer festival.

Early in the year of 999, Lord Kaanath, High Seat of House Devorae, died. The rumours as to the cause of the death varied wildly. His son Raellin inherited the position of High Seat, but it is believed that he will face opposition from other members of the House in trying to hold it. Korathe Devorae was married soon after. Lord Raellin showed his disapproval of the marriage by ousting Korathe from the Devorae family and the Tar Valon family manor.

As the year drew to a close, a fierce tidal wave swept over the eastern coast of Tear, killing several people and damaging some property.

No update given

A detailed chronology of White Tower events is available.

Alarming events made themselves felt at the Tower in the year 999. Midway through the year, a scene of carnage was discovered in an abandoned storeroom deep beneath the Tower. There were signs of use of the One Power, and a grisly 'painting' in blood, a crude imitation of Ravan's fabled painted of Laman's Sin, the "Fall of Pride". The horror only grew worse when a chest discovered outside the Amyrlin's office was opened. Within it were found the severed heads of seven Aes Sedai, their hair hacked off and twisted together into a crude imitation of the Amyrlin's Stole. Inside each of their mouths was a black slip of paper cut into the shape of the trefoil leaves of Avendesora. A thorough search of the Tower reveals no missing member other than the murdered women and Oludra Sedai of the Brown.

Earlier in the year, Oludra had also been noted talking to some of the Aiel that shocked the world with their peaceful appearance this year. The Aiel were learned to be seeking a cutting of Avendesora, and it was only natural that they consulted Oludra, who had made a great study of plants throughout her life, including Avendoraldera, the sapling of the Tree of Life gifted to the Cairhienin by the Aiel.

As the seasons grew colder, the Aiel returned to Tar Valon, once again seeking out Oludra. Their examination of the original "Fall of Pride" painted had revealed that Oludra rescued a cutting of Avendoraldera before Laman chopped it down for his throne. The Tower and the Aiel agreed to seek Oludra together, and were led through the Ways by two Ogier, emerging in Fal Dara, Shienar. The Tower must have felt some urgency to this mission indeed, for it was accompanied by Amyrlin Deianeira herself.

The Aes Sedai were convinced Oludra and the sapling were to be found in a farmstead in the Shienaran countryside, and after several days of searching, were proved right, in the nick of time. After a long fight with numerous Fades, the Tower forces captured Oludra. Once calm had returned after the battle, the Aiel and Ogier argued against the Tower taking custody of the sapling. The Aes Sedai were able to cleanse the tree of the foulness placed upon it, and having no further interest in it left it to the Ogier and Aiel to argue amongst themselves.

News of increasing tensions between Andor and Murandy was very troubling to the Tower, and delegations were sent to both countries. The Caemlyn delegation was warmly received by Queen Aislynn and Prince Theowyn, but the Murandy delegation was frustrated to find the new Murandian King, Renford, no where to be found in his capitol and rumoured to be in the north of his country. He turned up even further north than that, having arrived in Caemlyn pretending to be an ambassador from Murandy. After revealing himself at a session of the Andoran High Court, he was taken into custody until his claims were proved. Caenna Sedai, leader of the Caemlyn delegation, was able to speak with him before his departure, following which the Caemlyn delegation returned to the Tower.

Caenna Sedai had stayed behind in Caemlyn, and a few weeks later was murdered. Her body was found in an abandoned cart, dressed in a simple white shift that smelled strongly of herbs. The knife protruding from her chest was marked with the crest of House Roesone. Certain of the evidence points to Lord Daric of House Roesone, a Child of the Light, but the evidence is not conclusive enough for a successful trial.

Around the same time as the political delegation was in Andor, Roseana Sedai led another trip there, in search of a cache of ter'angreal. They discovered an abandoned city in the Mountains of Mist, and after several adventures there returned to the Tower at the same time as the political delegation.

Events surrounding male channelers dominated the Tower's attention at the end of the year. First Amrik turned himself into the Tower, ending the Tower's year-long pursuit of him as a suspected male channeler. But this was soon overshadowed by the news of two separate men being declared Dragon. The Tower was believed to have infiltrated the supporters of both to learn as much as possible before planning to move against them. Sessions of the Hall met near daily, and recruitment for the Tar Valon Guard was stepped up. Lord Dain's unveiling of the Horn of Valere in Illian was authenticated by King Kurrad's advisor, Kiruna Sedai, but the Tower was troubled when she stopped sending reports soon after.