Requirements

You’ve read the page about Character Ranks, but how does one advance from rank to rank? Look no further. These requirements are designed to help your character progress logically from level to level, to develop within the Wheel of Time world as has been laid out in the books. They’re also designed to help you practice your writing skills, and you’ll note that the requirements get tougher as you move up–because we believe that you’ll be able to handle it. We also give you more responsibility as you move up in the ranks, since it won’t be long at all until you have something to teach those of a younger rank.

There are also writing structures for those of full rank. These are not mandatory (though they are highly recommended), but are necessary to complete before your character can be considered for additional in character rank.

Becoming Aes Sedai — Becoming Gaidin — Other Characters

Becoming Aes Sedai

Novices are the first rank in becoming Aes Sedai. To become Accepted, novices must complete each of the following:

  • An embracing lesson
  • Five channeling lessons
  • Two non-channeling lessons
  • A role-play of a penance of some kind, one that they’ve earned through some kind of mischief, or assigned from any higher ranking character
  • Two interactive role-plays with any character from any section or rank (in which you most post at least 5 posts over 400 words).
  • A major role-play (MRP), showing something major happening in their life, or a profound realization of their position in life that helps your character to accept their time in the White Tower
  • Demonstrated in character and out of character enough maturity and dedication to be raised to the next rank

Once a novice has finished their requirements and successfully finished writing their raising through the Three Arches, they are an Accepted. To become Aes Sedai, Accepted must complete each of the following:

  • Five channeling lessons
  • Two non-channeling lessons
  • Two Ajah Exploration Threads (AETs)
  • Teach one lesson to novices
  • Talent lessons as required (note:  If you only have one Talent you will be required to take two lessons in it, or if you have Dreamwalking as a Talent, you will be required to take two lessons to develop that particular Talent.)
  • Two interactive role-plays (in which you most post at least 5 posts over 500 words)
  • A major role-play

When an Accepted has shown their absolute conviction to become Aes Sedai and has demonstrated maturity worthy of the shawl, she will be asked to complete the testing and swear the Three Oaths. If she has proven her dedication to her favourite Ajah during training, she will be invited to join their ranks.

More about the Aes Sedai writing structures.

Becoming a Warder

Students of Aes Sedai’s Warders are in for a difficult and gruelling time. They must prove their abilities to other weaponmasters as well as prove themselves able to protect and guard some of the most widely feared and respected people in the world. As they progress through their training, these Warders’ students (also called trainees) are given marks of their accomplishment. These marks of honour are presented in fine silver pins to be worn on a lapel on feastday best, in embossed leather badges to be sewn onto garments, in headbands and armbands for everyday wear, and may be presented in other forms to denote rank.

  • Sovin’Tar receive a badge of the Flame of Tar Valon for their dedication to the White Tower
  • Mael’Tar receive a badge of a few links of chain, representing the chains that protect Northharbour and Southharbour and therefore Tar Valon
  • Daishar’Tar receive a badge of a wheel to represent the Wheel of Time and their everlasting oath to protect
  • Gaidin receive a badge of an emblazoned weapon, personalized to their specific talents, to represent skill with weaponry in times of great need

Trainees begin their life at the White Tower as Atha’Tar, an Old Tongue name that translates to ‘people of the Tower’. To earn their first mark of merit and advance to the next rank, a trainee must complete:

  • Three beginner weaponry lessons (one must be sword)
  • Two skills lessons, such as Woods, Rough, Dancing, Culture, Tactics, Horsemanship, etc.
  • One interactive role-play with a character from any section.
  • One major role-play showing something major happening in their life, or proving their dedication to the White Tower and Aes Sedai (optional; may be completed as Sovin’Tar)

Upon completing these requirements, the trainee is known as Sovin’Tar, ‘hands of the Tower’. To earn their second mark of merit and advance to the next rank, a trainee must complete:

  • Two lessons in any weapon except sword (intermediate if the trainee has completed a beginner lesson in the weapon previously; beginner if the trainee has not completed any lessons in the weapon)
  • One intermediate sword lesson
  • Two skills lessons
  • One interactive role-play with a character from any section
  • One major role-play showing something major happening in their life, or proving their dedication to the White Tower and Aes Sedai (if not completed as Atha’Tar)

A trainee is now halfway through their journey to become Gaidin, and is required to pass through a test of their skill and dedication before they can receive their second mark of merit. The tests are many and varied, and are designed to test a trainee to their limits. For more information about your raising options, visit the Trainee Raising Page.

Having passed through this test, the trainee is known as Mael’Tar, ‘hope of the Tower’. To earn their third mark of merit and advance to the next rank, a trainee must complete:

  • One intermediate weaponry lesson in any weapon (must have completed a beginner lesson in this weapon)
  • One advanced weaponry lesson in the trainee’s preferred weapon (must have completed beginner and intermediate lessons in this weapon); if the trainee’s preferred weapon is sword, they may choose any other weapon
  • One advanced sword lesson
  • One skill lesson
  • Teach (or assist in) one lesson
  • One interactive role-play with an Accepted or Aes Sedai
  • One major role-play (optional; may be completed as Daishar’Tar)

Upon completing these requirements, the trainee is known as Daishar’Tar, ‘glory of the Tower’. To earn their fourth mark of merit and be raised to the level of Gaidin, a Trainee must complete:

  • One expert weaponry lesson in the trainee’s preferred weapon
  • One expert weaponry role-play, creatively showing dedication to the trainee’s preferred weapon (may be individual or interactive, but must focus on the preferred weapon)
  • One skill lesson
  • Teach two lessons
  • One interactive role-play with a younger Trainee
  • One role-play with an Aes Sedai, demonstrating their worth as a Gaidin-to-be
  • One major role-play (if not completed as Mael’Tar)

Upon completing these requirements, two choices face the trainee.

It is assumed that all trainees are in training to become Gaidin and Warders, and so when they find the right Aes Sedai for them (in truth, it’s when an Aes Sedai deems them to be the right trainee to be bonded) they can do a major role-play with the Aes Sedai that culminates in them being bonded and the trainee being raised to Gaidin or Gaidar and obtaining the fancloth of a Warder (this can take place across multiple strings).

Alternatively, if the trainee decides to move away from the life of a Warder, they can enrol in the Tower Guard and continue their career there, although this is heavily discouraged as a waste of their Talent. Even rarer, some trainees leave the White Tower all together, although usually the White Tower finds a way to bring them back. At any time one in the Tower Guard may find themselves aiming toward the life of a Warder once more and can be bonded after a major role-play with an Aes Sedai.

Other Characters

While we currently have no definitive writing structures for other kinds of characters (Tower Guards, citizens, Wolfkin, Gleefolk, Tinkers, and so forth), we invite you to nonetheless create these characters and role-play them to your hearts content. We’ll monitor your writing and invite you to raise your character by levels after you’ve demonstrated active posting, maturity of character, and a willingness to interact with other characters on the site.