The White Tower

Clans have been on my mind a great deal lately. I want to join one, but I just don't know enough about them. I don't know what I need to know, what the best clan for my character is or even very much about their purpose or roleplay.

 Eventually, I'd like to have a page listing all the clans along with any relevant information about them but for now, I'll take what I can get.

And what I got was an awesome sit-down session with Alayla Sedai. I had asked about joining the White Tower over chats and the responses were...mixed. With answers ranging from "It's a prison!" to "It has the best RP in the game!", I really didn't have any real idea of what I should do.

Luckily, Alayla invited me to join her in Tar Valon for a conversation and she explained to me what it meant to join the White Tower.

First of all, it seems as though if you are a female channeler, you must either join the White Tower and gain access to higher level weaves, or join a regular clan and forgo high level weaves. As far as I can tell, there is no other clan that is openly for FC's, though rumors abound of a secret clan. While I really want my blog to be an open source of information for WoTMUD, I'm hesitant to talk about things that are intended to be secret in the game, so you'll not find me talking about rumors or secrets.

If Alayla stressed one thing, it was that being in the White Tower was hard. The process is long and there can be hiccups along the way. There are two built-in stops as you rank up: when you go from Novice to Accepted and from Accepted to Aes Sedai. As in the books, there are tests that you must complete in order to proceed. I asked her if it was true that it could take years to get to Aes Sedai and she said yes, it is true. But she admonished me to remember that we are talking about one of the strongest, most dangerous characters in the game. It's not supposed to be easy.

When you join the Tower, you begin as a Novice. This lasts for two ranks and then you take the Arches test to become an Accepted. As a novice, you must stay on the Island of Tar Valon (but don't worry! There's a zone on the island for exping.) You must complete tasks and chores to earn quest points which will allow you to rank up. In addition, you are required to attend at least one class, called Novice Orientation, but other classes are offered from time to time. In the words of Alayla, "If you look for things to do, you will find them."

When you think are ready to become an Accepted, you would mail the Hall of Sitters to do your test. Accepted are allowed to leave Tar Valon, but their travel is still restricted. When you get to rank 4, if you have over 150 qp's and under 175qp's, you can pk in the Blight.

As an Accepted, you will begin to think about which Ajah you wish to join and focus on it. An Aes Sedai of that Ajah may take you on for private study. When the Aes Sedai believe you are ready, you will be tested for the Shawl. The tests for Accepted and the Shawl are very serious and can be failed, even to the point of death. If you fail too many times, you will be put out of the Tower.

The length of time it takes to rank up can, in part, be attributed to the activity of other players. When your progress relies on other people being active, it can sometimes be hard to move forward. Further, the Tower is very strict so it is important not to bend or break the rules. This, too, can hinder your advancement because it affects the way you are perceived by those above you. For example, Alayla suggested I limit my use of happy faces at the end of all my sentences (an addiction that will be very hard to break!). Roleplay, and staying in characters, is very important in the White Tower and in order to be successful, you must make a good impression. This means curtseying and always addressing others by their appropriate titles. Alayla gave this example: "Alayla SEDAI, ACCEPTED Khahliana, Trik GAIDIN."

So, with all the restrictions and difficult waiting periods, why would anyone want to join the White Tower? There are many reasons. There are many things to see and look at in the White Tower: secret rooms, inscriptions, etc. But are those really worth all the work? Probably not. But when you join, you immediately gain access to high level weaves. Once you've finally made it through all the ranks, you are an Aes Sedai. As if just the name and honor of being an Aes Sedai wasn't enough, you get bonuses! I know one of the bonuses is that you can bond a Warder. The one bit of information I didn't get from Alayla, because I didn't ask, is what those bonuses are. But in my own mind, it doesn't matter. Others seem to think they are worth the hassle, so they must be great! I'm willing to take that chance. I'll be joining the Tower in the next few days. Wish me luck!

What about you? Have you joined the Tower? What are the bonuses? Leave a comment below!