The "Tower-by-the-Sea"

• A large embassage of Aes Sedai dispatched by the Mother, intended to effect the treaty of affiliation has been introduced into both the councils of the High Lords of Tear, and among the Council of Nine in Illian, waiting for the official seal of King Herrad Gregorin den Ulyseneos. The treaty is expansive and complex. Among the official gestures of alliance and goodwill is the public betrothal of the Princess Tereinde of House Odesseos to the powerful young Tairen High Lord, Alesean of House Daniago, one of more prominent figures in the ruling body of Tear.

  The Tower's goal in forcing this rapprochement is unknown, but rumoured to stem from a powerful spate of Fortellings that emerged from several of its sisters bespeaking disaster and calamity if the affairs of the southern nations are not brought under control, or so the Fortellings were interpretted. Such a confluence of prophecy is extremely rare, and the Amyrlin's decision in enacting her interpretation is adamant. Numerous Aes Sedai from all Ajah have traveled to Illian, establishing a large presence inside a purchased palace near the Square of Tammuz. Indeed, with the Hall's sanction, several sisters have brought some of their proteacute;geacute;s and prized pupils with them, creating in effect, a branch of the White Tower on the coast of the Sea of Storms, headed by a ruling council of the Hall's designated emissaries. Foremost among this collection of Aes Sedai are the redoubtable Rigan a'Vorhan, of the Green Ajah and the brilliant Damara Salines of the Red Ajah, each of whom is trying to fashion this Aes Sedai enclave in their own image. This enclave has acquired, informally, the title "Tower-by-the-Sea."

  A large contingent of Tairen nobles and courtiers have arrived with High Lord Alasean's betrothal cortege, bringing with them sizable staffs of servants and retainers, and not a few skilled Tairen artists and minstrels to dazzle their Illianer hosts with the talents of Tear. High Ladies have brought couturiers and cosmeticians, and are engaged in a not so subtle contest of elegance with the noblewomen of Illian. Not to be outshown, the Queen of Altara, Asallia Naiane of House Quintsobar, Altara has dispatched a royal ambassadress of her own, Lady Demetriana of House Corcedes, who transported a sizable retinue and much of her rowdy family to a sea-swept manor on the edge of the city, and King Veim do Parhan a'Vahry of Murandy has also assigned an embassy, commanding a rival of his, Lord Liem a'Torhan and his ambitious wife Calill, along with their household staff and a sizable force of levees, to take residence as well

  Ever a canny observer of international affairs, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, Theidran Emsaille, has sent an emissary of his own, Demerin den Spironedes, a Lord Captain and Illianer nobleman by birth, to establish a rival center of attention in Illian, lest the populace be exposed to the vile Aes Sedai witches without any voice exposing their sin and pride. Lord Demerin has transformed his family's mansion in the city into a ancillary fortress for the Children, for all that the King and Council of the Nine grumble at his pride, for he has much support among the Assemblage and Illianers nobility.

  The heady mix of foreign courtiers and high politics has transformed Illian into a tumultuous vortex of international affairs, commerce, music and art, laced through with Daes Dae'mar. But beneath the glittering surface, deeper currents of guile and sinister intent give motion to lurking evil-doers, plotters and assassins. There are, as always, circles of darkfriends relishing the opportunity to transact in such an atmosphere, and elsewhere in the shadows are the agents of the Chamber, and a clandestine sisterhood² not at all pleased at the bevy of Aes Sedai suddenly in their midst.

• Ruling Council
  • Damara Salines, Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah
    Persuasive and saturnine, Damara Salines stands among the first rank of the Red Ajah, and she is an outspoken critic of the regime of the current Amyrlin. An strongly opinionated Sister, she was recently recalled from her position as the advisor to Queen Breigide of Ghealdan. Originally from Tear's brutal Chalm district, she is a dangerous and unpredictable fighter. Damara was a wilder, and her instructors despaired of her ability to transcend it. She leads a large clique of Red sisters, and was the protégé of Riann Haliwell, the redoubtable Red sister. Damara is expected to assume a Seat in the Hall before long. She is currently assigned to help govern the conclave of Aes Sedai dispatched to Illian, the "Tower-by-the-Sea," where she vies for dominance against Rigan a'Vorhan of the Green Ajah.
  • Maina Jarandi, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah
    A well esteemed and powerful Blue sister, the Altaran-born Maina was one of the high-ranking sisters who accompanied Valia Corgarin into exile during the reign of Elsbedhe Bodwell, during the poltical turmoil of those years, leaving the leadership of the Blue Ajah open to Sheralle Almazar. She currently is the highest ranking Blue on the ruling council of the "the "Tower-by-the-Sea," where in addition to her other duties, she is supposedly keeping Elivet Carnayar on a tight string.