Born the second child of House Kaishta in Kandor, Mariko enjoyed many of life's comforts. Her father was often away in the Blight, and her mother, Adelle, died when Mari was about seven, so her brother looked after her. Avram, who was eight years older, indulged her in anything she wanted. She lived a quiet and contented life on a small estate on the edge of Chachin, frequently reading or riding her horse.
When she was very young, she was not so aware of her height, and her father joyed in the exuberance of her youth. As a child, they called her the Storm. She had been born late at night during a blizzard, and her personality was as shifting and unpredictable as the winds. Others called her Mariko Whitebrow, referring to her right brow, which was completely white, and the lashes of the same eye, which were streaked through the center.
Kandori are a tall people, and Mari and her brother were very tall, but while Avram was sought after by all the girls, Mari was taunted, scorned, or simply ignored. At state gatherings, or the few times she attended court at the Palace, she was smiled at and thought beautiful...until she stood, looking down on many of those who would have been her suitors, had she been shorter. In her solitude, Mari developed an amazing skill in embroidery and sewing, and did all her own seamstressing from that point on, especially since the women in town had complained so much about having to stand on chairs just to reach her neckline!
Avram worried for her. She was only fourteen. But by then he had married, was campaigning with his father in the Blight, and his wife was expecting an heir. He could indulge and protect his little cabbage no longer, and was sad for her.
A few months later, Mari was attending court at the Aesdaishar Palace. She didn�t really want to be there, but there she was, and she could do nothing about it. As she traced the pattern on the floorstones with the toe of a slender foot, she heard the soft tinkling of bells. She looked up to see a small Arafellin woman approaching her. The woman was quite small, only a head taller than Mari while she was seated. Mari knew if she stood, the woman would stand perhaps as high as Mari�s chest. Then she recognized something about her: her smooth cheeks, the Great Serpent glinting golden on her finger, and the shawl she wore, embroidered thickly with grapevines, fringed in green. Mariko rose and curtsied. �A good day to you, Aes Sedai,� she said quietly, her eyes downcast. Towering over the woman, Mari felt her ears grow hot.
The Aes Sedai smiled up at her. �Unless I�m mistaken, you�re Mariko Kaishta.� She smiled wider at Mari�s blushes. �Don�t be embarrassed, child. At least, don�t be embarrassed that you�re so tall. I�m not at all embarrassed that I�m so short.� She smiled again. �Now then... My name is Ayuki Sedai. If you�d rather, we can speak somewhere else...� She motioned toward the door.
Nodding, Mari followed her. They discussed varying topics that day, and Ayuki promised to pay her a visit at the family estate. She called the very next day, speaking first to Avram, and then to Mari�s father, Josef. Mari sat with her embroidery for quite some time before her father and Ayuki Sedai came out of his study. Ayuki stayed and talked with Mariko for only a short time before returning to the palace.
As they ate their supper that night, Avram and Josef exchanged frequent looks, and looked often toward Mariko.
�What are the weird looks for?� Mari asked. �Has my brow changed from white to red all of a sudden? Or has my hair gone white like the brow?�
Avram cleared his throat and looked down at his plate. Josef took a long draught of wine before he answered her. �Ayuki Sedai spoke with me today, as you know. She seems to think that some years training in Tar Valon would do you good. She says you have the spark, and that you will channel, with or without training. With training is best, I should think. She said you could die if you channeled without training.�
Mariko�s expression hardly changed, and she nodded. �I suppose I should have expected something like this to happen. When am I supposed to leave?�
Josef and Avram exchanged a long look, then Avram turned to her and said, �As soon as you can pack, cabbage.�
Mari shrugged. �I suppose Tar Valon can�t be any worse than Chachin.� She finished her stew and bread, then rose. �If you�ll excuse me, I think I need to get packing.� She kissed her father and went to her rooms.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon arriving at the Tower, Mariko learned that life was different than that in Chachin. She didn�t mind the chores so much, but she got into much more trouble than she had ever been in her entire life. She attended most of her classes, and was switched for skipping a few. She scrubbed more pots than she ever thought existed. And though she missed her brother, her father, and her home, she was happy.
When Mari had been training at the Tower six years, she was Accepted into the White Tower. Ayuki Sedai kept close watch on her, knowing she would likely choose Green. And Green she chose, after spending another eight years training.
Mariko spent her first few years as Aes Sedai traveling the Borderlands, learning more about Shadowspawn and the Blight. She had been Aes Sedai seven years before bonding her first Warder, a Malkieri nobleman by the name of Rakir Tanaka. A year or two older than Mari, Rakir was a quiet man, and studious as well as skilled in combat. Their relationship was much like the relationship Mari had with her brother, and Rakir knew her better than many others did. It also helped that he was just a bit taller than she was.
Three more years passed, and Mariko bonded another Warder, this time a Domani - also taller than herself--by the name of Marzan Kalif, third son of his House, and at times as deadly as he was charming. Another four, and she bonded Andru Dalwyn, a former sheep thief who had the good fortune-or misfortune, she sometimes thought fondly; he was still rather notorious in his homeland of Murandy--of stealing her heart. And another two years later she bonded her most recent Warder, Jaemar Zykoshi, then a member of the Saldaean cavalry.
Mari shared her bond with four very different men, but all friendly with one another and loyal to her. Each had different skills which made him valuable in a different aspect in their little army. Rakir was studious and observant, a good scout and strategist. Marzan�s hobbies included woodcarving and calligraphy, and he was quite skilled at reproducing seals and forging others� penmanship. Andru was a dead-shot with a bow, and his skills had provided them with fresh mounts a more than a few times. Jaem, in addition to his horsemanship and battle skills, was especially good at tracking and covering their back trail. Altogether, Mari thought they were quite a good team.
~*~
Mariko is tall and lithe, about 6'3" and 160 pounds. Her figure is what one would call boyish, with a small bust and very little curve to her hips. She has deep red hair, worn just past the shoulder; her right eyebrow is white, and so are some of the lashes on that eye. Her eyes are a stormy shade, changing from green to grey to blue with the light. Her personal sigil is a white snowflake on a field of dark green.
Mari is a romantic, and was once very shy. She is very passionate, but, though her years in and out of the Tower have lessened her apprehension of people, it takes some time to get her to open up. Once self-conscious of her height, Mari now revels in it, as it is much to her advantage when dealing with people outside the Tower. She is generally slow to anger, but if pressed too hard, her temper will rage like wildfire.
As stated before, Mariko is very skilled with a needle. Since coming to the Tower, however, she does not sew as many of her own garments as she once did. She dresses in the style of her homeland, mostly wearing wide trousers and short coats. When occasion calls for a dress, however, Mari still continues to wear the high-waisted gowns of Kandor, belted just below her breasts.
Mari is fairly strong in the One Power, but is not counted among the Tower�s strongest sisters. She is a fairly proficient Healer, and is strongest in Air and Spirit. Wielding Earth is particularly difficult for her, and having to use it for any length of time will give her a headache.
Mari's Warders (NPC):
Rakir Tanaka (called Rakir)
Malkieri, 6�6�, 270 lb., muscular. Light brown hair (long, with hadori), blue eyes. Prefers clothes in dark blue and grey (silver). Will wear full armor when needed, but never a helm. House emblem is a snowfox on a blue field.
Masterful swordsman, lefthanded. Also skilled with spear, axe, and mace.
Hobbies include stargazing, falconing, and flying Malkieri fighting-kites. Prefers to be by himself, quiet even in the company of his brother Gaidin.
~*~
Andru Dalwyn (called Andru, occasionally just Dru)
Murandian, 6�3�, 230 lb., broad-shouldered. Blond hair (slightly shaggy curls, with sideburns), trim mustache and imperial, grey eyes. Wears long coat, but open most of the time, often with embroidery or gold-work.
Dead shot with a bow, skilled with shortsword and quarterstaff, as well as rough-and-tumble hand fighting.
Hobbies include gambling (dice or cards), smithwork (a good blacksmith and tolerable silversmith), and occasionally swiping sheep from nearby villages (to keep in practice). Known to be foul of mouth on occasion.
Jaemar Zykoshi (called Jaem)
Saldaean, 6�0�, 170 lb., wiry. Red hair (fairly short), trimmed beard, tilted green eyes, hawkish nose. Wears silk shirts and a studded leather vest most of the time.
Superb horseman and lancer, fine swordsman and horse archer.
Hobbies include horses (both tending and trading), acrobatics (tumbling), and ice skating. Loves the winter, or anything to do with snow.
~*~
Marzan Kalif (called Marz in the familiar)
Domani, 6�5�, 190 lb., lean, almost willowy. Dark brown hair (worn to the shoulder), long mustache, dark eyes, beauty mark on left cheek. Wears gold bracelet with his house symbols, gold earring with an emerald, well cut clothes, sometimes with a flower in his lapel. Wears a silver(plated) chain doubled-looped around his waist (beneath his coat).
Expert with throwing knives, darts, metal stars, or any other thrown weapon you care to name. Skilled infighter, often fights with both hands, using knives, shortswords, or chains.
Hobbies include poetry, calligraphy, and woodcarving. Also a connoisseur of fine tabac, and collects pipes.
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