Amyrlin Seat Investiture Ceremony
This is the ceremony for the investiture of a new Amyrlin Seat at TarValon.Net. For the ceremony in the Wheel of Time book series, see Amyrlin Raising Ceremony.
People involved
- Keeper of the Chronicles
- 2 representatives from each Ajah/Company
- All present members of the Board of Directors
- Outgoing Amyrlin
- Outgoing Amyrlin's bondmate(s), as applicable
- Amyrlin-Elect
- Gaidin
Keeper of the Chronicles: I call the Hall of the Tower of TarValon.Net, Inc. into session. Will the representatives for each Company and Ajah please come forward and take their places.
Two representatives from each group come forward and arrange themselves in this order:
Keeper of the Chronicles: We are here tonight to honor the service of (name of outgoing Amyrlin). She/He/They come; She/he/they come! (Name of outgoing Amyrlin), The Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat. Attend you all, for she/he/they come!
The outgoing Amyrlin enters, wearing their stole, escorted by their bondmate(s). They carry the symbolic colors of each Company/Ajah. They stop in front of the Board of Directors.
Keeper of the Chronicles: I ask the Board of Directors of TarValon.Net to come forward at this time.
Any members of the Board of Directors present come forward; this is the time for them to give their personal thanks to the outgoing Amyrlin.
Board of Directors: (Name of outgoing Amyrlin), Amyrlin of TarValon.Net, Inc. You have served long and well. What do you ask of the Board of Directors?
Outgoing Amyrlin: I ask that I may stand down from the Watch.
Board of Directors: Then ask your sisters, brothers and siblings of the Tower.
The outgoing Amyrlin then, beginning with Blue, approaches each group’s representatives and asks: Sisters/Brothers/Siblings, may I stand down?
Ajah Representatives: Yes, Mother, you may.
Company Representatives: Yes, Mother, you may, but by your leave we will still stand, for the Watch is not done.
The outgoing Amyrlin hands each group back their symbolic color; it is appropriate to exchange hugs as participants are comfortable and small gifts may be presented at this time. The Keeper of the Chronicles will collect any gifts and hold them for the outgoing Amyrlin while they continue around the semi-circle. Upon finishing, the outgoing Amyrlin returns to the center and stands in front of the Board of Directors.
Gaidin come forward and remove the Amyrlin’s stole from their shoulders. It is folded and put into a box/chest. The outgoing Amyrlin then steps to stand with the rest of the Board.
Keeper of the Chronicles: I ask the Board of TarValon.Net, Inc. - have you chosen a candidate to be raised as the new Amyrlin Seat?
Board of Directors: We have.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Then call forward your candidate.
Board Member 1: (Name of Amyrlin-Elect), you are summoned before the Hall of the Tower. Ask not why you are summoned. It is yours to answer, not to question.
Board Member 2: Delay not in your coming. It is yours to obey in haste. It is well to fear the summons of the Hall. It is well to obey in haste and humility, unasking. You are summoned to kneel before the Hall of the Tower and accept their judgement.
The Amyrlin-Elect comes forward and stands before the outgoing Amyrlin.
Amyrlin-Elect: Sister/Brother/Sibling, I have come to relieve you.
Outgoing Amyrlin: Sister/Brother/Sibling, I am relieved. The Watch is yours.
The two embrace/hug/etc as appropriate. The Amyrlin-Elect then steps to the side.
Keeper of the Chronicles: (Name of outgoing Amyrlin), you have long been of all Ajahs and Companies and of none. I ask that you now choose the Ajah/Company you wish to join as Aes Sedai/Gaidin.
The outgoing Amyrlin makes their choice and is welcomed into the group; etc, etc.
Keeper of the Chronicles: (Name of Amyrlin-Elect), soon you will be of all Ajahs and Companies and of none. Go to your siblings of the _____ Ajah/Company for the last time as a _______ Aes Sedai/Gaidin.
The Amyrlin-Elect goes to their membership group.
Amyrlin-Elect: Sisters/Brothers/Siblings, I ask that you release me so that I may serve the greater good of the Tower.
Amyrlin-Elect's Ajah/Company: Sister/Brother/Sibling, the Watch is yours. We will be here when your Watch is done.
The Amyrlin-Elect returns their shawl/sash/cloak showing affiliation with their Ajah/Company. The Amyrlin-Elect then returns to the center and kneels in front of the Keeper of the Chronicles. At this point, all of the Hall and Board should be seated.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?
Amyrlin-Elect: One who comes obediently in the Light.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?
Amyrlin-Elect: One who comes humbly in the Light.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?
Amyrlin-Elect: One who comes at the summons of the Hall, obedient and humble in the Light, asking only to accept the will of the Hall.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Who stands for this woman/man/person and pledges for her/him/them, heart for heart, soul for soul, life for life?
Board of Directors: (All stand) I so pledge.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Why are you here, (name of the Amyrlin Elect)?
Amyrlin-Elect: I was summoned by the Hall of the Tower.
Keeper of the Chronicles: What do you seek, (name of the Amyrlin Elect)?
Amyrlin-Elect: To serve TarValon.Net, Inc., nothing more and nothing less.
Keeper of the Chronicles: How would you serve, (name of the Amyrlin Elect)?
Amyrlin-Elect: With my heart and soul and my life, in the Light, without fear or favor, in the Light.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Where would you serve, (name of the Amyrlin Elect)?
Amyrlin-Elect: In the Amyrlin Seat, if it pleases the Hall of the Tower.
Keeper of the Chronicles: Then ask your brothers, sisters and siblings.
The Amyrlin Elect moves to each group’s representatives and asks:
Amyrlin-Elect: Brothers/Sisters/Siblings, may I serve?
Ajah/Company Representatives: (Standing) The ____ Ajah/Company stands for this woman/man/person. (Each group gives the Amyrlin-Elect its symbolic colors; remain standing until ceremony is complete.)
Once all groups are completed, the Amyrlin-Elect returns center in front of Keeper of the Chronicles.
Keeper of the Chronicles: The Hall has stood in support of this woman/man/person. I now ask for the greater consensus of the entire community of TarValon.Net, Inc. Will you all stand for this woman/man/person as Amyrlin Seat?
Audience stands.
Keeper of the Chronicles: The greater consensus of the Hall and Community having spoken, (name of the Amyrlin-Elect), you are raised to the Amyrlin Seat, in the glory of the Light, that TarValon.Net may endure forever. May the light illumine the Amyrlin Seat and the White Tower.
Gaidin come forward and put the Amyrlin’s stole on the new Amyrlin.
Keeper of the Chronicles: (name of the new Amyrlin), The Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat!
