Member Spotlight: Eleyan Teyal Al'Landerin

Author: Anigrel Tavadon
6 April 2012

Thanks to her love for people and the ability to connect with them, many at the Tower have had the opportunity to learn that Eleyan is much more than just the symbol of the Tower.

Eleyan first started reading our beloved series when her college roommate persuaded her to do so. Within the first one hundred pages she was hooked. A couple of years later, after searching the communities that existed at the time, the toasting story occured. The first real-life Aes Sedai was named, and subsequently, the first real-life Amyrlin Seat.

If you're unfamiliar with "The Toasting Story", ask one of our more Senior Members!

After being named Amyrlin, Eleyan continued to search for an online community. Eventually she started playing with html and TarValon.Net was born. Over the years the Tower grew and accomplished many things. When asked about the time she was most proud of the Tower she was hard pressed to pick just one. From the many she chose our fundraiser for Heifer International in which we headed a fandom-wide fundraiser that raised more than $40,000 for an amazing international foundation.

While being Amyrlin is a part of who Eleyan is, she does have a life outside of the tower. She is an avid reader who, aside from fantasy, enjoys historical non-fiction and old cookbooks. Among the books on her "Must Read" list are: American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Children of Men by P.D. James, The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle, Leaves of Grass (collected poems) by Walt Whitman, and Tao Te Ching by Lau Tsu. She loves to work in theater and some of her other hobbies include: walking outside, gaming, doing work that matters, discovering things, and spending time with her family.

For those that know her, and those who will eventually meet her, Eleyan is one of the kindest and most hospitable people you'll ever meet. It is also said that she has the ability to look into a person's soul and only ever uses that power for good. When asked, people have compared her to Siuan, Min, and Egwene because of her fierce loyalty, strength, tenacity, and ability to adapt. She has poured herself into the Tower for 11 years now. The love, vivacity, and strength found here reflect the very heart and soul of the woman who created it.

As you should all be aware, this has been Eleyan's final year as The Amyrlin Seat. I asked her a few questions about her thoughts on the matter and here is what she had to say:

TVT: What was your favorite part about being Amyrlin?

Amyrlin: Oh, jeez. Officiating ceremonies important to people? Awesome amounts of travel? Feeling that I was in a position to make a difference? Super-cosmic mod powers? I'm torn between saying something trivial and saying something poignant. So I guess I will say this.

Almost all of being Amyrlin is worthwhile, even the scary, icky bad parts.

But there is most definitely a lot about being Amyrlin that is also fun. So I think I will pick the times that I hold court. It doesn't matter if it is official, late night, or at tournament games. I'm surrounded by happy people I love, we're doing entertaining things, the conversation is easy, and I feel like there isnt anywhere else in the world I want to be. There is nothing wrong with that.

TVT: Having seen so many people work their way through the tower, what advice would you give to new members and junior members that currently doing so?

Amyrlin: Go to events. Remember that we're all people. Think about what you can do for others.

TVT: Now that you are passing the Stole to another, what kind of role do you see yourself in on the site?

Amyrlin: I will be staying on as a member of the Board of Directors for the foreseeable future, and will retain my super-mod super-abilities. I'll continue going to annual Admin meetings.

Hearing someone else called "Mother" is going to be weird. I expect I'll get over it much as I got over being called "Mother" in the first place. Not wearing my stole is going to be very, very hard. I look forward to being able to concentrate my energies on to one Ajah, but I sincerely hope that I will still be invited to all of them. Putting away my stole doesn't mean my stripes go away. I've been a part of all of you, and I've no desire to give that up. I doubt I could, honestly.

But I want to point out something that amazes me. What we have done so far isn't going away. I don't think it needs me at the helm in order to keep sailing. I'm excited to experience this next step, I'm excited to be present and active as a new Amyrlin takes the seat, and I am excited to have been part of creating an organization that is bigger than myself.

That said, I'm not 100% convinced to stop holding court. ;) I mean... it's pretty awesome.

TVT: If you could sum up your experience as Amyrlin in five words, what would they be?

Amyrlin: ...but it was a beginning.

TVT: Is there anything that I haven't covered that you'd like to share with the Tower?

Amyrlin: Thank you for making me who I am. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for granting me authority, even when (especially when?) I was certain I was not worthy of it. Thank you for telling me things that were hard to tell. Thank you for listening to things that were hard to hear. Thank you for being good to one another. Thank you for caring. Thank you for making an incredibly unlikely dream come true in an immeasurably fantastic way. Thank you for being my friends. Thank you for being my family.

Thank you for letting me serve as Amyrlin for 11 years.

I GOT TO BE AMYRLIN.

Not even "just" Aes Sedai...... I got to be AMYRLIN.

And it only mattered because you made it matter.

Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.