Ala

Overview

Ala is a young suur (female avout—monastic scholar) of the Concent of Saunt Edhar noted for brisk, practical leadership—especially around bell work and crowded moments near the Mynster. She chose the New Circle at Eliger, helped set up a discreet pinhole projection of the sun with close peers, and was later named during Voco (formal summons out of a math). Reports from Tredegarh place her at the Convox (rare mass assembly) now underway.

Appearance and Traits

Forthright, brisk, and decisive. Small and bony, with a round head, large eyes, a delicate sharp nose, and a wide mouth; she keeps her hair cropped short. Her manner shifts easily from command to collaboration when a practical path is clear.

Roles and Actions

• Bell work and mentoring: organizes and rehearses ringers, spends time in the Mynster’s lower works maintaining mechanisms and practicing unfamiliar changes, and passes techniques to younger girls.
• Discreet observation: with Suur Tulia, darkened a maintenance room beneath the carillon to project the sun safely. Together with Fraa Erasmas, marked brief blue-white "sparks" on the projected disk for later analysis.
• Night-sky observation (recalled): Erasmas later remarks that he and Ala saw bright flashes overhead, which he interprets as nuclear drive bursts associated with a change in the orbit of the visitors’ craft; this interpretation is his.
• Convox planning: Lio reports that Ala has been drafting contingency plans to disperse the Convox from Tredegarh if needed; no order to disperse has been issued.

Relationships and Affiliations

• Suur Tulia: Long-standing working partner in chores, bell work, and quiet study; Tulia had set out intending to find Ala at Saunt Tredegarh.
• Fraa Erasmas: Collaborator on the pinhole observation. The two agreed to declare an Etrevanean liaison (formal relationship rite) that was not entered before later events. Erasmas has sent mail care of Tredegarh addressed to Ala.
• Fraa Jesry: Jesry states that after their Voco he and Ala began a liaison; he expects she will decide next steps and remain out of contact until she has done so.

Current Status

Evoked during Voco and departed Saunt Edhar. At Tredegarh, peers report that she is present for the Convox and engaged in contingency planning; direct on-page contact with her is not shown in these accounts. Letters addressed to her care of the Concent of Saunt Tredegarh have been sent; delivery or reply has not been shown.