Wheel of Time Info
Hey everyone! This is where I'm gonna post information relating to the book series. This is currently a work in progress, but should be finished soon.All information can be found in the Wheel of Time Encyclopedia, but I am going to post the info here for easier access.
The following is a list of societies and their classes. Be sure to read up on what you want to be.
Aes Sedai
Wielders of the One Power. Their organization is headquartered in the White Tower in the city of Tar Valon. Aes Sedai live much longer than ordinary people, sometimes as much as three hundred years. Among Aes Sedai, speaking of age is considered extremely rude. Aes Sedai are known for their look of agelessness. Weaker sisters defer to stronger sisters and must obey them if they are much stronger. Other factors in order of precedence are time in training and age.
All Aes Sedai except the Amrylin Seat belong to an Ajah. Each follows a specific philosophy of the use of the One Power and the purposes of the Aes Sedai. There are seven official Ajahs, each designated by a color. The eighth, unofficial Ajah, is the Black Ajah.
Each Ajah has its own organization and communications network including a spy network called the eyes-and-ears. Curiously, the head of each Ajah is a closely guarded secret within the Ajah and the Ajah head is typically not a Sitter.
Warders
Also called "Gaidin", warders are bonded (usually willingly) to Aes Sedai. It is considered almost rape to unwillingly bond someone. Most Warders are men, but women can be Warders as well. Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah often have more than one Warder. Though not done, a Warder can be bonded to more than one Aes Sedai and even non-channelers can be included. Red Ajah sisters have no Warders. Usually bonding is done by Aes Sedai, but Accepted, and theoretically novices and other channelers can bond a Warder if they know the proper weave.
The bond helps both the Aes Sedai and the Warder. They can read each others feelings (empathic ability). The Warder can also draw upon strength from his Aes Sedai. The Warder in turn protects the Aes Sedai from physical dangers.
Although it is possible to release the bond, it is considered a permanent commitment. An Aes Sedai who is on the verge of death may release the bond to spare her Warder grief, but to release the bond for the benefit of the Aes Sedai is considered disgraceful and is just not done.
Asha'man
The Asha'man are the male counterpart to the current Aes Sedai. They are lead by Rand. His second in command is Mazrim Taim, who has trained most of them. They call their organization the Black Tower in contrast to the Aes Sedai White Tower and are headquartered in a rural area near Caemlyn.
They have three ranks, not including the last two:
Soldier
Dedicated - They wear a silver sword pin.
Asha'man - In addition to the sword pin they wear a dragon pin.
M'Hael - Leader of the Asha'man unless the Dragon is present, though his initial rank is still Asha'man.
The Dragon - Pretty much the ruler of the world.
The Kin
The Kin is an organization of women who can channel. Most were put out of the White Tower for one reason or another, usually for failing one of the many required tests. Others are runaways. Women who are wilders are not admitted. They also do not allow marriage. Their rank is established by age. The thirteen oldest Kin, known as the Eldest and the Elders, comprise the Knitting Circle, also referred to as just plainly the Circle.
The Kin once believed their existence to be unknown to the Aes Sedai. In reality, the Aes Sedai had known of their existence and actually depend on the Kin to help catch and return runaways.
The Children of the Light
The Children of the Light, disparagingly called Whitecloaks, are an organization of zealous foes of the Dark and defenders of the Light. They were organized during War of the Hundred Years by Lothair Mantelar to combat the increasing number of Darkfriends. Their symbol is a golden sunburst on a field of white.
Their headquarters is the Fortress of the Light in the city of Amador in Amadicia. In truth they rule the country of Amadicia.
They believe that any use of the One Power is the work of the Dark One and thus all Aes Sedai are Darkfriends.(Though this is starting to change now.)
The philosophy/theology of the Children is a curious blend of retribution and redemption. While they believe that "no man is so lost that he cannot be brought to the Light," the penalty for being a Darkfriend is death. They also say that, "The sins of the mother are visited to the fifth generation and the sins of the father to the tenth."
As of Book 13, the Children are currently going through a radical change in which they are rethinking their extremist views and how they see the rest of world and society. But while a lot of them have put to rest their ways of zealotry and fanaticism, there are still some who will not, or can not, change their views.
They are currently lead by Lord Captain Commander Galadedrid Damodred.
Ranks:
Soldier
Lieutenant
Commander
Captain
Captain Commander
Lord Captain
Lord Captain Commander(Leader of the Children)
Aiel
The Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled warriors; little else is known about them in the wider world. Aiel can be recognized through their height, characteristic pale eyes, and red or blond hair.
Clans and Septs:
Chareen
Nakai
Codarra
Reyn
Daryne
Shaarad
Goshien
Shaido
Miagoma
Shiande
Taardad
Tomanelle
Warrior Societies:
Tuatha'an (Tinkers)
Tinkers are the descendants of the Aiel who broke from their mission to carry the Aes Sedai's wagons to safety. Rather, they chose to strike out on their own to search for the song that was lost. They hold to the Way of the Leaf and will do no violence for any reason. The leader of a band of Tinkers is called Mahdi or "Seeker" in the Old Tongue.
Other Aiel hold them in disgust and call them the Lost Ones, though they tolerate them traveling in the Aiel Waste. Tinkers avoid cities as they have an undeserved reputation as thieves and kidnappers.
Sea Folk
The Atha'an Miere or Sea Folk spend their entire lives on their ships. In particular, they consider it important to be born and to die on the water. This is tied into the Jendai Prophecy. They have very dark skin, straight black hair and black eyes. Men and women have tattoos and piercings. The tattoos identify their Clan. The number of piercings identify their rank. Men are clean shaven.
The ruler of the Sea Folk is the Mistress of Ships, currently Nesta din Reas Two Moons. The Mistress of Ships holds as much power as many queens. The Master of the Blades, currently Baroc, is sometimes married to the Mistress of Ships and is responsible for trade and defense of the Sea Folk.
Like the Aiel, the Sea Folk are divided into numerous clans each headed by a Wavemistress. Her Swordmaster serves the same role within the clan as the Master of the Blades. Within a clan, each ship is captained by a Sailmistress. Her Cargomaster is responsible for the trade and defense of the ship. The Wavemistress of a clan is also the Sailmistress of her ship.
Each ship also has a Windfinder. Windfinders are able to channel and are highly skilled in Cloud Dancing which they call Weaving of Winds.
Clans:
- Catelar
- Dacan
- Rossaine
- Shodein
- Somarin
- Takana
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The True Source
One Power * Saidin and Saidar * Angreal
Stilling/Gentling * True Power * Weaves
The glossaries seem to be the best place for the definitions of the terms on this page.
"The driving force of the universe, which turns the Wheel of Time. It is divided into a male half (saidin) and a female half (saidar), which work at the same time with and against each other. Only a man can draw on saidin, only a woman on saidar. Since the beginning of the Time of Madness, saidin has been tainted by the Dark One's touch."
That's all for now. Will add more soon.
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