Sumeko Karistovan
General
Sumeko Karistovan is a Wise Woman in Ebou Dar and one of the Kin elders. She is younger than Reanne, but older than the rest of the Kin in Caemlyn, including Kirstian who is known to be around three hundred and fifteen. She is second in command after Reanne, as the Kin organize themselves (KoD, Ch. 17). She is more than two hundred years older than Alise. Unlike Reanne, Sumeko had no flair for leadership, and doesn't like it either (KoD, Ch. 31). Sumeko is probably native from the Borderlands. She came to the White Tower but broke down during the test for the shawl. If she had succeeded she would have chosen the Yellow Ajah (ACoS, Ch. 24). Although it was forbidden, she has continued working on Healing with the One Power, and she has become very experienced with it. Her way of Healing is very similar to Nynaeve's (ACoS, Ch. 38).
She is stout, round faced and has glossy black hair. As a Wise Woman she wears a very long red belt (ACoS, Ch. 31).
Sumeko is among the Kin who go to the six story building to find the Bowl of the Winds. There she Heals Reanne Corly when she is injured by the gholam (ACoS, Ch. 38). Sumeko and the Kin go with Elayne and the other Aes Sedai to the Kin's farm, then Travels to Andor. During the long ride to Caemlyn Sumeko becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Aes Sedai (TPoD, Ch. 20). In Caemlyn, Sumeko is taught a new Healing weave by the Aiel Wise Ones, called Caressing the Child. When asked if the weave was like Delving, Sumeko tells Elayne, "Don't be silly, child". (CoT, Ch. 14). Together with Alise Tenjile she tries to calm the rest of the Kin after the murders and reports to Elayne (KoD, Ch. 17).
During the siege of Caemlyn, Sumeko spends most of her time Healing (ToM, Ch. 17).
Elayne meets with her and Alise to discuss the future of the Kin (ToM, Ch. 17).
She still intends to be an Aes Sedai and join the Yellow Ajah (ToM, Ch. 17).
When Mat decides to take on the gholam, Sumeko maintains the gateway (ToM, Ch. 31).
She takes charge of Healing the survivors after Caemlyn is overrun by Trollocs (AMoL, Ch. 1)
She and other Kinswomen help weave gateways for messengers to move between battlefields (AMoL, Ch. 10).
Strengths and Talents
She knows more of Healing than any sister, perhaps more than Nynaeve (TPoD, Ch. 3). She criticized several of Nynaeve's Healing weaves as "clumsy" (TPoD, Ch. 20).
She is strong enough to Travel, but weaker than Reanne.
Quotes
Sumeko was never wrong, not in this area. She would have been Yellow Ajah had she not broken down completely while testing for the shawl, and although it was forbidden, despite countless penances, she worked to learn more whenever she thought no one was watching. (Reanne, A Crown of Swords, Chapter 24).
"'The Wise Ones learned about Healing from me. And from Nynaeve, I suppose,' she allowed after a moment...Sumeko had outstripped Nynaeve long since. 'And they did learn the simple form from Aes Sedai.' A snort like ripping canvas showed what Sumeko thought of the 'simple' form, the only sort of Healing Aes Sedai had known for thousands of years. 'This is something of the Wise Ones' own.'" (CoT, Ch. 14).
