Difference between revisions of "A'dam"

Revision as of 18:44, 17 May 2009

Author: Caerwyn Jolan AYE-dam

General

The a’dam is a ter’angreal composed of two pieces, used to control a woman who can channel saidar, the female form of the One Power. It consists of a collar made of a silvery metal, worn by the woman being controlled and a bracelet worn by the woman controlling her. Men may not use an a’dam, although there is a male form of the device. The bracelet has different appearances, and may or may not be connected directly to the collar by a cord. Like all ter’angreal, it is constructed using the One Power in a manner not known since the Breaking of the World.

The first appearance of the a’dam is as a device used by Seanchan to control female channellers of the One Power, usually to use them in warfare. Seanchan have no Aes Sedai, rather all women are tested at an early age and the ones who can channel naturally become damane. Women who have the ability to channel, but cannot do so naturally, become sul'dam, users of the a'dam. Damane are considered property, and are generally used for the purposes of the Seanchan empire. Their use in warfare gives the Seanchan forces an enormous advantage, as the damane cause tremendous fear to enemy troops by channelling the One Power in battle to produce explosions, lightning, etc. at long distances. The terms damane and sul'dam are only used by the Seanchan, however in this article we use them to refer to the any two women using an a'dam.

Both women must be capable of channeling the One Power for the a’dam to function.

There are two primary effects of an a’dam:

• The damane cannot channel on her own without being allowed by the sul’dam. It is possible to channel without a sul’dam wearing the bracelet but it causes the damane to become ill. In the Seanchan version of the device where the two halves are linked physically, the damane may not touch the bracelet side of the a’dam or move it without physical pain occurring, even if the sul’dam is not present and wearing it.
• The sul’dam can cause the damane physical pain (or any sensation) through a’dam, as well as control her channeling. This allows a sul’dam who has no knowledge of channeling herself to channel the One Power for specific effects.

Like many ter’angreal, the a’dam can function in the World of Dreams as well.

Appearance and Uses

• Egwene is captured to become a damane (TGH, Ch. 40)
• Egwene’s training as damane in Falme (TGH, Ch. 42)
• Elayne finds the male version of an a’dam in the Panarch’s Palace in Tanchico (TSR, Ch. 54)
• Nynaeve uses an a’dam in the World of Dreams to capture Moghedien, one of the female Forsaken. (TFoH, Ch. 54)

Miscellaneous

• Seanchan test all women for ability to channel. All of the women selected to become damane would be considered "wilders" by the White Tower. The testing process and training as a damane prevents a significant fraction of wilders dieing through uncontrolled experimentation with the One Power as happens in the world outside Seanchan.
• The Seanchan also test to select women to become sul'dam, but do not realize that these women can be taught to channel the One Power. In fact, they do not realize that channeling can be taught at all.