Difference between revisions of "Car'a'carn"

Revision as of 07:07, 7 August 2011

General

The Car'a'carn, chief of chiefs in the Old Tongue is the man prophesied to unite the Aiel and lead them out of the Waste (TGH, Ch. 28; TSR, Ch. 34). Prophecy stated that he would come out of Rhuidean at dawn, marked by Dragons on both arms (TSR, Ch. 34) and that he would be Aiel by blood, but not raised by Aiel (TSR, Ch. 34). In reality, things were not so simple. Asmodean was able to use Couladin's ambition and mark him in the same way, allowing Couladin to also claim to be the Car'a'carn. He however, had not been to Rhuidean and lacked the insight Rand had gained from the glass columns there. Rand proved to the Aiel who he was by telling them of their history (TSR, Ch. 57). Many, could not accept this, and fled, some, to the Shaido, where they were called the Mera'din (ACoS, Ch. 40; KoD, Ch. 5), others to the Tuatha'an (TFoH, Ch. 5) and others still to Far Madding (WH, Ch. 22).

Though Chief, the Car'a'carn is not a king, or even a noble and receives respect, though not the blind obedience kings or queens can expect (TSR, Ch. 37), with other chiefs, he is at best, first among equals (TFoH, Ch. 2). Similarly, when they visit Cold Rocks Hold, Dorindha accepts a gift from Rand, the Car'a'carn, but not from Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, saying her presence is honour enough (TSR, Ch. 49).

Prophecies

Main article: Aiel Prophecies

The Car'a'carn was described in a number of prophecies, which were known to the Aiel, though the details were known only to Wise Ones and chiefs (TSR, Ch. 34)

• "Prophecy says that when the Stone of Tear falls, we will leave the Three-fold Land at last. It says we will be changed, and find again what was ours, and what was lost" (TGH, Ch. 28).

• "He shall slay his people with the sword of peace, and destroy them with the leaf" (TDR, Ch. 6).

• He will be born of Far Dareis Mai. Blood of our blood mixed with the old blood, raised by an ancient blood not ours. Of the blood, but not raised by the blood, he will come from Rhuidean at dawn, and tie you together with bonds you cannot break. He will take you back, and he will destroy you. He shall spill out the blood of those who calls themselves Aiel as water on sand, and he shall break them as dried twigs, yet the remnant of a remnant he shall save, and they shall live (TSR, Ch. 34).

Taken together, these suggest that the Aiel will leave thr Waste and return to the Way of the Leaf.

Quotes

"A clan chief is not a wetlander king Rand, nor is the Car'a'carn. There is respect though women generally show as little as they can get away with, but anyone can speak to a chief." (Rhuarc, The Shadow Rising, Chapter 37).

"It is the Dragon Reborn I follow, young woman. The Car’a’carn, I leave to you.”" (Asmodean to Aviendha, The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 45).

To the Maidens, Rand was all those children come back, the first child of a Maiden ever to be known to everyone (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 3).