Damane
dah-MAH-nee Unless stated otherwise, all information herein is taken from TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 17.
General
Among the Seanchan, damane are “leashed ones”-women with the ability to channel who are collared. Damane are leashed with an a'dam, a collar and a bracelet connected by a leash a few feet in length. The collar part is worn by the damane, and the bracelet is worn by the sul'dam, or “leashholder.” Sul’dam are young women who have the ability to use the a’dam, but do not have the ability to channel. The damane is fully under the sul’dam’s control.
Finding Damane
In Seanchan, young women are tested each year for the ability to channel each year, on what is a feastday (TGH, Ch. 46), until they pass the age of manifestation. Once they have shown the ability to channel, they are immediately leashed. However, any female channeler that is captured becomes damane as well. The Seanchan believe that women who can channel are very dangerous, and regard all unleashed Aes Sedai as marath'damane, or “those who must be leashed”. Once take, their names are struck from the family records and they may even be given a new name, though this is at the discretion of the sul'dam who trains the (TGH, Ch. 40). The damane are regarded as valued slaves, and are seldom killed, even for infractions that a lesser slave would be put to death for, thought they are often threatened with mutilation. such mutilation is rarely carried out as it is seen as a failure on the part of the sul'dam to impose proper discipline (This passage needs a reference).
Controlling Damane
Functions
The damane are mainly used for weapons, though they also aid in tasks that would be impossible without the One Power, such as the construction of large bridges. Damane who are strong in Earth locate and refine metals and rare ores. Some damane are also used to heal the sick, though only among the upper class. However, their Healing is frequently rejected because of the belief that Aes Sedai are not human-it would be like allowing a dog to be your healer. Men who are found to be able to channel are put to death immediately and expunged from all records.
Characters
- Main article: Damane Character List
