Han

Author: Atarah al'Norah

General

Han is an Aielman. He is the chief of the Tomanelle clan (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 49).

He is white-haired, dark-faced and short for an Aielman. His face looks like dark, wrinkled leather (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 57).

Han's personality is described as prickly and sour. When he speaks, his voice is irascible; Rand thinks to himself that Han sounds as if he is seldom happy. According to Rhuarc, Han is hard to know and difficult to deal with. However, he is dignified in a sour-mouthed fashion (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 49; The Shadow Rising, Chapter 57). However, grumpy though he is, still has the sense of humor that the other Aiel have. He grumps and snorts and refuses to believe that Rand does not understand Aiel humor (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 4).

Timeline

-Rhuarc tells Rand that he does not know whether or not Han will support Rand (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 49).

-Han is at Alcair Dal. He informs Sevanna that Couladin, since he has not entered Rhuidean, is not allowed to speak at Alcair Dal. He then questions Rhuarc as to why he has brought Rand, a wetlander, with him. He is displeased that Couladin claims to have been to Rhuidean without the permission of the Wise Ones, and looks uncertain when Rand claims to have seen the past of the Aiel in Rhuidean. He stands in stony silence when Rand reveals the secret of Rhuidean to the gathered Aiel, but proclaims him to be the Car'a'carn (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 57).

-When Rand returns from battling Asmodean in Rhuidean, Han tells him that some of his Tomanelle fled after Rand revealed the secret of Rhuidean (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 58).

-Han is with Rand, Bael, Bruan, Erim, Jheran and Rhuarc in Rhuidean. They discuss the other clan chiefs. Han tells Rand that Dhearic, the clan chief of the Reyn Aiel, has seen too many of his warriors sit staring for days and then throw their spears down after Rand's revelation about the history of the Aiel. Han thinks that the majority of the Aiel should never have learned the secret, and that the fact that the Aiel used to follow the Way of the Leaf is only for those who have been to Rhuidean and survived. When Rhuarc says that Timolan and Janwin will join with Rand after they settle matters in their own minds first, Han says that what they must settle with is the fact that Rand is a wetlander. He also tells Rand that Couladin will not meet with him, but means to flay him when he next sees him. Before the clan chiefs leave the meeting, Rand tells them to bring in the rest of the clans and to keep an eye on the Shaido. Han tells Rand that although the Prophecy says that he will break the Aiel, they will follow him (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 2).

-Han tells Rand that the Shaido, Reyn, Miagoma and Shiande clans are moving; Rhuarc adds that the Shaido are moving for Jangai Pass, though it is too early to tell if the other clans are moving to join with Couladin or not. Han says that if the other clans are moving to join the Couladin and the Shaido, they (Rand and the others) will be caught strung out like blindworms in the sun. When the clan chiefs leave Rand, only Han says anything: "To Shayol Ghul itself" (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 6).

-After having left Rhuidean, Rand and the Aiel enter the nation of Cairhien (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 23).

-Rand meets with Bael, Bruan, Dhearic, Erim, Han, Jheran, Rhuarc, Lan and Weiramon to discuss the impending battle with the Shaido (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 42).

-On the day of the battle against the Shaido, the clan chiefs meet with Rand once more for a few final words, to report that their men are in position and ready (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 43).

-During the battle, an Aiel warrior named Seirin brings word to Rand from Han; the clans to the east are moving towards each other. Han means to join with Dhearic, and has sent to Erim to join them. Rand thinks to himself that now there will be no one to force the Shaido north when they break, but tells Seirin to tell Han to do what he must to keep the other clans off their backs. Seirin raises an eyebrow in surprise, and Rand thinks to himself that it is because Han would not do differently (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 44). Rand later learns that with Han being occupied with the undecided Miagoma, Codarra, Shiande and Daryne clans, the bulk of Couladin's people were able to cross the River Gaelin, carrying away Cairhienin prisoners and burning the bridges behind them (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 45).

-When Rand learns, after the battle, that the Wise Ones are meeting with Wise Ones from the Miagoma, Codarra, Shiande and Daryne clans, he says that if Han doesn't need to keep the four clans off his back any longer, then he needs to talk to him and asks Sulin to send a runner. Rand doesn't know that the Shaido have all fled south, and likely wants to position Han and his men to once again try forcing the Shaido north when/if they break (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 44).

-Rand meets with his forces on the Plains of Maredo, which are made up of Aiel, Tairens and Cairhienin. They discuss Sammael. When Rand leaves after the meeting, the clan chiefs accompany him from the tent and speak some more. When Rand tells the clan chiefs that they are not to move against Sammael's Illianers until Mat arrives, Han says that they are wasting time (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 4).

Miscellaneous

-Han considers Rhuarc to be a man of honor (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 57)

-Rand thinks to himself that, Aiel humor being what it is, even "sour old Han" would break his ribs laughing if Rand tried to explain his predicament with the way the Maidens treat him to the clan chiefs (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 4)

-He thinks that it is bad luck to talk of what will be (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 43)

-He is touchy about his height (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 4)

Quotes

"What do you do, Rhuarc," Han demanded, scowling, "bringing this wetlander here? If you will not kill him, at least send him down from standing like a chief." (Han to Rhuarc about Rand at Alcair Dal; The Shadow Rising, Chapter 57)

"The prophecy said you would break us," Han said sourly, "and you have made a good beginning. But we will follow you. Till shade is gone," he recited, "till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day." (Han to Rand; The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 2)

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Quote of the Moment It was not that he [Lan] seemed merely capable of violence and death; this man had tamed violence and death and kept them in his pocket, ready to be loosed in a heartbeat, or embraced, should Moiraine give the word.

The Dragon Reborn, 3, News from the Plain, p60