Book Glossary G

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Gaidal Cain (GAY-dahl KAIN)

Hero-swordsman of legend and story, always linked to Birgitte and said to be as handsome as she was beautiful. One of the heroes supposed to be called back when the Horn of Valere is sounded. See also Birgitte, Horn of Valere.

Gaidin (GYE-deen)

Literally "Brother to Battles" A title used by Aes Sedai for their Warders. See also Warder.

Gai'shain (GYE-shain)

In the Old Tongue, "Pledged to Peace in Battle" is as close a translation as is possible. An Aiel taken prisoner by other Aiel during raid or battle is required by ji'e'toh to sever his or her captor humbly and obediently for one year and a day, touching no weapon and doing no violence. A Wise One, a blacksmith, a child or a woman with a child under the age of ten may not be made gai'shain. Since the revelation that the ancestors of the Aiel were in fact pacifist followers of the Way of the Leaf, a good many gai'shain refuse to put off white when their time ends. Additionally, although by tradition, which is as strong as law, one who does not follow ji'e'toh can be made gai'shain, the Shaido Aiel have begun putting Cairhienin and other prisoners into gai'shain robes, and many have come to believe that since these people do not follow ji'e'toh, there is no need to release them at the end of the year and a day. See also bleakness.

Galad (gah-LAHD)

Lord Galadedrid Damodred (gal-LAHD-eh-drihd DAHM-oh-drehd) Half-brother to Elayne and Gawyn, sharing the same father, Taringail (TAH-rihn-gail) Damodred. His sign is a winged silver sword, point down. See Damodred, Lord Galaedrid.

Galldrian su Riatin Rie (GAHL-dree-ahn soo REYE-ah-tin REE)

Literally, Galldrian of House Riatin, King. King of Cairhien. See also Cairhien.

Game of Houses, the

Name given to the scheming, plots, and manipulations for advantage by noble Houses. Great value is given to subtlety, to aiming at one thing while seeming to aim at another, and to achieving ends with the least visible effort. Also known as the Great Game and sometimes by its name in the Old Tongue: Daes Dae'mar (DAH-ess day-MAR) See Daes Dae'mar.

Gaul (GAHWL)

A man of the Imran sept of the Shaarad Aiel, who have blood feud with the Goshien. He is a Stone Dog.

Gawyn Trakand (GAH-wihn trah-Kand)

Queen Morgase's son and Elayne's brother who will be First Prince of the Sword when Elayne ascends to the throne. Half-brother to Galad Damodred. A man caught in more than one cleft stick; he despises Aes Sedai, yet has sworn not to raise a hand against them, all because he loves Egwene al'Vere beyond reason. He does not know that Egwene herself has not only become Aes Sedai, but the Amyrlin Seat opposing the Amyrlin he recognizes. His sign is a white boar.

Gelb, Floran (GEHLB, FLOHR-an)

A former sailor with reasons to avoid Bayle Domon.

gentling

The act, performed by Aes Sedai, of shutting off a male who can channel from the One Power. This is necessary because any man who learns to channel will go insane from the taint on saidin and will almost certainly do horrible things with the One Power in his madness. A man who has been gentled can still sense the True Source, but he cannot touch it. If the madness comes before gentling or he is arrested by the act of gentling, then, if it is done soon enough, death can be averted. A man who is gentled, however, inevitably gives up wanting to live; those who do not succeed in committing suicide usually die within a year or two. Once believed permanent, gentling is now known by some to be susceptible to a highly specialized form of Healing. See also One Power, stilling.

Gleeman

A traveling storyteller, musician, juggler, tumbler, and all-around entertainer. Known by their trademark cloaks of many-colored patches, they perform mainly in the villages of smaller towns.

Goaban (GO-ah-banh)

One of the nations wrung from Artur Hawkwing's empire during the War of the Hundred Years. It weakened, and faded away approximately 500 NE. See also Artur Hawkwing, War of the Hundred Years.

Gray Man

One who has voluntarily surrendered his or her soul in order to become an assassin in serving the Shadow. Gray Men are so ordinary in appearance that the eye can slide right past without noticing them. The vast majority of Gray Men are indeed men, but a small number are women, called the Soulless.

Great Blight, the

A region in the far north, entirely corrupted by the Dark One. A haunt of Trollocs, Myrddraal, and other creatures of the Shadow.

Great Game, the

See Daes Dae'mar.

Great Hunt of the Horn, the

A cycle of stories concerning the legendary search for the Horn of Valere that was used in the years between the end of the Trolloc Wars and the beginning of the War of the Hundred Years. If told in its entirety, the cycle would take many days.

Great Lord of the Dark

The name by which Darkfriends refer to the Dark One, claiming that to use his true name would be blasphemous.

Great Pattern

The Wheel of Time Weaves the Patterns of the Ages into the Great pattern, which is the whole of existence and reality, past, present, and future. Also known as the Lace of Ages. See also Pattern of an Age, Wheel of Time.

Great Serpent

A symbol for time and eternity, ancient before the Age of Legends began, consisting of a serpent eating its own tail. A ring in the shape of the Great Serpent is awarded to women who have been raised to Accepted within the White Tower. See also Aes Sedai.