Book Glossary A

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

Accepted

Young women in training to be Aes Sedai who have reached a certain level of power and passed certain tests. It normally takes five to ten years to be raised from novice to Accepted. Somewhat less confined by rules than novices, they are allowed to choose their own areas of study, within limits. Accepted wear a Great Serpent ring on the third finger of the left hand. When an Accepted is raised Aes Sedai, which usually takes another five to ten years, she chooses her Ajah, gains the right to wear the shawl, and may wear the ring on any finger or not at all if circumstances warrant. See also Aes Sedai.

A'dam (AYE-dam)

A device, consisting of a collar and a bracelet linked by a silvery metal leash, that maybe used to control, against her will, and woman who can channel. The collar is worn by the damane, the bracelet by the sul'dam. See also damane, sul'dam.

Adelin (AD-ehl-ihn)

A woman of the Jindo sept of the Taardad Aiel. A Maiden of the Spear who came to the Stone of Tear.

Aeldene Stonebridge

An Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah who is in control of the Blue Ajah's eyes and ears.

Aes Sedai (EYEZ seh-DEYE)

Wielders of the One Power. Since the Time of Madness, all surviving Aes Sedai are women. Widely distrusted and feared, even hated, they are blamed by many for the Breaking of the World, and are thought to meddle in the affairs of nations. At the same time, few rulers well be without an Aes Sedai adviser, even in lands where the existence of such a connection must be kept secret. See also Ajah, Amyrlin Seat, Time of Madness.

Age Lace

Alternative name for the Pattern. See Pattern of an Age.

Agelmar

Lord Agelmar of House Jagad (AGH-el-mar' JAH-gad): Lord of Fal Dara. His sign is three running red foxes.

Age of Legends

The Age ended by the War of the Shadow and the Breaking of the World. A time when Aes Sedai performed wonders mow only dreamed of. See also Wheel of Time; Breaking of the World; War of the Shadow.

Aiel (eye-EEL)

The people of the Aiel Waste. Fierce and hardy. Also called Aielmen. They veil their faces before they kill, giving rise to the saying "acting like a black-veiled Aiel" to describe someone who is being violent. Deadly warriors with weapons or with nothing but bare hands, they will not touch a sword. Their pipers play them into battle with the music of dances, and Aielmen call battle "the Dance." See also Aiel warrior societies, Aiel Waste.

Aiel kinship terms

Aiel relationships of blood are expressed in complex ways which outsiders consider unwieldy, but which Aiel consider precise. A few examples must suffice to demonstrate, as an entire volume would be needed for a full explanation. First-brother and first-sister have the same mother. Second-brother and second-sister refer to the children of one's mother's first-sister or first-brother, and sister-mothers and sister-fathers are first-sisters and first-brothers of one's mothers. Greatfather or greatmother refers to the father or mother of one's own mother, while the parents of one's father are second greatfather or second greatmother; one is closer blood kin to one's mother that father. Beyond this the complications grow and are thickened by such factors as the ability of close friends to adopt each other as first-brother or first-sister. When it is also considered that Aiel women who are close friends sometimes marry the dame man, thus becoming sister-wives and married to each other as well as to him, the convolutions become even more apparent.

Aiel War

(976-78 NE) When King Laman (LAY-mahn) of Cairhien cut down Avendoraldera, four clans of the Aiel crossed the Spine of the World. They looted and burned the capital city of Cairhien as well as many other cities and towns, and the conflict extended onto Andor and Tear. By the conventional view, the Aiel were finally defeated at the Battle of the Shining Walls, before Tar Valon; in fact Laman was killed in that battle, and having done what they came for, the Aiel recrossed the Spine. See also Avendoraldera, Cairhien, Spine of the World.

Aiel Warrior Societies

Aiel warriors are all members of one of the warrior societies, such as the Stone Dogs (Shae'en M'taal), the Red Shields (Aethan Dor), the Water Seekers (Duahde Mahdi'in), or the Maidens of the Spear (Far Dareis Mai). Each society has its own customs, and sometimes specific duties. For example, Red Shields act as police. Stone Dogs often vow not to retreat once battle has been joined, and will die to the last man if necessary to fulfill this vow, while Maidens are often scouts. The clans of the Aiel frequently fight among themselves, but members of the same society will not fight one another even if their clans are doing so. In this way, there are always lines of contact between the clans even when they are in open warfare. See also Aiel, Aiel Waste, Far Dareis Mai.

Aiel Waste

The harsh, rugged, and all-but-waterless land east of the Spine of the World. Called the Three-fold Land by the Aiel. Few outsiders venture there, not only because water is almost impossible to find for one not born there, but because the Aiel consider themselves at war with all other peoples and do not welcome strangers. Only peddlers, Gleemen, and the Tuatha'an are allowed safe entry, although Aiel avoid all contact with the Tuatha'an, whom they call "the Lost Ones." No maps of the Waste itself are known to exist.

Aile Jafar (EYEL jah-FAHR)

A group of Sea Folk islands approximately due west of Tarabon.

Aile Somera (EYEL soh-MEER0ah)

A group of Sea Folk islands approximately due west of Toman Head.

Ajah (AH-jah)

Societies among the Aes Sedai to which all Aes Sedai except the Amyrlin Seat belong. They are designated by colors: Blue, Red, White, Green, Brown, Yellow, and Gray. Each follows a specific philosophy of the use if the One Power and the purposes of the Aes Sedai. The Red Ajah bends all its energies to finding men who are attempting to wield the Power and to gentling them. The Brown Ajah forsakes involvement with the mundane world and dedicates itself to seeking knowledge, while the White, largely eschewing both the world and the value of worldly knowledge, devotes itself to questions of philosophy and truth. The Green Ajah (called the Battle Ajah during the Trolloc Wars) holds itself ready for Tarmon Gai'don, the Yellow concentrates on the study of Healing, and Blue sisters involve themselves with causes and justice. The Gray are mediators, seeking harmony and consensus. There are rumors (hotly denied, and never safely mentioned in front of any Aes Sedai) of a Black Ajah, dedicated to serving the Dark One.

Alanna Mosvani (ah-LAN-nah mos-VANH-nie)

An Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah.

Alantin (ah-Lanh-tin)

In the Old Tongue, "Brother"; short for tia avende alantin, "Brother to the Trees"; "Treebrother."

Alar (AYE-lahr)

Eldest of the Elders of Stedding Tsofu.

Aldieb (ahl-DEEB)

In the Old Tongue, "West Wind," the wind that brings the spring rains.

al'Meara, Nynaeve (ahl-MEER-ah, NIGH-neev)

A woman once the wisdom of Emond's Field, in the Two Rivers district of Andor (AN-door). (B3) Now one of the Accepted.

Algai'd'siswai

In the Old Tongue, "fighters of the spear, " or "spear fighters." The name given to those Aiel who carry the spear and regularly take part in battle as opposed to those who follow crafts.

Altara (al-TAH-rah)

A nation on the Sea of Storms, though in truth little unifies it except a name. The people of Altara think of themselves as inhabitants of a town or village, or as this lord's or that lady's people, first, and only second if at all as Altaran. Few nobles pay taxes to the crown or offer more than lip service, and that often slight. The ruler of Altara (currently Queen Tylin Quintara of House Mitsobar; TIE-lihn quin-TAHR-ah; MIHT-soh-bahr) is seldom the most powerful noble in Altara and The Throne of Winds holds so little power that many powerful nobles have scorned to take it when they could have. The banner of Altara is two golden leopards on a field checked four-by-four in red and blue. The sigil of House Mitsobar is a green anchor and sword, crossed. See also Wise Woman.

al'Thor, Rand (ahl-THOR, RAND)

A young man from Emond's Field, once a shepherd, who is ta'veren. (B3) Now proclaimed as the Dragon Reborn.

al'Thor, Tam (al-THOR, TAM)

A farmer and shepherd in the Two Rivers. As a young man, he left to become a soldier, returning with a wife (Kari, now deceased) and a child (Rand).

al'Vere, Egwene (ahl-VEER, eh-GWAIN)

A young woman from Emond's Field. (B3) Now in training to be Aes Sedai.

Alviarin Freidhen (ahl-vee-Ah-rihn FREYE-dhehn)

An Aes Sedai of the White Ajah, (B5) now raised to Keeper of the Chronicles, second only to the Amyrlin Seat among Aes Sedai. A woman of cold logic and colder ambition.

Amadicia (ah-mah-DEE-cee-ah)

A nation lying south of the Mountains of Mist, between Tarabon and Altara. Its capital Amador (AH-mah-door) is the home of the Children of the Light, whose Lord Captain Commander has, in fact if not the name, more power than the king. Anyone with the ability to channel is outlawed in Amadicia; by law they are to be imprisoned or exiled, but in actuality are often killed while "resisting arrest." The banner of Amadicia is a six-pointed silver star overlaid on a red thistle on a field of blue. See also channel, Children of the Light.

Amalasan, Guaire (ahm-ah-LAH-sin, Gware)

See War of the Second Dragon.

Amalisa, Lady (ah-mah-LEE-sah)

Shienaran of House Jagad; Lord Agelmar's sister.

Amyrlin Seat (AHM-her-lin SEAT)

(1) The title of the leader of the Aes Sedai. Elected for life by the Hall of the Tower, the highest council of the Aes Sedai, which consists of three representatives (called Sitters) from each of the seven Ajahs. The Amyrlin Seat has, theoretically at least, almost supreme authority among the Aes Sedai, and ranks socially as the equal of a king or queen. A slightly less formal usage is simply the Amyrlin.

(2) The throne upon which the leader of the Aes Sedai sits.

Amys (ah-MEESE)

Wise One of Cold Rocks Hold, and a dreamwalker. An Aiel of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel. Wife of Rhuarc, sister-wife to Lian (lee-AHN), who is roofmistress of Cold Rocks Hold. Amys is sister-mother to Aviendha.

Anaiya (ah-NYE-yah)

Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah.

Andor (AN-door)

A wealthy land which stretches from the Mountains of Mist to the River Erinin, at least on a map, though the queen's control has not reached further west than the River Manetherendrelle in several generations. See also Daughter-Heir.

Angreal (anh-gree-AHL)

Remnants of the Age of Legends that allow anyone capable of channeling the One Power to handle a greater amount of the Power than would be safely possible unaided. Some were made for use by women, other by men. Rumors of angreal usable by both men and women have never been confirmed. Their making is no longer known, and few remain in existence. See also channel; sa'angreal; ter'angreal.

Arad Doman (AH-rahd do-MAHN)

A nation on the Aryth Ocean. (B5) Presently racked by civil war and simultaneously by wars against those who have declared for the Dragon Reborn and against Tarabon. Most Domani merchants are women, and according to the saying, to "let a man trade with a Domani" is to do something extremely foolish. Domani women are famous - or infamous - for their beauty, seductiveness, and scandalous clothes.

Arafel (AH-rah-gehl)

One of the Borderlands.

Aram (Ah-rahm)

A handsome young man of the Tuatha'an.

armsmen

Soldiers who owe allegiance or fealty to a particular lord or lady.

Artur Hawkwing

Legendary king, Artur Paendrag Tanreall (AHR-tuhr PAY-ehn-DRAG than-REE-ahl). Ruled FY 943-94. United all lands west of the Spine of the World, as well as some beyond the Aiel Waste. Sent armies across the Aryth Ocean (FY 922), but contact with these was lost at his death, which set off the War of the Hundred Years. His sign was a golden hawk in flight. See also War of the Hundred Years.

Asha'man (Ah-shah-mahn)

(1) In the Old Tongue, "Guardian" or "Defender," with a strong implication that this is a defender of truth and justice.

(2) The name taken by followers of the Dragon Reborn, men who have come to what is now being called the Black Tower in order to learn how to channel. Some have dreamed of channeling despite all the dire risks, while others remain only because passing the test for the ability to learn has itself started them on the road to channeling, and they now must learn to control it before it kills them. They train not only in using the One Power, but in the use of the sword and in fighting with hands and feet. Their training concentrates on the ways in which the One Power can be used as a weapon, and in another departure from the usages of the White Tower, once they learn to seize saidin, the male half of the One Power, they are required to perform all chores and labors with the Power. The Asha'man, who wear distinctive black coats, are divided according to the level of knowledge they have achieved, the lowest being a Soldier. The next level is a Dedicated, marked by a pin in the shape of a silver sword worn on the coat collar. The highest level is simply called Asha'man, marked by a red-and-gold enameled pin in the shape of a Dragon worn on the coat collar opposite the silver sword. Unlike Aes Sedai, who go to great lengths to make sure that those they train are not allowed to move dangerously fast, the Asha'man are pushed hard from the beginning, most especially in learning to use the Power as a weapon. As a result, where the death or stilling of a novice of the White Tower during her training would be something spoken of with horror for years, at the Black Tower it is expected that a certain number of Asha'man Soldiers will die or be burned out attempting to learn. The existence of the Asha'man, and their connection to the Dragon Reborn, has caused a reevaluation among some Aes Sedai of the immediate necessity for gentling, but many have not changed their view at all. See also gentling, stilling.

Assemblage, the

A body in Illian, chosen by and from the merchants and shipowners, that is supposed to advise both the King and the Council of Nine, but historically has contended with them for power.

Asunawa, Rhadam (ah-soo-NAH-wah, RAH-dam)

High Inquisitor of the Hand of the Light. In his eyes, meddling with the One Power is usurping the Creator's power and is the cause of all the world's ill. He wants more than anything else to destroy anyone and everyone who can channel or even wishes to; they must confess their sin under the ministrations of the Hand of the Light, and then die. See also Questioners.

Atha'an Miere (ah-thah-AHN mee-HER)

See Sea Folk.

Avendesora (AH-vehn-deh-SO-rah)

In the Old Tongue, "the Tree of Life." Mentioned in many stories and legends, which give various locations. Its true location is known to only a few.

Avendoraldera (AH-ven-doh-ral-DEH-rah)

Tree grown in the city of Cairhien from a sapling of Avendesora, a gift from the Aiel on 566 NE, although no written record shows any connection between the Aiel and Avendesora. See also Aiel War.

Aviendha (ah-vee-EHN-dah)

A woman of the Bitter Water sept of the Taardad Aiel; a Far Dareis Mai, a Maiden of the Spear, (B5) in training to be a Wise One. She fears nothing, except her fate.

Aybara, Perrin (ay-BAHR-ah, PEHR-rihn)

A young man from Emond's Field, formerly a blacksmith's apprentice. He is ta'veren.