Liandrin

Estyrien al'Halien

General

Liandrin is an Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah, though she posed as Red. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38) She swore her oaths as a Darkfriend before she went to the White Tower and sought out the Black Ajah as soon as she knew she could channel. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

Liandrin convinced Nynaeve, Egwene, Elayne and Min that Rand needed their help. (Reference: TGH Chapter 38) She took them to Toman Head, through the Ways, and betrayed them to the Seanchan on Ishamael's orders. (Reference: TGH Chapter 40) She then returned to the White Tower and received further orders. Liandrin and twelve other Black sisters stole several ter'angreal from the Tower storerooms and then fled Tar Valon. In their haste to leave, the Black sisters killed 21 people, including three sisters and two warders. (Reference: TDR Chapter 13) Liandrin was the leader of the group. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

Liandrin and the others travelled to Tear and stayed in the Stone of Tear, obeying Be'lal. Nynaeve, Elayne and Egwene went to Tear to find them but Liandrin captured them again. (Reference: TDR Chapter 51) Liandrin and the other Blacks had to flee Tear when Rand claimed the Stone. They went to Tanchico in search of the male a'dam. Liandrin had Jaichim Carridin seize the Panarch's Palace for them so that they could locate the a'dam. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38) However, when riots broke out in the city, Liandrin and the others were once again forced to run. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

Liandrin travelled to Amador and stayed in a Darkfriend merchant's house. It was there that Moghedien found them. She took command of the group away from Liandrin and assigned the Black sisters tasks. Liandrin was ordered to search for Nynaeve, though she and her fellow Blacks had little success. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18) When Moghedien was attacked by Nynaeve in Tel'aran'rhiod and was at her weakest, Liandrin seized her chance to try to Compel the Forsaken. Unfortunately for her, Moghedien blocked her attack and decided to punish her. She shielded her and Compelled her to live. Moghedien then ordered Temaile to hurt Liandrin and send her to work as a servant. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 34) When the Seanchan invaded Amadicia, Liandrin was captured. She was made da'covale and was forced to serve the High Lady Suroth. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 24)

Liandrin has dark brown eyes and honey-coloured hair, which she wears in braids. She is pretty and has a doll's face and a rosebud mouth. She is taller than Moiraine by a hand. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4) She is slightly taller than Nynaeve. (Reference: TDR Chapter 49) She has the ageless face of an Aes Sedai. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 24)

Timeline

-Unknown: Liandrin swears oaths to the Shadow before she goes to the White Tower. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

-998 NE: Liandrin attends a Darkfriend meeting near Shayol Ghul on the orders of Ishamael. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

-998 NE: Liandrin travels to Fal Dara with Siuan Sanche. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

-998 NE: Liandrin Compels Amalisa Jagad to help her look for the three ta'veren. (Reference: TGH Chapter 5)

-998 NE: Liandrin teaches Egwene and Nynaeve about saidar. (Reference: TGH Chapter 12)

-998 NE: Liandrin disappears shortly after Moiraine leaves the group of sisters travelling back to Tar Valon. (Reference: TGH Chapter 12)

-998 NE: Liandrin takes Nynaeve, Elayne, Egwene and Min to Toman Head to be captured by Suroth and her Seanchan soldiers. (Reference: TGH Chapter 40)

-Late 998/ Early 999 NE: Liandrin and the twelve other Black sisters flee the Tower. (Reference: TDR Chapter 13)

-999 NE: Liandrin, Rianna, Joiya and Amico capture Nynaeve, Elayne and Egwene in Tear. (Reference: TDR Chapter 51)

-999 NE: Liandrin orders Jaichim Carridin to move his soldiers into the Panarch's Palace and hold it for the Black sisters. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

-999 NE: Liandrin flees Tanchico during the riots and heads to Amador. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

-999 NE: Moghedien orders Liandrin, Chesmal, Eldrith, Asne and Temaile to search for Nynaeve. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

-999 NE: Liandrin tries to Compel Moghedien and so she shields Liandrin and Compels her to live. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 34)

-1000 NE: The Seanchan invade Amadicia and Liandrin is captured. She is made da'covale. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 24)

-1000 NE: Liandrin accompanies Suroth when she visits Captain-General Miraj. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 24)

Strengths and Talents

Liandrin learnt a weak form of Compulsion before she went to the Tower. She cannot force somebody to do something but it does leave a person open to her arguments. (Reference: TGH Chapter 5)

Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve are stronger than Liandrin. (Reference: TDR Chapter 14)

Liandrin is stronger than the other twelve black sisters. (Reference: TDR Chapter 14)

Liandrin is very poor at Healing and cannot kill with the One Power since it is closely linked to Healing. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

Relationships

Liandrin does not have any friends who do not wear the shawl and few who are not Red Ajah. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

Liandrin does not like Moiraine. (Reference: TGH Chapter 38)

Amico Nagoyin was Liandrin's other Black Ajah contact in the White Tower. She did not know that the other eleven sisters were Black. (References: TSR Chapter 4 and TFoH Chapter 18)

Liandrin despises Nynaeve. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

Liandrin and Suroth do not get along well. (References: TGH Chapter 40 and TPoD Chapter 24)

Miscellaneous

-Liandrin is quite young. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

-Liandrin is from Tarabon. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

-She always sounds as if she is dissatisfied with something. (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

-Liandrin was the only Red from the thirteen Black sisters. (Reference: TDR Chapter 25)

-Liandrin's father sold fruit from a barrow. Despite her less than plentiful upbringing, Liandrin copies the way that nobles speak. However, if she is angry, she will revert back to her roots and speak like a commoner. (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

-Liandrin learned to channel a year before she enrolled as a novice. However, she does not consider herself a wilder; indeed, she loathes all wilders. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)

Quotes

"Liandrin (lee-AHN-drihn): An Aes Sedai formerly of the Red Ajah, from Tarabon. Now known to be of the Black Ajah." (Reference: TDR Glossary)

"Liandrin made few friends, and none outside the Red Ajah. Certainly never outside the Aes Sedai. She would sooner make friends with a man, or a Trolloc. Moiraine was not sure Liandrin saw much difference between men and Trollocs." Moiraine about Liandrin (Reference: TGH Chapter 4)

"Theft was the least of what they did. Three sisters died that night, as well as two warders, seven guards, and nine of the servants. Murder, done to hide their thieving and their flight. It may not be proof they were [Black Ajah] but few believe otherwise." Siuan Sanche about Liandrin and the other Black sisters (Reference: TDR Chapter 13)

"They had been Browns. Sometimes it was difficult to remember they no longer were, or that she herself was no longer a Red. So much of what had marked them clearly as members of their old Ajahs remained even now they were openly pledged to the Black." Liandrin about herself and other Black sisters (Reference: TSR Chapter 38)

"I also serve the Dark lord. I swore my oaths as a Darkfriend before I ever went to the White Tower. I sought the Black Ajah from the day that I knew that I could channel." Liandrin to Moghedien (Reference: TFoH Chapter 18)