Difference between revisions of "Yellow Ajah"

Revision as of 01:24, 6 July 2007

Author: Atarah al'Norahn

Introduction

The purpose of the Yellow Ajah is Healing, and the Ajah contains the best Healers in the White Tower (TSR, Ch. 34; TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24). While the Yellow Ajah also technically devotes itself to finding new cures to illnesses, many of the sisters believe that the method that exists now is ideal and have used the same method for as long as can be remembered (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24; ACoS, Ch. 24).

Yellow sisters are often described to be arrogant (TPoD, Ch. 25; WH, Ch. 13). They are also decribed throughout the series as haughty (NS, Ch. 14), overweening (TPoD, Ch. 26) and self-assured (CoT, Ch. 17; Ch. 30). They are often viewed as being flamboyant (NS, Ch. 2).

Some Yellow sisters think that their Ajah is the only one whose purpose truly matters. These sisters view the other Ajahs as “adjuncts” to the Yellow Ajah (CoT, Ch. 17; KoD, Ch. 23).

The head of the Yellow Ajah is called the First Weaver. The First Weaver in the White Tower is Suana Dragand. In her view, her own opinions are the Ajah’s opinions (CoT, Ch. 21). In Salidar, the First Weaver is Romanda Cassin, who also held this position before her retirement when Tamra Ospenya was named Amyrlin Seat, in 973 NE (TPoD, Ch. 19; KoD, Ch. 23). Although the position does not, in Romanda’s opinion, carry as much power as she might wish, she thinks to herself that she can still at least count on obedience from the Yellow sisters if not the Yellow Sitters (KoD, Ch. 23).

The Yellow Ajah is the one of the smaller Ajahs, with only the Blue and White being smaller (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

Healing

For as long as can be remembered, Yellows have done their Healing by weaving Spirit, Water and Air (LoC, Ch. 30; ACoS, Ch. 24). They think that it is dangerous to play around with the weaves, as a mistake in the weaving can kill both the sister and her patient. They are surprised and aghast that Nynaeve has always used threads of Fire and Earth in her weaving, as well (LoC, Ch. 30). According to Moghedien, the Healing that the Yellow Ajah does today “was only the crudest hasty battlefield work” in the Age of Legends (LoC, Prologue), meaning that much has been lost.

Despite being devoted to the maintaining of health, Yellows will generally only use the One Power in their endeavors; they are contemptuous of herbs, and Nynaeve thinks to herself that they seem interested only in the illnesses and injuries that are worth being cured with the One Power (LoC, Ch. 12; CoT, Ch. 30).

It is said that some Yellows will try to Heal almost anything (TSR, Ch. 5). Despite this, however, they seem quite set in their opinions of what can and cannot be done. They are astounded when Nynaeve Heals stilling, and until she proves that it can be done, are not even willing to entertain the idea that it might be possible (LoC, Ch. 8; Ch. 30).

With Nynaeve’s innovations to build upon, the Yellow Ajah is, according to Myrelle, “taking what she has done and making their own marvels” (LoC, Ch. 34). They hound Nynaeve after her display at Healing Siuan and Leane of stilling, making her repeat the weave over and over again, often for each sister individually (LoC, Ch. 30). Having Healed stilling, which was previously thought to be impossible, Nynaeve is disgruntled at the thought that she has been willing to beg on her knees to learn more about Healing from the Yellows, when it now seems that she knows more about Healing than they do. Later, when she realizes that perhaps some things need to be Healed differently for men than for women, she realizes that perhaps she does not know so much more than the Yellows after all (LoC, Ch. 30).

Although all Yellows are good at Healing, there are some among them that are better than others. Chesmal Emry is one of the best Healers in generations (TFoH, Ch. 18), Dagdara Finchey supposedly knows more about Healing than any two others (TFoH, Ch. 50), Samitsu is the best Healer alive (ACoS, Ch. 36) and Doesine has considerable repute (WH, Prologue).

Not all of the Healing that the Yellow Ajah focuses on is physical. Some Yellow sisters, such as Nisao Dachen, are interested in studying diseases of the mind (ACoS, Ch. 12).

Relationships

For the past hundred years, the Yellow Ajah has had a tense relationship with the Blue Ajah. This is due to an incident that occurred in Altara, with sisters of each Ajah interfering with sisters of the other (NS, Ch. 14).

The Brown Ajah supports the Blue Ajah against the Yellow (NS, Ch. 14).

Lately, there has been tension between the Yellow Ajah and the Green Ajah (TPoD, Ch. 26; CoT, Prologue).

Eyes-and-Ears

The Yellow Ajah, like all Ajahs with the exception of the White, has its own network of eyes-and-ears. It is considered to be a rather “pitiful thing,” as Aes Sedai tend to believe that there is nothing that can be learned of Healing from those who do not have the ability to channel (TFoH, Prologue). The eyes-and-ears also, however, keep an eye out for outbreaks of disease (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

The head of the Yellow Ajah’s eyes-and-ears network is Narenwin Barda (TFoH, Ch. 9).

One of the agents of the Yellow Ajah is Ronde Macura, from Mardecin, Amadicia. She has Nynaeve and Elayne drugged after attracting them to her shop with a Yellow Ajah signal and tries to have them sent to Elaida in the White Tower, although she is unsuccessful (TFoH, Ch. 9).

Miscellaneous

• The Yellow quarters are flamboyant (NS, Ch. 12).

• Seaine can think of a couple dozen Yellows who are long past due being taken down a few rungs (TPoD, Ch. 26).

• Nearly half the sisters who are forced into making cuendillar are Yellow; Salita, one of the Salidar Sitters, has been receiving complaints every day (CoT, Ch. 17).

• Yellows seldom marry their Warders (CoT, Ch. 23).