Aiel Waste
Encyclopedia
In the fiction
al world of Robert Jordan
's The Wheel of Time
, the Aiel Waste is an almost waterless desert that had no inhabited cities until Rand al'Thor
opened Rhuidean to all. The Aiel also call the Waste the Three-Fold Land.
The Aiel
Waste is a vast, arid land east of Cairhien and Tear, separated from them by mountains range known as the Spine of the World. During the Trolloc wars, the Trollocs gave it the name Djevik K'Shar, or "The Dying Ground," due to the immense ferocity and fighting prowess of the Aiel.
The Aiel Waste is bordered by the Spine of the World, or the Dragonwall to the west, the chasms and precipices of Shara to the east, the Blight in the north, and the Sea of Storms in the south. These four borders, and the hot, dry, roadless terrain keep the Waste an isolated land, as does the Aiel's harsh treatment of foreigners. Blistering temperatures ravage the land by day and glacial ones freeze it at night. It is a land of mountains and valleys dotted by numerous rock formations, including many spires. It has almost no vegetation and what there is, is small and virtually useless. Not many animals live in the Waste, but the ones that do are usually as treacherous as the land itself.
Despite the daunting environment, the Aiel people make the Waste their home. The majority of Aiel live in and among the rock formations. These holds, as they are called, are approximately the size of villages. The Aiel have their own name for the Waste, the Three-Fold Land: First, because it is a shaping stone to make them; second, it is a testing ground to prove their worth; third, it is a punishment for their sin against Aes Sedai
. The Aiel have absolute control of the land and only allow peddlers, gleemen and Tinkers to enter it. At one time, Cairhien
in merchants were permitted to enter, but lost that privilege due to Laman's Sin, which was King Laman's cutting down of a sacred Chora tree.
There is only one city in the Waste. The ancient city of Rhuidean has just recently been inhabited again. Located deep in the Waste, it lies in a valley beneath the mountain Chaendar, and sits above a large newly formed lake sustained by an enormous underground ocean of fresh water. The lake feeds a river that brings water to areas in the Waste that have not had water in living memory. The only known Chora tree, Avendesora, also known as the Tree of Life, resides in Rhuidean's central square. This square is where Mat Cauthon
was nearly hanged and got the silver medallion and ashandarei.
or Caemlyn
, it is still considered a great city. It is filled with many buildings that are all said to be majestic palaces, although many of these remain unfinished. Found in the center of the city is a plaza filled with items wrought with the One Power
and Avendesora
, the Tree of Life, which is growing at the very center.
Before the city was reopened to all by Rand al'Thor
, the city was magically protected and few who went in returned. The Aiel
sent men to Rhuidean to see if they were deemed worthy enough to become clan chiefs, and Wise Ones sent their apprentices to see if they were strong enough to become Wise Ones themselves. Men were allowed to enter only once, while women went twice. Aiel who entered were tested by using a ter'angreal which would show the history of the Aiel through the eyes of their ancestors from earlier eras, as far back as the Age of Legends. This revealed the truth of the Aiel's past, that they were originally a group of pacifists charged with serving the Aes Sedai, a task at which most Aiel failed, only the Jenn completing their mission. Female Aiel, on their first trip to Rhuidean, also enter a ter'angreal which shows possible futures, many of which as memories blend together or are forgotten very quickly, leaving the most dire possibilities remembered.
Until recently, the city was abandoned and protected by a thick fog presumably generated by the One Power. It was also warded in some way to make it inaccessible in Tel'aran'rhiod. During his battle with Asmodean there, Rand al'Thor inadvertently dispelled the protective wardings and revealed a nearby lake. After also causing the fountains of the city to flow again, he left it to be repopulated.
Recently discovered about the ter'angreal where wise ones and clan chiefs are tested, is that when passed through a second time, but in the opposite direction, the current path of the future is shown to the user. This event was stumbled upon by Aviendha
when she went through the ter'angreal to become a wise one and then triggered the process again as she tried to determine what type of ter'angreal it was.
Stands are much smaller than holds, and are usually built near a source of water. They generally consist of few buildings—Imre Stand has only one—and are often used for grazing purposes.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al world of Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
, the Aiel Waste is an almost waterless desert that had no inhabited cities until Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
opened Rhuidean to all. The Aiel also call the Waste the Three-Fold Land.
The Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
Waste is a vast, arid land east of Cairhien and Tear, separated from them by mountains range known as the Spine of the World. During the Trolloc wars, the Trollocs gave it the name Djevik K'Shar, or "The Dying Ground," due to the immense ferocity and fighting prowess of the Aiel.
The Aiel Waste is bordered by the Spine of the World, or the Dragonwall to the west, the chasms and precipices of Shara to the east, the Blight in the north, and the Sea of Storms in the south. These four borders, and the hot, dry, roadless terrain keep the Waste an isolated land, as does the Aiel's harsh treatment of foreigners. Blistering temperatures ravage the land by day and glacial ones freeze it at night. It is a land of mountains and valleys dotted by numerous rock formations, including many spires. It has almost no vegetation and what there is, is small and virtually useless. Not many animals live in the Waste, but the ones that do are usually as treacherous as the land itself.
Despite the daunting environment, the Aiel people make the Waste their home. The majority of Aiel live in and among the rock formations. These holds, as they are called, are approximately the size of villages. The Aiel have their own name for the Waste, the Three-Fold Land: First, because it is a shaping stone to make them; second, it is a testing ground to prove their worth; third, it is a punishment for their sin against Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
. The Aiel have absolute control of the land and only allow peddlers, gleemen and Tinkers to enter it. At one time, Cairhien
Cairhien
Cairhien is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels. Cairhien is located in the east central part of The Westlands, on the east it borders with the Spine of the World. The sign of Cairhien is a golden sun rising on a field of deep blue...
in merchants were permitted to enter, but lost that privilege due to Laman's Sin, which was King Laman's cutting down of a sacred Chora tree.
There is only one city in the Waste. The ancient city of Rhuidean has just recently been inhabited again. Located deep in the Waste, it lies in a valley beneath the mountain Chaendar, and sits above a large newly formed lake sustained by an enormous underground ocean of fresh water. The lake feeds a river that brings water to areas in the Waste that have not had water in living memory. The only known Chora tree, Avendesora, also known as the Tree of Life, resides in Rhuidean's central square. This square is where Mat Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
was nearly hanged and got the silver medallion and ashandarei.
Rhuidean
It is a city located in the Aiel Waste that was built by the Jenn Aiel. Smaller in size than either TearTear (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Tear is one of the richest nations in the land. This comes in part from controlling the greatest port on the Sea of Storms, at the mouth of the River Erinin. A great deal of Tear's wealth comes from the oil produced on the...
or Caemlyn
Andor (Wheel of Time)
Andor is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels.Andor is one of the strongest countries in the Westlands of the main continent. It is located in the middle of the Westlands, and is one of the largest nations...
, it is still considered a great city. It is filled with many buildings that are all said to be majestic palaces, although many of these remain unfinished. Found in the center of the city is a plaza filled with items wrought with the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
and Avendesora
Avendesora
Avendesora, or The Tree Of Life, is a recurring object in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.Avendesora is the last cutting remaining from the chora trees that lined the streets of Paaren Disen, in the Age of Legends. Chora trees are distinguished by their tri-foil leaves and the feeling of...
, the Tree of Life, which is growing at the very center.
Before the city was reopened to all by Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, the city was magically protected and few who went in returned. The Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
sent men to Rhuidean to see if they were deemed worthy enough to become clan chiefs, and Wise Ones sent their apprentices to see if they were strong enough to become Wise Ones themselves. Men were allowed to enter only once, while women went twice. Aiel who entered were tested by using a ter'angreal which would show the history of the Aiel through the eyes of their ancestors from earlier eras, as far back as the Age of Legends. This revealed the truth of the Aiel's past, that they were originally a group of pacifists charged with serving the Aes Sedai, a task at which most Aiel failed, only the Jenn completing their mission. Female Aiel, on their first trip to Rhuidean, also enter a ter'angreal which shows possible futures, many of which as memories blend together or are forgotten very quickly, leaving the most dire possibilities remembered.
Until recently, the city was abandoned and protected by a thick fog presumably generated by the One Power. It was also warded in some way to make it inaccessible in Tel'aran'rhiod. During his battle with Asmodean there, Rand al'Thor inadvertently dispelled the protective wardings and revealed a nearby lake. After also causing the fountains of the city to flow again, he left it to be repopulated.
Recently discovered about the ter'angreal where wise ones and clan chiefs are tested, is that when passed through a second time, but in the opposite direction, the current path of the future is shown to the user. This event was stumbled upon by Aviendha
Aviendha
Aviendha of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:...
when she went through the ter'angreal to become a wise one and then triggered the process again as she tried to determine what type of ter'angreal it was.
Holds and stands of the clans and septs
A hold is the Aiel equivalent of a town, though the Aiel have no concept of towns and cities other than Rhuidean. They are usually natural landforms that have been built upon to accommodate Aiel septs. The only hold seen in the story is Cold Rocks Hold, a natural canyon named for the rocks at the far end that are never touched by the sun.Stands are much smaller than holds, and are usually built near a source of water. They generally consist of few buildings—Imre Stand has only one—and are often used for grazing purposes.