Aiel

East of the Dragonwall lies the Aiel Waste. All but waterless, it is a harsh, rugged land, and its people are much the same. They are tall and fair haired, lethal fighters and skilled trackers. Men and women are equal, and they are wary of outsiders. Strangers are not forbidden from entering the waste, but they aren't encouraged.

The Aiel are devided into twelve seperate clans, each clan made up of seperate septs. There is no set number for how many septs can make up a clan. The warriors are devided into their own septs. Below is a small list of the warrior septs used in the Alternate Pattern:

Warrior Septs
• Maidens of the Spear: Unwed women who are feirce warriors. They cannot marry, and carry a short spear and buckler.
• Red Shields: Used as guards and police.
• Stone Dogs: Often rear gaurds during retreats.
• Water Seekers: Self explanitory

And the clans...

Clans
• Chareen
• Codarra
• Daryne
• Goshien
• Miagoma
• Nakai
• Reyn
• Shaarad
• Shaido
• Shiande
• Taarad
• Tomanelle

Family relations among the Aiel are slightly complicated. There are specific terms for nearly every blood relationship. Here are the important terms.

Relations:
• First-brothers/sisters: Those who share the same mother.
• Second-brothers/sisters: Children of a mother's first-brother or first-sister. (cousins)
• Near-sisters/brothers: Friends who are extremely close.

Each Aiel Clan is headed by Chiefs. To become a clan chief, a man must go into Rhuidean, a sacred city deep in a valley in the waste. There, he must complete a form of test inside of a ter'angreal that contains within it the history of the Aiel. If he can withstand the test of the truth, they were named clan chief.

Wise Ones also must go into Rhuidean. Wise Ones are mostly Aiel women who can channel. There are a few who cannot. The White Tower allows this, but the Aiel must send one girl out of every ten who can channel to the Tower. Wise Ones have great authority and influence over the clan chiefs and carry great responsibilty. They cannot be taken in battle, and may not be harmed in any way.

Aiel custom is based mainly around ji'e'toh There are many paths to honor, each with its own measure and price. The smallest honor comes from killing, and the greatest from touching an armed enemey without coming to harm. Any and all obligations must be met! Toh is so important to the Aiel, that one will accept shame to fulfill an obligation. An Aiel who is taken during battle is made gai'shain. These are taken into service by whomever captured them, and made to wear white robes and serve for a year and a day. They cannot touch any weapon, or do any harm. A blacksmith, a child uner the age of fiteen, and a woman with a child under the age of ten are exempted from service as gai'shain

In the Alternate Pattern, there was no Aiel War. The Aiel never crossed the Dragonwall. They are still feared however, and considered by the masses to be savages. Aiel sometimes venture into the cities, but not often.

For more information, email Shelly.