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Aes Sedai : 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 for the Breaking of the World, and are generally thought to meddle in the affairs of nations. At the same time, few rulers will be without an Aes Sedai adviser, even in lands where the existence of such a connection must be kept secret. Used as an honorific, so: Sheriam Sedai; and as a high honorific, so: Sheriam Aes Sedai. See also Ajah; Amyrlin Seat.

Age Lace : See Pattern of an Age.

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 now only dreamed of. See also Wheel of Time.

Aiel : 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 nothing but their 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" or "the Dance of Spears."

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, 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-mother�s and sister-fathers are first-sisters and first-brothers of one�s mother. Greatfather or greatmother refers to the father or mother of one�s mother, while the parents of one�s father are second greatfather and second greatmother; one is closer blood kin to one�s mother than 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 same man, thus becoming sister-wives and married to each other as well as to him, the convolutions become even more apparent.

Aiel warrior societies : Aiel warriors are all members of one of twelve societies. These are the Black Eyes (Seia Doon), Brothers of the Eagle (Far Aldazar Din), Dawn Runners (Rahien Sorei), Knife Hands (Sovin Nai), Maidens of the Spear (Far Dareis Mai), Mountain Dancers (Hama N�dore), Night Spears (Cor Darei), Red Shields (Aethan Dor), Stone Dogs (Shae�en M�taal), Thunder Walkers (Sha�mad Conde), True Bloods (Tain Shari), and Waer Seekers (Duadhe Mahdi�in). Each society has its own customs, and sometimes specific duties. For example, Red Shields act as police, and Stone Dogs are often used as rearguards in a retreat, while Maidens are often scouts. Aiel clans frequently raid and battle one another, but members of the same society will not fight each other even if their clans do so. Thus there are always lines of contact between the clans even during open warfare.

Aiel Waste : Harsh, rugged, all-but-waterless land east of the Spine of the World. Called the Three-Fold Land by the Aiel. Few outsiders enter; the Aiel consider themselves at war with all other peoples and do not welcome strangers. Only peddlers, gleemen, and Tuatha�an are allowed safe entry, although the Aiel avoid all contact with the Tuatha�an, whom they call the "Lost Ones." No maps of the Aiel Waste are known to exist.

Ajah : Societies among the Aes Sedai, to which all Aes Sedai belong. They are designated by colors: Blue Ajah, Red Ajah, White Ajah, Green Ajah, Brown Ajah, Yellow Ajah, and Gray Ajah. Each follows a specific philosophy of using the One Power and purposes of Aes Sedai. For example, the Red Ajah bends all its energies to finding and gentling men who are attempting to wield the Power. The Brown Ajah, on the other hand, forsakes involvement in the world and dedicates itself to seeking knowledge. 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.

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

Almoth : A nation on the Aryth Ocean. Bordered on its north side by Arad Doman, its south by Tarabon, and its east by the Mountains of Mist. The country is comprised of Almoth Plain, Toman Head, and Paerish Swar Darkwood. Capital: Falme.

Altara : A nation on the Sea of Storms. Bordered on the west by Amadicia and Ghealdan, on the north by Andor, and on the east by Illian and Murandy. Capital: Ebou Dar.

Amadicia : A nation in the southwest part of the continent. Bordered on the north by Ghealdan, the east by Altara, the south by the Shadow Coast, and the west by the Mountains of Mist. Capital: Amador.

Amayar : Unknown to most mainlanders, the Amayar inhabit the Sea Folk Isles, and are as uncomfortable away from land as the Sea Folk are on it. It is from these people that goods such as the famed "Sea Folk porcelain" and fine glassware actually originate.

Amyrlin Seat : (1) The title of the leader of the Aes Sedai. Elected for life by the Hall of the Tower. The Amyrlin Seat has, theoretically at least, almost supreme authority among the Aes Sedai. She ranks as the equal of a king or queen. (2) The throne upon which the leader of the Aes Sedai sits.

Andor : An inland nation. Bordered on the north by Caralain and Irenvelle, the east by Cairhien, the south by Kintara, Murandy, and Altara, and the west by the Mountains of Mist. Note: the Two Rivers region is part of Andor, and is probably still aware of it in our timeline. Capital: Caemlyn.

angreal : A very rare object which allows anyone capable of channeling the One Power to handle a greater amount of the Power than would be safely possible unaided. Remnants of the Age of Legends, the means of their making of no longer known. See also sa�angreal; ter�angreal.

Arad Doman : A nation on the Aryth Ocean, bordered on the north by Goaban, the east by the Mountains of Mist, and the south by Almoth. Capital: Bandar Eban. The ruler (king or queen) is elected by a council of the heads of the merchant guilds (the Council of Merchants), who are almost always women. He or she must be from the noble class, not the merchant, and is elected for life. Legally, the king or queen has absolute authority, except that he or she can be deposed by a three-quarter vote of the Council.

Arafel : One of the Borderlands. Bordered to the north by the Malkier and the Great Blight, to the east by Shienar, the south by Hardan, and the west by Kandor. Capital: Shol Arbela.

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.

Atha�an Miere : See Sea Folk.

Avendesora : In the Old Tongue, "Tree of Life."