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Table of Contents
The Aiel Waste is an almost waterless region to the East of the 10
Nations. It contains desert-like conditions, maybe like the California
desert to make it interesting.
- young Aiel often travel to the Blight to hunt Trollocs, including women, who join the Maidens of the Spear. (I: 374-375)
- an Aiel can run 50 miles and fight a battle once he gets there. (II: 170)
- Aiel will not ride horses or use swords. (II: 170)
- an Aiel would literally rather die than touch a sword. (V: 48)
- no Aiel would touch a sword, even to remove gems set into it. (V: 275)
- Aiel are not forbidden to ride horses, but feel contempt for those who do not use their own legs to get somewhere. (IV: 788)
- the Aiel will not destroy a book. (II: 259)
- the Aiel seeks after books so avidly because none are manufactured in the
Waste. (VI: 287)
- most Aiel know how to read. (IV: 605)
- Aiel have distinctive/different handwriting. (V: 345)
- the Jenn Aiel is the thirteenth clan. (II: 410)
- an Aiel will not strike any woman who is not a warrior, except to save a life. (II: 411)
- no Aiel had crossed the Dragonwall since they first came to the Waste,
up until the Aiel War. (IV: 562)
- the Aiel don't seem to understand the custom of knocking. (VI: 290)
- an Aiel suffers more from shame and embarrassment than he/she would
from physical pain. (VI: 294)
- the Aiel never use maps, they claim not to need them. (VI: 321)
- no Aiel turns away from a possible fight. (VI: 327)
- most Aiel feel uncomfortable in cities. (VI: 351)
- desc of types of tests administrated by Wise Ones to determine health (VI: 357)
- the Aiel are not mindless killers. (V: 268)
- although most people think the Aiel show no emotion, they're just very reserved. (VI: 399)
- even the Aiel have moments where they fail to hide their emotions. (VI: 522)
- most Aiel disapprove of public displays of affection like kissing? (VI: 666)
- the Aiel disapprove of the excessive revelry in Cairhien during the Feast of Lights. (VI: 666)
- Aiel duel?? (VI: 675-676)
- Aiel men do not sing after childhood except for battle chants and
dirges for the slain. (I: 374)
- desc of Aiel singing and music (IV: 950)
- "The Aiel did not (sing); among them, men did not sing except for battle
chants or laments for the slain, and neither did Maidens, except among
themselves." (V: 80) (Jak)
- Aiel dance: play pipes, leap into the air doing high kicks, somersaults
and backflips, can break your bones if performed wrong. (V: 509)
- Aiel warriors only sing battle hymns. (V: 509)
- how to play the "game" of Maiden's Kiss (IV: 65-66)
- the Aiel make wagers with each other. (IV: 142)
- the Aiel are fond of making wagers. (V: 285)
- the Aiel are not humourless, but what they find amusing is often unusual
to non-Aiel. (IV: 175, 474)
- flip is an Aiel game of tossing knife into the ground. (VI: 305)
- Aiel knife game involving flipping a knife into the ground. (IV: 718)
- "The game was to take a drink, then try to hit a target thrown into the
air with a knife." (the targets in this instance were old pieces of wormholed wood.) (V: 80) (Jak)
- the Aiel don't play cards. (V: 80)
- Aiel games: cats cradle, stones, Thousand Flowers - tiles laid out in
patterns (Mah-jongg?) (V: 87)
- game of cat's cradle. (VI: 383)
- Aiel enjoy participating in informal "jibe" contests, trying to get the
best of each other. (VI: 96)
- taunting is almost an art among the Aiel. (VI: 107)
- the Aiel knit. (VI: 383)
- while in the Waste, a gleeman will be allowed anything short of murder by
the Aiel. (IV: 797)
- the Aiel applaud by drumming their spears on shields, whistling and
making ululating cries. (IV: 611)
- the Aiel are great believers in taking exercise. (VI: 301)
- *in seems to be a popular suffix for Aiel names. (IV: 414)
Banner: two golden leopards on a field checked four-by-four in red and
blue.
- the water oath is the most binding oath between Aiel. (IV: 360; V: 350)
- during the water oath, each person holds a cup for the other to drink.
(V: 350)
- Aiel Pledge: (V: 64) (Jak)
PLEDGE: Till Shade is gone, till water
is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day.
RESPONSE: By my honor and the Light,
my life will be a dagger in Sightblinder's heart.
FURTHER RESPONSE: Until the Last Day,
to Shayol Ghul itself.
- the Aiel have a very negative attitude towards spies, or even people
trying to pry. (IV: 348)
- the Aiel consider spying a violation of honour. (V: 63)
- the Aiel take a very dim view of thievery and harshly punish thieves.
(IV: 976)
One punishment could be forcing the offender into the waste without
water.
- Aiel welcome: We offer water and shade. (IV: 381)
- some Aiel take on the role of mediators, known as peacetalkers. (IV:
578)
- the bloodprice is an Aiel penalty for death? (IV: 583)
- the Aiel always travel with scouts, who are often members of the
Society of Maidens of the Spear. (IV: 587)
- guests are presented with towels to wash and a silver cup of water as a
formal greeting. (IV: 812)
- the Aiel believe a forced apology is no apology at all. (IV: 821)
- even non-warrior Aiel take up arms to defend their Hold when it's attacked. (IV: 830)
- the Aiel have groups of men and women similar to the Women's Circle and the Men's Council, with a similar relationship. (IV: 947)
- Aiel group by warrior societies, rather than clans, at large meetings, to keep the peace. (IV: 953)
- the Aiel sometimes sell uninvited visitors "like animals" to Shara, or kill them. (V: 64)
- desc of misc. Aiel rules (VI: 313)
- the Aiel feel it's shaming to refuse an offer of hospitality, even if
issued by a blood enemy. (VI: 361)
- laying a knife at another's feet declares a personal feud with that person. Anyone can declare a feud with anyone else, other than a Wise One or a blacksmith. (VI: 384)
- most Aiel ceremonies are short and to-the-point? (IV: 806)
- one must enter a Hold with face uncovered and making noise, to make it clear that you're not trying to sneak in for attack. (IV: 802-803)
- ceremony to request entry to a Hold: (IV: 806) (Jak)
CLAN CHIEF REQUEST: I ask leave to enter your hold, roofmistress.
RESPONSE: You have my leave, clan chief.
GENERAL REQUEST: Roofmistress, I ask leave to come beneath your roof.
RESPONSE: You have my leave, <name>. Beneath my roof, there is water and shade for you.
RESPONSE TO A STRANGER: You have my leave, to step beneath my roof. Water and shade will be found for you.
- beggars are granted shelter at Holds on request? (IV: 807)
- guests to the roof give a gift to the roofmistress. (IV: 810-811)
- when there are too many people for the
size of a Hold, the sept must divide. (IV; 856)
- each warrior society has a roof within each Hold. (IV: 819)
- while every Aiel Clan, Society and all
Aiel in general have hand signals, but only the Maidens have made a
full language of these gestures. (VI: 198)
- Aiel group by warrior societies, rather
than clans, at large meetings, to keep the peace. (IV: 953)
There are twelve Clans living in the Aiel Waste. Each clan is
split into many septs. Each sept has its own stronghold and a sept
chief and roofmistress to govern the sept.
- when Aiel Clans meet: (IV: 947)
"If two Aiel from different clans meet, they discuss water. Three from three clans, and they discuss water and grazing."
"And four?"
"Four will dance the spears."
- the Aiel attitude towards their chiefs is
not the "fawning deference" wetlanders show towards their
lords. Rather, the chiefs are shown respect, and given an obedience
between equals. (IV: 360)
- the clan chiefs are all equal to each
other, and don't worry about status or precedence amongst
themselves. (V: 477)
- the only people among the Aiel who have
chairs are the clan chiefs, who use them for pronouncing judgment or
receiving submission of an enemy. (VI: 535)
- the septs sometimes raid one another and
steal goats or cattle. (IV: 360)
- whenever two or more clan chiefs meet,
the accompanying Aiel get together a sort of fair. (IV: 804)
- the Goshien and Shaarad clans have blood
feud. (IV: 297)
- the Shaarad dislike the Goshien, the
Taardad and the Nakai dislike the Shaido. (IV: 360)
- at least one clan chief has tried to
unite the clans. (V: 61)
- description of how chiefs would travel to
meet Rand: (IV: 814) (Jak)
"...each clan chief would bring a few warriors to the Golden Bowl,
for honor, and each sept chief, as well. Added together, it
meant perhaps a thousand men from each clan."
- the clan chiefs rarely speak of or display their Rhuidean
markings. (VI: 290)
- if a chief dies, his wife leads until a
new chief is chosen. (IV: 815)
- a clan or sept chief comes to a meeting
with other chiefs with guards from his warrior society. (IV: 944)
- the chief and/or battle leader of an Aiel
army gets one tenth of the fifth. (V: 355)
- roofmistresses meet sometimes. (IV: 947)
- young clan chiefs are rare. (IV: 955)
- marriage between members of feuding clans
is very rare. (V: 78)
- on meeting an innkeeper's wife, an Aiel treated her like a roofmistress,
giving her a guest gift for entry to her roof. (IV: 471)
All who are not Wise One's will have a positive disposition to Aes
Sedai. Wise One's will have a negative disposition.
- those Aiel who haven't been to Rhuidean are more likely to honor Aes Sedai. (IV: 811)
Aiel and Ogier have a positive disposition towards each other.
- the Aiel have long been Waterfriends with the Ogier, and often go to
the stedding to trade. (VI: 317)
Aiel have a negative disposition to Tinkers.
- Aiel call Tinkers the Lost Ones. (I: 375)
The Aiel raise crops on their roofs, herd sheep, goats, and cattle.
They mine gold and silver and less precious ores (iron? copper?) and
work the metals. They mine sapphires, rubies, moonstones, and
firedrops but do not cut these although they might use them in their jewelry
work. The Aiel weave and knit from wool and goat hair (algode).
Weaving and jewelry making are the primary trading items for the Aiel.
They trade mainly with peddlers and Shara.
- the Aiel herd sheep, goats and a pale, long-horned cattle. (IV: 800)
- the Aiel commonly raid the Border Reaches of Shienar. (VI: 585)
- silk comes from the land beyond the Aiel Waste. (II: 452)
- the Aiel don't use a lot of currency, rather they trade with nuggets of
gold and silver, or valuable goods. They are skilled at assessing an
object's value and bargain hard. (IV: 605)
- peddlers in the Waste find the following popularly-sought goods: lace,
velvet, ribbon, needles, pins, perfume, tabac, bath salts, wine, brandy.
But they have little interest in the following: silk (cheaper to buy it to
the east), ivory, pots and knives (Aiel smiths are very skilled). (IV:
605)
- merchants set up pavilions at the fair, sell goods like rugs, pottery, jewellery, silk and ivory. (IV: 945)
- some Aiel are traders. (V: 82)
- the Aiel sometimes sell uninvited visitors "like animals" to Shara, or kill them. (V: 64)
- there are no taxes among the Aiel. (V: 355)
- the Aiel grow their own tabac in the Waste. (V: 620)
- the Aiel appreciate art and craftsmanship. (IV: 811)
- the Aiel are tall. (II: 408)
- the Aiel are naturally pale, but usually tanned because of the sun in the
Waste. (III: 671)
- there are no fat Aiel? (IV: 951)
- Aiel hair color ranges from reddish brown to platinum blonde. (II: 506)
- Aiel hair
color ranges from white blonde to red, to darker. (IV: 368)
- no Aiel have dark eyes. (IV: 407)
- most Maidens are slim-chested. (V: 347)
- description of the dragon marks gained in Rhuidean: (IV: 551) (Jak's)
"Around his forearm would a shape like that
on the Dragon banner, a sinuous golden-maned form scaled in scarlet
and gold."
"The thing looked like a part of his skin,
as though that nonexistant creature itself had settled into him.
His arm felt different, yet the scales sparkled in the sunlight like
polished metal; it seemed if he touched that golden mane atop his
wrist, he would surely feel each hair."
- no known way to imitate the marks of Rhuidean.
(IV: 815)
- Aiel wear shoufas on their heads. (I: 617)
- the Aiel knit. (VI: 383)
- the Aiel don't dress with sex appeal in mind. (IV: 955)
Women wear skirts, blouses, and shawls, all in drab browns or grays.
They may wear a little or a lot of jewelry - mainly bracelets and
necklaces. Boots are soft, laced knee-high boots.
- description of Aiel: (III: 432) (Jak)
"...her hands were empty, and she wore no visible weapon.
Blue-green eyes and reddish hair cut short except for a narrow tail that
hung to her shoulders; soft, laced knee-boots and close-fitting coat and
breeches all in the shades of earth and rock.....this woman was Aiel."
- young girls wear short skirts and braided pigtails. (IV: 574)
- Aiel women are rarely without their shawls. (VI: 259)
- Aiel women (except for Maidens and gai'shain) wear multiple bracelets and necklaces. (V: 130)
- women traders wear twice as much jewelry as the average women. (V: 130)
Men and Maidens wear the cadin'sor which is a coat and breeches in
brown or grays. Boots are soft, laced knee-high boots.
- Aiel men always go clean-shaven. (VI: 583)
- warriors wear a shoufa with a black veil attached. (IV: 818)
- warriors wear clothing in natural
colors, short spears, short bows, hide
bucklers and long knives. (II: 408)
- only certain Aiel may wear the cadin'sor. (IV: 215)
Check this quote. White book says all men and maidens.
- the cadin'sor is not identical for all warriors - the cut of the coat
indicates the wearer's clan and warrior society.(VI: 314)
- the Wise Ones wear bulky brown skirts, loose white blouses and brown
shawls, as well as jewellery if they wish, the dress of most Aiel women.
(IV: 217)
- gai'shain are only supposed to wear white. (VI: 383)
- gai'shain wear sandals and hooded white robes. (IV: 381)
Use the ashland desert. Like the ashlands, bleak, little or no
vegetation. Only in clumps. Very little water. Probably a water source at
every hold.
Add sapphire, gold, silver, rubies, moonstones, and firedrop mines.
- how to find water in the Waste (IV: 791)
- in the Waste, you boil by day and freeze by night, and only an Aielman can
find water there. (I: 339)
- desc of the heat of the Waste (IV: 366)
- the heat of the Waste can actually kill those not accustomed to it.
(IV: 371)
- cattle and goats are herded in the Waste. (II: 170)
- the Aiel herd goats and sheep. (IV: 598)
- the Aiel call the Waste the Three-Fold Land - a shaping stone to make us,
a testing ground to prove our worth, and a punishment for our sins.
(II: 410)
- the Aiel have no cities. (IV: 357)
- there are places where something like the Peace of Rhuidean is in effect,
one of them is Alcair Dal, which is near to Cold Rocks Hold and Rhuidean.
(IV: 560)
- desc of Alcair Dal (IV: 953)
- Trollocs only a few miles from the Blight south into the Waste. (IV: 599)
- it has never rained in the Waste? (V: 363)
- the Aiel never use maps, they claim not to need them. (VI: 321)
- desc of the Waste's terrain (IV: 582)
- desc of Waste landscape (IV: 791)
- desc of Waste (IV: 943)
- desc of Waste (V: 136)
- vehicles like wagons have rough going in the Waste's terrain. (IV: 595)
- there is very little wood in the Waste. (V: 59)
- Shiagi Hold (IV: 815)
- Chain Ridge Stand - between the Goshien and Shaardad territories.
(IV: 955)
Cactus - flowering and desert sweetbarrel, bittergreen, fire fern,
scathecraw. No trees.
Crops are grown on the roofs of the houses. Fruits and vegetables
are grown. Other desert plant life is scarce.
Holds contain the permanent structures of the Waste. They are mainly
built in caverns, either natural or carved out, that contain caves, like some of the American Indian
tribes. Terraces with doorways and tenting. Stairways of stone.
Roof are usually flat to grow plants. Exteriors are clay or brick.
- when traveling, the Aiel shelter in low, open-sided tents that blend easily with the terrain. (IV: 368)
- the tents rise to a peak around a hole, with barely enough room to stand. Bright cushions and rugs decorate the tent. (IV: 381)
Aiel interiors have floors carpeted with rugs with mats and cushions for
seating. The walls are clay or brick and are covered with tapestries
and shelving. The wall hangings, rugs, and cushions are very colorful
with bright textures. Tables are found in Aiel structures but no
chairs. The shelves contain books, statues, porcelain pots and other
items, as well as any unique, useful or beautiful item taking during
looting. Silks and ivory items are popular from trade with Shara.
- Aiel don't like sitting in chairs, they prefer cushions on the floor. (IV: 175)
- Aiel are unused to sitting in chairs. (VI: 522)
- the Aiel use sweat tents for cleaning, and gathering there is also an important social ritual. (IV: 577)
- staera are slim, curved pieces of bronze used to scrape and clean the skin within the sweat tents. (V: 99)
- both sexes of Aiel share the same sweat tents. (VI: 301)
- description of chief's chair: (IV: 810)
(Jak's)
"Rand saw only one chair, tall-backed and lacquered red and gold, with a
look of not much use, the chief's chair, Aviendha called it."
- the only chairs in the Waste belong to the
clan chiefs, and are only used for three reasons: 1. when being
acclaimed chief, 2. to accept the submission of an enemy with honor, 3.
to pass judgment
- the Aiel never waste any potable beverage. (V: 520)
- the Aiel prefer strong ale to drink. (IV:
604)
- goat roasted with dried peppers, and a spicy, flecked yellow mush.
(IV: 609)
- spicy goat and pepper stew, peas, squash, bread of zemai flour, long
bright red and green beans, zemai with chunks of t'mat, and
tough-skinned, sweet bulbous fruit from the kardon plant (cactus). (IV:
812)
- the Aiel drink dark-brewed tea. (IV: 819)
- oosquai (made from zemai), has a brownish tinge and little taste, but
is very potent alcohol. (IV: 944)
- olives are rare in the Waste. (V: 62)
- pea soup (V: 67)
- flat, pale bread made from zemai, gara and bloodsnake. (V: 276)
- the Aiel grow their own tabac in the Waste. (V: 620)
- porridge with dried fruit is a popular morning food. (VI: 308, 360)
- motai - a sweet and tasty grub. (VI: 650)
- dried goat, hard flatbread, hard blue-veined white cheese with a tart
taste - travelling food. (III: 458)
- given the shortage of wood, dung is burned as a source of fuel. (IV:
572; V: 88)
- Aiel eat stretched out on the floor in whatever position is most
comfortable. (IV: 812)
- the Aiel consider bathing shocking because of the waste of dirtying so
much water simply to clean the body. (IV: 175)
- nakedness is not a taboo, or much of a social concern, even between the
sexes. (IV: 175)
- Aiel feel like they're literally "breathing water" in the wetlands.
(IV: 296)
- Cold Rocks is 12 days walk from Imre Stand.
(IV: 801)
- desc of outer area of Cold Rocks (IV: 802)
- desc of Hold (IV: 805, 187-818)
- Cold Rocks is the size of a fair-sized town. (IV: 805)
- children and gai'shain tend roof and terrace gardens of the Hold. (IV: 805)
- desc of Hold houses - yellow clay bricks or grey stone, no glass
windows, curtains, there's a gong beside the roofmistress' house (IV: 809-810)
- desc of inside of house (IV: 810)
- it's 3-4 days from Alcair Dal from Cold Rocks. (IV: 815)
- desc of Aiel bedroom (IV: 823)
- the gong by the Roofmistress' house is an alarm? (IV; 828-829)
- desc of Alcair Dal (IV: 953)
- Chain Ridge Stand - between the Goshien and
Shaardad territories. (IV: 955)
- there is water at Imre Stand. (IV: 595)
- Imre Stand is in Taardad land. (IV: 598)
- it is made up of a crude stone building built against the base of a butte. It has small arrow slits, with dirt and growth on its roof. It is joined to another structure on a ledge by a crevice. (IV: 598)
- the Stand is a shelter for herdsmen, and is entered via a rough wooden door. (IV: 599)
- Imre Stand is at least 200 leagues south of Blight. (IV: 613)
- there are two other Stands within 12 days walk of Imre Stand. (IV:
800)
- Cold Rocks is 12 days walk from Imre Stand. (IV: 801)
TSR pb pg 366:
Description of landscape: Rigged slab-sided mountains that looked
carved by a mad giant's axed. At the center, a long barren valley far
below, a mass of dense fog billowing like clouds. Out of that stuck the
tops of towers, some spired, some ending abruptly as if masons still worked.
Aiel camps visiting are on the slopes, not sure which ones though.
TSR paperback pg 392:
Smaller than Tear of Caemlyn but the empty streets are broad as any Mat had
seen with wide strips of bar dirt down their centers as if trees had grown
there once and great fountains with statues. Huge buildings flanked the
streets, odd flat-sided palaces of marble and crystal and cut glass, ascending
hundreds of feet in steps or sheer walls. There are no small buildings
only immense palaces with gleaming columns fifty feet thick climbing a hundred
paces in red or white or blue and grand towers, fluted and spiraled, some
piercing the clouds. The city was unfinished. Many of the
structures ended in the saw teeth of abandoned construction. Colored
glass made images in some huge windows (stained glass) serenely majestic men
and women thirty feet tall or sunrises and starry night skies. Other
windows were empty.
Pale smooth paving stones in the streets.
- the slopes above Rhuidean are called
Chaendaer. (IV: 226)
- desc of the valley or Rhuidean (IV: 366)
- an unnatural fog surrounds Rhuidean, covers the city like a dome.
(IV: 390, 392)
- the city is on the smallish side, with wide avenues, fountains,
statues, huge buildings, palaces of marble, crystal, cut glass and
towers. (IV: 392)
- the city is unfinished, with the colours red, white and blue
prominent. (IV: 392)
- there are many stained glass windows, depicting huge people and
landscapes. (IV: 392)
- the city is utterly arid and waterless, although a veritable ocean of
good water lies deep beneath the city. (IV: 392, 394)
- the soil of Rhuidean is poor. (IV: 394)
- the city stretches out a mile around a huge central plaza. Avendesora
is planted in the centre of that plaza. (IV: 395)
- one feels a sense of peace and well-being beneath the branches of
Avendesora. (IV: 396)
- Rhuidean is shielded in some way. (IV: 971)
- desc of Rhuidean (V: 57)
- desc of building in Rhuidean (V: 86-87)
- desc of Rhuidean fountains (V: 132)
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