See also:
=One Power=
The One Power is the energy that flows through everything. It is separated into two halves: Saidin - the male half; and Saidar - the female half.
Each half of the One Power can be used only by people of the appropriate sex. Furthermore, not everyone has the ability to "channel" the One Power. Some people are born with the ability in them, and many more are born with the ability to be trained in it.
When using the One Power one weaves flows of different elements together. The five known elements are Earth, Spirit, Water, Air and Fire. Men are able to control Fire and Earth much more effectively than women and women can channel Air and Water more effectively than men.
One's strength in handling the One Power is measured in how many threads they can control simultaneously. Rand al'Thor is the strongest channeler known and he could easily control 12 threads at the same time. Men are usually much stronger than females - their weakness comes from being unable to form Circles unless a women is present in the weave.
The Aes Sedai are the largest collection of women who officially use the One Power. They refer to all women who learn to channel on their own as "wilders".
Men who can channel almost inevitably go mad, due to the Dark One's taint on Saidin.
Furthermore, all men and women who learn to channel on their own come to a point of crisis, in which they are in severe danger of dying without training. Many women who die of mysterious circumstances in their late teens are actually wilders who have failed to cope with their abilities.
Angreal are items of the One Power which enable the user to draw more of the One Power than they would normally be able to. Angreal also protect the user from drawing enough power to burn themselves out.
Sa'angreal are identical to angreal, except that they allow the user to draw more power than even an Angreal can handle. At least one sa'angreal, usable only by men, is known to to be missing the buffer that prevents the user from burning themselves out - Callandor - the sword which is not a sword. The two most powerful sa'angreal ever created are in Rand al'Thor's control, one designed for men, the other designed for women. These two sa'angreal are able to be used remotely by way of ter'angreal (see below) that are linked to them.
Ter'angreal are objects of the power that perform functions. Some ter'angreal do not require the One Power to be used for their activation, such as the spiral ring that Verin gave to Egwene (which she gave to Elane and Nynaeve), and the twisted red doorframes that lead into the realms of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn (Snakes and Foxes). By studying the twisted ring Elayne was able to devise, and test, a successful theory for creating ter'angreal.
The Aes Sedai consider all items of the power to be property of the White Tower, and in general, this is not disputed. The High Lords of Tear, in their fear of anything connected to the power due to the Prophecies of the Dragon and Calandor, collected a cache of items suspected to use the power that they hid away from the world. The Kin also collected a cache of items, one of which was the Sea Folk's Bowl of Winds that was used to correct the weather in Path of Daggers.
=Ji'e'toh=
Ji'e'toh is the system of honor and dishonor that the Aiel follow. Ji'e'toh determines all interactions in Aiel life; fighting, housing, even intimate relationships and marriage.
The Prophecies of the Dragon, sometimes known as the Karaethon Cycle, are a series of Foretellings regarding the rebirth of The Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon.
The Way of the Leaf is a system of peace, similar to Taoism or Zen Buddhism, that is followed by the Tuatha'an (Tinkers).
Ogier are a race of non-human creatures who have an intense love of knowledge. They are also great warriors and architects who build many of the most impressive structures and cities in the world in such a way that the buildings and stone appear to have been grown like plants. Despite their skill with stoneworking, however, the true passion of the Ogrier is forestry; they love the trees of their Stedding, and grew groves near the cities they built to remind them of the Stedding.
Although there was a time when Ogier would fight side by side with humans, they are a peacefuland reclusive race who rarely leave their Stedding. While the Ogier still visit larger cities to maintain their ancient stonework, the more remote areas have relegated them to myth and legend. Ogier live in the various Stedding around the world that they have found since the breaking.
Ogier stand about 10 feet tall (described as half again as tall as a man). They have broad noses and long tufted ears.
Trollocs are creatures of the Dark One, which look like corrupted animals with some very human traits, which makes them all the more frightening to humans.
They were bred by Aginor, one of the Forsaken who was a biologist. They are larger than humans, much stronger and are almost impossible to keep in check.
The Trollocs wield scythe-like swords.
Myrddraal are born of Trolloc parents but have dominant human traits. They are tall, pale, and have no eyes. Their ability to bring fear to those they look at makes them ideal to lead groups of Trollocs (often in a "Fist" of 100-200). Myrddraal will sometimes "link" with the Trollocs that they control, giving them greater influence over them. This comes at a cost - killing a Myrddraal will instantly kill all of the Trollocs that are linked to it.
Myrrdraal often wield swords forged in Thakandar that carry the taint of the Dark One. Injuries done with a Thakandar-forged blade are almost entirely unhealable and fatal.
Myrddraal are able to move between, or disappear into, shadows, they are reluctant to cross running water and that mirrors only reflect a misty image of them.
Myrddraal are known by many names
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 by many for the Breaking of the World and are thought to meddle in the affairs of the nations. At the same time, few rulers will be without an Aes Sedai advisor, even in the lands where the existence of of such a connection must be kept secret.
The Aes Sedai reside in Tar Valon, specifically, in the White Tower.
The Aes Sedai organize themselves by seven Ajahs, not counting the hidden Black Ajah. Each Ajah has a core political or rational belief which drives its members' actions, and some concern themselves with focused use of the One Power, such as Healing. Once a woman has been raised as Aes Sedai she will choose her Ajah based on her beliefs. An Ajah must be petitioned by the newly-raised Aes Sedai for membership.
The Aes Sedai bind themselves to three oaths using a ter'angreal known as the "Oath Rod." This ter'angreal makes it impossible to violate the oath given while holding it. The Three Oaths are
Members of the Blue Ajah focus their energy on championing worthy causes and promoting justice. They are skilled in political maneuvering and are good at administration.
Members of the Red Ajah are best known for their disliking of men. "...Red, who despises [men] as though every one of them were responsible for the Breaking." (III, p271) They are self-reliant and do not depend on a Warder for protection. In fact, the Ajah steadfastly refuses to bond any Warders at all. Their mission is to hunt down and Gentle any and all men found with the ability to channel.
Members of the Green Ajah were also referred to as the Battle Ajah. During the Trolloc Wars and the Breaking of the World, the Green Ajah fought amongst the ranks of the armies at all times. Their main purpose now is to wait for the Trollocs to return south once more with the coming of the Last Battle as spoken in the Prophecies of the Dragon. They are Tar Valon's equivilent and counter to Dreadlords.
The Green Ajah often have more than one Warder for protection, and are said to have a great "love for men".
Members of the Brown Ajah spend much of their time and energy in the pursuit of knowledge. They are very learned in myth and lore, and in the Prophecies of the Dragon.
Members of the Yellow Ajah are dedicated to both the study and practice of healing with the One Power. Members of this Ajah are the most talented healers among the Aes Sedai.
Members of the White Ajah focus on deciphering the truth of the matter with implacable logic. They are also said to have no time in their lives for any passion whatsoever - this includes having a Warder by their side, though the Ajah does not strictly forbid the bonding as the Red does.
Members of the Grey Ajah seek harmony and agreement. As a result, they make very skilled mediators.
The Black Ajah, a group which serves the Dark One, is denied as rumor and lie throughout the White Tower. Aes Sedai themselves do not believe of its existence until it is proven by the dissention of thirteen Aes Sedai who kill several of their Sisters and make off with ter'angreal related to Tel'aran'rhiod, the world of dreams, as well as one which can create balefire. The Black Ajah is not counted among the seven ajah and is not used in depictions such as the Amyrlin's Striped Stole.
The Children of the Light believe that the Black Ajah is a facade by which the other Aes Sedai can hide. The Children of the Light believe that all Aes Sedai serve the Dark One.
The Black Ajah has somehow managed to free itself from the Three Oaths taken on the Oath Rod, as they are clearly free to lie and kill using the power.
Warders are protectors and servants of Aes Sedai. Aes Sedai bond Warders using a special weave of the One Power.
Among the abilities granted to Warders by their bond are increased durability, and a constant awareness of the location and condition of their Aes Sedai. Most Warders are highly trained warriors, and many are skilled trackers as well.
Warders wear special cloaks, made of a material that can only be produced by a ter'angreal in the White Tower. The cloaks blend and shift colors as they move, and allow the Warders an incredible amount of camouflage in almost any environment.
If a Warder dies, his Aes Sedai feels the death as it happens, and generally suffers intense depression. Warders whose Aes Sedai die almost invariably die too, as they lose all will to live.
Asha'man, Guardian or Guardians in the old tongue, are a men who can channel the One Power. They have been recruited, at Rand al'Thor's direction, by Mazrim Taim, to be Rand's army at Tarmon Gai'don. Asha'man, like Aes Sedai, identify their status by title. Asha'man have used the Warder bond to control captive Aes Sedai using compulsion.
Children of the Light, or Whitecloaks as they are commonly known, are religious zealots. They blame the Breaking of the World on the Aes Sedai and believe that the One Power is a tool of the Dark One. All Aes Sedai, and any who associate with them or who have trained in the White Tower, must therefore be Darkfriends. The Hand of the Light, also known as Questioners, are well known for their ability to find a Darkfriend in the least likely of places, and to force a confession using any means necessary.
The Kin are a group of women who can channel but are not associated with the White Tower. Many of the members of the Kin are women who have run, or been turned away, from the White Tower due to their unwillingness to face the ter'angreal women must pass through to become Accepted or lack of strength in the One Power. The Kin have also accepted Wilders who had never been to the White Tower. The Kin number in the thousands, much to the disbelief of the Aes Sedai.
The leaders of the KinItems of Power
=Prophecies of the Dragon=
=The Way of the Leaf=
=Races=Ogier
Trolloc
Myrddraal
=Societies=Aes Sedai
Blue Ajah
Red Ajah
Green Ajah
Brown Ajah
Yellow Ajah
White Ajah
Grey Ajah
Black Ajah
Warders
Aiel
Ath'an Miere
AKA "Sea Folk"
Asha'man
Children of the Light
The Kin
The Knitting Circle