A fierce and hardy people, the Aiel live beyond the
Dragonwall in the Aiel
Waste ( Three Fold Land ). They veil their faces before battle. Aiel
will not touch a sword even on the point of death, or ride a horse unless
pressed. Aiel have tanned skin, and pale eyes. Hair color ranges from a
reddish brown to a platinum blonde. Aiel greetings are often odd to
wetlanders. "I see you", is a common way to say hello. In parting,
"Sleep and wake" or "Shade and water" are normal. Wetlander greetings
are
often seen as odd to the Aiel. The failure to acknowledge another Aiel
when greeted is a slight on the Aiel's honor and should be avoided.
Aiel hate the Cairhienin and dislike all other wetlanders. Most
wetlanders are seen as weak in body and spirit. They have some respect,
however, for the Shienaran and other Borderland races as they are known to
courageously guard the northern border against the Blight. Aiel celebrate
when a male channeler is born among them. The male Aiel who finds he can
channel runs to the shores of Shayol Ghul to spit in Sightblinders eye.
It is a matter of honor, and the memory of one who dances with the Dark
One is honored. The Aiel male who knows he can channel and does not fulfil
his destiny is seen as an outcast and is often hunted down and killed.
Thieving is also seen as an intolerable offense to the Aiel. Aiel thieves
(and thieves who wander into the Waste) are subject to Aiel laws.
Thieves, when caught are stripped naked and given nothing but a waterskin
before being sent out into the Waste alone.
The Aiel are of one Nation, but divided into clans: the Reyn, the
Shiande, the Codarra, the Daryne, the Sharaad, the Goshien, the Miagoma,
the Taardad, the Shaido, the Chareen , the Tomanelle and the Nakai; each
dominating a geographically separate region of the Three Fold Land.
Within every clan, members are then divided into Septs based on a
Hold, or
Aiel village, where they live in the Waste. Each hold is run by a
RoofMistress, and all societies have roofs within a hold. There are
several Aiel warrior Societies that are listed in the Help
AielWarriorSocieties file. Although any Aiel may be a member of a clan,
a sept, and a society there is a clear priority of obligation. An aiel
serves his society first, the his/her clan, and then his or her sept. If
two clans are in a blood feud, society members will avoid direct
confrontation. Members of warring clans who are of the same society are
often offered shade within the enemy society's tents. Aiel also serve
their clan first, and then their own sept. Aiel culture is riddled with
complexities that are often difficult to interpret.
Aiel live by a code of honor called the ji'e'toh. Each member of the Aiel
society is responsible for his or her own ji. To owe someone toh is a
matter of honor that can only be repaid through some service, a obligation
of honor. Under many circumstances the Aiel who owes toh will submit
him/herself to the party owed and serve as a gai'shain, or one who is
"Pledged to Peace in Battle", for one year and a day. There are many
examples in the books as to how toh is owed. Some examples are: to be
defeated in battle (the dance), to lie to another, or to cheat another of
his honor. Whenever the honor of another has been tainted, there is toh to
be paid. It is usually up to the offending party how toh should be
repaid.
However, such circumstances as being defeated strictly dictates becoming
gai'shain. Gai'shain are to touch no weapon, and never participate in
battle unless in self-defense. To attack a gai'shain is a violation of
ji'e'toh in and of itself. The gai'shain wears robes of white, and is
clearly recognized as such in Aiel society. There is no dishonor in being
gai'shain. Quite the contrary. Serving as a gai'shain symbolizes one's
willingness to fulfill a debt, a debt of honor.
Each clan has a Chief to lead them, but the Nation of Aiel have the
Wise Ones to guide them. Wise Ones are the real ruling body in Aiel
culture, and they serve as council to the Chiefs, and as role models and
enforcers of Aiel culture. They, like the gai'shain, keep separate from
the dance, and are seen as "holy" or "revered". They come from all
clans
and yet are of all clans at the same time. The Wise Ones determine who
will be allowed to enter Rhuidean, the sacred grounds of the Aiel.
Therefore, the Wise Ones collectively have a say in all matters in Aiel
society. They typically wear heavy grey or brown woolen skirts and white
blouses. They carry no weapons save for a possible belt knife, and they
will only attack in self-defense.
The Aiel await the coming of "He Who Comes With the Dawn", the Aiel
version of the Dragon Reborn. They have their own version of the
Prophesies of the Dragon, and search for signs of Him. The Car'a'carn, as
he is known shall be he who was returned to Aiel. Born of a maiden, yet
raised apart. He shall be returned to the Aiel to serve their
destruction, and in their destruction bring them salvation. For this,
many Aiel have been sent over the Dragonwall into the wetlands to seek for
the Car'a'Carn.