Cairhienin

Cairhein lays on the western edges of the Spine of the World, and
southwest of the Jangai Pass which leads into the the Waste. Cairheinin
is a fuedal society. However, the Cairheinin are a very distinctive sort
almost exagerated version. The nobility is clearly separate from the
commoner. The nolility are formal, reserved, and a civilized people, but
they are also known to be quite bold when their reserve cracks. They are
disolute but discreet. Many are known to be excentric, diabolical and
everything is political to the Cairhienin. The Cairheinin people have
soft, pale skin and usually dark hair. The peasants are a fun-loving
people who often are seen as raucous. The nobles on the other hand are
often seen as somber, and scheming. The speech style of the Cairheinin is
interpreted as some as being "song-like" or musical.

Cairheinins, nobility and peasant alike all are involved in the Great
Game, Daes Dae'Mar, which is also known as the Game of Houses. The Game
involves a continual series of schemes, manipulations, plots, and other
nefarious activies to politically manuever a royal house into a position
of greater power. The Game is is played through subtle manipulations
where value is adhered to those who can mislead, guise, or illusively
guide other houses through either misdirection, or through the quiet
actions. Much credit is given when something can be pulled off without
being detected, or by portraying the illusion that the action took little
to no effort. The Game is inherent to the Cairheinin culture, and is born
and bred into every member of that race.

The Cairheinin are seen as the "treekillers" by the Aiel. They were the
subject of a massive Aiel invasion, when King Laman at selfishly destroyed
a great gift given by the Aiel peoples. In thier dishonor, thousands of
Aiel stormed the Spine of the World and attacked. It was not until the
Cairheinin king, King Laman was put to death did the Aiel return to the
Waste. This left a great void in the Cairheinin society and led to
decades of infighting to determine the rightful heir to the Cairheinin Sun
throne.