The Mainland Rulers

By Amirebram and Linda

The mainland of the Wheel Of Time world is now largely divided into two major categories: lands allied to the Dragon Reborn, and lands ruled by the Seanchan Empress. Far Madding and Tar Valon are currently independent city-states. (The map right shows the status of the nations prior to the Field of Merrilor parley.) All states except Far Madding signed Rand’s peace treaty, which locks the borders of the nations to their current positions and forbids country from attacking country. It requires each nation to fully fund a school in their capital which is open to anyone who wishes to attend. The nations are obliged to defend any signatory country that is attacked. There are to be tariff restrictions to prevent the strangling of economies, barriers on marriage between rulers of nations unless the two lines of rule are clearly divided, and provisions for stripping the land from a lord who starts a conflict (A Memory of Light, To Require A Boon). All Aiel except the Shaido will enforce the peace and mediate disputes between nations:

Any nation may call upon them if they feel abused, and the Aiel—not enemy armies—will provide redress. They can hunt criminals across national borders. They are to be subject to the laws of the nations in which they reside at the time, but they are not subjects of that nation. The Aiel can call upon other nations to aid them in their enforcement if they decide that their own numbers will not be enough. Give formal methods by which nations can petition the Aiel for redress or for permission to attack a foe.

- A Memory of Light, A Knack

Egwene was to break the Seals at the right moment and Elayne to have overall command of the armies, guided by the Great Captains. If the Seanchan did not sign, then the peace treaty would have been void.


Lands of the Dragon Reborn:

Rand Al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn:

Rand Al’Thor distanced himself from the official day to day governing of the nations he conquered, preferring to use Stewards and representatives instead. He was officially the King of Illian. King Darlin was his Steward in Tear. He was formally the Car’a’carn, the Chief of Chiefs, and ruler of all Aiel (except the Shaido and the Brotherless). He was also the Coramoor of the Sea Folk, which is not the ruler (that is the Mistress of the Ships), but a separate entity whose powers are defined by the Bargain made in A Crown of Swords. The Queen of Ghealdan officially acknowledged him and swore fealty to one of his supporters. He ruled Andor and had a Steward in Cairhien before Elayne claimed the Rose Crown and the Lion Throne of Andor and the Sun Throne of Cairhien. (However, she also has ties to Tar Valon as an Aes Sedai, and knowing the White Tower...) The First of Mayene although un-sworn, is obedient and loyal to him in her own fashion. Aside from nations, he owned the Black Tower, the Legion of the Dragon, and the Band of the Red Hand (through Mat).

All four of the Borderland’s rulers and their armies swore to Rand after testing him in Far Madding (Towers of Midnight, A Testing and Epilogue).

Rand obtained the signatures of all the nations including the Seanchan to his peace treaty. It was written as though he would not survive the Last Battle, and because he did so through transmigration to Moridin’s body, he is dead to all except his three women.

The Dragon’s nations alphabetically listed are:

Aiel Nation:

Rand, the Chief of Chiefs, is the first person to unite the Aiel. Eleven of the twelve clans followed him; only the Shaido did not. Their Clan Chiefs at the start of Tarmon Gai’don were:

Bael – Goshien
Bruan – Nakai
Dhearic – Reyn
Erim – Chareen
Han – Tomanelle
Indirian – Codarra
Janwin – Shiande
Jheran – Sharaad
Mandelain – Daryne
Rhuarc – Taardad
Timolan – Miagoma

and they are all advised by a number of Wise Ones. At least six of the Clan Chiefs, including Rhuarc, were killed in the Last Battle.

The Aiel are governed by their own laws, ji’e’toh, and although Rand has not formally changed those laws like he did the laws of Tear, there have still been many changes.

Aviendha saw in the glass column ter’angreal in Rhuidean that there was a strong possibility that the Dragon’s children would have an influence in Aiel decision-making due to their genealogy rather than proven merit:

"What say the Dragon’s children?" Ronam asked, looking at the four of them. It still seemed strange that these elders looked to her.

- Towers of Midnight, Court of the Sun

This would be a major change in Aiel leadership and would lead to disaster. Aviendha demanded, and was granted, a boon off Rand, and this was that the Aiel be included in his peace treaty. He agreed and at Perrin’s suggestion made them the enforcers of the peace.

Andor:

Andor has always been ruled from the Royal Palace in Caemlyn by a Queen wearing the Rose Crown and sitting on the Lion Throne. Like everywhere else in the Mainland, the power of Andor’s Queens has been on the decline for the past century and more. The Succession and the Aiel war coming one after the other weakened Andor and the constant wars with Cairhien and Murandy have reduced the strength of the Crown even more. Rahvin’s time in Andor was marked by drastic changes, a darkening of the government, and dissent and dissatisfaction among commoners and nobles. Had Rand not killed Rahvin, Andor would have fallen into a devastating civil war. Since Elayne is now Queen of Cairhien, and has proclaimed that she will not invade Murandy, and Murandy is a signatory to the peace treaty, Andor’s prosperity should rise.

Elayne developed early as a fully independent person and ruler. She left home for the White Tower at 16, and spent only a limited time there under supervision. In the normal course of events, she would have inherited the Rose Crown from her mother without any challenges, but instead she had to fight for the throne and gain the support of the major Houses herself, while facing contenders and opposition; and that is after all the damage that Rahvin caused in her mother’s name, and the separate efforts of Rand, Elaida, and to a lesser degree, the rebel Aes Sedai to put her on the throne themselves. Elaida wanted to make Elayne an Aes Sedai puppet queen. The rebel Hall schemed at first to put her on the Lion Throne, with their aid, and use her to fight Elaida. And Rand wanted to "give" her the throne.

In Towers of Midnight Elayne granted the Dragon Reborn the lands of the Two Rivers, and made Perrin his steward there. With this agreement she became High Queen to Ghealdan and gained ties to Saldaea. She was concerned that if Faile became Queen of Saldaea, she could lose the Two Rivers to Saldaea, but Alliandre suggested that the agreement include that one of Perrin’s and Faile’s children inherit the Saldaean throne, and another the Lordship of the Two Rivers. Elayne wanted to arrange a marriage between that one of Perrin’s and Faile’s children and one of her own, but Perrin rejected the idea of an arranged marriage. (Rand’s treaty prevents monarchs marrying each other unless the lines of inheritance are kept separate.)

Another point to consider regarding Andor’s future ruler is that Elayne could live for hundreds of years, if she doesn’t get herself killed. This will give Andor a long period with a stable government, which is likely to result in a peaceful and prosperous era for Andor. This is what Dyelin wanted for Andor when she talked about stability in Knife of Dreams—although she might not have known exactly how long Aes Sedai live.

Elayne had overall command of the Light’s armies at Tarmon Gai’don until their generals were proven corrupted, when supreme command and generalship transferred to Mat Cauthon. As mother to the Dragon Reborn’s children, Elayne also gains both status and responsibility.

Arad Doman:

Traditionally Arad Doman was ruled from the capital city of Bandar Eban by a King chosen and advised by the Council of Merchants. Arad Doman’s most recent King, Alsalam, was captured by the Aes Sedai. The Merchants on the Council are either dead or have abandoned their duties. Iralin was promoted to the Merchant Council and appointed Steward of Bandar Eban (Towers of Midnight, Return to Bandar Eban).

The king was located and restored to his people and troops. However, he died in the Last Battle and the Aes Sedai intend Lord Ituralde to take the throne.

Arafel:

Paitar Nachiman, King of Arafel, has very little hair left, and most of it is gray. Tall and broad shouldered, he is still strong even though his face is lined with old age. He has a very steady and unflappable manner. Ishigari Terasian is his general and Kyril Shianri is his first councillor, but Paitar listens more to his queen, Menuki, than to his councillors. He is also fond of the White Tower and his Aes Sedai advisor Coladara Sedai. This is because Kiruna Sedai is Paitar’s favourite sister. Prince Kendral is his grandson. It is not known if Paitar or Kendral survived the last Battle.

Cairhien:

Lord Dobraine Taborwin was the Steward for the Dragon Reborn in Cairhien. He ruled Cairhien and gathered support for Elayne until the attack in his bedchambers. Dobraine seems to have recovered from his assassination and spent time in Arad Doman with Rhuarc trying to restore order and find the King (Knife of Dreams, News for the Dragon) and in Tear. Sashalle, an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah, who was effectively in charge of Rand’s Aes Sedai in Cairhien, played a big role in Dobraine’s absence. She was compelled by Graendal and was burned out in the Last Battle, so she is effectively, if not actually, dead. It is not known what role Dobraine played in the Last Battle or if he survived.

After winning the Lion Throne, Elayne claimed the Sun Throne to intimidate her nobles and keep them busy (Towers of Midnight, An Unexpected Letter). Since the Game of Houses is strongly entrenched in Cairhien, it is likely that High Seats in Cairhien in turn will scheme for the Crown, as Elayne is well aware.

Ghealdan:

Ghealdan used to be a nation of average strength, orderly and united under one ruler. This was before Logain’s rebellion broke the nation’s army. The weakened state of Ghealdan allowed for Masema to start his blood-soaked mission, and further weakened the nation.

Alliandre Maritha Kigarin, Queen of Ghealdan, Blessed of the Light, Defender of Garen’s Wall, came to wear the Crown of Ghealdan after a series of short-lived Kings and Queens were fatally unsuccessful in dealing with the Prophet. Shorter than Faile and in her middle years, she is a cool woman with a long nose and dark hair to her waist. Alliandre’s first appearance in the series was in The Fires of Heaven, when she visited Masema in Samara. Uno said that she had been able to prevent an outright civil war and a Whitecloak invasion by her actions and partial submission (The Fires of Heaven, Encounters in Samara). Later she sent Rand a secret message stating her goodwill and acknowledging him as the Dragon Reborn (Lord of Chaos, Letters).

Alliandre swore fealty to Perrin and became one of Elayne’s subject queens when Elayne granted Perrin the Stewardship of the Two Rivers. The Ghealdanin queen and her troops fought in the Last Battle with Elayne’s forces.

Illian:

Rand was crowned King of Illian at the end of A Crown of Swords, with Gregorin Panar den Lushenos, leader of the Council of Nine, taking care of the nation as the Steward of the Dragon Reborn in Illian. The tradition of power struggle between the Council and the King seems to have melted away once Rand was King, since Rand was clearly the greater power, yet took no part in the daily government.

The Council of None offered Rand the Laurel Crown of Illian in A Crown of Swords because they would rather make Rand their King freely and obey him, than to have him conquer Illian. It also saved them from any destruction that Tear’s army would have wrought, since the High Lords would have enjoyed burning all of Illian, but they would not dare destroy what belong to the Dragon Reborn. Overall, the Council of Nine seems to be a much more responsible group of nobles than the High Lords of Tear. This was also evident to Rand from the little time they spent with him, during the incursion into Altara against the Seanchan.

The former King of Illian, Mattin Stepaneos, whom the Council of Nine assumed was killed by Sammael, was actually abducted by the Tower Aes Sedai. King Easar suggested that Mattin Stepaneos would demand back his crown if Rand died (A Memory of Light, To Require A Boon), but we don’t know if the former king survived the Last Battle.

Kandor:

Ethenielle Cosaru Noramaga, Queen of Kandor, sits the Throne of Clouds at the Aesdaishar Palace in Chachin. Her sigil is a prancing Red Horse (New Spring, Keeping Custom). She is plump and has black hair lightly dusted with gray and blue eyes. Ethenielle believed that Rand was responsible for a lot of the chaos and destruction in the south.

Her first son and heir is Antol, who is at least 35 years of age. Her second son and her husband Prince Consort Brys were killed during New Spring by Merean of the Black Ajah. She has two more daughters and three more sons (New Spring, Keeping Custom). One of her daughters is wedded to King Easar’s third son, and one of her sons is married to King Paitar’s favourite granddaughter. She also has a brother and two sisters married into those Houses. Another one of her sisters married one of Tenobia’s uncles. Her First Councillor is Lady Serailla and her current Swordbearer (general) is Lord Baldhere (The Path Of Daggers, Deceptive Appearances). Prince Kaisel Noramaga is her grandson. Queen Ethenielle recently married Kalyan Ramsin, Tenobia’s uncle and advisor.

Kandor was destroyed in the Last Battle, but presumably it will be rebuilt.

Mayene:

Mayene is ruled by a very beautiful young woman, Berelain sur Paendrag, First of Mayene, Blessed in the Light, Defender of the Waves, High Seat of House Paeron. Berelain has followed Rand since he took the Stone of Tear. Her main motive has always been the preservation of her small nation. In the absence of the First, the city-state of Mayene is ruled by its Seconds, which are unknown to us both in identity and number (more than one, less than nine).

Mayene is blessed with riches from the ocean: they gain much wealth by fishing oilfish from their secret shoals, and selling their oil at a lower price than the olive oil from Tear (The Dragon Reborn, The First Ship).

Berelain looks to marry the Lord Captain Commander of the Whitecloaks.

Murandy:

Murandy’s ruler is King Roedran. It appears that his plan involving the Band of the Red Hand has succeeded in gathering the nobles and binding them to him, making him Murandy’s first true king after a long period of division. However, Talmanes’ appraisal of Roedran was not very hopeful, stating that after reading a military book Roedran thinks that he has become a great general (Knife of Dreams, Attending Elaida).

Roedran was asked to join the Light’s forces on the Field of Merrilor:

Egwene had sent an offer, and a woman to offer Traveling, to King Roedran of Murandy, but she was uncertain if he would come.

- Towers of Midnight, Something Wrong

Elayne made a more tempting offer to him not to invade Murandy if he came to Merrilor via gateways she supplied and supported her views, which he accepted. It is not known if Roedran survived the Last Battle.

Saldaea:

Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi, Shield of the North and Sword of the Blightborder, High Seat of House Kazadi, Lady of Shahayni, Asnelle, Kunwar and Ganai, was the Queen of Saldaea, ruling from the capital city of Maradon. She was pretty, if not beautiful, despite a bold nose and a wide mouth, and had large tilted eyes of a dark deep blue (almost purple). She was young and unmarried and her temper and standard for a husband were both extreme. The only advisors she tolerated were soldiers, and she didn’t heed their advice much. Her most recent advisor and general was one of her many uncles, Kalyan Ramsin, a grizzled and eagle-like man, who married Queen Ethenielle of Kandor just before the Last Battle.

Her heir to the Broken Crown was Saldaea’s Marshall-General Davram Bashere, a slender man with a hooked beak of a nose and dark tilted eyes. Gray streaks in his dark hair, with a thick moustache like down curved horns around his wide mouth gave him a fierce look. He was accounted as one of the best Captains in the Mainland. Bashere believed that Tenobia wanted him hanged or beheaded for treason (Crossroads of Twilight, Glimmers) for swearing to the Dragon Reborn.

A discussion of Saldaean names: A married woman’s name is styled like Deira ni Ghaline t'Bashere, which means that Deira is a daughter of House Ghaline and married into House Bashere. In an unmarried woman’s case, they are named like Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi, which means Tenobia’s mother was of House Bashere and her Father was of House Kazadi. In Saldaea, the oldest living child, whether male or female, is heir. Tenobia's mother may have been heir to the throne, and her only child, a daughter, Tenobia second in line. Davram Bashere, as Tenobia's mother's younger brother was third in line. Note too, that Tenobia was said to have many other uncles. These are therefore on her father's side, House Kazadi. It is those with Bashere blood (even if they marry, or are born, into another House), and the oldest closest blood relation of the monarch, who are heirs to the throne. This indicates that Saldaea’s laws value blood relation over House relevance and so it is possible for the Crown to pass from one House to another. Faile's children will carry Perrin's surname, his House, but will be heirs to the Saldaean throne.

Tenobia was killed in the Last Battle. Davram Bashere became King, but because his mind was corrupted by Graendal’s Compulsion, he waived the crown temporarily and said that Saldaea followed Lan and the rulership would be sorted out after the Last Battle. As it turned out, Bashere soon perished in a charge against the Andoran forces, and his wife with him, so his heir Faile became Queen of Saldaea. This was foretold be Min, who had a viewing of a Broken Crown associated with Perrin.

Sea Folk:

The Mistress of the Ships is Zaida din Parede Blackwing, replacing Nesta din Rheas who was executed by the Seanchan, and she is bound to Rand by the Bargain Harine made in The Path of Daggers. Zaida was one of the two Sea Folk sent to seek a bargain with Rand, but she never succeeded in meeting him. Later she acted as an ambassador to Andor while treating with Elayne, and she secured a bargain there.

The Sea Folk consist of twelve major Clans lead by twelve Wavemistresses. The co-inhabitants of their islands, the Amayar, all committed suicide because they believed the end of Time, the end of Illusions, had come (see Time of Illusions article). The Seanchan ruled the formerly Sea Folk Aile Somera but may have ceded it back as part of their agreement with Egwene, since no Sea Folk acknowledge them as rulers (A Memory of Light, Considerations).

Shienar:

Easar Togita, King of Shienar, is a slim and short man, no taller than Elayne. He has a square face, and a head shaven except for a white topknot. He has at least three sons (one married to Ethenielle’s daughter) and has been widowed for eleven years. He seems mild and recites poetry, but he is a hard and often gruff man.

Alesune Chulin is the royal shatayan of the King’s stronghold in Fal Moran, the capital, and an advisor. Agelmar Jagad, one of the famous Captains, is King Easar’s general. He is the only one among the Borderland nobles who has some acquaintance with Rand. Agelmar originally had a positive opinion of Rand, since Rand arrived with Moiraine and Lan, and later went to hunt the Horn of Valere with Ingtar and Hurin. It is hard to say whether this opinion has remained positive, even with Hurin’s report of events at Falme.

Much of Shienar was burned in the Last Battle to deprive the Trolloc armies of food after they poured through Tarwin’s Gap. It is not known if King Easar survived the Last Battle.

Tar Valon:

The city-state of Tar Valon is ruled by the Amyrlin Seat, formerly Egwene al’Vere and now, much to her joy, probably Cadsuane Melaidhrin. The Aes Sedai were united in The Gathering Storm and purged themselves of the Black Ajah.

Egwene was against Rand breaking the Seals and gained some support from King Darlin of Tear, the Council of Nine in Illian and Elayne, Queen of Andor and Cairhien. Moiraine was instrumental in persuading Egwene and Rand that the Seals should be left in the Amyrlin’s charge, since she is Watcher Over the Seals, and that Egwene would break them at the right moment. As it turned out, they were given to Logain to break when the Light shone.

Tear:

When the long-running rebellion in Tear finally ended, Darlin Sisnera, Steward for the Dragon Reborn in Tear, became King of Tear (Knife of Dreams, Within The Stone).

Darlin was the only High Lord to actively oppose Rand from the very day he took the Stone of Tear. He remained a threat up until A Crown of Swords, when he joined the rebels in Cairhien and met Rand, who was disguised as a minor Andoran noble and was strongly ta’veren that day, and was very candid to Rand about his motives and opinions:

“Darlin snorted. ‘They cringe and lick his boots! I could have followed, if that was what he wanted, if …’ With a sigh, he shook his head. ‘Too many ifs, Tomas’…”

- A Crown Of Swords, Into the Woods

Min had a few interesting viewings regarding Darlin’s future. Her first viewing was that High Lord Darlin would marry Lady Caraline, after a long chase. Later during The Path of Daggers, The Bargain, Min added that “he [Darlin] will die in bed, and she [Caraline] will survive him” and Darlin did survive the Last Battle. She designed Darlin’s crown based on what she saw in another of her viewings.

Two Rivers

The Two Rivers has been neglected by the Andoran monarchy for generations, and leadership was strictly local, with each village having a male Mayor and Council and a female Wisdom and Women’s Circle.

Elayne wanted to regain control of the Two Rivers, but realised this would be met with hostility. She made an agreement with Perrin to grant Rand the lands of the Two Rivers, with Perrin and his line as Steward of the Two Rivers:

"The noble Houses of Andor will accept this, since the Two Rivers is where Rand came from, and Andor does owe him a debt. We'll have him appoint Perrin's line as his stewards. Instead of capitulating to rebels within my borders, I'll be seen allowing the Dragon Reborn, the man I love, to elevate his good friend.”… "The taxes," Elayne said, as if she hadn't heard. "You put them into a trust to be administered by Perrin and his line, with the understanding that if the Dragon ever returns, he can call upon them. Yes. That gives us a legal excuse for your exemption. Of course, Perrin will have authority to dip into those funds to improve the Two Rivers. Roads, food stores, defenses."

- Towers of Midnight, A Teaching Chamber

Whitecloaks:

The new Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light is Galadedrid Damodred after he bested the former Lord Captain Commander, Eamon Valda, in trial by combat (Knife of Dreams, Prologue) and he led a force of about twenty thousand. Asunawa, the High Inquisitor, was executed in Towers of Midnight, and the power of the Questioners reduced.

Galad swore an oath to Perrin:

"You have my oath," Galad said. "To accept you as my military commander until the end of the Last Battle."

- Towers of Midnight, Some Tea

Galad was maimed duelling Demandred in the Last Battle, but survived (A Memory of Light, The Last Battle).

Seanchan Lands:

Seanchan Rulers on the Mainland:

The Seanchan’s new Empress, may she live forever, is Fortuona Devi Athaem Paendrag. She is a slim, short and dark-skinned young woman of almost twenty, and her head is normally completely shaved in the manner of the Royal Family. She was ‘kidnapped’ by Mat, and returned to Ebou Dar at the end of Knife of Dreams.

The second most powerful person in the Seanchan hierarchy is de facto now Tuon’s husband Mat, also known as Knotai, Prince of the Ravens, rather than High Lord Captain-General Galgan, because Mat was given overall command and generalship of the Light’s armies in the Last Battle. He gained further status when Artur Hawkwing recognised Mat and officially spoke to the Empress after the Last Battle at his request. In fact, the latter event may have raised Mat’s status very close to that of the Empress, as shown by the awe the Seanchan regarded him when he returned to them at the end of the Last Battle. The Empress has announced that she is pregnant with their heir. High Lady Suroth is officially property (da’covale) now. There are any number of the High Blood and generals among the Seanchan on the mainland but none rule a nation.

Fortuona made two bargains. The first with Rand was peace for at least a hundred years with all her current borders ratified. The Seanchan may keep the damane they have, but not take any from the other nations, only those on their land. In exchange, the Seanchan worked with the other nations to fight the Shadow’s armies (A Memory of Light, Older, More Weathered).

The second with Egwene also ratifies Fortuona’s borders, with the Sea Folk islands confirmed as not part of them. Seanchan emissaries will be allowed to peacefully speak to the westlanders of the benefits of collaring channellers, and the Seanchan will allow any woman in their lands with the spark to leave them rather than be collared if she wishes. In exchange, the Seanchan were to give military aid to Egwene’s forces (A Memory of Light, Considerations).

Yet Tuon, despite representing order and justice, and being hard-pressed by Rand about the legality of her invasion, was sorely tempted to dishonour her treaty with Rand, and retreat to Seanchan and retake it, perhaps with the Aes Sedai as damane, then later fight the Shadow with all the forces of her reunited empire (A Memory of Light, To Ignore the Omens). Now that Artur Hawkwing has spoken to the Empress about the Return, causing her some consternation according to Brandon Sanderson, Tuon will probably be more cooperative with the westland nations.

The Seanchan mainland nations and areas listed alphabetically are:

Almoth Plain:

The nation of Almoth has been gone for many years and its land has been unclaimed by any ruler, but the Seanchan have been slowly advancing into this territory.

Altara:

From an historic point of view, Altara has always been a nation divided into many domains belonging to different Houses, and the King or Queen has never really ruled much beyond the city of Ebou Dar.

King Beslan Quintara, High Seat of Mitsobar, rules Altara. He is only a year younger than Mat. After the Seanchan invasion, he started to seek a way to fight the Seanchan until he swore fealty to Tuon in The Gathering Storm, Gambits. During the Last Battle he stayed in Altara to govern his nation, much to his disappointment.

Amadicia:

King Ailron and most of his nobles were killed during the battle with the Seanchan, which is called “Ailron’s Disaster” (Crossroads of Twilight, Glimmers). Many of the Whitecloaks have broken their alliance with the Seanchan and left the country. The Seanchan rule Amadicia and it is unclear if a local ruler has been chosen.

Tarabon:

Tarabon was originally ruled by a King and a Panarch from the capital city of Tanchico. Traditionally the Panarch is elected by the Council of Lords and rules from the Panarch’s Palace. She collects taxes, runs the lower courts, and controls the Watch and the Panarch’s Legion. The King runs the High Courts, spends the taxes, and controls the Army (The Shadow Rising). Tarabon had been a strong and ordered country that had only recently been lost to civil war and Dragonsworn before being taken by the Seanchan.

The Seanchan generally let the people of each region keep their laws and run their affairs as they always have done, subjugated to the Seanchan of course. As such, they have placed a new King and Panarch to ‘rule’ Tarabon (Crossroads of Twilight, Glimmers). They have also enlisted a large number of Taraboner men into their army.

The Aile Somera, the only Sea Folk island conquered by the Seanchan, should have been ceded back to the Sea Folk under the agreement the Empress made with the Amyrlin.


Non-Aligned Lands and Peoples:

Far Madding:

Far Madding is ruled by the Counsels, thirteen women who rule together, with the First Counsel being “the first among equals.” Aleis Barsalla was the First Counsel when Rand was captured in Far Madding, but after Cadsuane successfully manipulated her into releasing Rand Cadsuane was uncertain if the rest of the council was going to allow Aleis to remain First.

Far Madding is a city-state built on commerce and the avoidance of the One Power. It takes the association of men and the taint on saidin to its logical extreme and has men completely subject to the rule of women.

Shaido:

The Shaido clan of the Aiel, along with the Brotherless, refused Rand as their ruler. They were scattered by Sammael during A Crown of Swords to increase chaos and to distract Rand’s forces. The Shaido were led by Sevanna, who is the widow of the last two Clan Chiefs, spoke for the Clan Chief, and was counselled by a group of Wise Ones headed by Therava. A major body of the Shaido, along with a large number of Brotherless and a very large number of gai’shain captives, were located in the town of Malden in Altara. Perrin’s forces allied with Seanchan forces inflicted large casualties on the Shaido and took 200 of the Shaido Wise Ones as damane. The remainder of the Shaido, led by Therava and other Wise Ones, are returning to the Aiel Waste and intend to stay there permanently and rebuild the clan.
According to prophecy they may be doomed to die out.

------------------------

Written by Amirebram and Linda, July, 2004 and updated by Linda December 2013
Map by Dominic, February, 2009