Aiel

Aiel
Tigraine Mantear, a Maiden of the Spear.
Name	Aiel
Translation	The Dedicated
Type	Desert people
Region	Aiel Waste (Three-fold Land)
Ideology	ji'e'toh
Portrayal
Appears in	The Wheel of Time (TV series)
Debut	1.03 A Place of Safety
Status
Seasons	1
Last seen	103 A Place of Safety (deceased Aiel) 107 The Dark Along the Ways (living Aiel, in flashback) 205 Damane (first living Aiel in present day)
Status	Active

The Aiel are a warrior people who live in the Aiel Waste (which they call the Three-fold Land) to the east of the Westlands.

Overview

The Aiel are considered exotic and dangerous by the people of the Westlands. Red hair is a very common trait among the Aiel, while it is relatively rare in the Westlands. It is said that the average Aiel stands a head taller than the average Westlander.

The Aiel are comprised of various clans. In turn, the clans are made up of various septs. Meanwhile, warriors of the Aiel organize themselves into distinct societies, such as the Stone Dogs, and the all-female Maidens of the Spear. There is also a mysterious group among the Aiel known as the Wise Ones.

The Aiel live by a system of ji'e'toh (Old Tongue for honor and obligation). They consider this to be a fundamental part of life, and many Aiel are confused that other peoples are unfamiliar with this.

History

In the sixth century NE, the Aiel entered into an alliance with the nation of Cairhien, in the Westlands, making a particular agreement with the Cairhienin.

In 976 NE, The King of Cairhien inadvertently started the Aiel War, a great conflict between the Aiel and the nations of the Westlands, after violating their truce. The Aiel launched a great invasion of the Westlands, and many other nations came to the defense of Cairhien, including Illian. The war concluded with the Battle of the Shining Walls at the end of 978 NE, where the king of Cairhien was killed.

Season 1

An Aielman is killed in Breen's Spring on account of his origins by the people of Andor, and is displayed in a cage before the entire village. While present in town, Mat Cauthon attempts to loot the Aielman's body for money. Thom Merrilin approaches, seeking to bury the man, and tells Mat what happened to him, though he allows Mat to steal from the corpse, acknowledging that everyone has had low moments. After Mat is done, Thom proceeds to bury the man in the custom of the Aiel.

Rand al'Thor is mistaken for an Aielman by Loial in Tar Valon. Though he quite firmly denies it at first, insisting he is from the Two Rivers, he begins to accept his Aiel heritage when he remembers Tam's fevered memories of saving a baby during the Aiel War, and Min Farshaw telling him about his birth on Dragonmount.

Season 2

Rand al'Thor continues to be assumed to be Aiel with Errol, a sanitarium patient who appears to have memory loss. He reminisces about the Aiel War, and explains how the men are fierce fighters, and the women are even fiercer.

Aviendha, a Maiden of the Spear, is captured in Atuan's Mill and held in a cage by the Children of the Light. Eamon Valda speculates that her appearance in Toman Head, so far from the Spine of the World, is linked to the Seanchan invasion of the peninsula. Aviendha is freed from her cage by Perrin Aybara, and demonstrates her great skill in combat when she and Perrin defeat an entire company of Whitecloaks together. When they make camp, Aviendha explains that some Aiel like herself have departed from their homeland to search for the Car'a'carn, the Chief of Chiefs.

Quotes

Rest, warrior of the Three-fold Land. May your soul find water and shade.

Thom Merrilin performs a burial for an Aielman.

Changes from the book series

The Aiel are adapted from the people of the same name  (book spoilers!) from the book series.