Laman's Pride

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Laman Damodred is a character of the Wheel of Time fantasy book series. He became king of Cairhien in 965 NE.

King Laman sought to enhance the reputation of Cairhien, but more so he wanted to make himself of a higher status. So he chose to cut down the 500-year-old chora tree given to Cairhien by the Aiel, as a thanks for an ancient sharing of water, to make a throne for himself that no other King could hope to rival.

This act brought great numbers of Aiel over the Spine of the World. Even though it was only 4 clans, led by a young Clan Chief, Janduin, the Aiel took and burned Cairhien to the ground, looting it. They pursued Laman as he fled, defeating any army brought against them, until they banded together into one unilateral force to fight the Aiel, fearing the Aiel were an invasion force.

Even faced with this huge force, the Aiel drove them back towards Tar Valon, and the Shining walls. There in the 4 day battle of the Blood Snow, Laman was killed and the Aiel retreated.

Even today, Aiel view of the Cairhienin is very low, referring to them as "treekillers" or "Oathbreakers", the attitude amongst the Aiel being they should kill them all, or take them all prisoner and sell them as slaves in Shara. The feeling is quite mutual, considering the killing caused by the Aiel as they cut their way to King Laman.