Red Ajah

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An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Red Ajah is strongly dedicated to preventing another Breaking of the World. The Red is the major Ajah by number of adherents with roughly 1/5 of the Aes Sedai (around two hundred sisters).

Organization

Its leader is known as the Highest. Although this Ajah is the largest one, the Reds are rarely raised to the Amyrlin Seat; there have only been three throughout recorded history, including Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan, in the course of the series. The two Reds that came before Elaida were both deposed as Amyrlin, the last two Amyrlins to have been deposed before Siuan Sanche.

Traditions and purpose

The traditional purpose of the Red Ajah was to seek out and control men who can channel saidin, generally by sensing the residue left by weavings of saidin. Over time, this practice evolved into "gentling" the men by severing their ties to the One Power completely. The Red Ajah has also recently undertaken a new role in world affairs: they have become intermediaries between the Aes Sedai and the Asha'man. The Reds have resolved to bond Asha'man in preparation for the upcoming Tarmon Gai'don: it is believed that Reds have the most experience with male channelers, and are therefore the obvious choice.

Because saidin has now been cleansed of the taint, the Red Ajah is now somewhat purposeless, and author Robert Jordan did not specify whether it will find a new direction.

Relations with other Ajahs

Reds have had a long-standing feud with the Blue Ajah. This feud began when Bonwhin, the last Red to have been made Amyrlin before Elaida, tried to control Artur Hawkwing, leading to an attempted invasion of Tar Valon and a breaking within the Tower itself. Bonwhin was replaced by a Blue sister, Deane Aryman, and the two Ajahs have been at odds ever since. This feud has recently caused another break among the Aes Sedai, starting with Siuan Sanche's deposing and ending with civil war within the Tower. Many Aes Sedai, Accepted, Novices and even servants fled the Tower for the town of Salidar, where a second, exiled White Tower was created. All Blues fled the tower, while no Reds did.

Members

Elaida

Main article: Elaida a'Roihan

The youngest daughter of a minor House in the north of Murandy, Elaida was the first novice to be raised to Accepted in only three years. She was raised to the shawl after Siuan Sanche and Moiraine Damodred's second year as novices and chose the Red Ajah. From the time Siuan and Moiraine came to the Tower, Elaida made life miserable for them, pressing them so hard that other sisters often had to intervene. Her abusive and unwarranted 'help' as an already raised Aes Sedai were eventually put to an end after the then Mistress of Novices, Merean Redhill, having been informed by other concerned Accepted, threatened her with a penance as well as humiliation. Elaida bitterly resented this intervention, though, and grew to hate Siuan and Moiraine because of it. She has a strong aptitude with the One Power, but is frequently depicted as proud and foolish. She dreams of defeating the Salidar Rebels and having them kneel at her feet, and plans to build a grand palace for herself despite the ongoing crisis in Tar Valon. In The Fires of Heaven, Siuan speculates that Elaida was insanely jealous that the former was raised Amyrlin over her. This was probably one of Elaida's most motivating factors in deciding to mutiny against Siuan. In the novel Lord of Chaos, Padan Fain speculates that now that he has "brushed" Elaida with some of the taint of Shadar Logoth, she "might" trust her own mother, but never Rand al'Thor. This infection from Fain might also be a source of her growing and irrational paranoia.

Toveine Gazal

Toveine was a Sitter until her exile. She is described as short and slightly plump with smooth copper skin, dark eyes and long glossy dark hair. She is attractive, but not beautiful.

Fifteen years ago Toveine, and other Sitters for the Red Ajah, were exiled for their role in gentling male channelers beyond the walls of the White Tower. She is called out of exile to lead a group of fifty or so Aes Sedai to destroy the Black Tower and to gentle and hang every man they find. Upon locating the Black Tower they are captured by Asha'man and Toveine is subsequently Bonded by Logain, much like Aes Sedai create Bonds with their Warders. The modified Bonds include the ability to compel unconscious obedience.

Her time at the Black Tower is not easy. She is roughed up by the other Aes Sedai who accompanied her, blaming her for their capture. Logain's other Bonded Aes Sedai, Gabrelle, tells her that the captured Sisters must unite and that they two will submit to the strongest Aes Sedai there. It is during a ride with Logain that she and Gabrelle hear Atal Mishraile tell Logain that Mazrim Taim is letting him leave to go look for recruits. Toveine, along with Gabrelle go with him.

She ends up not looking for other recruits with Logain but locating Rand al'Thor instead, which was Logain's plan from the start.

Other notable members

Duhara Basaheen is a Domani who was Keeper of the Chronicles to Sierin Vayu. She is currently a Sitter in the Hall. She was sent by Elaida to be the Aes Sedai advisor to Elayne, although Elayne has refused to accept her. Verin reveals that Duhara belongs to the Black Ajah.
Pevara Tazanovni is a Sitter in the White Tower and a supporter of Elaida. She is from Kandor, a nation in the Borderlands. Along with her best friend Seaine Herimon and several others, she has begun to expose the Black Ajah who have seemingly taken over the White Tower from within.
Sashalle Anderly is a blue eyed Aes Sedai with shoulder length curly hair. She was one of the Aes Sedai who kidnapped Rand, and was stilled when he broke the shield, along with Ronaille Vevanios and Irgain Fatamed. She has since been healed by Damer Flinn and has sworn fealty to Rand.
Silviana Brehon is the Mistress of Novices in the White Tower. She remained in the White Tower when the rebellion began; however, while Egwene al'Vere was in the tower, Silviana came to respect her and eventually denounced Elaida to the Hall of the Tower. When Egwene was recognized as Amyrlin by the White Tower, Egwene raised Silviana to the post of Keeper of the Chronicles.
Teslyn Baradon is a dark-eyed former Sitter, who was captured by the Seanchan and made damane. Mat freed her, along with Edesina Azzedin.
Tsutama Rath had once been a Sitter until she was exiled along with Toveine Gazal and Lirene for their role in gentling male channelers beyond the walls of the White Tower. Allied with Elaida. Returned from exile, Tsutama is leader of the Red Ajah.
Tarna Feir is an Altaran and the second Keeper of the Chronicles to Elaida. She also served as Elaida's emissary to the Aes Sedai rebels in Salidar. During her early training in the Tower, she suffered from a block rendering her unable to channel except when her eyes were closed; Galina Casban helped her overcome it.

References

External links

v t e The Wheel of Time universe

Characters	Rand al'Thor Perrin Aybara Mat Cauthon Egwene al'Vere Nynaeve al'Meara Elayne Trakand Major characters Minor characters

Aes Sedai	Amyrlin Seat Keeper of the Chronicles Hall of the Tower Blue Ajah Brown Ajah Green Ajah Gray Ajah Red Ajah White Ajah Yellow Ajah

Antagonists	Black Ajah Dark One Darkfriends Forsaken Elaida a'Roihan Mazrim Taim Mashadar Mordeth Padan Fain Shadowspawn Shaidar Haran Trollocs

Concepts and objects	Avendesora Daes Dae'mar Damane The Dragon Heron-mark sword Horn of Valere The One Power Items of the One Power Old Tongue Ta'veren True Power Unusual abilities

Factions	Aes Sedai Asha'man Band of the Red Hand Children of the Light Dragonsworn The Kin The Five Great Captains Warders

Races and cultures	Aelfinn and Eelfinn Aiel Atha'an Miere Ogier Seanchan Tuatha'an Trollocs

Places	Wheel of Time locations

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