Elf, Aiel

Appearance

The Aiel are for the most part tall and weathered by their time in the desert. Hair and eyes vary although black hair and blue eyes predominate. Skin tones vary from dusky tans to deep black. Clothing is generally a tight fitting shirt and trews under armor of some kind, with a dark cloak that covers most the weapons the Aiel has strapped around their person, and makes them hard to be spotted in the desert at night.

All Aiel are training in at least two weapons, regardless of their position in the community. The specific weapons chosen vary from seitch to seitch, with the only constant that no swords were ever swung. Most however, pursued additional training in the martial arts. One of the marks of status within the clan was the number of weapons/skills one could master.

Average Characteristics

• Age: Aiel become adults at 50, and most live to 400 years
• Size: Heights range from under 5ft to over 6ft. Most have slender to muscular builds.
• Language: Elvish (Aiel)

Locations

There are four primary seitches; Fernis, Voxis, Calmus, and Lios, with smaller temporary resting places scattered through the Mespait. Preferring to travel at night, the Aiel like to have some place secure to stop during the day. There has long been rumored a lost fifth seitch, the holy city of Tokan’eska, the final home of the Jenn Aiel.

History

2000ish years ago
The last remnants of the Bur’aiel empire, the first to rise in Vestra. The land was blasted during a war with the Djinn and turned into the desert it is today. In the aftermath of that destruction the survivors argued as to how to react.

One group, now calling themselves the Bur'an, wanted to rebuild a city and to attempt to find their lives again. They argued that the past was the past and they would not make those mistakes again, but now was the time to look to the future.

The second group, now the Aiel, argued that they must live as nomads as penance for the mistakes of their ancestors. Only through embracing the desert could the people learn the lesson of their downfall.

In what became known as the Breaking or Shunning (depending on if you were Bur’an or Aiel) the two camps chose to separate. Perhaps surprisingly, almost two-thirds of the survivors chose to become Aiel and swore an oath of non-violence, later called the Way of Serenity.

This oath held for several hundred years, while the Aiel drifted like the sands of the desert traveling across the open bled, mapping and learning their new harsh homeland. In what became known as the Failing the Aiel themselves split when four members of their group killed in self-defense while rescuing two daughters of their group who were taken by raiders. One member of the group, Lewin, grabbed a spear while one of the raiders was attacking him and ultimately killed the raider in self-defense.

When they returned to camp and the others found out that Lewin had killed a raider, they told all the group members to hide their faces and that they were no longer Aiel because they had broken the Covenant and killed, even though they still refused to use a sword. Over time, more and more Aiel joined those who would kill in self-defense, leaving only the Jenn Aiel to hold to the Way of Serenity.

These two groups remained together, the violent Aiel defending the Jenn Aiel, despite their protestations, and this compound group eventually found new homes within the rocky outcroppings that scattered the sandy wastes. This uneasy arrangement lasted for another several centuries, until it was the clear that the Way of the Freeman, as Lewin had named this new path of becoming desert warriors, had truly taken the heart of the Aiel.

The Jenn Aiel, still honored as holy ones who held to the ancient promises in the name of the people, were more often than not also thought of as relics of the past, and/or mildly embarrassing. Realizing that there was little they could do for their kin, the Jenn Aiel, led by Aeson En'satra, withdrew to the hidden city of Token'eska. In what later became called the Abandonment, these holy mystics warned that the Aiel had chosen the harder path of the desert sands and the lessons of Behel'kaa.

Modern Culture

Life within the seitches is one of discipline and structure. Children were raised in a communal setting under the watch of the wise women and spent years learning the rituals and histories of the People of the Sands, in addition to strength and dexterity training. As the children grow they are tested for aptitude and skill and at the age of 20 they are chosen for an apprenticeship within one of the castes and thus set on a path for life.
This caste system gave one their place within society and barring any exceptions will remain the same for life. While all the castes were vital for the survival of the clan there is always hierarchy and protocol when interacting with members of other social groups. There are twelve castes, although only seven of them took apprentices. In general they are grouped in triads and known as the Heart, the Hands, the Body, and Those Outside.

The Heart Triad

These three castes are the leadership of the seitch and from which the Clan Council is chosen. The clan chief is always chosen from among the Battle Leaders, but they are advised on all matters by representatives of both the Wise Women and the Sons of Se'teru
Battle Leaders Never a large caste within the seitch, one cannot apprentice to the battle leaders, instead invitations are extended to members of the Hand triad when someone has gained both honor and wisdom enough to lead. Skill with weapons is not enough, courage is not enough, one must have an innate understanding of strategy and the ability to command.
Sons of Se'teru Size of this caste varies through time and between seitches, and again one cannot apprentice to the Sons. Invitations to this order of priests are extended to any males who exhibit magical talent. These priests worship Se'teru, a two-aspect god of the desert and protector of the Aiel. Most Aiel believe that it was Se'teru who created the behel'kaa.
Wise Women Like the priestly caste, the size varies. Invitations to join the Wise Women are made to any female Aiel that display magical talent. The Wise Women have many functions around the seitch, but their primary duty involves learning and keeping the histories of the People.

The Hands Triad

These are the primary warriors of the Aiel and as such are the largest social groups within the seitch. All three accept apprentices, depending on the skills and talents of the Aiel child.
Sovin Doon (Knife Eyes) An elite caste of marksmen, these Aiel are masters of the bow...as the saying goes, "If they can see it, they can hit it."
Duadhe Mahdi'in (Water Protectors) By far, the largest caste is the Water Protectors, warriors who guard the seitches and the borders of the desert.
Far Dareis Mai (Maidens of the Spear) An elite caste, comprised entirely of women, the Spearmaidens are skilled with all manner of spears and javelins.

The Body Triad

These are the groups that provide for the physical needs of the clans. While the deep deserts are barren of both flora and fauna, nearer to the edges there are plenty of plants and animals that have adapted to life in the desert.
Hunters This caste is for those who skills extend beyond weapons and into the animals who share the desert. They have learned much in the way of tracking and trapping in the shifting sands
Crafters Leatherworkers, potters, weavers and all others who make goods are part of this caste as are the artists and artisans of the seitch.
Gatherers Of primary importance to the seitch, those of this caste work in the dew farms collecting water from the very air. Others of this caste are foragers who go out into the desert fringes to collect food. With limited water, the Aiel do not do any large scale farming, but each seitch does have gardens and plants that have adapted to the dry climate.

Those Outside

These groups exist somewhat outside of the normal flow of Aiel society, each for their own reasons and purpose.
Sleepgivers Nigh unstoppable assassins who move like shadows in the night. They dress in all black, including a veil that covers the face. Attaining this caste is generally done by extended invitation, but they have been known to accept petitioners who are willing to make the sacrifice. For to join the Sleepgivers is to die to seitch, foreswearing name and honor in service to the seitch. That is the reason for they are veiled, to see the face of a Sleepgiver means that you are about to become a deader.
Blacksmiths While thought of in most cultures as craftspeople, blacksmiths, within the Aiel are sacrosanct and untouchable. If a clan of Aiel ever invaded another's battle camp, the fight would rage everywhere, except around the blacksmith and his forge. The reason is simple, smiths are the ones with the skill to craft weapons and without those there would be no fighting. They do take apprentices from time to time and any boy who is chosen thanks Se'teru for the opportunity.
Gai'shain Aiel earn honor and prestige for deeds in battle--or accumulate shame by misdeeds--but killing an opponent earns the least honor; "any child can kill". What earns the most honor is touching the opponent while they are holding a weapon, but without harming them, much like the practice of counting coup. An Aiel so shamed is considered to have toh -- obligation -- to the person who touched them, and will march straight to that person and demand to be made gai'shain, at which point they don white robes, become that person's peaceful servant in all but name for a year and a day, and swear not to touch a weapon, or even defend themselves, during that time.