Early History of the Aiel

     The Aiel were initially the servants of the Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends.  They followed the Way of the Leaf.  During the Breaking, the Aes Sedai could no longer protect their beloved servants.  The Aiel’s devotion to the Way of the Leaf prevented their acting in self defense.  To preserve the Aiel, the Aes Sedai gave them a valuable cargo of angreal and ter’angreal to protect.

     The Aiel adopted a nomadic lifestyle, searching for a safe spot to hide the angreal they had been entrusted with.  Several Aes Sedai joined the Aiel during their wandering.  Some of the Aiel decided during this period that their mission was hopeless, and instead went in search of the Old Song.  These were the ancestors of the Tinkers. 

     After watching their people be victimized again and again, some of the Aiel’s young men found the Way of the Leaf unbearable.  Young man after young man took up the spear to protect their people.  the first Aiel to kill a man was told by his family to “hide your face...  I had a son, once, with a face like that.  I do not wish to see it on a stranger.” ²²   These young men followed those still loyal to the Way of the Leaf, totally ignored by the people they protected.

     The fighting Aiel began to call the pacifists the Jenn Aiel, the “True Aiel.”  The pacifists came to accept the derisive name.  The warriors still maintained some of their old beliefs, though.  They would not use a sword, as its only purpose was to kill another man.  The spears, bows, and knives the warriors used to fight could also be used for hunting, fishing, and farming.

     The warriors began to adopt their own culture and traditions.  The Aiel began to grow as a people, while the Jenn began to slowly die off.  The harsh travels of this period greatly affected the Jenn, while their tougher Aiel cousins were not affected at all.  This continued until eventually the Aiel and the Jenn ceased their nomadic lifestyle.

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