Elaida a'Roihan
Encyclopedia
Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan is an antagonist in the Wheel of Time
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
.
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.
in the White Tower
after Siuan Sanche was deposed. A former Sitter for the Red (a position she was able to attain with the help of the Black Ajah
via Highest Red and Supreme Council-member of the Black, Galina Casban), Elaida served as advisor to Morgase Trakand prior to being raised to Amyrlin. She took over from the stilled Siuan after leading the coup which deposed her, and had the Blue Ajah removed from representation in the Tower, though most members of the Blue, along with many Aes Sedai from all Ajahs except Red, made good their escape anyway. Indeed, Elaida has shown unprecedented cruelty and extreme miscarriage of justice where Siuan is concerned. While Siuan is unconscious, Elaida and her supporters try and convict Siuan, and promptly still her; it is widely thought that Elaida would have had Siuan executed had the latter not escaped custody and fled Tar Valon.
Breaking a long held tradition, Elaida appointed Alviarin as her Keeper of the Chronicles
. Traditionally, the Keeper is of the same Ajah from which the Amyrlin was raised, but Alviarin was of the White Ajah
, and also the highest ranking of the secret Black Ajah.
As Amyrlin, Elaida rules with an iron fist, severely punishing Aes Sedai under her authority for failures, or for real or imagined slightings. Despite her cruelty - or perhaps because of it - Elaida is a relatively weak Amyrlin. Quite apart from the rebel Salidar faction, Elaida's harshness has alienated many even in the Tower faction, and her attempts to play the Ajahs off against one another have bred unprecedented levels of suspicion and mistrust between Tower Aes Sedai, while completely failing to engender any loyalty to Elaida herself. The Tower's misadventures in trying to capture Rand al'Thor
and investigate the Black Tower
further undermined her position; Alviarin, using her knowledge of Elaida's role in these debacles, effectively blackmailed Elaida into compliance, to such an extent that for a time Alviarin was the de facto ruler of the Tower. Elaida was eventually able to force Alviarin to resign, replacing her with Tarna Feir, of the Red Ajah.
In a desperate ploy to reveal Alviarin's treachery, Elaida set certain Aes Sedai to finding evidence that Alvairin contacted the Dragon Reborn. However, these detective Aes Sedai, misunderstanding Elaida's obliquely worded instructions, have instead started rooting out the Black Ajah from the White Tower. Elaida is unaware of this.
. She also had a Foretelling about the Black Tower
and the Aes Sedai
. However, she often misinterprets these foretellings. For example, the royal line of Andor when she made her prediction included Tigraine Mantear (the mother of Rand al'Thor
, the Dragon Reborn), and was replaced by House Trakand before Elaida began advising the Queen.
, in the White Tower, and reduced her to the status of a novice, an action rarely taken by the Amyrlin unless called for by desperate measures. Beonin, a spy sent to Salidar under Elaida's direction, also returned recently and told Elaida of the plans of the rebel Aes Sedai, as well as showing Elaida the weaves for Skimming, Traveling, and a new form of Healing.
In The Gathering Storm
, Elaida descends to new levels of cruelty and idiocy. She requests Egwene al'Vere to serve a dinner with many Sitters in attendance, manipulating Egwene to embarrass Elaida and accuse her of miscarriage of power as Amyrilin. Elaida attacks Egwene with the One Power and has her thrown in the dungeons, but the episode with the Sitters prompts the Hall to censure Elaida. Elaida only narrowly retains the stole after attempting to push blame for the incident onto Silviana, the Mistress of Novices.
raid on the White Tower, Elaida is captured by the sul'dam and given a new name. She is last seen in their captivity as the surviving Seanchan flee Tar Valon. The Hall briefly consider sending a rescue party, but conclude they have neither the time nor the resources to achieve it; the unspoken implication is that they consider Elaida's predicament to be a product of her own mistakes and that they are quite content to leave her to her own devices for the time being.
It is revealed in Towers of Midnight, that Elaida is forced to show Tuon, and others, the weaves for Traveling, thus giving the Seanchan equal footing in the skirmishes.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
.
Background
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 SancheSiuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche is a character of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.The sharp-tongued daughter of a fisherman from Tear, Siuan Sanche joined the White Tower at the same time as Moiraine Damodred...
and Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
's second year as novices and chose the Red Ajah
Red Ajah
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.-Organization:Its leader is known as the Highest...
. 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
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
, 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
Tar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
. In The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven is the fifth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1993....
, 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
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1994, and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995. Lord of Chaos consists of a prologue, 55 chapters, and...
, Padan Fain
Padan Fain
Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Peddler and Darkfriend:Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a Darkfriend in his twenties, for the promise of immortality...
speculates that now that he has "brushed" Elaida with some of the taint of Shadar Logoth
Shadar Logoth
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Shadar Logoth, formerly known as Aridhol, was a city located in what is now Andor...
, 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.
Role in the series
Elaida became the Amyrlin SeatAmyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
in the White Tower
White Tower
-Geography and history:* White Tower of Thessaloniki, a monument and museum in Greece* White Tower of Tehran, Iran* White Tower of Tsarskoye Selo, landscape architecture element in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia...
after Siuan Sanche was deposed. A former Sitter for the Red (a position she was able to attain with the help of the Black Ajah
Black Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Black Ajah is a secret society of Aes Sedai who have forsaken the Three Oaths. This Ajah supports the Dark One, and its members are also active members of the other seven Ajahs to keep their...
via Highest Red and Supreme Council-member of the Black, Galina Casban), Elaida served as advisor to Morgase Trakand prior to being raised to Amyrlin. She took over from the stilled Siuan after leading the coup which deposed her, and had the Blue Ajah removed from representation in the Tower, though most members of the Blue, along with many Aes Sedai from all Ajahs except Red, made good their escape anyway. Indeed, Elaida has shown unprecedented cruelty and extreme miscarriage of justice where Siuan is concerned. While Siuan is unconscious, Elaida and her supporters try and convict Siuan, and promptly still her; it is widely thought that Elaida would have had Siuan executed had the latter not escaped custody and fled Tar Valon.
Breaking a long held tradition, Elaida appointed Alviarin as her Keeper of the Chronicles
Keeper of the Chronicles
Keeper of the Chronicles is a fictional title that exists in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series.Although second in authority to the Amyrlin, the Keeper of the Chronicles has no real authority over Aes Sedai, except what the Amyrlin Seat chooses to give her. She also acts as the Amyrlin's...
. Traditionally, the Keeper is of the same Ajah from which the Amyrlin was raised, but Alviarin was of the White Ajah
White Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The smallest of the Ajahs, the White Ajah concerns itself with questions of philosophy, truth and logic.-Organization:...
, and also the highest ranking of the secret Black Ajah.
As Amyrlin, Elaida rules with an iron fist, severely punishing Aes Sedai under her authority for failures, or for real or imagined slightings. Despite her cruelty - or perhaps because of it - Elaida is a relatively weak Amyrlin. Quite apart from the rebel Salidar faction, Elaida's harshness has alienated many even in the Tower faction, and her attempts to play the Ajahs off against one another have bred unprecedented levels of suspicion and mistrust between Tower Aes Sedai, while completely failing to engender any loyalty to Elaida herself. The Tower's misadventures in trying to capture Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
and investigate the Black Tower
Black Tower
-Constructions:* Black Tower is a 15th century guard tower in Braşov, Romania, used today as a museum* Black Tower or Černá věž is a well-known 16th century tower in České Budějovice, Czech Republic-Written works:...
further undermined her position; Alviarin, using her knowledge of Elaida's role in these debacles, effectively blackmailed Elaida into compliance, to such an extent that for a time Alviarin was the de facto ruler of the Tower. Elaida was eventually able to force Alviarin to resign, replacing her with Tarna Feir, of the Red Ajah.
In a desperate ploy to reveal Alviarin's treachery, Elaida set certain Aes Sedai to finding evidence that Alvairin contacted the Dragon Reborn. However, these detective Aes Sedai, misunderstanding Elaida's obliquely worded instructions, have instead started rooting out the Black Ajah from the White Tower. Elaida is unaware of this.
Foretelling
Elaida also has the rare Talent of Foretelling. This Talent of randomly spewing forth prophecy is what drove Elaida to become advisor to Morgase Trakand, having foretold that the royal line of Andor was critical to the Last BattleTarmon Gai'don
Tarmon Gai'don, or the Last Battle, is an event set in the world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series. The event is both feared and anticipated in the lands of the Wheel...
. She also had a Foretelling about the Black Tower
Black Tower
-Constructions:* Black Tower is a 15th century guard tower in Braşov, Romania, used today as a museum* Black Tower or Černá věž is a well-known 16th century tower in České Budějovice, Czech Republic-Written works:...
and the Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
. However, she often misinterprets these foretellings. For example, the royal line of Andor when she made her prediction included Tigraine Mantear (the mother of Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, the Dragon Reborn), and was replaced by House Trakand before Elaida began advising the Queen.
Rivalry with Salidar
Elaida held the rebel Amyrlin, Egwene al'VereEgwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
, in the White Tower, and reduced her to the status of a novice, an action rarely taken by the Amyrlin unless called for by desperate measures. Beonin, a spy sent to Salidar under Elaida's direction, also returned recently and told Elaida of the plans of the rebel Aes Sedai, as well as showing Elaida the weaves for Skimming, Traveling, and a new form of Healing.
In The Gathering Storm
The Gathering Storm (novel)
The Gathering Storm is the 12th book of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was incomplete when its author, Robert Jordan, died on September 16, 2007, from cardiac amyloidosis...
, Elaida descends to new levels of cruelty and idiocy. She requests Egwene al'Vere to serve a dinner with many Sitters in attendance, manipulating Egwene to embarrass Elaida and accuse her of miscarriage of power as Amyrilin. Elaida attacks Egwene with the One Power and has her thrown in the dungeons, but the episode with the Sitters prompts the Hall to censure Elaida. Elaida only narrowly retains the stole after attempting to push blame for the incident onto Silviana, the Mistress of Novices.
Seanchan raid
After ignoring Egwene's Foretellings of an imminent SeanchanSeanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
raid on the White Tower, Elaida is captured by the sul'dam and given a new name. She is last seen in their captivity as the surviving Seanchan flee Tar Valon. The Hall briefly consider sending a rescue party, but conclude they have neither the time nor the resources to achieve it; the unspoken implication is that they consider Elaida's predicament to be a product of her own mistakes and that they are quite content to leave her to her own devices for the time being.
It is revealed in Towers of Midnight, that Elaida is forced to show Tuon, and others, the weaves for Traveling, thus giving the Seanchan equal footing in the skirmishes.