Also called "Gaidin" (GYE-deen) = "Brother to Battles" in the Old Tongue

Warders are bonded (usually willingly) to Aes Sedai. It is considered almost rape to unwillingly bond someone. Most Warders are men, but women can be Warders as well. Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah often have more than one Warder. Though not done, a Warder can be bonded to more than one Aes Sedai and even non-channelers can be included. Red Ajah sisters have no Warders. Usually bonding is done by Aes Sedai, but Accepted, and theoretically novices and other channelers can bond a Warder if they know the proper weave.

The bond helps both the Aes Sedai and the Warder. They can read each others feelings (empathic ability). The Warder can also draw upon strength from his Aes Sedai. The Warder in turn protects the Aes Sedai from physical dangers.

Although it is possible to release the bond, it is considered a permanent commitment. An Aes Sedai who is on the verge of death may release the bond to spare her Warder grief, but to release the bond for the benefit of the Aes Sedai is considered disgraceful and is just not done.

List of Warders#



References (Possible Spoilers)#

  1. In the Guide
    1. Tor Website Q&A - Although it is possible to release the bond, it is considered a permanent commitment. An Aes Sedai who is on the verge of death may release the bond to spare her Warder grief, but to release the bond for the benefit of the Aes Sedai is considered disgraceful and is just not done.
  2. In New Spring
    1. NS,Ch14 - After being raised to the shawl, one of the first things an Aes Sedai learns is the weave for bonding a Warder.
    2. NS,Epilogue - An Aes Sedai can draw on her Warder's strength at need. She can find him however far away he is.
  3. In The Eye of the World
    1. TEotW,Ch9 - Most people know a little bit about the bonding between Warder and Aes Sedai. It is something to do with the One Power, a sort of gift or exchange. A Warder heals quicker than normal and can go longer without food or sleep. They can sense Shadowspawn when close.
    2. TEotW,Ch16 - Warders share their Aes Sedai's protection from the Shadow and ability to sense the presence of Shadowspawn.
    3. The Eye of the World,Glossary - General description of the Warder bond. Most Aes Sedai bond one Warder. Green Ajah sisters bond as many as they wish while Red Ajah sisters do not bond Warders at all.
  4. In The Great Hunt
    1. TGH,Ch22 - An Aes Sedai can pass her Warder's bond to another Aes Sedai, but it has not been done in four hundred years.
  5. In The Dragon Reborn
    1. TDR,Ch6 - Aes Sedai learn to shield their dreams. Warders get something of the same protection through their bond.
  6. In The Fires of Heaven
    1. TFoH,Ch35 - Elayne bonds Birgitte as her Warder.
    2. TFoH,Ch36 - Birgitte has only a vague recollection of a woman being bonded as a Warder. The last Accepted to bond a Warder was during the Trolloc Wars and she was severely punished for it.
  7. In Lord of Chaos
    1. LoC,Ch6 - Fades see an Aes Sedai and her Warder as inseparable.
    2. LoC,Ch25 - Egwene realizes that one of her dreams means that she will bond Gawyn as her Warder.
    3. LoC,Ch43 - Merana Ambrey considers Alanna Mosvani's bonding of Rand close to rape.
    4. LoC,Ch53 - When an Aes Sedai has more than one Warder and one of them dies, the others feel the loss and pain through her.
  8. In A Crown of Swords
    1. ACoS,Ch7 - The Aes Sedai Warder bond was unknown in the Age of Legends.
    2. ACoS,Ch21 - Elayne feels giddy when Birgitte gets drunk because of the Warder bond.
    3. ACoS,Ch27 - An Asha'man named Canler figures out bonding. Many of the Asha'man begin bonding their wives.
  9. In The Path of Daggers
    1. TPoD,Ch10 - Most Aes Sedai will release their Warder from his bond if he really wants to leave.
    2. TPoD,Ch27 - The Asha'man of the Black Tower begin capturing the Aes Sedai sent from the White Tower and bonding them.
    3. TPoD,Ch28 - Elayne plans to bond Rand as Warder before she marries him.
    4. TPoD,Ch29 - Min views that Beldeine Nyram will bond an Asha'man as Warder.
  10. In Winter's Heart
    1. WH,Ch12 - The Warder bond is not exclusive, being bonded as a Warder does not prevent another woman from bonding the same man. Also, a woman who cannot channel can also be included in the bond.
  11. In Crossroads of Twilight
    1. CoT,Ch21 - Tarna Feir thinks the only way to control the Asha'man will be to bond them as Warders. Pevara Tazanovni is not sure who will be bonding whom.
    2. CoT,Ch23 - Warders are not supposed to accept anything from anybody except their Aes Sedai.
    3. CoT,Ch23 - Cadsuane worries that bonding men who can channel will cause the rules for Aes Sedai and Warders to fall apart.

Sword Forms#

Listed by chapter

  • NS,Ch16 - Leopard in High Grass, Cutting the Clouds, Soft Rain at Sunset, Black Pebbles on Snow, The Rose Unfolds, Dandelion in the Wind, Kissing the Adder
  • TGH,Ch1 - Heron Wading in the Rushes, Parting the Silk
  • TGH,Ch6 - Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose
  • TGH,Ch8 - Cat Crosses the Courtyard
  • TGH,Ch9 - Sheathing the Sword
  • TGH,Ch15 - Heron Wading in the Rushes, Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose, Parting the Silk
  • TGH,Ch19 - The Cat Dances on the Wall, Cat on Hot Sand, The Courtier Taps His Fan, The Heron Spreads Its Wings, Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose, Lizard in the Thornbush
  • TGH,Ch27 - The Moon Rises Over the Lakes
  • TGH,Ch30 - Sheathing the Sword
  • TGH,Ch32 - Cat Crosses the Courtyard
  • TGH,Ch44 - Heron Wading in the Rushes
  • TGH,Ch45 - The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain, Leaf on the Breeze, Lightning of Three Prongs, The Moon on the Water, Parting the Silk, Ribbon in the Air, The River Undercuts the Bank, Stones Falling From the Cliff, The Swallow Takes Flight, The Wood Grouse Dances
  • TGH,Ch47 - Bundling Straw, The Dove Takes Flight, The Falling Leaf, Heron Wading in the Rushes, Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose, The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback, The Moon on the Water, Parting the Silk, Striking the Spark, The Swallow Rides the Air
  • TDR,Ch36 - Folding the Fan, Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind
  • TDR,Ch55 - The Boar Rushes Downhill, The Cat Dances on the Wall, The Falling Leaf, Parting the Silk, The River Undercuts the Bank, Stone Falls From the Mountain, Water Flows Downhill, Watered Silk, Wind and Rain
  • TSR,Ch2 - Apple Blossoms in the Wind, The Moon Rises Over Water, Stones Falling Down the Mountain, Unfolding of the Fan
  • TSR,Ch9 - The Wind Blows Over the Wall
  • TSR,Ch10 - Lizard in the Thornbush
  • TSR,Ch26 - The Moon Rises Over Water
  • TSR,Ch34 - Whirlwind on the Mountain
  • TFoH,Ch6 - Unfolding of the Fan, Whirlwind on the Mountain, The Wind Blows Over the Wall
  • TFoH,Ch21 - Low Wind Rising
  • LoC,Ch1 - Arc of the Moon, The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain, The Grapevine Twines, Lightning of Three Prongs, Lion on the Hill, Parting the Silk, The River Undercuts the Bank, Tower of Morning
  • ACoS,Prologue - The Courtier Taps His Fan, The Creeper Embraces the Oak, The Falcon Stoops, Folding the Air, The Moon Rises Over the Lakes, The Wood Grouse Dances
  • ACoS,Ch18 - Leopard in the Tree
  • ACoS,Ch41 - Twisting the Wind
  • WH,Ch33 - Cutting the Wind, Unfolding of the Fan
  • KoD,Prologue - Cat Crosses the Courtyard, Dove Takes Flight, Eel among the Lily Pads, Emptiness, Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose, Kingfisher Circles the Pond, Leaf on the Breeze, Leopard's Caress, Lightning of Three Prongs, Lion Springs, Lizard in the Thornbush, Parting the Silk, Plucking the Low-hanging Apple, Rain in High Wind, Reaping the Barley, Red Hawk Takes a Dove, River of Light, Sheathe the Sword, Stones Falling from the Cliff, Swallow Takes Flight, Threading the Needle, Two Hares Leaping, The Wood Grouse Dances

References#

  • KoD,Prologue - Earning the heron mark - five blademasters must watch while the candidate demonstrates his skills. They must unanimously agree that he is qualified before the title Blademaster and the right to carry a heron mark sword is awarded. Alternately one earns the heron by defeating another blademaster in single combat.

There are also lists of sword forms and some descriptions available at Jay's Home Page, Mahiro Shukosa's Guide to Sword-Forms and Greg's WoT House Rules


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