GREATER ARAVALON

The place we shall begin is with the founding of Greater Aravalon itself, as it is one of the newest countries of the Wheel, though it is based on the foundations of a country that goes back to Artur Hawkwing’s reign and before. The country of Greater Aravalon itself was founded after the mysterious disappearance of Queen Elayne Trakand, whose abrupt departure is so famous that we shall not go into it here.

Still, some things must be mentioned. As the lover of the great Dragon Reborn, Elayne the Artificer was the one of the greatest Queens since Ishara herself, and ruled over a time of great prosperity in the realm that her mother, Morgase left to her. There were problems in the kingdom though.

When Elayne inherited the kingdom of Andor, there were many problems. Manetheren in the west had just broken off, and the Dragon Reborn had not yet finished the breaking of the world. Elayne brought stability back, and with it, hope for her people.

When she disappeared, in circumstances that still leave historians baffled, she left only one heir, Ishane Trakand, who was too weak to claim the throne by herself, and Ishane’s twin brother, Gallane. Ishane, at her bother’s behest, married into the House of Taravin, who supported Ishane, which kept Trakand in the throne and Taravin in power behind the scenes. Gallane is generally considered one of the great antihero’s of modern history, recognizing his sisters weakness, and doing the only thing to keep her family in power. At the same time, Ishane continued the tradition of sending her children to be taught at the Tower, but not just the White Tower. Male channelers in the line have been trained as well as female. Trakand and Taravin began sending their children to the Academy between the Twin Towers since the day it was established, and even during the intervening time the heirs had Aes Sedai tutors. The fact that Ishane’s mother, Elayne was also a close friend of the Amyrlin Seat at that time, Egwene Al’Vere might also have helped the situation.

Since then, House Trakand has re-established itself through the tower and through house Taravin. Over the years though, Trakand has become less the leashed, and more the leader ever since it’s merging with house Taravin. Andor, however, has all but disappeared in what is now Greater Aravalon. It now extends north into the Caralain grass up to Saldaea (in the area bounded by the Black Hills to the east and the River Arinelle to the west). It also extends east to the Spine of the World (the area bounded by Cairhein's southern border in the north and the River Iralell to the south). It also has parts of Northeastern Ghealdan (the area bounded by the mountains of mist in the east, south to Jehannah, which is a ruins today, and Garen's Wall to the west). The largest country by nearly twice the land area of any other, Greater Aravalon came about not long after the reign of Ishane when the ruler at the time decided that Andor simply was not appropriate name for the huge country, though it is said that Towers also pushed for the change of name, though the reasons for this are not known.

More recently, within the last twenty years, the country of Greater Aravalon and the Towers have fallen apart. Asha’man and Aes Sedai still maintain the country, but more and more frequently are those channelers natives of Greater Aravalon returned home after their duties at the Tower expire. It is rumored that when the current Queen took the throne, she only had a pittance of teaching at the tower, though this is usually attributed to the sudden death of her mother more than any dislike of the tower. Still, Greater Aravalon remains a friendly place for anyone connected to the towers, and those channelers of other groups that might be passing through.

What is known of the current politics is as follows: Queen Mortriane Trakand has closed her northern border at the behest of the Tower to prevent the spread of the madness of Mordeth from spreading into her realm. At the same time, several channelers were found dead in their beds with forkroot tea traces nearby. Despite the fact that the Towers did nothing to respond to this, Mortriane herself became nervous as a channeler, though not a powerful one, and closed the capital for a period of time. During this period, Mortriane surrounded herself with loyal channelers and kept commerce and diplomatic relations with other countries at a minimum.

Within the last two years, much has happened. The heir to Aravalon’s throne, Myriane Tidrellen Trakand, was attacked by a channeling minion of Mordeth. She was not hurt, nor is it even known that she knew anything was wrong, but Queen Mortriane went up in flames. When the time to release her daughter into the custody of the tower came, the Queen stalled, and the daughter-heir did not leave the capital at all, despite the Towers guarantees that her safety would be well looked after.

Sometime later, the daughter heir, Myriane Tidrellen Trakand and her brother showed up at the Towers under the cover of darkness. The two refused to speak of their experiences, and not even the Amyrlins can get them to relate what happened. Queen Mortriane has since had no communication with the tower other than what channelers passing through the country have heard. Nothing further is known about the cause or possible resolution of this situation at this time.

Society

The society of Greater Aravalon is based closely on what it was before Tarmon Gai’don and the renaming of Andor. It is matrilineal, going from mother to daughter in the house of Trakand, and of course it is widely known that only a woman can hold the throne. The next in line for the throne is called the daughter heir, and the line is established in two ways, the first being the number of ties to the blood of Ishara, though Trakand undeniably has the most, and through direct decent from Elayne Trakand. This line also has another positive feature. Through the years, the rulers of the House of Trakand have intermarried with the leaders of almost every country they control, and also with three neighboring countries, Tear, Saldaea, and Cairhein. This means that the daughter heir is the heir to not only the former Andoran throne, but also of Ghealdan, and loose assorted thrones from the Praem Wood and the city of Aringill to the Black hills area.

The role of the First Prince in the past years has become complicated. Though in Elayne’s time, her brother Gawyn could not channel, many of her descendants have been able to. Even in Ishane’s time, the First Prince Gallane was a channeler, and it has become necessary for the First Prince to channel to protect the country. Because of this, if the current Queen has no brothers, or if they unable to channel, then the Queen sends to the Towers (usually to the light tower) and the Towers send a lesser M’hael to fill the position of guardian of the realm. One of the non-channeling brothers, or a close relative is then appointed as First Prince, and he is supposedly the liaison between the channeler and the Queen. More often than not, he simply becomes the head of the army, a position which a royal member has not officially held for many years.

Caemlyn remains the center of the country formerly known as Andor, though certain changes have occurred. The city is now roughly twice the size of it’s largest size during the third age. It remains one of the most beautiful cities in the civilized world, and possibly the most beautiful with only the Twin Towers surpassing it for sheer architecture.  The entire new city has been remade with Ogier help, and the edges are being constantly expanded.  There are now three sets of city walls, and five main gates, though the most beautiful by far is the southern Far Madding road gate, which is the closest to the royal palace. The main street is also a great attraction, running East-West between the Aringill and Four Kings gates, and houses many notable buildings. Caemlyn also includes the largest library in the world outside of the Twin-Towers Academy, and is one of the foremost research cities in the world.

Rank  Though it is difficult to change rank among those in Greater Aravalon, it can be done.  The ranks in their society are as loosely as follows:

Men: Freeman (Tradesmen); Minor Nobles; Lords; and First Prince
Women: Freewoman (Tradeswoman); Minor Lady; Lady; Queen
Army: Soldier; Lieutenant; Captain; Captain General
Channelers: (see tower ranks for basic channelers); Asha’man or Aes Sedai; Advisor to the Queen or First Prince; First Prince or Queen’s advisor

People  The people of Aravalon are usually fair-skinned, often with blue eyes and blond hair, though dark hair and eyes are common. The royal line is marked usually by a bright and very distinctive red-gold hair, and blue eyes.  In some royal members though, this has become a more blond red.

Aravalen women usually wear dresses with square-cut necks showing little if any cleavage, and fitted sleeves. These dresses are occasionally embroidered with flowers and leaves and are worn belted at the waist. Highborn ladies’ dresses are usually made of silk, with the embroidery and belt in metallic threads. Commoners wear the same basic style of dress, but of wool, usually with higher necklines and with an apron.

Aravalen men wear trousers and shirts with a coat over all. The coat is made with turned back cuffs and an upstanding collar. Among the nobility the material is often silk or brocade, and the coat is often embroidered in metallic threads. Common men wear strong serviceable wool.

Men and women both wear cloaks over their clothes as needed. Palace servants wear a livery of red with white collars and cuffs and the White Lion of Aravalon upon their chests.

The uniforms of the Queen’s Guard include a red undercoat, gleaming mail and plate armor, and a brilliant red cloak.  Long white collars hand over the armor, and white cuffs gleam at the wrist. Their helmets are conical with barred visors, and they often carry lances with thin red streamers fluttering from their tips. High-ranking officers wear knots of rank on their shoulder. The Captain General wears four golden knots and wide gold bands on his white cuffs.