Throughout the Age of Legends, before the breaking of the world, there existed a group
of humans dedicated to a pacifist philosophy known as the way of the leaf, faithfully serving
the Aes Sedai leaders of their society, powerful magic users capable of channelling Saidin
and Saidar, the male and female halfs of the One Power.
Content with their lives of peace and simplicity, the Da’shain worked the fields alongside
Ogier and Nym, singing the song of growing, as they laboured, which accelerated plant
growth and yield.
During these years under the leadership of their Aed Sedai, civilization progressed significantly,
however in time their civilization began to collapse after an attempt to drill a hole
into the pattern of reality, creating an opening, known as the bore, which allowed an ancient
evil also known as the Dark One or Shay’tan, to directly influence the world.
Over the next century many came to worship this primordial being, turning their backs
on society, to embrace violence, selfishness and greed, with a shadowspawn army eventually
raised to wage war against those who remained faithful to the light.
Although the conflict was long and devastating, in the end, the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon
and his followers were able to defeat the dark armies, successfully sealing the bore
and trapping the 13 most powerful forsaken into the Dark One’s prison.
However, because the female Aes Sedai refused to help Lews Therin, their victory came a
terrible cost, as Shai’tan was able to perform a counter stroke, tainting the male half of
the one power.
This then drove male channelers into madness, as they began to abuse Saidin to such an extent,
it eventually caused the reshaping of continents and breaking of the world.
As these powerful sorcerers rampaged across their lands, the female Aes Sidai who drew
power from Saidar and so were unaffected by the taint on Saidin, dedicated themselves
to eliminating the threat and rebuilding civilization.
As the very lands beneath them changed and their homelands became warzones, the female
Aes Sedai summoned their trusted servants the Da’Shain Aiel to embrark upon a crucial
mission.
In order to prevent their enemies from taking position of powerful relics which held the
potential for mass devastation, they gathered together as many as possible and sent them
away with the Da’shain Aiel, who were told to find a safe and secret location to keep
them hidden.
Although much of Da’shain culture revolved around honor, peace and loyalty, their great
journey into the east was fraught with peril, and greatly tested their resolve.
The Aiel did not fear self sacrifice, as was seen in the land of Tzora, when 10 000 of
their people sang a great song, in order to calm the mad mind of a male channeler who
was threatening to destroy the city.
One by one, the Aes Sedai killed the Aiel, but still they continued to sing, giving the
local people as much time as possible to evacuate.
Eventually the last of them fell and Jaric Mondoran destroyed the city, but through their
sacrifice they succeeded in saving many lives.
Yet as they underwent their great journey into the east, conditions grew increasingly
challenging, as they were surrounded by chaos and violence, constantly being attacked yet
unable to defend themselves because of their beliefs.
In time some began to question their mission, wanting to return to the lives of peace and
tranquility they knew before the war.
And so the Tuatha'an, or Travelling People, soon broke apart from the main group, led
by Sulwin, who turned his back on their duty after the death of his last son in a raider
attack.
Becoming nomads, they went their own way in order to focus on fully embracing the way
of the leaf and finding the song, in reference to the peace and simplicity of their lives
during the Age of Legends.
As the rest of the Da’shain Aeil continued on, other soon began to question their ways
as well, believing that it would be necessary for some their kind to become warriors and
defend the others.
After an attack in which several of their people were captured, a party of 5 Aiel left
the main group and made their way into the enemy camp to rescue their people.
However when a raider charged against them, the Aiel defended themselves, and so their
leader Lewin grabbed a spear, and killed his attacker.
In the end, all of the outlaws were dead, along with one of the Aiel companions, who
they carried back to the main camp.
Although the party successfully rescued their people, the other Da’shain were outraged
by their use of violence, and shunned and disowned Lewin and the others.
Yet these exiles still cared for their former friends and family, wanting to continue protecting
them.
And so started to train with their spears, following the Da’shain without permission,
in order defend them against violence, even if they would not defend themselves.
Others soon followed their example, and picked up the spear, training with them to form an
unofficial defensive force.
Those who became warriors were simply called Aiel, and continued to honor their heritage
by wearing veils, in order to hide their faces out of shame for abandoning their ancient
ways.
They also refused to pick up a sword, as it had always been forbidden, instead focusing
on learning spear based combat.
Those who remained faithful to their pacifist philosophy and mission, were known as the
Jenn Aiel, continuing their travels east alongside unwanted protectors, and finally arriving
in the desert wastes to found the city of Rhuidean, where they completed their mission by hidding and protecting the relics of the Aes Sedai.