The Strike at Shayol Ghul

by Jorille Mondevin, Royal Historian to the Court of Her Most Illuminated Majesty, Ethenielle Kirukon Materasu, By the Blessing of the Light, Queen of Kandor, Protector of the Land, Shield of the North, High Seat of House Materasu.

It is based on a partial copy of a work dating from the First Century AB.

After the creation of the Bore fifty to one hundred years passed before the actual beginning of the War of the Shadow. During the first three years the Shadow made great gains and large parts of the world fell. Much of what had been lost was retaken over the next four years, but after a yearlong stalemate the Shadow began to advance again.

There were two plans for ending the war. The first, proposed by Lews Therin, was to seal the Bore with seven cuendillar Seals utilizing a circle of seven female and six male Aes Sedai. The second plan was to use two huge sa'angreal, one attuned to saidin and one to saidar, to destroy the Shadow's forces and erect a barrier around Shayol Ghul until there was a safe method to permanently seal the Bore. The giant statue sa'angreal were so powerful that using them required special control statue ter'angreal which were assembled in an area far removed.

One of the Aes Sedai leaders, Latra Posae Decume, convinced all the strongest female Aes Sedai that Lews Therin's plan was too dangerous. Since they would not participate in the circle his plan was nullified.

Just as the giant statue sa'angreal were completed, Sammael attacked and overran the region where the control statue ter'angreal were being made and they were lost. Armies commanded by Demandred and Be'lal then attacked the regions where the giant statue sa'angreal were built.

Lews Therin convinced a group of powerful young male Aes Sedai to carry out the attack at Shayol Ghul without the aid of women. The 113 men managed to seal the Bore also trapping the thirteen Forsaken, but the 68 survivors went insane instantly and hundreds more male Aes Sedai followed.

Before her death during the Breaking, Latra Posae apparently rose to a prominence rivaling that of Lews Therin. During the fighting against the Shadowsworn she gained the name Shadar Nor which, in the Old Tongue, means "Cutter of the Shadow" or perhaps "Slicer of the Shadow."

Note#

The full text of The Strike at Shayol Ghul is incorporated in the Guide.