Battle of Dumai's Wells
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[edit] Battle of Dumai's Wells
The Battle of Dumai's Wells occurs in Chapter 55 of Lord of Chaos, the sixth book in the series. The Amyrlin Seat (Elaida) sent an emissary of Red Sisters to Rand al'Thor under the guise of creating a truce between him and the White Tower. They kidnapped Rand and held him, folded in half, inside a small chest, only letting him out to punish him with beatings over the course of a few weeks. The beatings were due to his escape attempt on the first night out of the city, when he became aware that Min Farshaw had also been kidnapped. He killed two Warders with his bare hands while attempting to reach her.
The intent of the White Tower Aes Sedai was to link up with the Shaido Aiel, who were to provide an escort to Tar Valon but who secretly planned to betray the Aes Sedai and take Rand from them. The battle began at Dumai's Wells, when the Shaido attacked the Aes Sedai wagon train, and escalated when Rand's forces, led by Perrin Aybara and accompanied by the Salidar Aes Sedai from the Caemlyn Embassy, arrived to rescue him. Mazrim Taim, acting independently of Perrin, arrives during the battle with the Asha'man via gateways, and it is the Asha'man responsible for breaking the ranks of Shaido attempting to reach Rand after their betrayal of the Tower Aes Sedai. An extremely bloody battle, the One Power was used to a devastating effect, and the world was changed forever in the end, as the first Aes Sedai swore fealty to the Dragon Reborn, prompted by both his ta'veren twisting of chance, and the threat of Mazrim Taim and the Asha'man.
[edit] Forces
[edit] Rand's kidnappers
Led by Galina Sedai
- 39 Tower Aes Sedai including Galina
- 582 Younglings led by Gawyn
[edit] Shaido Aiel
Led by Sevanna
- About 40,000
- Included the Wise Ones of the Jumai Shaido who could channel (about 300).
[edit] Rand's rescuers
Led by Perrin
- About 1000 Wolves led by Perrin
- 300 Two Rivers men led by Dannil Lewin
- 500 Cairhienin men led by Dobraine Taborwin
- 200 Winged Guards from Mayene led by Havien Nurelle
- 200 Asha'man led by Mazrim Taim
- 9 Salidar Aes Sedai
- 90 Aiel Wise Ones led by Sorilea
- About 6000 Aiel led by Rhuarc, clan chief of the Taardad
- 5000 siswai'aman
- 1000 Far Dareis Mai
[edit] The battle
Initially, the pro-Rand armies are situated on a ridge around Dumai's Wells. The Shaido surround a group of wagons on which the Aes Sedai are situated, and unsuccessfully try to overwhelm its defenders. The Two Rivers men, Cairhienin, Aiel and Winged Guards are to charge down into the valley after an attack of wolves, with Perrin at their head. The Salidar Aes Sedai and Wise Ones are to stay up on the ridge. However, when fighting, Perrin sees some Salidar Aes Sedai fighting.
In the thick of battle, about 200 Asha'man led by Mazrim Taim Travel to Dumai's Wells and are instrumental in turning the tide of the battle.
In the meantime, Rand breaks out of the chest he was trapped in as three of the six Aes Sedai shielding him are called to the battle. The three remaining (Tower) Aes Sedai left maintaining the shield are stilled as he breaks through their shield. He then finds Min, initially believing her killed by his escape. Rand continues shielding more Tower Aes Sedai from within their lines and as he is using Saidin he is largely undetectable to them. Gawyn rides up, and wants to take Min away, but she refuses.
The 200 Asha'man create a dome of Air around the wagons, to keep the remaining Shaido Aiel out. Some Asha'man are holding a few Tower Aes Sedai hostage. The rest of Rand's allies are outside of the dome, still fighting.
Rand orders the Asha'man to open the dome, and let the allies in. Next, he orders the Asha'man to 'send a message' to Sevanna. The Asha'man use two main attacks with the power: "kill" where they make individuals explode, and "rolling ring of Earth and Fire" where an ever-extending ring of exploding earth with bursts of fire kill thousands of Shaido, who break and run.
After the battle, the 9 Salidar Aes Sedai come over to congratulate Rand. Rand forces them to kneel and swear an oath of fealty to him, which they do. In the words of Mazrim Taim: "Kneel and swear to the Lord Dragon, or you will be knelt."
