The Grey Tower

Amairwyn Serenya stood at the front of the classroom, surveying the students as they filed in. This would be the first class she taught since being raised to Aes Sedai, and surprisingly, she was looking forward to it, despite the grim subject matter. Since Amairwyn had decided to study the Blight in hope of finding a way to reverse it, if possible- though even she had her doubts as whether that truly could be done- she had offered to teach Blight lore.

After the last student had entered and took their seats, Amairwyn smoothed her brown silk dress and stepped forward. “Welcome, everyone, to Blight Lore. This class will cover the Blight, its creatures and plant life, Shayol Ghul and Thakan’dar, and also Malkier- the land the Blight destroyed. There will be five lessons.”

She smiled at the class, as already some were beginning to look uneasy. She didn’t blame them- the Blight was an unpleasant subject.

Amairwyn turned and walked to a picture of the Blight hanging on the wall nearby. “As you may or may not know, I am from Shienar. I have never been into the Blight itself, but I have been to the edge. I have seen some of the things I’m going to talk about.”

“First, I am going to start with a general overview. The Blight is a region in the north, above the Borderlands. It is entirely corrupted by the Dark One and Shadowspawn, and is a result of the Bore opening at the end of the Age of Legends. This allowed the Dark One to touch and corrupt the world. The result was the Blight, which advanced southwards, even after the Bore was sealed, and despite the efforts of many to hold it back.”

“The land is unusually hot and humid, filled with the sight and smell of decaying and dangerous plant life. Dangerous, as not only are they poisonous, but many of the trees will actually attempt to attack you.” Amairwyn held back a grimace, remembering several of the plants she had seen. “Even at the edge, the corruption is evident, though it becomes worse the farther in you go.”

“Then there are the creatures, such as Trollocs, Myrddraal, and others.”

“Entering and traveling in the Blight is dangerous, particularly at night. There is really no way to be entirely safe in this region, but some things to remember are to avoid the water and burning wood- as even these can be dangerous- avoid thick foliage where Shadowspawn can hide, and always be on your guard.” Amairwyn had heard this advice given all her life. “And don’t travel alone, if possible.”

She stopped, reaching the end of the first lesson. “Now, your assignment is to write an essay of 150- 200 words about what I’ve talked about today.”

Prewtez d’Grayson listened with interest to the Aes Sedai as she introduced the class to Blight Lore. Most of what she spoke about today was not unknown to him. He had long been a student of history and was well familiar with maps of the Westlands. He knew the location of the Blight though, thankfully, he had never had occasion to get anywhere near it. As for its creation, he knew it had long been a subject of discussion and study among scholars as to the reasons for opening the Bore into the Dark Lord’s prison. Whatever the reasoning by those in the Age of Legends for such an action, the result was painfully evident. The Bore allowed the Shepherd of the Night to touch the world, spreading his corruption.

Prewtez knew the Tower kept an outpost in the Blightborder, and thought it probably he would be assigned a tour of duty there once he earned the Fan Cloak. That is unless he was bonded as a Warder first. This knowledge caused him to pay particular attention to Amairwyn Serenya’s description of the climate and flora of the Blight. While summers in Andor could bring heat and humidity, he doubted it was anywhere near what one experienced in that corrupted land. He had heard others, those who had actually served at the outpost, speak of the stench of the place. Although he was used to the hardships of soldiers on campaign he doubted anything he had previously experienced could quite prepare him for the Blight.

As the Aes Sedai mentioned some of the Shadowspawn Prewtez recalled his conversation with the Mistress of Training. Thankfully, she had explained in detail the various creatures that made their home in the Blight. He felt confident that he was well prepared for the upcoming classes.

Amairwyn hung the three pictures she had brought with her on the chalkboard behind her. Since today’s lesson was the first one on the Blight’s creatures, she had managed to find drawings of each.

She turned to the class once she was finished. “Today’s lesson will be the first of two on the creatures of the Blight.”

Amairwyn pointed to the first drawing, a picture that looked like a tree branch. “This is a Stick. Contrary to its name, it is a deadly creature that can inject a toxin that will begin to digest its prey. The only way the toxin can be reversed is to amputate the limb.” She paused for a moment. “I have seen firsthand the damage a Stick can do.” Indeed, she had. One of her father’s soldiers had been bitten by a Stick once.

“The next is a Worm, or Jumara. Created by the Forsaken Aginor, they are so deadly that even other Blight creatures flee from them. They make a fluting, reedy howl and feel nothing but hunger. In order to be killed, they must be cut to pieces.” Amairwyn was relieved she had never seen one.

She moved on to the next drawing. “This is a Shadow-Forger, the creatures who make the blades Myrddraal use. Forgers are man-shaped and move, but are created from mountain stone. They are not actually alive, though, and turn to either dust or stone if they are removed from Shayol Ghul.”

Amairwyn returned to the front of the room. “For your assignment, I want an essay on two of the Shadowspawn I have talked about. The same length as before.”

Taking pen in hand, Prewtez set to writing. Though the Aes Sedai was not telling him anything he had not already learned from Ubriel Bryne, the illustrations were helpful. The assignment was actually quite simple for him as all he need do was recall Ubriel Gaidar’s words:

“A worm can be killed by mundane weapons, but its attack would be devastating. It would take a whole platoon of soldiers to take down a single worm and if any of them survived, there would be two or three more to deal with. That is, if they didn't all attack at once. The wise man or woman, upon hearing the keening howl of such a creature, runs from it. To face one invites death, to face several, and they often travel in groups, ensures it.

A Stick, on the other hand, is most dangerous to the unsuspecting. The creature gets its name from the fact that it looks to be part of a tree. There might even be a swarm of them, though just one is deadly. Once bitten it is said that not even an Aes Sedai or Asha’man can heal the wound; amputation before the toxin spreads is the only hope for survival. Add to this danger the fact that some of the trees infested with Sticks might actually attempt to grab hold of the traveler. Even if a Stick does not strike the tree itself could secrete an acidic fluid that would burn through the skin.”

Laying his pen next to the inkwell Prewtez silently thanked the Mistress of Training for providing him with such Shadow Lore.

Amairwyn entered the classroom early for the next lesson and hung four pictures on the chalkboard behind her.

“Today’s lesson will be the second on the Blight’s creatures.” She moved to the first drawing.

“This is a Myrddraal, also known as a Fade or Halfman, among other names. They resemble men more than the other creatures, and are tall with muscular bodies, but there the resemblance ends.”

“Myrddraal are fishbelly-pale, with black, corrosive blood. They have black hair with no gloss or texture, and a human face- except they have no eyes. Hence, another one of their names, the ‘Eyeless.’”

“They can command both Trollocs and Draghkar, and are harder to kill than Trollocs. Their swords are made by Shadow-Forgers and carry the taint of Shayol Ghul. They are known to wear black plate armor and a black cloak with a deep hood that is said to never be stirred by the wind- wind does not touch a Fade.”

“A surprising fact is that Myrddraal were not an intentional creation- they are a throwback to the human side of a Trolloc.” She paused for a moment. “There is actually a law in the Borderlands forbidding anyone from covering their faces inside a city, to prevent Fades or other Shadowspawn from entering. The streets are always well lit at night for the same reason.”

She moved on to the next drawing, a picture of a large black hound with silver eyes. “The next creature is the Darkhound, a mutated wolf whose soul has been caught and twisted by the Shadow. They resemble wolves or hounds in appearance only, with an eerie wailing howl and a smell of sulfur about them.”

“Darkhounds will not cross running water, and do not like rain or storms, but it will not stop them if they are already on the scent of something. They can run faster and longer than horses, and leave no footprints except on stone. Both their blood and saliva are poisonous- it takes only one drop to kill a human.”

“They are even harder to kill than Myrddraal- the only way to end a Darkhound hunt is to either kill the pack or put enough running water between them and you to force them to give up.”

Amairwyn had never seen either a Fade or a Darkhound, and counted herself lucky she had not, though she had heard plenty about both.

She stopped before walking to the third picture, that of a large, coarse creature with a snout and horns. These she had seen up close, and held one of the worst memories for her…. Amairwyn quickly pulled herself out of her thoughts and continued, reminding herself of the class.

“The next is a Trolloc, which most of you have probably heard of.” Several heads nodded. “They are said to be a mixture between humans and animals, formed before the War of Shadow by the Forsaken Aginor and others. They are stronger than both humans and animals and are faster than horses. “

“Trollocs are organized into fists- usually one to two hundred Trollocs- led by a Myrddraal. Trollocs can see well in the dark, but are blinded in bright light, and can track by either scent or sound, though they give up easily. They also will not enter a Stedding unless forced, or deep water, as they cannot swim.”

She stopped again, to rest her voice, before moving on to the fourth and final drawing. “The last Shadowspawn I am going to talk about today is the Draghkar.”

“Draghkar are said to be remnants of humans, created by Aginor. In appearance, they look like a tall man, only with pasty skin and large, soulless eyes. They are also winged, which give them the ability to fly.”

“They can cause harm, using their sharp talons, but are not very strong physically- their main weapon is their kiss. Draghkar use an entrancing song to lure their victim close, and then suck out both their soul and life with a kiss.” Amairwyn suppressed a shudder at the thought.

She stopped in front of her desk. “That’s all for today’s lesson. The assignment is the same as before- pick two of the Shadowspawn I’ve talked about and write a short essay on them. 150- 200 words.”

Prewtez studied the pictures Amairwyn Aes Sedai had attached to the chalkboard. Each illustration captured exactly the descriptions Ubriel Bryne had given him. Although the Trollocs were frightening in their own way and the Darkhounds and Draghkar displayed the perversion of their creation, it was the Myrddraal that held his attention. Eyeless, yet supposed they had the vision of an eagle, pale as a corpse, and said to be a match with the sword for all but a blademaster.

When it came time to write it was the Fade he chose to discuss first. He felt a bit guilty repeating what the Mistress of Training had taught, but she had explained the Halfmen in even greater detail than did his instructor today.

“Killing a Myrddraal is no easy task. Their greatest advantage lies in the terror they instill. The way wind does not touch them or their cloaks and the way their gaze affects you is enough to be a significant advantage. A half-man will not easily die unless its head is removed and even then, full death will not take it until the sun sets on it. If it is beheaded at night, the corpse will continue to try to kick until sunset of the following day.

Born of Trollocs, they were not part of Aginor’s original creations. Instead, they appear to be some sort of genetic throwback, an attempt for the human side to dominate. Perhaps that is why they are able to command Trollocs. One can only wonder at how they are raised. Are they born as infants? How do the Trollocs care for them and then come to fear them? Perhaps someday we shall know the answers, answers that might make it easier to defeat them. For Fades are excellent fighters, a match for even the expertswordsman .

Trollocs, on the other hand, were the intentional creation of the Forsaken. Aginor somehow bred human and animal to create fearsome warriors that are bent on violence and destruction. We know they have a social order of a sort, with there being at least twelve identified bands. Trollocs wear badges of their respective band but they do not otherwise seem to have a particular distinction. A single band could contain trollocs of all manner, from those sporting beaks and claws to those with snouts but human feet. It is said that the more wolfishly featured Trollocs are the most intelligent, but that does not say a lot. Interestingly, I have heard that wolves bear a particular hatred of Trollocs. Most Trollocs speak a guttural language humans cannot understand. It is said that a Trolloc will eat just about anything, including their own dead and, unfortunately, humans as well; thus the expression ‘In a Trolloc’s cookpot’.

As a former commander of cavalry, it is my opinion that mounted troops are the best foil against the beasts, given the size of a Trolloc. As big as an Ogier, they often dwarf their human opponents while soldiers on horseback would level that advantage.”

Prewtez felt there was much more he could say on the subject as he had given Shadowspawn quite a bit of thought since his sojourn in the countryside with the Mistress of Training. However, he had written enough for today. His hand was tiring and he took pity on Amairwyn Aes Sedai who would be tasked with reading all the essays!

Amairwyn entered the classroom, carrying a map of what had once been the country of Malkier. After hanging it in the same place the Shadowspawn drawings had been, she turned to the class, noting she was late, as everyone had arrived.

This was a lesson she would not like teaching, because of how close it was to her own country.

“Today’s lesson will be about Malkier, the land that was overcome by the Blight. Before I begin, how many of you have heard of Malkier?” She nodded as several hands went up. “Good.”

“Malkier was a land north of Shienar and Arafel, and the first guard against the Blight. The Malkieri were known to be great warriors, all of them training from birth until death. Their banner was the Golden Crane.”

“Malkier’s downfall came from betrayal within. After the King’s brother, Lain died in the Blight, his wife Breyan, blaming the King, plotted and schemed with Cowin Gemallen to give the throne to her son. However, Cowin was a Darkfriend. He claimed the Seven Towers and emptied the Border forts, weakening them so that Fades and Trollocs broke through and destroyed the land. The King, Al’ Kir and his Queen, El’Leanna rode out to face the Shadow, but died at Herot’s Crossing.”

“This made Malkier part of the Blight, and Shienar one of the Borderlands. The land is now filled with Shadowspawn, the Towers and Thousand Lakes full of deadly creatures and monsters.”

Amairwyn felt, as she did every time she heard the story of Malkier, a mixture of both sadness and fear. Sadness for what had happened to Malkier, and fear that the same would happen to her own country. Outwardly, though, her face showed nothing except Aes Sedai calm.

“There is no assignment for this lesson. Instead, I just want to know that you all understood the lesson, and ask any questions, if you have them.”

The story of Malkier was well known to soldiers throughout the Westlands; The Golden Crane representative of the best of the warrior class. And yet the story contained a warning, one that played on the deepest fears of those in uniform; betrayal by those they were sworn to serve.

Prewtez thought of Andor, and the happenings there. Great men such as Gabriel Bryne, the fabled captain, as well as his own mentor, Commander Bradenton, forced into retirement. Long serving members of the Queen’s Guard, men such as himself, either reassigned to the borders far from Caemlyn, or dismissed outright as he had been. He could only hope that Malkier’s story was not being repeated in his own homeland, could only trust that Queen Morgase knew what she was doing.

Amairwyn entered the classroom for the final lesson, holding three tapestries she had found in the library. One showed a series of black mountains, another showed a large black volcano, and the final a dry desert.

Amairwyn walked to the front of the class. “Today will be the final lesson of this class, about Shayol Ghul, Thakan’dar, and the Mountains of Dhoom.”

She nodded to the first tapestry. “The Mountains of Dhoom begin at the Dead Sea in the east, and continue eastward, even through the Aiel Waste. It is suspected they encircle the entire world. They resemble towering black shapes, and look both jagged and lifeless. Tarwin’s Gap runs through the Mountains of Dhoom.”

Amairwyn walked to the second hanging. “Shayol Ghul lies beyond the Blasted Lands and Blight, and is the site of the Dark One’s prison. Roiling gray clouds, along with smoke, lightning, and thunder, rise above a large volcanic slope , where the Pit of Doom lies. In the Age of Legends, it was said this was once an island in a cool sea. The Blasted Lands is the name given to the waste around Shayol Ghul. It is completely barren, and avoided even by Shadowspawn. Many believe its barrenness comes from the fact it bore the brunt of the War of Power, and that it is kept barren by the Shadow.”

She pointed to the final tapestry. “Thakan’dar lies in the valley below Shayol Ghul, and is a dry desert, though it is also bitterly cold. This is where the Shadow-forgers make the weapons for Myrddraal.”

Amairwyn returned to the front of the room. “For your final assignment, I want a short essay on today’s lecture- the same length as before.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, smiling. “All of you have done well in this class, and I hope you have enjoyed it, despite what the lessons were about.”

In some ways Prewtez was sorry the class was ending. The subject matter was something he found fascinating. He decided he would seek out this Rory Asha’man the Mistress of Training had spoken of to see if he could learn even more about the Blight and those that inhabited it.

Taking up his pen for the final time in this class, he began to write:

“It is said the Mountains of Dhoom were created at the time of the Breaking of the World, perhaps the result of the insanity that took the Hundred Companions. It is thought they run also into Seanchan and Shara as well, though I only know of those lands from the writings of Jain Farstrider. North of these mountains is the Blight and the Blasted Lands and, still north of the latter lies Shayol Ghul itself. Here the Dark Lord is imprisoned, the Light be thanked. And near that is the valley of Thakan’dar, home of the forgers who create the weapons of the Shadowspawn.

The difference between the Blight and the Blasted Lands? It is said that even the Shadowspawn avoid the latter. Is it because of its proximity to the Pit of Doom, or perhaps because the volcanic activities of said pit make the land around it uninhabitable? I would prefer never to have to make a trek there to find out!”

Putting pen down, he strode to the front of the classroom, handed the Aes Sedai his essay and thanked her for the class. With a bow, Prewtez exited the classroom.