Male channelers were once known
as Aes Sedai as were the women. Together they served and created great wonders.
This time was known as the Age of Legends. Because the greatest wonders were created
when men and women worked together, they hoped to find a way for both sexes to
draw on one similar source. They found it.
The attempt to access this new power ended in tragedy.
They had bored a hole into the Dark One's prison where the Creator had sealed
him at the moment of Creation. Thus begun the War of the Shadow. Many went over
to him, Channelers and non-channelers alike. For power or their own salvation.
The strongest channelers were Chosen in the eyes of the Shadow. Though followers
of the Light called them Forsaken.
Lews Therin Telamon had a plan to seal the Dark
One's prison again. Female Aes Sedai called it too risky, too dangerous. But Lews
Therin and his Hundred Companions(all men) decided to carry out the plan alone.
So they Traveled to Shayol Ghul, after positioning the Seven Seals precisely,
and sealed the Dark One's prison again and the Forsaken along with him.
But the Dark One lashed out, at Saidin, and Tainted it with his evil. Lews Therin
and the Hundred Companions went mad on the instant. All around the world, slow
or fast, men went mad from channeling Saidin. They tore the world apart, lands
shifting and breaking. Entire lands disappeared under newly formed mountains or
were drown in rising oceans. The Age of Legends was over and the Breaking of the
World had began. After the Breaking had subsided the White Tower was founded.
They had many purposes, and one was to hunt down all men who could Channel and
sever them from the One Power. This process is known as Gentling. As Lews
Therin had caused the Breaking he was called 'Dragon'. Now, three-thousand years
after the Breaking, he has been reborn. His coming had been prophesied, a man
who would save the world from the Dark One again and also bring another Breaking.
The Dragon Reborn founded the Black Tower and gave them his protection against
the White Tower. The Dragon Reborn has cleansed Saidin, though only men who can
Channel know it.
Now Matrim al'Nasair, an Asha'man of the Black
Tower, has come to Validon and founded his own Tower. The purpose of the Tower
and the great force it holds within its walls is yet undecided, but to bring its
anger is to bring near certain doom.