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Ji'e'toh
The Aiel way of life is dominated by ji’e’toh, the code of honor and obligation. There are many different levels of honor to be gained. In battle, for example, the smallest honor is to be gained through killing, for anyone can kill. The greatest honor is to be gained by touching an armed enemy without harming him. Honor is valued above all else in Aiel society. Just as honor has many levels, so does shame have many levels. At many of these levels, an Aiel would prefer death to the shame. It is toh, obligation, which dominates this code. Toh must be met in full, to the point that an Aiel will accept shame to meet toh. Gai’shain are Aiel taken prisoner during battle. They are required by ji’e’toh to serve their captor for a year and a day. Through this period, they touch no weapon and do no violence. They wear pure white, to distinguish them from other Aiel. In fact, a gai’shain will not wear anything that another Aiel might wear; they will go unclothed until they can find gai’shain white. Certain people may not be made gai’shain. Wise Ones, children under fifteen, and women with children under ten may not be made gai’shain. Also, blacksmiths may not be made to wear the white, as this would deprive the hold of their extremely valuable services.
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