Breaking of the World
The devastation wrought by mad male channelers at the end of the Age of Legends.
The Breaking of the World followed the Dark One's tainting of saidin at the end of the Age of Legends: Lews Therin Telamon killed his friends and family and then himself, and the other male channelers, driven mad, devastated the world with earthquakes and tidal waves before destroying themselves. The female Aes Sedai then guided humanity out of that dark time.
Lore & Background
After the Breaking, male channelers who sought sanctuary with the Ogier created the Ways, paths through another dimension linking the steddings, later corrupted by the Black Wind. The Tinkers still search for the Song lost in the Breaking, and the Sea Folk have protected the Amayar since it. The Dragon Reborn is prophesied to save the world from the Dark One or break it a second time.
More in History & Mythos
Elsewhere in The Wheel of Time
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