Trolloc Wars

Lore & Background

In the aftermath of the Age of Legends destruction, the Westlands were vulnerable and fractured. The Shadow took advantage of this weakness, sending waves of Trollocs to reclaim the land for the Dark One. Channelers who survived the Breaking found themselves hunted, realizing that individual power was insufficient against such organized hordes. This realization forced a political shift among those who could weave the Power. They began to gather in groups, sharing knowledge and strength to push back the tide of darkness. Over generations, these alliances formalized into the structure known as the White Tower. The wars were not just battles of steel and magic but struggles for the very survival of channeling itself. The legacy remains embedded in Aes Sedai doctrine today. They view their authority as earned through blood and sacrifice during this dark period. Any threat to the Tower is often compared to the chaos that allowed the Trollocs to roam free, reinforcing the necessity of unity among those who can reach into Saidar.

In Their Own Story

Dust choked the air where the sun had been blotted out by smoke. Sister Alana raised her hands, the One Power singing through veins that burned with cold fire. Before her, the black shapes of Trollocs surged like a tide over broken stone walls. There was no time for speeches or strategy; only survival. She wove a bolt of pure light, shattering the lead beast as screams echoed from the ruins behind her.

Reader's Guide

Following the Breaking of the World, civilization crumbled and the Shadow's minions poured into the Westlands unchecked. Isolated channelers found they could not survive alone against Trolloc hordes or Myrddraal stalkers. This desperate necessity drove women who could channel to gather, forming early alliances that eventually solidified into the White Tower. These conflicts were brutal, wiping out entire kingdoms and forcing humanity back from the borders of the Blight for centuries. The wars concluded when the Aes Sedai established a centralized command structure, ending the scattered resistance and driving the Shadowspawn deeper into their lairs. Today, this history justifies the Tower's authority over all channelers in the world, claiming they are the last line of defense. It reminds the people that unity is survival against the Dark One. Without these ancient struggles, the current balance of power would not exist as it does now. The memory serves as a warning to future generations of what happens when magic users are divided against the Shadow's inevitable return.

Did You Know?

• The wars occurred in the early Third Age following the Breaking of the World.
• The need for unity during these conflicts led directly to the founding of the White Tower.
• Most historical records from this specific period are fragmented or lost to time.
• The Shadow was successfully pushed back into the Blight as a result of these wars.