Tear had no real naval forces. When pirates troubled Tairen shipping interests, a noble was directed to raise whatever forces he needed to put them down. Historically, the same method was used whenever ships were needed for military reasons.
The carrying of swords by any but nobles and Defenders of the Stone was prohibited in the city of Tear, but outlanders were usually not bothered, at least if they looked of sufficient rank. Neither were retainers of nobles, usually, especially if the noble was of sufficient rank. After Rand took the Stone, he changed the law.
As in most countries, the view on marriage was that like should marry like. A noble might dally with a commoner, but never marry there. Commoners might dream of marrying a noble, but when they heard of the actuality, as in Andor, the usual view was that it was ridiculous at best, obscene at worst, and a sure course for disaster.
The city of Tear was Ogier-built, and a Waygate stood outside the city in the great pastureland where the High Lords ran their famous horse herds. Tear was the greatest port on the Sea of Storms; the Stone of Tear was the fortress that guarded it. Built on flats on the southern coast around the mouth of the River Erinin where it divided into the Fingers of the Dragon and passed into the Sea of Storms, it sat well away from the sea, and any ships coming to port were required to navigate up through one of the “fingers,” guided by a Tairen pilot. There were stone docks on the west bank of the river; this was the port district, called the Maule, a rough area. The docks were backed by stone warehouses, separated by muddy dirt streets; the warehouse district was called the Chalm and the farmers’ market district the Tavar. Houses, inns and taverns in the outer city were of wood and stone, and the roofs of slate or tile with oddly sharp corners, some rising to a point.
A high wall of dark gray stone surrounded the inner city, which contained white square-domed palaces and pointed towers with balconies encircling them. There were paved streets inside the city, and the buildings inside the wall were much like those outside, only bigger. Grand structures mixed together with more humble businesses and residences. One large hall had massive square columns across the front, with fifty steps rising to bronze doors five spans high; it was flanked by a bakery and a tailor’s shop. Commoners did not live in the inner city. Its population just before the Last Battle was 300,000 people.
Tear produced carpets that were considered among the finest, and clocks which, along with those from Illian, were considered second only to the Sea Folk clocks for quality. Olives were a major crop, producing olive oil for cooking and lamps. Wine, brandy, cheese and lace were also produced. While Ghealdan was the only source of first-quality alum, Tear, like Arafel, supplied large quantities of second-quality alum and were the only sources aside from Ghealdan until the discovery of deposits in Andor; alum put as much into the nation’s coffers as did olive oil. Glass and glassware, dyes, wool, cloth, pearls, salt fish and other preserved fish packed in oil, timber (both fine woods and bulk), armor, swords and cutlery were other items sold. Andor and Tear were major suppliers of grain and foodstuffs to Cairhien. There were mines (iron, gold, silver, in various locations) in the Spine of the World, but there was often trouble with the Aiel, so there was very little mining of gold or silver, and not a great deal of iron. For horses, Tairen blood stock was considered the finest breeding stock in the world. Tairens were considered second only to the Sea Folk as shipbuilders, though Mayene came very close in quality if nowhere near in quantity.
Tear, High Lord of. One of the council that ruled Tear, raised from the Lords of the Land; only a High Lord was allowed into the Heart of the Stone. Although noblewomen of high rank, High Ladies, were numbered among the ruling council and had as much power and influence as the men from the beginning, the ruling nobles were referred to collectively as the High Lords.
Tear, Stone of. See Stone of Tear
Tebreille din Gelyn South Wind. A Sea Folk Windfinder to Wavemistress Mareil of Clan Mushien. Her strength level was 17(5). She was Talaan’s aunt. Caire and Tebreille were sisters; they disliked each other intensely and had a more than strong rivalry. Tebreille was about 5'5" tall, slightly shorter than Caire, and her face was somewhat sterner. They had the same big, almost black eyes, the same straight nose and the same strong chin. Tebreille was part of the circle that used the Bowl of the Winds, and not at all pleased that her sister was given the command. She went to Caemlyn with Elayne’s group and left Caemlyn with the Wavemistress Zaida.
Tedosian. A High Lord of Tear; his wife was Alteima. He had a thick body, graying hair and a pointed beard. He was falsely self-effacing around Rand. Thom forged a note to be found by Tedosian, linking Carleon, truthfully, with Alteima. Tedosian was part of the group that Rand chastised for not obeying his orders to lower taxes, deal with Mayene and ship grain to Illian. Tedosian killed Carleon in a hunting “accident.” He was then poisoned by Alteima and put into Estanda’s care, where he recovered. After a meeting with an agent of Sebban Balwer’s, he joined the rebellion near Haddon Mirk. Merana and Rafela negotiated a settlement with Tedosian and the other rebels; that settlement made Darlin king.
Tedronai, Elan Morin. Ishamael’s name in the Age of Legends.
Tefan. A king of Khodomar, one of the nations that arose after the Trolloc Wars. Tefan was one of three who sent armies into Shandalle against Artur Hawkwing in FY 943.
Tehan, Captain. The captain of The Victory of Kidron, the ship that brought Tuon from Seanchan. A wide, weathered woman with a lined face and white hair and incredible green eyes, she was a Captain of the Green.
Teire Alentaine. An Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah and the loyalist contingent. Her strength level was 32(20). She was part of the effort to kidnap Rand and take him to the White Tower; she escaped with Covarla Baldene.
Tel Janin Aellinsar. Sammael’s name in the Age of Legends.
Tel Norwin. One of the victorious battle sites of Rashima Kerenmosa, the Soldier Amyrlin.
Tel’aran’rhiod. In the Old Tongue, “the Unseen World,” or “the World of Dreams,” a world glimpsed in dreams which was believed by the ancients to permeate and surround all other possible worlds. What happened to living things in the World of Dreams was real; a wound taken there would still exist on awakening, and one who died there did not wake at all. Otherwise, though, nothing done there affected the waking world in any way. Many could touch Tel’aran’rhiod for a few moments in their dreams, but few ever had the ability to enter it at will; others could enter with the use of a special ter’angreal. Time flowed differently there: an hour in Tel’aran’rhiod could be minutes in the waking world, or the other way around. Space also worked differently: those who brought themselves into Tel’aran’rhiod could go where they wished at will, and, by using need, could be taken to a location where they could find something vital or required. Some, such as Rand, could enter the World of Dreams in the flesh, using a weave different from that used in Traveling or Skimming. Among the Aiel Wise Ones were dreamwalkers, who were skilled at entering and functioning in the Dream. It was said that the Shadow, in the last days of the Age of Legends, caused people to be forcibly brought into Tel’aran’rhiod. The World of Dreams was called the wolf dream by wolves and wolfbrothers.