The Wheel of Time tells a story set in a vast world filled with many different kingdoms and cities. Each location is unique, with its own culture, traditions, and challenges. Places like the Two Rivers, Tar Valon, Cairhien, and Falme all play an important role. As the characters follow their separate paths, new locations appear, shaping their journeys.
In Season 2, three Aiel characters are introduced: Aviendha (Ayoola Smart), Bain (Ragga Ragnars), and Chiad (Maja Simonsen). Season 3 expands on the Aiel storyline by showing the Aiel Waste, the land where they live. Rand (Josha Stradowski) must travel there to earn the trust of the Aiel people. They call him the Car’a’carn, which means “Chief of Chiefs,” and he must prove himself worthy of that title.
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The Aiel and Their Connection to Rhuidean
The Aiel have a way of life that is very different from others. Outsiders, whom they call “wetlanders,” often struggle to understand them. Season 3, Episode 4, titled The Road to the Spear, helps explain these differences by introducing Rhuidean, an ancient and sacred city.
The Aiel live in a desert so large that people call it the Waste. Despite the harsh land, Rhuidean stands out as a special place. The city is empty, and very few people are allowed to enter it.
However, it plays an important role in Aiel culture. The Aiel have many different clans, and they often fight each other. But Rhuidean is considered neutral ground. When Aiel warriors arrive at its borders, they set their differences aside and refuse to fight.
In Seeds of Shadow (Season 3, Episode 3), Aviendha explains that the Taardad and Shaido clans have a blood feud. This means they are enemies and would normally attack each other. But when they meet near Rhuidean, both sides agree not to fight. This shows how much the Aiel respect the city.
Rhuidean: The City in the Clouds
Rhuidean is also called “the City in the Clouds” because it is always covered in a strange fog. This makes it feel mysterious, and few people know what lies inside. Aiel warriors guard the entrance, blocking outsiders from entering. Only certain people from the Aiel tribes are allowed to go inside, and even they must prove they are worthy.
One reason Rhuidean is important is that it is home to Avendesora, the Tree of Life. This tree is sacred to the Aiel. Long ago, King Laman of Cairhien, who was Moiraine’s (Rosamund Pike) uncle, cut down a sapling from this tree to decorate his throne. The Aiel saw this as a great insult, so they went to war against him. This event was called the Aiel War, and it changed history.
However, Rhuidean has an even greater purpose. It serves as a place where Aiel leaders are chosen. Only those who are training to be clan chiefs or Wise Ones are allowed to enter. These people must complete a test inside the city, but it is very dangerous. Many do not survive, and those who do are forbidden to speak of what they saw.
Rand must go to Rhuidean because he is the Dragon Reborn. He needs to prove himself as the Car’a’carn. Inside the city, he will receive two dragon markings on his arms, which confirm his destiny.
Rhuidean’s History and Its Hidden Secrets
Although most Aiel do not know the full history of Rhuidean, it is a crucial part of their past. The city was built over 2,000 years ago, after the Breaking of the World but before the Trolloc Wars. The Jenn Aiel, a peaceful group of Aiel, created it with help from the Aes Sedai. They wanted to build a safe place and protect important objects from the past.
Rhuidean was meant to be a great city, but it was never finished. Unlike large cities such as Tear or Caemlyn, it was never fully populated. The Jenn Aiel eventually died out, leaving Rhuidean abandoned. However, the city still contains many valuable items, including powerful objects known as angreal, sa’angreal, and ter’angreal. These objects can enhance or channel the One Power.
One of the most important items hidden in Rhuidean is Sakarnen, a powerful sa’angreal. This object is concealed beneath Avendesora and is one of the city’s greatest secrets.
The Prime Video series does not show every object stored in Rhuidean, but it does include two ter’angreal that play an important role. These are the glass columns and the three rings.
Rand’s Trial in Rhuidean
Although Rhuidean holds many secrets, The Wheel of Time focuses on them through Rand’s journey. After the Jenn Aiel disappeared, the city became a place of trials. It was designed to help Aiel leaders learn about their history.
Most Aiel do not remember their true past, but Rhuidean contains a way to reveal it. The Aes Sedai created the glass columns, which allow Aiel chiefs to see visions of their ancestors. When Rand enters Rhuidean, he walks through the glass columns.
This experience lets him witness the history of the Aiel all the way back to the Age of Legends. He learns that the Aiel were once a peaceful people who followed the Way of the Leaf. Over time, they abandoned this belief and became warriors.
Meanwhile, Aviendha and Moiraine enter the three rings. These rings show possible futures, though not all of them will happen. The three rings work in a similar way to the Arches used in the Aes Sedai’s training. They are dangerous, and some people do not survive the experience. However, those who pass the test gain wisdom and become stronger leaders.
Rand survives his trial and gains a deeper understanding of the Aiel. He also receives two dragon tattoos on his arms, proving that he is the Car’a’carn. This marks an important step in his journey as the Dragon Reborn.
Rhuidean’s Lasting Influence on the Aiel
Rhuidean continues to play a vital role in The Wheel of Time. It serves as a sacred place where only the most important members of Aiel society can go. Through Rand’s journey, the city’s hidden past is uncovered, revealing secrets that shape the future.
With every trial inside Rhuidean, the Aiel learn more about who they once were and who they must become. As Rand moves forward, his time in Rhuidean changes him. He leaves with more knowledge, more power, and the recognition of the Aiel as their leader.
New episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 release every Thursday on Prime Video.
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