A'dam

An a'dam is an item in the fictional Wheel of Time universe created by Robert Jordan.

Function and use

The "a'dam" is a "ter'angreal" consisting of a necklace and one or more bracelets. The a'dam allows the wearer of the bracelet to control the wearer of the necklace. It can be used only by a woman who can channel or has the ability to learn to channel, and will only control those also with the ability. When first encountered in the series, the bracelets are connected to the necklace by a cord. In later novels, an "a'dam" is made that does not require a cord or physical connector. Any woman wearing the bracelet part of the a'dam feels whatever emotion the woman wearing the necklace feels. The primary users of the "a'dam" are the Seanchan, who use women who can channel as weapons (see "damane" and "sul'dam").

"A'dams" can be used to inflict tremendous physical agony on the victim which, along with the fact that the user cannot channel without permission from the "sul'dam", are the primary means of control. Indeed, a female channeler wearing the "a'dam" cannot attempt to move the bracelet from its position, touch the collar, or even think of harming their "sul'dam" without immense agony and nausea. Eventually, the torture and abuse wears down the resistance of the woman wearing it and they begin to accept their situation; this can be rectified, but only after a considerable period. Most women from the Seanchan lands consider their collaring a good thing, believing they are monsters who must be chained. Humorously, the "sul'dam" are not aware of their own ability to channel, later revelations of this fact utterly terrify them and, indeed, any Seanchan who discovers it.

There seems to be some inconsistency within the books as to how saidar is chanelled and manipulated by the sul'dam/damane pair. When Egwene was collared, she had to be told by her sul'dam to possess the power and to blow up the ground, which she did on threat of torture. However, when Tuon collars Teslyn and Joline, the power is instantly accessed and woven to block the doors and to shield Edesena without a word be spoken nor any threats. This is possibly due to the difference in ability of the sul'dam in question.

A male channeler may not wear the bracelet of an "a'dam" without killing both himself and the woman the necklace is attached to. There is a different type of "ter'angreal" that acts as an a'dam for male channelers. It appears as a set of black bracelets, and permits one or two female channelers to control a male channeler. This, due to the nature of linking, does not work on a long-term basis, and will expose the controlling women to the taint on "saidin".

External links

*http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org:8008/items/adam.html