Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/The Seven Ajahs

Ajah is the name given to one of the seven different groups of Aes Sedai: Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, White, Gray, and Brown. Each Ajah has its own specific purpose and rules and is governed by its own internal leader(s). Upon joining an Ajah, each new Aes Sedai is either given a vine-embroidered shawl, for saidar users, or cloak, for saidin users, fringed in the color of their Ajah of choice.

The early Tower
In the Age of Dawn, ajah meant a temporary group of people banded together for a specific purpose. This carried over into the first few centuries after the Breaking, especially during the founding of the present White Tower, when there were more ajah than exist now. Elisane Tishar, the future first Amyrlin Seat, was one of more than twelve groups of women who 'Sat' each for her ajah. By 98 AB, the number of ajah decreased from this twelve to the current seven, though it is not known if these seven had any purpose that was close to the purposes of the current seven Ajahs, nor what the purposes of the lost ajah were. By the end of the second century AB, seven Ajahs were in existence, and the lowercase form of ajah was no longer in use.

The modern Ajah
Currently the Aes Sedai divide themselves into seven Ajahs, each dedicated to a particular task. Each of these sub-societies has representation on the administrative councils, its own ideology, and purpose for its members, its own ruling head or heads (known only to the members of that Ajah), and most have their own spy network. They also have secret weaves that are only taught to members, and own traditions governing things ranging from conduct in everyday life to what one might wear inside the White and Black Towers.

Every Accepted/Dedicated requests acceptance into an Ajah when they become Aes Sedai. No student is ever refused entry into the Ajah of their choice. The Amyrlin Seat is the only Aes Sedai who no longer belongs to a particular Ajah - formally they are "of all Ajahs and of none." The Ajah they were raised from is significant however since that Ajah enjoys the prestige of having a brother/sister of their Ajah as Amyrlin, and key roles such as Keeper of the Chronicles and Overseer of Novices are commonly given to those from the Amyrlin's former Ajah.

Red Ajah
Focuses on castigating the wrong and dangerous use of the One Power which mostly consists in capturing male channelers and bringing them to the Tower for gentling in the past and are now trained to fight against other magic users, such a Yuri's psychics, in the present, with saidar users often tasked with hunting their quarry while saidar users make sure they don't undermine their nation. They were once the largest Ajah, comprising one-fifth of all Aes Sedai, but in modern times have become the fourth largest. The leader's title is Highest and today it is. Red Ajahs bond no Warders, as they consider their line of work too dangerous for the Warders.

Green Ajah
Also called the 'Battle Ajah', Greens function as both guards of a convoy, escorts for important merchants, and border guards, with saidin often being soldiers leading the front while saidar commands and supports at the back. They are the largest Ajah, and the leader's title is Captain-General. The current holder of the title is. Green Ajahs bond as many Warders as they wish.

Gray Ajah
Focuses on diplomacy and mediation in politics. They are the third largest Ajah, and the leader's title is Head Clerk. is the current holder of the title.

Brown Ajah
Focuses on gathering and preserving knowledge, with saidin users being particularly intrepid explorers while saidar researches. They are the fourth largest Ajah, and are governed by a ruling council, the head of which is called First Chair. is the current First Chair. The librarians of the Tower Library are mostly Brown brothers/sisters.

Yellow Ajah
Focuses on Healing, with saidar users preferring to heal at the front on the battlefield and fighting while saidar heals those behind the lines. They are the fifth largest Ajah, and the leader's title is First Weaver. Lissa is the current First Weaver. Accepted with a great Talent for Healing generally join the Yellow upon raising.

Blue Ajah
Focuses on causes of righteousness and justice. They are the sixth largest Ajah, and the leader's title is First Selector, which is. They have the largest eyes-and-ears network.

White Ajah
Focuses on logic and philosophy. They are the smallest Ajah, and the leader's title is First Reasoner. The current First Reasoner is. White brothers/sisters rarely bond Warders, and apparently, they have no eyes-and-ears network.