Sleete, and the Band of Bandits.

[James Sedai]

Hi,

Currently rereading The Gathering Storm, and just encountered Sleete the Warder.

His story of his post Dumai's Wells journey refers to his being at risk of being sold, while injured, to a local band of bandits who had spread word they would pay for the handing over of any survivors of said battle.

 

After recovering enough to depart, Sleete ensures these bandits trouble the village no more, so they seem to be real.

 

Who were they, and why did they want to pay to secure any survivors of Dumai's Wells?

 

?

[Sabio]

Would make sense if the WT was trying to find any survivor to keep them quiet.  Sadly the companion doesn't shed light on who the bandits worked for.  The bandits were real, the companion does say when he was fully healed and could travel he killed the bandits that were troubling the town.  

 

Rand wouldn't hire bandits, and the Shaido wouldn't.  So if the bandits were working for someone, the WT or maybe BA would make sense.

[James Sedai]

Survivors would mainly consist of Aiel, whether channelers or not, usually highly dangerous; Aes Sedai, Warders, Asha'man, also all highly dangerous, enough so to deter bands of bandits rather than attract their attention.

As is evidenced when a single, wounded survivor kills or disperses the whole lot of them.

 

Just seems odd...?

Edited February 19, 2018 by James Sedai

[Sabio]

Aiel would be considered less dangerous than Aes Sedai or Warders?  Aiel had a reputation as deadly warriors.  Seems like only insane bandits would try hunting down Aiel.  Sleet eliminated the bandits when he was fully healthy and could travel.  Who would fetch a better bounty an Aiel or captured Aes Sedai and Warders?

 

Just seems to make the most sense the WT would want to gather up survivor Aes Sedai, Warders, or younglings.  As seen when survivors returned to the WT, Elaida made them stay out at farms and refused to allow even the Aes Sedai back in the city.  The WT was desperate to try and keep the disaster a secret.

[James Sedai]

Aiel individually are certainly less dangerous than an Aes Sedai, or a Warder. Why would the White Tower enlist bandits to accost Aes Sedai/Warders that were en route to the White Tower anyway?

And if they were heading elsewhere they would be powerless to divert them?

 

Sleete was not fully healed when he dismantled them completely.

 

 

 

[Sabio]

He was according to the companion.  The companion says "when he was fully healed and could travel he killed the bandits that were troubling the town.  "  Also we see in Book 3 bandits able to capture women who can channel.

 

I am just saying groups such as Rand, Shaido, and Aiel wouldn't hire bandits to find survivors.  Of all the groups that took part only the WT or maybe BA/Darkfriends would be the type to hire people to try and locate survivors.   Elaida especially would want any survivor rounded up so limit the risk of the disaster spreading.   Or seeking specific people.  Of all the people who fled from the fight, the WT people were the ones who left in small groups however they could get out.  Which make it seem like they would most likely be the intended targets.

Edited February 20, 2018 by Sabio

[Orderofolde]

Sabio is right.  We see the wonder girls get captured by river brigands whose leader set up a deal with a Fade to sell the girls to them, so it stands to reason that these bandits likely were in it for the money and the shadow was paying.  I wouldn't think it was tower involvement apart from maybe the Black Ajah.