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Annoura Larisen
Ah-noor-Ah Law-ree-sen
Nationality:
Tarabon
Year of Birth:
838 NE
Gender:
Female
Hair Color:
Dark
Eye Color:
Dark
Other Names:
None
Article Author:
Daraus Sedai
Page Contents
Basic Information
Actions During the Story (Spoilers)
Character Summaries (Spoilers)
Basic Information
Appearance
Annoura is consistently described as having a broad face with a wide mouth and a beak of a nose, with dozens of long thin dark braids (also described as a "cap of shoulder length beaded braids”) in the Taraboner style, she has a stocky build and is about 5’4” tall. Annoura also speaks with her native Taraboner accent. She often has the hood of her cloak up with her dark braids hanging forward on her shoulders, framing her face.
She has the typical ageless face of an Aes Sedai who has sworn the Three Oaths. Her mouth is often described as a thin line beneath a beak of a nose. Like most Aes Sedai, Annoura is very good at masking her emotions, however, Annoura does slip and show emotions on several occasions which is typically shown through a description of her mouth “becoming a thin line” when angry, licking her lips and rubbing her thumbs to forefingers when nervous.
Personality
She is most often seen as intelligent and observant and maintains Aes Sedai calm quite well given her circumstances. However, she is also noted as being almost self-effacing for an Aes Sedai and tends to fade into the background, this is likely at least partially because she is significantly lower on the Aes Sedai hierarchy than the women around her.
Annoura also shows some very prominent Gray Ajah traits, including investigative abilities as well as playing the role of informal adjudicator and has been a political advisor to Berelain for some time.
Spoilers Below!!!
Actions During the Story
Actions Before the Story
We don't know anything of Annoura's actions prior to the story other than that she was an Aes Sedai.
New Spring
Around the time of New Spring Annoura was known to be part of the group of Gray sisters attempting to hold together the Grand Coalition and had no knowledge of the “vileness” happening within the Tower at that time.
Actions Between the Books
At some point during this time, Annoura places herself as the advisor to the young First of Mayene, Berelain.
Eye of the World
By this time Annoura had placed herself in Mayene as Berelain’s advisor (likely had been in place for several years given the level of influence she had with Berelain).
The Great Hunt
Presumably in Mayene, exact timing of Berelain being taken to Tear is not known, but Annoura did not accompany her to Tear aside from the fact that Be’lal and the Black Ajah would certainly have discovered her there no matter how hidden she tried to remain there is also the need for secrecy from the High Lords given Tairen attitudes toward Mayene and Aes Sedai.
The Dragon Reborn
Presumably she was active in Mayene advising the various Seconds and the appointed Regent of the City in Berelain’s absence and receiving information from Berelain during this time.
The Shadow Rising
During this time Annoura was receiving detailed letters from Berelain on the various activities happening in Tear and possibly what was planned for Cairhien. Berelain would have been arranging for the Winged Guard to gather and accompany her to Cairhien during this time, and Annoura was advising her against this course of action.
Fires of Heaven
Roughly the time when Berelain would have summoned Annoura to Cairhien after Rand put Berelain in charge of the city while he was dealing with Caemlyn, this seems to be the time when Berelain would need support of her Advisor.
Lord of Chaos
Annoura did not arrive in Cairhien until after Rand was taken captive by the Tower Embassy and she had no interactions with the Aes Sedai who made promises to Colavaere. She was also unaware of Cadsuane's presence in Cairhien until after Rand's return and clearly, she had not had any interactions with the unaligned Sisters accompanying Cadsuane as she assumed Cadsuane was dead until she walked into the Palace after Rand’s return.
A Crown of Swords
First on-page appearance in the series. She does show a rather bold temperament given her low status amongst Aes Sedai, even going so far as to comment on Cadsuane's approach with Rand being undiplomatic, which surprised Merana given Annoura’s low status as a Sister. Despite having a "tell", Merana starts to believe Annoura must have good negotiation skills if she was part of the group of Grays trying to maintain the Grand Coalition. Annoura reveals she was unaware of the "Tower Vileness" after the Aiel War and had clearly not spent much time in the Tower in the last 20 years. She also tells Cadsuane and company that she had been getting detailed correspondence from Berelain regarding events since Tear.
Path of Daggers
Joins Berelain as part of Perrin's entourage in Ghealdan as the only Aes Sedai not sworn to Rand and not directly committed to be "Apprenticed" to the Wise Ones. Goes into Bethal with Berelain to speak to Alliandre and later comes back to Perrin's camp with Alliandre in their company and witnesses Alliandre swear fealty to Perrin (and thus Rand). She identifies Maighdin (Morgase) as a Wilder to Berelain and notes that most Wilders eventually create trouble even if they are as weak as Maighdin, this is further evidence that Annoura had not spent a lot of time in the Tower over the last 30-odd years as she would have been Aes Sedai when Morgase Trakand was a Novice and would have recognized her. Annoura warded the conversation Faile had with Alliandre and Berelain, but her motivations remained a mystery to Faile. Annoura approves of Faile's plans to further hide Perrin's true mission by using Alliandre and hiding behind the ruse of a fool raising the banner of Manetheren.
Winter's Heart
Was present when Perrin was told of Faile's capture and seemed to be genuinely sympathetic toward Perrin, although she was still clearly difficult to read and called Perrin out for being a fool regarding Berelain/Faile competing for him. Annoura Healed Perrin from frostbite when he exposed himself waiting for Faile, which irritated Perrin due to his distrusting of both Berelain and Annoura. Annoura was not confident that she had enough skill with Healing to save Perrin, although the Healing worked.
Is seen visiting Masema along with Masuri and Rovair (Masuri's Warder) by Cha Faile spy Haviar which was reported to Perrin by Selande. Perrin considers her motivations for such a meeting as she is not one of the Aes Sedai sworn to Rand and he doubted Berelain would have sent Annoura. Making Annoura's motivations a mystery, ultimately her reasons for meeting with Masema are never revealed. This action creates tension between Annoura and Berelain once it comes out and Annoura seems distressed by this and continues to attempt to make amends with little result. After witnessing Masema's fanaticism she seems concerned that he truly seems to believe what he says (i.e. do whatever is necessary in service to the Light) and like the Wise Ones and other Aes Sedai comes to believe Masema is a rabid animal that needs to be put down.
She begins to volunteer herself as a possible negotiator to attempt to ransom Faile and the others captured by the Shaido, but Perrin shuts her down. Around this time Masuri effectively quells Annoura's more independent actions by forcing her to interact with the Wise Ones.
Annoura is part of the group with Perrin spying on the Shaido and learns two shocking (to her) pieces of information.
There are as many as 500 Shaido Wise Ones (and Apprentices) who can channel, nearly 50% of the White Towers numbers from a single clan.
The Cleansing has begun and both the Asha’man and women can feel the massive amounts of Power being channeled far to the North of them. Annoura suggests it could be the Forsaken using unknown sa’angreal and wants Perrin to have Grady take them to the location to see what is happening. Perrin tells her he is sure it is Rand doing something wonderful, she acknowledges that it could be wonderful or terrible, but was surely the most momentous thing that has happened in recorded history and still wants to go to see what is happening.
Later, Annoura and Berelain lay out a plan to approach the Lord of So Habor and Annoura clearly wants to learn more about what is wrong in the town after being asked if they were ghosts and later seeing signs that the Dark One's touch may be corrupting food sources. Berelain makes it clear that she has begun to mistrust Annoura at this time.
Crossroads of Twilight
Wanted to go with Perrin and Berelain to negotiate a deal with the Seanchan under Tylee but was told she could not attend as the Seanchan would certainly recognize an Aes Sedai. Annoura claims these types of negotiations are her specialty to no avail. The Wise Ones, by this time, have managed to bully Annoura into following at least some of their direction, she is placed with Grady to "assist" him while the others meet with Tylee. Later Annoura is present when Tylee brings news to Perrin of the Whitecloaks under Galad's command. Annoura sums up what she has heard regarding Niall's death and Galad's killing Valda to take command of 7,000 men. When Tylee wants to speak in private Berelain moves to take Annoura out with her but Perrin wants them to stay and hear the rest of Tylee's news about more Aiel approaching Malden when the "Ripples" hit the camp. Annoura participates in the Battle of Malden, where she is testing the limits of the Wise Ones, but finds herself only marginally independent of their control, despite not being sworn to Rand.
Knife of Dreams
Annoura is still with Perrin's entourage during TGS but is not seen or mentioned in any scenes.
The Gathering Storm
Annoura is seen riding with Berelain's group not long after Perrin's discovery of Masema's death. She is present while Perrin is speaking to Alliandre and the other leaders of the group about events happening and when Edarra suggests Grady and some of the Wise Ones/Aes Sedai could attempt to learn to Link and make larger Gateways. Perrin also learns of the force of Whitecloaks approaching the camp. While Seonid reports on conditions in Cairhien, Annoura suggests further alliance with the Seanchan with the LB approaching sparking commentary from Edarra about the Seanchan and Aiel being close to blood feud. Perrin also reveals that Gaebril was in fact Rhavin and that Rand killed him. Later Annoura is seen linked with Grady and Masuri to form Gateways to evacuate non-combatants to Caemlyn.
Towers of Midnight
The last we see of Annoura is in Mayene after saving Galad. Annoura burnt herself out saving Galad after his duel with Demandred. Even under the best of circumstances Annoura's strength level was far below the normal required strength for Traveling. Her last words to Berelain are that she did this to restore their relationship. Berelain is devastated that Annoura has done this to herself as she realizes how much she cares for the woman. Berelain also notices the immediate changes to Annoura’s face and notes that she now looks "young" rather than ageless.
A Memory of Light
Character Summaries
Special Abilities
Annoura is a channeler of no more than moderate strength, listed as level 33 (21) in the Companion, she stands just above the weakest Aes Sedai we see in the series. She was not seen actively channeling very often during the series, so we know little about her skills, affinities, Talents or other channeling abilities. She burned herself out creating a gateway to bring Galad to Mayene (and Berelain), the weave involved would have been far outside of her natural abilities/strength, so she had to be aware of the likelihood of Burning Out when she drew that much saidar into herself. She was never noted as having any significant OP related Talents, although, like all Aes Sedai she was trained in Healing but her proficiency was unknown beyond she was not as Talented in Healing as the Wise One Janina or the Brown Sister Masuri Sokawa and after Healing Perrin she was unsure of the level of success she had.
Notable Possessions
Annoura is never associated with any objects of the Power or seen using any such items.
Legacy
There are several notable things about Annoura. She is one of the few significant Aes Sedai characters in the series who is not relatively strong by modern Aes Sedai standards. With over 200 Aes Sedai with strength data recorded in the Companion, only ~20 Aes Sedai are weaker than Annoura. Of those weaker than Annoura only Daigian, and the reduced Leane and Siuan have anywhere near the screen time Annoura has in the series. She is also one of the few Aes Sedai characters that seems to be able to devote herself to something beyond the Tower. She genuinely cared for Berelain and actively worked with her for the betterment of Mayene and stayed in her position rather than returning to the Tower or joining the Rebels as the other Aes Sedai in similar positions did, even though the Tower had little interest in the tiny city-state. Ultimately even sacrificing herself to make amends with her friend/protege. Berelain does think to herself that maybe someone could heal Annoura, which could be a little bit of foreshadowing, Jordan was quite fond of these types of hints for the future throughout the series so perhaps this stray thought was meant to give us hope that someone who made a such a large sacrifice still has a little hope of being restored and thematically Jordan liked to make the “impossible” happen, such as Healing Stilling or Taint-Madness.
In Other Media
No announcements regarding Annoura’s character have been made for the upcoming Wheel of Time TV series being produced by Amazon Studios. It is unlikely the character would make an appearance until around Season 3 given her timeline in the books, although she could appear earlier if producers choose to expand Berelain’s story to show her prior to the events of The Dragon Reborn or The Shadow Rising or if there is an expanded storyline around the Aiel War and the Grand Coalition negotiations that followed.
