In the fiction

Fiction

Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...

al world of Robert Jordan

Robert Jordan

Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...

's fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 series The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...

, Shienar is the easternmost of the Borderlands; the capital is Fal Moran. The current ruler of Shienar is Easar Togita. Shienarans are a very polite people, which might seem at odds with their ferocity in battle and long history of defending against the Blight. Shienaran men (especially soldiers) often wear a long topknot with the rest of their head shaved. Shienar has excelled at effectively deploying heavy cavalry

Cavalry

Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...

.

Before the fall of Malkier to the Blight, Shienar was not truly of the borderlands, having no border along the edge of the Blight. Now, as the easternmost of the Borderlands, it faces threats not only from the Great Blight, but from the Aiel Waste

Aiel Waste

In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, the Aiel Waste is an almost waterless desert that had no inhabited cities until Rand al'Thor opened Rhuidean to all. The Aiel also call the Waste the Three-Fold Land....

 as well.

Cities

Like Fal Dara, known at the time of the Trolloc Wars as Mafal Dadaranelle, all of the towns in Shienar are built to function as fortresses. All are built on hills, to gain a commanding view of the countryside. They are surrounded by stone walls and heavy iron gates. Nothing taller than short grass is allowed to remain for at least a half-mile beyond the town walls.

While the capital is Fal Moran, the cities closer to the Blightborder, such as Fal Dara, more closely embody the fighting spirit of Shienar. Everything except the surrounding farms is enclosed within the city walls. Fal Dara, and the cities like it, are built for strength rather than beauty.

According to Shienaran law, no one is permitted to wear a hood or to cover their face within the city walls. This is an effort to prevent Myrddraal from entering the cities. Also, the streets of these cities are very well lit, to try to prevent the shadows the Myrddraal need to appear and disappear at will.

Society

The closeness of the Blight to Shienar colors all aspects of Shienaran life and culture. The constant fighting greatly affects the way the Shienaran warriors view life. They consider peace, beauty, and life as their three most important values: peace, because they have never known it; beauty, because they are so near the corruption of the Blight; and life, because they are sworn to death. A saying Shienar warriors say to each other in leaving is "Peace favor your sword."

Also, as is noted at various intervals throughout the books (predominantly the first few), men and women in Shienar bathe together publicly, regardless of class or title. This fact is the cause of great embarrassment on behalf of the Two Rivers folk.

Burial customs

To Shienaran warriors, it is the quality of life that matters, not any material wealth that is gained. Soldiers are buried unclothed, in the belief that all came from the earth, and they wish to return as they came to the "last embrace of the mother".

Fields of Merrilor

The Fields of Merrilor are located in northern Shienar near the Blight. Many armies and protagonists sympathetic to Rand gather at the Fields of Merrilor toward the end of the actions in Towers of Midnight

Towers of Midnight

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the sequel to the novel The Gathering Storm, and the 13th book in the Wheel of Time series.The novel is the second part of A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan's projected final book...

. Rand's coalition prepares to hold conference there on the eve of the prophesied final battle (Tarmon Gai'don) with the Dark One's Shadowforce.