People throughout the world make up the corps of the Eyes and Ears (EE). The EE keep Aes Sedai informed about events throughout the world. EE usually report by sending messages via pigeons trained to fly to their destination. The EE do not function as a unified group. Each works individually, and doesn't know many, if any, of who the others are. Becoming an EE is a great way to become involved with the White Tower regardless of your character's location or role.
Eyes and Ears aren't spies - rarely is one sent on a "mission" or asked to take any personal risk. However, in some regions, any association with the Tower is a risk, if discovered. The EE's role is to report to the Tower/Ajah any events or activities in their region that would be of interest to it. For instance, the EE might report troop movements, unusual activites among the government, etc.
The people who are Eyes and Ears are carefully chosen to be loyal to the Tower and respectful of Aes Sedai. It is not a relationship based on fear or intimidation. Double agents are rare, but not impossible. An EE would not be in a position to learn much about the Tower's secrets, since the Aes Sedai don't tell the EE very much, but would be in a position to pass along false or misleading information.
Eyes and Ears are not paid a salary by the Tower. A paid informant is loyal to the lure of money, not the cause that funds it. In addition, if someone obviously had more money than they'd earn in their profession, it might arouse suspicions and put the EE at risk. Most EE work for the Tower because they believe in what it stands for, or out of gratitude for a past service of the Aes Sedai. However, the Tower will generously reimburse those who must spend or lose money in fulfilling their duties as an EE.
There are three types of EE:
Tower EE are loyal to the Tower's administration. They report to the Keeper, sometimes the Amyrlin. Those wishing to be Tower EE should contact the Keeper or the Amyrlin OOCly to arrange the IC details.
Every Ajah but the White has EE, although the Yellow Ajah doesn't have very many. In the books, the Ajah member in charge of its EE is a secret, even from other members of the Ajah. On Tales, the Ajah Head is in charge of the EE for the Ajah. Those wishing to be EE to a particular Ajah should contact its Ajah Head OOCly to arrange the IC details. Ajah members may ICly recruit EE at the discretion of the Ajah Head. (If you don't know who the Ajah head is, send mail to the Amyrlin or Keeper and they will forward your note to the right person.)
The Ajah Head is responsible for keeping in touch with its EE, letting others in the Ajah know about EE reports for the purposes of roleplay, and creating the system of signals used between the Ajah members and its EE.
Individual Aes Sedai can have their own personal EE. Those wishing to be the personal EE of an Aes Sedai should contact her directly. Those wishing to be personal EE but who don't know any Aes Sedai can contact the Amyrlin or the Keeper. They will let the Aes Sedai know that you're interested, and any who want a personal EE can contact you.
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Page copyright Leigh Ricia, 1998
Wheel of Time setting copyright Robert Jordan