King Laman Damodred

Origin

Born and raised in Cairhien, Laman ascended the Sun Throne about twelve years before the Aiel War. He was not a particularly strong king, and efforts were made among the various Noble Houses of Cairhien to remove him from the throne. Aware of these threats to his power, he attempted to fight back. To this end he cut down Avendoraldera, a tree that had been a gift from the Aiel some 500 years previous, in order to make a throne. Taking great offence to this action, which would come to be known as “Laman’s Sin,” the Aiel marched across the Spine of the World and fought a bloody war all the way to the Shining Walls of Tar Valon.

Creation

Laman was created by Robert Jordan for his book series The Wheel of Time, making his first appearance in the prequel, New Spring. He made his first appearance in comics in Wheel of Time: New Spring #3, written by Jordan and Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Mike Miller

Major Story Arcs

New Spring

Laman is killed on the third day of fighting at the Battle of the Shining Walls, presumably by the Aiel. Their objective achieved, the Aiel immediately retreat back to the Waste. His death casts the kingdom of Cairhien into minor upheaval, and the succession is uncertain for some time.

Powers and Abilities

Laman was a leader of some power. He was skilled at Daes Dae’mar, the Game of Houses, a form of political intrigue that is widely practiced in Cairhien and other courts in the Southlands. He was a competent swordsman, but was noted to wield a uselessly ostentatious blade. It was heron-marked, but it is unclear if he earned this distinction himself; it was also power-wrought, making it more powerful than the average blade.

Other Media

Literature

The Wheel of Time

Laman was originally created for the Wheel of Time series of books. He has technically never appeared in a book, but has been mentioned in several.