Band of The Red Hand - History

History

The story of Manetheren ("Mountain Home") is relayed by Moiraine Damodred in The Eye of the World. During the Trolloc Wars, Manetheren's military fighting under the Red Eagle banner had become "the thorn in the Dark One's foot, the bramble to his hand," their forces confronting the Trollocs at every juncture, present at every battle (Manetheren herself came to be known as the "sword that cannot be broken.")

After victory in the Battle of Bekkar in the Borderlands (called the "Field of Blood"), they learned that the Trollocs were moving on their homeland. The march home itself was noteworthy, setting off still covered in the blood, sweat and dust of battle with no hesitation, for they had seen what a Trolloc Army did to a place it took. Marching straight from the battle they arrived just in time to confront the Trolloc hordes. They were vastly outnumbered, but King Aemon had sent out messengers, and aid was promised within three days; reassured, the Band launched into the fray, facing odds that should overwhelm them in the first hour.

They held out for three days, then five, and finally ten days, until Aemon felt the bitter taste of betrayal. Help would never come---Aemon and Manetheren were betrayed. Retreating and burning the bridges across the river, they sent their people to flee from the Trollocs. Some did not: men and women with bows and pitchforks and axes joined the army, in a trickle, then a flood. They defended desperately, fighting literally for their lives, every inch of ground given was sold dearly with both Trolloc and Human lives, but gradually they were pushed back until they fell, defending Aemon to the last, until finally they were overwhelmed. The old stories tell that a spring rose where they fell at Emond's Field (Aemon's Field), where much later Matrim Cauthon, commander of the new Band of the Red Hand, is born.

Aemon's Queen Eldrene felt his death, and with the One Power obliterated the leaders of the Trolloc army, causing the trollocs to panic and flee, but she drew too much of the One power and destroyed herself and the city in the process.