Loial describes the creation of The Ways by male channelers during the Breaking of the World. He also describes the Ogier trials with the Exile, the Longing and the search for stedding. The Ways connect distant points that have a Waygate but are not really part of the world. Travel between Waygates is much faster than travel in the usual ways. Male channelers were invited to the stedding so they could hopefully hold off going insane. Some came, but eventually all left. This either prolonged the breaking or prevented it from being worse. Aes Sedai still debate the issue.