The Maidens of the Sword are a wetlander offshoot of Far Dareis Mai that came about after the battle where Rand al'Thor and his army of Aiel drove off the Shaido and occupied Cairhien. It is speculated by some of the clan chiefs and Wise Ones that after a second time being ravaged by the Aiel (the first time being during the Aiel War), that some of the Cairhienin may have fallen under the impression that the Aiel way, and ji'e'toh, are superior.