Major Wheel of Time characters
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This article summarizes the main characters in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of novels.
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[edit] The Three Ta'veren
Rand al'Thor, Perrin Aybara, and Matrim Cauthon are young men from the Two Rivers in Andor. They are identified by Siuan Sanche as ta'veren—focal points about which the Wheel of Time weaves. Events swirl unpredictably about them, sometimes forcing others to follow them, sometimes forcing them to follow their destiny.
[edit] Rand al'Thor
- Main article: Rand al'Thor
The adopted son of a shepherd from the Two Rivers, Rand al'Thor is the son of Tigraine Mantear (former daughter-heir of Andor) and Aiel clan chief Janduin.
He can channel the One Power, a trait that (until quite recently) guaranteed death and madness. He drew the crystal sword Callandor from the Stone of Tear and proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn; in this capacity he is also the subject of a great many prophecies and legends, many of which promise salvation (or at least survival) from the Dark One.
His titles are King of Illian, Dragon Reborn, Coramoor of the Sea Folk, True Defender of the Light, Lord of the Morning and Prince of the Dawn and is listened to (if not always respected) in the courts of many other nations. To the Aiel he is also known as the Car'a'carn, and He Who Comes With The Dawn. He is referred to as 'Shadowkiller' by wolves. He commands the Asha'man of the Black Tower, and controls the Legion of the Dragon. He has cleansed the Dark One's taint from the Source.
[edit] Perrin Aybara
- Main article: Perrin Aybara
Born and trained a blacksmith in the Two Rivers, Perrin was swept up along with Mat and Rand. He has discovered an uncanny ability to communicate with wolves; as Wolfbrother to them, his name is Young Bull.
Positions of ever-increasing authority have been thrust upon him, and he is now known to his followers as Lord Perrin Goldeneyes. His wife, the Lady Faile ni Bashere t'Aybara, was captured by Shaido Aiel; she remained their captive, until Perrin had allied with the Seanchan, promising them plenty of damane, rescued her.
[edit] Matrim Cauthon
- Main article: Matrim Cauthon
In the Two Rivers Mat was something of a prankster. Since leaving home, he has developed an utterly astounding lucky streak. All ta'veren bend chance, but Mat's luck almost always works in his favor.
Mat sounded the legendary Horn of Valere at Falme, summoning heroes of legend to throw back the Seanchan invaders. Like Rand and Perrin, he has found himself in positions of ever-increasing leadership, however unwilling he might be.
Since parting ways with Rand al'Thor, he leads the Band of the Red Hand, basically his own personal army, with astounding skill and luck. Before Mat Cauthon's time, The Band of the Red Hand was a legendary group of heroes that fell in the defense of Manetheren. It is said that a spring rose where they fell, but some believe differently.
[edit] Aes Sedai
- Main article: Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai of the White Tower have historically represented a large group of individuals capable of channelling the One Power. In the Age of Legends, both men and women were treated as equals, but since the Breaking of the World only women–with access to the untainted female half of the Source (saidar)–have been Aes Sedai.
Recently, it has come to light that many women in other societies have the ability to channel; these include the Windfinders among the Atha'an Miere (the Sea Folk) and the Wise Ones of the Aiel.
[edit] Moiraine Damodred
- Main article: Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah; her Warder is Lan Mandragoran. She located Rand and the other Two Rivers ta'veren, and brought them all over the world. She believed that Rand was the Dragon Reborn, and sought to shelter and protect him until the Last Battle.
Presumed dead following an attempt to kill Lanfear (one of the Forsaken), it is now revealed she is alive in the world of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn and Thom Merrilin, Mat Cauthon and one other, potentially Noal Charin, must rescue her.
[edit] Nynaeve al'Meara
- Main article: Nynaeve al'Meara
Now a healer of the Yellow Ajah, Nynaeve was a wilder (a woman who learned to channel without formal training by Aes Sedai) from the Two Rivers. She is extremely powerful in the Power, equal to at least some of the Forsaken.
[edit] Elaida a'Roihan
- Main article: Elaida a'Roihan
Elaida is a powerful leader among the Red Ajah. Following the arrest and stilling of Siuan Sanche, Elaida became the Amyrlin Seat: the leader of the Aes Sedai. The events surrounding Siuan's removal led to a schism; the White Tower was divided into 'rebel' and 'usurping' factions. Elaida was pillow-friends with Meidani when they were both Novices. Meidani is now a spy for the Salidar Aes Sedai and Elaida intends to renew the relationship to gather information.
[edit] Siuan Sanche
- Main article: Siuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche served as Amyrlin Seat for a number of years, before she was deposed and stilled for treason on charges relating to her handling of the Dragon Reborn. As former leader of the Blue Ajah's network of spies, Siuan is a valuable member among the rebel Aes Sedai who wish to remove Elaida from the White Tower. She has also fallen in love with Gareth Bryne.
[edit] Lews Therin Telamon
- Main article: Lews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin was among the most powerful male Aes Sedai at the end of the Age of Legends. Known as the Dragon, he led the army which sealed the Dark One away from the world. Unfortunately, the Dark One's final counterstrike tainted saidin, the male half of the One Power. This taint ultimately caused all the males who could channel to go permanently insane, until it was cleansed by Rand in Winter's Heart. Wielding tremendous power, these mad Aes Sedai permanently altered the face of the earth in a period known as the Breaking of the World (sometimes simply the Breaking.)
[edit] Elayne Trakand
- Main article: Elayne Trakand
Heir to the throne of Andor, Elayne is an Aes Sedai by declaration of the rebel Amyrlin Seat, Egwene al'Vere. Elayne has bonded Birgitte Silverbow, the reborn hero of legend, as her Warder. Her second Warder is her lover, Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn. She was engaged in a complex political (and potentially military) battle to claim the throne of Andor following her mother Morgase Trakand's assumed death, however she had 14 of the Main Houses Acknowledge her as the Queen.
[edit] Egwene al'Vere
- Main article: Egwene al'Vere
Also of the Two Rivers, Egwene was raised Amyrlin Seat by the rebel Aes Sedai. She was chosen to become Amyrlin partly because of her great strength in the One Power. She leads the rebels in their attempt to regain the White Tower from Elaida. Egwene is a Dreamer—she can readily enter Tel'aran'rhiod (the World of Dreams), and her dreams are occasionally prophetic, she is currently a novice in the White Tower working to undermine Elaida's authority.
[edit] Other Allies
[edit] Aviendha
- Main article: Aviendha
Aviendha, of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel, came over the Dragonwall in search of a prophecied savior. A former Maiden of the Spear, she is capable of channeling the One Power, and is training to become a Wise One. Her strength in the One Power is close and may be equal to that of Egwene. She is one of Rand's three lovers and is a first-sister to Elayne; they share a Warder-like bond that was created using the One Power.
[edit] Lan Mandragoran
- Main article: Lan Mandragoran
A native of the Borderlands, Lan was trained as a soldier from birth. However, al'Lan Mandragoran is not just any Borderlander: he is the last king of the nation of Malkier, a proud and stalwart people who were overrun by the Blight. Nowadays he serves as an Aes Sedai's Warder, and also as Nynaeve al'Meara's husband.
[edit] Loial
- Main article: Loial
Loial son of Arent son of Halan is a young (ninety-year-old) Ogier, who has opted to travel with Rand and his companions in order to explore the world, write the definitive books on Rand al'Thor, and avoid an arranged marriage. He is considered impetuous and hasty by his elders. Slow to anger, Loial is nevertheless a mighty ally in battle.
[edit] Faile Bashere
- Main article: Faile Bashere
Zarine "Faile" Bashere is a young woman from Saldaea who befriends Perrin, Moiraine and Lan as a Hunter for the Horn of Valere and participates in their adventures. Eventually she is revealed to be the daughter of Lord Davram Bashere, Marshal-General of Saldaea, and a cousin to its queen; this does not stop her from marrying Perrin.
[edit] Min Farshaw
- Main article: Min Farshaw
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is a young woman who often dresses in men's clothing and is possessed of oracular 'viewings.' She is the third of Rand's lovers, and the only one he cannot bear to send away. Though very much a tomboy, she has also finds great interest in scientific and metaphysical musings.
[edit] Thom Merrilin
- Main article: Thom Merrilin
Thom Merrilin was once Court Bard, and lover, to Morgase Trakand, but soured affairs between the two forced him to the street. As the novels begin, he is a traveling gleeman who befriends the Two Rivers folk. His intimate knowledge of Daes Dae'mar (the Game of Houses) has served Rand and his companions well in navigating the rocky shoals of politics.
[edit] Morgase Trakand
- Main article: Morgase Trakand
The Queen of Andor, of the Rose Crown and the Lion Throne; stepmother to Galad Damodred and mother to Elayne and her older brother Gawyn. Controlled for a short time by a Forsaken in disguise, she has recently abdicated the throne, and is now masquerading as a lady's maid.
[edit] Darkfriends, Shadowsworn and other adversaries
[edit] Padan Fain
- Main article: Padan Fain
Padan Fain was once a peddler and a darkfriend, first seen in The Eye of the World. His soul was fused with that of Mordeth, (a creature of terrible power and evil), creating a soul more twisted and powerful than either of the originals. Since his merge, he has gone by many different names such as Ordeith. He has an insatiable hate for Rand Al'Thor and is at least partly insane.
[edit] The Forsaken
- Main article: The Forsaken
Thirteen of Lews Therin's contemporaries, some of the strongest Aes Sedai of the age, who turned to the Shadow for their own reasons. They became the Dark One's most trusted lieutenants and were bound into his prison with him for three thousand years; today most of these thirteen walk the Pattern in their own skins, others who have been killed by Rand al'Thor (the reincarnated Lews Therin Telamon) have been placed in other bodies, sometimes with wry irony.
Names: Aginor, Asmodean, Balthamel, Be'lal, Demandred, Graendal, Ishamael, Lanfear, Mesaana, Moghedien, Rhavin, Sammael, Semirhage
[edit] Mazrim Taim
- Main article: Mazrim Taim
A former False Dragon and channeler, Taim is now al'Thor's deputy in the Black Tower. While he is nominally loyal, he clearly has his own agenda.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan | |
Prequel: New Spring |
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Characters | Places | Events | Concepts |