Mesaana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mesaana is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.

[edit] Origins

Born Saine Tarasind, she was denied a place at the Collam Daan, a high-ranking, prestigious organization of researchers that existed during the Age of Legends, as she was "unsuited for research." Spurned and desiring real power, she turned to the Shadow during the Collapse. Mesaana is described as a dreamy, blue-eyed woman with a habit of tapping her nails against her lips. She is of average height and appearance, and her voice sounds like chimes

[edit] In the Age of Legends

During the War of Power, Mesaana was an administrator of conquered territories. Described as a brutal and efficient governor, what set her apart from the other Chosen during the War was that she founded many schools for children in conquered territories, schools designed to immerse children in the teachings of the Dark One, in the hope of them becoming faithful servants. The children were taught to spy on each other and their parents, and to report any illegal activity. Mobs of these children burned down museums, libraries and research facilities, anything that detracted from the Dark One. People of all ages were tried before courts entirely made of children, then executed. When Lews Therin Telamon sealed the Chosen and the Dark One in the Bore, the children became rampant mobs; calling themselves Mesaana's Children, they were determined to destroy the world faster than the male Aes Sedai during the Breaking.

[edit] Modern Times

Mesaana now controls the Black Ajah in the White Tower, where she is believed to reside. Much speculation has been made over which sister she poses as; many clues point to her being a Brown, but some theorize that she is actually a White. Whenever one of the members of the Black Ajah reports to her, she appears cloaked in an illusion that hides her identity, except Alviarin has seen a part of her dress: bronze with black scrollwork. Other than helping Be'lal set up the trap for Rand al'Thor in Tear, she has kept a relatively low profile, but has been active in controlling Alviarin, the former Keeper of the Chronicles in the White Tower and was probably responsible for the kidnapping of Rand al'Thor by representatives of the White Tower. It is said that Mesaana, Demandred and Semirhage have been working together since the War of Power. Perhaps not coincidentally, they are three of the Chosen who have retained their modern power and authority the longest, and so far only Semirhage has been discovered by the Light, having been taken prisoner by Rand Al'Thor in Knife of Dreams. Mesaana is the second most-anonymous Forsaken in the story (after Demandred, whose false identity and whereabouts are known to only one man: author Robert Jordan).

Recently she was reprimanded by the mysterious Myrddraal Shaidar Haran in the presence of Alviarin, for failing to answer the summons to kill Rand while the Choedan Kal were being used. Any changes in her status as a result of this are as yet undetermined.