Semirhage

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Semirhage (SEH-mih-RHAHG) 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 Nemene Damendar Boann. Taller than most men and well proportioned with long slender fingers. She is graceful and calm with dark eyes and dark skin. She enjoys the simple pleasure of needlework. Because Lanfear wears white, Semirhage wears black (although she would kill anyone who suggested it in her hearing).

[edit] Age of Legends

Semirhage was the best Restorer (Healer with the One Power) ever, being called from anywhere at an instant to Heal the impossible. In the process of healing her patients, however, she would torture them for entertainment, enjoying their screams. When this became known to the Hall of Servants, the ruling body of the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends, Nemene was sentenced to be bound (which means to take an oath on the Oath Rod, as modern Aes Sedai call it, like all criminals in that era. A side effect is that those so bound are no longer able to age slowly like all other practitioners of the One Power) or to be severed (stilled) from the One Power to guard against her sadistic tendencies and become physically unable to do so again. Semirhage fled to Shayol Ghul, center of the Dark One's power, and became one of the first Forsaken.

She loathes Aes Sedai, and exacted revenge on members of the Hall of Servants by breaking them and having them proclaim publicly for the Dark One. Among the other Forsaken she is noted especially for her cruelty (which takes some doing). Additionally, Semirhage is the one who discovered how to turn a channeler to the Shadow against his or her will, by using a circle (group of channelers combining power) of thirteen channelers and thirteen Myrddraal.

Semirhage takes enormous pleasure in cruelty and anguish, having once tortured an entire city and forced its citizens to break each other until all died. She also once made a man scream every waking moment for five years and kept him sane, although his heart finally failed. A prisoner being told they were being handed to Semirhage would try to commit suicide. Semirhage considers death as an escape (which, for anyone in her hands, is probably true.) Also, Semirhage's reputation was such that the one time she was captured, she frightened her jailers so thoroughly that they smuggled her to freedom, and then committed suicide. Lews Therin appropriately refers to her as the Lady of Pain, which may be the translation of her name.

[edit] Modern Times

Semirhage, Demandred, and Mesaana have likely been working together since before the War of Power. Semirhage has an intimate knowledge of the brain and its pain and pleasure centers, and uses these to torture a victim into bending to her will. It was Semirhage who sent Shadowspawn to counter Sammael's Shadowspawn in the Stone of Tear, where they were attempting to slay Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn.

As of Knife of Dreams it has been confirmed that Semirhage posed as Anath Dorje, Tuon's supposed retainer. Semirhage was High Lady Suroth's (a known Darkfriend) controller. Currently, Semirhage is held captive by Rand al'Thor after posing as High Lady Tuon. Although she was injured during her capture, she was apparently not mortally wounded.