Be'lal

Be'lal (BEH-lahl) (originally known as Duram Laddel Cham) is one of the primary antagonists of the The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.

Origins

Little is known about this Forsaken beyond his real name, Duram Laddel Cham. He was tall and athletic, with close cropped white hair. He was a general in the war against the Shadow, a skilled sword master, and originally a good friend of Lews Therin Telamon. However was dubbed the Envious because he envied not only Lews Therin, but also Elan Morin Tedronai (Ishamael) and Mierin Eronaile (Lanfear) as well. It is said he once beat Lews Therin in a game of stones, and endlessly bragged about it.

Age of Legends

In the Age of Legends he was called the Netweaver, because of his skills in compulsion and manipulation. Also a patient and cunning tactician, he proved to be one of best generals during the War of Power, fighting alongside Lews Therin Telamon for support of the Light. Prior to the creation of the Bore he was involved in the legal profession. It is said that after turning to the Shadow, he ran an intelligence network which probably rivaled Moghedien's. It is also known that he took part in razing the Hall of Servants.

Working together with Lews Therin he helped to rediscover the use of swords in combat, the use of which in the Age of Legends was merely a sport: "Do you remember when we took that tame sport called swords and learned to kill with it, as the old volumes said men once had?"

Third Age

After being released from the Bore, Be'lal became the High Lord Samon, and took control of Tear. He desired the sa'angreal Callandor, and set a trap for Rand al'Thor, since only the Dragon Reborn could take the sword. While Be'lal was easily beating Rand in a sword fight inside the Stone of Tear, he urged Rand to take up Callandor. Be'lal planned to kill Rand once he took Callandor and then claim the sa'angreal for himself. However Be'lal was killed with balefire by Moiraine before he was able to kill Rand, thus he cannot be reincarnated by the Dark One, as his thread is cut out of the Pattern.

Be'lal appears to be respected among the other Chosen; when they speak of deaths among themselves they place him before Aginor and Balthamel but put Rahvin before him. It is stated that Mesaana thought that his trap for al'Thor was going to work.