Major Wheel of Time characters

This article summarizes the main characters in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of novels.

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.

Rand al'Thor

The adopted son of Tam al'Thor, 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. Rand and Nynaeve al' Meara have cleansed the Dark One's taint from the Source.

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 allied with the Seanchan, promising them plenty of damane among other things, and rescued her.

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.

He also was granted the memories of many talented military leaders throughout history, from before the Trolloc Wars until the end of the Hundred Years' War, especially those from the lost nation of Manetheren.

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.

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. Also, the "Kin" who were discovered in Ebou Dar, not only can channel but some have trained in the White Tower to be Aes Sedai, although for various reasons they did not complete their training. Kept extremely secret among the Seanchan is the knowledge that the sul'dam who control the leashed damane can also channel.

Moiraine Damodred

Moiraine is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah; her Warder was Lan Mandragoran. She located Rand and the other Two Rivers ta'veren, and brought them all over the world. She believes that Rand is the Dragon Reborn, and sought to shelter and protect him until the Last Battle.

Presumed dead after self-sacrificing herself to kill Lanfear, she has been revealed to be alive in the world of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn. She has been rescued by Thom Merrilin, Mat Cauthon and Noal Charin.

Nynaeve al'Meara

Now a healer of the Yellow Ajah, Nynaeve was a wilder (a woman who learned to channel without formal training) from the Two Rivers. She is extremely strong in the One Power, her potential equalling at least some of the Forsaken, namely Moghedien, with whom she has a particular enmity. Nynaeve helped Rand to cleanse the taint from saidin in Winter's Heart.

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. As of Book 12, Elaida has been captured in the Seanchan attack on Tar Valon and presumably made damane.

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 who she bonded as her new Warder in the Gathering Storm. Nynaeve al'Meara found a way to reverse the stilling but Siuan is not as strong in the power.

Lews Therin Telamon

Lews Therin is implied to be alive within Rand's mind and 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 and Nynaeve al' Meara 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).

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.

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. After the Seanchan attack on the White Tower in The Gathering Storm, she is raised Amyrlin by the loyalist Aes Sedai, reuniting the Tower and solidifying her authority.

Verin Mathwin

Verin is an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. She is considered to be one of the oldest Aes Sedai alive; likely over 200 years old. She is a regularly returning character seemingly helping the three Ta'veren, as well as collecting knowledge. It is revealed in "The Gathering Storm" That Verin during the course of her research into the Black Ajah was forced to join them and swear oaths to the dark one. She breaks those oaths in her last hour of life leading to the fall of the Black Ajah in the White Tower.

Cadsuane Melaidhrin

Cadsuane is an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. She has nearly black eyes and wears her iron gray hair in a bun with many gold ornaments. When she went into retirement, Cadsuane had a legendary status amongst the other Aes Sedai. She tries to advise Rand.

Other Allies

Aviendha

Aviendha, of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel, came over the Dragonwall in search of a prophesied 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. In Fires of Heaven, Aviendha sleeps with Rand after Travelling to Seanchan, into a blizzard, Rand saved her from freezing to death.

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 Uncrowned King of Malkier, a nation of proud and stalwart people who were overrun by the Blight. He now serves as Nynaeve al'Meara's husband and Warder.

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.

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.

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 second of Rand's lovers, and the only one he cannot bear to send away. She is very much a tomboy, and also finds great interest in scientific and metaphysical musings.

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. After receiving a letter from an Aes Sedai he sets off on his own journey.

Tuon

Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag is the daughter and heir of Seanchan Empress. She is also called the Daughter of Nine Moons, the woman the Aelfinn told Mat Cauthon he is going to marry.

Darkfriends, Shadowsworn and other adversaries

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.

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 have been placed in other bodies except for the ones taken with Balefire.

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 has his own agenda. By the end of the series, Taim has been promoted to Chosen/Forsaken, taking the name M'Hael.