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The Wheel of Time is a series ofhigh fantasy novels by American authorRobert Jordan, which began withThe Eye of the World in 1990. Jordan wrote the first 11 novels of the series, and the prequel novelNew Spring (2004), before his death in 2007. The final three novels—The Gathering Storm (2009),Towers of Midnight (2010), andA Memory of Light (2013)—were co-written by American authorBrandon Sanderson.[1][2] The series features 2787 distinctly named characters.[3]
The Wheel of Time follows the charactersRand al'Thor,Mat Cauthon,Perrin Aybara,Egwene al'Vere andNynaeve al'Meara, teens from a remote village whose important destinies are recognized byMoiraine Damodred, a powerful member of theAes Sedai. In this world, the pattern of human existence is determined and maintained by the cosmic Wheel of Time, which is rotated by a magical force called theOne Power. Rand and his friends are among those, like the Aes Sedai, who possess the ability tochannel, the term for accessing and wielding the One Power. As the series progresses, new characters join the ongoing struggle against the malevolentDark One and his minions.
From 2021 to 2025, the first five novels were adapted into anAmazon Prime Video series,The Wheel of Time.[4]
Introduced inThe Eye of the World (1990), Rand al'Thor is asheep herder whose remote villageEmond's Field, in theTwo Rivers, is attacked by a horde of monstrousTrollocs. Rand and his friends flee withMoiraine Damodred, anAes Sedai of theBlue Ajah who believes that one of them is the prophesied Dragon Reborn, the reincarnation ofLews Therin Telamon, a hero of the Age of Legends. The group is pursued by agents of a malevolent figure known as theDark One, who seeks to seduce the Dragon to the Shadow, or destroy him. At theEye of the World, Rand is exposed to a well of pure, uncorruptedsaidin, the male half of theOne Power. He finds himself able to channel it, and faces off againstAginor, one of the Dark One's most powerful servants, theForsaken. Rand thus proves himself to be the Dragon Reborn, and is drawn into the millennia-long struggle against the forces of the Dark One.
TheAmyrlin SeatSiuan Sanche, leader of the Aes Sedai, confirms Rand is the Dragon Reborn inThe Great Hunt (1990), and Moiraine'sWarder,Lan Mandragoran trains Rand in swordplay. During the hunt for the stolenHorn of Valere, Rand is transported to a distorted world where he meets the mysteriousSelene, who helps him get back to the real world. Rand later defeats theHigh Lord Turak, leader of theSeanchan forces invadingFalme, in single combat. InThe Dragon Reborn (1991), Rand travels to theStone of Tear and claims the crystal swordCallandor, a powerfulsa'angreal, an artifact which amplifies the One Power. He learns that he is the son of Shaiel, anAiel Maiden of the Spear, andJanduin, chief of the Taardad Aiel, inThe Shadow Rising (1992). Selene reveals herself to be the Forsaken Lanfear, who was in love with Lews, and shares her plans to help him become all-powerful. InThe Fires of Heaven (1993), however, the news that Rand has slept with the Aiel warriorAviendha sends Lanfear into a murderous rage. She finally decides to kill Rand when he swears he will never love a woman sworn to the Shadow, but Moiraine intervenes. Rand's mother, Shaiel, is later revealed to beTigraine Mantear, daughter of the then-Queen ofAndor. InLord of Chaos (1994), Rand founds the Asha'man, male counterparts to the Aes Sedai who are trained at the Black Tower, a converted farmhouse nearCaemlyn. InA Crown of Swords (1996), Rand defeats the ForsakenSammael and takes the crown ofIllian.
InTowers of Midnight (2010), Rand conceives a controversial plan to shatter the remaining seals on the Dark One's prison in order to recreate a strong and uncorrupted one. Rand confronts the Dark One inA Memory of Light (2013), and they realize they must coexist because the Pattern requires them both.Logain Ablar breaks open the Dark One's prison, and Rand uses a unique weave ofsaidin,saidar and the Dark One'sTrue Power combined, to first capture the Dark One, and then recreate his prison without flaw.
Rand is portrayed byJosha Stradowski in theWheel of Time television adaptation.[5]
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a mischievous farm boy who, as a possible reincarnation of the Dragon, flees Emond's Field with Rand and his other friends inThe Eye of the World. Chased by emissaries of the Dark One, the group shelters in the cursed city ofShadar Logoth, from which Mat takes a ruby dagger. The weapon, corrupted by the malevolent entity that has taken hold of the city, begins to taint Mat, debilitating his body and infusing him with hostility and paranoia. Mat joins the hunt for the stolen Horn of Valere inThe Great Hunt, and eventually blows it to summon a group of legendary heroes from the dead to defeat the Seanchan forces invading Falme. Near death inThe Dragon Reborn, Mat is freed from the taint of the dagger by the Aes Sedai at theWhite Tower inTar Valon. InThe Shadow Rising, the snakelikeAelfinn foretell that Mat will marry "theDaughter of the Nine Moons", and the foxlikeEelfinn grant him memories of his past lives before hanging him from the Tree of Life, leaving his neck forever scarred. He later foundsShen an Calhar, the Band of the Red Hand, and leads as its Marshal General. Mat escapes from Seanchan-occupied city ofEbou Dar inWinter's Heart (2000), kidnapping theHigh Lady Tuon, heir to the SeanchanCrystal Throne, when he learns she is known as the Daughter of the Nine Moons. He courts her inCrossroads of Twilight (2003) and they marry inKnife of Dreams (2005), with Mat gaining the title "Prince of the Ravens".
Mat is portrayed byBarney Harris in season one of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[5] and byDónal Finn in seasons two and three.[6][7]
Perrin Aybara, ablacksmith and woodworker in Emond's Field, is also possibly the Dragon Reborn, and leaves the village with his friends and Moiraine Damodred inThe Eye of the World. Perrin andEgwene al'Vere are separated from the group as they flee the cursed city of Shadar Logoth, and meet the trackerElyas Machera. Elyas informs Perrin that he is, like Elyas, awolfbrother: a man able to communicate telepathically with wolves. Possessing golden, wolf-like eyes, wolfbrothers have heightened senses, strength and speed, and tend toward aggressive, animalistic behavior in battle. They also can navigateTel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams.
Perrin is portrayed by Marcus Rutherford in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[5]
Egwene al'Vere is the daughter of the mayor of Emond's Field, and romantically involved with Rand al'Thor inThe Eye of the World. The Aes Sedai Moiraine Damodred recognizes in Egwene the "spark" of one who is able to channel the One Power, and Egwene joins the group fleeing the village to escape theShadowspawn who are hunting the Dragon Reborn. She joins the White Tower of the Aes Sedai as a novice inThe Great Hunt. She andNynaeve al'Meara, her friend from Emond's Field and a fellow novice, hear news that Rand is in trouble in Falme. They sneak out of the White Tower, joined by noviceElayne Trakand and their friendMin Farshaw. In Falme, they are betrayed byLiandrin Guirale, an Aes Sedai of theRed Ajah, and handed over to the SeanchanHigh Lady Suroth to be enslaved. Nynaeve and Elayne escape, but Egwene is collared with ana'dam, a device used by the Seanchan to control channelers. A captive Min is helpless to intervene in Egwene's subsequent torture, but helps Nynaeve and Elayne rescue her.
Egwene is portrayed byMadeleine Madden in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[5]
InThe Eye of the World, Nynaeve al'Meara is the Wisdom, or healer, of Emond's Field. In the aftermath of the Trolloc attack, she tracks her friends and joins them on their journey, learning along the way that she can channel the One Power as well. She and Egwene al'Vere become Aes Sedai novices inThe Great Hunt, but are lured away to Falme by the treacherous Liandrin Guirale. Nynaeve and fellow novice Elayne Trakand escape capture by the Seanchan, and eventually manage to rescue a captive Egwene. One of the most powerful channelers of her time, Nynaeve's skill with healing leads her to join theYellow Ajah of the Aes Sedai. She eventually discovers methods for healing those who have been severed from the One Power. She marries the Warder Lan Mandragoran, King of Malkier.
Nynaeve is portrayed byZoë Robins in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[5]
InThe Eye of the World, the arrival of Moiraine Damodred, an Aes Sedai of theBlue Ajah, to the remote village of Emond's Field precedes an attack by Trollocs. Moiraine warns that the servants of the Dark One are, as she is, seeking one of three young men from the village: Rand al'Thor, Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon. She and her companion, the Warder Lan Mandragoran, lead the trio and some others away to safety, but face danger along the way to the Aes Sedai's White Tower in Tar Valon.
Moiraine is portrayed byRosamund Pike in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[5]
al'Lan "Lan" Mandragoran is the Warder to Moiraine Damodred inThe Eye of the World. They lead a trio of young men, one of whom Moiraine suspects is the prophesied Dragon Reborn, away from their small village with a horde of Trollocs, serving the Dark One, in pursuit. The greatest swordsman of the Third Age, Lan is also the King of Malkier by birth, though that country was lost to the Shadow when he was a child.
Lan is portrayed byDaniel Henney in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[8]
Elayne Trakand is the daughter and heir ofMorgase Trakand, Queen of Andor, and Taringail Damodred. She is the sister ofGawyn Trakand, and the half-sister ofGalad Damodred through his father. InThe Eye of the World, Elayne meets Rand al'Thor in Caemlyn, the capital of Andor, when he falls off a wall into the palace garden. Elayne becomes a novice of the Aes Sedai inThe Great Hunt, befriending Egwene al'Vere and Nynaeve al'Meara. They travel to Falme believing Rand needs their help, but it is a trap that ends with Egwene's capture and enslavement by the Seanchan High Lady Suroth. Elayne and Nynaeve manage to rescue her, with the help of Min Farshaw. A powerful channeler, Elayne becomes an Aes Sedai of theGreen Ajah, and rediscovers the lost talent of creatingter'angreal, artifacts which amplify the One Power in specific ways.
Elayne is portrayed by Ceara Coveney in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[9] first appearing in the 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".[10]
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is aclairvoyant whom Rand meets inThe Eye of the World. She has the unusual ability to seevisions andauras around people that predict future events in some way, though they are often subject to interpretation. Aware of Min's talents, which are unconnected to the One Power, Moiraine summons her to the White Tower of the Aes Sedai inThe Great Hunt, where she meets Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand.
Min is portrayed byKae Alexander in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[11] first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Dark Along the Ways".[12]
Aviendha is an Aiel Maiden of the Spear who first appears inThe Dragon Reborn. She and her party meet Egwene al'Vere, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara on their way to the Stone of Tear to find Rand al'Thor. Later in the series she bonded Rand as her Warder after she, Elayne, and Min agreed to love Rand together and respect one another. In the last battle she defeats Hessalam (formerly known as Graendal) and is one of only four people, who are fully aware, that Rand al'Thor did not die during the last battle.
Aviendha is portrayed byAyoola Smart in theWheel of Time television adaptation, first appearing in the 2023 episode "Damane".[13] In the series, Perrin Aybara frees her from a cage she has been placed in by theWhitecloaks, but she proves herself more than capable of defending herself when she singlehandedly defeats a group of them unarmed.[14]
Thomdril "Thom" Merrilin is a travelinggleeman and adventurer, and formerbard to Queen Morgase of Andor. InThe Eye of the World, he is in the remote village of Emond's Field when it is attacked by a horde of Trollocs. He joins a group of young villagers who flee under the guidance of the Aes Sedai Moiraine Damodred and her Warder, Lan Mandragoran. Thom is presumed killed when he helps Rand al'Thor and Mat Cauthon escape by fighting aFade, or Myrddraal, the deadly, eyeless creatures who lead the pursuing Trollocs. Thom is proven to be alive after all when he is reunited with Rand inThe Great Hunt, and he helps Mat foil a plot to assassinate Elayne Trakand inThe Dragon Reborn.
Thom is portrayed byAlexandre Willaume in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[15] first appearing in the 2021 episode "A Place of Safety".[16][17]
Logain Ablar is a powerful male channeler who believes himself to be the Dragon Reborn, but is deemed a False Dragon by the Aes Sedai and gentled, or cut off from the One Power. He is later healed by Nynaeve al'Meara, and becomes a sworn ally to Rand al'Thor.
Logain is portrayed byÁlvaro Morte in seasons one and two of theWheel of Time television adaptation,[15] first appearing in the 2021 episode "A Place of Safety".[18]
Aginor is one of the most devious Forsaken, powerful channelers who became servants of the Dark One during the Second Age, or the Age of Legends. He created the Dark One's army of Shadowspawn, including Myrddraal, Trollocs,Draghkar andgholam. Originally an amoral biologist, Aginor joined the Shadow so he could continue his forbidden genetic experiments. The Forsaken are ultimately imprisoned with the Dark One for millennia.[19][20] Three thousand years later near the end of the Third Age, Aginor and the ForsakenBalthamel confront Rand and his companions inThe Eye of the World.[21] They have escaped their imprisonment, but the ordeal has left Aginor horribly disfigured, appearing impossibly ancient. He attempts to destroy Rand, but draws too much of the One Power and incinerates himself.[22] Aginor is reincarnated as Osan'gar by the Dark One inLord of Chaos.[23]
Asmodean is a Forsaken, originally a composer and musician who joined the Shadow to achieve immortality and thereby gain the fame and recognition which previously eluded him. As one of the Forsaken, he actively punished his former musical rivals by maiming and rendering them unable to practice their art. InThe Shadow Rising, Asmodean is enlisted by the Forsaken Lanfear to train Rand al'Thor in the use of the One Power, if she can convince Rand to accept. Asmodean pursues his own agenda, attempting to gain control of one of two powerfulsa'angreal called theChoedan Kal. Warned by Lanfear, Rand thwarts his plan, and manages to sever Asmodean's connection with the Dark One. Asmodean, shielded by Lanfear from using his full power, commits to training Rand. He accompanies Rand on his travels and trains him diligently inThe Fires of Heaven, but is killed by an unknown assailant just as he has resigned himself to siding with Rand against the Dark One.[20]
Balthamel is a former historian who became one of the Forsaken for the promise of immortality. He ran an extensive spy network for the Dark One, and oversaw camps where humans were used to feed the carnivorous Trollocs.[20] Balthamel and the Forsaken Aginor confront Rand and his companions inThe Eye of the World.[21] They have escaped their imprisonment, but the ordeal has left Balthamel horribly disfigured, with rotting skin and no longer able to speak. He burnsSomeshta, the Green Man, nearly to death, but Someshta uses the last of his life force to consume Balthamel with fungi and invasive plant life.[22] Balthamel is reincarnated as Aran'gar, in a female body, by the Dark One inLord of Chaos.[23]
Zarine "Faile" Bashere is the daughter ofDavram Bashere, one of the five "Great Captains", and a princess in line for the throne of Saldea. Introduced inThe Dragon Reborn, she is on the hunt for the Horn of Valere when she meets Perrin Aybara on his long journey to Tear, and joins him in his quest. She becomes a key part of the core group that travels with Perrin, like Loial andGaul, in the novels. Faile and Perrin fall in love, and marry inThe Shadow Rising.Screen Rant calls Faile "a key figure in the books' political landscape."[24]
Faile is portrayed by Isabella Bucceri in season three of theWheel of Time television adaptation,[25] first appearing in the 2025 episode "Seeds of Shadow".[26]
Be'lal is one of the Forsaken, formerly a lawyer and close friend of Lews Therin Telamon who with him rediscovered the art of swordplay in battle. InThe Dragon Reborn, Be'lal has escaped imprisonment and taken the identity High Lord Samon of Tear. He lures Rand al'Thor to the Stone of Tear, knowing that as the Dragon Reborn only Rand can retrieve the powerful swordCallandor. Rand claims it, and Be'lal battles him with his superior swordsmanship to takeCallandor for himself. Moirane Damodred intervenes, destroying Be'lal withbalefire.[20]
Dain Bornhald is a high-ranking officer of theChildren of the Light, and the son ofGeofram Bornhald. His father is killed by the Seanchan while fighting alongside Perrin Aybara against them, but Dain comes to believe that Perrin is responsible, and seeks revenge. He leads a legion of Whitecloaks to occupy the Two Rivers, purportedly to root out Darkfriends. Perrin and his friends arrive to drive them out, but the two forces are forced to work together against a Trolloc invasion.[27]
Dain is portrayed by Jay Duffy in seasons two and three of theWheel of Time television adaptation,[28] first appearing in the 2023 episode "Damane".[13][14] In the series, Dain witnesses Perrin kill his father during the Battle of Falme, and swears vengeance.[27]
Anvaere Damodred is a noblewoman inCairhien and the sister of Moiraine Damodred. She is mentioned briefly in the prequel novelNew Spring (2004).
An expanded version of the character is portrayed byLindsay Duncan in season two theWheel of Time television adaptation, first appearing in the 2023 episode "What Might Be".[29] Rand al'Thor and Selene infiltrate a society party, where Anvaere gives them inside information about other guests, and the queen of Cairhien herself.[29] Moiraine appears on Anvaere's doorstep in "Daughter of the Night", after being away for many years, but is more focused on her need to find Rand in the city than with reconnecting with her sister. Though Moiraine is the elder sibling, thanks to the One Power she appears much younger than Anvaere, who is quick to remind Moiraine that she has weathered much adversity since last they met. And as the local spymaster, Anvaere is able to lead Moiraine to Rand in time for her to help him escape the Forsaken Lanfear.[30][31] Moiraine and Rand take refuge with Anvaere and her sonBarthanes Damodred in "Damane". A frank conversation with Anvaere prompts Moiraine to change plans and allow Rand to confront Lanfear, rather than keep running.[32] In "Eyes Without Pity", Anvaere lashes out at Moiraine when she rebuffs Barthanes's earnest efforts to reconnect with his aunt.[33] Later, Moiraine gives encouragement to Barthanes, who will soon be king thanks to his engagement to the queen of Cairhien.[34][35] In "Daes Dae'mar", Anvaere eavesdrops on a private conversation between Barthanes and the Aes SedaiLiandrin Guirale, revealing they are secretlyDarkfriends. Their master, the ForsakenIshamael, wishes Barthanes to murder the troublesome Moiraine, and Anvaere herself if necessary to keep their secret. Barthanes acts on his instructions to kill Moiraine, but is deceived and finds himself locked in a cell by his disgusted mother. Though he protests that his allegiance to the Dark One has made their fortune, Anvaere has already reported his crime to the authorities and sealed his fate.[36][37]
Barthanes Damodred is the High Seat of House Damodred and cousin to the former king of Carhien. InThe Great Hunt, he invites Rand al'Thor to a party to gauge Rand's loyalties. Barthanes is secretly a Darkfriend, and passes a message from the duplicitousPadan Fain luring Rand to Falme. Barthanes is subsequently murdered by an agent of the Dark One.[13]
A version of the character is portrayed byWill Tudor in season two of theWheel of Time television adaptation, first appearing in the 2023 episode "Damane".[13] In the series, Barthanes is the nephew of Moiraine Damodred, the son of her sister Anvaere, and is engaged to be married to Galldrain, the queen of Cairhien.[32] A visiting Moiraine, long absent from the family and distracted by her Aes Sedai business, initially rebuffs Barthanes's efforts to reconnect in "Eyes Without Pity", but later has kind words for him.[34][35] In "Daes Dae'mar", Barthanes meets with the Aes Sedai Liandrin Guirale, revealing they are secretly Darkfriends. Their master Ishamael wants Barthanes to kill the troublesome Moiraine, and his mother if necessary to keep the secret, but they are overheard by Anvaere. Barthanes acts on his instructions to kill Moiraine, but is deceived and finds himself locked in a cell by his disgusted mother. Though he protests that his allegiance to the Dark One has made their fortune, Anvaere has already reported his crime to the authorities and sealed his fate.[36][37]
Galadedrid "Galad" Damodred is the half-brother of Elayne and Gawyn Trakand through his father, Taringail Damodred, and the half-brother of Rand al'Thor through his mother, Tigraine Mantear. InThe Eye of the World, Galad and his siblings travel to Tar Valon, where he and Gawyn train as Warders while Elayne becomes one of the Aes Sedai. ByThe Fires of Heaven, Galad has joined the Children of the Light, also known as the Whitecloaks, and rises quickly in their ranks. InKnife of Dreams, he learns from Dain Bornhald thatEamon Valda, Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, has raped and presumably murdered Galad's stepmother, Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor. Galad challenges Eamon to "Trial Under the Light", atrial by combat duel to the death. Galad defeats Eamon, and becomes Lord Captain Commander. His belief that the Whitecloaks should join forces with the Aes Sedai, whom the Children of the Light believe serve the Dark One, creates a schism in the order. Galad is opposed and betrayed byRhadam Asunawa, High Inquisitor and leader of the Hand of the Light, a faction within the Children of the Light who use brutal interrogation methods to get confessions from suspected Darkfriends. Rhadam's fanaticism ultimately proves too much even for his followers, and he is executed as the Whitecloaks swear fealty to Galad.
The character, called Galad Trakand, is portrayed byCallum Kerr in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[38][39] first appearing in the 2025 episode "A Question of Crimson".[40]
The Dark One is a malevolent entity who, though imprisoned for millennia since the Wheel of Time was forged, plots to destroy it and remake the universe in his image. He employs a network of minions, most seduced by promises of power and immortality, to serve him toward this goal. The most notable of these are the Forsaken, powerful channelers imprisoned with him in the Second Age who begin to escape and reenter the world at the end of the Third Age.[21][41]
In theWheel of Time television adaptation, the Dark One is depicted as a charred figure with flames in his mouth and eyes in the season one episode "Shadow's Waiting". He seemingly appears to Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara and Egwene al'Vere in their dreams, proving that despite being imprisoned he is able to reach out into the world.[21][42] In the books, however, the charred figure from the characters' dreams is later revealed to be the Forsaken Ishamael.[43]
Demandred is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, having turned to the Shadow due to his jealousy of Lews Therin Telamon's superiority. He served as the Dark One's top military general during Age of Legends.[20] In the series, Demandred and his scheming are spoken of repeatedly, though the character appears only briefly until the final novel,A Memory of Light. He leads the forces of the Shadow in the Last Battle. The Aes Sedai Warder Lan Mandragoran attacks Demandred, killing him in single combat by letting Demandred stab him, then decapitating the Forsaken while his blade is thus engaged.[44]
Padan Fain is a traveling merchant who comes to the remote village of Emond's Field inThe Eye of the World, just as it is attacked by a horde of fearsome Trollocs. Several local residents, whom the Trollocs were seeking, flee with the Aes Sedai Moiraine Damodred. Fain is a Darkfriend, a servant of the Dark One given otherworldly powers by the ForsakenBa'alzamon so he may track Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara, one of whom is believed to be the prophesied Dragon Reborn. The Dark One who seeks to seduce the Dragon to the Shadow, or destroy him. Having led the Trollocs to the village but failing in his mission, Fain is forced to join in the continuing pursuit by the Fades, or Myrddraal, the deadly, eyeless creatures who command the Trollocs.
Fain sees a chance to escape the Myrddraal when Rand's group evades capture by entering the cursed city ofShadar Logoth, where the Fades and Trollocs will not go. Once known asAridhol, the city has been overtaken by a malevolent entity known asMashadar. The spiritMordeth, the former councilor of Aridhol who is now the avatar of Mashadar, lures Rand, Mat and Perrin to a cursed trove of treasure, from which Mat secretly takes a dagger. They leave the city, and the dagger begins to corrupt Mat's mind and body. Before Fain can follow, Mordeth recognizes in him a way to escape the city himself. But since the Dark One has touched and changed Fain's soul, Mordeth can only merge with Fain, not overtake him completely. Fain escapes Aes Sedai captivity inThe Great Hunt, stealing both Mat's dagger and the powerful Horn of Valere in the process.
Fain is portrayed by Johann Myers in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[15]
Graendal is one of the Forsaken, a former psychologist obsessed with beauty and control. She is notable for her mastery of Compulsion, the use of the One Power to control other's minds.[20][45] In the series, her plots withSammael, Demandred and Aran'gar come to nothing, and she is punished with death for her failure to kill Perrin Aybara after being given the tools to do so byMoridin.[20]
Liandrin Guirale is an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah. InThe Great Hunt, she lures Aes Sedai novices Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to Falme by telling them their friend Rand al'Thor is in trouble. Once there, they are betrayed by Liandrin, secretly a Darkfriend and member of theBlack Ajah, and handed over to the Seanchan High Lady Suroth to be enslaved.
Liandrin is portrayed byKate Fleetwood in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[11] first appearing in the 2021 episode "A Place of Safety".[18][46] She is depicted as harsh and dedicated to the Red Ajah goal of gentling all male channelers, but also a potentially helpful mentor to Nynaeve.[47] She lures Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne out of the White Tower in "Daughter of the Night", and takes them captive.[30][31] In "Damane", she hands them over to Suroth to be enslaved.[14][32]
Collider described Liandrin as "one of those characters that fans love to hate."[47]
Ihvon is one of the two Warders who serveAlanna Mosvani, an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. He saves Perrin Aybara from a Myrddraal inThe Shadow Rising.
Ihvon is portrayed by Emmanuel Imani in seasons one and two,[48] and by Anthony Kaye in season three, in theWheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Dragon Reborn". In the series, Ihvon, Alanna and her second Warder,Maksim, are depicted to be in apolyamorous relationship.[49][50] Ihvon is killed by Liandrin when the Black Ajah flee the White Tower in "To Race the Shadow".[51]
Ishamael is the most powerful of the Forsaken, and the only man known to be equal in power to Lews Therin Telamon and his reincarnation, Rand al'Thor. Originally named Elan Morin Tedronai, he joined the Shadow because he determined it was inevitable the Dark One would eventually triumph. He was bound to the Dark One's prison but, unlike the other Forsaken, remained able to walk the world periodically. When Lews is driven mad and murders his own family, Ishamael visits him and heals his mind so he will realize what he has done. He is frustrated when Lews commits suicide, cheating Ishamael of the opportunity to punish him further.[20][52] Over the millennia, Ishamael emerged to manipulate human events and stoke conflicts, laying the groundwork for the Dark One's rise.[52][53] Using the name Ba'alzamon, Ishamael invades the dreams of Rand, Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon inThe Eye of the World.[53] Rand is finally confronted by Ba'alzamon, who he believes is the Dark One himself, and successfully rebuffs him by channeling the One Power for the first time.[22] InThe Great Hunt, Ishamael as Ba'alzamon presides over a clandestine meeting which includes Forsaken, various Darkfriends and two Aes Sedai.[54] Rand battles Ba'alzamon at Falme, wounding the Forsaken grieviously by allowing himself to be stabbed first.[52][55] Ba'alzamon attacks Rand again inThe Dragon Reborn, but Rand kills him using the powerful crystal swordCallandor.[52][56] Ishamael is later reincarnated by the Dark One asMoridin.[57]
Ishamael is portrayed byFares Fares in theWheel of Time television adaptation,[20] first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Eye of the World", in which Rand and Moiraine Damodred mistake him for the Dark One.[21][58][59] Rand appears to neutralize him, but only after Ishamael cuts Moiraine off from the One Power.[58][59] In season two, Ishamael masterminds the plot to seduce Rand to the Shadow or destroy him.[19] In "Daughter of the Night", he is revealed to have previously released the dangerous Forsaken Lanfear, who has already sought out Rand, the reincarnation of her ancient lover Lews.[19] He employs the Aes Sedai Liandrin Guirale as his agent, and coerces Min Farshaw to lead Mat to Falme, where he is destined to kill Rand.[31][57] Ishamael has also placed himself as a powerful advisor to the invading Seanchan, ingratiating himself to High Lord Turak, and outright controlling High Lady Suroth, who knows his true nature and fears him.[14][32] In "What Was Meant to Be", Ishamael asks Rand to join him and the Shadow, or be killed. Rand refuses, and Ishamael uses illusion to deceive Mat into stabbing Rand with a cursed dagger. With help from his friends, Rand is able to rise up and slay Ishamael using a sword infused with the One Power.[58][60][61]
Sean T. Collins ofVulture described the character as "Handsome, worldly, sophisticated ... and he's one of the most innovative big bads I've seen on genre television since the psychotically chipperLalo Salamanca onBetter Call Saul.[31]
Lanfear is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, and the most powerful female channeler among them. Originally known as Mierin Eronaile, she was in a romantic relationship with the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, but was eventually spurned by him for her unbridled ambition.[20][62] She was imprisoned with the Dark One and the other Forsaken, but eventually escapes at the end of the Third Age and seeks out Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews.[62]
Introduced inThe Great Hunt as the mysterious Selene, she stages her rescue by Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews, from an attack by strange beasts called grolm in a distorted, alternate world. She then leads Rand and his party back to a Portal Stone that he uses to return to the real world. Lanfear is all powerful inTel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and visits Rand and Mat Cauthon there as Selene inThe Dragon Reborn. She is surprised to see Perrin Aybara in the dream realm, but as a wolfbrother he has power there as well, and eventually recognizes her as Lanfear. She impersonates Else Grinwell and appears to Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to manipulate their investigation into the Black Ajah. Lanfear appears to Rand as Selene inThe Shadow Rising, and reveals her identity as one of the Forsaken.
Lanfear is portrayed byNatasha O'Keeffe in seasons two and three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[9][20] first appearing in the 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".[10] Initially posing as innkeeper Selene, Lanfear begins a romantic relationship with Rand, hoping to bind his loyalty and seduce him to the Shadow.[19][20][58]
Loial is anOgier who meets Rand al'Thor in Tar Valon inThe Eye of the World, and becomes one of his most loyal and trusted friends. The Ogier are a hirsute, wide-featured and immensely tall and strong species of humanoid known for their proficiency in woodwork and masonry. Though physically intimidating, they are peaceful, intelligent and interested in historical and genealogical study. The Ogier also possess a unique ability called treesinging, whereby they stimulate the growth and healing of trees and plants by singing to them.[46]
Loial is portrayed byHammed Animashaun in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[15] first appearing in the 2021 episode "Blood Calls Blood".[46][63]
Elyas Machera is a tracker andwolfbrother, a man able to communicate telepathically with wolves. InThe Eye of the World, he meets Perrin Aybara and Egwene al'Vere as they flee the cursed city of Shadar Logoth, and reveals to Perrin that he is also a wolfbrother. He later joins up with Perrin's army in Ghealdan, and serves as one of Perrin's closest advisors.[27]
Elyas is portrayed byGary Beadle in season two of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[27] first appearing in the 2023 episode "A Taste of Solitude".[64]
Maksim is one of two Warders who serve Alanna Mosvani, an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah, in theWheel of Time television series adaptation.[49][50] The character is a renamed version of Owein, Alanna's second Warder who is killed by Whitecloaks inThe Shadow Rising.
Maksim is portrayed by Taylor Napier in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[48] first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Dragon Reborn". In the series, Maksim, Alanna and her second Warder, Ihvon, are depicted to be in a polyamorous relationship.[49][50]
Verin Mathwin is an Aes Sedai of theBrown Ajah, introduced inThe Great Hunt as part of the Amyrlin Seat Siuan Sanche's escort toFal Dara.
Verin is portrayed byMeera Syal in seasons two and three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[9] first appearing in the 2023 episode "A Taste of Solitude".[65]
Mesaana is one of the Forsaken, known for her widespread attempts to indoctrinate children into serving the Dark One. In the Third Age, she infiltrates the Aes Sedai White Tower, manipulating internal conflicts and monitoring the Amyrlin SeatElaida a'Roihan. Mesaana also controlsAlviarin Freidhen of theWhite Ajah, who serves the Amyrlin as Keeper of the Chronicles and secretly leads the Black Ajah Supreme Council within the White Tower.[20] InTowers of Midnight, Egwene al'Vere lures Mesaana out of hiding and intoTel'aran'rhiod, where Egwene is able to break Mesaana's mind.[66]
Moghedien is one of the Forsaken, known as a master schemer. She secretly joined the Shadow and operated an extensive spy network for the Dark One from within Lews Therin Telamon's own ranks. Originally named Lillen Moiral, she took the name Moghedien from a reclusive but deadly spider from the Second Age.[19][20] Her mastery ofTel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, rivals Lanfear's.[58] InThe Shadow Rising, a disguised Moghedien monitors Liandrin Guirale and the Black Ajah in Tanchico, and then uses Compulsion to subtly interrogate Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara, who are investigating the Black Ajah. Moghedien battles Nynaeve and, finding that they are equally matched, slips away.[67] Moghedien punishes Liandrin for insubordination by cutting her off from the One Power inThe Fires of Heaven.[68] She has recognizedBirgitte Silverbow as the reincarnation of her enemy Teadra from the Age of Legends, and vows to finally get her revenge.[69] Moghedien traps and badly injures Nynaeve and Birgitte inTel'aran'rhiod, but is injured herself.[68] In a subsequent encounter, Nynaeve subdues an overconfident Moghedien with ana'dam. Nynaeve siphons Moghedien's powers to help Rand al'Thor defeat the ForsakenRahvin with balefire.[20][70] Nynaeve and Elayne secretly keep Moghedien as their prisoner inLord of Chaos. Though they should hand her over to the Aes Sedai for trial and execution, they believe the valuable knowledge they are getting from her about ancient weaves is worth the delay.[20][23] Aran'gar, the reincarnation of Balthamel, later frees her.
Moghedien is portrayed byLaia Costa in seasons two and three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the 2023 episode "What Was Meant to Be".[71] After Ishamael's defeat by Rand al'Thor, Lanfear plans to be rid of the other Forsaken by dropping the Seals they are bound to into the ocean. Lanfear is shocked to come face to face with Moghedien, who reveals that Ishamael has anticipated Lanfear's betrayal, and freed her and the remaining Forsaken.[58][60][61] In "To Race the Shadow", Moghedien is shown to possess the unique ability to create soullessGray Men, drab assassins with the ability to pass completely unnoticed.[51]
Alanna Mosvani is an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah, introduced inThe Great Hunt as part of the Amyrlin Seat Siuan Sanche's escort to Fal Dara.[41][72] She has two Warders, Ihvon and Owein.
Alanna is portrayed byPriyanka Bose in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[48] first appearing in the 2021 episode "A Place of Safety".[46] In the series, Alanna, Ihvon and her second Warder Maksim (a renamed version of Owein) are depicted to be in a polyamorous relationship.[49][50]
Kerene Nagashi is an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah who appears in the prequel novelNew Spring, in which she is killed searching for the Dragon Reborn before the events ofThe Eye of the World.[41][72]
Kerene is portrayed byClare Perkins in season one of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[11] first appearing in the 2021 episode "A Place of Safety".[18]
Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag,High Lady Tuon, is Daughter of the Nine Moons and heir to the Seanchan Crystal Throne. InWinter's Heart, she is caught up in Mat Cauthon's escape from the city of Ebou Dar. Mat takes the opportunity to abduct her, as the Aelfinn seers have foretold that he will marry her. He courts her inCrossroads of Twilight, and they marry inKnife of Dreams. Tuon learns of the assassination of her mother, Seanchan EmpressRadhanan Paendrag, and returns to Ebou Dar and enslaves the treacherous High Lady Suroth, who plotted Tuon's murder to secure the throne for herself. Tuon declares herself Empress Fortuona of the Seanchan.
Rahvin is one of the Forsaken, who takes up the alias Lord Gaebril in Andor. InThe Dragon Reborn, he has succeeded Elaida a'Roihan as chief advisor to Queen Morgase Trakand. Mat Cauthon overhears him plotting to assassinate Morgase's daughter and heir, Elayne Trakand, and Mat's friends, Egwene al'Vere and Nynaeve al'Meara. Unable to tell Morgase, Mat decides to thwart the attempt himself.[56] InThe Fires of Heaven, Rahvin is Morgase's consort, and uses Compulsion to manipulate her and rule Andor through her.[20][73] Kept in a confused and oblivious state by Rahvin, Morgase eventually learns that he has alienated her allies and surrounded himself with people loyal to him, and she escapes Caemlyn.[74] She is later rumored to be dead, prompting Rand al'Thor to seek revenge.[75] Rahvin lures Rand and his friends into a trap, and kills Mat, the Aiel Maiden of the Spear Aviendha and the Forsaken Asmodean with lightning. An enraged Rand confronts Rahvin directly.[76] They are evenly matched, and their battle takes them into the World of Dreams. Having subdued the Forsaken Moghedien with ana'dam, Nynaeve siphons Moghedien's powers to attack Rahvin, giving Rand a chance to destroy Rahvin with balefire. The deaths of Mat, Aviendha and Asmodean are subsequently undone.[70]
Lord Gaebril is portrayed byNuno Lopes in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[38][39] first appearing in the 2025 episode "A Question of Crimson". Gaebril is the consort of Queen Morgase of Andor.[40] He is revealed to be Rahvin, a Forsaken with a mastery of Compulsion, in "Seeds of Shadow".[26]
Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan is an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah. InThe Eye of the World, she is the advisor to Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor. Elaida later manages to depose and still Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, and take her place as leader of the White Tower. Elaida's rule is troubled, as a schism forms among the Aes Sedai. She is also unknowingly being manipulated by Alviarin Freidhen of the White Ajah, who secretly leads the Black Ajah Supreme Council within the White Tower. She is ultimately captured by the Seanchan, and enslaved as adamane.
Elaida is portrayed byShohreh Aghdashloo in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[77][78] first appearing in the 2025 episode "A Question of Crimson".[40]
Sammael is one of the Forsaken, a top military general in the Age of Legends who turned to the Shadow out of bitterness after Lews Therin Telamon was given supreme command of the forces of the Light.[20] InThe Dragon Reborn, Rand and his allies learn that Sammael rules Illian as Lord Brend.[20] InThe Shadow Rising, Sammael sends a force of Fades and Trollocs to attack Rand at the Stone of Tear, but the ForsakenSemirhage sends her own Shadowspawn to oppose Sammael's. Rand uses the crystal swordCallandor to destroy both forces with lightning.[79] InA Crown of Swords, Rand battles Sammael in the cursed city of Shadar Logoth, where the Forsaken is destroyed by the malevolent entity Mashadar.[80]
Sammael is portrayed by Cameron Jack in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the 2025 episode "Seeds of Shadow".[26]
Siuan Sanche is theAmyrlin Seat, the leader of theAes Sedai, and formerly a member of the Blue Ajah.[41] She is deposed and stilled, but later healed by Nynaeve al'Meara. Siuan becomes an advisor and mentor to Egwene al'Vere when she rises to the Amyrlin Seat.
Siuan is portrayed bySophie Okonedo in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[11] first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Flame of Tar Valon".[81][82]
Semirhage is one of the Forsaken, a celebrated healer during the Age of Legends who also enjoyed inflicting sadistic torture. Given the choice of stopping this behavior or being severed from the One Power, she chose instead to join the Shadow.[19][45] In the series, Rand al'Thor loses a hand to a fireball from Semirhage, who at one point manages to subdue him with a malea'dam. Rand eventually kills her with balefire.[20]
Leane Sharif is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, and later the Green Ajah, who serves as Keeper of the Chronicles under the Amyrlin Seat Siuan Sanche.[41] She is deposed and stilled, but later healed by Nynaeve al'Meara.
Leane is portrayed byJennifer Cheon Garcia in theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[11] first appearing in the 2021 episode "The Flame of Tar Valon".[82]
Suroth Sabelle Meldarath, High Lady Suroth, is a Seanchan noblewoman and Darkfriend to whom Liandrin Guirale delivers the Aes Sedai novices Elayne Trakand, Egwene al'Vere, and Nynaeve al'Meara to be collared and trained asdamane inThe Great Hunt. After the assassination of Seanchan Empress Radhanan Paendrag, Suroth plots the murder of her daughter, Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag, to secure the throne for herself inKnife of Dreams. Tuon escapes death and instead enslaves the treacherous Suroth before declaring herself Empress Fortuona of the Seanchan.
High Lady Suroth is portrayed byKarima McAdams in season two of theWheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".[29]
In thebackstory of the series, Lews Therin Telamon is a hero of the Age of Legends known as the Dragon, the most powerful channeler of his time. As the leader of the Aes Sedai, which at that time was made up of both men and women, Lews conceived a risky plan to reseal the prison of the Dark One, whose influence had begun to seep out into the world. Lews and a host of 99 male channelers were successful, but at the moment of victory, the Dark One was able to taintsaidin, the male half of the One Power, driving male channelers insane. Lews killed his friends and family, and then himself. Other male channelers devastated the world with earthquakes and tidal waves, an event called the Breaking of the World, before destroying themselves. The female Aes Sedai guided humanity out of this dark time, living in the shadow of a prophecy that the Dark One would break free from his prison and the Dragon would be reborn to fight him once more.[41][83][84]
Three thousand years later inThe Eye of the World, the Aes Sedai learn that the Dragon has been reborn, and investigate various candidates.[41][85] But the Forsaken, the newly-freed servants of the Dark One, are also looking for the Dragon Reborn.[19][20] He is revealed to be Rand al'Thor, and the Aes Sedai and the Forsaken each scheme to enlist him to their side of the coming conflict with the Dark One.[41][85]
Telamon is portrayed byAlexander Karim in theWheel of Time television adaptation,[86] appearing via flashback in the season one finale "The Eye of the World" (2021),[87] and the season two finale "What Was Meant to Be" (2023).[60]
Gawyn Trakand is the son of Morgase Trakand, Queen of Andor, and Taringail Damodred. He is the brother of Elayne Trakand, and the half-brother of Galad Damodred through his father. Gawyn becomes the Warder of Egwene al'Vere.
Gawyn is portrayed byLuke Fetherston in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[38][39] first appearing in the 2025 episode "A Question of Crimson".[40]
Morgase Trakand is the Queen of Andor, and the mother of Elayne and Gawyn Trakand by Taringail Damodred. She is introduced inThe Eye of the World, and inThe Great Hunt is furious to find that her daughter and heir Elayne Trakand has disappeared from the Aes Sedai school at Tar Valon. InThe Dragon Reborn, Lord Gaebril—secretly the Forsaken Rahvin in disguise—has succeeded Elaida a'Roihan as Morgase's chief advisor, and plots to assassinate Elayne.[56] InThe Fires of Heaven Rahvin is Morgase's consort and uses Compulsion to manipulate her and rule Andor through her.[20][73] Kept in a confused and oblivious state by Rahvin, Morgase eventually learns that he has alienated her allies and surrounded himself with people loyal to him, and she escapes Caemlyn.[74] She is later rumored to be dead.[75] After a series of subsequent captures and escapes, Morgase is reunited with her step-son Galad Damodred, and then with Elayne.
Morgase is portrayed byOlivia Williams in season three of theWheel of Time television series adaptation,[38][39] appearing in the 2025 episode "A Question of Crimson".[40]
Turak Aladon, High Lord Turak, is a Seanchan nobleman and royal commander of theHailene, the Seanchan force sent to theWestlands to explore and ultimately conquer it. He is defeated in personal combat by Rand al'Thor as the Seanchan forces invade Falme.
Turak is portrayed byDaniel Francis in season two theWheel of Time television adaptation,[88] first appearing in the 2023 episode "Damane".[13]
Eamon Valda is the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, and a blademaster. He schemes to have his predecessor, Pedron Niall, assassinated so that he may ascend to Lord Captain Commander. Valda next forces Queen Morgase of Andor to submit to his authority in writing, and then rapes her. Learning of these acts, Galad Damodred, Valda subordinate and Morgase's adopted son, challenges Valda to a Trial Under the Light, an ancient and sacred form of trial by combat. After a brutal duel, Galad is victorious, killing Valda and succeeding him as Lord Captain Commander.[27][89]
Valda is portrayed byAbdul Salis in theWheel of Time television adaptation,[27][90] first appearing in the 2021 episode "Shadow's Waiting".[91] He is "as sadistic as he is zealous", and enjoys torturing Aes Sedai as he pursues his goal to exterminate all of them. Possessing a hatred for Perrin Aybara, Valda interrogates Mat Cauthon's mother, Natti, for information on Perrin's whereabouts, torturing and killing her when he believes she can channel. Mat's younger sisters, Bode and Eldrin, are the real channelers, and subsequently burn Valda alive with the One Power.[27][89]
