Weave as it Will

(Information borrowed from the WoT Wiki and book glossaries)

The Dark One is the oldest and most powerful force of evil in all worlds, and although one might assume that he is the source of all evil, it is suggested that he intensifies the evil feelings of humans, as well as giving new motives for malignant and lowly acts. He was imprisoned by the Creator at the beginning of time, and has sought ever since to break free of his prison and smash the Wheel of Time and remake the world according to his image and purpose.

True Name

His true name is Shai'tan, but speaking that name is believed by most people to bring misfortune on the speaker, so there are many alternative names for him:

• Ba'alzamon
• Father of Lies
• Sightblinder
• Lord of the Grave
• Shepherd of the Night
• Heartsbane
• Soulsbane
• Heartfang
• Old Grim
• Grassburner
• Leafblighter
• Father of Storms

In addition, his own followers consider it blasphemy to speak his name directly, so they most commonly refer to him by more flattering epithets:

• Great Lord of the Dark
• Lord of the Grave

Nature

The Dark One is the "embodiment of paradox and chaos, destroyer of reason and logic, breaker of balance, the unmaker of order". It is he who caused the taint on saidin at the end of the War of Power, and he has promised power and immortality to all who follow him.

Known as 'the lord of the grave,' the Dark One has the power to avert death for those he chooses, though this ability is somewhat limited. Upon the death of the target, the Dark One has a rather short amount of time in which to act (this does not mean, however, that he has to bring back a soul collected in such a fashion right away). Death by balefire however is a permanent death. This is because balefire unravels part of the pattern, destroying the victim backwards in time (which the Dark One cannot step outside of). The extent of this is determined by the power of the balefire, which depends upon the channeler.

Shadowspawn

Darkfriends: Those who follow the Dark One and believe they will gain great power and rewards, and even immortality, when he is freed from his prison.

Trollocs: Trollocs were created by Aginor, one of the leading biologists of the Age of Legends, by crossbreeding human and animal stock. Trollocs are generally bipedal and humanoid, often with both human and animal features: human eyes but an eagle's beak, for instance, or a bear's paws and claws. They are the basic shock troops of the Shadow.

Trollocs are carnivores and are routinely fed captives taken during battles with humans, which are cooked in large cooking pots. If there are no prisoners then lower-ranking Darkfriends are sometimes fed to the Trollocs instead. It is often stated that they 'kill for the joy of killing'.

Unlike other creatures of the Shadow, Trollocs are social animals and form into clan-like bands, such as Dhai'mon (Demon), Ghar'ghael (Gargoyle) and Ahf'frait (Efreet). Only male Trollocs are allowed to participate in raiding parties. Females are cloistered and remain in the Trolloc camps.

Some trollocs are capable of rudimentary human speech, but usually they converse amongst themselves in their own guttural tongue. Trollocs also have a written script for their language, in the form of angular runes.

Myrddraal: Myrddraal are Trolloc offspring, but are throwbacks to human origin (throwbacks to the animal side of their genetic heritage never survive). They are tall and pale, muscular and serpent-quick, but they have no eyes, which does not impair their vision in the slightest. Myrddraal are most often seen leading groups ("fists") of Trollocs, and sometimes "link" with them to achieve even greater control. However, this comes at a cost - dealing a Myrddraal a killing blow will instantly kill any Trollocs linked to it, even though the Myrddraal itself will not die "until the setting sun".

Myrddraal wear black armor with overlapping scales, and black cloaks which do not stir in the wind. They are able to move between, or disappear into, shadows, and mirrors only reflect a misty image of them. Aginor, one of the Forsaken and creator of both Trollocs and (inadvertently) Myrddraal, theorized that they were "slightly out of phase with time and reality," but was unable to prove his thesis despite extensive, often fatal, testing. Their blood is acidic and will etch steel if not cleaned off. When killed they thrash around blindly for a time, often still holding their weapons, as if refusing to admit they are dead.

They wield swords made at Thakan'dar, the forges on the slopes of Shayol Ghul, which are imbued with the soul of a human. (These humans are usually Borderlanders captured during Trolloc raids.) A Myrddraal's sword causes injuries that are almost always fatal if Aes Sedai Healing is not administered. The swords, however, only have a limited lifetime. Myrddraal have the uncanny ability to instill stark terror in anyone they gaze upon: "The look of the Eyeless is fear." The only things Myrddraal are known to fear are running water, the city Shadar Logoth and the One Power. Myrddraal, along with Gray Men, are the only known creatures who do not dream. Even Trollocs have dreams.

Myrddraal are hated by the wolves more than any other shadowspawn. They are called the "Neverborn" by the wolves. A whole pack of wolves will willingly die trying to kill one Myrddraal.

Other names for Myrddraal are the Halfman, the Eyeless, Shadowrunner, Lurk, Fetch, Fade, and Neverborn.

Gray Men: Also known as the Soulless.

A small subset of Darkfriends (of both genders, despite the name) actually donate their souls to the Great Lord. While most gray men are men, some women have been "stupid enough even among darkfriends" to give up their soul. They become Gray Men, ordinary-looking folk who are, in fact, very difficult to notice, to the point of 'hiding in plain sight': to a person not specifically looking for one, a Gray Man carrying a knife is about as interesting as an old chair. Their ubiquity and unremarkability is their primary asset, as they are sent as assassins against sensitive marks; frequently they do the deed without anyone even realizing they were there. Like the Draghkar, however, they are only truly dangerous if overlooked. Unlike the Draghkar, the Gray Men are very easy for most people to overlook.

Darkhounds: Darkhounds are a race of Shadowspawn used by the Dark One. They are about the size of a small horse and look vaguely like a dog. Darkhounds typically run in packs of ten to twelve, though a pack may be as large as fifty hounds. The saliva of a darkhound is an acid that causes bruising and burns which spread quickly, and a few drops are enough to kill a person. Darkhounds are seemingly solid but if they are chopped into bits the parts liquefy, pool, and reform into the darkhound once again. The darkhound leaves no tracks on dirt, grass or snow; but if it steps on stone it leaves footprints. Balefire is the only reliable way to permanently kill one.

Darkhounds are created by an existing darkhound consuming the soul of a wolf. The wolves themselves refer to them as Shadowbrothers.

Gholam: The gholam is another creation of Aginor. Only six, three male and three female, were ever created, and only one is known to have survived the Breaking (preserved in a stasis box). The gholam are among the Shadow's most deadly creatures. Appearing human in form, gholam are extremely strong and they appear to be impervious to most forms of physical injury due to their lack of bones and blood as well as their elasticity. A gholam can slip through the tiniest of cracks due to its lack of bones. Because of their incredible strength, they are able to rip a door off its hinges with one hand. They must regularly consume blood to stay alive; while they prefer human blood, the blood of any living creature will do.

Finally, as their only purpose is to kill channelers, they were made completely immune to the One Power (this may have contributed to their rarity: should these creatures have turned against the Forsaken, they would have been difficult to destroy).

Draghkar: Draghkar are a flying creature of the Shadow, resembling a pale man with large eyes, red lips, and bat-like wings. Like the Sirens of Greek myth, they sing hypnotically to their prey to attract them within near proximity. The Draghkar then sucks its prey's soul out by administering the Kiss. What is left behind of the unfortunate prey is only a shell of its former self. It has been said that, once this process has begun, it is worse to be rescued from a Draghkar's kiss with a partial soul, than to be allowed to die.

Though dangerous when undetected, they are not especially difficult to defeat if one can avoid their song. Their fragile wings and lack of armour or other weapons make them susceptible to direct attack; as such, they are often employed as assassins, along with Grey Men, to eliminate enemies of the Shadow.

Dreadlords

The Dreadlords were the men and women able to channel the One Power that went to the Shadow during the Trolloc Wars. They acted as battle commanders, overlords of the Trolloc forces, above the Myrddraal in chain of command.

Even when victory appeared all but at hand, the Dreadlords never assumed the title of Chosen, for fear that when the true Chosen were freed from their prison in Shayol Ghul they would object to lesser channelers using the title.

The Forsaken

The Forsaken were the most powerful of the Dreadlords during the War of Power, lured by the Dark One's promise of immortality. Each of them were marked in a manner such that no Shadowspawn could disobey them. They were known to followers of the Shadow as 'Those Chosen To Rule The World Forever,' or simply the 'Chosen'. Among the Atha'an Shadar (Seanchan Darkfriends) they are known formally as Da'concion, or "the Chosen Ones". The Aiel call them the Shadowsouled.

Most records indicate the thirteen most powerful of the Chosen were caught in the sealing of the Bore, imprisoned for three thousand years in dreamless sleep. The fates of the remaining Forsaken are unknown, but they were presumably killed at the end of the War of Power.

A well known catechism that shows the reputation of the Forsaken: The Dark One and all of the Forsaken are sealed in Shayol Ghul, sealed away by the Creator at the moment of Creation. This is incorrect, of course, as the Forsaken were not even born until the Age of Legends, and it is unclear if there even was an original "moment of Creation".

History

Once there were many Forsaken, at least thirty of high rank, but they schemed against each other as often as against the forces of the Light. By the last days of the War of Power, none approaching the strength of those now known as the Forsaken still lived, though none had died through the efforts of the Light. The Dark One encouraged such activity among his servants, as he only wished the strongest to serve him.

After the Bore was sealed, the active members of those who were called Forsaken turned their armies against each other. It is assured that none managed to survive the Breaking.

The lead thirteen however, managed to survive, by being trapped in the sealing of the Bore.

Aginor: Ishar Morrad Chuain, known as Aginor. His strength in the One Power was considerable, considered second only to Ishamael and Lews Therin Telamon himself. He was foremost in the creating of artificial constructs and created the Shadowspawn.

Before turning to the Shadow, Ishar Chuain was a famous biologist. However, his desire for further experiments and discovery earned him a ban from genetic experimentation by the Hall of Servants. Acquiring more freedom to experiment under the Shadow, he created the Shadowspawn during the War of Power, but was never directly involved with military operations. It is believed that somewhere between 35 and 50 million people died in the experiments resulting in the Shadowspawn, at a rate of almost 10,000 per day from start to finish in the War of Power.

(in the books) Aginor and Balthamel were sealed near the surface of the Bore, and as such aged immensely by the time of their release. During his sleep of three thousand years, Aginor experienced endless nightmares. He and Balthamel were the first to be released.

Asmodean: Joar Addam Nessosin also known as Asmodean, was a famed composer of music during the Age of Legends. Appearing to be in his middle years, he is handsome with dark eyes and hair.

During his childhood he showed great promise at the art of music, but he never fulfilled his prodigal potential. For this reason, Asmodean turned to the Shadow during the Collapse of the Age of Legends, the single deciding factor being the appeal of immortality and an endless opportunity to delve in music.

During the War of Power, he never took position as a general, rather serving as a reportedly effective governor of conquered areas. In a jealous display of power, he had the Age's greatest artists maimed and rendered incapable of performing their art, then releasing them.

Along with the other twelve most powerful of the Chosen, he attended a meeting with the Dark One in Shayol Ghul the fateful day that Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions struck at the prison, sealing the Bore and along with it the Chosen in a dreamless sleep for three thousand years.

Balthamel: Eval Ramman, also known as Balthamel, was a historian during the Age of Legends, specializing in the study of vanished cultures.

Eval Ramman had a bad temper. That, combined with his great strength with the One Power almost earned him a sentence of being bound with the Power to keep him from violence. He was also fond of women and gambling, cheating in the latter to impress the former. Lured by the promise of endless life, the historian was easily swayed to join the Shadow during the middle years of the Collapse.

During his time as one of the Chosen, he ran an extensive intelligence network, bested only by that of Moghedien, and committed several great atrocities. One of the mentioned was raising and organizing breeding camps for humans to be fed to the Trolloc armies.

When Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions struck at Shayol Ghul to seal the Bore, he was there along with the twelve other most powerful Chosen, being imprisoned for three thousand years

Be'lal: (Old Tongue: The Envious)

Little is known of Duram Laddel Cham before he turned to the Shadow, although his skills indicate that he was a powerful force for the Light. Called The Envious, he was a master swordsman and manipulator. He was an advocate and a friend of Lews Therin Telamon. Together, they revived the ancient and forgotten art of swordfighting, and fought together against the Shadow before his jealousy of the Dragon drove him to swear his soul to the Dark One. Later Be'lal's mastery of manipulation earned him the name Netweaver.

During the War of Power he and Demandred lead massive attacks in the areas were the Choedan Kal were built, but failed to retrieve the access ter'angreal. He was probably among those who razed the Hall of the Servants in the war.

The strike at Shayol Ghul by Lews Therin and the Hundred Companions sealed him with the other Chosen for three thousand years, ending the War of Power and the Age of Legends.

Demandred: "Almost" would be the word to describe Barid Bel Medar's life. Born a day after Lews Therin Telamon, almost handsome, close to Lews Therin in power, almost as skilled. He once desired Lews Therin's wife Ilyena which is possibly one more reason for him to hate the Dragon.

During the War of Power, he finally was the equal of Lews Therin at something; a great military commander, he won important victories for the Light. However, when Lews Therin was appointed commander of the forces of Light, he was furious. Believing himself the superior, he calculated that with Lews Therin at the command of the Light, the Shadow would triumph. Ironically, Demandred was right, if Lews Therin Telamon and The Hundered Companions had not sealed up the Bore, The Shadow would have indeed been victourious. In jealousy and contempt, the logical move was to proclaim for the Shadow, siding with the other Chosen in the third year of the War. Graendal herself took him into the Pit of Doom to take his oaths for the Dark One. During the War, he fed two entire captured cities to the Trollocs, feeling that they had slighted him when he was still fighting for the Light.

Believing himself also the superior of the other Forsaken, he put himself in conflict with particularly Sammael, both wanting to be the one to personally defeat Lews Therin.

Leading forces together with Be'lal, he approached the constuction sites of the Choedan Kal. Barely holding the forces of Shadow at bay, Lews Therin decides to strike at Shayol Ghul itself together with the Hundred Companions. Sealing the Bore, the Companions also by happenstance managed to trap the thirteen most powerful of the Forsaken, among them Demandred, in a deep sleep for three thousand years.

Graendal: Kamarile Maradim Nindar otherwise known as Graendal, is often described as fleshy and voluptuous, with elaborately curled red-gold hair.

She was a famous psychologist for nearly four hundred years, and was known to heal mental afflictions even use of the One Power could not cure. She was also a distinct ascetic, living an unadorned life. So much so that she thought that all who could not live to her standards were inferior. She thought that the life that most lived was simply too complicated and fast paced. Thus those who knew her had no love for her, after all, they could not live to her standards either.

There is no evidence that her change of character was brought out by the Shadow, although she was the second of the Forsaken to swear her vows. Indeed it seemed that she realized that the world would not live as she did. She became the exact opposite of before, wearing the most fashionable garments, taking the most perverse sensual pleasures.

Her alter ego, Graendal, is a creature of decadence and excess. One of the most physically beautiful women to have ever walked the earth, she habitually wears revealing clothing and expensive jewelry and keeps only the most attractive men and women near her as her servants. She is very particular about her servants, often choosing former kings and reducing their minds to empty husks. Though she has never led armies for the Shadow, she is well-versed in intrigue and Shadow plotting; her knowledge of the human mind has also led to an unparalleled skill in the use of Compulsion.

Ishamael: Ishamael (Old Tongue: Betrayer of Hope) is the most powerful of the Forsaken as well as being their leader. His heavy use of the True Power has caused him to go at least partly mad.

Elan Morin Tedronai was a noted philosopher and theologian who wrote several influential books, among them Analysis of Perceived Meaning, Reality and the Absence of Meaning and The Disassembly of Reason. Elan Morin was often considered too esoteric for popular appeal. He also believed that the war between the soul of Lews Therin and the Dark One had occured since the beginning of time, recurring in cycles of the Wheel of Time.

He was one of the first in the Age of Legends to publicly declare himself for the Shadow. He was the Dark One's greatest champion and the only one being equal to Lews Therin in the One Power. Although he never held a field command, he was defeated by Lews Therin at the gates of Paaran Disen. He announced his betrayal at a conference of Aes Sedai in the Hall of Servants, informing them of what it was they faced. His announcement sparked massive riots. He was given the name Ishamael by the people: Betrayer of Hope.

When the Dark One's Prison was sealed, it is thought that Ishamael was only partially sealed behind it, (in contrast to Aginor and Balthamel who were merely sealed too close to the edge, and thus susceptible to the passage of time), and his soul was allowed to be released in the world from time to time. In fact, Ishamael may not have been initially bound at all, since he visited Lews Therin Telamon (apparently in person) after the seals on the Dark One's prison had been placed (as Ishamael speaks of the sealing in past tense, and Lews Therin is already mad).[1]

After the seals were placed and saidin was tainted, Ishamael told the now-mad Lews Therin to kill his family[2], and then Healed him so that he understood what he had done. This realization is what caused Lews Therin to commit suicide.

Aran son of Malan son of Senar (born roughly 50 AB) had a theory based on Ishamael being thrown out and touching the world for specific periods of time. Aran had heard claims that people had encountered him as long as 40 years after the sealing of the Bore. Using lost manuscripts, Aran concluded it might have taken some time for Ishamael to be brought into the prison with the remainder of the Forsaken, and might possibly have been "thrown out" in a regular cycle.

Lanfear: Lanfear (Old Tongue: Daughter of the Night), formerly known as Mierin Eronaile, was one of the thirteen Forsaken trapped at Shayol Ghul due to the Dragon's sealing.

In the Age of Legends, Mierin Eronaile was a researcher at the Collam Daan, the huge floating university-sphere. When they were both young learners of the One Power, she was Lews Therin Telamon's lover. She was one of the strongest channelers of the time, as strong as a woman could be without aid.

But even though she was as strong in the Power as a woman could be, Mierin did not distinguish herself enough to earn the coveted third name. This presumably irked her, as she was quite power-hungry. Lews Therin himself eventually left her because she loved the prestige of being his lover more than she loved Lews Therin himself.

She was quite bitter over this, and made several blatant and public attempts to get him back from his wife Ilyena Therin Moerelle. Lews Therin, however, always rebuffed her advances, as he loved his wife and knew Mierin's character too well.

All changed when, in her research at the Collam Daan, she discovered an energy source, seemingly outside the Pattern, which could be tapped by both men and women equally, without the restrictions associated in the gender split of the True Source. Her Da'shain Aiel at the time was Charn.

The feats of the Age may have seemed legendary today, but the Aes Sedai of the time felt held back by the limits of saidar and saidin. With this new energy source, which could seemingly be tapped by both men and women equally, new and innovative things could be done, which could never have been done before.

However, it was sealed away, beyond reach from channelers of both sexes. With her research associate Beidomon, Mierin bored through the Pattern, and into the energy source so tantalizing - and straight through into the Dark One's prison.

The resulting release destroyed the Collam Daan in an explosion of black fire. The Bore had been created, and the effects the Dark One had on the world would affect society at its basest level, and cause the Collapse.

Somehow, though, Mierin survived. Sometime later, during either the collapse of society that followed, or the War of Power, she pledged her soul to the dark entity that she had released. She pledged partly due to the power she would receive from the Shadow, and partly because she wished to have Lews Therin once again.

Mierin proclaimed her loyalty to the Shadow in the Hall of Servants itself, and chose her own new name, the only Chosen to ever do so; Lanfear, the Daughter of the Night. During the War of Power, she was responsible for tormenting many through their dreams, using her mastery of Tel'aran'rhiod. Like Ishamael, she was responsible for many plots to convert Lews Therin to the Shadow. Never a general, she contributed much to the Shadow nonetheless.

When Lews Therin sealed the Bore, she was sealed too, into a dreamless sleep.

Mesaana: During the Age of Legends, Saine Tarasind worked as a teacher at Collam Daan. She later organized schools teaching the glories of the Dark One, going by the name Mesaana.

Unlike many of the other Chosen, Saine Tarasind was not very distinguished in her profession. After being turned down for a research position at the exclusive Collam Daan university, she felt so scorned by having to settle for merely teaching other peoples discoveries that she eventually turned to the Shadow.

Though as adequate a battlefield general as a researcher, she proved an extraordinary administrator. Captured regions saw their children having to attend schools teaching praise for Leafblighter, the Dark One. Slow learning was punished by death, and she encouraged the children to spy and harass each other. She would also get the children to form large mobs and hunt down people from institutions of higher learning. Many of these children betrayed their parents and families because of her. During the second half of the war she also used them to carry out executions, at times forming "courts" entirely of children. Museums and reminders of old ways were destroyed; nothing would stand in the way of the Shadow's triumph.

Being one of the thirteen most powerful of the Chosen, she was summoned to attend a meeting with the Great Lord of the Dark in the Pit of Doom at Shayol Ghul. On this day Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions struck at the Bore, sealing the Chosen and the Great Lord for three thousand years. She was well over 300 years old at this time, appearing about middle age.

Moghedien: The investment advisor Lilen Moiral joined the Shadow long before the War of Power began, hiding her allegiance. A mistress of plotting and conspiring, she was known as the Spider - a moghedien.

One of the first to turn to the Shadow, Lilen Moiral hid her new allegiance, conspiring and plotting from the shadows. This later earned her the name Moghedien, a small spider from the Age of Legends that lived in hiding, with a poison that killed within seconds. She joined Lews Therin Telamon as an employee of his staff, and from her position directed several of the major setbacks for the Light in the early War. One of her plots for bringing down Lews Therin was foiled by Birgitte Silverbow, then known as Teadra. This made Moghedien swear to take a gruesome revenge on the hero.

Always high in rank amongst the Chosen, her powers in Tel'aran'rhiod was second to none - not even the Daughter of the Night, Lanfear herself, despite being inferior in the Power in the waking world.

Summoned together with the other thirteen most powerful of the Forsaken, she finds herself being in the middle of the Hundred Companions' strike at Shayol Ghul, led by Lews Therin himself. Trapped inside, she slept for three thousand years.

Rahvin: Rahvin is tall and extremely handsome, with an insatiable appetite for the company of beautiful women.

Born Ared Mosinel, Rahvin always loved power, and was envious of anyone who held more than him. Much preferring diplomacy over outright attack, Rahvin would most frequently use Compulsion and subtle manipulation instead of force. He was stronger in the One Power than Lanfear and almost as strong as Lews Therin Telamon.

Rahvin turned to the Shadow because of his thirst for power; through his manipulations he had several regions surrender without invasion. He was an efficient governor, but showed a lack of attention to detail that undermined productivity during the War of Power.

Sammael: Tel Janin Aellinsar was a world renowned sportsman in the Age of Legends and one of the greatest generals on the side of Light until he switched sides, taking on the name Sammael. Graendal herself took him to Shayol Ghul to swear his oaths. Sammael in the Old Tongue litterally means 'Destroyer of Hope'.

Tel Janin Aellinsar was a compact and abrupt man. He was a master archer as well as a world champion of a bloodless sword sport. Janin was friends with Lews Therin Telamon although it is not certain how deep this friendship ran; more likely he considered himself a rival to Lews Therin. Janin learned of his ability to channel in the War of Power, when he was fighting for the side of Light. His abilities tended more towards defense, a beneficial talent as the forces of Light were often on the defensive.

However, Tel Janin was always rankled by the fact that the supreme command of the forces had been given over to the Dragon, believing himself to be the superior general. Finally, four years into the War of Power he betrayed the side of Light, and was given the name Sammael. In leading the forces of the Shadow, Sammael much preferred battle to maneuvering. Subsequently, his territories were often not well managed, and the people living there did not have enough to eat. He also enjoyed developing large schemes, usually involving many people.

Sammael was imprisoned with the rest of the Forsaken at Shayol Ghul when Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions sealed the Dark One in his prison.

Semirhage: Nemene Damendar Boann was one of the most prominent Restorers, healers, in the Age of Legends. Also a complete sadist, sometimes torturing people, sometimes killing them, long before the Bore was open.

One of the most talented healers in the entire Age of Legends, she was whisked all across the world because she could heal anything short of death. Although sometimes she gave people a little extra pain after healing, few said anything about it. After all, she had just brought them from the brink of the death. Although some people she did not think deserved life were not so lucky and were killed by her.

When the Hall of Servants found out they offered her a choice, be bound by a Binder not to take 'her pleasures' or to be severed. Becoming furious at them for thinking more of "regular people" then someone as important as her, she chose a third option and was among the first to pledge her soul to the Shadow.

Only an average field commander. Territories governered by her were often marked by terrible cruelty, sometimes forcing people in cities to help torture each other. She also studied breaking people using pain. She became so proficient at this that people were known to bite through their own wrists rather then face her. She discovered the circle of thirteen Aes Sedai and thirteen Myrddraal that could turn any channeler against their will to the Shadow. She was sealed in the Bore by Lews Therin and the Hundred Companions.