Balefire

General

Balefire is a weave of the One Power that is a very dangerous weapon. Although it is very effective and almost impossible to defend against it is rarely used due to the nature of the weave, in that it not only destroys whatever it is used against, it destroys it before it hits “When anything is destroyed with balefire, it ceases to exist before the moment of its destruction, like a thread that burns away from where the flame touched it.” (Moiraine). The amount removed from the pattern depends on the amount used. Moiraine, for example, could only remove a few seconds, Rand, being much stronger could remove minutes (TFoH, Ch. 6). With a sa'angreal like Callandor, entire cities could be destroyed.

Due to the damage it can do, using balefire, or even learning it, is forbidden by the White Tower since the Breaking of the world (TFoH, Ch. 6). Moiraine claims that it is forbidden by vows almost as strong as the Three Oaths and that she might be stilled just for knowing it. Curiously, she states it has not been used in nearly two thousand years, which suggests it was sued during the Trolloc Wars (TDR, Ch. 39). She does however use it, claiming that sometimes it is necessary to do things that are forbidden, though Rand sees her blush as she says this (TFoH, Ch. 6). When Cadsuane sees Rand use balefire, she slaps him and tells him never to use it again (ACoS, Ch. 36).. This does make him reluctant (ACoS, Ch. 41), but he nevertheless uses it in Shadar Logoth (ACoS, Ch. 41).

The appearance of balefire is distinctive, an intensely hot, intensely bright bar of light (TDR, Ch. 39; Ch. 44; Ch. 55), like molten metal (TDR, Ch. 39; Ch. 44; TSR, Ch. 54; TFoH, Ch. 6 or liquid fire (TFoH, Ch. 6; Ch. 55; KoD, Ch. 22). When balefire strikes an object, it leaves no trace, ceasing to exist as though they had never been (TDR, Ch. 39; TDR, Ch. 55; TSR, Ch. 54). People and creatures that have been balefired react differently, briefly becoming shapes of shimmering motes, specks dancing in the light (TDR, Ch. 55; KoD, Ch. 22), colors reversed and breaking apart to become smaller and smaller until nothing remains (TFoH, Ch. 6; Ch. 22). This may be dependant on the strength of the balefire used as when Rand kills Rahvin, there is none of that, Rahvin simply ceases (TFoH, Ch. 55).

Miscellaneous

• Some Darkhounds won't die for anything short of balefire, but Rand refuses to teach it to Taim anyway (LoC, Ch. 3).
• The White Tower has a ter'angreal, a fluted rod of black stone a full pace in length that produces balefire. Verin considers this dangerous and almost impossible to control (TDR, Ch. 25).
• The Aiel do not know what balefire is, but they remember it from their legends (TDR, Ch. 38)
• Even balefire cannot destroy cuendillar (TSR, Ch. 54).
• The residue of balefire is very distinct, “” (TFoH, Ch. 6)
• Rand defends himself when Isha'mael tries to use balefire against him
• A blazing shaft like the one Moiraine had made shot out of the shadows among the columns, straight toward his chest. His wrist twisted the sword instinctively; it was instinct as much as anything else that made him loose flows from saidin into Callandor, a flood of power that made the sword blaze brighter than even that bar streaking at him.... The shaft of light struck the blade of Callandor – and parted on its edge, forking to stream past either side. He felt his coat singe from its near passage, smelled the wool beginning to burn. (TDR, Ch. 55).

Useage of Balefire

In the Age of Legends, entire cities were destroyed by balefire. Balefire was used liberally by both sides for an entire year. When its full effects were realised, both sides stopped using it without any formal agreement (TFoH, Ch. 6, TwoRJTWoT, Ch. 4).

Aeldrene supposedly sent balefire to destroy the Trolloc hordes (TwoRJTWoT, Ch. 10).

Nynaeve's balefires the Myrddraal when captured by Adden and Coke (TDR, Ch. 39).

Moiraine balefires the Darkhounds outside Illian(TDR, Ch. 39).

Moiraine balefires Be'lal in the Stone of Tear (TDR, Ch. 55).

Isha'mael tries to balefire Rand, but Callandor saves him (TDR, Ch. 55).

Jeane uses the balefire ter'angreal in the Panarch's palace Tanchico (TSR, Ch. 54).

Rand balefires the Darkhounds in Rhuidean (TFoH, Ch. 6).

He then balefire the ones attacking Mat, and tries to make the amount used less (TFoH, Ch. 6).

Rand balefires a Drakhar with a finger thin bar and is hesitant to admit doing so (TFoH, Ch. 22).

Rahvin tries to balefire Rand (TFoH, Ch. 55).

Rand uses it himself. He finally kills Rahvin with it (TFoH, Ch. 55).

Rand balefires a fog and Cadsuane slaps him, telling him never to use it again (ACoS, Ch. 36).

Rand and Moridin's balefire streams cross. Everything doubles in his eyes (ACoS, Ch. 41).

Rand balefires Liah to save her from Mashadar (ACoS, Ch. 41).

Osan'gar intended to balefire Rand while he was cleansing the Source (WH, Ch. 35).

Asne uses the balefire rod on the armies outside Caemlyn (KoD, Ch. 22.