Author: Raleien din Arsenia
General
Moridin is Ishamael reborn into a new body (KoD, Ch. 3). While it is assumed that he can channel he has only been witnessed using the True Power, instead of the One Power so it is not clear whether he normally channels saidin or saidar.
Appearance
He appears as a younger man, close in age to Rand, Perrin, and Mat. He is described as being tall with dark hair and light eyes. This coloring suggests that he, or at least his body, is from somewhere in the borderlands. Moridin is almost pretty enough for Graendal, but has too prominent a chin (TGS, Prologue).
His use of the True Power is such that Saa trickle across his eyes almost constantly (KoD, Ch. 3).
Personality
Condensed Timeline
Strengths and Talents
Little is known about Moridin's abilities with the One Power since witnesses have only observed him using the True Source. We do know that that power comes directly from the Dark One, and that its use has heavy, if unspecified, consequences. He has been observed to have saa in his eyes. These small moving black specks can be seen floating through his eyes, especially when he is actually touching the True Source.
Relationships with Other Characters
We know that Moridin has been named Nae'blis, which places him only one rung below the Dark One himself in the Forsaken's hierarchy. We also know that he holds the mindtraps of Moghedien and Cyndane. Those two have both been seen wearing livery in his colors. While some of the other Forsaken seem to resent him, they all fear him and will not move openly against them unless they are certain of victory. He seems to share Ishamael's desire to see Rand converted to his cause, because he ordered his people to kill him only if they had to, and actively helped Rand in Shadar Logoth.
Moridin's Journey
A Crown of Swords
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- When we first are introduced to him it is in A Crown of Swords. We are not told his name or affiliation in this scene, instead we are given a rare first person perspective as he watches unobserved while Sammael and Graendal meet with Sevanna and the Shaido Wise Ones after the Battle of Dumai's Wells. It seems clear that he is familiar with both of them and knows a great deal about their personalities and methods. This awareness reinforces the idea that he is another recycled Forsaken. He is contemptuous of their plans, but listens to them carefully, gleaning any information that is useful to his own cause.
- It is also observed in this moment that Moridin already has saa in his eyes. Saa are a symptom of extensive use of the True Power. He likens it to "kneeling beneath Shayol Ghul, basking in the Dark One's glory. The glory was worth the pain." He holds the True Power and contemplates killing the Wise Ones, but decides that "small increases in chaos" are as important as large ones and spares them (ACoS, Ch. 20).
- The next time we see Moridin is the first time we learn his name. It begins when Aran'gar frees Moghedien from Salidar and orders her to Shayol Ghul. When the Spider arrives, she is met by an unusual Myrddraal calling himself Shaidar Haran, Old Tongue for "Hand of the Dark." Shaidar Haran takes her to the Bore and uses her saliva and blood to chain her to a cour'souvra, and then puts her inside of a vacuole. When she is released she is given to Moridin, who introduces himself and shows her that he is the holder of her mindtrap and one other. Whatever connection there exists between Shaidar Haran and Moridin is a matter of pure speculation as they have not been to date seen in the same place at the same time (ACoS, Ch. 25).
- When we next see him he appears in Shadar Logoth when Rand al'Thor is battling Sammael. Rand nearly falls into an empty pit, but manages to catch himself on the edge. Moridin pulls him out. Then he gives him the clue he needs to determine where Sammael is hiding in the city. Then he disappears (ACoS, Ch. 41).
The Path of Daggers
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- Our next view of Moridin shows him in a room bedecked with all of the trappings of wealth, but with neither windows nor doors. This hints that its location is at a remove from mainstream reality, but whether it is in Tel'aran'rhiod, a vacuole, the dark place where Skimming occurs, or some other branching of time and space that we are unfamiliar with is unknown. For all this author knows, it is in a cave underground accessible only through a gateway. With the exception of a servant, who by his description is probably some sort of construct, Moridin is alone. He stands next to a sha'rah board, set up in a reproduction of the opening moves of a famous game. He contemplates the nature of the pieces, and strategies for winning. The central piece to the game, the Fisher, is depicted as a blindfolded young man clutching a bleeding wound on his side. Moridin wonders if he is a memory of Rand. This thought inspires to him to destroy the piece completely. This is our first intimation of Moridin's insanity (TPoD, Prologue).
- We catch a glimpse of him again, standing in a tower watching Elayne, Nynaeve, and the Kin fleeing Ebou Dar. They hold almost no interest for him, and neither does the assortment of angreal and ter'angreal they found there. He is only there because Sammael had had an interest there, and even without wanting to acquire the cache himself he likes to observe what interests the other Forsaken. It isn't until a servant named Madic, who is his spy in the city, reports that they are going to use the Bowl of the Winds in an attempt to fix the weather that he develops any interest in them. He becomes determined to stop them if possible, and to kill them if not (TPoD, Ch. 2).
- At a meeting with Graendal, Aran'gar, Osan'gar, and Demandred, Moridin and Cyndane outline Rand and his followers then. He orders then to kill him only in the event that capture becomes impossible.
- While we don't actually see Mordin himself for some time his agents are busy everywhere.
Winter's Heart
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- Kisman is ordered by Taim and Demandred to kill Rand. Moridin orders to kill Rand if it is unavoidable, but is far more interested in getting his hands on Rand's possessions, perhaps in an attempt to get his hands on the keys for the Choedan Kal (WH, Ch. 22).
- Cyndane and Moghedien feel him stroking their cour'sourva while they are attempting to stop Rand from cleansing the taint (WH, Ch. 35).
Crossroads of Twilight
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This section contains spoilers relating to Crossroads of Twilight. Please expand to view.
There is no relevant reference to Moridin in this book.
Knife of Dreams
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This section contains spoilers relating to Knife of Dreams. Please expand to view.
- He summons the other forsaken for a meeting, with zomara serving/ Moghedien and Cyndane accompany him, dressed as servants. He tells them to leave Egwene where she is and instructs them not to harm Lews Therin in any way(KoD, Ch. 3).
- At the meeting, he also tells them to hunt down and kill Mat and Perrin (KoD, Ch. 3)
- Rand sees Moridin in his mind. Lews Therin believes Moridin is able to see him (KoD, Ch. 18).
The Gathering Storm
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- Moridin refuses to rescue Semirhage when Demandred and Mesaana ask that she be freed (TGS, Prologue).
- He is still focussed on killing Mat and Perrin, he seems to have located a fortress deep in the north eastern blight (TGS, Prologue)
- Rand visits Moridin, somewhere apparently in Tel'aran'rhiod (TGS, Ch. 15).
- Rand recognises Mordin from Shadar Logoth (TGS, Ch. 15).
- Moridin tells Rand he watched him die and how he created a mountain doing so (TGS, Ch. 15).
- Moridin asks Rand why he came and asks if it him or Rand that is tired (TGS, Ch. 15).
Towers of Midnight
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This section contains spoilers relating to Towers of Midnight. Please expand to view.
- Moridin summons Graendal after she sacrifices Aran'gar to escape from Rand. He appears to communicate directly with the Dark One and receive orders to not punish her. He leads her to a room full of items of power and gives her a Dreamspike and tells her she can use the man with two souls. He reveals a tan book of a Foretelling that Perrin will die by the Shadow's hand. Moridin tells Graendal that if she succeeds, then she will be heavily rewarded.(ToM, Ch. 5)
A Memory of Light
Miscellaneous
- Moridin does not care whether or not Rand is killed, as long as he can retrieve the keys to the Choedan Kal.
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- When Rand and Nynaeve attempt to cleanse saidin he sends everyone at his disposal to try to stop them (WH, Ch. 35).
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This section contains spoilers relating to The Gathering Storm. Please expand to view.
- Moridin is the only one who knows how to find Graendal (TGS, Prologue)
- Moridin believes the Dark One needs to win just once for total victory. he believes that if the Dark One is freed it will be the end of all things and there will be no immortality. (TGS, Ch. 15).
Quotes
'To her shock, he laughed. "You misapprehend, Moghedien. You still serve the Great Lord, but not quite as you once did. The time for playing your own games has passed. If you had not managed to do some good by accident, you would be dead now."' (Moridin to Moghedien; A Crown of Swords, Chapter 25)
'Fury boiled suddenly in Moridin's head, and black flecks swam across his eyes as he seized the True Power. Ecstasy that amounted to pain thundered through him. His hand closed around the two mindtraps, and the True Power closed around the Fisher, snatching it into the air, a hair from crushing it to powder, crushing the powder out of existence. The goblet shattered in his hand. His grip bordered on crushing the cour'souvra. The saa were a blizzard of black, but they did not hinder his sight. The Fisher was always worked as a man, a bandage blinding his eyes and one hand pressed to his side, a few drops of blood dripping through his fingers. The reasons, like the source of the name, were lost in the mist of time. That troubled him sometimes, enraged him, what knowledge might be lost in the turnings of the Wheel, knowledge he needed, knowledge he had a right to. A right!'" (Moridin's thoughts; The Path of Daggers, Prologue)
“Death is no barrier to my master. Save for those who have known balefire. They are beyond his grasp. It is a wonder we can remember them” (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 15).
“There is no path to victory. The only path to follow is the Great Lord and rule for a time before all things end. The others are fools. They look for grand rewards in the eternities, but there will be no eternities. Only the now, the last days” (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 15).
