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Book | TV show |
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Rand al'Thor | ||
Nationality | Andoran | |
Affiliation | ||
Social Status | peasant | |
Family | Unknown | |
First Appearance | The Eye of the World: Chapter 1 |
Pronunciation: RAND ahl-THOR
Rand al'Thor is one of the main characters in the book series The Wheel of Time. He is a young man from Emond's Field, one of the villages in the Two Rivers. His best friends are Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara.
WARNING! The next sections contain spoilers for the Wheel of Time series.
Contents
General
This section contains spoilers relating to Rand General Information. Please expand to view.
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, Car'a'carn, Coramoor and King of Illian. Born of an Aiel father and wetlander mother who had joined the Aiel, his birth on Dragonmount occurred as the Aiel War ended. He was found by Tam al'Thor, second Captain of the Illianer Companions and taken back with him to be raised as his own when he returned home to the Two Rivers. Around his eighteenth birthday, he was taken out of the region by Moiraine Sedai when Trollocs attacked and gradually learned the truth of his heritage.
Appearance
He is considered to be tall in the Westlands, His hair has a reddish tint to it, and he has gray eyes. (TEotW, Ch. 1)
This section contains spoilers relating to Rand Appearance in later books. Please expand to view.
Rand looks much like an Aiel. though with the Aiel his height isn't so distinguishable. He looks very much like his birth mother, Tigraine. He has only one hand, having lost his right. His remaining hand has a heron imprinted on it and both arms have sinuous dragon tattoos winding up them.
Personality
Like all of the people from the Two Rivers, Rand can give a mule lessons in stubbornness. In his younger years, he had a taste for pranks, and often accompanied his friend Mat on his famous escapades.
This section contains spoilers relating to Rand's Personality in later books. Please expand to view.
Since being named the Dragon Reborn, he has become serious, grim, and intent on pushing away all those who are important to him.
According to Elayne, Rand "has a fair bit of gleeman in him" (AMoL, Ch. 1) and other characters, such as Bair, have said similar things (AMoL, Prologue).
One of the most interesting characteristics that Rand acquires as the series progresses is the voice of Lews Therin Telamon speaking to him in his head. Most of the time, the voice is fairly crazy, and Rand thinks that he must be going insane from the taint on saidin. Other times, Lews Therin seems to be almost sane, and actually helps Rand get out of a few scrapes. Rand doesn't tell many people about it, as he is afraid that they will also think that he is going crazy; Min and Cadsuane are two of the only people who know about the voice.
Condensed Timeline
- 978NE: Rand is born
- 998NE: Moiraine and Lan find Rand in the Two Rivers
This section contains spoilers relating to Rand's condensed timeline. Please expand to view.
- Date Unknown: Lews Therin Telamon draws in too much of the One Power and dies, raising Dragonmount
- 978NE: Rand is born on Dragonmount
- 998NE: Moiraine and Lan find Rand in the Two Rivers on the same day Ishamael directs a Trolloc attack. They flee, with Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Thom.
- 998NE: On the flight from Emonds's field, Rand unknowingly channels for the first time
- 998NE: Rand passes through Baerlon and meets Min, learning many strange things about his future
- 998NE: Rand meets Elayne and Gawyn, in the gardens of the Royal Palace. He also meets Elaida and Morgase.
- 998NE: Rand meets Loial and travels through the Ways to Fal Dara
- 998NE: Rand journeys to the Eye of the World, in the Blight meeting the Green Man and encountering Balthamel and Aginor, who are both killed. Rand thinks he kills Ishamael, who is calling himself Ba'alzamon.
Rand's Journey
The Eye of the World
Rand's journey from Sheepherder to Dragon Reborn begins on the road from Tam's farm to Emond's Field. (TEotW, Ch. 1) When he spots a Fade on the road, this propels him and his friends, Mat and Perrin, into the path of Moiraine Damodred and Lan Mandragoran. (TEotW, Ch. 2) After the farm and village are attacked by Trollocs (TEotW, Ch. 5), Moiraine and Lan convince the boys that they need to leave Emond's Field or it will be destroyed. (TEotW, Ch. 8) Joining them are Egwene and Thom. (TEotW, Ch. 10)
They travel from Emond's field to Taren Ferry (TEotW, Ch. 11), and then onwards to Baerlon. (TEotW, Ch. 12) After reaching Baerlon (TEotW, Ch. 13), Rand is visited by Ba'alzamon in his dreams. (TEotW, Ch. 14) While in Baerlon, Rand meets Min for the first time. (TEotW, Ch. 15) When Rand is confronted by a Fade in Baerlon, the party, plus Nynaeve who has caught up with them, leave the city. (TEotW, Ch. 17)
They arrive in Shadar Logoth. (TEotW, Ch. 18) It is here that Rand and the other two boys meet Mordeth. (TEotW, Ch. 19) When both Trollocs and Mashadar attack, they flee; Rand is separated from everyone, though he later finds Mat and Thom. (TEotW, Ch. 20)
Rand, Mat and Thom travel down the Arinelle River towards Whitebridge. (TEotW, Ch. 24) After Thom is 'killed', Rand and Mat run from Whitebridge. (TEotW, Ch. 26) Rand and Mat travel towards Caemlyn. (TEotW, Ch. 31) Later on, Rand reacts to using saidin, and becomes ill. (TEotW, Ch. 33) When they arrive in Caemlyn (TEotW, Ch. 35), Rand meets Loial. (TEotW, Ch. 36)
While in Caemlyn, Rand goes to the royal palace and climbs a wall, intent on seeing Logain, a false Dragon. (TEotW, Ch. 39) When he falls into the palace grounds, he meets Elayne, Gawyn and Galad for the first time. (TEotW, Ch. 40) Later on, Rand and Mat are reunited with the rest of their group. (TEotW, Ch. 41) Soon after, Rand and the others begin their journey through the Ways towards Fal Dara. (TEotW, Ch. 44; Ch. 45; Ch. 46) Next they head for the Blight (TEotW, Ch. 48), and find the Green Man's garden. (TEotW, Ch. 49) After Rand sees the Eye of the World, they are confronted by Aginor and Balthamel. (TEotW, Ch. 50)
While fighting Ba'alzamon, Rand taps into the untainted saidin of the Eye of the World, and wins the battle. (TEotW, Ch. 51) He tells Moiraine, Egwene and Nynaeve what happened. (TEotW, Ch. 52) They head back to Fal Dara. (TEotW, Ch. 53).
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
Strengths and Talents
As the series progresses, Rand finds that he suddenly has talent for both drawing and playing the flute; both of these talents come from Lews Therin Telamon.
Relationships with Other Characters
Visions and Prophecies
As the Dragon Reborn, Car'a'carn and Coramoor, there are numerous ancient prophecies about Rand, but there are also many more recent ones:
- She's not for you, or you for her. Not the way you both want (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- A sword that isn't a sword (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- A golden grown of laurel leaves (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- A beggar's staff (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- You pouring water on sand (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- A bloody hand and white-hot iron (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- Three women standing over a funeral bier with you on it (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- Black rock wet with blood (TEotW, Ch. 15).
- Lightning around you, some striking at you, some coming out of you (TEotW, Ch. 15.
- You and I will meet again." (TEotW, Ch. 15).
Quotes
Quotes about Rand
Quotes by Rand
"I am tired of running. Tired of you threatening my friends. I will run no more. (Rand to Ba'alzamon; TEotW, Ch. 51)
"I deny you. You have no power over me, and I will not kneel to you, alive or dead." (Rand to Ba'alzamon, TEotW, Ch. 51)
"No, I can't. I mean...I didn't do it on purpose. It just happened. I don't want to-to channel the Power. I won't ever do it again. I swear it." (Rand to Moiraine, Siuan and Verin, TGH, Ch. 8)
"That's right! The Dragon's banner! Moiraine wants me to be a puppet on Tar Valon strings, a false Dragon for the Aes Sedai. She's going to push it down my throat whatever I want. But-I-will-not-be-used!" (Rand to Mat and Perrin; TGH, Ch. 11)
"Duty. Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain. That's what they say in Shienar. 'The Dark One is stirring. The Last Battle is coming. And the Dragon Reborn has to face the Dark One in the Last Battle, or the Shadow will cover everything. The Wheel of Time broken. Every Age remade in the Dark One's image.' There's only me. I have the duty, because there isn't anybody else, now is there?" (Rand to Perrin; TDR, Ch. 2)