Semirhage

Author: Estyrien al'Halien

General

Semirhage is one of the Forsaken; one of thirteen of the most powerful Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends who turned to the Shadow (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 5). During that Age, she was known as Nemene Damendar Boann; her Talent of Healing obviously gave her enough prestige to allow her the much sought after third name. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6) After it became public that she supported the Shadow the people gave her the name Semirhage. (TGH, Ch. 7) This name means something in the Old Tongue since the names of the Forsaken were given for a reason; Ishamael for example, means Betrayer of Hope, (TEotW, Prologue) while Sammael means Destroyer of Hope, (TFoH, Ch. 44). However, we do not know what Semirhage means though it no doubt reflects her character.

We are introduced to Tuon's Soe'feia Anath and multiple clues have led many people to believe that she is Semirhage in disguise. Anath and Semirhage have the same physical traits of black eyes and being tall, slender and dark skinned (LoC, Ch. 6 and WH, Ch. 14). Anath seems to show tenderness when punishing Tuon, which is convenient because Semirhage is a sadist. Tuon's previous Truth Speaker was killed when she 'fell' down some stairs. Anath was appointed even though someone else had already been trained (WH, Ch. 14). Both Anath and Semirhage wear unrelieved black, (WH, Ch. 17; TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6) while Anath's speech doesn't have the noticeable Seanchan drawl (WH, Ch. 17). There are more hints and so it is commonly believed that Anath is Semirhage in disguise though it has not been proven.

Semirhage has dark eyes and skin and is remarkably tall for a woman. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6) She has slender long fingers (LoC, Prologue). As Anath, who apparently has the same appearance as Semirhage, she is slender, beautiful and has full lips. (WH, Ch. 14) She has short wavy black hair that is not shaved or plaited as some Seanchan have (WH, Ch. 17). Semirhage does not have the ageless look because she has never held the Oath Rod (ACoS, Ch. 8).

During the Age of Legends, Nemene was a healer of the body, known as a Restorer (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6). However, she was also a sadist and tortured her patients when she Healed them. When the Hall of Servants discovered this, they gave her the ultimatum that either she was stilled or she was bound against torturing her patients. Semirhage joined the Shadow rather than face either fate (LoC, Ch. 6). She proved to be very useful to the Shadow even though she was not a very good general. She tortured members of the Hall of Servants and made them claim allegiance to the Shadow. She ran a network aimed to discover all traitors to the Shadow (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6).

Timeline

• Age of Legends: Semirhage's sadistic side is discovered and the Hall of Servants gives her an ultimatum (LoC, Ch. 6).
• Age of Legends: Semirhage runs a network to discover and capture traitors and spies amongst the Friends of the Dark. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6)
• Age of Legends: Semirhage tortures an entire city because she wants to (LoC, Ch. 2).
• Age of Legends: Semirhage is bound with the other Forsaken when Lews Therin and his companions seal the Bore (TDR Chapter 36).
• Third Age: Anath is appointed Tuon's Truth Speaker when Neferi dies (WH, Ch. 14).
• Third Age: Semirhage sends Trollocs to the Stone to battle Sammael's on the orders of the Dark One. (LoC, Ch. 6).
• Third Age: Semirhage tortures Cabriana Mecandes on the orders of the Dark One (LoC, Ch. 6).
• Third Age: Anath arrives at Ebou Dar after sailing with Tuon on Victory of Kidron (WH, Ch. 14).
• Third Age: Anath goes into seclusion after Tuon disappears (CoT Chapter 4).

Strengths and Talents

As a Forsaken, Semirhage can wield large amounts of the One Power, (WH, Glossary), though she is not allowed to use the True Power now that Moridin has been named Nae'blis (WH, Ch. 13). Semirhage is weaker in the One Power than Lanfear, who is the strongest of the female Forsaken. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6)

Semirhage's main Talent is that of Healing. It is said that she could Heal anything short of death and that she brought hope when everyone else had despaired. During the Age of Legends, she was summoned to far away places to Heal those on the brink of death. She was particularly good at Healing problems to do with the brain. During the War of Power, Semirhage honed her power in Healing and turned attention to using the One Power for torture. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6) Her torture left her victims so changed that not even Graendal could have helped them. Semirhage was able to use the centres of the brain for pain and pleasure in a new form of torture (LoC, Ch. 6).

Semirhage is bad at controlling the weather, (TFoH, Ch. 30), but she has the ability to block gateways (TFoH, Ch. 32). She has some ability in Tel'aran'rhiod, (TFoH, Ch. 14) and since the damane can't sense the spark in Anath, we can assume that Semirhage can Mask the Glow (WH, Ch. 14).

Relationships

None of the Forsaken trust or like each other and so it is logical to believe that this is true for Semirhage (TFoH, Ch. 3). Lanfear and Semirhage hate each other and the reason why Semirhage wears black is because Lanfear wore white (LoC, Prologue). Semirhage wishes that she could torture Lanfear (LoC, Ch. 6). Semirhage makes Mesaana feel very uneasy, (LoC, Prologue) but she, Semirhage and Demandred have agreed that they will have a loose allegiance until the other Forsaken have been killed (WH, Ch. 13).

Semirhage believes that Tuon is a wilful charge and dislikes having to spend time away from her because she might do something in Semirhage's absence (LoC, Ch. 6). Anath berates Tuon strongly and some people are shocked that she speaks so harshly to the Daughter of the Nine Moons (WH, Ch. 18).

Semirhage hates Aes Sedai, especially Aes Sedai who served in the Hall of Servants and those Aes Sedai in the current Age. She hated the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends because they wanted to still her or bind her against torturing her patients. She thought that they acted because they were jealous of her and thought more of her victims than her. She got her revenge when the Councillors of the Hall were captured and she tortured them (LoC, Ch. 6).

Miscellaneous

• It was Semirhage who discovered that thirteen channelers channeling through thirteen Myrddraal who convert any channeler to the Shadow. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6)
• People who knew that they were going to be handed over to Semirhage often attempted suicide to get away from her. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6)
• Semirhage likes to sew (LoC, Prologue).
• Semirhage taken care in what she does and takes one step at a time (LoC, Ch. 6).
• Semirhage was one of the first Forsaken to go to Shayol Ghul (LoC, Ch. 6).
• Some of the other Forsaken do not know where Semirhage is and who she is trying to influence (LoC, Ch. 23).
• People in the Two Rivers say that when it rains when the sun is shining, it is Semirhage's tears from her beating by the Dark One (TPoD, Ch. 22). However, Semirhage is calm and poised at all times and never cries. (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 6)
• Semirhage is unable to join many meetings of the Forsaken, presumably because she is surrounded by damane who would detect her channeling (WH, Ch. 13).

Quotes

"She had deserved the right to do what she did; she had earned the right. She had been more valuable to the world than all those together who entertained her with their screams. And in jealously and spite the Hall had tried to pull her down" Semirhage about her sadism. (Lord of Chaos, Ch. 6)

"Semirhage took delight in cruelty, a pure pleasure in giving anguish"* Mesaana about Semirhage. (Lord of Chaos, Prologue)

"Not even Demandred dared suggest to Semirhage's face that she wore black so often because Lanfear wore white" Mesaana about Semirhage. (Lord of Chaos, Prologue)

"The woman had been almost tender about it, in an odd fashion, though she left her weeping for days" Tuon about Anath's beating. (Winter's Heart, Chapter 14)

"'Surely you will punish her for this', she drawled angrily, glaring holes through Anath" Suroth to Tuon about Anath's harsh criticisms. (Winter's Heart, Chapter 18)