Tarmon Gai'don
TAHR-mohn GAY-dohn
General
Tarmon Gai'don, or the Last Battle, is the prophesied fight between the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One at the end of the Third Age, many of the details of which are described in The Karaethon Cycle. Though called the Last Battle, according to Herid Fel, it can't truly be the Last Battle, as the Dark One must be imprisoned the next time the Second Age comes around (LoC, Ch. 18).
Prophecies
The Dragon Reborn is prophesied to break the world again at Tarmon Gai'don (WH, Prologue). There are many signs that Tarmon Gai'don is approaching, but the dead walking is a sign that it is close (KoD, Ch. 10). To win and survive, Rand was told that "The north and the east must be as one. The west and the south must be as one. The two must be as one" and also "to live you must die" (KoD, Ch. 18). Although prophecy seems to suggest Rand will win, but not survive, though it is ambiguous enough for either to be wrong (LoC, Ch. 2).
Miscellaneous
- The Horn of Valere is not linked to the Dragon Reborn, except that it must be found before the Last Battle (TGH, Ch. 21), though it was also said that the Heroes would fight in the Last Battle (TDR, Prologue).
- Some, such as Pedron Niall did not believe that the Dark One would break free, but that the Last Battle would be against Shadowspawn (TDR, Prologue).
- The Green Ajah, also known as the Battle Ajah, stands ready for Tarmon Gai'don and considers fighting in the Last Battle to be its true purpose (TGH, Ch. 23)
Casualties
- Main article: The Last Battle Death List
Quotes
"But I have been thinking. It can't be the Last Battle. I don't think it can. Maybe every Age has a Last Battle. Or most of them (...) It can't be the Last Battle. Even if the Dragon Reborn seals the Dark One's prison again as well as the Creator made it. Which I don't think he can do (...) The Wheel of Time. Ages come and go and come again as the Wheel turns. All the catechism. Here the Dark One's prison is whole. Here, they drilled a hole in it, and sealed it up again. Here we are. The seals weakening. But that doesn't matter, of course. When the Wheel turns back to here, back to where they drilled the hole in the first place, the Dark One's prison has to be whole again." (Herid Fel to Rand, Lord of Chaos, Chapter 18).
