Ishamael
The only Forsaken who believed the Wheel would break anyway.
Ishamael stands apart from his fellow Forsaken not merely in power, but in conviction. While others served the Dark One out of ambition or malice, Ishamael was driven by a terrifying philosophy: he believed the Wheel’s Pattern was destined to shatter regardless of human action, rendering all resistance futile. This nihilism allowed him to partially escape the Bore immediately following its sealing at the end of the Age of Legends, granting him centuries of freedom to subtly manipulate history while his peers remained trapped.
- Role:
- One of the Thirteen Forsaken
- Affiliation:
- The Shadow / The Dark One
- First Appearance (in timeline):
- War of Power (Age of Legends)
- Major Manifestations:
- Ba'alzamon, Moridin
- Unique Ability:
- Partial escape from the Bore
- Status:
- Active in the Third Age
Lore & Background
Ishamael’s return was not a singular event. During the early Third Age, he broke free almost entirely unimpeded, adopting the guise of Ba'alzamon to test the Dragon Reborn directly. His influence stretched across millennia, subtly guiding conflicts like the Trolloc Wars and fracturing nations from within. Following his temporary defeat at the White Tower, he withdrew until the weakening of the seals allowed a full return as Moridin. In this aspect, he assumed command over the Shadow's leadership, frequently clashing with former peers who sought to build empires while he sought only to hasten the inevitable unraveling of reality.
In Their Own Story
Shadows seemed to cling to Ishamael like a second skin, deeper than any natural darkness. When he moved through ruins or stood before his enemies, his presence carried the chill of ten thousand years. He did not watch the chaos with triumph, but with a weary certainty. To him, the struggles of heroes were merely delaying tactics against an inevitable tide. His eyes held no hope, only the cold calculation of a man who had already seen the end of all things and decided to welcome it.
Reader's Guide
Ishamael represents despair incarnate. While other Forsaken were driven by ambition, greed, or hatred, Ishamael was motivated by a nihilistic certainty that nothing mattered because the Dark One would win anyway. This made him unpredictable; he often sabotaged plans that might have prolonged the struggle, viewing delay as meaningless.
His ability to escape the Bore while others remained sealed is unique among the Forsaken. He appeared throughout history under various guises, most notably as Ba'alzamon during the War of Power's aftermath and early Third Age, attempting to manipulate the Dragon Reborn before being thwarted by the White Tower. Later, he returned in full power as Moridin, a name that struck fear even among the Dreadlords.
The conflict between Ishamael and the other Forsaken is a recurring theme. He often viewed them as foolish for trying to build an empire or gain personal glory when the world was destined to end. This philosophical divide created tension within the Shadow's leadership, with Ishamael frequently overriding their decisions. His ultimate goal was not merely victory, but the total destruction of the Pattern itself.
Did You Know?
- Ishamael is the only Forsaken known to have partially escaped the Bore before the end of the Third Age.
- He adopted the name 'Moridin' after his full release, which means 'death' in the Old Tongue.
- His philosophy that the Dark One would win anyway caused him to sabotage other Forsaken's plans on occasion.
- In the final confrontation, he was killed by Rand al'Thor, though his soul was not destroyed due to the nature of the Bore.