Who is Mesaana?

[crash]

Mesaana

 

General

Timeline

Strengths and Talents

Relationships with other Characters

Misc. Information

Quotes

 

 

 

General Information

 

Mesaana is one of the Forsaken, the thirteen most powerful Aes Sedai who joined the Shadow during the Age of Legends. (Reference: TEotW Glossary) During that Age she was known as Saine Tarasind, her job as a lecturer was not important enough for her to gain the third name. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6) When the Forsaken were all publicly known to have turned to the Shadow, the people gave them new names. (Reference: BWB Chapter 5) Saine became Mesaana, though we do not yet know what that means in the Old Tongue. However, we can assume that it relates to her character as others do. (References: TEotW Prologue)

 

During the Age of Legends, Mesaana was a lecturer to students at the Collam Daan. However, this was not what she wanted to be; she had wanted to be a researcher in the One Power since childhood. She worked hard to try to achieve her dream but the board at the Collam Daan did not think that she would be suitable. They gave her a job as a lecturer but Mesaana didn't like teaching the students about other people's research. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

Mesaana turned to the Shadow because she wanted revenge on the board at the Collam Daan for refusing her a research post. She was an average general but excelled at being a Governor. She had order in her regions, as much as there could be, and corrupted all children and teenagers in her territories. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6) Her schools taught the children the glories of the Dark One and those who didn't learn quickly were killed. (Reference: LoC Chapter 2) The children were encouraged to spy, lie and kill; mobs of children destroyed anything that reflected badly on the Dark one and killed people who opposed them. Courts were formed where all the members of the jury were children and they tried those who didn't support the Shadow. Those found guilty, as they all were, were executed by children. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

After Mesaana escaped from her prison, she established herself in the White Tower. (Reference: LoC Chapter 6) From here she uses the Black Ajah to help her create chaos. Most of all, she uses Aviarin, Keeper of the Chronicles to Elaida, to twist Elaida's orders to suit the Shadow's purpose. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) However, it is not sure who Mesaana is impersonating in the Tower, though several suggestions have been made. One of the most likely theories is that Mesaana is disguised as Danelle, Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. Her Ajah suits Mesaana as she was a lecturer and wanted to be a researcher; the fact that she has no friends would make it very easy for Mesaana to impersonate Danelle as there would be far less people to convince. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) Danelle is one of the sisters to overthrow Siuan, (Reference: TSR Chapter 47), yet she is ignored after this. Some sisters might object but Mesaana wouldn't be interested in the image of power that she might be given; her hold on Alviarin and Elaida gives her true power. However, this idea is only a theory, as are the suggestions that Mesaana is masquerading as Zaida din Parede Blackwing, Verin Mathwin, or Theodrin Dabei.

 

Mesaana is described as being of average height and appearance. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6) However, she only appears to Alviarin cloaked in darkness created by the One Power. She is tall and has a voice that sounds like crystal chimes yet that is all that Alviarin can tell. This is why Alviarin believes that she is in the Tower, either a servant or Aes Sedai. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) The illusion is broken when touched and Alviarin sees the hem of a bronze dress with black scrollwork. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 25) It has been argued that a sister would wear the colour of her Ajah; Danelle would therefore be wearing brown. However, when Shadar Haran visits Mesaana the weave of Illusion fails and Alviarin sees a woman with blue eyes who looks very familiar to her, though she doesn't have the ageless face of an Aes Sedai. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21) Some people have argued that this rules out Danelle but it should be remembered that Danelle has blue eyes and that Illusion works at it's best when the change is slight, thus Mesaana would look familiar but would not be recognised. (References: TSR Chapter 47 and LoC Chapter 52)

 

 

 

Condensed Timeline

 

Age of Legends: Mesaana was refused a job at the Collam Daan as a researcher; instead she was given the post of teacher. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

Age of Legends: Mesaana turns to the Shadow and sets up schools in her territories to teach children about the Dark One. (Reference: LoC Chapter 2)

 

Age of Legends: Mesaana is bound with the other Forsaken when Lews Therin and his companions seal the Bore. (Reference: TDR Chapter 36)

 

1000 NE: Mesaana receives a report from Alviarin on Elaida's plans and orders Alviarin to make as much chaos as she can within Elaida's orders. (Reference: ACoS Prologue)

 

1000NE: Mesaana doesn't go to Shadar Logoth even though she was told to stop Rand al'Thor and Nynaeve al'Meara from using the Choedan Kal. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

 

1000NE: Shadar Haran teaches Mesaana a lesson because she refused her summons for Shadar Logoth. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

 

 

 

Strengths and Talents

 

As one of the Forsaken, Mesaana has obviously great strength in the One power, (Reference: TEotW Glossary), though she is not the strongest of the female Forsaken, who is Lanfear. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6) However, when Alviarin sees her she cannot sense the ability to channel in Mesaana, nor can she see the weaves she has made. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) Mesaana is forbidden from touching the True Power since Moridin became Nae'blis. (Reference: WH Chapter 13)

 

Since Mesaana was alive in the Age of Legends and worked at the Collam Daan, she obviously has great knowledge in the One Power. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6) She is able to Travel, Mask the Glow and weave Illusion. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) If she is masquerading as an Aes Sedai, she knows how to partially Mask the Glow so that other channellers can sense that she can channel but do not know her real strength. Mesaana has found a ter'angreal somewhere and Alviarin uses it to summon Mesaana at great need. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21) Mesaana is similar in the One Power with Semirhage though she knows where she is stronger and weaker than the other woman. (Reference: LoC Prologue)

 

 

 

Relationships with other characters

 

None of the Forsaken are on particularly good terms with ach other and this is partially true for Mesaana. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 3) Mesaana is not comfortable with being around Semirhage and is not particularly fond of Graendal. (Reference: LoC Prologue) However, she, Demandred and Semirhage have worked together since the War of Power and have an agreement that they will not turn on each other until the other Forsaken have been killed off. (Reference: LoC Chapter 6 and WH Chapter 13)

 

Alviarin is Head of the Black Ajah in the White Tower and Mesaana uses her to spy on Elaida. (Reference: ACoS Prologue) However, she doesn't seem too worried when Alviarin is forced out of her position of Keeper and refuses to help her. She uses Alviarin for many of her errands even though there are other sisters that could help. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

 

Mesaana doesn't care who serves her in the Black Ajah as long as her demands are met. She does not even know the names of all of the Black sisters in the Tower and Salidar Aes Sedai. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Information

 

Mesaana was roughly three hundred years old when the Bore was sealed. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

Mesaana has never been interested in the appearance of power, she only wants true power. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

Bands of brigands during the Breaking were known as Mesaana's Children because they destroyed everything and anything in their path, like Mesaana had taught the children in her territories to do. (Reference: BWB Chapter 6)

 

Mesaana believes that using the One Power whilst doing things that only require concentration defeats the purpose. (Reference: LoC Prologue)

 

Relying on luck is not something that Mesaana likes; she doesn't like gambling everything to achieve something else. (Reference: LoC prologue)

 

Mesaana, in a fit of rage, lets slip to Graendal that she is in the White Tower. (Reference: LoC Chapter 6)

 

Mesaana claimed that she would have Rand under White Tower control, (Reference: LoC Prologue); however, her hopes rested on Galina and her fellow sisters who failed. (Reference: LoC Chapter 55)

 

Mesaana visits Shayol Ghul twice but she can't hear the Dark One and Shadar Haran is silent. (Reference: LoC Prologue)

 

Even Mesaana who learned a lot about the One Power while she worked at the Collam Daan doesn't understand vacuoles. (Reference: ACoS Chapter 25)

 

Mesaana teaches Alviarin some things to do with the One Power- for example Travelling, (Reference: ACoS Prologue) - but she also refuses to teach her more than is necessary. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

 

 

 

Quotes

 

"I always thought you should be a teacher. Oh. I am sorry. I forgot"- Graendal to Mesaana. (Reference: LoC Prologue)

 

"Those three had worked together since before the War of Power. On the surface at least. She was sure they had plotted against one another as assiduously as any of the Chosen, but whether Mesaana undercut Semirhage or Semirhage Demandred, she had never found a crack between them into which a wedge could be driven"- Graendal about Mesaana, Semirhage and Demandred. (Reference: LoC Chapter 6)

 

"Mesaana hid herself because she might be recognised. She must reside in the Tower itself. On the face of it, that seemed impossible but nothing else fit"- Alviarin about Mesaana. (Reference: ACoS Prologue)

 

"Mesaana was the real source of her annoyance. The Chosen taught what she wished and nothing more, hinted at wonders and then withheld them. And Mesaana used her like an errand girl"- Alviarin about Mesaana. (Reference: CoT Chapter 21)

[Smoosh]

Wow....thats really comprehensive. Congrats. There was a post somewhere that said Mesaana was a Sitter for some Ajah, going by the color of her dress. I forget where, but it made sense.

 

 

Oh, and vacuoles aren't Power-derived. They are natural occurances. YOu may need the Power to access them, but they arent derived from the power.

[Aminalcrakers]

So heres me being stupid...What are vacuoles again?

[Bob T Dwarf]

My understanding is that they're pockets in space/time. Each is independent of reality. Each experiences its own timeflow relative to reality.

 

They're places where the Forsaken go to rest, recuperate, and carry out their little experiments on mere mortals.

 

The 'gars transmigrate inside one. So does Moridin. Semirhage uses one to torture and extract information from Cabriana Mecandes.

 

Rand's first two battles with Ba'alzamon likely occurred inside a vacuole.

 

They aren't identified as vacuoles until well into the series.

[Luckers]

The Forsaken do not go there to caryy out experiments or rest or anything. Much of what you said actually just took place in SG or TAR. The only forsaken to go into a vacoule is moghedian, and it freaked the hell out of her because they are inherently unstable, time can flow way too fast and they can just detatch themselves from the pattern like a buble. Indeed, moggy thinks to herself that the only reason anyone in the age of legends used vacoules was to step outside of time for a while and come back in the future.

[Barnabas]

nice post. u mentioned that zaida is a possibility for who mesaana is masquerading as. has alviarin met zaida though? cos if she hasnt it would be a bit hard for her to seem familiar. i personally think she can be rubbed out as a possibility, maybe theodrin too cos i doubt alviarin would remember a novice/accepted, but you never know

[dalic]

in PoD Shevan who is a Sitter is wearing a dark gold dress. like bronze maybe? she is also tall like Mesaana. this may have been thoroughly disproven already.

[Inara]

i dont think messana would even consider putting herself in a position where anyone she considers inferior has authority over her imo. she is definitly a sister.

[Luckers]

It seems likely that she is a sister, though i think she'll be someone in the background. She had Alviarin in position of power early on, and no need for herself. That's why i think its Danelle. She took a key role in ensuring that Suine was dethroned, as well as making sure the fighting escalated enough to do real damage to the tower, then she faded away.

[Inara]

but people know danelle from before the forsaken were set free. im sure siuan mentions that she was surprised that danelle stood against her.

(umm, i think, please correct me if i'm wrong).

also, if messana were to kill danelle and walk around in a danelle disguise, how would she disguise her strength in the power? we know the ability can be masked totally, but i dont remember indication that one's strength can be masked so they look weaker than they are

[Luckers]

It can be, RJ said as much in an interview.

 

What you said of Danelle, that Suine was surprised, just indicates a change in personality... which fits. However, that being said, with as close knit an organisation as the aes Sedai, one which uses knowledge of peoples time spent in training etc, it would be impossible to simply create a new identity like Be'lal and Sammael. What remains is to pick a quiet, uninvolved Aes Sedai with no friends. Which is Danelle to a tea. Additionally Danelle looked alot like Mesanna, which is an explanation for Alviairins, almost but not quite sense of familiarity. Danelle wears mostly brown, which explains the bronze skirt.

[dalic]

In PoD Ch. 25 An Unwelcome Return, Elaida is meeting with six Sitters when Alviarin returns from an unexplained 2 week absence. They are Dehara(red), Velina(white), Shevan(brown), Sedore(yellow), Andaya(gray), and Rubinde(green). After the Sitters leave Elaida's study Alviarin slaps Elaida and sends Sylviana to whip Elaida as a penance.

 

Immediately Mesaana approaches Alviarin and comments on how she did not expect Alviarin to punish Elaida so harshly or something like that. Point is Mesaana knew immediately. I know its no guarantee but I think Mesaana is one of the Sitters who were in the room.

 

No doubt Alviarin Travelled from and back to the White Tower so no one saw her physically walk back into the Tower. Alviarin probably didn't waste anytime going straight to Elaida. So either Mesaana has a fast working eyes and ears network in the Tower or she was somewhere between Alviarin returning and the Sitter meeting with Elaida. Simplest solutions being most likely true she is one of the six.

[Luckers]

Dehara may be a possibility, given her approach of Elayne

[crash]

in CoT chapter 21 A Mark when Alviarin got back from trelmaking she went to Elaida to see what she has been up to and Ferane, Doesine, Suana, and Andaya. When Alviarin went to the Keeper's room and sent for Mesaana, Mesaana told Alviarin that she would not help get the keeper's position back. So I think Andaya would be a possiblity since she was at both places.

[Luckers]

The entire tower knew that Alviarin had been removed as keeper by then.

[crash]

but everyone didn't know she was back

[Luckers]

Alviarin summoned Mesana, not the other way round.

[crash]

Then how did Mesaana know she was striped of the keeper?

[Luckers]

Everyone in the tower had known for over a month. Alviarin only didn't because she was away, indeed, she was stripped when the Rebel army arived, and she couldn't be found. Mesanna was very likely expecting just such a summons from Alviarin the instant she returned.

[Slayer]

Tarna Feir is a red, unlikely to have many friends. Those friends she does have are starting to notice a difference in her (I can't remember where, but it is in CoT when she is talking about the letter from the Black Tower)

She fits the physical description too. And I think, after seeing Alviarin fail and after personally being punished, she decided to take things into her own hands by becoming the new Keeper.

 

The brown fringe on the dress was probably just to throw us off.

[Luckers]

Tarna was a very viable choice pre-KoD, unfortunately in KoD we have had a point of view from her that pretty much disproves it. Additionally she hasn't changed character recently, it happened when she first became Aes Sedai, she became more self-contained and strong willed.

[Slayer]

Well, if it isn't her, I can't help but wonder if she is behind the idea to bond Asha'man. Surely she knows how many darkfriends are in their number

[Luckers]

Tarna IS behind the idea to bond asha'men... and i think her reasoning is logical for her as a member of the light, as indeed her pov suggested she is.

 

Or did you mean Mesanna... that seems unlikely, Pevara, Tarna and later the new head of the red, none of which seem particularily darkfriendy, who were the minds behind the thing were'nt really in a position to be influenced by Mesanna... and indeed, they are not the only Aes Sedai of the light to reach that conclusion.

[ka12azi]

Well' date=' if it isn't her, I can't help but wonder if she is behind the idea to bond Asha'man. Surely she knows how many darkfriends are in their number[/quote'] I'm going to throw Tsutama in the mix, for the same reasons (and more) as Tarna Feir. Comments?

 

Also, someone earlier mentioned that Moggy was the only FS to use a vacuole. That isn't true. Ishamael (Moridin) uses one when he holds Moggy captive after her escape from the Tower in exile. Also, to further define a vacuole, it is a bubble of time and space that is outside of the normal continuum of the pattern, but connected to it in some fashion. If the bubble breaks loose from the pattern, those caught in it are lost forever.

 

Lastly, I thought that Semi was torturing Cabriana in the real world, not TAR or a vacuole.

[Kadere]

Shouldn't Messana have to be a reletively new Aes Sedai? Most of these women were around back in New Spring, shouldn't she not have come around till after The Eye of the World? (unless she could somehow kill one and take their form, but I'm not sure that's possible.)