Mysterious Wanderer? Who is he?!

[Blacksmith]

**I don’t think this topic as been discussed because I couldn’t find anything on it when I tried searching for it.** 

 

Well here it goes!  I’ve read the series several times and there is one major part (at least I think it is important) that has been driving me crazy for years trying to figure out who this mysterious “wanderer” is.  It happens in A Crown of Swords in chapter 41 ( the relevant passage starts at the top of page 846 and goes to the top of page 849… in the paper back edition) when Rand pursues Sammael from Illian to Shadar Logoth attempting to kill him.  Just when Rand might possibly die this mysterious man showed up to save the day.  Not only did he save Rand but he gave him advice that helped him to defeat Sammael as well.

 

Who do you think this mysterious man could possibly be?  The Creator himself? Or perhaps the creators agent in this world?  Or perhaps another mysterious force/group which tries to set the coarse of events for the better as his statement dealing with plans might suggest.  Perhaps it could be someone else completely?

 

Regardless of who he might be I think that he will play an important role in the last book.

 

What do you guys/gals think?  Who do you think he is?  What do you think of his timely appearance?  Do you think Robert Jordan had big plans for this mysterious character in his last book?  Please discuss this mysterious “wanderer” in general.

 

Thanks, I look forward to reading your responses.

 

Key passages from pages 846-849 to help jog your memory:

 

“… the other man, a big fellow little older than he, with hair black as the night and a coat black as an Asha’man’s.  Rand had never seen him before.  At least he was not one of the Forsaken; those faces he knew.  He thought he did, anyway.  “Who are you?” he demanded.

Still heaving, the man barked a laugh.  “Just say I’m a wanderer passing through.  Do you really want to talk now?”” (p. 846)

 

“Without a thought, his free hand rose, and balefire shot upward, a bar of liquid white fire slicing across the wave sinking toward them.  Dimly he was aware of another bar of pale solid fire rising from the other man’s hand that was not clasping his, a bar slashing the opposite way from his.” (p. 846)

 

“He was easily as tall as Rand, rare except among the Aiel.” (p. 847)

 

“His rescuer stood watching him; covered with dust head to toe, the fellow managed to look a king.

“Who are you?” Rand asked again.  “One of Taim’s men?  Or did you teach yourself?  You can go to Caemlyn, you know, to the Black Tower.  You don’t have to live afraid of Aes Sedai.”  For some reason, saying that made him frown; he could not understand why.

“I have never been afraid of Aes Sedai,” the man snapped, then drew a deep breath.” (p. 847)

 

“” Try not to stumble.  A great many plans will have to be relaid if you let yourself be killed now.”” (p. 848)

 

“The man vanished into the alley…The fellow had had time to make a gateway, of course, if he knew how, but the residue would have been visible, and besides, that much of saidin being woven so near would have shouted at him.

Suddenly he realized that he had not felt saidin when the man made balefire, either.” (p. 848)

 

 

[aussie_ashaman123]

Current Rumor is that its Moridin, Ive always wanted to think it was an agent for the Creator, or even the Wheel, making sure the pattern comes out okay, but I have to admit, I too, believe its our saa-y eyed friend Moridin

[aevogt]

It's a safe bet that Osangar, as part of the assualt force Rand led to Illian, knew where Rand was going and when, he could have sent word to Moridin, via the second callbox that Sammael thinks about during his trick against the Shaido.

[aussie_ashaman123]

Osan'gar knew Rand would end up in Shadar Logoth? A bit too far-fetched, even Rand didnt know until he jumped through the gate.

 

Although, didnt Asmodean say that Ishy could read weaves or something like that?

[RAND AL THOR]

I don't understand why people expect the man to have been Moridin. Why would Moridin want to dispose of Sammael? He is Nae'blis so he should not have to compete with the other Forsaken anymore for power. Actually, the more Forsaken left now, the better for Moridin because he needs agents to carry out his work. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR MORIDIN TO ELIMINATE ANY MORE FORSAKEN. So why would it be him?

 

And no, I don't think it is the creator. That would utterly destroy the structure of the story. If the Creator can step in in any way then the forces of the Light would suddenly be stronger than they currently are. That diminishes the plot so far. Why need Callandor with the Creator by your side? Nope, the creator will just be with his bag of popcorn watching the show unfold. ;)

[bRANDan]

The 'wanderer' used the TP. Moridin is the only one at that time who is allowed to use it. It requires direct permission from the DO to use it.  Therefore the only person it could be is Moridin. The descriptions match perfectly, and Moridin had been keeping an eye on Sammael for some time. The wanderer is unquestionably Moridin.

[aevogt]

The Wanderer channels and Rand feels nothing.

 

Thus far, there are precisely two explanations for this.

 

It's a female soul transmigrated into a male body and is actually channeling Saidin.  Although Rand should have felt goosebumps if this had been the case

 

Or

 

The channeler is channeling the True Power.

 

All things being equal, I tend to lean towards the True Power and that means it's Moridin.

 

 

Whether he had any need to eliminate more forsaken, well...he is crazy and has been for better than 3000 years so why would he need a reason.  Maybe a magic fairy told him to do it.

[Cybertrolloc]

Positing another powerful channeler with AoL knowledge that we haven't seen anything from in 4 books seems like a stretch. Even though LTT is nuts, I don't see a reason to discount what he thinks in KoD about Rand's link to Moridin (at this point we know it's him) and how it came about: the balefire incident in SL. Also, nothing in the Wanderer's description differs from that of Moridin, though it isn't very complete.

 

aevogt, I'd think there'd be a way to hide channeling for males as well. We know that the way females can hide holding the power defeats the male sense of feeling saidar being held, and that Mesaana can hide everything from Alviarian (though I don't think we have an example of Mesaana using something that couldn't have been prepared earlier). And we know that inverting/reversing can be done with Saidin, though not whether they're identical to what can be done with Saidar in effect. I still consider it possible/likely that things like this exist.

[bRANDan]

And we know that inverting/reversing can be done with Saidin, though not whether they're identical to what can be done with Saidar in effect. I still consider it possible/likely that things like this exist.

 

I agree with you, but I just don't see Moridin walking around with an inverted weave of balefire, ready to loose any moment. He's crazy yeah, but there always seems to be a method to his madness.

 

Plus, from Moghedian's description of Moridin, she says that to have as many saa as Moridin has he must have been using the TP almost exclusively. Which just shows how unlikely it would be for Moridin to have been walking around with inverted Saidin weaves, instead of using his TP which, because he doesn't have to prepare any weaves before hand, provides a greater advantage.

[Dashiva]

 

I don't understand why people expect the man to have been Moridin. Why would Moridin want to dispose of Sammael? He is Nae'blis so he should not have to compete with the other Forsaken anymore for power. Actually, the more Forsaken left now, the better for Moridin because he needs agents to carry out his work. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR MORIDIN TO ELIMINATE ANY MORE FORSAKEN. So why would it be him?

 

The Wanderer is in fact Moridin, and has been proven in KoD. Moridin doesn't necessarily need to eliminate any more forsaken (especially for power) but he doesn't need one of the forsaken to kill Rand. Because the order is to "Let the Lord of Chaos rule" and not kill him.  And im pretty sure he would do what he has to to stop that, and that includes aiding Rand. Also more motivation would be that Sammael hasn't really been in cahoots with the other forsaken, and he's been distancing himself more. So he wouldn't be very amenable to carry out Moridin's plans. Basically Sammael has become more of a nuisance than an ally to the shadow. 

[Harmless Bandit]

Bright blue eyes, inky black hair, very tall, the descriptions from Rand and Moghedien match. Moghedien had first hand evidence that Moridin used the True Power, Rand didn't feel anything when the 'wanderer' channelled.

 

If it's not the True Power, it would have to be most likely saidin, but then someone would have to explain why the 'wanderer' needed to hide that he can channel (Rand didn't feel him holding saidin), but then go on right there and channel (thus revealing that he can channel).

 

As to why Moridin would aid Rand to kill Sammael, I get the feeling that Moridin plays a game that is beyond even those of his fellow Chosen. I believe he alone really has the Dark One's ideals at heart, the others are merely after power. The Dark One's plans involve letting Rand live, Sammael was eagerly trying to do the opposite, therefore Moridin felt he needed to be removed from the game.

[benr]

You all state the very good case that it is Moridin; KoD does indeed confirm it.  As for Moridin being Nae'blis, that may or may not be true, and even if it is, Moridin knows that it is a temporary position, and aside from the very good reason that it was ordered that Rand not be killed, eliminating Sammael eliminates a contender for Nae'blis.

[Tuon Rocks 123]

If I remember correctly, Rand Saw the Saa in the man's eyes, confirming him as Moridin

[RAND AL THOR]

Okay, after reading all this I am now convinced that the wanderer is Moridin. I haven't read books 7-9 in ages since they are so much weaker than the earlier books ( i re-read the first 5 books ALL the time).

 

Still, he helps Rand and also helps him kill Sammael. Weird. If the chance to kill the Dragon pops up, why not use it?Rather than spreading chaos etc etc killing Rand would throw the entire world into confusion. But given the chance,

Moridin/wanderer does not use it. ??? ??? ???

[benr]

RAND AL THOR:

 

Moridin is Nae'blis for now (Nae'blis Pro Tem); and knows that the position can be very temporary.  While there has been speculation that the DL could want the Dragon Reborn as Nae'blis, Moridin knows that Sammael is a much bigger threat.  Having Rand dispatch of him increases his chances of holding on to the job.  On the other hand, if Sammael gets rid of Rand, it accomplishes the things you mentioned and puts Sammael in the position of disobeying the DL, however much there were extenuating circumstances (I get the feeling the DL doesn't much take into account any circumstances, even extenuating ones).  This would also strengthen his Nae'blis creds. 

[RAND AL THOR]

That makes sense Benr.

 

Also, it is Dark One, not Dark Lord.  ;D

[benr]

Dark One, Dark Lord, Great Lord, Great One(?); I'm so confused.  Here I'm trying to avoid getting his attention by not naming him, and now he's probably all PO'd at me.

[RAND AL THOR]

Dark One, Dark Lord, Great Lord, Great One(?); I'm so confused.  Here I'm trying to avoid getting his attention by not naming him, and now he's probably all PO'd at me.

 

Ah ya, a lot of fantasy writers are having trouble because all of those names have already been taken:Dark Lord/Dark One/Nameless One.......Great Lord of the Dark is classic though.  ;)

[Guest Dreadlord]

Ba'alzamon has to be my favourite name for him though. Although that was Ishamael, if I remember correctly

[RAND AL THOR]

Ba'alzamon has to be my favourite name for him though. Although that was Ishamael, if I remember correctly

 

You do remeber correctly.

 

And incidentally, Is it pronounced Baalzamon(continuous word) or Ba-alzamon(with a gap where the hyphen is?)

 

Some of the spellings in the WoT lead to pretty funny situations. I was discussing the Seanchan with a friend of mine, who has also read the WoT.

 

I called them:  Sea-an-chan

He called them-Soanchan

 

We didn;t understand what we were talking about for at least 2 entire minutes(that may not seem like much but it really is a long period of time in a conversation). ;D

[price_check]

yeah most signs say it is morridin although i doubt morridin would save rand.

maybe it is a different forsaken unkown to rand and the others who is used directly by the DO to make sure his plans are not ruined. Maybe the person went through to the aelfin or the eelfin and was told what had to be done or someting

i hav probs forgotten but who was that man who was watching sammael n mesaana meet wid sevanna? could it be him? he may hav follow sammael to S.L and watched him lay the traps out- he might have used the aelfin/eelfin too?

[Luckers]

The watcher is also Moridin. Again his use of the True Power makes that clear.

 

And i don't know if it helps, but RJ pronouneces it Shawn-chan.

 

[Guest Dreadlord]

Yep the watcher and wanderer are both Moridin. Now, has anyone else thought there is some connection between Moridin and Shaidar Haran? Something more than then merely being on the same level/working with each other?

[RAND AL THOR]

I think Shaidar Haran is the weirdest character in the story. His exact standing remains unclear. Nae'blis is supposed to be one step below the DO himself but I can't quite place Shaidar Haran.

Are they really working together?

Or who is taken instructions from whom?

I can only speculate uselessly on this idea.

REALLY looking forward to AMOL. ;)

[price_check]

yes i tink we all r lol

gonna pre-order its ass off