Mazrim Taim
Encyclopedia
Mazrim Taim is a character in Robert Jordan
's The Wheel of Time
fantasy
series.
he is judged to be around thirty-five, but author Robert Jordan has subsequently confirmed he is in his late twenties.
. He is very strong, but it is not known just how strong he is. He is one of the most experienced male channelers in the world, with only Lews Therin and the male Forsaken have more experience. He also avoided the madness and sickness of the Taint longer than any non-Forsaken.
Initially he is far more experienced in using the One Power than Rand, even if they were otherwise approximately matched in ability. In Lord of Chaos
, Rand tells him to seize as much of the Power he can. Taim seizes the Power and Rand sees that he holds almost as much as Rand is able to. Rand doesn't detect any evidence of strain on Taim's part, which causes Rand to suspect Taim is more powerful than he lets on. Rand himself gets much stronger throughout the remaining books (singlehandedly smashing tens of thousands of shadowspawn by himself in the Towers of Midnight) and with the benefit of all of Lews Therin's knowledge from the Age of Legends is probably much more powerful than Taim now.
, the only time in history where there were two False Dragons who could channel. During the events which unfolded in The Great Hunt
, when Rand al'Thor declared himself the true Dragon, Taim was thrown from his horse in battle and captured by Aes Sedai. Taim escaped and came to Rand in Caemlyn shortly after Rand announced an amnesty for men who could channel, carrying with him one of the seven seals
on the Dark One's prison. He was given the task of recruiting and training men in the use of the One Power, leading what would become known as the Asha'man
of the Black Tower.
In Knife of Dreams
, Taim met with the White Tower Aes Sedai
and agreed to allow the bonding of Asha'man by sisters of the Red Ajah
. His justification for this was to "Let the Lord of Chaos rule," a phrase unknown outside the circle of the Forsaken and high-ranking Darkfriends (possible evidence that he may be a Darkfriend or a new Dreadlord). His house is also described as largely decorated with the colors red and black, possible evidence of ties to Moridin, who dresses his servants in the same colors. This link to Moridin is made almost certain by the Dreamspike located at the Black Tower, previously described by Moridin as being "put to good use"
Logain claims that Taim has a small sect of followers whom he personally teaches weaves that no other Asha'man know. Taim refuses to believe that Rand was responsible for the cleansing of saidin.
There are suspicions that Taim is a darkfriend, in light of his connections with the renegade Asha'man Rochaid and Kisman. They have been shown to defer to him as if he was one of the chosen. There are many such instances littered throughout the series where Taim's intentions are shown to be counterproductive to Rand's. As of book 13, channelers are unable to make gateways around the Black Tower and Taim seems to be all too aware of this problem. Moridin hints that out of the two dreamspikes he owns, one is placed near the Black Tower and this provides credence to the belief that Taim is a darkfriend.
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series.
Description
Taim is described as having black hair, above average in height with a dark face, tilted eyes, hooked nose and high cheekbones. When introduced to Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
he is judged to be around thirty-five, but author Robert Jordan has subsequently confirmed he is in his late twenties.
Abilities
Taim can channel saidin, the male half of the One PowerOne Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
. He is very strong, but it is not known just how strong he is. He is one of the most experienced male channelers in the world, with only Lews Therin and the male Forsaken have more experience. He also avoided the madness and sickness of the Taint longer than any non-Forsaken.
Initially he is far more experienced in using the One Power than Rand, even if they were otherwise approximately matched in ability. In Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1994, and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995. Lord of Chaos consists of a prologue, 55 chapters, and...
, Rand tells him to seize as much of the Power he can. Taim seizes the Power and Rand sees that he holds almost as much as Rand is able to. Rand doesn't detect any evidence of strain on Taim's part, which causes Rand to suspect Taim is more powerful than he lets on. Rand himself gets much stronger throughout the remaining books (singlehandedly smashing tens of thousands of shadowspawn by himself in the Towers of Midnight) and with the benefit of all of Lews Therin's knowledge from the Age of Legends is probably much more powerful than Taim now.
False Dragon
Taim had originally declared himself the Dragon Reborn at around the same time as Logain AblarLogain Ablar
Logain Ablar is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.-False Dragon:Logain Ablar was a False Dragon who could channel the One Power. He proclaimed himself shortly before the events of Winternight in the Two Rivers...
, the only time in history where there were two False Dragons who could channel. During the events which unfolded in The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt is the second book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 15, 1990. The Great Hunt consists of a prologue and 50 chapters...
, when Rand al'Thor declared himself the true Dragon, Taim was thrown from his horse in battle and captured by Aes Sedai. Taim escaped and came to Rand in Caemlyn shortly after Rand announced an amnesty for men who could channel, carrying with him one of the seven seals
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
on the Dark One's prison. He was given the task of recruiting and training men in the use of the One Power, leading what would become known as the Asha'man
Asha'man
The Asha'man are an organization of men who can channel the male part of the One Power, Saidin, in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time.-Description:...
of the Black Tower.
M'hael
Taim is a very power-hungry individual, as evidenced by his claim to be the Dragon Reborn. He is spiteful of those more powerful than he, but is willing to become their underling if in exchange for a position of his choosing. This is what led to his dissension with Rand. He appears at first very willing to be second to Rand, but with a title and power of his own choosing, which Rand is unwilling to allow. Taim first begins to resent Rand when he places him in the farm, from which the Black Tower would spring, to teach men who sought to learn to channel, instead of allowing him to stay by Rand's side. When Rand confers upon him the title of Asha'man, he is clearly unhappy about being seen as second to him. After that day he never wears the black garb of Asha'man, nor the Sword pin of the Dedicated or the Dragon pin of the Asha'man. Instead he calls himself M'hael, meaning leader, and electing garments adorned on the sleeves with Dragons, to make himself seem equal to Rand. The two are at silent war with each other: Rand is unable to kill him despite his treacheries because he is holding the Black Tower together for him to use at Tarmon Gai'don, while Taim cannot risk trying to kill Rand personally because Rand is more powerful than he, and any open action against him could turn Asha'man who are loyal to Rand against him.In Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
, Taim met with the White Tower Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
and agreed to allow the bonding of Asha'man by sisters of the Red Ajah
Red Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Red Ajah is strongly dedicated to preventing another Breaking of the World.-Organization:Its leader is known as the Highest...
. His justification for this was to "Let the Lord of Chaos rule," a phrase unknown outside the circle of the Forsaken and high-ranking Darkfriends (possible evidence that he may be a Darkfriend or a new Dreadlord). His house is also described as largely decorated with the colors red and black, possible evidence of ties to Moridin, who dresses his servants in the same colors. This link to Moridin is made almost certain by the Dreamspike located at the Black Tower, previously described by Moridin as being "put to good use"
Logain claims that Taim has a small sect of followers whom he personally teaches weaves that no other Asha'man know. Taim refuses to believe that Rand was responsible for the cleansing of saidin.
There are suspicions that Taim is a darkfriend, in light of his connections with the renegade Asha'man Rochaid and Kisman. They have been shown to defer to him as if he was one of the chosen. There are many such instances littered throughout the series where Taim's intentions are shown to be counterproductive to Rand's. As of book 13, channelers are unable to make gateways around the Black Tower and Taim seems to be all too aware of this problem. Moridin hints that out of the two dreamspikes he owns, one is placed near the Black Tower and this provides credence to the belief that Taim is a darkfriend.