Mordeth
Encyclopedia
Mordeth is a minor antagonist of The Wheel of Time
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
.
when the main characters go to Shadar Logoth
. He lures Rand al'Thor
, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara
into an underground chamber full of cursed treasure. After a brief scuffle between them, the three boys flee, but Mat steals a ruby hilted dagger and doesn't reveal it until it is too late.
Mat takes the dagger out of Shadar Logoth, thus releasing its evil into the world. The dagger is tainted, as is every item and pebble in Shadar Logoth. Before Moiraine realizes this, it is too late and the dagger has bound itself to Mat, effectively tainting him. The bond will eventually kill him if he does not reach Tar Valon
in time for the Aes Sedai
to heal him.
Later, when Padan Fain
follows Rand, Mat, and Perrin into Shadar Logoth, he encounters Mordeth who attempts to possess him. Due to Fain's 'reforming' by Ba'alzamon, Mordeth is only partially successful, merging with Fain's personality rather than replacing it. Later, he steals the dagger and carries it with him, for even a single successful strike infects the victim with Shadar Logoth's evil and kills almost instantly. Fain creates a new alias for himself when attaching to the Children of the Light: "Ordeith", 'Wormwood
' in the Old Tongue. Later, he goes with the name "Jeraal Mordeth", indicating that the Mordeth personality is taking over.
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 series by Robert Jordan
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...
.
Background
During the Trolloc Wars, Mordeth was a councilor to the ruler of Aridhol, a magnificent Ogier-built city. Because of his influence, Aridhol's methods at fighting the Shadow became as malevolent as the Shadow itself, only in a different way. The culmination was the destruction of the city. No enemy entered it, but every living creature in Aridhol, which later became known as "Shadar Logoth" ('the Place where the Shadow waits'), was killed by the hate and evil that Mordeth spread. The evil councilor himself was spared, but he became a spirit, haunting the ruins of the city and waiting for a host to deceive and possess.Role as an Antagonist
In the series, Mordeth first appeared in The Eye of the WorldThe Eye of the World
The Eye of the World is the first book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on January 15, 1990. The unabridged audio book is read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading...
when the main characters go to Shadar Logoth
Shadar Logoth
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Shadar Logoth, formerly known as Aridhol, was a city located in what is now Andor...
. He lures Rand al'Thor
Rand 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:...
, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara
Perrin Aybara
Perrin t'Bashere Aybara, or Goldeneyes, is one of the main characters of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy The Wheel of Time. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow...
into an underground chamber full of cursed treasure. After a brief scuffle between them, the three boys flee, but Mat steals a ruby hilted dagger and doesn't reveal it until it is too late.
Mat takes the dagger out of Shadar Logoth, thus releasing its evil into the world. The dagger is tainted, as is every item and pebble in Shadar Logoth. Before Moiraine realizes this, it is too late and the dagger has bound itself to Mat, effectively tainting him. The bond will eventually kill him if he does not reach Tar Valon
Tar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
in time for the 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...
to heal him.
Later, when Padan Fain
Padan Fain
Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Peddler and Darkfriend:Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a Darkfriend in his twenties, for the promise of immortality...
follows Rand, Mat, and Perrin into Shadar Logoth, he encounters Mordeth who attempts to possess him. Due to Fain's 'reforming' by Ba'alzamon, Mordeth is only partially successful, merging with Fain's personality rather than replacing it. Later, he steals the dagger and carries it with him, for even a single successful strike infects the victim with Shadar Logoth's evil and kills almost instantly. Fain creates a new alias for himself when attaching to the Children of the Light: "Ordeith", 'Wormwood
Wormwood
Wormwood may refer to:*Various plants of the genus Artemisia but commonly Artemisia absinthium, also called grande wormwood or absinthe wormwood...
' in the Old Tongue. Later, he goes with the name "Jeraal Mordeth", indicating that the Mordeth personality is taking over.