Padan Fain
Encyclopedia
Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
.
in his twenties, for the promise of immortality. Continuing his work as a peddler
, he came to Emond's Field every spring, and loved being the center of attention.
. He journeyed to Shayol Ghul
and met Ba'alzamon, who gave him dark powers to aid in his hunt. In 997 NE he journeyed back to Shayol Ghul and his mind was "distilled" of his findings. This process was agonizing, and fueled a resentment of Ba'alzamon and those he had been set to track. By 998 NE, given the special ability to track the ones he was seeking, he had narrowed his search to three boys from Emond's Field: Rand al'Thor
, Matrim Cauthon
and Perrin Aybara
. With this certainty in mind, he brought Trollocs and Myrddraal to Emond's Field on Winternight.
and company, running alongside the Trollocs until he passed out from exhaustion, and then dragged until he was able to run again. This continued until they reached the Taren River, where the Myrddraal sent him across the river alone before returning with the Trollocs to a Waygate
. However, on the other side of the Taren he was captured by another Myrddraal before reaching Baerlon, with Fain forced to spend each night bent double in a Trolloc kettle.
When the Aes Sedai and her party hid in Shadar Logoth
, he managed to escape the Myrddraal only to be trapped by Mordeth
, the ancient spirit which had caused the downfall of Aridhol (the ancient name of Shadar Logoth). Mordeth had at last found the vessel he needed to command so he could escape the damned city; but because the Dark One had touched and changed Fain's soul, Mordeth could only merge with Fain, not overtake him.
The hatred of the Shadow felt by Mordeth combined corrosively with Fain's resentment of the changes forced upon him. After this merger, his compulsion to hunt Rand, Mat and Perrin grew even stronger, aided by the fact that he could already sense where they were. He blamed the boys, on some level, for causing what had happened to him. Following them along the Ways from Caemlyn to Fal Dara in Shienar, he was able to remove his ties to the Dark One and claimed to be a changed man; in fact, any changes wrought made him more dangerous and evil than ever (Myrddraal can make men sweat, but Fain makes Myrddraal sweat). In the chaos of the attack against Fal Dara, he escaped with the dagger Mat took from Shadar Logoth and the Horn of Valere
.
While travelling in the Ways
, Fain was caught by Machin Shin, the Black Wind of the Ways that devours souls, be they human or Shadowspawn. The screaming voices of the Wind greeted him as a friend and feared him, the Wind fleeing from him (this is the first time something living has been grasped by the wind and escaped). It is unknown whether this had any real effect on Fain, but the Wind appears to have picked up Fain's compulsion to hunt Rand; the Wind was next seen trying to force itself out of the Ways to devour Rand in Cairhien (again, a first, as it is assumed that the Wind cannot leave the Ways, and had never before sought specific people). It has since been shown that the Wind will be drawn to any Waygate that Rand attempts to open, effectively preventing Rand from using the Ways. Perrin does not have this problem, indicating that when Fain encountered the Wind his hunt for the Dragon Reborn had already been narrowed to Rand.
-occupied Falme, where he lost the dagger and the Horn. Calling himself Ordeith (wormwood in the Old Tongue
), he changed strategies from force to manipulation: convincing Lord Captain Commander Pedron Niall
of the Whitecloaks, as well as Elaida do'Avriny a'Roihan, to oppose Rand. He also convinced Niall to send Whitecloaks to the Two Rivers, hoping it would draw Rand out. Unfortunately, he got Perrin instead, and the future Lord Goldeneyes of the Two Rivers broke him of his Whitecloak affiliations.
He is one of the most dangerous creatures in the known world, as dangerous as any Forsaken
. He can corrupt people by just being in their presence; he can sense fear and tension and can tell a Darkfriend on sight. He has also developed a way to inflict pain by touch, from levels of 'merely' harmful to deadly. Eventually he recovered the dagger (his primary interest) in Tar Valon
; he feels complete with it. He is very likely insane and is wanted by the Shadow. Slayer was sent to the Two Rivers to kill him, but failed miserably.
. Padan Fain escaped, and Rand would have died were it not for the presence of Aes Sedai nearby. He later appeared in Far Madding, where he killed three of the renegade Asha'man
and lured Rand into a trap, hoping to finally kill him. He failed, however, and was forced to flee. Fain was not seen after the destruction of Shadar Logoth, but Robert Jordan confirmed that it had no effect on him.
He again appears in the prologue of Towers of Midnight
where he is travelling through the blight, presumably towards Shayol Ghul. He slays a pack of Worms (a feat which a legion is apparently unable to accomplish) and goes on to corrupt Trollocs to do his bidding. He has also taken to cutting his own hand with the ruby dagger. It is revealed that the mist which was previously thought to be a bubble of evil, was really due to Fain's influence on the world around him.
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...
.
Peddler and Darkfriend
Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a DarkfriendDarkfriend
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, Darkfriends are followers of the Dark One. Darkfriend in the Old Tongue is Atha'an Shadar, which translated more directly to "People of the Dark"....
in his twenties, for the promise of immortality. Continuing his work as a peddler
Peddler
A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, or solicitor , is a travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used for travellers hawking goods in the countryside to small towns and villages; they might also be called tinkers or gypsies...
, he came to Emond's Field every spring, and loved being the center of attention.
Dark One's Hound
Sometime in 996 NE he was chosen for a special task: to seek the Dragon RebornDragon (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the Dragon is the champion of the Light and the Creator against the evil Dark One. Although the Dark One was imprisoned by the Creator at the moment of creation, he continually seeks to break free of his prison. In each Age, the Dragon...
. He journeyed to Shayol Ghul
Shayol Ghul
In the Wheel of Time fantasy novel series, Shayol Ghul is a mountain beyond the Great Blight in the north of the known world. It is the place in the physical world to which the Dark One's prison seems closest...
and met Ba'alzamon, who gave him dark powers to aid in his hunt. In 997 NE he journeyed back to Shayol Ghul and his mind was "distilled" of his findings. This process was agonizing, and fueled a resentment of Ba'alzamon and those he had been set to track. By 998 NE, given the special ability to track the ones he was seeking, he had narrowed his search to three boys from Emond's Field: 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
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
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...
. With this certainty in mind, he brought Trollocs and Myrddraal to Emond's Field on Winternight.
Escape
After the failure of that attack, Fain fell out of favour with Ba'alzamon, and was forced to join the Trollocs in the hunt for Moiraine DamodredMoiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
and company, running alongside the Trollocs until he passed out from exhaustion, and then dragged until he was able to run again. This continued until they reached the Taren River, where the Myrddraal sent him across the river alone before returning with the Trollocs to a Waygate
Waygate
The Ways are an alternate dimension in Robert Jordan's fictional Wheel of Time series. The Ways are accessed through Waygates, introduced in the first book in the series, The Eye of the World...
. However, on the other side of the Taren he was captured by another Myrddraal before reaching Baerlon, with Fain forced to spend each night bent double in a Trolloc kettle.
When the Aes Sedai and her party hid in 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 managed to escape the Myrddraal only to be trapped by Mordeth
Mordeth
Mordeth is a minor antagonist of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-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...
, the ancient spirit which had caused the downfall of Aridhol (the ancient name of Shadar Logoth). Mordeth had at last found the vessel he needed to command so he could escape the damned city; but because the Dark One had touched and changed Fain's soul, Mordeth could only merge with Fain, not overtake him.
The hatred of the Shadow felt by Mordeth combined corrosively with Fain's resentment of the changes forced upon him. After this merger, his compulsion to hunt Rand, Mat and Perrin grew even stronger, aided by the fact that he could already sense where they were. He blamed the boys, on some level, for causing what had happened to him. Following them along the Ways from Caemlyn to Fal Dara in Shienar, he was able to remove his ties to the Dark One and claimed to be a changed man; in fact, any changes wrought made him more dangerous and evil than ever (Myrddraal can make men sweat, but Fain makes Myrddraal sweat). In the chaos of the attack against Fal Dara, he escaped with the dagger Mat took from Shadar Logoth and the Horn of Valere
Horn of Valere
The Horn of Valere is a fictional object in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It is a horn that is able to call the heroes that are linked to it back from the grave. Sounding the Horn bonds the horn to its sounder. Until that person's death, only he can use the Horn of Valere to...
.
While travelling in the Ways
Ways
Ways is the third album of the Japanese rock group Show-Ya. The album was released on 3 September 1986 in Japan. All the songs were arranged by Tadashi Namba & Show Ya.-Overview:...
, Fain was caught by Machin Shin, the Black Wind of the Ways that devours souls, be they human or Shadowspawn. The screaming voices of the Wind greeted him as a friend and feared him, the Wind fleeing from him (this is the first time something living has been grasped by the wind and escaped). It is unknown whether this had any real effect on Fain, but the Wind appears to have picked up Fain's compulsion to hunt Rand; the Wind was next seen trying to force itself out of the Ways to devour Rand in Cairhien (again, a first, as it is assumed that the Wind cannot leave the Ways, and had never before sought specific people). It has since been shown that the Wind will be drawn to any Waygate that Rand attempts to open, effectively preventing Rand from using the Ways. Perrin does not have this problem, indicating that when Fain encountered the Wind his hunt for the Dragon Reborn had already been narrowed to Rand.
Ordeith
He enticed Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin Sedai and Ingtar Shinowa to SeanchanSeanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
-occupied Falme, where he lost the dagger and the Horn. Calling himself Ordeith (wormwood in the Old Tongue
Old Tongue
The Old Tongue is a fictional language from Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. It is depicted as a now-dead language, spoken only by scholars and certain nobles, but still plays a role in the plot of the books.-History:...
), he changed strategies from force to manipulation: convincing Lord Captain Commander Pedron Niall
Pedron Niall
Pedron Niall is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. He was Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light - the highest rank in the military force and the de facto leader of the nation of Amadicia. Niall is slender and sinewy, elderly, yet still strong to the core...
of the Whitecloaks, as well as Elaida do'Avriny a'Roihan, to oppose Rand. He also convinced Niall to send Whitecloaks to the Two Rivers, hoping it would draw Rand out. Unfortunately, he got Perrin instead, and the future Lord Goldeneyes of the Two Rivers broke him of his Whitecloak affiliations.
He is one of the most dangerous creatures in the known world, as dangerous as any Forsaken
Forsaken (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken are the most powerful and favored servants of the Dark One. They were formerly Aes Sedai, but became corrupted by the desire for power and immortality...
. He can corrupt people by just being in their presence; he can sense fear and tension and can tell a Darkfriend on sight. He has also developed a way to inflict pain by touch, from levels of 'merely' harmful to deadly. Eventually he recovered the dagger (his primary interest) in 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...
; he feels complete with it. He is very likely insane and is wanted by the Shadow. Slayer was sent to the Two Rivers to kill him, but failed miserably.
Jeraal Mordeth
Padan Fain later entered into the service of a group of rebels outside Cairhien who opposed the Dragon Reborn, going by the name Jeraal Mordeth. He was recognized by Rand, but the attack of a bubble of evil prevented justice. Worse, Padan Fain used his dagger on Rand, slashing across the wound caused by IshamaelIshamael
Ishamael is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken...
. Padan Fain escaped, and Rand would have died were it not for the presence of Aes Sedai nearby. He later appeared in Far Madding, where he killed three of the renegade 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:...
and lured Rand into a trap, hoping to finally kill him. He failed, however, and was forced to flee. Fain was not seen after the destruction of Shadar Logoth, but Robert Jordan confirmed that it had no effect on him.
He again appears in the prologue of Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the sequel to the novel The Gathering Storm, and the 13th book in the Wheel of Time series.The novel is the second part of A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan's projected final book...
where he is travelling through the blight, presumably towards Shayol Ghul. He slays a pack of Worms (a feat which a legion is apparently unable to accomplish) and goes on to corrupt Trollocs to do his bidding. He has also taken to cutting his own hand with the ruby dagger. It is revealed that the mist which was previously thought to be a bubble of evil, was really due to Fain's influence on the world around him.