True Power
Encyclopedia
The True Power is a source of mystical power found in the Wheel of Time
books of Robert Jordan
. It is similar to the One Power
, but differs in some important respects.
. Both men and women wield the same aspect of the True Power, unlike with the One Power's twin aspects, saidin and saidar, but any channeling of the True Power cannot be detected by anyone but the user and the Dark One himself. Access to the One Power and the True Power are simultaneously dependent on and independent from each other. Only those with the ability to channel the One Power can channel the True Power, if allowed (though Shaidar Haran
may be an exception, judging by some abilities he has been shown to have), but access to either source is independent from access to the other. For instance, when Semirhage linked with an unwilling Rand al'Thor
in book twelve, The Gathering Storm
, and controlled his use of saidin, he was still free to unconsciously tap into and channel the True Power himself.
While there is little evidence in the series of what it is like to use the True Power, what there is would suggest strongly that it is a destructive force, inimical to the Pattern. For example while weaving a Gateway a channeler with saidin cleanly cuts through the Pattern to bridge the gap. A channeler with saidar persuades the Pattern to reform so that the location the gateway is "from" is the same as the location the gateway is "to". In the only example in the books of a Gateway being weaved with the True Power, the Pattern "screams" as a hole is "torn" in it. The Dark One, Shai'tan, from whom the True Power stems in the first place, is the "devil" or "destroyer" figure in the Wheel of Time series. Also, the True Power can be much stronger than the One Power, as it can be used to do things that are impossible through channeling the One Power. For example, it was once used by Ishamael
to cure Lews Therin Telamon
's insanity, which was caused by the Dark One's taint on saidin; such an act was deemed impossible through the use of either saidar or saidin until an event in the Towers of Midnight where limited progress was made.
, the most corrupt of the Forsaken, is shown with fire raging through his eyes and mouth in many key scenes although this is intermittent with normal appearance. Ishamael may have also believed he was the Dark One. Whether this is due to the excessive use of True Power is unknown. However, if this is the case, it leads to interesting questions in the nature of the True Power itself on how much it could corrupt the mind.
Originally, all of the Forsaken
could wield the True Power, but few ever did, due to its corrupting nature. Demandred himself clearly states that he only uses it with pressing need and very reluctantly even then. Only Moridin could wield the True Power after he had been reborn and named Nae'blis.
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...
books of 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...
. It is similar to the One Power
One 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...
, but differs in some important respects.
Use
Unlike the One Power, which stems from the True Source, the True Power comes directly from the Dark OneDark One
The Dark One is a fictional character in the The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It is the main antagonist; bound to its prison at the moment of Creation and partially freed during the Age of Legends , it is the primary source of evil in the series.-Character:In The Wheel of Time books,...
. Both men and women wield the same aspect of the True Power, unlike with the One Power's twin aspects, saidin and saidar, but any channeling of the True Power cannot be detected by anyone but the user and the Dark One himself. Access to the One Power and the True Power are simultaneously dependent on and independent from each other. Only those with the ability to channel the One Power can channel the True Power, if allowed (though Shaidar Haran
Shaidar Haran
Shaidar Haran is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.In the Old Tongue Shaidar Haran means "Hand of the Dark". He looks like a Myrddraal but is much taller and seems to have a sense of humor. Whereas most Myrddraal wear all black robes, Shaidar Haran has been known...
may be an exception, judging by some abilities he has been shown to have), but access to either source is independent from access to the other. For instance, when Semirhage linked with an unwilling 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:...
in book twelve, The Gathering Storm
The Gathering Storm (novel)
The Gathering Storm is the 12th book of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was incomplete when its author, Robert Jordan, died on September 16, 2007, from cardiac amyloidosis...
, and controlled his use of saidin, he was still free to unconsciously tap into and channel the True Power himself.
While there is little evidence in the series of what it is like to use the True Power, what there is would suggest strongly that it is a destructive force, inimical to the Pattern. For example while weaving a Gateway a channeler with saidin cleanly cuts through the Pattern to bridge the gap. A channeler with saidar persuades the Pattern to reform so that the location the gateway is "from" is the same as the location the gateway is "to". In the only example in the books of a Gateway being weaved with the True Power, the Pattern "screams" as a hole is "torn" in it. The Dark One, Shai'tan, from whom the True Power stems in the first place, is the "devil" or "destroyer" figure in the Wheel of Time series. Also, the True Power can be much stronger than the One Power, as it can be used to do things that are impossible through channeling the One Power. For example, it was once used by Ishamael
Ishamael
Ishamael is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken...
to cure Lews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin Telamon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He was the Dragon of the Age of Legends. He is the most powerful, most hated, and most feared man in history, for his part in the Breaking of the World and killing his loved ones, earning him the...
's insanity, which was caused by the Dark One's taint on saidin; such an act was deemed impossible through the use of either saidar or saidin until an event in the Towers of Midnight where limited progress was made.
Side-effects
The True Power inflicts simultaneous pain and pleasure on the user. An external observer can see black flecks or saa pass through the user's eyes. These flecks become more common with use, and are therefore taken as a sign of the addiction progressing. The True Power is far more addictive that the One Power, and once the saa appear, death and madness from overuse is believed to follow soon. In the first three books in the series, IshamaelIshamael
Ishamael is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken...
, the most corrupt of the Forsaken, is shown with fire raging through his eyes and mouth in many key scenes although this is intermittent with normal appearance. Ishamael may have also believed he was the Dark One. Whether this is due to the excessive use of True Power is unknown. However, if this is the case, it leads to interesting questions in the nature of the True Power itself on how much it could corrupt the mind.
Originally, all of the 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...
could wield the True Power, but few ever did, due to its corrupting nature. Demandred himself clearly states that he only uses it with pressing need and very reluctantly even then. Only Moridin could wield the True Power after he had been reborn and named Nae'blis.