====
TA'VEREN
====
Rand al'Thor - Shepherd from the Two Rivers. He is the second-tallest boy in Emond's Field, and may soon be taller than his friend Perrin Aybara, a boy of about thirteen years of age from Emond's Field, as well. He has gray eyes and reddish hair, both of which are unheard of in the Two Rivers. His mother died when Rand was five; Egwene al'Vere, a nine-year-old girl from Emond's Field, thinks he envies boys that have mothers. Rand is good friends with Matrim "Mat" Cauthon, another boy of about thirteen years of age from Emond's Field. As a twenty-year-old, Rand is about a head taller than Perrin, and taller than Mat as well. Rand and the Mayor's daughter, Egwene, have been all but Promised to each other since they were both young; this is often the subject of ridicule by Mat and Perrin. Son of Tamlin "Tam" al'Thor and Kari al'Thor, who died about fifteen years ago.

Matrim "Mat" Cauthon - Boy of about thirteen years of age from Emond's Field. He has brown eyes. Mat is known for his practical jokes and other mischief, often getting his best friends in trouble with him. He is good friends with Rand al'Thor, a shepherd from the Two Rivers, and Perrin Aybara, another boy of about thirteen years of age from Emond's Field, though he seems to have a contest going with Dav Ayellin, another boy from Emond's Field, as to who can get the other into the most trouble. He has two younger sisters, Bodewhin  "Bode" Cauthon, and Eldrin Cauthon, a girl from Emond's Field. As a twenty-year-old, Mat has grown to be one of the tallest men in the Two Rivers. He is still known for his practical jokes and other mischief; whenever something goes wrong in Emond's Field, Mat is the one everyone looks to first. Son of Abell Cauthon, whose house was burned when the Trollocs attacked Emond's Field on Winternight, and Natti Cauthon, a woman from Emond's Field.

Perrin Aybara - Boy of about thirteen years of age from Emond's Field. He is one of the tallest boys in Emond's Field, even taller than Rand al'Thor, a shepherd from the Two Rivers and one of his two best friends (though since Rand is not yet finished growing, it is possible he will catch Perrin eventually). He is also good friends with Matrim "Mat" Cauthon, another boy his age, who often gets Perrin and Rand into trouble. He has curly hair, and is very stocky and generally big. He is very shy and laughs seldom; Egwene al'Vere perceives him to be dense, though she is starting to realize he may simply be overly contemplative and careful. His parents recently arranged to have him apprentice to Haral Luhhan, the blacksmith of Emond's Field, whose arms are as big as most men's legs. Perrin has two younger sisters, Adora Aybara, who seemed upset that her mother and father were detaining her at the forge when she could have been playing with her friends, and Deselle Aybara, who enjoys "flying" (Perrin holding her arms and spinning her until her feet leave the ground). They are eight and three, respectively. He also has one younger brother Paetram Aybara, who is an infant. As an adult, Perrin ended up about half a head shorter than Rand, and also a fair bit shorter than Mat as well. He is still larger of build than both of them, however, which works well for a blacksmith. His parents are Con Aybara and Joslyn Aybara, who is very pretty, in Egwene's view.

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TWO RIVERS FOLK
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Egwene al'Vere - Nine-year-old girl from Emond's Field. She is the daughter of Brandelwyn "Bran" al'Vere, the Mayor of Emond's Field and innkeeper of the Winespring Inn, and his wife Marin al'Vere, who is slender and keeps her hair in a thick, gray braid. Egwene has four older sisters: in order, Berowyn al'Vere, Alene al'Vere, Elisa al'Vere, and Loise a'Vere. She resents them at times for treating her as the baby of the family. Egwene dislikes dogs, and is not considered big for her age. She loves her village and its customs, but she is beginning to wonder what the world outside it is like. After reaching the age of eighteen, Egwene earns the right to wear her hair in a braid for the first time, the Two Rivers symbol of womanhood. She has large brown eyes. She and Rand al'Thor have been all but Promised to each other since she was nine; this makes him uncomfortable. Nynaeve al'Meara discovered that Egwene has the ability to Listen to the Wind, a Talent that all Wisdoms claim to possess but few actually do.

Nynaeve al'Meara - Young woman from Emond's Field. She has brown hair and eyes, and is quite slender. She has been studying under Doral Barran, the Wisdom and oldest woman in Emond's Field, for about three years. Many people in the village think she is two young to be apprenticed to a Wisdom, and that Mistress Barran should have chosen someone years older when Nynaeve's predecessor died mysteriously. Nynaeve is a very quick learner, and has been allowed to braid her hair for a year now. She has developed the ability to sense Egwene al'Vere's presence without seeing her since the end of the breakbone fever epidemic. Mistress Barran seems to have caught on to some of Nynaeve's abilities - she seemed disappointed that the wound Nynaeve was bandaging did not seem more healed than it was when she started. After Mistress Barran's death, Nynaeve herself became the Wisdom. Her adult height is about as tall as Mat Cauthon's shoulder. Many people *still* think Nynaeve is too young to be the Wisdom; however, mentioning this to her is a good way to get whacked by the stick she carries.

Tamlin "Tam" al'Thor - A shepherd in the Two Rivers and the father of Rand al'Thor, another shepherd from the Two Rivers. He has a thick, broad chest and a broad face, gray hair with black streaks in it. His cheeks have been roughened by the sun. He is a solid man. Keeping his word is important to him. When Tam was young, he left to Two Rivers to see the outside world, something which is extremely rare in the Two Rivers. While there he acquired a sword, and married Kari, a woman from Caemlyn. Sicne Kari's death fifteen years ago when Rand was five, Tam has raised Rand himself. Since Tam has been alone and without a wife for so long, many women in Emond's Field have been trying to find a match for him recently. They've also started to think about who would be good for his son as well. Tam is very quiet, and keeps largely to himself, but almost everyone in the Two Rivers likes him.

Bela - Tam al'Thor's work horse, a white shaggy mare.


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ROYAL LINE OF ANDOR
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Elayne Trakand - Daughter-Heir of Andor according to Andoran tradition, daughter of Queen Morgase Trakand and sister of Gawyn Trakand, who will become First Prince of the Sword when she ascends to the Throne. She is quite pretty. She is preparing to leave for Tar Valon to undergo novice training, as all daughters-heir of Andor have done since the nation's founding. Stepdaughter of Taringail Damodred, formerly Tigraine's husband.

Queen Morgase Trakand - By the Grace of the Light, Queen of Andor, Protector of the Realm, Defender of the People, High Seat of House Trakand. She is the mother of Elayne Trakand, the Daughter-Heir, and Gawyn Trakand, the future First Prince of the Sword. Has an Aes Sedai advisor Elaida do Avinry a'Roihan.

Gawyn Trakand - Son of Queen Morgase Trakand by the Grace of the Light, and brother of Elayne Trakand, the Daughter-Heir. He will become First Prince of the Sword when his sister ascends to the Throne. Stepson of Taringail Damodred, formerly Tigraine's husband.

Galadedrid "Galad" Damodred - Handsomest man Rand al'Thor has ever seen. He is tall and slender with dark hair and eyes. He is the son of Tigraine Damodred, the Daughter-Heir of Andor before Morgase became queen, and Taringail Damodred, her former husband, and the half-brother of Elayne Trakand, the Daughter-Heir, and Gawyn Trakand, the future First Prince of the Sword. He always does the right thing, even if she should not.

Tigraine Damodred - Daughter-Heir of Andor before Morgase Trakand became queen, sister of Luc Mantear, the son of the Queen of Andor before Morgase was queen. She disappeared before her mother died, and when there was no daughter-heir to take the throne, the Succession began. There are some who believe she is still alive. Mother of Galadedrid "Galad" Damodred, wife of Taringail Damodred, a prince of Cairhien.

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THE WHITE TOWER
====

AES SEDAI
Moiraine Damodred - Guest in Emond's Field the day before Bel Tine, with large dark eyes and dark hair kept in ringlets. She barely comes to Rand al'Thor's chest, and is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah who came to Emond's Field to find Rand, Mat Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara. Goes by Mistress Alys in some cities, including Baerlon. Her Warder is al'Lan Mandragoran. Son of al'Akir Mandragoran and el'Leanna ti Mandragoran.
Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan - Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah and advisor to Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor by the Grace of the Light. She sometimes has the Foretelling.
Sheriam Bayanar - Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. Moiraine Damodred tells Master Basel Gill to contact her in Tar Valon if he got into any trouble for helping her.

WARDERS
al'Lan Mandragoran - Guest in Emond's Field the day before Bel Tine, quite tall with long hair that is graying at the temples and is held from his face by a narrow leather headband. His face is all stony planes and angles, weathered but unlined. He is Moiraine Damodred's Warder. Goes by Master Andra in some cities, including Baerlon.

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MALE CHANNELLERS
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Logain Ablar - False Dragon from Ghealdan with battles there, the news of which reached Emond's Field with the peddler Padan Fain on Winternight - probably the last place in that part of the world to hear about it. He can channel the One Power, and has been able to defend himself against Aes Sedai who want to capture and gentle him.

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INDEPENDENT
====
The Creator - Maker of the world, the True Source, and everything in existence. At the moment of Creation, the Creator sealed the source of all evil, the Dark One, in a prison at Shayol Ghul to keep him from influencing the world.

Elyas Machera - Man who lives in the woods, with yellow eyes and graying brown hair to his waist, held at the neck by a cord. He wears a thick beard across half his chest and once was a Warder who taught Lan Mandragoran much about the Blight and his sword. He once had to kill other Warders to get away from the Red Ajah - though he cannot channel, he *can* talk to wolves, an ability which the Red Ajah wanted to do something about anyway. He lives alone except for his wolf friends, with whom he can communicate by way of a kind of telepathy, and never expected to find another who had the same ability - until he met Perrin Aybara, a boy from Emond's Field.

Gareth Bryne - Captain-General of the Queen's Guards in Caemlyn.

Hopper - Older wolf that Elyas knows, very smart. He is dedicated to Dapple; his mission in life is to see that what she wants is carried out.

Loial - Son of Arent son of Halan (both Elders), an Ogier from Stedding Shantai who came to Caemlyn and took up residence in the library of the Queen's Blessing. He is about ninety years old, which by Ogier standards is ten years too young to address the Stump, and certainly too young to leave the stedding alone.

Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw - Young woman from Baerlon with short dark hair kept in a young-boyish style. She is slender and barely taller than Moiraine Damodred, with dark eyes bigger than Egwene al'Vere's. She dresses like most boys do (a habit she picked up from her hours in the mines with her father - her mother is dead) and has a special ability, known to few; she can see images around people that predict their future. Moiraine calls them pieces of the Pattern, and she sees a lot of them around Rand al'Thor and his friends, but claims that if she told Rand everything she saw about him, he would be as curly-haired as his "friend with the shoulders."

Thomdril "Thom" Merrilin - Gleeman who comes to Emond's Field on Winternight and seems to have a distrust of Aes Sedai and their ways. He has white hair and mustaches, wears a patched cloak, and was once a Court-bard. Had a nephew named Owyn.

====
CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT
====
Jaret Byar - Tall, with little in the way of human emotions, and thinks nothing of killing peope. He hates no one; if he believes they should die, it is only because he thinks they should die, not because he hates them.

Geofram Bornhald - Lord Captain of a band who meets up with Perrin and Egwene in the abandoned stedding.

Dain Bornhald - Son of Geofram, and a little too easily influenced, in his father's opinion. He was one of the men Mat got all muddy with his barrel stunt in Baerlon.

====
HEROES
====
Artur Paendrag Tanreall - Hero of legend who conquered and ruled all the lands from the Aiel Waste to the Aryth Ocean and beyond as High King. He even sent troops across the Aryth Ocean, as well as to the lands beyond the Aiel Waste. His death set off the War of the Hundred Years. His sign was a golden hawk in flight; he was also known as Artur Hawkwing.

Gaidal Cain - Hero of legend who appears in several of Thom's stories, known for his sword.

Lews Therin Telamon - Kinslayer, Breaker of the World. He was a tall man, and during the prologue we see him just into his middle years. He was handsome once, but now he has more white hair than brown, and his face is lined from strain and worry. He has dark eyes. He was known as the Lord of the Morning during the Age of Legends and the War of Power and wore the ring of Tamyrlin (likely a predecessor position to the modern Amyrlin Seat, the leader of the Aes Sedai) and as as the Dragon during the War of the Shadow. The title is now associated with evil, since he massacred his entire family, including his wife, Ilyena Therin Moerelle (called "Sunhair"), his children, and everyone he ever loved in the madness that seized him at the end of his life, after resealing the Dark One's prison. Thereafter he was known as Kinslayer. It is said in the Prophecies of the Dragon that the Dragon will be Reborn at mankind's greatest hour of need to save the world - and Break it again. Many people have claimed to be this Rebirth, including Logain Abair, Guaire Amalasan, Raolin Darksbane, Davian, and Yurian Stonebow.

Buad of Albhain - Character from one of Thom's stories, "The Last Ride of Buad of Albhain".

Rogosh Eagle Eye - Also known as Rogosh of Talmour, a hero of legend famed at the court of the High King, Artur Paendrag Tanreall, feared on the slopes of Shayol Ghul, and the greatest of all the Hunters for the Horn.

Jain "Farstrider" Charin - Closest thing to a non-royalty celebrity we see in the WoT universe. Malkieri hero who captured Cowin "Fairheart" Gemellan and brought him back to the Seven Towers for justice. His autobiography, The Travels of Jain Farstrider, is Egwene's favorite book. He has traveled all over the world, including the lands beyond the Aiel Waste and the Great Blight. He disappeared years ago and has not been heard from since.

====
THE SHADOW
====

THE GUY IN CHARGE
Shai'tan - Source of all evil, antithesis of the Creator. He was imprisoned by the Creator at the moment of Creation at Shayol Ghul. This prison was bored into during the Age of Legends, which led to the War of the Shadow, the Time of Madness, the Breaking of the World, and the end of the Age of Legends. Since naming him by his true name brings ill fortune or disaster, many euphemisms exist, including Father of Lies, Grassburner, Heartsbane, Heartfang, Leafblighter, Lord of the Grave, Shepherd of the Night, Sightblinder, and Soulsbane. He is most commonly referred to as simply “The Dark One.”

FRIENDS OF THE DARK
Darkfriends - Humans who willingly serve the Shadow. As one example: Padan Fain, a pale, skinny peddler with gangly arms and a huge beak of a nose that comes to Emond's Field about once a year. He always smiles and laughs as if he knows some joke no one else knows. He came just before Bel Tine to trade, and brought news of the war in Ghealdan against the false Dragon.

THE FORSAKEN
Forsaken - Thirteen powerful Aes Sedai who dedicated their lives to serving the Shadow during the War of the Shadow. Their names are still used to fighten children into behaving as they should.
1) Ishamael - Pronounced ih-SHAH-may-EHL. In the Old Tongue, literally, "Betrayer of Hope". In the Age of Legends, before he turned to the Shadow, he was called Elan Morin Tedronai. In the Prologue, we saw him appar to Lews Therin Telamon shortly after he killed his entire family. He Healed Lews Therin from his madness, allowing him to finally realize what he had done. He claims to follow "different power" now, that of the Dark One himself. He was once humbled by Lews Therin in the Hall of Servants, and dfeated by him at the gates of Paaren Disen. However, Lews Therin fled and killed himself before Ishamael could do with him as he had planned.
2) Aginor - Pronounced AGH-ih-nohr.
3) Balthamel - Pronounced BAHL-thah-mell.
4) Demandred - Pronounced DEE-man-drehd.
5) Lanfear - Pronounced LAN-feer. It is said that she waits for children who steal.
6) Semirhage - Pronounced SEH-mih-RHAHG. It is said that she will come and get children who keep lying.
Others currently unknown.

MISCELLANEOUS ANTAGONISTS
Mordeth - Sleek, overfed man with drooping eyelids. He is short and completely bald. Rand, Mat, and Perrin encountered him in Aridhol when they went off to see the city. In reality, Mordeth was the advisor to Balwen, the last king of Aridhol. He ordered the death of Caar, heir to the throne of Manetheren, when he came to Aridhol in an attempt to bring it back to the Second Covenant. His spirit has been trapped inside the walls of Aridhol ever since, and it is said that if he ever accompanies anyone to the city walls, he will be able to consume that person's soul and escape.
Mashadar - The evil that consumed Aridhol, now called Shadar Logoth, during the Trolloc Wars.