Talk:Padan Fain
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One of the things I'd like to see our page address is why/when Fain decided that Rand was the bane of his entire existence. He was a Darkfriend, then the Dark One's hound for the three ta'veren, then came to Fal Dara and was released. Somewhere during TGH, Fain converts his orders to focus primarily on Rand (I think you get some of his POV that says he still hates all three, but why Rand specifically? It can't necessarily be because Rand is the Dragon Reborn, since Rand doesn't declare himself until (at least) the Battle of Falme. Maybe his orders contained some sort of "trigger", but he's free of the Dark One's control by the time he starts to obsess about Rand... nae'blis (talk) 18:38, 17 Nov 2005 (UTC)
- He's already focussed on Rand by TGH/6 (Dark Prophecy), because I think it must be Fain who wrote "We will meet again on Toman Head. It is never over, al'Thor" in blood on the dungeon walls. The other scrawlings in blood comprised crude Trolloc scribblings and some Myrddraal-written poetry that might be prophecy, according to Verin Mathwin (TGH/7), but all needing translating whereas this message for Rand was written in his language, and Fain's language. The words are also reminiscent of Ishamael/Ba'alzamon's own words to Rand in his dreams at that time. Liandrin was presumably acting on Dark orders when she entered the dungeon, presumably to release Fain (TGH/5), so Fain presumably still had some part in the Dark plans, although it is also clear that he and the Myrddraal had different ideas of where to take the Horn of Valere!
- As to where the decision is made, it must surely be somewhere between Shadar Logoth and Fal Dara. Perhaps this is incidental, but it is Rand whom Fain encounters in Baerlon, and again Rand whom he encounters in Caemlyn. When Fain is reported in Whitebridge and later on the Caemlyn road, he is following Rand and Mat, not Perrin. Perhaps Perrin's developing wolf-nature shields him from Fain's attention as it appears to shield him from Ishamael/Ba'alzamon's attention (tEotW/42: "I think I've already found my protection"). Perhaps the effect of the dagger on Mat, given that Fain now incorporates Mashadar-nature, means that Mat too does not call to Fain in the same way as Rand. Perhaps this is the reason that it is Rand who stands out, of the three whom Fain feels compelled to seek.
- Alternatively, perhaps it is the events that declare Rand al'Thor to Ishamael that influence Fain indirectly. Before Caemlyn, Ishamael/Ba'alzamon did not yet know which of the three was the Dragon. In Fal Dara, Liandrin clearly does not yet know which of the three she is looking for, since she sets the Lady Amalisa searching for all three (unless that is just cover), but Ishamael knows by then. Perhaps Fain, with his closer connections to Shayol Ghul, is among the first to pick up the information that it is Rand al'Thor who is the target -- perhaps this causes him to identify Rand as the ultimate cause of all his recent woes. Perhaps it is the Myrddraal entering Fal Dara that brings that information. By the end of TGH, the order is clearly out to kill Rand (TDR/Prologue -- Jaichin Carridin is reminded of his orders by the Myrddraal at Amador). Ironically, Fain/Ordeith appears to manipulate Pedron Niall to preserve Rand's life, presumably because he (Fain) wants the ultimate revenge. Mooncow 20:51, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Mordeth
There seems to be redundancy between this article and Mordeth. I believe the two should be at least partly merged somehow. Perhaps Mordeth could cover everything about it up until the merger, then link here for the rest. This article could in turn make little mention of Mordeth's history, instead linking back to that article. --Gherald 19:49, 30 August 2006 (UTC)
