Aginor
Encyclopedia
Aginor originally known as Ishar Marrad Chuain, is one of the primary antagonist
s of the Wheel of Time
fantasy
series by Robert Jordan
. He is one of the Forsaken
.
; it is said that no others understood "the most basic structures of living things" the way he did. He was banned from doing any genetic engineering
—his true passion—by the Hall of Servants, after conducting some experiments on animals. His work apparently concerned new variations of plant life, both as ornaments and as crops. His strength in the One Power
was also considerable, considered second only to Ishamael
and Lews Therin Telamon
himself. When he escaped from his prison, he boasted to Rand al'Thor and his group that he had faced Lews Therin in the Hall of Servants and "matched him blow for blow."
's prison. Freed from societal restraint, he was finally allowed to experiment with genetics, and it was he who created the Shadowspawn: Trollocs, Draghkar, Darkhounds, gholam, and others. It is estimated that in order to do this, 35 to 50 million people were killed, not including the ones fed to Trollocs.
Although proud of his achievements, the almost human throwbacks from the Trollocs made him uneasy. Aginor created Trollocs by mixing human and animal stock; when Trollocs mated, most of the offspring were Trolloc, but sometimes stillborn animal throwbacks were the result, and sometimes the human stock dominated: these were the Myrddraal. It is said that not even Aginor knew how Myrddraal got their dark powers, like the ability to see with no eyes, or to vanish/travel via shadows. Graendal
mentions in The Path of Daggers
that Aginor has said the Myrddraal are "slightly out of phase with time and reality," which explains why their clothes do not flutter in the wind when they move and several other foibles.
were sealed in the Bore, Aginor was closest to the seal, along with Balthamel
, so that while his soul was preserved, his body was subjected to the process of aging. He was one of the first to escape, but he was disfigured, described as being old beyond old. His skin was like thin parchment, his scabby scalp had bits of tuffy white hair, his ears looked like old leather, his teeth yellowed, and his eyes sunken. His fingernails had disappeared.
He and Balthamel traveled to the Eye of the World, where they killed Someshta, the Last of the Nym. In doing so, Someshta killed Balthamel. During the battle between Rand al'Thor
and Aginor for the pure saidin held within the Eye, Aginor started rapidly regaining his young look, but Rand won. Aginor was burned to ashes by trying to handle too much of the One Power
, something Rand never revealed to anyone else.
's consternation.
desert Rand after their assassination attempt fails. After that, he waits for Rand in Far Madding and attacks him during the Cleansing, failing again to kill him. Cadsuane describes his dead body on the hill as "one dead renegade." There are many hints that Osan'gar is Aginor: his suggestion to Damer Flinn helps create a new way of healing, lost since the Age of Legends; he hates exercises; he thinks of himself and refers to his Talents as genius, much like Aginor the reclusive scientist; and before he is obliterated by Elza, who is ironically a Black Ajah
, with Callandor, Osan'gar states that he is the one who created trollocs, and thereby verifying himself as Aginor.
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
s of the Wheel of Time
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
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
. He is one 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...
.
Origin
Ishar Marrad Chuain was a renowned biologist and Aes SedaiAes 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...
; it is said that no others understood "the most basic structures of living things" the way he did. He was banned from doing any genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
—his true passion—by the Hall of Servants, after conducting some experiments on animals. His work apparently concerned new variations of plant life, both as ornaments and as crops. His strength in 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...
was also considerable, considered second only to 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...
and 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...
himself. When he escaped from his prison, he boasted to Rand al'Thor and his group that he had faced Lews Therin in the Hall of Servants and "matched him blow for blow."
Shadowspawn
Aginor turned to the Shadow about three decades after the Bore was drilled in 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,...
's prison. Freed from societal restraint, he was finally allowed to experiment with genetics, and it was he who created the Shadowspawn: Trollocs, Draghkar, Darkhounds, gholam, and others. It is estimated that in order to do this, 35 to 50 million people were killed, not including the ones fed to Trollocs.
Although proud of his achievements, the almost human throwbacks from the Trollocs made him uneasy. Aginor created Trollocs by mixing human and animal stock; when Trollocs mated, most of the offspring were Trolloc, but sometimes stillborn animal throwbacks were the result, and sometimes the human stock dominated: these were the Myrddraal. It is said that not even Aginor knew how Myrddraal got their dark powers, like the ability to see with no eyes, or to vanish/travel via shadows. Graendal
Graendal
Graendal is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.-Age of Legends:...
mentions in The Path of Daggers
The Path of Daggers
The Path of Daggers is the eighth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 20, 1998...
that Aginor has said the Myrddraal are "slightly out of phase with time and reality," which explains why their clothes do not flutter in the wind when they move and several other foibles.
Sealed Imperfectly
When the ChosenForsaken (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...
were sealed in the Bore, Aginor was closest to the seal, along with Balthamel
Balthamel
Balthamel is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
, so that while his soul was preserved, his body was subjected to the process of aging. He was one of the first to escape, but he was disfigured, described as being old beyond old. His skin was like thin parchment, his scabby scalp had bits of tuffy white hair, his ears looked like old leather, his teeth yellowed, and his eyes sunken. His fingernails had disappeared.
He and Balthamel traveled to the Eye of the World, where they killed Someshta, the Last of the Nym. In doing so, Someshta killed Balthamel. During the battle between 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:...
and Aginor for the pure saidin held within the Eye, Aginor started rapidly regaining his young look, but Rand won. Aginor was burned to ashes by trying to handle too much of 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...
, something Rand never revealed to anyone else.
Reincarnation as Osan'gar
It is likely that Aginor was recreated as Osan'gar by the Dark One, using the body of a Borderland man (contrast with Aran'gar). Using the name Corlan Dashiva, he posed as a farmer from the Black Hills, and was recruited to the Black Tower. After Dumai's Wells, he was selected, seemingly at random, to be a part of Rand's personal entourage, much to Mazrim TaimMazrim Taim
Mazrim Taim is a character in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series.-Description:Taim is described as having black hair, above average in height with a dark face, tilted eyes, hooked nose and high cheekbones...
's consternation.
Corlan Dashiva
It is revealed during the Cleansing of saidin that Osan'gar disguises himself as Corlan Dashiva. He and some other Asha'manAsha'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:...
desert Rand after their assassination attempt fails. After that, he waits for Rand in Far Madding and attacks him during the Cleansing, failing again to kill him. Cadsuane describes his dead body on the hill as "one dead renegade." There are many hints that Osan'gar is Aginor: his suggestion to Damer Flinn helps create a new way of healing, lost since the Age of Legends; he hates exercises; he thinks of himself and refers to his Talents as genius, much like Aginor the reclusive scientist; and before he is obliterated by Elza, who is ironically a Black Ajah
Black Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Black Ajah is a secret society of Aes Sedai who have forsaken the Three Oaths. This Ajah supports the Dark One, and its members are also active members of the other seven Ajahs to keep their...
, with Callandor, Osan'gar states that he is the one who created trollocs, and thereby verifying himself as Aginor.