Mashadar
Encyclopedia
Mashadar is a malicious, though unintelligent, entity lurking within the depths of Shadar Logoth
in the Wheel of Time
series by Robert Jordan
.
Mashadar was formed during the Trolloc Wars from the xenophobic hatred and suspicion exhibited by the citizens of Shadar Logoth (then called Aridhol). Over time, it grew until it consumed the city and its people. At present, it takes the form of a silvery mist that wanders the streets at night and hides in the ground during the day. The scope of Mashadar is unclear; though it is not omnipresent, it is "vast as Shadar Logoth," and is able to manifest itself in many locations at once. The slightest touch of Mashadar is fatal, causing a slow and agonizing death. Though it will attack any entity, Mashadar's choice prey is Shadowspawn, which avoid Shadar Logoth as much as possible after an entire Trolloc army vanished within its walls. Mashadar is a formidable enemy even to a channeller
, as it is very nearly impossible to destroy, and will bring its full force to bear on anyone who attacks it with the One Power. It is, however, susceptible to balefire
, and will flee when faced by it.
It is uncertain to what degree Mashadar is sentient. On the one hand it is able to select its prey (attacking Shadowspawn with great precision), but it is also described as "utterly mindless" and at one time is unable to detect a human mere feet from one of its tendrils.
Though a terrifying force within Shadar Logoth, Mashadar is bound to the city and unable to leave its walls. As such, it is believed to be destroyed along with the city during the cleansing of saidin.
However, Mordeth did not die with the citizens he had led to ruin. His spirit was trapped in Shadar Logoth, unable to leave the walls. His only hope of escape was to accompany a living person to the borders of Mashadar's power, where he could consume the person's soul and, inhabiting the vacant body, leave to wreak his destruction on the world again. He saw his chance in Padan Fain
, but the Darkfriend was already so twisted by the Shadow that, instead of displacing his soul, the two merged. The resulting entity has the insanity of Padan Fain, the dark powers of Mordeth, and the memories of both. Unless the two are destroyed, the evil of Shadar Logoth may still be released on the world.
In Winter's Heart
, Rand destroys the entire city of Shadar Logoth while cleansing the taint on saidin.
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...
in 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...
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...
.
Mashadar was formed during the Trolloc Wars from the xenophobic hatred and suspicion exhibited by the citizens of Shadar Logoth (then called Aridhol). Over time, it grew until it consumed the city and its people. At present, it takes the form of a silvery mist that wanders the streets at night and hides in the ground during the day. The scope of Mashadar is unclear; though it is not omnipresent, it is "vast as Shadar Logoth," and is able to manifest itself in many locations at once. The slightest touch of Mashadar is fatal, causing a slow and agonizing death. Though it will attack any entity, Mashadar's choice prey is Shadowspawn, which avoid Shadar Logoth as much as possible after an entire Trolloc army vanished within its walls. Mashadar is a formidable enemy even to a channeller
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...
, as it is very nearly impossible to destroy, and will bring its full force to bear on anyone who attacks it with the One Power. It is, however, susceptible to balefire
Balefire
Balefire, in the world of the Wheel of Time, is a weapon created with the One Power or with the True Power.-Description:It has only one known weave, and when evoked, summons a blindingly bright beam of "liquid light" that is capable of destroying nearly every known substance...
, and will flee when faced by it.
It is uncertain to what degree Mashadar is sentient. On the one hand it is able to select its prey (attacking Shadowspawn with great precision), but it is also described as "utterly mindless" and at one time is unable to detect a human mere feet from one of its tendrils.
Though a terrifying force within Shadar Logoth, Mashadar is bound to the city and unable to leave its walls. As such, it is believed to be destroyed along with the city during the cleansing of saidin.
Mordeth
The man responsible for the creation of Mashadar is Mordeth, a former advisor to the last king of Aridhol during the Trolloc Wars. His opinion was that the atrocities committed by the forces of the Shadow could only be combated effectively by the display of even greater cold-heartedness and cruelty. As such, Aridhol drew in on itself, considering all outsiders enemies. Towards the end of Aridhol, its soldiers were feared as much as those of the Shadow.However, Mordeth did not die with the citizens he had led to ruin. His spirit was trapped in Shadar Logoth, unable to leave the walls. His only hope of escape was to accompany a living person to the borders of Mashadar's power, where he could consume the person's soul and, inhabiting the vacant body, leave to wreak his destruction on the world again. He saw his chance in Padan Fain
Padan Fain
Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Peddler and Darkfriend:Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a Darkfriend in his twenties, for the promise of immortality...
, but the Darkfriend was already so twisted by the Shadow that, instead of displacing his soul, the two merged. The resulting entity has the insanity of Padan Fain, the dark powers of Mordeth, and the memories of both. Unless the two are destroyed, the evil of Shadar Logoth may still be released on the world.
In Winter's Heart
Winter's Heart
Winter's Heart is the ninth book of the Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 7, 2000...
, Rand destroys the entire city of Shadar Logoth while cleansing the taint on saidin.