Padan Fain

Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.

He is one of the most dangerous creatures in the known world, as dangerous as any Forsaken. Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a Darkfriend in his twenties; his greed could not ignore the promise of immortality. As a peddler he came to Emond's Field every spring, and loved being the centre of attention.

Sometime in 996 NE he was chosen for a special task: to seek the Dragon Reborn. He journeyed to Shayol Ghul and met Ba'alzamon, who gave him dark powers to aid in his hunt. In 997 NE he journeyed back to Shayol Ghul and his mind was distilled of his findings. By 998 NE, given the special ability to track the ones he was seeking, he had narrowed his search to three boys from Emond's Field: Rand al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara. After performing rites on himself which bound him even closer to the Dark One, he brought Trollocs and Myrddraal to Emond's Field on Winternight.

He was forced to join the Trollocs in the hunt for Moiraine Damodred and company. When they led them to Shadar Logoth, he managed to escape, only to be trapped by Mordeth, who at last had found the soul he needed to command so he could escape the damned city. But because the Dark One had touched and changed Fain's soul, Mordeth could only merge with Fain.

The resulting entity was considered a maverick by the forces of the Shadow; Fain resented the changes forced upon him and Mordeth was so hateful of the Shadow that his hate created Shadar Logoth. After this merger, his compulsion to hunt Rand, Mat and Perrin grew even more, aided by the fact that he could already sense where they were. Following them to Fal Dara in Shienar, he removed his bonds to Ba'alzamon and, in the chaos of the attack against the city by the Shadow, escaped with Mat's dagger and the Horn of Valere.

He led Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin and Ingtar to Seanchan-occupied Falme, where he lost the dagger and the Horn. He recovered the dagger in Tar Valon; he feels complete with it. Calling himself Ordeith (wormwood), he changed strategies from force to manipulation: convincing Lord Commander Pedron Niall of the Whitecloaks, as well as Elaida do'Avriny a'Roihan, future Amyrlin of the Aes Sedai, to oppose Rand. He also convinced Niall to send Whitecloaks to the Two Rivers, hoping it would draw Rand out. Unfortunately, he got Perrin instead, and the future Lord Goldeneyes of the Two Rivers broke him of his Whitecloak affiliations.

His abilities are powerful. He can corrupt people by just being in their presence; he can sense fear and tension and can tell a Darkfriend on sight. He has also developed a way to inflict pain by touch, from levels of 'merely' harmful to deadly. He is very likely insane and is wanted by the Shadow. Isam was sent to kill him but failed miserably.

He changed his name to Jeraal Mordeth, and sought out Toram Riatin, leader of the Cairhienen rebellion against Rand, whom he advised. When Rand showed up to neutralize the rebellion, Fain was able to wound the Dragon Reborn with his Shadar Logoth dagger, which--but for the frantic efforts of both Aes Sedai and Asha'man--would have resulted in al'Thor's death.

He is still at large, and no doubt still hunting Rand. Whispers and rumors suggest that he may be something entirely new, an entity or amalgamation never seen before in the Pattern.