Dragon

"And the Shadow fell upon the Land, and the World was riven stone from stone. The oceans fled, and the mountains were swallowed up, and the nations were scattered to the eight corners of the World. The moon was as blood, and the sun was as ashes. The seas boiled, and the living envied the dead. All was shattered, and all but memory lost, and one memory above all others, of him who brought the Shadow and the Breaking of the World.

And him they named Dragon."
   — From Aleth nin Taerin alta Camora, The Breaking of the World. Author unknown, the Fourth Age

"Come against me, if you dare! I am the storm! Come if you dare, Shai'tan! I am the Dragon Reborn!"
   —Rand al'Thor

For the third book in The Wheel of Time series, see The Dragon Reborn. For the projectile weapons by the same name, see Dragons. For other uses of the words "dragon" and "shadow," the latter being a part of the wolves' name for the Dragon Reborn, see Dragon and Shadow.

The Dragon is the title for the male champion of the Light against the Dark One, and is always the reincarnation of a single particular soul. He is reborn in the Age of Legends and again in the Third Age (and equivalents along the Wheel) to combat the Shadow. It is unknown if he is born again in a similar repeating pattern in other Ages. The Dragon of the Age of Legends was Lews Therin Telamon. The Dragon of the Third Age is Rand al'Thor. The Prophecies of the Dragon as described in the Karaethon Cycle give vague impressions on the events that will follow after his coming.

Contradictions on the Dragon/Dragon Reborn

What Elan Morin Tedronai says in the Prologue of TEOTW indicates that Lews Therin Telamon only earned the name Dragon during the War of Power, so as Elan Morin Tedronai was named Betrayer of Hope. Lews Therin Telamon was never mentioned to be named Dragon Reborn.

In addition, the serpent kind creature with four legs being displayed on the banner of Lews Therin Telamon in the War of Shadow was also called dragon. The origin of the creature – whether it ever existed or was simply a legendary beast that the Dragon was named after – is unknown.

Dragon chapter icon

Dragon Reborn

Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews Therin as the Dragon Reborn, is fated to both destroy and save the world. The Pattern requires that he be a male channeler and must be at Tarmon Gai'don or the forces of the Light will not stand a chance; even his presence does not assure victory, however, only the possibility of one. Prophecy says that he would break all bonds and bring suffering to the earth. It is commonly expected that in doing so he will also bring a new Breaking of the World. Due to Lews Therin Telamon's infamy, for better or for worse, the tale of the Dragon Reborn is known well even in remote villages, though often distorted beyond recognition. There are also villages or lands where even talking about the Prophecies is forbidden or avoided. E.g. Emond's Field. That's why Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve know nothing about the Karaethon Cycle and cannot put pieces together, cannot recognise events happening around them until they learn about the Prophecies.

Every social group appears to have their own name for the Dragon in the 3rd Age. For example, the wolves know him as Shadowkiller, the Sea Folk know him as the Coramoor, and the Aiel call him Car'a'carn, the chief-of-chiefs He Who Comes With The Dawn. Seanchan people know him as Dragon Reborn, similar to Westland people, although they have different prophecies about him.

False Dragons

Original Dragon chapter icon

Men who have declared themselves to be the Dragon Reborn but do not fulfill any prophecy are said to be false Dragons. This is often done for fame or glory, but in the end all have fallen from power. The first of the false Dragons to become of notice was Raolin Darksbane in 335 AB, who managed to assault the White Tower before he could be stopped.

Yurian Stonebow followed in his footsteps in 1301 AB, and Davian rose in FY 351. Guaire Amalasan in FY 939 made great headway until he was stopped by Artur Hawkwing.

False Dragons were rare until Gorin Rogad declared himself in 995 NE. Then three years later, in 998 NE, Logain Ablar rose to power. Three more rose in 998 NE, though of these three only Logain Ablar and Mazrim Taim were capable of channeling.

Logain Ablar, captured as a False Dragon

Ishamael has accused the White Tower of controlling most, if not all of the false Dragons. In 999 NE, Siuan Sanche, former Amyrlin Seat of the Tower accused the Red Ajah of doing the same thing with the help of the then-gentled Logain's testimony. While it is believed to be merely a ploy to rouse support against the Amyrlin Elaida's rule, it has been hinted multiple times that there may be some truth to it.

It is written that the pattern creates false dragons, decreasing the time interval in between them as the time gets closer and closer to the real dragon being born as can be seen between the large time gaps between Raolin and Yurian and then suddenly the pattern spits out Logain, Taim and the other nameless false Dragon before Rand declares himself. It is also written that when the Dragon Reborn is declared, the pattern has no need for false dragons which is why when Rand finally accepted himself as the Dragon Reborn at Falme, all of the other false dragons fell to some phenomenon at the time.

Rebirth

The true Dragon of the Third Age was revealed to be Rand al'Thor, born in 978 NE on the slopes of Dragonmount to an Aiel Maiden, and only naming himself as the Dragon Reborn in 998 NE, quickly fulfilling all respective prophecies and ending the Age itself in two years during 1000 NE at Tarmon Gai'don in the Last Battle. His death indicated the beginning of the Fourth Age.

"The day was coming to an end. The day of the Last Battle! It was the Fourth Age now, wasn't it? Could an age start in the middle of the day? That would be inconvenient for the calendars, wouldn't it? But everyone agreed. Rand had sealed the Bore at noon."

"Nynaeve emerged from the Healing tent as Shayol Ghul. The sun was almost below the horizon. "He is dead." She whispered to the small crowd gathered outside."

The Forsaken

Even the Forsaken do not have clear understanding how the Dragon is reborn. At the end of the prologue of The Fires of Heaven they discuss that amongst themselves and when Lanfear states that Rand may be Lews Therin reborn but he is not Lews Therin himself, Graendal says:

"How do you know?" – Graendal asked, smiling as if it were a joke. "It may well be that, as many believe, all are born and reborn as the Wheel turns, but nothing like this has ever happened that I have read. A specific man reborn according to prophecy. Who knows what he is? "

Counterpart

Amaresu is the female counterpart of the Dragon, and is born in the Ages when the Pattern needs a woman as a savior instead of a man to fight in the name of the Light.

External links

• Dragon Reborn (prophecy) on Wheel of Time TV series Wiki