In the beginning... 

The Creator created the [Wheel of Time], which is time itself. The Creator imprisoned the [Dark One|Shaitan] outside of the [Pattern|Wheel of Time] at the moment of creation. A bore was made into the [Dark One|Shaitan]'s prison, but it was sealed before he entered the world. It is now held closed by seven [seals].

Pretty vague, eh? Jordan seems to want to keep the origin of the universe very vague.

According to [Ishamael]'s philosophy ([Guide|books/guide/index]), in each age the Creator and the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan] have champions who lead their battle for supremacy. These champions are the same two souls who are reborn at the end of each age. The Creator's champion in the [Age of Legends|history/aol/index] was [Lews Therin Telamon|characters/hist/ltt], the Dragon. In the current age, the champion is the Dragon Reborn, [Rand al'Thor|characters/r/rand]. The [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan]'s champion in the [Age of Legends|history/aol/index] was [Ishamael] who was partly trapped with him when the bore was sealed. By all appearances, [Ishamael] was still the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan]'s champion until his death at the end of [TDR|books/tdr/index]. Since that time, the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan] has tempted several of his minions with the title Nae'blis, but that honor has apparently been bestowed on one of the new [Forsaken|organizations/forsaken], [Moridin].

At the end of the current age the Creator's champion, the Dragon Reborn, will face the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan] at the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai'don.


!! References


* [NS,Ch3|books/new_spring/ch3] - Hearing [Siuan]'s [Foretelling|main/true_source/weaves.html#f], [Moiraine] and [Siuan] know that the [Dragon|characters/hist/ltt] will again face the [Dark One|Shaitan] at Tarmon Gai'don and break the world.
* [NS,Ch8|books/new_spring/ch8] - [Ellid Abareim] claims she heard [Adelorna] tell [Shemaen] that [Gitara|Gitara Moroso] had a [Foretelling|../main/true_source/weaves.html#f] that Tarmon Gai'don will come during the lifetimes of sisters now breathing.
* [TSR,Ch9|books/tsr/ch9] - [Lanfear] tells [Rand] that with the [giant statue|Giant Statue] ''[sa'angreal|main/true_source/angreal]'' they could challenge the [Great Lord|Shaitan] or the Creator.
* [TSR,Ch10|books/tsr/ch10] - When [Rand] tries to use ''[Callandor]'' to [Heal|main/true_source/weaves.html#h] a dead child, [Moiraine] tells him to stop because only the Creator can give life.
* [TFoH,Ch6|books/tfoh/ch6] - Seeing the two [control statues|items/control_statue], [Lanfear] tells [Rand] again that they could challenge the [Great Lord|Shaitan] or the Creator.
* [LoC,Prologue|books/loc/prologue] - The [Great Lord|Shaitan] tempts [Demandred] with the title Nae'blis.
* [LoC,Ch6|books/loc/ch6] - [Graendal] has also been to [Shayol Ghul] and been promised the title Nae'blis.
* [LoC,Ch18|books/loc/ch18] - [Herid Fel|characters/h/herid_fel] tells [Rand] that Tarmon Gai'don will not really be the Last Battle. The Wheel of Time is truly a wheel, so there are many Last Battles. No one can do what the Creator did, yet, when the Second Age comes around again the [Dark One|Shaitan]'s prison must be whole and intact.
* [LoC,Ch23] - [Graendal] now thinks that [Sammael] may be Nae'blis.
* [WH,Ch13] - [Moridin] is Nae'blis.
* [WH,Ch14] - The [Seanchan|organizations/seanchan] version of the [Prophecies of the Dragon|prophecies/karaethon] says that the [Dragon Reborn|characters/r/rand] must kneel before the [Crystal Throne|items/crystal_throne] before Tarmon Gai'don or all is lost.
* [WH,Ch27|books/wh/ch27] - The [Borderlanders|organizations/borderlanders] believe that the Last Battle will be fought in the [Blight|geography/blight/index].
* [WH,Ch35|books/wh/ch35] - [Cyndane] thinks that she would have challenged the [Great Lord|characters/s/shaitan] and the Creator with [Lews Therin|characters/hist/ltt], but he spurned her.
* [WH,Ch35|books/wh/ch35] - [Osan'gar|characters/op/osangar] thinks that if he kills [Rand] and takes ''[Callandor|items/callandor]'' he will surely be named Nae'blis.
* [CoT,Ch5|books/cot/ch5] - When [Perrin] passes on the scent of [Darkhounds|creatures/darkhound], the wolves tell him that the Last Hunt is coming.
* [CoT,Ch8|books/cot/ch8] - [Darkhounds|creatures/darkhound] and wolves will fight in the Last Battle.
* [CoT,Ch24|books/cot/ch24] - [Rand] thinks about the Creator's plan, then is surprised at himself as this is more typical for [Lews Therin|characters/hist/ltt].
* [CoT,Ch24|books/cot/ch24] - [Elza Penfell|characters/e/elza_penfell]'s logic for protecting [Rand] is that he must survive to Tarmon Gai'don for the [Great Lord|characters/s/shaitan] to defeat him.
* [KoD,Prologue|books/kod/prologue] - A faction of the [Whitecloaks] led by [Galad] decides that they must fight the [Seanchan] and Tarmon Gai'don even if it means allying with the [Aes Sedai|organizations/aes_sedai/index].
* [KoD,Prologue|books/kod/prologue] - The [Aes Sedai|organizations/aes_sedai/index] sworn to [Rand] feel that their oaths hold until Tarmon Gai'don.
* [KoD,Ch10|books/kod/ch10] - [Seanchan|organizations/seanchan] lore is that the dead walking is a sign that Tarmon Gai'don is coming.
* [KoD,Ch22|books/kod/ch22] - [Logain] believes that the Creator cleansed ''[saidin|main/true_source/said]'', not [Rand].
* [KoD,Ch22|books/kod/ch22] - [Logain] orders the [Sea Folk|organizations/sea_folk] to march for Tarmon Gai'don.
* [KoD,Ch24|books/kod/ch24] - Ghosts appear and changes occur in the [White Tower|geography/tar_valon/white_tower] indicating the nearing of Tarmon Gai'don.
* [TGS,Ch5|books/tgs/ch5] - [Rand] hopes that [Lews Therin|characters/hist/ltt] will help him figure out how to reseal the Bore.
* [TGS,Ch15|books/tgs/ch15] - [Moridin] explains his philosophy to [Rand]. There is no use in fighting the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan]. Every time the [Dark One|characters/s/shaitan] fails there will be a new Age but if he wins even once, the Pattern will be destroyed and the Wheel of Time broken forever. Ultimately he must win.
* [ToM,Prologue|books/tom/prologue] - The [Forsaken|organizations/forsaken], at least, believe that what the Creator can create, the [Great Lord|characters/s/shaitan] can destroy.