Myrddraal

Overview

A Myrddraal has an unnervingly human outline, pale skin, dark hair and no eyes, yet perceives its surroundings with extraordinary clarity. Its presence produces fear, and a black cloak that remains still in the wind signals that it does not behave like an ordinary rider. Fades can slip through shadows, an ability Aginor studies without achieving a complete explanation. His speculation about being out of phase with reality is a character's hypothesis rather than a scientifically established mechanism.

Fades supply command to Trolloc forces and can link themselves to groups of fighters. Such a link gives control but makes the troops dependent on their commander: in the first novel, Lan's beheading of a Fade brings down its linked Trollocs. A mortally damaged Fade can remain dangerous in its death throes, so the fallen body still matters. Their black blades come from Thakan'dar and cause corrupting wounds. The unusually tall Shaidar Haran is a particular vessel for the Dark One, not evidence that every ordinary Myrddraal possesses his exceptional reach and authority.

First appearances & development

The Eye of the World (1990) establishes the black rider pursuing the village youths and Lan's explanation of Trolloc offspring. Later books explore Aginor's uncertainty and Thakan'dar weapon production. Fades, Halfmen and other regional names are aliases within this one profile, not separately counted races.

Canon & continuity

Encyclopaedia WoT's Fade article supplies exact chapter references, including the first novel's pursuit and linked troop collapse. The public Myrddraal revision collates appearance and exceptional Shaidar Haran passages. Conflicting reference claims about sterility, unverified birth ratios and ambiguous gateway-residue powers are excluded rather than assigned to every Fade.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   The Eye of the World

   Robert Jordan · 1990

   Chapters 1, 8 and 18 establish rider, ancestry and the consequences of killing a linked commander.

2. 02

   Lord of Chaos

   Robert Jordan · 1994

   Prologue and chapter 6 discuss swords and Aginor's unsuccessful shadow-travel experiments.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. ReferenceEncyclopaedia WoT - MyrddraalResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. ReferenceA Wheel of Time Wiki - MyrddraalResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.