Perrin Aybara
Encyclopedia
Perrin t'Bashere Aybara, or Goldeneyes, is one of the main characters of Robert Jordan
's epic fantasy The Wheel of Time
. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun
. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow. Perrin also shares Perun's association to wolves; Perrin can even talk to wolves
thick arms and shoulders of a blacksmith. He has curly brown hair. His eyes were dark brown, although about halfway through the first book they became golden. He is about 6'1" or 6'2" (1,85 to 1,88 m) and about 235 to 240 pounds (106 to 108 kg). Starting out as inexperienced, Perrin has grown greatly into his skills as a warrior and, despite his misgivings, a leader. He is often quiet, taking time to think things over and process them which sometimes gives him the appearance of being slow-witted when in truth, he thinks very thoroughly. He is kind-hearted and does not stomach the games or duplicity of others. Ironically, nobles and generals used to playing political games assume Perrin's frankness is a mask for his true thoughts and actions, unaware he is speaking what he truly believes. Like his friends, Perrin is honestly unaware of how inspirational he truly is or his true importance in events.
who is chased from Emond's Field with his friends, Rand al'Thor
, Matrim Cauthon
, and Egwene al'Vere
. The group is led away from home by two outsiders, Moiraine Damodred
Sedai and her Warder, al'Lan Mandragoran
, and followed by their Wisdom, Nynaeve al'Meara
.
Unbeknownst to anyone except Moiraine Sedai, the three boys are ta'veren
, and under the Dark One's
eye. Moiraine Sedai intended to bring them to the White Tower for safekeeping. Perrin, for his part, was hardly interested in adventure; a methodical, placid man of great strength and equal gentleness, he would have been happy living out his days in the Two Rivers as a blacksmith.
found themselves separated from their friends. The two were travelling to Caemlyn (or attempting to) when they met a man in the woods named Elyas Machera. Elyas was a Wolfbrother, a man with unusual connections to wolves. He recognized the latent ability in Perrin as well, and introduced him to a pack of wolves, which included Hopper and Dapple. Perrin's wolf name is Young Bull.
Communicating with the wolves changed Perrin somewhat. The irises of his eyes are now yellow; he can see, hear and smell better than any man, even to the point of smelling the emotions people are feeling and is able to see very well in the dark and for long distances. He can communicate in a form of telepathy with other wolves, using them for reconnaissance and occasionally as irregular shock troops in battle. Due to the little known fact that wolves live in the Dreamworld as well as in the real world, he has a natural affinity with Tel'aran'rhiod
, the World of Dreams. The number of people whom Perrin has told about the full extent of his abilities can be counted on one hand.
Being a Wolfbrother has its costs, though. While following Rand's trail to Tear
with Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran
, and the Ogier Loial
, he met a man in a small town whose brother was a Wolfbrother. The man had gone feral, losing all touch with his human side; to his own mind, he was, in fact, a wolf. Perrin fears the same fate though he wants to know how Elyas Machera manages to remain in control of himself. This was however resolved in the Tower of Midnight after several training sessions with the wolf "Hopper" in the World of Dreams. It turned out that as long as he remembers his home (in his case his wife, "where Faile is, is home") that shouldnt happen and the feral man choose it since his human life was filled with pain.
, a young woman with oracular visions. One of her 'viewings' told him that eventually he would meet a hawk and a falcon, both female, who would 'perch on his shoulders.' The hawk was seen to have a leash meant for Perrin. Not long after meeting the feral Wolfbrother, he came across the falcon: a Saldaean Hunter for the Horn, Zarine Bashere
, who eventually accompanied the party to Tear. In Tear he also made acquaintance with Berelain
sur Paendrag, the First of Mayene, the latest in a long line of Mayener rulers descended from Artur Hawkwing. Both showed romantic interest in Perrin, and though he did not return Berelain's sentiment, jealousy and possessiveness brought the two women to conflict several times. In the end he chose Faile, but even after his marriage to her, Berelain took advantage of Faile's later absence (see below) to attempt to leash him to her with rumors and suspicions among his followers.
friends, Gaul, Bain, and Chiad. After a harrowing passage through the Ways, they arrived at Emond's Field to find Perrin's family dead, and not only Whitecloaks, but Trollocs in the area. While the Two Rivers folk waffled, Perrin took charge, not because he wanted to be in charge but because he knew what to do. He united the Two Rivers region and repelled both forces. During the campaign, however, the Two Rivers unanimously accepted him as their new lord and ruler; this, combined with his yellow eyes, has led to them styling him Lord Perrin Goldeneyes of the Two Rivers. Perrin, a blacksmith at heart, thought it madness. He was much more pleased when Faile agreed to marry him. After spending The Fires of Heaven
on his honeymoon (he was not present in that book's narrative at all, the first but not the last time a main character would disappear so), he raised an army and led them to Cairhien
to help Rand, taking part in the battle of Dumai's Wells.
, and two Asha'man
, to Ghealdan. There a man named Masema Dagar, the so-called Prophet of the Dragon, was causing various degrees of trouble. Perrin's orders were to find Masema (the three had met in The Great Hunt
) and bring him to heel. Tempers flared immediately, not the least between Faile and Berelain.
The task was harder than expected: Masema promised to bring a couple hundred, but brought the whole army along with him instead, and refused the use of a gateway, which would have reduced the months-long journey to an hour or two. Even worse, Perrin's forces were attacked by the Shaido, and Faile taken captive along with several of her guests and retainers (including Queen Alliandre of Ghealdan and, unbeknownst to almost everyone, Morgase Trakand Former-Queen of Andor
). Perrin abandoned his task in order to rescue her, eventually joining forces with the Seanchan during Knife of Dreams
. In the process, he totally dissolved the Shaido threat, and won the respect of the Seanchan, who now call him the Wolf King. He has reunited with his wife, but with A Memory of Light
and Tarmon Gai'don
looming, it is questionable how long the two will have in each other's company.
Masema was last seen fleeing Malden with the remnants of his army. The prologue to the Gathering Storm reveals that after the battle of Malden, Masema and his surviving followers were ambushed and killed by Faile Aybara.
, crafted on contract but never sold. Perrin has acquainted himself well with it, using muscles accustomed to swinging ten pounds of steel. Not long after meeting Elyas Machera, he asked if he should throw the axe away, but Elyas told him only to do so once he found himself enjoying its use. In Tear, just before Rand took the Stone, Perrin stopped for an unplanned night's work at a Tairen forge, and in payment (and gratitude) the blacksmith gave him the hammer
he had used.
The choice of axe or hammer is one Perrin is constantly having to decide in the wolf dream, where he can change things, and symbolizes the choice between destroyer and creator.
Perrin eventually discarded the axe, just after using it to sever a captive Shaido's hand from his arm in an attempt to scare the Shaido into revealing the location of his wife Faile who was captured and made gai'shain.
When a Banner-General of the Seanchan army with whom Perrin cooperated met Perrin, she quoted a section of the Prophecies of the Dragon:
She believes he is the wolf king. The second line refers to Mat marrying Tuon. The final days and trumpets of battle mean that Tarmon Gai'don nears.
In "Towers of Midnight," Perrin, with the help of some Asha'man and Wise Ones, crafts a new, Power-made hammer named Mah'alleinir and leaves the old hammer behind.
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...
's epic fantasy 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...
. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun
Perun
In Slavic mythology, Perun is the highest god of the pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning. His other attributes were the fire, mountains, the oak, iris, eagle, firmament , horses and carts, weapons and war...
. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow. Perrin also shares Perun's association to wolves; Perrin can even talk to wolves
Description
Perrin is stocky with massivethick arms and shoulders of a blacksmith. He has curly brown hair. His eyes were dark brown, although about halfway through the first book they became golden. He is about 6'1" or 6'2" (1,85 to 1,88 m) and about 235 to 240 pounds (106 to 108 kg). Starting out as inexperienced, Perrin has grown greatly into his skills as a warrior and, despite his misgivings, a leader. He is often quiet, taking time to think things over and process them which sometimes gives him the appearance of being slow-witted when in truth, he thinks very thoroughly. He is kind-hearted and does not stomach the games or duplicity of others. Ironically, nobles and generals used to playing political games assume Perrin's frankness is a mask for his true thoughts and actions, unaware he is speaking what he truly believes. Like his friends, Perrin is honestly unaware of how inspirational he truly is or his true importance in events.
Youth
Perrin begins the series as a broad-shouldered, shaggy-haired apprentice to a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
who is chased from Emond's Field with his friends, Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, Matrim Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
, and Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
. The group is led away from home by two outsiders, Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
Sedai and her Warder, al'Lan Mandragoran
Lan Mandragoran
Al'Lan Mandragoran is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lan is very similar in characterization to Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien...
, and followed by their Wisdom, Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Personality:Nynaeve's personality often runs a gamut of emotions, meek at times before more experienced women but also able to stand up and run down others. While she will deny it, Nynaeve is...
.
Unbeknownst to anyone except Moiraine Sedai, the three boys are ta'veren
Ta'veren
Ta'veren is a term used in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.Ta'veren : "A person around whom the Wheel of Time weaves all surrounding life-threads, perhaps ALL life-threads, to form a Web of Destiny." -Notable Ta'veren:*Current...
, and under the Dark One's
Dark One
The Dark One is a fictional character in the The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It is the main antagonist; bound to its prison at the moment of Creation and partially freed during the Age of Legends , it is the primary source of evil in the series.-Character:In The Wheel of Time books,...
eye. Moiraine Sedai intended to bring them to the White Tower for safekeeping. Perrin, for his part, was hardly interested in adventure; a methodical, placid man of great strength and equal gentleness, he would have been happy living out his days in the Two Rivers as a blacksmith.
Wolfbrother
Unfortunately, the journey went afoul, as most do when the Dark One takes interest, and he and Egwene al'VereEgwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
found themselves separated from their friends. The two were travelling to Caemlyn (or attempting to) when they met a man in the woods named Elyas Machera. Elyas was a Wolfbrother, a man with unusual connections to wolves. He recognized the latent ability in Perrin as well, and introduced him to a pack of wolves, which included Hopper and Dapple. Perrin's wolf name is Young Bull.
Communicating with the wolves changed Perrin somewhat. The irises of his eyes are now yellow; he can see, hear and smell better than any man, even to the point of smelling the emotions people are feeling and is able to see very well in the dark and for long distances. He can communicate in a form of telepathy with other wolves, using them for reconnaissance and occasionally as irregular shock troops in battle. Due to the little known fact that wolves live in the Dreamworld as well as in the real world, he has a natural affinity with Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod or the World of Dreams is a fictional reality where the reality is mutable, mentioned in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The word itself is from the in-universe language known as the Old Tongue, and literally means 'the unseen world'...
, the World of Dreams. The number of people whom Perrin has told about the full extent of his abilities can be counted on one hand.
Being a Wolfbrother has its costs, though. While following Rand's trail to Tear
Tear (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Tear is one of the richest nations in the land. This comes in part from controlling the greatest port on the Sea of Storms, at the mouth of the River Erinin. A great deal of Tear's wealth comes from the oil produced on the...
with Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran
Lan Mandragoran
Al'Lan Mandragoran is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lan is very similar in characterization to Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien...
, and the Ogier Loial
Loial
Loial son of Arent son of Halan is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Like all Ogier, he is deliberate and methodical in his thought; haste leads to waste appears to be his people's motto. However, when roused to anger, he is an implacable enemy...
, he met a man in a small town whose brother was a Wolfbrother. The man had gone feral, losing all touch with his human side; to his own mind, he was, in fact, a wolf. Perrin fears the same fate though he wants to know how Elyas Machera manages to remain in control of himself. This was however resolved in the Tower of Midnight after several training sessions with the wolf "Hopper" in the World of Dreams. It turned out that as long as he remembers his home (in his case his wife, "where Faile is, is home") that shouldnt happen and the feral man choose it since his human life was filled with pain.
The Hawk and the Falcon
Perrin soon became friends with one of Rand's companions, Min FarshawMin Farshaw
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.- Description :She is slender, a little taller than Moiraine , and has short dark hair that becomes curly when grown long. She has large, dark eyes...
, a young woman with oracular visions. One of her 'viewings' told him that eventually he would meet a hawk and a falcon, both female, who would 'perch on his shoulders.' The hawk was seen to have a leash meant for Perrin. Not long after meeting the feral Wolfbrother, he came across the falcon: a Saldaean Hunter for the Horn, Zarine Bashere
Faile Bashere
Faile Bashere is a character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Life as Zarine:Zarine "Faile" ni Bashere t'Aybara is the daughter of Lord Davram Bashere, the Marshal-General to Saldaea and uncle to Queen Tenobia...
, who eventually accompanied the party to Tear. In Tear he also made acquaintance with Berelain
Berelain
Berelain sur Paendrag Tanreall of House Paeron is a character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is the "First" of Mayene, a small city-state southeast of Tear, and High Seat of House Paeron...
sur Paendrag, the First of Mayene, the latest in a long line of Mayener rulers descended from Artur Hawkwing. Both showed romantic interest in Perrin, and though he did not return Berelain's sentiment, jealousy and possessiveness brought the two women to conflict several times. In the end he chose Faile, but even after his marriage to her, Berelain took advantage of Faile's later absence (see below) to attempt to leash him to her with rumors and suspicions among his followers.
Lord of the Two Rivers
After Rand, Perrin's childhood friend, conquered the Stone of Tear and was declared the Dragon Reborn, Perrin heard rumours that the Children of the Light had been terrorizing the Two Rivers. They were actually trying to get Rand to return, but Perrin did it instead, bringing Loial, Faile and their AielAiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
friends, Gaul, Bain, and Chiad. After a harrowing passage through the Ways, they arrived at Emond's Field to find Perrin's family dead, and not only Whitecloaks, but Trollocs in the area. While the Two Rivers folk waffled, Perrin took charge, not because he wanted to be in charge but because he knew what to do. He united the Two Rivers region and repelled both forces. During the campaign, however, the Two Rivers unanimously accepted him as their new lord and ruler; this, combined with his yellow eyes, has led to them styling him Lord Perrin Goldeneyes of the Two Rivers. Perrin, a blacksmith at heart, thought it madness. He was much more pleased when Faile agreed to marry him. After spending The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven is the fifth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1993....
on his honeymoon (he was not present in that book's narrative at all, the first but not the last time a main character would disappear so), he raised an army and led them to Cairhien
Cairhien
Cairhien is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels. Cairhien is located in the east central part of The Westlands, on the east it borders with the Spine of the World. The sign of Cairhien is a golden sun rising on a field of deep blue...
to help Rand, taking part in the battle of Dumai's Wells.
The Prophet of the Dragon
Rand, always in need of trustworthy commanders, sent Perrin, Faile, the Two Rivers army, Berelain, her Mayeners, some Aiel Wise Ones, oathsworn Aes SedaiAes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
, and two Asha'man
Asha'man
The Asha'man are an organization of men who can channel the male part of the One Power, Saidin, in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time.-Description:...
, to Ghealdan. There a man named Masema Dagar, the so-called Prophet of the Dragon, was causing various degrees of trouble. Perrin's orders were to find Masema (the three had met in The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt is the second book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 15, 1990. The Great Hunt consists of a prologue and 50 chapters...
) and bring him to heel. Tempers flared immediately, not the least between Faile and Berelain.
The task was harder than expected: Masema promised to bring a couple hundred, but brought the whole army along with him instead, and refused the use of a gateway, which would have reduced the months-long journey to an hour or two. Even worse, Perrin's forces were attacked by the Shaido, and Faile taken captive along with several of her guests and retainers (including Queen Alliandre of Ghealdan and, unbeknownst to almost everyone, Morgase Trakand Former-Queen of Andor
Andor (Wheel of Time)
Andor is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels.Andor is one of the strongest countries in the Westlands of the main continent. It is located in the middle of the Westlands, and is one of the largest nations...
). Perrin abandoned his task in order to rescue her, eventually joining forces with the Seanchan during Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
. In the process, he totally dissolved the Shaido threat, and won the respect of the Seanchan, who now call him the Wolf King. He has reunited with his wife, but with A Memory of Light
A Memory of Light
A Memory of Light is the planned 14th and final book of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time, written by American author Robert Jordan with Brandon Sanderson. A Memory of Light was expected to be published around March 2012. The latest information indicates that it will be sometime between March...
and Tarmon Gai'don
Tarmon Gai'don
Tarmon Gai'don, or the Last Battle, is an event set in the world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series. The event is both feared and anticipated in the lands of the Wheel...
looming, it is questionable how long the two will have in each other's company.
Masema was last seen fleeing Malden with the remnants of his army. The prologue to the Gathering Storm reveals that after the battle of Malden, Masema and his surviving followers were ambushed and killed by Faile Aybara.
The Axe and the Hammer
The night Perrin left the Two Rivers, he received his signature weapon from his blacksmith master: a moon-bladed hand axeAxe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
, crafted on contract but never sold. Perrin has acquainted himself well with it, using muscles accustomed to swinging ten pounds of steel. Not long after meeting Elyas Machera, he asked if he should throw the axe away, but Elyas told him only to do so once he found himself enjoying its use. In Tear, just before Rand took the Stone, Perrin stopped for an unplanned night's work at a Tairen forge, and in payment (and gratitude) the blacksmith gave him the hammer
Hammer
A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
he had used.
The choice of axe or hammer is one Perrin is constantly having to decide in the wolf dream, where he can change things, and symbolizes the choice between destroyer and creator.
Perrin eventually discarded the axe, just after using it to sever a captive Shaido's hand from his arm in an attempt to scare the Shaido into revealing the location of his wife Faile who was captured and made gai'shain.
When a Banner-General of the Seanchan army with whom Perrin cooperated met Perrin, she quoted a section of the Prophecies of the Dragon:
When the Wolf King carries the hammer, thus are the final days known.
When the Fox marries the raven, and the trumpets of battle are blown.
She believes he is the wolf king. The second line refers to Mat marrying Tuon. The final days and trumpets of battle mean that Tarmon Gai'don nears.
In "Towers of Midnight," Perrin, with the help of some Asha'man and Wise Ones, crafts a new, Power-made hammer named Mah'alleinir and leaves the old hammer behind.