Theoryland Chronicles

Members :Tamyrlin : Asmodean's Demise

Introduction:

In regards to the solution of this theory, Robert Jordan has made it clear that he has given us the necessary facts to solve it. Also he has said that we have met the killer before Asmodeans death.

First the facts:(many or all of which you probably have heard, seen, or know a thousand times over)

• Aginor - killed himself, burned out in Book 1
• Bathamel - killed by Someshta in Book 1
• Rhavin - killed by Rand in Book 5
• Be'lal - killed by Moiraine in Book 3
• Ishamael - killed by Rand in Book 3
• Moghedien - caught by Nynaeve in Tel'aran'rhiod
• Demandred - When he visits the Dark One he truly believes that Asmodean and Lanfear have disappeared. He said this happened, "Yesterday." Meaning that he found out the same day that not only Lanfear had disappeared but also Asmodean. Obviously he has a spy very close to Rand among the Aiel. Reasoning is-only the Aiel were with Rand when he "moved" into Caemlyn the first day. Or who would be close enough to Rand every day including that day to know that Asmodean wasn't there.
• Semirhage - In LoC, page 143, she is speaking to herself and says that Asmodean is a traitor "but he really had vanished."
• Mesanna - To this point she hasn't made any comments regarding Asmodean therefore there would be no clues to claim for or against.
• Shadar Haran, Slayer, Moridin - RJ gives no reason to believe at any time before Asmodean's demise and after as far as I am concerned, that one of our three mysterious players had any part in the murder. Plus we have not met them by this time, therefore they shouldn't be considered suspects.
• Padan Fain - Again, RJ gives us absolutely no reason to believe that he had any part in Asmodean's death.

Again, think, RJ says that it is right there in plain view, the evidence is in the books. Therefore we would have seen or heard something that would clue us in.

Our Suspects

Okay now we can consider the last three who just might have motive:

1. Graendal
   First of all RJ gives us her POV many times when she has said that 'Lews Therin probably killed Asmodean, Lanfear, and possibly Moghedien'. These references in LoC

   "Myself, I think Lews Therin killed them (Asmodean, Lanfear, Moghedien). There are rumors out of Cairhien about Lanfear dying at Lews Therin's hands the same day he killed Rahvin."

   "So many of us has died confronting him...And Lanfear and Asmodean, whatever you believe. Possibly Moghedien."

   "Asmodean and Lanfear are dead, and I am sure Moghedien must be, too. She was surprised to hear her own voice, hoarse and unsteady."

   The last quote appears to show the definite fear that Graendal feels when thinking about Rand and how he seems to be systematically removing each Forsaken. Some of them who were much stronger in the OP than herself.

   
   
   But she never spoke nor thought at anytime of killing Asmodean and REMEMBER:none of the forsaken knew, other than Lanfear, that Asmodean was blocked, it describes his abilities as a trickle of the power. They believed that he had gone over on his own accord in full strength. It isn't her, there is no proof that she ever desired to kill Asmodean nor that she knew that Asmodean would be going to Caemlyn with Rand that day. The decision that Asmodean would go was only made the morning of the killing. Mat killed the Aiel Melindhra when she found out he was going to Camelyn the next day-obviously she was to report to Sammael(the bees on the knife suggested this, Mat appeared to make the same connection as he noticed it) but she never made her report. There is absolutely no evidence that suggests that she knows who the killer was nor that she killed him herself, and this comes from her own thoughts.
   
   

2. Sammael
   First of all, his minion Melindhra who was reporting for him, was killed before she could tell him that Rand was going to Caemlyn the next morning. RJ obviously added this encounter with Mat and the description of the knife to suggest that Sammael would not know where Rand was going.
   
   His only desire is to be the last Forsaken, to become nae'blis and to kill Lews Therin once and for all. I believe that he only agreed to be the bait because he had a way out, an escape. This is apparent because of their fight two books later. What is left to suggest that Sammael killed Asmodean? But we have heard Sammaels POV in this quote:

   He says this with emotion,"And why would he kill Asmodean? I would if I could find him, but he has gone over to al'Thor. Trembling with anger."

   Also he asks where al'Thor is hiding Asmodean. C'mon, RJ doesn't work like this. Sammael believed that he was still the bait.
   
   
3. Lanfear
   Okay my last point. How many times has RJ made reference to something that might happen in one book and then it happens? Hmm... didn't the Amyrlin Seat Siuan Sanche say to herself that she would probably be stilled if the Tower found out about her and Moiraine's plans? Didn't Rand say to himself that it couldn't be him the one who Moiraine was looking for? Doesn't Moiraine say to Egwene that she is so strong in the OP that she might be the Amyrlin one day? RJ is master of coincidence and also foreshadowing major events with idle comments. This is generally accepted by all and I would like to present this foreshadowing for consideration in TSR page 184:

   Lanfear is talking to Rand : "Kneel to the Great Lord, and he will set you above all others. He will leave you free to reign as you will, so long as you bend knee to him only once. To acknowledge him. No more than that. He told me this. Asmodean will teach you to wield the Power without it killing you, teach you what you can do with it. Let me help you. We can destroy the others, the Great Lord will not care. We can destroy all of them, even Asmodean, once he has taught you all you need to know. You and I can rule the world together...(then speaking of the two great sa'angrael she says) we could challenge the Great Lord himself."

   Lanfear has been planning this since she escaped her 'prison'. To rule the world with LTT by her side.

Foreshadowings/Conclusions:

• Lanfear is the only one to ever mention teaching Rand how to use the OP with Asmodeans help.
  Conclusion: Lanfear blocks Asmodean for Rand to teach him how to use the one power.
• Lanfear mentions getting a hold of the two greatest sa'angrael.
  Conclusion: Rand obtains both in Rhuidean.
• Lanfear lies to the other Forsaken and then establishes plans to catch Rand when in reality she still wishes for Rand and herself to rule the world.
  Conclusion: All of Lanfear's planning instigated both the attack on Rhavin and eventually Sammael(of course, his status is still under debate), amazing. I wonder if the third party(Graendal) will be next.
• Lanfear is the only one who knows that Asmodean is blocked therefore easy to kill.
  Conclusion: Asmodean, a powerful Forsaken although low on the totum pole among his piers, is approached, trapped and killed.
• Asmodeans last thought in TFoH is

  "He was hardly sorry Lanfear was dead...for what she had done to him."

  
  Conclusion: Asmodean opens a small door to the wine pantry or on the way to it and he sees someone who makes him explain incredulously the blood draining from his face, "You?". Let's see, the dead coming back to life, the woman he hates for blocking him, who he had just thanked that she was dead and all of a sudden behind a door she is waiting for him, kind of ironic.
• Lanfear is the only character to mention wanting to kill Asmodean after he taught Rand to control the power.
  Conclusion: Rand has learned to control the power so it doesn't kill him and Lanfear decides to take away that asset and licks her wounds on her way back to Seanchan leaving the final battle with Lews Therin for later.

I won't try to deny that a case can be made against Lanfears ability to be in Caemlyn. We haven't seen her since she was pushed through the ter'angreal doorway by Moiraine. But we do know that another DF named ISAM is able to travel in and out of Finnland at will. So, why not Lanfear?

I'm sorry, but this is typical RJ. He almost always will in some way or another mention events like this prior to their occurrence. If part of Lanfears statement has come true, all of it will, and did. It is right there, no hiding this one in events that were never a part of the book in the first place. Lanfear had every reason to kill Asmodean, to know exactly where he was (she did block him) and would have the ability to instantly locate his whereabouts. All other choices are based on unsaid words, unthought thoughts, and "unoccurred" occurrences."