The age-old (at least for us) question:

Who killed Asmodean?

First, what's needed to kill anybody? Method, motive, opportunity.

Method: it could be anything that killed him quickly.

Motive: who can say all the motives for murder?

Opportunity: Asmodean was looking for wine in Rand's palace (in Caemlyn?). Anybody in the area at that time would have opportunity.

I'm not going to even try to prove anything, but instead, DISPROVE it all. Obviously, some points aren't true, but you can't tell which they are until you know what all of the points are.

Who has been suggested? Lanfear, Moiraine, Moridin/Ishamael, Shaidar Haran, Slayer, Padan Fain, Graendal, Demandred, Mazrim Taim, a random gholam, Davram Bashere, Liah, a random Myrddraal, Lews Therin, Sammael, a random Aes Sedai, Moghedien, Mesaana, the Aiel Wise Ones, Aviendha, the Green Man, and Bela.

Now, let's go through this person by person. Things in {{double brackets}} haven't been proven. FBC==need a 1-4 sentence summary for the person being the killer; FD-p==need someone to prove that the person DIDN'T kill Asmodean.

1: Lanfear.

We know that you don't necessarily die when you go through that doorway ter'angreal, and nobody knows WHEN Lanfear died/became Cyndane. She had even said that she wanted to kill Asmodean. He hated her and was glad that she was gone, opened a door, said "You? No!" and died.

But... When Mat was in that ter'angreal, he spent a few days (real time) when it seemed like much less, and was also "killed on exit". Would Lanfear have gotten off easier? After all, she IS a Forsaken, and the *finn don't like that. Even if she was killed, she probably couldn't have been "reincarnated" that quickly. After all, it took the 'gars five books, and three or four books for Ishy/Moridin (who is undoubtably in DO's favours more than the others).

({[NOTE: This is invalid if she used one of her "wishes" to kill Asmodean or someone]})

2: Moiraine.

FBC.

First there's the problem of her getting out of Finnland to kill Asmodean. Then, if she was out, wouldn't she have STAYED out and helped Rand? Even though she might (and probably does) know who "Jasin Natael" really is, would she have killed him by herself?

3: Moridin.

He wanted to get all the Forsaken back in line, as seen with mindtrapping two of them, and kicking a bunch of others' butts. {{He was in fancloth watching Rand kill Rahvin, and True Power'd Asmodean to death, so nobody sensed it.}}

But... We never learned about him until a couple of books later, and why would he kill one of his "Chosen"? He needs all he can get for Tarmon Gai'don, and as much as he's insane, I don't think the DO would let him do something THAT stupid.

4: Shaidar Haran.

He has plenty of abilities, both common Myrddraal ones and his own individual. If the DO wanted Asmodean dead, Shaidar Haran is the natural choice.

FD-p

5: Slayer.

We knew about him earlier, and he's for hire by Forsaken. {{One of those told him to kill Asmodean, and he did.}} Being able to physically go in and out of Tel'aran'rhiod, he could easily reach Asmodean and dispose of the body.

FD-p

6: Padan Fain.

Fain has the knack of turning up wherever he's not supposed to be, and also hates Rand. Wouldn't he just love to kill Rand al'Thor's teacher? {{He used the Shadar Logoth dagger.}}

FD-p

7: Graendal.

{{Graendal had somehow wrecked havoc on the Borderlands leaders, explaining all the dumb things they do, and Compelled Bashere. She killed Asmodean because he would alert Rand to her 'handiwork'.}}

FD-p

8: Demandred.

FBC./FD-p

9: Mazrim Taim.

{{Darkfriend Taim had been with Rahvin. With the Forsaken's death, he needed to leave. He ran into Asmodean and killed him for secrecy.}} And also, isn't it suspicious that he's gained the most from Asmodean dying, becoming M'Hael and all that?

FD-p

10: random gholam.

FBC./FD-p

11: Davram Bashere.

FBC./FD-p

12: Liah.

FBC./FD-p

13: random Myrddraal (and isn't the number 13 fitting!)

FBC./FD-p

14: Lews Therin.

LTT was definitely in the crime scene (being in Rand's head). {{A had-too-much-to-drink Rand went down to get wine, and saw Asmodean. LTT took over, and killed him. Either LTT used the Mask of Mirrors to make himself look like how he had been, or his mannerisms were recognisable to Asmodean, accounting for the "You? No!"}}

But... It's unlikely in the first place that LTT could take over Rand, even a drunk Rand. If he had, wouldn't he have just STAYED in control? And what's the Dragon Reborn doing getting his own wine, anyways? How come Rand doesn't know a thing about it, and how come LTT has never said anything about it?

15: Sammael.

FBC./FD-p

16: random Aes Sedai.

FBC./FD-p

17: Moghedien.

FBC.

She was definitely out of things by Asmodean's death; either dosed by forkroot, or held by the a'dam. It's kind of hard to go about killing people with either of those.

18: Mesaana.

FBC./FD-p

19: Aiel Wise Ones.

They always seem to know more than expected, and almost definitely would want to kill any Forsaken they could get their hands on. "Jasin Natael" was around them for some time, so it's possible they discovered about Asmodean.

FD-p

20: Aviendha.

FBC./FD-p

21: the Green Man.

Of all the characters who have killed Forsaken so far (Moiraine and Rand), he's the only one who hasn't had a previous chance to kill Asmodean. {{He was tied into Tel'aran'rhiod and used that 'need' thing to reach the area.}}

FD-p

22: Bela.

Heck, why not? Makes more sense than some ideas!

But... How would you get a HORSE into a PALACE unnoticed in the first place? disregarding that horses can't channel (no Skimming or Travelling) and she was nowhere in the area. Why the "You? No!" comment, if Asmodean's never seen Bela? He'd be more likely to say, "What in the Light is a horse doing here?" Also, Bela wouldn't be able to kill a person in the quick manner described.

The "Obvious" criterion: It had to be able to be figured out by the end of TFOH (and at absolute latest, end of LOC). Using the loosest definition of that term, the following are disproven: Shaidar Haran, Slayer, random gholam, and Mesaana. Using the definition ordinary human beings use, that cuts out: Moiraine, Moridin/Ishamael, Demandred, Mazrim Taim, Liah, Aviendha, and the Green Man. However, "obvious" can and has been twisted about in circles, because the author knows the answer and what clues are important. In other words, you can't take anybody out for sure.

So, that's all I have. Anything I've missed? Unless a point against somebody is very inaccurate (like, I said that someone was dead by that time when they weren't), please refute points in the appropriate theories (read: NOT HERE).