My theory concerns the true nature of Ishamael. I will start off by quoting Moghedien.

"The other sounds like Ishamael, to me. All his pride at being only half-caught, whatever the price - there was always was less human left in him than any of us when I saw him again; I think he half believed he was the Great Lord of the Dark - all his three thousand years of machinations, and it comes to an untaught boy hunting him down."

- The Shadow Rising, ch 46. p771

My main concern highlighted here is: 'all his pride at being only half-caught, whatever the price.' This just showing a generally recognised fact that Ishmael is only 'half-caught'. Now we know that Ishamael has been roaming around since the breaking and was not fully sealed in the bore for the last three thousand years, unlike the other forsaken.

I believe that Ishamael, being half-caught, can only exist as a strong entity within the World of Dreams. I also believe that Ishamael is unable to Channel. Now I know many people will think this is crazy but this is what I will attempt to prove.

Throughout the first three books we do not see Ishamael operate within the physical world once (as a manifestation akin to the other forsaken). Throughout these books he comes to the three boys, Egwene, and the other Forsaken in Tel'aran'rhiod.

The main examples of this are the main battles between him and Rand at the end of the first three books. (Eye of the world. ch51 Against the Shadow) 'Darkness surrounded him, the utter blackness of total nothing. The steps were still there, hanging in the black, under his feet and ahead. When he looked back, those behind him were gone, faded away to nothing, into the nothingness around him.....The chamber, too, was as he remembered, the mad, striated sky beyond the balcony, the melted walls....the terrible fireplace with its roaring, heatless flames.' I think that Rand is in the world of dreams or somewhere between these worlds. Here we see Ishamael's 'black chord....dwarfed by Ba'alzamon. Each pulse along that black vain ate light'. I believe that Ishamael's black chord is his connection to the rest of his 'being' that is trapped in the bore. We never see a massive black chord around any of the other Forsaken both male and female in the physical world and the world of dreams at any stage in the series. This is because Ishamael is unique. Not because he is channeling through the dark one, not because he is channeling, not because he is connected to the Dark One, but because his soul is torn. Half of him exists outside the pattern and half inside the pattern (this is where we 'see' that connection).

At the Eye of the World, I don't think Ishamael expects Rand to be channeling from the pool! Rand channels the sword and Ishamael is helpless to stop him!!!

When Moiraine is talking in Eye of the World about Fain she says: Fain was summoned to Shayol Ghul where 'he met a man with eyes of fire, who named himself Ba'alzamon.' Moiraine then says when Fain returned to Lugard, Ba'alzamon came to him in a dream....'Fain claims it was Ba'alzamon himself who drove the Myrddraal...His words. Ba'alzamon appeared like a flickering candle flame, vanishing and reappearing, never in the same place twice.' Moiraine then says 'This year, Ba'alzamon walks in the dreams of those who live in the light, and actually appears, if with difficulty, at Shadar Logoth. 'Not in his own body...a projection that flickers and cannot hold'.

In the prologue of The Great Hunt Bors says: 'but then the air above the Halfman shimmered...the figure of a man floated in the air above the Myrddraal' Ishamael says: 'The place where you stand lies in the shadow of Shayol Ghul'. Reinforcing Moiraine's belief that Ishamael finds it easier to project himself closer to Shayol Ghul (as opposed to Shadar Logoth which is much further away.) Bors then says: 'Ba'alzamon was gone. The Myrddraal was gone, too, and only rough stone was where the door it had used had been.' (just Shayol Ghul/ Ishamael weirdness)

At Falme we see Rand and Ishmael leave the battle scene to fight their own battle. 'Suddenly Ba'alzamon was before him in the mists, throwing his arms wide...They were alone, only they and the rolling fog...whatever chance he did have lay in the One Power.' When Ishamael says: 'You pitiful wretch . You have sounded the Horn of Valere. You are linked to it, now'. this to me reinforces the fact that Ishamael has not beeen watching the battle in the physical world at Falme, otherwise he would see that rand did not blow the Horn, I believe he sensed Rand and manifests himself into the physical world enough to lure Rand away into Telly in the flesh!

The Dragon Reborn, p.409 - Perrin's wolf dream

" 'Great Lord,' one of the men muttered, 'where is this place?'....I was asleep in Tar Valon, Great Lord. I am asleep in Tar Valon! Where is this place? Have i gone mad?' Some of the men around him wore ornate coats full of embriodery, others plainer grab, while some seemed to be naked, or in their smallclothes. 'I, too, sleep,' a naked man nearly screamed.....'and i do sleep in Illian'...the black-clothed man did not speak loudly...eyes and mouth were holes boring into a raging forge-fire....'You all dream' Ba'alzamon said, 'but what happens in this dream is real'"

This proves that Ishmael has extraodinary power in the Dream World where he can pull people into the World of Dreams against their will, which is exactly what he does to the boys throughout the early books.

Then Lanfear appears "'you make free use of my domain', she said. 'Your domain'? Ba'alzamon said..'you claim it yours, then?.....(lanfear says) 'What have your plans come to? Three thousand years and more of whispering in ears and pulling the strings of throned puppets like an Aes Sedai!'"

The Dragon Reborn
Chapter 4

(Perrin spying on Forsaken meetin Ishmael, Rahvin and Be'lal) 'The first two men stood side by side, now, made uncomfortable allies by the presence of the newcomer...His eyes, Perrin thought. What is strange about his eyes?..abruptly the main in dark velvets threw his arms wide, as if demanding an end to it.'

Strange dont you think! Forsaken meeting Ishamael in Dream World.

Be'lal 'Take it! Take Callandor!....Take it, and defend yourself, if you can!' Be'lal's plan!

Rand: 'Slowly the shadow descended, resolving into Ba'alzamon, clothed in dead black...he hung in the air, two spans above the floor...Ba'alzamon's blow struck him as he leapt, struck inside him, a ripping and crumpling, tearing something loose, trying to pull a part of him away....The one power surged through him (callandor)....'you will not take my soul'...Ba'alzamon fled, man and shadow vanishing. For a moment rand stared, frowning. There had been a sense of -folding- as Ba'alzamon left. A twisting, as if Ba'alzamon had in some way bent what was....Rand reached out, twisted through Callandor, and twisted reality to make a door to somewhere else. He did not know where, except it was where Ba'alzamon had gone.'

Again, world of dreams in the flesh!

'Water filled the halls...he made it air again....the air gained weight...the pressure vanished...the air was solid rock...then nothing at all to fill his lungs. He sprang each trap and ran on. 'I will not be undone!' Ba'alzamon cried. ..'i cannot be defeated! Aid me!' Some of the darkness shrouding him drifted into his hands, formed a ball so black it seemed to soak up even the light of Callandor. Sudden triumph blazed in the flames of his eyes. 'you are destroyed!' Rand shouted. Callandor spun in his hands. Its light roiled the darkness, severed the steel-black lines around Ba'a;zamon convulsed. As if there were two of him he seemed to dwindle and grow larger at the same time. 'You are undone!' Rand plunged the shining blade into Ba'alzamon's chest.

Ba'azamon's final demise!(notice Ishamael does not channel at all!!!!! He just uses his powers in T'A'R!)

Now to talk about it all. Not once do we have hard evidence of Ishamael channeling! Rand never senses that Ishamael can channel or the ability to channel. I would have thought that if Ishamael tried to tempt Rand with being a teacher he would want to show that he could channel. He never does this. Referring back to Moghedien's quote : 'All his pride at being only half-caught, whatever the price - there was always was less human left in him than any of us when I saw him again'. Whatever the price!

Why are the Forsaken not jealous of Ishamael being free for three thousand years whilst they have been stuck in some timeless void outside the pattern? Well, I think the price of not being able to channel for three thousand years is a pretty good reason. I mean when you look at the nature of channeling, channeling seems to be linked very closely to the fact that your soul is connected to the Wheel. How can you channel when a part of your soul does not exist in the Wheel! This is why he can only exist with a strong presensce in the World of Dreams, it is a world between worlds. A place which is not built on the 'normal' laws of reality. I believe Ishamael forsees that eventually the seals will be weak enough that his 'trapped part' will unite with his current self and he will be whole again.

Moghedien also says: 'there was always was less human left in him than any of us when I saw him again' This implies that Moghedien has met up with Ishamael since she has been freed. We know that she is a user of the World of Dreams, so it wouldn't surprise me if that is where their meeting was too. We all know that every time you enter the World of Dreams in the flesh you loose a part of what makes you human. Well imagine predominantely living in the world of dreams for the best part of three thousand years. Don't you think that would make you a little insane? Don't you think that's why the other Forsaken think he is mad? I think that for Ishamael to manifest himself in the physical world only becomes easier if:

A) the closer he is to shoyal ghul or
B) as the seals weaken.

Otherwise it is extremely difficult. Hence why he spends so much time in the world of dream in the flesh. It is really hard for him to go around the 'real' world as a man, because his body doesnt even exist.

The symbolism of his eyes being like funaces is another give away. Isn't it the old cliche that a person's eyes is a gateway to their soul. Trust Jordan to give a souless and bodiless character flaming eyes. Ishamael exists in the void outside of the pattern as well as in the pattern.

This is also why Ishamael has built up such a strong network of Darkfriends, Black Ajah, Rulers etc. Because he needs them to track people and do his work for him (he can't stay in the physical world.) This is why he sends Fain to the Two Rivers. If Ishamael could channel there would be no way that he would not confront Rand in the real world. He feels safe at confronting Rand in the World of Dreams because (he has no other option lol) he knows that Rand does not know how to channel yet, therefore, cannot attack him. Ishamael's power and knowledge of the World of Dreams is far superior to Rands, infact he could be the strongest ever.

Why does he fight Rand with weapons? This is seriously telling us that he knows Rand is a threat and that more importantly, Ishamael is not at full strength. I mean this is Ishamael who is going up against an untrained male channeler! I believe he is fighting for his life. Obviously he is trying to destroy Rand or protect himself while he tries to turn Rand to the dark side. But as Rand becomes stronger this becomes harder. Rand's main defense against Ishamael's power in the World of Dreams is his ability to channel. I think just holding the power enables Rand's soul to seemingly remain more strongly 'connected' to the wheel. Notice as Rand becomes stronger with the Power Ishmaels confrontations with him lesson.

Other events that happen in the story that I believe help my theory:

Ishamael says in Eye Of the World

"I began the setting of your path the day you were born, a path to lead you to your grave, or here. Aiel allowed to flee, and one to live, to speak the words that would echo down the years. Jain Farstrider....whom i painted like a fool and sent to the Ogier thinking he was free of me. The Black Ajah, wriggling like worms on their bellies across the world to search you out. I pull the strings and the Amyrlin Seat dances and thinks she controls events."

This proves that Ishamael has got all his people working for him pulling strings everywhere. Note Moghedien's quote, "all his three thousand years of machinations." Again showing that Moghedien knows the 'price' he has payed for being half bound and also in what ways has he been serving the Dark Lord. Lanfear also implies a similar message, "Three thousand years and more of whispering in ears and pulling the strings of throned puppets like an Aes Sedai!"

An interesting point about Farstrider is that when he arrived in Stedding Shangtai Loial said he had an unknown sickness. An interesting thing is that nobody can enter a stedding in the World of Dreams, not even Ishamael. Funny how Farstrider suddenly started recovering, isnt it?

Another interesting point is when Verin gives the dream Ter'angreal to Egwene. Now I know Verin is a darkhorse, but why didn't she give Coreanin's notes to her if she was the last know Dreamer? We don't know how Coreanin died but to me I think it would be no suprised if she was killed by Ishamael in the World of dreams or because she had documented links between Ishamael and the World of Dream's or maybe the Black Ajah's involvement in the World of Dreams. Wouldn't it be interesting if that is what the notes contained? I don't think they contained something about the Ter'angreal being dangerous. I mean it has been used so many times by the girls with no adverse affects that that is just not plausible and I think Verin would not worry about giving Egwene that information. Quote Verin, "Once again she considered burning the manuscript, just as she had considered giving it to Egwene....But destroying knowledge, any knowledge, was anathema to her. And for the other.....No. It is best by far to leave things as they are. What will happen, will happen." Curious?

Now another theme I will delve into is that of Taim. Ah..the beloved Taim. Now I know the world is split on this issue but I have some ideas. We now know that Ishamael is the masterplanner. I wouldn't be suprised if, in his search for the Dragon Reborn, he approached all the false dragons too. Now, I know I am speculating, but I think Ishamael has confronted Taim in the World of Dreams and offered him salvation through the Dark Lord. Taim accepts. But, Ishamael cannot teach him to channel because he can't do it himself...hahaha...Taim only has the luxury of being able to channel freely because the taint does not affect him. He is still walking blindly, so to speak. Now, everything goes wrong when Taim is captured by Aes Sedai. However, we know that Ishamael is behind the Black Ajah and I believe it was Ishamael who ordered the rumoured attack by the Black Ajah to free Taim. To me this just seems so logical..Ishamael is behind the Black Ajah, he can't channel, can't strongly manifest in the real world, so he must get the Black Ajah to do it. He then instructs Taim to lay low for a while after his escape.

On a side note this is an interesting point for Cadsuane, who went to capture Taim. Cadsuane says she has never failed to do something she intended to do for 270 years. If she captured Taim and then let the other sisters take him to the tower, then she was not around for his escape. However, if she was taking him to the tower when he escaped then I think if she wasn't Black Ajah then that would be something she would see as a failure!!! Not exactly sure on this, might need some help there.

Once Ishamael knows that he loses Fain, he hires Slayer to go and kill him. Isn't it convenient for Ishamael to have a hitman that can enter the World of Dreams?

Now, obviously everything falls apart for Ishamael when he is killed by Rand. The interesting part in the Taim line of thought is what happens after Ishamael is gone. I'll now refer to Demandred's visit to Shayol Ghul in Lord Of Chaos. The Dark Lord tells Demandred that Asmodean is dead. He tells him 'who shall live and who shall die' and to 'let the lord of chaos rule' This is where the world divides on Taim. Those who are in favour of the Taimandred theory will believe that Demandred knows that Asmodean is dead, knows where Taim is, goes and kills Taim, uses a slight illusion and then goes and meets up with Rand (personally I think this is more inkeeping the Demandred's character than the next option.) The rest of the world will believe that either Ishamael arranged for Demandred to teach Taim or Demandred just went and found Taim, teaches him and then launches him at Rand, his 'proxie'. The later may also fit in with Kisman getting the same orders from Moridin, Taim, and Demandred.

And now to my final point. When Ishamael is reborn as Moridin, the True Ishamael, we see a powerful, intelligent character. He never hides his appearance, he always is in the physical world. He is always channeling. Far different from the confined Ishamael. I also think this is why the Dark One does not name a Nae'blis until Ishamael is at full strength. I believe he always knew that Ishamael was going to be Nae'blis. I mean all the others had there own personal agendas. Ishamael has been fighting for the Dark for three thousand years, going mad and not being able to channel. Dont you think he is the most loyal? If the Dark One named Ishamael Nae'blis early on, then the other forsaken would be out to get him. Somebody would Balefire him and then Dark Lord would be dealing with internal conflict. I believe he pretends to keep if up for grabs so the Forsaken are good 'pets'. When Ishmael is killed The Dark One puts Demandred as his spoksmen but does not name him Nae'blis. He is almost like a consort.

Notice how as soon as Moridin is reborn, the strongest channeler ever, best World of Dreams user, he is given the only control to True Power through Dark One, named Nae'blis and given two pet Forsaken. He is the one the Dark One trusts. Notice he never confronts Rand anymore because Rand is too threatening. He is waiting to unfold his masterplan.

As soon as he is regenerated he whips the Forsaken into line. He reestablishes his connections with Taim (if he is not Demandred) but may not be able to trust him fully now that he has gained so much power. So he sends his orders to Kisman who he knows is leading the Ashaman against Rand. Demandred gives his orders to Kisman because he is either really Taim but is still keeping his true identity from the ashaman or still is behind Taim but he too feels he needs to take matters into his own hands now that Ishamael is back on the scene.

Is he loosing control of his 'proxie'? I think at the end of 11 when we see the black and red floor tiles (Ishamael's colours) that this could mean that Moridin has established his power there again.

Obviously Moridin is now planning his master attack. With control of True power, two Forsaken, the Black Ajah, potentially the Ashaman, the connection with Rand, the most powerful channeler, something awesome is going to happen.

Anyway, I know I haven't covered everything. There are so many more quotes and references, but it wouldn't be fun if I gave them all to you. I think it is so logical when you think about how Ishamael acts in the early books and how he confronts Rand and then the transformation to Moridin when he has his 'full' soul back with his body and his power fully restored. He is one of the best characters in the book.

Enjoy!