I'd like to present a case for Demandred being anonymous and in control of Shara. Since Demandred is clearly NOT Taim, then there are no military forces left in the Westlands that would attract and hold Demandred's attention. My basic assumption is that Demandred sees himself as a General and would not tolerate a position that did not put him in Command. His "penchant for using proxies" claimed by Sammael is characteristic of a General's normal practice of "delegation of authority" and sending subordinates to execute his plans.

Other theories have kindly provided quotes and viewpoints that helped shaped this theory and it is basically an extension of WinespringBrother's theory Demandred is still unknown.

From Demandred's Identity Still a Mystery by WinespringBrother 2002-11-21:

WH: Chapter 35: "Suddenly he saw people off to the right ahead of him through the trees, and sheltered behind a rough gray trunk. A bald-headed old man with a fringe of white hair was limping along between two women, one of them beautiful in a wild way, the other stunning."

"Later: "That tottering old man was an Asha'man! And at least one of the women must be what passed for Aes Sedai in this time, and joined with the fellow in a ring."

Therefore, in conclusion, Demandred must be based in Shara, or Seanchan, or among the Seafolk, or elsewhere with a zero population of ageless looking Aes Sedai.

I think the insular nature of Seafolk Society makes attaining any influence by any means other than compulsion very difficult, so that possibility can probably be safely eliminated without specific evidence to the contrary.

Demandred's Identity Still a Mystery Tamyrlin 2002-11-21:

"We know that Semirhage is with the Seanchan, so I would doubt that he is sharing time there and we know he uses proxies. But where does this guy hang out that he would never be familiar with agelessness?

Great idea, anyone see any reason why Demandred wouldn't have noticed the ageless look ...?"

"People see what they expect to see" -- a cliche that applies to Demandred's recognition of Flinn, and the Aes Sedai linked with him. None of the Forsaken expected Rand to have back-up at the Cleansing and all of them express surprise of some degree that there is anyone else around. From his description of the AS as "beautiful" and "stunning" it's also possible that it wasn't their *faces* he was looking at. ;)

More on the Seanchan connection later.

WinespringBrother 2002-12-27:

"In short, Taim is a war veteran after Dumai's Wells and the Seanchan battles. Demandred seems to have no tactical sense whatsoever."

Re: Demandred's Identity Still a Mystery

Demandred was one of LTT most successful generals in the AOL. Granted that it was a different time, but he is still a general at heart.

The BWB specifically says that Demandred was second only to LTT in strategy and *tactics.* His thoughts at the Cleansing do indicate he has little practical experience in applying them, but he does understand tactics.

Demandred's status as the Shadow's Premier Commander is overlooked in assessing possible locations for him. He is the AOL equivalent of one of the "Five Great Captains" of the current age, and that dictates certain conditions he would absolutely require in the guise he chooses -- certainly one condition he would NOT accept, IMHO, is any position subordinate to Rand, even as a deception.

From "New Demandred Theory" by Jasin Natael 2001-01-26"

In Lord of Chaos, Sammael and Graendal meet at her place in Arad Doman. (Lord of Chaos, Threads Woven of Shadow, paperback page 179): [CH: 6]

"Events to the south had Demandred's mark all over them. Demandred had always liked using proxies. 'Tell him to be careful. I won't have him or his friends interfering in my plans.' ...'"

This would indicate that the events in question are either to the south of Graendal's place, or to the south of where Sammael came from. Since we know Sammael was holed up in Illian, that means the south of Graendal's (she is in Arad Doman). ...

Jasin has produced a quote in support of his theory that is IMHO a Red Herring, but in the same scene there is an obvious attempt at a Red Herring that is the true clue.

From "New Demandred Theory" by Jasin Natael 2001-01-26"

"So what's that leave us with? Emond's Field, Ghealdan, and Amadicia."

...

I believe that Demandred is controlling Masema, The Prophet. ... Besides, this is the sort of surrogate that Sammael was talking about in LOC when he said Demandred liked using proxies.

In LOC, there are only two developments that could have "Demandred's stamp" on them, and all of the possibilities from previous books are six to nine months over and done with. Sammael is obviously thinking of *current* events to the South. Events in the Two Rivers, Ghealdan and Amadicia can be eliminated from consideration by the timing.

One possiblity is the Seanchan occupation of Tanchico and Tarabon. It is a master-stroke in a Strategic sense and something to be expected of a "Great Captain" class commander. However, we are given ample evidence that the Seanchan have native borne "Great Captains of their own -- Banner General Furyk Karede, Air Captain Abaldon Yulan, Banner General Miraj, et al. -- and Sammael could easily mistake Strategy and Tactics designed by one of them as being "Demandred's touch."

Demandred *could* be the "controller" of the Seanchan at this point in the story, because Semirhage has not arrived on scene as Anath. However, Suroth is never depicted as having a male advisor -- all of her military commanders are clearly native Seanchan. If Demandred is involved, his presence is well hidden.

The Second possibility is the buildup of Rand's forces in the Plains of Maredo -- Technically Southeast instead of South, but important to Sammael's base in the South, Illian. Again, these are actions planned and executed by a modern Great Captain (or two -- Bashere and Mat) and easily mistaken for "Demandred's touch.

Masema's Dragonsworn can be dismissed as Demandred's touch, IMHO, because not even Masema has any control over them unless they're in his immediate presence, except in a very general sense. This is NOT the mark of a Great Captain's touch. It IS a situation any good general would abhor because of the unpredictable nature of the "force" involved. *Good* General's prefer, and try to mold, forces that follow orders unquestioningly and don't act without orders. Masema and the Dragonsworn are the exact opposite of "Demandred's Touch" on events.

Masema's Dragonsworn bear Mesaana's touch if they bear any Forsaken's touch at all -- refer to the BWB description of Mesaana and "Mesaana's Children" in the AOL.

Re: New Demandred Theory Tamyrlin 2001-01-26:

"I wonder if Demandred is watching from the "sidelines", and doesn't have a specific "identity"."

I personally don't believe we have met Demandred's alter ego, except as a passing mention of some random person on the street.

Re: New Demandred Theory Janstince 2003-02-27:

There is the whole matter of Suroth's note, and she is a Darkfriend, as proved in TGH. My guess is that Semirhage and Demandred are working together with all this, ...

Suroth's first involvement was in a deal with the BA to take Egwene and Nyneave to Seanchan -- a Mesaana connection? Her carte blanche given to Masema comes after Semirhage's arrival on scene, but is with someone possibly connected to Mesaana.

To me, all signs of Forsaken involvement with Masema and the Dragonsworn point to Mesaana -- possibly without the knowledge and consent of the other forsaken and part of her current troubles with Shaidar Haran.

Since logical alternatives to Demandred's involvement with "events to the South" or the Seanchan -- the plans of native Great Captains -- there is the matter of the other Red Herring in Graendel and Sammael's meeting: The Sharan Rulers in Graendal's collection.

Graendal obviously believes she is attempting to deceive Sammael and directing his attention to Shara on a wild goose chase. Sammael wonders why she would try such an obvious ploy.

However, in LOC CH 17, Rhuarc reports to Rand that there is "fighting in Shara, where fighting hasn't happened since the Trolloc Wars."

I propose that, as of the beginning of LOC, Demandred had not settled in one place and Graendal's acquisition of the Sharan Rulers created a situation where a Great General could establish a power base. There has been no further mention of fighting in Shara -- suggesting it was short-lived, a mark of a Great General's campaign -- and someone is again in firm control of Shara.

There are cultural difficulties that Demandred would have to overcome in Shara, but I don't believe they're insurmountable. It's possible that Demandred simply made a gift of the Sharan Rulers to Graendal or manipulated her into taking them when he had built a power base in Shara and was ready to take over.

Given the lack of any unexplained military genius being displayed in the Westlands, Shara, with it's Ayyad channeler breeding program, and recent unexplained fighting is the perfect place for Demandred's base of operations. It also provides a possible source for the "missing dreadlords" so many people wonder about.