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Probably somewhere in the south of the Westlands fleeing from the Super Darkhound Pack and Slayer Etzel Send a noteboard - 24/12/2009 12:39:11 PM
IMO, it would be pointless to include yet another plotline concerning Fain trying to get a power base to harm Rand (of course without success in the end), especially such late in the game. While Fain was an important factor in the past, I think now Fain's plotline just has to be concluded by his death (like Masema's, for example), namely through the Darkhounds and/or Slayer.

There is also the following Q&A on Fain's powers after SL is gone:
Week 10 Question: "Now that Shadar Logoth is gone, (cool way to get rid of it by the way), has the evil power in Padan Fain/Mordeth/the Ruby Dagger decreased any? Has it driven him even more insane? Or since the next book is called the Knife of Dreams, will all these questions be answered in it?"

Robert Jordan Answers: "The evil power in Padan Fain has neither decreased nor increased, nor has that in the dagger. The corruption in him was partly caused by the taint on Shadar Logoth, but it didn't constitute a real connection to the city. Remember that it was because he was Padan Fain, the Hound of the Shadow, that he was able to leave Shadar Logoth in his new condition after he merged with/absorbed Mordeth. (By the way, any other artifacts that might be lying around from Shadar Logoth would have the same long-term corrupting effect as the dagger. Fortunately, or unfortunately, any such thing would need to be metal or stone. The wood and fabric had decayed. It wouldn't have been pleasant to get a splinter from, say, a chair from Shadar Logoth.)

The destruction of Shadar Logoth has not driven Fain any more insane. I'm not certain he'd be able to function at all if he were any madder than he already is. But being insane doesn't make him any less dangerous, only less predictable. He no longer responds to situations or events in any sort of sane, logical manner. His abiding concerns are hatred of Rand al'Thor (and to a lesser degree Mat and Perrin) because he blames them for what the Dark One did to him in order to turn him into the Shadow's Hound, and hatred for the Dark One because of what the Dark One did to him. He goes after Rand because Rand is the easiest target in his mind, but if he can take a swipe at the Dark One or the Dark One's minions in some way that he felt would cause real harm, he'd leap at it."

But RJ also said "that Fain is essentially his wild card, a character that is outside the structure of the work and can therefore act totally unpredictably."

Since the ending (i.e. Rand's fight against the DO) is naturally a main part of the structure of the work, it's pretty clear that Fain won't play a crucial - gollum-like - role at TG.
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Where in the world is Padan Fain? - 24/12/2009 12:27:14 PM 1384 Views
Probably somewhere in the south of the Westlands fleeing from the Super Darkhound Pack and Slayer - 24/12/2009 12:39:11 PM 974 Views
Neither of those alternatives sounds too appealing. - 24/12/2009 02:33:07 PM 822 Views
I agree - 24/12/2009 03:27:46 PM 736 Views
Yeah, there has to be a showdown between Fain and Isam sometime. - 24/12/2009 05:37:59 PM 821 Views
I heard he wanted to see Timbuktu, which must mean he went to Bamako, Mali. - 24/12/2009 03:03:48 PM 774 Views
You stole my line LOL *NM* - 24/12/2009 10:36:31 PM 381 Views
He said something about a leaning tower. *NM* - 24/12/2009 10:37:23 PM 443 Views
Still in far Madding with the Borderlander Army? *NM* - 24/12/2009 11:59:58 PM 407 Views
Ugh you misused "begs the question"...sorry its just a pet peeve of mine *NM* - 25/12/2009 06:16:43 AM 389 Views
that's okay one of my pet peeves is people pointing out stupid - 25/12/2009 07:27:03 AM 887 Views
Phrases. *NM* - 26/12/2009 06:38:18 AM 570 Views
*NM* - 26/12/2009 03:30:43 PM 377 Views
Hence the fact that I didn't post anything in the body...the *NM* might have tipped you off, I think *NM* - 26/12/2009 09:25:17 AM 352 Views
still a waste of time ... that offers nothing to the discussion topic *NM* - 26/12/2009 03:31:34 PM 375 Views
If his reply was a waste of time, what does that make your reply to it? *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:01:34 PM 365 Views
*shrugs* - 26/12/2009 11:32:32 PM 701 Views
And his wasn't boredom too? *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:33:50 PM 365 Views
clearly so are you! *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:34:58 PM 357 Views
True... *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:36:08 PM 351 Views
I hear ya! I'm at my family's home for the Holiday and there's not a lot to do! *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:38:02 PM 379 Views
My family is at my home... and all there is to do is watch children. *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:39:28 PM 356 Views
- 26/12/2009 11:49:20 PM 683 Views
Heh... - 27/12/2009 12:00:06 AM 702 Views
I hear ya! - 27/12/2009 12:03:20 AM 756 Views
Hmmm... - 27/12/2009 12:06:38 AM 768 Views
You would think that's the case - 27/12/2009 12:10:06 AM 724 Views
Damn. - 27/12/2009 12:11:20 AM 694 Views
LOL ... no mercy! But I love my nephews so all is good - 27/12/2009 12:55:44 AM 1082 Views
All is, indeed, good. - 27/12/2009 01:36:23 AM 698 Views
Him and Waldo have been hanging out recently. *NM* - 26/12/2009 09:45:21 AM 421 Views
Or Carmen Sandiego *NM* - 26/12/2009 11:45:15 PM 375 Views
Someone asked Brandon about Fain at the Idaho Falls signing. - 28/12/2009 07:52:58 AM 833 Views

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