Who gets killed off?

[Tel Janin]

Who do you think is the most likely person to get killed in the last book? I'm sure there will be several, but name the one you think most likely. I'm talking about the good guys, Taim and Morodin don't count. I'm pretty sure Bashere is a dead man, especially with that comment at the beginning of Path of Daggers about Tenobia dying a Maiden, and Bashere or his heirs ruling Saldea. It always seemed to me that Perrin would end up a ruler somewhere, so I think he's the most likely to kick the bucket.

[Talysia]

I'm not sure, and if/when the final book is released, I'll be very interested to find out.

[Jyrbian]

I think that the most likely suspects are either Thom or Noal when they play "Snakes and Foxes". More likely Noal as he is not one of the many "main" characters.

[Diana Levin]

Isn't Rand supposed to die in the last battle? Min has had a vision of it and all her visions come true. Unless Jordan finds some loop hole for this.
But really its hard to predict since very rarely do any main characters in WOT actually die. Even Moiraine, the only main character who supposedly got killed off, didn't actually die.

[Sephiroth]

The loophole for this has already been hinted at, I think.

Something in Min's vision of Logain, IIRC?

[JDP]

To die:

Rand: 1/5 - Insider's Favourite
Noal: 1/2 - Outside chance as a 'legendary' but relatively unknown newcomer.
Aviendha: 3/1 - Should really die with Rand as she's such a warrior(ess).
Birgitte: 4/1 - Needs to die so she can be reborn of a similar age to that ugly little kid.
Thom Merrilin: 5/1 - Longer shot, but he's been thought dead once, thus preparing the groundwork. Also facing tough mission and looking good to 'die that Matt may live'.
That-Aiel-Guy-Ruark-Or-Something: 5/1 - See below.
Bashere: 5/1 - Some of Rand's generals must die, hence the last two (as Matt won't). As soon as one of them dies, the other's odds improve to 25/1.
Allan (Lan): 8/1 - Just because it would complete the heartbreaking romance story with Nynaeve if one/both die.
Nynaeve: 8/1 - Reason above - increases to 1/3 as soon as Allan (Lan) gets his.

All 'baddies' are dead certs, except a random handful who will have to be 'sealed up' so that the cycle can continue. It's been a long while since I read the series, so if anyone up there's already dead, my apologies.

[The Curious Orange]

I think Rand will die, but he will get born again, so it won't really count.

I've been hoping Nynaeve dies since book 6, but she's been remarkably resilliant thus far.

[Talysia]

Yes, the Rand reborn thing does seem fairly likely (I've heard a lot of fan-speculation on DragonMount). Right now, I couldn't say who would die in the last book. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

[BSOM180]

Alright, this is just some idle speculation here on the general accepted fate of Rand dying and what not.

Stories, tales, books, novels, all that crazy fun stuff. As I recall most if not all stories worth reading are "unusual" "out of the ordinary" "an exception" "A unique occurence" or something of that nature. In almost every cycle storyline I've read the only reason we are told about the cycle and how many times it's happened, is because the story you read is an exception, and something is supposed to happen to knock the cycle off course. It's even been hinted at that that's why Shai'tan is constantly trying

Cycle goes as such, Shai'tan bound, weakens seals, touches world, dragon born, he breaks out, big arse fight, bind shai'tan, Repeat.

It has supposedly been done millions of times, and each time the Dragon wins. The only reason Shai'tan keeps at it is because eventually he can break the cycle. Well if he can break the cycle, so can Rand right? Now the only question is how do you break that cycle? It can't be killing, that's obvious. Kill Dragon, he's just reborn later to kick shai'tans butt. Kill shai'tan, well I think that just sends him back to his hole.

So what is the difference in this book, and what could possibly knock the cycle off course?

I think the only way for Shai'tan to do it is to get the Dragon on his side. But the Dragon is always a stubborn mule-head, so that just doesn't seem likely. What could the Dragon do to stop the cycle though? Get Shai'tan on his side? That would be funny.

[JDP]

Originally Posted by BSOM180

What could the Dragon do to stop the cycle though? Get Shai'tan on his side? That would be funny.

That would be a really great ending to a fantasy novel, don't you reckon? If instead of global-scale carnage, the powers of light and darkness actually manage to come to a peaceful understanding?!?! Brilliant!

[Talysia]

It would definitely be an interesting end to the WoT.

[Jyrbian]

Somehow I feel that this would end up with Shai'tan wearing lace...

Though Lanfear stated that with the access keys two could overcome the Dark One.

If another female access key is found (or created, there must be a reason for that skill being rediscovered, and I don’t think it was for half working stone rings) they may be able to deal with the Dark One permanently. We already have a woman who has shown she can withstand the use of that much power through the access keys. And there are others more powerful than her now.

[GOLLUM]

I don't really have a clear view on this, I'm just hoping the book doesn't take another 10 years to come out...