Who is this mysterious entity? Is he really just a strange creature locked in a hole, or is he something more?

I say he is something more--something much more. Who is the superior race on the planet of Randland? The Ogier of course. Who cares about the earth? Who is one with nature? The Ogier.

What does this have to do with the DO? It is quite simple really. The DO has been misunderstood and misrepresented. The DO has one purpose. To rid the earth of humans. If the humans are gone the earth can heal. It may not seem as if the Randlanders are causing great enviromental harm, but channeling is actually the cause of the strange weather patterns throughout the world. Channeling is eating away the ozone layer. The Dark One just wants to fix that problem.

He is fixing the problem by letting the humans eradicate themselves. He knows that once they are gone the healing process can begin.

To tie this all up--the Dark One is really a group of Ogiers that is manipulating the world. Ever see The Wizard of Oz? The Ogiers are like the wizard, fooling everyone into thinking they are something big and bad, while really being ordinary Ogiers, working toward a happy and healthy earth.

Vandelay