This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 8.The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 8 introduced viewers to a new mystical race, as Robert Jordan's sprawling fantasy world continues to expand. The late Robert Jordan originally pitched The Wheel of Time as a single novel, but his editor proposed a trilogy, aware the legendary author tended to write longer stories. Amusingly, the entire series of novels ultimately spanned 14 books, completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's sad death. That was largely because the world Jordan created kept expanding.

Amazon's live-action adaptation of The Wheel of Time has changed the books, but it generally follows the same pattern. The world continues to expand, introducing whole new races, cities, and nations; the season 3 finale goes one step further, introducing an entirely new race. But who are the Eelfinn, and what stories have been set up by their introduction?

The Eelfinn Are A Mystical Species Who Live In Another Dimension

In Robert Jordan's books, the Eelfinn are a race of fox-like beings who live on another plane of existence. Although they often seem evil, that would be to overstate the case; they're simply alien in the truest sense, with a moral code so very different to that of human beings. They strike bargains with those who are unwise enough to enter their realm, granting three wishes in a manner rather like a genie. The catch, though, is that every one of their wishes comes with a price.

The Wheel of Time season 3 finale makes this abundantly clear when Mat asks the Eelfinn to erase the memories confusing his mind. The Eelfinn responds, but it also robs him of other memories, leaving him unable to where he is or how he got there. Mat senses the loss, but has no way of knowing what he has forgotten. But Mat identifies another price, too; he realizes he can smell death in the Eelfinn's chamber. The creature intends to grant him three wishes, and then devour him.

The Powers Of The Eelfinn Explained

The Eelfinn appear to be inspired by the kitsune of Japanese mythology; The Wheel of Time's design deliberately honors this inspiration, an appropriate decision by the costume designers. Trickster beings, the kitsune possess the power to weave compelling illusions, and they can perceive the thoughts of others. The Eelfinn appear to possess these same abilities, as well as powerful relics such as the medallion that cuts Mat off from the One Power.

According to Robert Jordan's notes, the Eelfinn feed on memories - which explains why the creature was so interested in Mat, who re his past lives.

"What they get out of it is a recording of the asker’s memories including physical sensation which acts on them as human emotion does on the Aelfinn [another race]. Like the Aelfinn they also maintain with people with whom they have come into and so can continue to record memories from that point right up to the person’s death. They can force someone “relive” their memories again and again. Or can they?"

A person who bargains with the Eelfinn remains bound to them, and the creature continues to feast on their experiences even after they have left their realm.

The Eelfinn Have Snake-Like Counterparts Called The Aelfinn

In Robert Jordan's novels, the Eelfinn have a snake-like counterpart called the Aelfinn. The Aelfinn do not require bargaining, but instead allow a person to question their future; in return, though, they feed on their emotions. The two races operate in concert, using their combined powers - as well as the differences between them - to devastating effect. Again, this is best described in Jordan's notes:

"The Eelfinn and Aelfinn sometimes work together especially with captives. For both the snakes and the foxes the repetition of one person’s emotions or memories eventually causes a dulling effect from them. Together however they can force variations in the emotional responses and the memories that are being relived. They must do it together since it is the Eelfinn who imbibe memory, who can alter the emotional responses though incrementally in the Aelfinn who imbibe emotion, who can alter their reliving on memories again incrementally. In this way they can put the victim through variations of their memories with the result that the intensity of the experience and thus of the emotion and memory are heightened. Victims frequently can no longer tell which are their true memories of events or their true emotional responses to certain things in their past. It can also damage certain abilities in people such as the ability to channel."

It's currently unclear whether the Aelfinn will exist in The Wheel of Time; there's been no hint of them so far. It's worth noting that the creature seen in The Wheel of Time season 3 was a singular entity, so is perhaps an individual rather than part of a quasi-symbiotic race. If so, the Aelfinn may well have been cut.

What To Expect From The Eelfinn In Future Seasons

The Wheel of Time has made substantial changes to the books - even Mat's bargains are subtly different - so we can't say with confidence how events will play out. That said, the Eelfinn's addition is a wonderful new wrinkle, not least because there are hints the creatures have been meddling with Aes Sedai matters for a decade or more; Elaida Sedai apparently struck a bargain that would see her become Amyrlin Seat, although this has yet to happen (and will occur in a devastating fashion).

In Jordan's books, Mat is not the only one who finds his way to the Eelfinn. They prove to be a source of powerful sa'angreal, relics steeped in the One Power that grant fantastic abilities and powers to those who wield them. But they must always be handled with care; although they are not evil, their compulsion is always to prey upon those who seek to bargain with them. There can be no doubt we're going to see a lot more of the Eelfinn in The Wheel of Time season 4 and beyond.