Rand Al’Thor and his friends each have roles in the battle against the dark.
In season one, Moiraine Damodred, an Aes Sedai who uses magic known as the One Power, and her trusty warrior Lan Mandragoran come to the Two Rivers village to find the Dragon Reborn — a reincarnated hero prophesied to save the world from the Dark One or destroy it.
They instead find five special villagers.
Rand al’Thor is the Dragon Reborn and one of the few men who can use the One Power, though the magic is driving him mad. His parents were Aiel, a tribe of skilled warriors, but he was raised by non-Aiel farmers who never told him about his heritage.
Mat Cauthon seems to have a connection to his past lives. Perrin Aybara is a Wolf Brother, a human with heightened senses who can telepathically communicate with Wolves.
Egwene al’Vere and Nynaeve al’Meara can use the One Power and are training to be Aes Sedai.
Along their journey, Rand and his friends have made allies, including Elayne Trakand (a princess of the Andor kingdom and an Aes Sedai trainee), Loial (an Ogier), Min Farshaw (a woman who can see people’s futures), and Aviendha (an Aiel).