I'm sure I recall RJ mentioning at some point that some of the Forsaken might remain alive and loose in the world after the Last Battle.

This would tie in with the prophecy: "The Great Battle done, but the world not done with battle." And it would tie in with RJ's statement that the final book won't tie up every single story arch neatly. A lot will be left to be resolved after the Last Battle is won.

In response to these suggestions, there has been speculation before regarding which of the Forsaken might survive the final book of the series. Given the results of the Gathering Storm, it seems the field of possibilities in this regard has been narrowed down somewhat. I'm not talking only about the Forsaken that have died, but also about the progression of the story, and the likely involvement of the remaining Forsaken given the latest developments.

So with what we know now, who, if any, are the most likely candidates for survival into the Fourth Age (assuming the Fourth Age hasn't in fact arrived already at the Cleansing).

Personally, I always considered both Graendal and Semirhage as possible candidates for survival. They would both SEEM to be eliminated now.

Furthermore, it seems highly likely that Mesaana will be rooted out and done for in the next book. Egwene is very close to finding her, and it seems unlikely that she will escape after all the sacrifices Verin made in gathering information about her identity, and after all the time that went into trying to find her.

Moridin also seems certain to die in the last book, although it might once again be some kind of partial death, like the last time he was sealed into the Bore.

To me, it seems increasingly likely that any possible survivor will in fact be a minor member of the Chosen - one of the less prominent and less powerful ones.

I doubt Cyndane will survive, and Demandred's fate is tied to Lews Therin's and to a prominent role in the Great Battle so closely that he seems likely to die in the final book as well.

To me the only viable options for survival are Arangar and Moghedien. Which would be a pity. I would have loved for one of the Great Forsaken, one of the Top Six, to outlive the Dragon once again.

Personally, I would have loved for Demandred to remain standing at the end. But it just seems impossible, given the tone of the story. It seems to be strongly foreshadowed that Narishma will balefire at least one of the Forsaken, given Rand's deliberate instruction to him in this regard. I don't know which one. At a hunch, I would say Arangar, given his personal hatred towards her for killing Eben. But it might also be Demandred, given the link to battle and war that the Ashaman have in general.

To conclude, my best bet for a surviving Forsaken at the end is the weakest one of them all. It will probably be Moghedien. Which to me is just so unfair. In the end, Power and prominence will count for nothing. The greatest coward will outlive them all.

What a pity.