tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post2741256225019771526..comments2024-01-14T15:52:43.644-05:00Comments on The Thirteenth Depository - A Wheel of Time Blog: Berelain and the SeanchanDominichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17610557134981958201noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-70928836009999534292012-12-16T21:33:14.263-05:002012-12-16T21:33:14.263-05:00I laughed this theory off at first, but on latest ...I laughed this theory off at first, but on latest re-reading, the repeat mentions of Berelain being shaved stood out a lot more.<br /><br />But this paragraph from "Court of the Sun" in Towers of Midnight cinches it for me:<br /><br /><i>"If only the Seanchan Empress..." Ronam shook his head, and she knew what he was thinking. The old empress, the one who had ruled during the days of the last battle, had been considered a woman of honor by Ronam's father.</i> [Rhuarc is Ronam's father].<br /><br />Rhuarc knows Berelain, considers her a woman of honor based on their time in Cairhein. He hasn't met Tuon (as yet). The fact that the empress isn't named is suggestive of holding back a suprise (other current day characters are named and pointed out.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-2878875080821245722011-02-04T13:03:24.475-05:002011-02-04T13:03:24.475-05:00Recently finished ToM and I think that Berelain is...Recently finished ToM and I think that Berelain is being set up as an alliance builder. She is related to Tuon and also one of the only people that could be considered Tuon's social peer (both a blood relative of Hawkwing and a sitting Monarch). I think Tuon's (and the Sul'dam's) ability to channel is going to lead to the Seanchan being joined to the White Tower, maybe they'll join the training exchange just set up with the Seafolk and Aeil. Ties to Berelain, Mat, Rand, and the White Tower could lead to a lasting peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-86576630336665998712010-10-25T20:18:23.715-04:002010-10-25T20:18:23.715-04:00@ Tim, Tuon is young, but immediate members of the...@ Tim, Tuon is young, but immediate members of the Imperial Family are exempt from any sort-of Sul'Dam testing. (sorry, no reference, Tuon dialogue [internal?]).<br /> But Tuon asked the Empress if she could try-on the wrist-part anyway. And was able to train as a Sul'Dam at her own request.Kathryn Oakenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07227202883491350150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-28506065673620242732010-08-03T14:55:23.385-04:002010-08-03T14:55:23.385-04:00There is also Min's viewing of Berelain fallin...There is also Min's viewing of Berelain falling in love with someone is white (Galad Damodred) to fit into her storyline. I think this is a little too much to fit into the last 2 volumes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-56327139103744495962010-07-29T14:54:38.198-04:002010-07-29T14:54:38.198-04:00The only way I see Berelain "rule" Seanc...The only way I see Berelain "rule" Seanchan is to be a figure head, which she would be willingly if she is indeed a DF.<br /><br />The political intrigue in WOT is rather complex. Thus, for people to simply accept Berelain as the Empress due to her bloodline, would be extremely out of character. In a different series, a different setting, maybe. But not in WOT.<br /><br />If Berelain is to be presented as "the Empress", it need to be a figurehead, with someone with real Seanchan power behind her. That, I can accept as reasonable.<br /><br />When Suroth was thinking of crowning herself "Empress", there was never any thought about how many lines she can trace to Hawkwing, or who had a better claim than her due to the number of lines to Hawkwing. <br /><br />So the bloodline of Berelain would not be that important a factor either. Given how people can be adapted into the Imperial family, and how people's name can be removed from the imperial family, bloodline seemed less important in the Seanchan culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-78736242279232176212010-07-28T17:19:00.992-04:002010-07-28T17:19:00.992-04:00Berelain is a distraction or figure of division. S...Berelain is a distraction or figure of division. She won't actually rule the Seanchan. She just provides an alternative for the disaffected to rally to.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767984732078916662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-59122998568723860692010-07-28T15:46:27.812-04:002010-07-28T15:46:27.812-04:00Tuon trained damane, but Tuon is dead. I doubt the...Tuon trained damane, but Tuon is dead. I doubt the Empress would ever pick up an a'dam, it's probably below her station. Therefore I don't think it's likely that the Empress could be touched personally by a Seanchan social crisis stemming from the mass realization that sul'dam can channel, if one should occur in the last two volumes. <br /><br />I also think it's unlikely that the Seanchan leadership will change before the Last Battle. I suspect Mat's marriage to Tuon will play an important role in a last-minute alliance between Rand and the Seanchan; why would RJ devote three volumes to their courtship if there was nothing to gain from it besides a little surprise for Rand and Nynaeve at the first, failed truce meeting?Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-11037235513635433322010-07-28T14:11:36.846-04:002010-07-28T14:11:36.846-04:00My objections to this theory stand from a previous...My objections to this theory stand from a previous post. I don't see Berelain either being an acceptable or particularly willing participant in a Seanchan succession conflict. And I frankly don't think there's time to get that plotline in. Supposedly, there was an "outrigger" with Tuon and Mat that RJ had in mind, but that took place in Seanchan, and if Berelain is a Darkfriend or Darkfriend adjacent, I don't see her being a factor after The Last Battle.Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03301077496668834657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-91519124799207398092010-07-28T11:32:13.358-04:002010-07-28T11:32:13.358-04:00Another possibility for Tuon being forced to deal ...Another possibility for Tuon being forced to deal with her channeling is HER annual testing. I don't believe she's 25 yet, so even she would have to be tested. Unlike all other Sul'dam her age, Tuon has had a ton of experience using the A'dam, possibly putting her to the point where the A'dam will hold her like it did with the older Sul'dam.<br /><br />Not nearly as dramatic as her actually channeling, but still possible.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15995066838832994638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-3576935528602759582010-07-28T07:56:46.842-04:002010-07-28T07:56:46.842-04:00Nice idea! I dunno if the plot will go toward get...Nice idea! I dunno if the plot will go toward getting rid of Tuon (even the sentiment), but it's a nice possibility, with the Imperial family head-shaving thing. I hadn't thought of that. My guess is that it would be significant to Tuon, but that Berelain will never really be put forward as competition. It seems to me to fall under the category of 'new plot lines' which Brandon said there will not be any of.Terezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417142245785029171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-681991310501652082010-07-28T07:41:43.087-04:002010-07-28T07:41:43.087-04:00Perhaps Berelain will rule the Seanchan with Logai...Perhaps Berelain will rule the Seanchan with Logain that might resolve Min's viewing which clearly indicates Seanchan colours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com