The Thirteenth Depository - A Wheel of Time Blog

Friday, January 4, 2002

Topical Index : The White Tower, The city and region of Tar Valon

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Jump to the Alphabetical Index of Topics related to the White Tower
Jump to the Alphabetical Index of Topics related to the City and Region of Tar Valon

Characters Associated to the White Tower, the city and region of Tar Valon

The Initiates
Index of the Aes Sedai sisters
Index of the Accepted & Novices

The Non-Initiates

Index of the Warders
Index of the Younglings

Adim (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)
Adrinne (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)
Aelmara (Romanda’s maid)
Aldan (one of the rebel soldiers)
Allin (Member of Tower Guard)
Alysa (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)
Annah (messenger in Aes Sedai army)
Azil Mareed (Domani) (High Captain of the Tower Guard during the Aiel War)
Carlya (Maid to Elaida)
Charel (groom)
Chesa (Maid to the Amyrlin Egwene al'Vere)

Cords (Sgt in rebel army)
Coulin (Master-at-Arms under Siuan Sanche, killed by Gawyn)
Denhold (Cavalry captain)
Ehvin (Kitchen servant in the rebel camp)
Garon Burlow (Mayor of the village of Dorlan)
Gera (Cook in the rebel camp)
Graeger

Hahn (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)

Holcom (Tower Guard)
Ilain Dormaile (Cairhienin Banker in Tar Valon, NS)

Jimar Chubain (Siuan's then Elaida's High Captain of the Tower Guard)

Master Jovarin (Master Mason)

Kaylin (servant in rebel camp)

Laras (White Tower Mistress of the Kitchens)

Master Lerman (Chief Mason for Elaida)

Mada (serving woman in Tar Valon)
Malvin (soldier in the Tower Guard, NS)
Marel (groom)
Martan (White Tower clerk)
Meri (she was one of Egwene's maids)
Miesa (Delana's maid)
Mistress Millin (dairy farmer in Dorlan)
Millis Fendry
Moor (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)
Moria Elward (farmer near Tar Valon)

Mulinda (servant with the Salidar rebels)
Naorman Mashinta
Nemaris (camp follower with the rebels)
Nildra (servant with the Salidar rebels)

Pol (maid of Merillile Candewyn)

Saal (Inn maid in Tar Valon)
Mistress Satina (servant with the rebels)
Selame (Tairen maid to Egwene al'Vere)
Sigmont

Steler (Bannerman in the Tower Guard)

Tamore Alkohima (Domani seamstress in Tar Valon)
Tijds (rebel soldier)
Tinna (thrown out of White Tower, leader of Dragonsworn)
Uso (near Tar Valon and Dragonmount)
Vestas rebel captain
Mistress Wellin (Tower clerk during the Aiel War)

Identified Eyes-and-Ears:

Duranda Tharne (Blue Ajah agent, Lugard)
Milam Harnder (First Librarian in Caemlyn, Demira's eye-and-ears)
Millis Fendry (Brown Ajah informer, Caemlyn)
Nieda (Blue Ajah agent, Illian)
Quillin Tasil (Innkeeper in Bandar Eban, Cadsuane's agent)

Blue Ajah

Brown Ajah

Green Ajah

Grey Ajah

Red Ajah

White Ajah

Yellow Ajah

Administration

Executive Positions of Aes Sedai
Ajah Head Conspiracy
Ajah Heads conspiracy
Ajah Heads, Custom regarding
Ajah Heads, Customary secrecy regarding
Ajah Heads, First
Ajah Heads under Egwene
Ajah Heads under Elaida
Amyrlin, Authority of
Amyrlin, Customs and Laws regarding Travel
Amyrlin, Deposing an
Amyrlin, Functions and Responsibilities of
Amyrlin, Laws and Customs surrounding
Amyrlin, Law on selecting
Amyrlin, Nepotism and the
Amyrlin position, Early History of
Amyrlin, Raising of the
Amyrlin, Regalia of
Amyrlin, Resignation of the
Amyrlin succession, Patterns in
Amyrlin term length
Amyrlin, usual age for being raised
Amyrlin’s intelligence network
Amyrlins, False
Black Ajah Head
Doge of Venice -- parallel of Amyrlin Seat
First Tower executive
Keeper, Customs and Laws surrounding
Keeper of the Chronicles, Early History of
Mistress of Novices, laws and customs surrounding
Pope -- parallel of Amyrlin Seat
Sharing of intelligence with Amyrlin
Similarities between electing the Pope and the Amyrlin
Tar Valon government
Unification of Aes Sedai
Warders and the Amyrlin, Customs regarding

Crime

Cells
Charges
Crime
Crime and Non-initiates
Crime and Initiates
Trial
Usage of Chair of Remorse for Criminal Rehabilitation

Serious crimes:

Custom

Adoption of the Three Oaths
Aes Sedai Costume
Bonding a man as Warder against his will was quite common once
Customs for Raising an Aes Sedai
Customs of Ajahs
Customs of Courtesy among Aes Sedai
Customs regarding Accepted
Customs regarding Aes Sedai
Customs regarding Aes Sedai Ranking
Customs regarding Death of Aes Sedai
Customs regarding Female Channellers Who Are Not Aes Sedai
Customs regarding Male Channellers
Customs regarding Marriage
Customs regarding Novices
Customs regarding Test For Accepted
Customs regarding Test For Aes Sedai
Customs regarding the Oaths
Customs regarding Warders
Entire ceremony for raising Aes Sedai used to be conducted with all present naked
Information
Publicly known passing of Warder bond

Discipline

Discipline of Aes Sedai
Discipline of Initiates
Discipline of Non-initiates

Elaida's Embassy to Rand: (full article)

Law

Black Ajah Hunters and Law
Campaign against False Aes Sedai
Catholicism Of Aes Sedai
Law of Unintended Consequences
Laws regarding Accepted
Laws regarding Female Channellers Who Are Not Aes Sedai
Law regarding Interrogation
Laws regarding Items of the Power
Laws regarding Male Channellers
Laws regarding Novices Running Away
Law regarding Thirteenth Depository
Laws regarding War
Laws regarding Warders
Security clearance for information access
Legislation of Law safeguarding Amyrlin
Tower law against foreign armies

Hall

Composition and Politics of the Halls (998-1000 NE) (full article)

Black Sitters in Egwene’s Hall
Black Sitters in Elaida’s Hall
Black Sitters in Siuan’s Hall
Consensus, Greater
Consensus, Lesser
Exile of three Red Sitters
Factionalism in Egwene’s Hall
Factionalism in Elaida’s Hall
Factionalism in Siuan’s Hall
Hall and Sitters, Early History of
Hall, Authority of
Hall, Ceremony in
Hall, Convening the
Hall, Custom and Laws of
Hall, Customs and Laws of the
Hall, Failure of
Hall, Formal or Informal Sessions of
Hall, Layout of the
Hall, Quorum of the
Hall, Politics in the
Hall, Voting of
Hall’s inaction regarding replacing Shein Chunla
Re-united Hall
Sitters, Authority of
Sitter, Raising a
Sitter, Resignation of
Sitters, Custom and Law surrounding
Sitters, Discipline of
Sitters, Ranking of
Too young sitters in Egwene’s Hall
Too young sitters in Elaida’s Hall
Too young sitters in Siuan’s Hall
Votes against Siuan
Young Sitters in Siuan’s Hall

History

Adoption of the Three Oaths
Aes Sedai during the Breaking
Aes Sedai, establishment of on mainland
Aes Sedai were forcibly turned to the Shadow in the Trolloc Wars
All Aes Sedai dismissed from Artur Hawkwing’s service
Ancient Rebellions
Assassins in the Hall
Bounty on all Aes Sedai not renouncing the Tower
Cadaver Synod -- Parallel for Whitecloaks trying and hanging a dead Amrylin
Campaign against False Aes Sedai
Compact of Ten Nations
Early History of Amyrlin position,
Early History of Ajahs and Ajah Heads
Early History of Hall and Sitters,
Early History of Keeper of the Chronicles
Early History of Thirteenth Depository
Change in Testing of Tower Trainees
First Ajah Heads
Founding of Kin
Founding of Rhuidean by Aes Sedai
Founding of the White Tower
Great Fire in Tar Valon
Hawkwing wanted Aes Sedai to follow same laws as everyone else
Ishamael claimed that established Black Ajah
Many early Amyrlins assassinated
Onset of ban on balefire
Renala Merlon associated with division of White Tower
Second Compact/Covenant
Tar Valon invaded by Hawkwing
Tower declared war on Hawkwing
Trolloc attacks on Tar Valon
Unification of Aes Sedai
White Tower gained lands during Trolloc Wars
The Year of Four Amyrlins

Library

White Tower Library
Librarians are Brown Ajah
Thirteenth Depository
Thirteenth Depository, Early History of
Tower Histories

Military Forces:

Politics

Aes Sedai mutiny over Hall’s mishandling of Shein Chunla
Agreement between Andor and Tower
Ajah Head Conspiracy
Aim of Ajah Head Conspiracy
American Civil War -- Parallel for Tower/Rebel schism
Analysis of Amyrlin reigns
Black Ajah Hunters' achievements
Black Ajah hunters’ actions
Blues have strained relations with the White Ajah
Compact of Ten Nations
Consecutive Amyrlins from same Ajah
Consequences of Mesaana’s orders to Alviarin
Crucial role of Siuan’s lie about Red Ajah in rebellion
Elaida's Embassy to Rand, number symbolism of
Elaida's Factions
Hall’s inaction regarding replacing Shein Chunla
Organisation of rebels
Public Schism
Rebel factions
Rebel Factions
Rebel ferrets sent by Sheriam’s six
Rebel Sitters vote to bond Asha’man Warders
Role and influence of Sheriam’s group in rebellion
Second Compact/Covenant
Siuan’s political problems
Strain between Blue and Yellow Ajahs in last hundred years
Tower Mutinies
Strength of Blue-White-Green axis in last 160 years
Third Blue Sitter in Siuan's Hall
The Tower’s plans for Moiraine to rule Cairhien
Tower’s international policy
Tower’s services to people
Uniting Aes Sedai, Difficulty in
White Ajah allied with the Blue in the Hall and against the Red since beginning of New Era
White Tower and Rand
White Tower need for reformation

Punishment

Punishments for Crimes:

Secret punishment of Amalasan’s captors

Tar Valon

Founding of the White Tower
Tar Valon Place Names
Tar Valon, Size of
Tower Library
White Tower and Tar Valon, Laws and customs of
White Tower gained lands during Trolloc Wars
White Tower layout
White Tower roof

The Tar Valon Harbour Chain (full article)

Vileness

Illegal gentling of men
Killing of many Aes Sedai
Punishment and exile of Red Sitters
Red ajah and vileness

Warder Bond

Aes Sedai’s gift from bonding a Warder
Bonding a man as Warder against his will was quite common once
Bonds Publicly known passing of Warder bond
Releasing Warders
Warder, releasing a

White Tower Prophecies

Thursday, January 3, 2002

Topical Index: Gawyn Trakand's Younglings

Return to Main Index
Go to the Characters A-J Main Index
Go to the Characters K-Z Main Index

Jump to the Alphabetical Index of the Youngling Characters
Jump to the Alphabetical Index of Topics related to the Younglings

Alphabetical Index of the Youngling Characters

Arwin

Benji Dalfor
Berden

Celark
Corbet

Durrant became a Warder

Gawyn became a Warder

Hal Moir

Jisao Hamora became a Warder

Mazone

Rajar
Rodic

Tando
Tomil

Zang

Topics related to the Younglings

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

If the A'dam Fits...

by Linda

The a’dam is an unusual ter’angreal in that it is apparently designed for saidar users and yet is strongly affected by saidin users. Normally, a ter’angreal designed for saidar is completely unresponsive if touched by a channeller who uses saidin, and vice versa. But not the a’dam.

If a male channeller touches the collar, the damane wearing the collar feels great pain. A sul’dam wearing the bracelet of that a’dam would also feel pain. For example Rand, while holding the Power, tried to remove a damane’s collar. The damane convulsed in agony and the sul’dam gasped with pain. Rand felt saidin rush through him into them, and Aviendha likewise felt ‘the Power’ (she did not specify which) rushing into them ( The Fires of Heaven, A Short Spear).

If a male channeller puts on the bracelet of an a’dam, both he and the damane wearing the collar would die screaming (The Great Hunt, Damane).

This is quite a design fault. Obviously there must be some explanation, some reason why the a’dam, as Egwene says, is one link no man could be brought into (A Crown of Swords, The Figurehead.)

The answer must lie in the way the ter’angreal is made. The programming of the a’dam is that the bracelet wearer is completely dominant and has to have the ability to channel saidar. Since:

a man must control...in mixed circles of fewer than 13,

- A Crown of Swords, Glossary

this conflicts with the a’dam’s programming and pain (partial or attempted linking; touching the collar, the subservient part of the link) or death (actual linking by putting on the dominant part of the link) is the result. A similar case of conflict would be over two conflicting instructions given to someone sworn on the Oath Rod (or binder).

So far this plot device has not served much purpose. It has identified Rand as a male channeller in Seanchan in The Fires of Heaven,, but Lady Morsa had recognised him anyway, having been at Falme. That scene could have just as easily been written with the sul’dam exclaiming that it is his channelling and Lady Morsa arousing the Seeker’s suspicions with a gasp of recognition. The touching of the a’dam wasn’t strictly necessary.

It also served to indicate that there is a male channeller among the rebel Aes Sedai, one who released Moghedien, but Egwene has kept that largely to herself. Again, a minor plot twist.

Therefore, there must be an event yet to come which will dramatically involve a male channeller mistakenly being linked to an a’dam. I suggest that Halima will encounter Seanchan and will be tested with the a’dam with just such dramatic consequences as has been foreshadowed. It would be a fitting end for a Forsaken who set up death camps in the War of Power (The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time) – death on the end of an instrument of slavery.

The Ogier Stumped

By Linda

My theory is that Loial’s mother Covril has been subverted to, or perhaps by, the Shadow into pressing for the non-participation of Ogier at the Last Battle, indeed the Ogier’s immediate departure from the main world. The Great Stump is meeting to discuss whether the Ogier should open the Book of Translation and flee the Shadow – or stay and contribute to Tarmon Gai’don. It has been running for over 6 months (Knife of Dreams, Vows).

Covril is an extremely influential speaker:

She had once spoken from sunrise to sunset in favor of a very unpopular position without a single interruption, and the next day, no one had risen to Speak against her.

- Knife of Dreams, Vows

and so would be an obvious target for subversion by the Shadow, just as the Shadow managed to get at least 4 Black Sitters into Elaida’s Hall. (Actually I wonder what this very unpopular decision was and why it was unpopular...For all we know this was as dubious as her call for the Book of Translation to be opened as soon as possible.)

In order to show that he was worthy of attending the Great Stump, Loial unfortunately revealed to his mother a substantial part of his argument of why the Ogier must stay and fight. She is probably thinking of what to say to counteract it.

What she hasn’t factored into her speeches is the presence of the Gardeners, the Seanch Ogier, on the mainland. As of Knife of Dreams, Vows, the Seanchan Ogier had been on the mainland for over 6 of our weeks. Loial went to Ebou Dar to arrange a meeting with the Seanchan and Rand (Knife of Dreams, The Golden Crane), where he would have learned of them and probably saw them. During his speech, desperate to delay the vote and to allay the constant interjections of his mother, he will inform the Stump that the Gardeners need to be included in the Great Stump discussion too. Their presence so nearby, or even their very existence, will be a surprsie to many Ogier. Covril’s strident objections to any delay may well help turn the tide of a fair portion of Ogier opinion in Loial’s favour. Most Ogier would see that a decision affecting all Ogier should have representatives of all Ogier groups.

Afer all, whatever the Book of Translation is, it represents a once only opportunity for the Ogier to leave, since those who depart will take the item with them, to ensure they will return to the world in another Age as they believe:

we must leave this world eventually so we can come to it when the Wheel turns…That is written.”

- Knife of Dreams, Vows

I believe that there will be a vote – regarded as unfair by many Ogier and causing great division – and that some will take the Book, open it and leave. But the rest will meet the Seanchan Ogier:

Q: So will there ever be a confrontation between the Seanchan Ogier and the other Ogier?
RJ: They will meet... (in other words RAFO)

- DragonCon 2005

The Ogier have a large part to play yet:

Q: [Asks something about if RJ has plans of Ogier]
RJ: The Ogier? I've got lots of plans for the Ogier. So, yes. [crowd laughs]

- Crossroads of Twilight book tour

and what’s left in the story is basically Tarmon Gai’don and establishing the new Age. An abrupt early departure would not constitute 'lots of plans'.

What would be the attraction of the Shadow to an Ogier? Covril is certainly overly pushy and probably ambitious, but, as with Ingtar, her likely motive would be to save her own group, to join up rather than go under. There were appeasement factions in the War of Shadow (and WWII incidentally), mistaken ones, since there is no truce possible with the Shadow.

None of the prominent Wheel of Time characters so far have had close relatives who are Darkfriends. Such an excellent opportunity for drama and suspense would be a surprising omission. It would be even more unexpected and dramatic, and all the more tragic, if such a one were an Ogier, since they have the reputation for complete probity.

The absence of the Ogier would be a real loss, potentially a disastrous one, due to their formidable fighting ability and their gift for sensing and working with the Land. It would be highly desired by the Shadow, just as the misplaced Borderlander armies are a plot of theirs...

Aviendha’s Gateway

by Old Salt

The purpose of this theory is to show that Aviendha’s gateway to the Kin Farm was a very special gateway. By the end of this theory I hope I have convinced you that there is something completely unique to Aviendha’s gateway. I will present three different bodies of evidence, the first circumstantial, the other two more empirical.

The first piece of evidence is quite circumstantial. All of Rand’s young female “acquaintances” are extraordinarily talented. Min sees auras and frequently knows what they portend. Elayne, besides being a very strong channeler, can make ter’angreal, a talent lost since the Age of Legends. Egwene, equally strong in the One Power, is a Dreamwalker, has had some success in interpreting her Dreams, and is also quite talented in manipulating T’A’R. Nynaeve, is not only one of the strongest female channelers ever, but is also an extraordinary healer, having even Healed stilling, a feat not thought possible even in the Age of Legends.

This leaves Aviendha. Robert Jordan has shown over and over that he likes symmetry. Everyone else has a special talent. It is highly unlikely that only Aviendha lacks one.

So far Jordan has revealed no extraordinary talents of hers. Or has he? What about the ability to pick apart a weave? According to Moridin this was unknown in the Age of Legends also.

"He was about to turn away when the outlines of the gateway suddenly began to flex and tremble. Transfixed, he watched until the opening simply - melted.".... "What had the woman done? These barbarous rustics offered too many surprises. A way to Heal being severed, however imperfectly. That was impossible! Except they had done it".... "but whenever he thought he had the measure of them, these primitives revealed some new skill, did something that no one in his own Age had dreamed of. Something the pinnacle of civilization had not known! What had the girl done?".... "Coldly he considered the possibility that he had been within sight of an unraveling web. One that had been unmade successfully. Another impossibility casually offered up by these..."

The Path of Daggers, Unweaving

Picking apart a weave was unknown in the Age of Legends, in the Westlands and amongst the Sea Folk. However, it is quite common amongst the Aiel.

“Is this another thing you Aes Sedai cannot do? The Wise Ones say any woman can learn, if she is taught, some women more some less, but any woman, if she can pick out embroidery.” The Path of Daggers, To Keep the Bargain

Obviously picking apart a weave isn’t terribly unique, at least to the Aiel. So Aviendha’s unique talent is not that. Still, she must have one, what is it?

We know from the Saidar Strength Ranking article that Aviendha is as powerful channeler as either Elayne or Egwene. Yet she is having considerable difficulty in making a gateway.

“The gateway filled her with dissatisfaction. Elayne could make this weave with only a part of her strength, yet for some reason it required all but a fraction of Aviendha’s.” tPoD “To Keep the Bargain”.

Why does it take so much of Aviendha’s power? Some would say that it’s because Aviendha has a block of sorts due to the trauma associated with the first time she made a gateway, to run from Rand. I believe differently. This particular gateway of Aviendha’s not only allowed people to Travel from Ebou Dar to the Kin farm, but also backwards in time.

Obviously, to prove this we have to pay close attention to the time frame in which all this happened. First let us look at what time the gateway was opened. The first clue of the time is when Mat is arguing with the Windfinders about the necessity of leaving Ebou Dar and the gholam behind.

"'We are bloody well getting out of here now,' Mat said, again later, and this time there was argument. There had been argument for the past half-hour near enough. Outside, the sun was past its noon peak."

A Crown of Swords, Promises to Keep

The argument lasts another ½ hour at the most, until all are agreed to Travel to the Kin Farm. It doesn’t take long for everybody to get organized though, as Aviendha, Elayne and Nynaeve go to the palace courtyard the sun is still just past its peak.

“When Aviendha and the others appeared, Renaile din Calon ostentatiously looked to the sun, past its noon peak."

The Path of Daggers, To Keep the Bargain

Aviendha makes the gateway to a spot a few miles north of Ebou Dar. Note that it is only a few miles north of the city. I’ll get back to this point later. The first real evidence we have that something strange has happened is when Elayne notices that the sun seems lower in the sky than it should.

"'We’re safe and in a few hours we will reach the Kin’s farm, we’ll use the Bowl, and the world will be right again.' Well, somewhat. The sun seemed lower than it had in the stable yard, but she knew that was only imagination. For once, they had gained a clear jump on the Shadow."

The Path of Daggers, Unweaving

Italics mine. Note that RJ has left us with a little hint here in his "jump on the Shadow" remark.

Elayne and Co. ride for quite a while, eventually arriving at the Kin farm. It is here that we come across our second clue that time is not quite right.

“Nynaeve made several more brief visits, before finally coming to announce that the Kin’s farm lay just ahead, out of sight around a low rounded hill that appeared ready to fall on its side. Reanne had been pessimistic in her estimate; the sun had not fallen nearly two hours worth.”

The Path of Daggers, A Pleasant Ride

Let’s look at these two clues closely. Could Elayne have been mistaken? Well yes, she could have. But would RJ take the time to point out that Elayne has bad time sense? Not likely. Possibly, it took longer for everybody to file thru the gateway than Elayne expected. However from RJ’s account the exodus seemed well planned and expedited.

“The departure had been carefully planned, and the whole stableyard sprang into motion as soon as the gateway opened fully.”

The Path of Daggers, To Keep the Bargain

If that is not enough proof we have Moridin's PoV

"Something Madic had said caught his ear. 'The weather, Madic?" The shadows of the palace spires had barely lengthened from their bases, but there was not a cloud to shield the baking sun."

The Path of Daggers, Unweaving

The fact that the shadows had hardly lengthened at all clearly proves that the expedition moved quickly through the gateway.

So it is doubtful that the time it took everybody to get thought the gateway was the cause for this lower sun. What about the earth’s curve? Could that have had any effect? No. Note that they are only going a few miles north of the city. Not east or west, and only a few miles at that. They would have had to Travel many miles east or west for there to be any effect in the sun’s angle. We can also rule out altitude for the same reason. You would need to climb quite high for the sun’s angle to change noticeably, and they were only several hundred feet higher than Ebou Dar. There are no mountains high enough near Ebou Dar to cause that kind of change.

But, wait a moment you say. Didn’t Elayne think that the sun was lower? Doesn’t that mean that more time has passed? Not necessarily, it was somewhat past noon. If going through Aviendha’s gateway changed time more than an hour or so the sun would seem to be lower as it would still be before noon.

The second clue is even harder to explain away. The Kin farm has been in existence for a long time. Obviously Reanne has been there many times. It is extremely doubtful that she would have misjudged time so badly. And if she had erred, it most likely would have been to estimate a shorter time. It is a large group and a significant part of it, the Windfinders, have had no experience riding at all. If anything the ride should have taken a much longer time, not shorter.

However to base a theory this earth-shattering on only these two clues, makes for thin proof. All we have so far are the somewhat objective observations of only one character. For the most incontrovertible evidence we have to go back to Crown of Swords and look at what is happening there in conjunction with what has happened at the Kin Farm.

Right after Mat’s “bargain” with the Windfinders, everybody goes off to get ready to leave Ebou Dar. Unfortunately, Olver has gone off to run with the street urchins. Everybody offers to help search, but Mat sends Elayne and Co. off to the Kin farm.

"'The Bowl is too important,' he told them. 'That gholam is still out there, and maybe Moghedien, and the Black Ajah for sure.' The dice thundered in his head. Aviendha would not appreciate being lumped in with Nynaeve and Elayne, but he did not care right then. He addressed Lan and Birgitte. 'Keep them safe until I can reach you. Keep them all safe.'"

A Crown of Swords, Promises to Keep

Note that at this time it is still only slightly after high noon.

The search is quickly organized. As soon as he leaves Elayne and Nynaeve he meets with his Redarms.

“Everybody goes in a different direction. Make loops out from the Mol Hara, and try to be back after about an hour. Wait till everybody is back before you go out again. That way, if somebody finds him, the rest of us won’t still be looking tomorrow.”

A Crown of Swords, Promises to Keep

The search for Olver is on. The rest of the chapter is devoted to Mat’s search for Olver. Until he meets up with the Seanchan invasion that is. It is very significant to note that he never went back to Mol Hara. In other words, the time Mat spent searching for Olver was less than an hour before the Seanchan invasion landed.

In the same time period, Elayne and Co. have Traveled by gateway, had a ride which Reanne said should take about two hours, arrived at the Kin farm, quelled a panic at the farm, organized who would take part in using the Bowl of Winds, sorted through the collection of junk, ter’angreal and angreal, demonstrated linking for the Windfinders, and then used the Bowl of Winds! It wasn’t until after the Bowl of Winds had been used that the Seanchan invaded. They all feel the saidar being weaved by the Seanchan damane, and they see two tor’raken, one of which they kill. Renaile tries to open a gateway to her ship from the hilltop, which fails, and Elayne convinces her the Bargain isn’t yet complete.

“But most of all you aren’t going anywhere except with us, because our bargain isn’t complete; the Bowl of the Winds is not yours until the weather is right.” ...”And because you made a bargain with Matrim Cauthon, my subject. You go voluntarily where I want you to, or you go tied to a packsaddle. Those were the choices you accepted. So, get down this hill now Renaile din Calon Blue Star, before the Seanchan sweep down on us with an army and a few hundred women who can channel and would like nothing better than to see us collared alongside them. Now! Run!”

The Path of Daggers, The Breaking Storm

The one event which is common to both Mat and Elayne’s experiences is the arrival of the Seanchan invasion. For Mat it took place less than an hour after the women left through Aviendha’s gateway; for Elayne and Co. the time span was at least two hours longer! How can that be? The only difference between the two is that Elayne and Co. Traveled through Aviendha’s gateway. As miraculous as that sounds, Aviendha wove a gateway that took Elayne’s group back in time at least two hours or more.

To sum up. Aviendha’s gateway to the farm allowed people to Travel both spatially and through time. We have Elayne’s observations of the sun to prove this. But more importantly if we look at both Mat’s experiences in CoS and Elayne’s in The Path of Daggers, we see that there is a discrepancy of over two hours in time. The only difference is Aviendha’s gateway, therefore Aviendha’s gateway also allows one to travel in time.

Thank you for reading, and all comments are appreciated

NaClH2O

Shattered Seals

by Fanatic-Templar

This theory attempts to explain several of the discrepancies in the ending of The Eye of the World, namely, the broken cuendillar seal, the retreat of the Blight and Shai’tan’s release of his grip on winter.

The Waning of the Seal

The Seal on Shayol Ghul waxes and wanes with the turning of the Wheel. It is through this cycle that Ishamael was capable of escaping the Bore at multiple periods throughout the Third Age. It is therefore also reasonable to deduce that Shai’tan’s power in the world during these periods was also stronger. Because Ishamael had the fiery eyes that come from the use of the True Power in The Eye of the World, we know that at least enough of the Dark Lord’s power was available for Ishamael’s use.

The Nature of the Seal

Knowing that the Bore is a hole in the Pattern, we can ascertain that the world of The Wheel of Time and Shai’tan’s reality are separate. If we also suppose that the physical cuendillar seals had to be destroyed before he could touch the world, then the obvious conclusion is that the heartstone seals hold the saidin Seal intact, and not the other way ‘round. Thence, we are left to conclude that Shai’tan could not touch the world, except as permitted by the Seal’s waning periods as described above. And if the cuendillar seals must be destroyed for Shai’tan to touch the world, then Shai’tan cannot touch the world until the seals are destroyed. Because the seals are in this world, Shai’tan is also prevented from touching them until at least one of the seals is broken in the first place.

Putting the two previous points together, and knowing that one of the seals did break, we reason that the breaking of the first seal could only happen during one of the waning periods.

The Dark One’s Blight

We know that the Great Blight is dependent on the Shadow’s influence. It is centered around Shayol Ghul and advances when those who resist the Shadow are defeated, as happened with Malkier ( More Tales of the Wheel, The Eye of the World. ) However, the Blight does not react directly to the Shadow’s influence. Despite the breaking of at least four of the seven seals, the release of the Forsaken and Shai’tan’s increased capacity to touch the Pattern; the Blight has remained eerily quiet. This implies that Shai’tan has conscious control over the Blight, and that its growth comes through his direct influence. Thus, for the Blight to spread, Shai’tan must use part of his power.

The Tainted Weather

We also know that Shai’tan’s touch on the weather requires expenditure of power on his part. We know this directly from the thoughts of Moridin:

The Great Lord would not be pleased. He had strained from his prison to touch the world enough to fix the seasons in place. The Path of Daggers, Unweaving.

So, like the Blight, the weather’s influence requires energy on the part of the Lord of Twilight.

Spring in Shienar

In The Eye of the World, The Wheel Turns shows that not only has Shai’tan’s grip on winter been released, but that the Great Blight has retreated from the border! Based on our previous conclusions, the reasoning is evident. Shai’tan’s power has weakened, or he used it all on another task. But what could have weakened Shai’tan so much? The common answer, the one that Moiraine uses is Rand wounding Ba’alzamon. But Ba’alzamon is also wounded in The Great Hunt, and finally killed in The Dragon Reborn. In neither of these instances do we hear of the Blight receding, so this can obviously not be the answer. Another possibility is that the use of the Eye of the World weakened the Blight. Since Rand did not target the Blight with saidin, then it would be the use of the Eye itself that causes this retreat. But then, why does the Blight recede from the edges, and not from the Eye itself? To the contrary, we see that the Blight finally does touch the Green Man’s gardens, something it could not do before. And still that would not explain the correction of the weather. So. If not a weakening of Shai’tan’s power, then presumable his power was otherwise employed.

Broken Heartstone

There is one fundamental difference between the seal under the Eye and the rest. The other seals were no longer indestructible. Morvrin breaks the shard of the Tanchico seal between her fingers ( To Teach, and Learn, The Fires of Heaven ) and Moiraine peels a sliver off an intact disk ( Rhuidean, The Fires of Heaven. )The first seal, however, breaks Lan’s Tairen steel knife. Even though it is shattered. Thus, the method in which that Seal was destroyed is entirely different from that which destroyed the others. The later seals were weakened over time, presumable through Shai’tan’s touch. But as we noted at the beginning of this theory, Shai’tan cannot touch the world until one of the seals have been broken. The difficulty then is destroying the first seal. After that, the others can be withered away.

This theory is that Shai’tan withdrew his power from the Blight and the weather because he knew the Dragon had been Reborn, and that he needed greater latitude before the world united against him. He withdrew all his power, and focused it into the Seal that was closest to Shayol Ghul, and destroyed it.

One final piece of evidence is that Aginor and Balthamel were released before Ishamael was wounded. Thus, the seal was already broken while it was under the Eye.

The Case Against Sammael

by Linda

The murder of Asmodean is one of the longest running and hotly argued mysteries in the Wheel of Time series. This theory will concentrate on the case against Sammael.

Motive

Sammael’s motive is well known: he wants Rand and anyone who is aiding Rand dead. Asmodean certainly falls into this category; since Sammael was angry and disgusted with Asmodean for teaching Rand. As an indication of which way his thoughts tended, he asked Lanfear why she didn’t kill Asmodean (The Fires of Heaven, Prologue).

All through the books Sammael tried to kill Rand and his aides: he sent Darkhounds after Moiraine and co in Illian (The Dragon Reborn, Shadowbrothers and Hunted) and Trollocs and Myrddraal to attack Rand in the Stone of Tear (The Shadow Rising, The Stone Stands). As Sammael later said:

“I would have had his head in the Stone of Tear except that someone sent Myrddraal and Trollocs to save him.”

- Lord of Chaos, Threads Woven of Shadow.

Since Sammael already had Darkhounds under his control, it was probably he who sent the Darkhounds after Rand, Mat and a warded Asmodean in Rhuidean (The Fires of Heaven, Gateways) after hearing from Lanfear a short time before in The Fires of Heaven, Prologue that Asmodean was aiding Rand. Lanfear may have been wrong when she told Rand she thought it was Rahvin. Or playing her own game.

Most importantly, Sammael was one of four Forsaken (Sammael, Rahvin, Lanfear and Graendal) who plotted together to lure Rand into attacking Sammael in Illian, where they would take him (The Fires of Heaven, A Silver Arrow) As part of this plot, one of the Forsaken sent Shadowspawn and Darkfriends to Rand’s camp in Jangai Pass (The Fires of Heaven, Birdcalls By Night). It may have been Rahvin or Graendal, but Lews Therin (and Rand) believed it was Sammael because Sammael had used this pattern of attack on him before. Later either Sammael or Rahvin attacked Rand during the battle for Cairhien (The Fires of Heaven, The Lesser Sadness), again to goad Rand into attacking Sammael. So there were many clues pre Lord of Chaos that Sammael had murderous intentions and that he acted upon them. Someone who has made so many previous murder attempts on Rand and his aides and plotted to do others, should be seriously considered as a suspect if one of Rand’s aides is murdered.

Means

Since the Dark One didn’t order Asmodean’s murder, the True Power was probably not used. Sammael used saidin and was fast enough and far enough away from Rand to go undetected. He balefired Asmodean to make sure the Dark One couldn’t claim Asmodean’s soul and get information from him or reincarnate him. There would be no body to destroy either.

Opportunity

Sammael had the opportunity to kill Asmodean. In fact, expecting an attack in Illian which did not eventuate, Sammael was at a loose end. When Rand disappeared from Cairhien in public and didn’t arrive in Illian, Sammael probably went to Caemlyn later in the day to see what had happened. With Rand’s forces having the upper hand there, Sammael remained out of sight. Asmodean happened upon Sammael’s hiding place and was rightly surprised and appalled to see Sammael. Sammael promptly balefired him. Asmodean’s murder was not premeditated; it was an opportunistic killing from someone who wanted to see Asmodean dead.

Further Events

We have no private thoughts from Sammael on Asmodean’s murder. While the Forsaken don’t lie to themselves in their thoughts (except about their opinions of others compared to themselves), they certainly lie to each other. Sammael kept asking where Asmodean was hiding, but most murderers lie about their crime/s. Sammael manipulated Graendal (as he congratulated himself) by using her fear of the number of Forsaken being killed into obeying his command to discover and reveal the location of the other Forsaken (Lord of Chaos, To Understand A Message). His subsequent demands in that chapter (and how ironically it is titled, since Sammael went to a great deal of trouble to mislead Graendal) that Graendal produce a body if she wants him to believe any Forsaken is dead become almost a taunt, since in Asmodean’s case, Sammael his murderer knows there is no body to produce.

Graendal’s fear has been quite suspicious, but she’s afraid the Forsaken, and especially herself, will all be killed, not just that Asmodean has been killed. She certainly acts like she knows more than she should, but then her spy network is good and she’s very intelligent.

Sammael’s declaration that he would kill Asmodean if he could find him (Lord of Chaos, Threads Woven of Shadow) is more disingenuousness. He is not lying (in fact he was truthful) but his truthfulness was deliberately expressed in such a way that he suggests that he believes Asmodean is alive to throw Graendal off the scent.

To Sum Up

Disregard what Sammael has said about Asmodean’s ‘disappearance’, because the Forsaken are liars – Sammael had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Asmodean. The case against Sammael is a lot stronger than previously recognised. As for Sammael claiming he believes Asmodean is alive and hiding, well he would say that, wouldn’t he?

Trusted Smiler with the Knife: Taim/Moridin in the Shadow of Rand/LewsTherin

by Linda

This theory explains why I think that Taim’s real identity is Moridin. It’s an old theory of mine, dating from when The Path of Daggers was released.

Taim is definitely the man who knows too much – too much for the Third Age, that is. Since knowledge is power, no wonder he’s been able to amass a lot of the latter in the short amount of time (6 months!) since he arrived in Caemlyn. More, in fact, than Rand can imagine or allow himself to believe, as we saw by his scepticism of Logain’s warning in Knife of Dreams News For the Dragon. Moreover, in that short time, Taim has made the Black Tower into a very well developed organisation, with a faction allied to the Shadow (see The Shadow's Influence on the Black Tower article); and it's not developed along Third Age lines.

And because knowledge is power, the Forsaken hoard it jealously – against each other, and against their minions. So why would any Forsaken instruct Taim on so much? They would fear the competition and feel threatened. For example, Mesaana and Alviarin have had close contact for months, yet Alviarin has been told rather little, and certainly doesn’t sound like Mesaana or anyone else from the Age of Legends. From the Forsaken’s point of view extensive education of minions is only asking for trouble, or for their ‘student’ to give the game away by revealing knowledge s/he should not have.

The simple answer for why Taim knows what no other Third Age person who hasn’t experienced the history of the Aiel knows and also knows how to test men for channelling ability and comes from nowhere yet is expert at town planning, management of large organisations, propaganda and subversion through education, all things that those from an earlier Age would know, is that he isn’t a Third Ager at all. Taim sounds like someone from the Second Age – referring to the Aiel as so-called Aiel (Lord of Chaos, Lessons and Teachers) and renegade Aiel (Lord of Chaos, Dumai’s Wells). He calls Travelling such when Rand just describes it as making a gateway (Lord of Chaos, A Woman’s Eyes). He refers to ‘testing for the Talent’ and can do so. All this is very atypical knowledge. His preference for Old Tongue titles for his lieutenants is also suggestive. The only other Asha’man to use the Old Tongue so much is/was Dashiva - a Forsaken. I believe, and have done ever since A Crown of Swords, that Moridin has been masquerading as Taim from at least when Taim arrived in Caemlyn, possibly earlier. We don’t see Taim before that - his doings are off-stage - so it’s hard to judge.

So when did Ishamael come back as Moridin? Aginor and Balthamel were transmigrated just before the Lord of Chaos, Prologue. Yet the Dark One should be bending all his concentration on restoring Ishamael first, rather than them, and in my opinion did so. Otherwise it would be like getting a pawn to the end of the chessboard and asking for a knight instead of a queen.

When Moridin appears in A Crown of Swords, he already has two cour'souvras. Therefore he has already been around a while. In The Path of Daggers, Moridin’s boast that he is playing both sides of the board only confirmed my suspicions. If he's Taim, he certainly is playing both sides.

The greatest irony of the books is that Rand, of all people; Rand, who is now blind to the threat Taim poses to him and to the Light, came closest to revealing the masquerade when he says at their first meeting:

"Taim? Keep a watch out for any student who learns too fast. Let me know immediately. One of the Forsaken might try to slip in among the students."
"One of the Forsaken!" It was almost a whisper. For the second time, Taim looked shaken, this time well and truly taken aback. "Why would—?"

Lord of Chaos, A Woman’s Eyes

Talk about a guilty conscience! No wonder Taim looks shocked, the most shocked he has in the series so far: he never thought his plan would be anticipated by Rand.

My, How He’s Changed

When Taim appears in Caemlyn, Rand sees:

a black-haired man of slightly above average height whose dark face and tilted eyes, hooked nose and high cheekbones, marked him another Saldaean, though he was clean-shaven and garbed like a once prosperous Andoran merchant lately fallen on hard times. His dark blue coat had been of fine wool trimmed in darker velvet, but wear had made the cuffs ragged, his breeches bagged at the knee, and dust coated his cracked boots.

- Lord of Chaos, A New Arrival

Rand thinks he is about thirty five (Lord of Chaos, A New Arrival). In contrast, this is how Taim appears a few months later:

Blue-and-gold dragons wove round the sleeves of his black coat from elbows to cuffs, in imitation of the Dragons on Rand’s arms. Though she suspected he would not appreciate the observation. He was tall, nearly as tall as Rand, with a hooked nose and dark eyes like augurs, a physically powerful man who moved with something of a Warder’s deadly grace, but shadows seemed to follow him…

- Winter’s Heart, Snow

Taim is now taller, more powerful and apparently younger-looking (see below), with the shadows that Ishamael/Moridin calls upon. Taim acted a part to look unthreatening at that first meeting with Rand. No need for that now. And more about the shadows below.

Taim has gradually changed his appearance to be closer to that of Moridin, ie close to reality. Moridin is of a size with Rand. By Dumai’s Wells, Taim was nearly Rand’s height by Perrin’s observation in A Crown of Swords, High Chasaline. Moridin is clean-shaven; so was Taim when he appeared. Moridin’s eyes are blue with the saa conspicuous to intimidate the other Forsaken; Taim’s are safely dark to hide them. (Who would poke Taim in the eye to uncover the illusion?) It is essential for a long-term disguise, especially if it has to stand up to close scrutiny such as from daily contacts (eg his students) and even more especially by another Forsaken, to stick to something as close to reality as possible, as Sammael explained in Lord of Chaos, Threads Woven of Shadow, the very book when Taim appears. This is far different to what Semirhage was attempting as Tuon, or Sammael as Caddar.

It's not just what Taim looks like; it's the fact that at short notice he has to be Moridin as well. As Taim he isn’t bearded because then he would have trouble with his Moridin appearances. It would be tactically wise to go with either both Taim and Moridin bearded, or both clean-shaven. The latter was the option chosen. The bearded Taim in Saldaea may or may not have been Moridin. It's immaterial to my argument and we haven't enough data to say either way.

Moridin's got a lot of plans on the go - agents in various places, plus his contact with the other Forsaken - and he moves between them. Hence he is consistently clean-shaven.

Taim appears younger than he did:

For Linda Sedai, Rand misjudges Taim's age because when they meet, you might say Taim has been rode hard and put away wet. He has just finished a long and difficult flight to reach Caemlyn, the one place where he might find refuge instead of being hunted -- along with other reasons -- and that has a wearing effect on anyone. Now that he has recovered, he doesn't look so old.

- RJ on his blog

RJ said "you might say Taim has been rode hard…" And that there were "other reasons" as well as a refuge which made him go to Caemlyn. You might not say that he has been rode hard either. What he said was metaphoric, almost. And what were Taim's other reasons for going to Caemlyn? Even according to RJ it was more than a rush for refuge.

'Taim' also needed Bashere to verify his persona (something Bashere almost failed to do, which Taim explains as due to his lack of a beard) so he left a trail for Bashere to follow. We don't know how much time and trouble he took to lay the trail. Taim looked exhausted, but that was just to be convincing to Rand and co. A Taim on the run is no threat, and furthermore explains why he wants to join up. You might say that Taim was mostly guilty of over-acting when he first met Rand.

Moreover Rand knew nothing about channellers slowing in aging, so he would expect to see an older looking guy, when Taim should have looked young. But apparently not young enough for Rand to remark on it.

RJ has done ambiguous gags like this before over Taim and also over Asmo. This too is something to consider:

For Corin Ashaman, I've never changed anything because of a post. I did think of doing so when I first discovered the online community. I'd see someone who had figured out where I was going with something and think that I should change it just to keep the surprise factor. But there was always somebody else, often a lot of somebodies, who would post explaining why the first post just had to be wrong. So I went ahead and did what I had planned to do. Now, when somebody figures out what's what, I just think that's somebody who's on the ball and go on with my writing.

- RJ on his blog

Some have suggested that RJ was strongly tempted to do this indeed. RJ was tricky about a couple of issues, this one and Asmodean’s murder.

Who Knows What

None of the other Forsaken know about Taim being Moridin because he doesn't want them trying to derail his plans. They were informed that Taim is a Darkfriend so they would not strike at him or undermine him even though he is a considerable rival.

Moridin takes care to keep his identities 'separate', even to the extent of giving two lots of instructions, one some days after the other, to Kisman and co about the attack on Rand in Cairhien. I think that he gave one lot as his 'Moridin' identity, either to scare them, or else because that day they were at a location that Taim was not 'supposed' to know of, or Taim supposedly had duties elsewhere.

Taim/Moridin always knew that Dashiva was Osan’gar. He probably arranged for Osan’gar’s arrival at the Black Tower, to eventually assist in teaching, a task that Osan’gar was suited to. Osan’gar didn’t know Taim is Moridin though, but would have been instructed to obey Taim. Taim was irritated when Rand chose Dashiva as part of his bodyguard because he wanted Rand to choose at least one of his henchmen – he suggested their names to Rand – because they would follow Taim’s orders. Osan'gar would be far more likely to get creative - and in fact Osan'gar did get creative, much to Taim's annoyance. Once Rand became insistent that Osan’gar was his choice, Taim looked thoughtful and began to see the possibilities in it – the unassuming Osan'gar could keep an eye on Rand and perhaps find out his plans, since Taim had no luck.

I'm still waiting for Cadsuane to set eyes on Taim. She helped capture him, so she'll have something to say on how he is now. She also has ter'angreal which can break weaves and illusion, so maybe she will remove Taim's mask of mirrors as she did with Semirhage. I think this is the thing she is going to teach all the Asha'man that they won't like: "something about Taim." All in all, it should be an interesting meeting.

Playing Both Sides of the Board…

Moridin masquerades as Taim for tactical and theological reasons. Tactically it's a good way for Moridin to hear about Rand's deeds or plans, undermine Rand’s plans and position, sow chaos with an alternative Dragon doing evil in Rand’s name, and recruit some Dreadlords at the same time. Taim’s original aim was to get close to Rand, but instead he was given the job of recruiter and teacher and boy, has he done that.

The theology is going mad and the world order is turning upside down. The Creator's champion and the Shadow's champion are linked, and, in my opinion, effectively about to trade places. The ultimate inversion of order would be the substitution of one Champion for the other. Which was a possible plot of the Shadow suggested to us early thanks to Joiya Byir, and discarded by many as false, yet it is probably the most important plot of the Shadow.

In fact, I think that Moridin will go further than the original idea of Taim being an alternative Dragon and take the risk to pretend for a time that the Shadow's champion is on the side of the Light to fool the Pattern. The Shadow will become desperate enough to try to substitute the Shadow's champion, Moridin, for the Creator's champion - have him appear to switch sides so that he does evil in the Light's name. It would be risky, but I believe that Moridin has considered it.

Then there’s the symbolism and the real world parallels. Taim is called the M'Hael meaning ‘the Leader’ in the Old Tongue. Another word meaning ‘the Leader’ in our world has very dark connotations: der Fuhrer. The name his subordinates gave Hitler. That is a very high-up name for a Darkfriend. And, moreover, Ishamael has some parallels with Hitler...A blurring, or is it linking?, of identities here.

And in Knife of Dreams we see that Taim's joint is decked out in Moridin's colours and emblazoned with the Shadow’s sigil in gold, the highest status metal, no less. Sammael and Be’lal had to be satisfied with steel and silver sigils.

Most amusingly, Logain said that Taim's eyes were practically on fire to know where Rand was and what he was up to (Knife of Dreams, News For the Dragon), a veiled link to Ishamael, and his eyes of flame from using the True Power frequently, and to Moridin, who aready has the saa, the precursor to the flaming eyes.

There’s a satisfying symmetry of Rand/Lews Therin versus Taim/Moridin here, which is why I referred to it in the title of this theory. Goodness knows the confrontation between Rand and Taim has been shaping up for long enough: Rand’s inexplicable rage every time he sees Taim, his conviction he would kill Taim if he touched Rand with the Power and Taim’s mocking ironic smiles at Rand. And Lews Therin has major unfinished business with his slanderer and manipulator, Ishamael.

Shadows and Darkness

Rand has accessed the True Power through his link with Moridin. Since then, other characters have sensed blackness and shadows around Rand:

Rand is exposed further to it due to its influence bleeding through the link from Moridin.

Moridin himself uses the True Power frequently and has quite a few saa to prove it. All the POVs of characters observing Moridin have been of those who have used the True Power themselves or at least been touched by the Dark One, so we haven’t seen darkness or shadows gathering around Moridin. We have around Ishamael, though. For example, in Tear when Rand took Callandor.

Most interestingly, Taim also has these shadows:

He was tall, nearly as tall as Rand, with a hooked nose and dark eyes like augurs, a physically powerful man who moved with something of a Warder’s deadly grace, but shadows seemed to follow him, as if half the lamps in the room had gone out; not real shadows, but an air of imminent violence that seemed palpable enough to soak up light.

- Winter’s Heart, Prologue

And Pevara noted "an air of darkness" around Taim in Knife of Dreams, Epilogue. In contrast, other Forsaken, who use the True Power as little as possible and are not allowed to at all currently, do not have these shadows visible to non-Forsaken. So it looks like Taim has channelled the True Power recently, something reserved for the Naeblis. (Any saa can be disguised by a weave. Moridin doesn’t do so because it shows the other Forsaken that he is the favoured (and insanely daring) one.

Moridin is linked inside Rand’s head and Taim has attached himself outside, shadowing and sometimes pretending to be, Rand. Moridin is hidden within Rand’s head, Taim’s Black Tower is hidden inside Rand’s Black Tower. Inside and outside they surround Rand, the gamemaster relentlessly constraining the (Fisher) King piece, waiting to strike. The smiler with the knife: the man that, despite the Dreamwalkers’ warning, Rand doesn’t see, playing both sides of the board again.

Why Cheap Cuendillar?

by Linda

We know from earlier books that cuendillar is rare and expensive, and was so even in the Age of Legends. Also, RJ said in an early interview that cuendillar took Forsaken strength to make.

Now even novices of a few week’s training can do it, provided they are strong in Earth. And it is being made in a rather mundane manner. There is nothing difficult about making it, it’s just boring, so why would it have been rare in earlier times? It seems that it was necessary for the plot that RJ change his mind on this matter.

Curiously, the Yellow Ajah has more Aes Sedai strong in Earth than the others, even though until now Aes Sedai Healing is Spirit, Water and Air. The Yellow Ajah are becoming very discontented with Egwene over ‘wasting their time’ making cuendillar. Will they be the first group to disobey Egwene’s orders? Are they going to lead a group that wants an alternative leader? Surely they wouldn’t put their support behind Lelaine when her rival Romanda is Head of their Ajah. Perhaps the Yellow are the early returnees to the Tower?

Since even weak channellers can make cuendillar, Leane was the second fastest after Egwene and was chosen to attack the harbour chain. Egwene feels responsible that Bode, a novice, is the other candidate and replaces her. She is subsequently captured. So to further his plot, RJ not only had to have the harbour chain turn to cuendillar and Egwene captured, he had to have Leane (a weak channeller) also be captured alongside her.

Leane must perform some essential function in Tar Valon. Her presence there may have all or any of three purposes: as a stilled channeller whom Nynaeve Healed, as evidence that the Oath Rod shortens lives since Leane has been freed from the Oaths and is now young again, and finally as a source of information on important topics such as the Forsaken being lose, what Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne have been doing, Telaranrhiod, etc. She may be put to the question, or she may voluntarily tell this information to save Egwene’s life or to attempt to end the Tower split.

Certainly the Oath Rod’s properties will be revealed: the title of the chapter in Crossroads of Twilight when they were captured was What The Oath Rod Can Do and to me hints that this is one important thing that Leane will tell, as well as show, the Tower.

Finally, with her little factory, Egwene has now cheapened cuendillar. Knowledge of the weave will spread, and the rebels now have a stockpile of it, which they have to sell very carefully if they don’t want the price of cuendillar to crash. So far the factory is making cuendillar items to be sold to finance the rebel army. Soon it might be making cuendillar items directly for the war itself. Hopefully for the war against the Shadow. The oaths forbid Aes Sedai to make weapons (though presumably not if these are to be used on Shadowspawn), but there is always armour. It would of course be hypocritical for the Aes Sedai to permit or encourage novices and Accepted to make cuendillar weapons. Ah, what the oath rod can do.

And it is important to remember that once made, cuendillar is forever, so one has to be very careful what one makes, since it can’t be undone or disposed of.

My Ridiculous Finn Theory: Another Way into their World

by Legend

I propose that we will learn that the crux of the Ancient Agreement with the Finn goes far beyond the trading of wishes and knowledge in exchange for memories and experiences. I think we will find the primary reason for the link between the worlds has to do with the imprisonment of the Dark One. I think the Dark One's prison is somehow metaphysically attached to the Finns' world, and they had some role in the design, construction, or positioning of his prison, probably from the time of creation. It may be due to the proximity of the Dark One's prison to the Finn world that questions dealing with the Dark One one have dire consequences.

I am almost sure we will learn that a portal to the Finns' world exists at, or very near to Shayol Ghul. My certainty lies in that i think RJ foreshadowed it in KOD when Tuon mentions a childrens tale:

"How many children's tales do you believe? Do you believe that if you sleep on Old Hob's Hill under a full moon, the snakes will give you true answers to three questions, or that foxes steal people's skins and take the nourishment from food so you can starve to death while eating your fill?"

- Knife of Dreams, Chapter 10

Then Mat remembers Old Hob is another name for the Dark One and he thinks that her descriptions sound very close to the aelfinn/elfinn. So I surmise Shayol Ghul = Old Hobs Hill and its tied in with a legend related to access to the finns world, hence my theory.

It's pretty well established that Mat will be captured, at least for a time, by the Finns during his attempt to rescue Moraine. I think Rand may learn of this access to the Finn World, and via the swirling colors will get a glimpse of Mat's predicament and of a living Moraine, and this may be the final impetus to send Rand towards Shayol Ghul. Rand knows he needs his horn sounder and Moraine as per Min's viewing so he may launch his own rescue attempt. It may be via another encounter with the Finn's that Rand learns the final piece of the puzzle on how to defeat the Dark One and/or re-construct his prison.

I thinks its interesting to note in Norse Mythology Loki is punished by being bound and held until the last battle, and its widely known Mat is tied in to the Odin/Loki legends of Norse Mythology. I know this doesn't mean Rand will come to his rescue, maybe Mat will just flash his winning smile to one of the female-like Finns, those smiles are supposed to always work, right?

Now that I think about it, I don't think we'll get this close to the last battle in TGS, but we should get some part of Mat and Co. entering the Tower of Ghenjei, and maybe further revelation about who the Finns are.

Not so ridiculous after all?

Why Cuendillar Crumbles

by Linda

My theory explains how the Seals on the Dark One’s prison can be breaking when they are made with something supposedly unbreakable. The Seals that are the focal points to the Sealing of the Bore are made of cuendillar:

Seven indestructible cuendillar disks, made with the One Power and marked with the seal of the Aes Sedai, were prepared to function as ‘focus points’.

- Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time

They were made by men and women prior to the attack on Shayol Ghul before the female Aes Sedai decided to take no part in the attack to reseal the Dark One in the Bore.

Lost during the Trolloc Wars, the Seals have been gradually found. Some, like the one at the Eye of the World, have been found already broken, others, such as the one Taim brought Rand, have been found intact. The one Elayne and Nynaeve found in Tanchico was originally intact, but broke on the way to Salidar. When a Seal is about to break, it feels filthy and evil:

Evil seemed to bathe her hand, stronger than ever, as if the Dark One really was trying to break through the cuendillar seal.

- The Fires of Heaven, Leavetakings.

Interestingly, the Seal at the Eye was found broken, yet when Lan tried to cut it, his blade broke. However, Morvrin broke one fragment of the Tanchico Seal with her hands in The Fires of Heaven. Therefore the later breaking Seal was more fragile than the first Seal to break. More on this anon.

Until Egwene rediscovered how,

no one has been able to make cuendillar since the Age of Legends. And even then it was made only for the greatest purpose. Once made, nothing can break it. Not the One Power itself wielded by the greatest Aes Sedai who ever lived aided by the most powerful sa’angreal ever made. Any power directed against it only makes it stronger.

- The Eye of the World, There Is Neither Beginning Nor End

Since cuendillar is made with the One Power, and can’t be broken by using force on it, perhaps the reverse is true.

My theory is that cuendillar is weakened when the One Power is withdrawn or absorbed out of it, and this is why the Seals are crumbling.

The Dark One is the only being with the skill, strength and motivation to do this. He can feel the Seals (the focus points) from within his prison and has very gradually absorbed the One Power out of five of them in turn.

The feel of evil sensed while the Seals are weakening, but not afterward, supports this.

”It [the Seal] was whole when we put it in the purse.” Nynaeve paused to work moisture back into her mouth…
“We didn’t look at it,” Elayne said breathlessly, “or touch it more than we had to. It felt filthy, evil.” It no longer did.

- The Fires of Heaven, To Teach and To Learn.

Once the Seal breaks the feeling of evil is gone. Therefore the evil sensed was not the feel of the Dark One in his prison in the Bore, because that would have remained in the fragments, and so far in the books has only been felt in the Bore. It was the feel of the Dark One doing something to the Seal – actively weakening it. With his increased ability to touch the World, the later Seals have more of the Power leached out of them, and so are more fragile. That is why Morvrin broke the Tanchico fragment with her hands, but Lan’s steel knife broke on the Eye of the World fragment.

The feel of evil as the Seal weakens is the last stages of the Dark One weakening the cuendillar by absorbing the One Power out of it. And cuendillar crumbles…

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Friday, January 4, 2002

Topical Index : The White Tower, The city and region of Tar Valon

Thursday, January 3, 2002

Topical Index: Gawyn Trakand's Younglings

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

If the A'dam Fits...

The Ogier Stumped

Aviendha’s Gateway

Shattered Seals

The Case Against Sammael

Trusted Smiler with the Knife: Taim/Moridin in the Shadow of Rand/LewsTherin

Why Cheap Cuendillar?

My Ridiculous Finn Theory: Another Way into their World

Why Cuendillar Crumbles

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Thursday, January 3, 2002

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