Contributors: Sean Hillyard, Pam Korda, Courtenay Footman, Nathan "geographer of Randland" Hendrix. Song by Ruchira and Rupa Datta>
This land is Rand-Land,
this land's Egwene-Land,
from Arad Doman
to the Aiel Waste-Land.
From Kinslayer's Dagger,
to the Dragon's Fingers,
this land was made by LTT.
Illian is approximately at the same latitude as the Florida Keys [book signing info, 10/94].
The timing of Rand & Avi MPS in the Snow [LOC: 31, ?, The Far Snows, 362] is not an error. It is properly indicative of where (part of) the Seanchan Empire is located. Seanchan has parts in the north & south hemispheres, Rand & Avi were in the south. [book signing info, 10/94]
General: Capital: Ebou Dar. Very wild country, with the women running
things. Lots of dueling. Neat daggers, which contain a bit of family
information on them. Interesting dress styles.
Gov't: Feudal-style Monarchy.
Current events: Fractious as always. Border disputes with Amadicia and
Illian. Salidar AS army marching north, with the Band of the Red Hand
paralleling them. El., Ny., Mat, and a few others are looking for a bowl
ter'angreal which can bring rain in Ebou Dar. The Seanchan are preparing
to invade Ebou Dar.
Tourist Attractions:
Home of: Can't think of anyone important.
General: Capital: Amador. Apparently a younger country, as Amador was not
built by the Ogier. Fractious relations with Altara, Murandy, and
Ghealdan. Participated in the Whitecloak War against the coalition of
Altara, Illian, and Murandy.
Gov't: Technically a Monarchy, in actuality controlled by Pedron Niall and
the Whitecloaks.
Current Events: The northern third or so of Amadicia is occupied by the
Prophet(Masema) and his fanatical followers, who have routed the
Amadician national army and appear to have done well against the
Whitecloaks (just like the Hussites-sorry, couldn't resist the
opportunity :). The border with Tarabon has been sealed (and moved a few
miles west). The Whitecloaks are gathering in Amador. Internal tensions
between Pedron Niall and the Questioners are growing, including a
possible coup d'etat in the planning stage. Pedron Niall has been busy
opposing Rand in subtle ways (Tear, Cairhien, Altara, Murandy, Illian,
Ghealdan). Morgase is here, and has been pressured into signing a treaty
with the Whitecloaks (their support in returning Morgase to her throne in
return for virtual free reign in Andor).
Home of: Pedron Niall, Jachim (sp?) Carradin, Jared Byar, Geofram
Bornhold, Dain Bornhold.
Tourist Attractions: Dome of the Light
General: Capital city, Caemlyn. Oldest city-state in RandLand,
established not long after the breaking, with Queen of Andor
the oldest title in Randland. Unique traditions of sending
the heir and expected first prince to train in the White
Tower, and having an open Aes Sedai advisor.
Rulers: Matriarchy, with a male advisor and head of the army
called the First Prince of the Sword. Ruled for the
last twenty years by Queen Morgase of House Trakand.
Heir to the throne (Daughter-heir), Elayne.
Current events: Queen Morgase missing, presumed dead. Lord Gaebril, aka
Rahvin dead. The Dragon Reborn is holding the throne for the
Daughter-Heir, Elayne, although there are rumors that she is dead.
The Two Rivers district has seemingly declared
independence. Growing discontent among the nobility
Symbol: White lion on a red field
Home of: Morgase, Elayne, Gawyn, Galad, Gareth Bryne, "Lord Gaebril,"
Tigraine/Shaiel, Lord Luc
Tourist Attractions: Palace gardens, reached by climbing Palace wall.
Map: [TEotW: (before) 13, 172, Choices, 144]
(partial map of Andor) [TFoH: (before) 54, To Caemlyn, 642]
(map of Caemlyn)
General: Capital:
Gov't: Monarchy.
Current Events: Clashes between Pro- and anti- Dragon factions. The
Blight border is quiet. I believe there was a False Dragon here a few
years back. Possible border clashes with Kandor or Shienar.
Tourist Attractions: Lotsa military stuff.
General: Capital-Cairhien. National Pastime-Game of Houses, played by
everyone from the king to Commoners. The previous king, Laman,
caused the Aiel War by chopping down the Tree of Life sapling to make
a throne. Highly dependent upon grain imports from Tear & Andor.
Symbol-rising sun (golden) on field of blue
Gov't: Monarchy. Last king: Galldrian of House Riatin. The Cairhienin
political process consists of the nobles scheming for position,
playing the Game of Houses.
Current Events: The recent assassinations of Galldrian and the strongest
contender for the throne (Lord Barthanes) have left the other Houses
fighting one another in a random war of succession, leaving the
country in a state of anarchy. Andor was beginning to look at the
Cairhienin civil war as an opportunity to expand its borders. To make
matters worse, the country was recently invaded by a bunch of renegade
Aiel. The Dragon Reborn has taken power, defeating the Aiel, but has
yet to name somebody to sit upon the Sun Throne for him.
Tourist Attractions: Largest (& most powerful) male-oriented sa'angreal,
Royal Library-largest collection of knowledge outside Tar Valon.
Home of: Moiraine, Taringail
General:
Gov't: Monarchy; Queen Alliandre.
Current Events: The False Dragon Logain ripped through here at the
beginning of the series, defeated some AS sent to stop him, and departed,
possibly at the instigation of the Red Ajah. Suffered serious riots due to
the presence of the Prophet in which thousands died.
Alliandre is the fourth monarch on the
Ghealdan throne in the last year (two of the previous three are dead,
and one is currently married to some businessman), the others having been
toppled by the Prophet's followers (in one way or another). The situation
is probably still unstable. Alliandre has secretly communicated her
support for Rand.
Tourist Attractions: There probably aren't any left standing.
Home of: Alliandre, Logain.
General: Capital-Illian. Starting point for the Great Hunt for the Horn.
Traditional enemy of Tear. Climate-Hot and Humid
Gov't: Mixed government, with a King, a House of Lords (the council of
Nine), and a House of Commons (the Assemblage)
Current events: Outset of the Great Hunt. Escalating hostilities between
Illian and Tear (closing of borders, trade forbidden). Council of Nine
dominated by Lord Brend, aka Sammael. Really, really big army
forming outside its borders to invade them.
Construction and occupation of hill fortifications facing the Plains of
Maredo. It appears Illian is undergoing full mobilization (it would make
sense for Sammael to draft everyone that can hold a weapon). Something
going on between Elaida's AS and Illian. Illian agreed to an anti-Dragon
alliance with the Whitecloaks.
Tourist Attractions: King's Palace, and its copy, the Hall of the Council
Home of: Bayle Domon
General: Capital: Lugard. Very fractious country. Allied with Altara and Illian against Amadicia in the Whitecloak War. Hostile to Andor. Gov't: Loose confederation of lands controlled by various lords. Possibly there is a nominal king? Current Events: Unstable as always. Logain was defeated by the AS in Murandy in the beginning of the series. Hasn't declared for or against the Dragon yet, like Altara. Tourist Attractions: The Nine Horse Hitch Inn :) Home of: Padan Fain
General: Was one of the borderlands, located N of Shienar. Destroyed due
to treachery of the last king's sister-in-law (Breyan) and Cowin
Fairheart (Great Lord & Darkfriend). Symbol: golden crane.
Gov't: Monarchy. Last king-al'Akir Mandragoran. Uncrowned heir-
al'Lan Mandragoran.
Current Events -Doesn't exist anymore, has been swallowed up by the
Blight
Tourist Attractions: Ruins of the Seven Towers, the 1000 Lakes
Home of: Lan, Isam, Jain(m) Farstrider
Map: [TEotW: (before) 46, 688, Fal Dara, 578] (with
Shienar)
General: Capital Lugard. Very fractious country. Allied with Altara and
Illian against Amadicia in the Whitecloak War. Hostile to Andor.
Gov't: Loose confederation of lands controlled by various lords. Possibly
there is a nominal king?
Current Events: Unstable as always. Logain was defeated by the AS in
Murandy in the beginning of the series. Hasn't declared for or against
the Dragon yet, like Altara.
Tourist Attractions: The Nine Horse Hitch Inn :)
Home of: Padan Fain
General: Capital city-Fal Moran. Due to its location (borderlands),its
society has a strong militaristic streak. Quaint local
fashion-fighting men shave their heads, except for a
topknot. Symbol-black hawk
Gov't: Monarchy, current king-Easar of house Togita
Current events: Held off Trolloc hoard at Tarwin's Gap (with a little
help from their friends). Small-scale battles between pro- and anti-
Dragon factions.
Tourist Attractions: Lotsa military stuff, nice signal towers
Home of: Ingtar, Lord Agelmar, Lady Amalisa, Uno, Masema, Hurin
Map: [TEotW: (before) 46, 688, Fal Dara, 578]
General: Capital-Tanchico. Local fashion: women wear their hair in
numerous little braids, men and women wear veils. Symbol-tree.
Gov't: Monarchy-ish. There are two independent monarchs, the King and the
Panarch, each has his/her own duties.
Tourist Attractions: Panarch's museum-artifacts from past ages.
Map: [TSR: 38, 618, Hidden Faces, 429] (map of Tanchico)
Current events: Tanchico (and probably some surrounding territory) has
been occupied by the Seanchan. Probable scattered resistance to the
Seanchan invasion. Probable desultory civil war with continued
Dragonsworn troubles. The Whitecloaks have closed the
border (which has moved a few miles westward) between Amadicia and Tarabon.
General: Capital: Tear. Traditional enemy of Illian.
Gov't: Council of High Lords.
Current Events: Fall of the Stone of Tear to Rand and the Aiel, and the
death of Be'lal and Ishamael. Rebellion in Haddon Mirk
Symbol: Crescent Moon.
Tourist Attractions: Stone of Tear
Home of: Juilan Sandar, Siuan Sanche
General: Collection of farming communities bounded by the Mountains of
Mist, the R. Taren, and the White River. Products-tabac &wool. The people have a reputation of stubbornness. Quaint local
fashion-girls wear their hair loose, women wear it braided.
Gov't: Although it is officially part of Andor, it "has not seen a tax
collector in six generations, nor the Queen's Guards in seven."
Each autonomous village is run by two elected bodies-the Women's
Circle (women), headed by the Wisdom, and the Village Council
(men), headed by the Mayor. If there is a need for inter-village
action, it is negotiated by the mayors or Councils of the villages
Current events: Hunting ground of Slayer (aka Lord Luc). Overrun by
Trollocs & Whitecloaks as part of Ordeith's plot against Rand.
Trollocs & Whitecloaks alike dealt with under the
leadership of "Lord" Perrin. Large influx of refugees from the
west.
Tourist Attractions: Eldrene's Veil, Master al'Vere's clock
Home of: do ya have to ask?
Map: [TEotW: (before) 1, xviii, An Empty Road, xviii]
Historical Note: In ancient times was Manetheren, destroyed in the Trolloc
Wars. Sign of Manetheren: Red Eagle
Gov't: Monarchy, current Queen Tenobia.
Capital: Maradon.
Sign: silver fish on dark blue.
Home of: Faile, Davram Bashere, Mazrim Taim.
Current Events: Has been having troubles all
throughout the series. The False Dragon
Mazrim Taim ripped through here, gave Davram Bashere a hard time, was
captured, escaped, and is possibly supporting Rand in Andor and at
Dumai's Wells. Tenobia is still in charge, and appears to have
consolidated her position. That doesn't mean there still aren't
problems, just that she is in a more secure position. Clashes between
Pro- and anti-Dragon factions. Davram Bashere is in Andor
with a chunk of the army. The Blight border is quiet here as well.
Sean Hillyard, Mike Lemons, Judy Ghirardelli, Emma Pease, Erica Sadun, Pam Korda, Keith Casner, etc
Many pet theories hinge upon this question. From [LoC: 11, Lessons and Teachers, 207], we know that Verin has been working on some plan for about 70 years. This sets a lower bound on Verin's age. The only other possible clue is [LOC: 43, The Crown of Roses, 549]. Merana Sedai is considering the pecking order among the AS in Caemlyn: "Merana had been Aes Sedai ten years the day the midwife laid Alanna at her mother's breast...Verin was the problem...Five years as novice for each, six as Accepted; that was one thing every Aes Sedai knew about every other if she knew nothing else. The difference was that Verin was older, maybe almost as much older than she as she was older than Alanna." We know that the Tower doesn't take women much older than Ny for Novices, and an average novice starts at about the age Elayne & Egwene did (17-18), for the Very Old Verin folks, lets say both Merana & Verin started late--24 (Ny was an exception, I think they only took her because she was so strong). So if Alanna is about 35 (a reasonable guess), Merana is 24 + 11 years training + 10 years as full AS = 45 years older than Alanna, that is, 80 years old. If Verin is as much older than Merana as Merana is older than Alanna, then Verin is 80 + 45 = 125 years old. So if Merana is right about how much older Verin is than she, Verin cannot be much older than 125 years.
"By the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, I swear to serve you in whatever way you require for as long as you require, or may the Creator's face turn from me forever and darkness consume my soul." [TFoH: 1, Fanning The Sparks, 39[
Erica Sadun: YES, there is, but not much. It is pretty secular. It may be closer to many pagan religions or in some cases to Judaism rather than Christianity. However, like x'ty, there is a dualism between the light and the creator who are often spoken of separately and together. Like Judaism, burials are as simple as possible to encourage return to the earth. Like the religions of old merry England, the maypole is a fertility ritual. Like Catholicism, children are taught catechism. Wisdoms act as priestesses. Like Judaism, marriage is a public announcement to the community.
This does not even begin to touch on the religious aspects of the Aes Sedai. They have novices (like nuns), they are considered to be 'servants of all', the rituals of acceptance and joining the sisterhood are rigid with many religious overtones. They are expected to serve the Light and the will of the creator when they join the Aes Sedai. They are almost Buddhist in certain ways: in particular the view of the time serpent, the wheel of time and the age lace. The Children of Light are another religious organization, in this case a religious organization in turmoil with inappropriate goals and methods.
Finally, we have the Tinkers, a religious cult more or less who follow the early Xtian/Calvinist Way of the Leaf, a cross between pacifism and acceptance of fate.
Jocelyn: OTOH, in Randland, the Creator is. The DO is. No one disbelieves in their existence; they are there. They are far more concrete and present in everyday life than our God(s) is/are in our lives. If you cross the Blight to Shayol Ghul, you will find a mountain with a hole in its side and evil leaking out. Thus, many of the rituals and other trappings of _organized_ religion are unnecessary in Randland. Just because we don't see worship going on very often doesn't mean it's not being done.
Scratch a Randlander, and you'll find a quite religious person 9 times out of 10, would be my guess. There just isn't quite the need to formalize it the way we do, except on occasions which, by their nature, are already formal... i.e. funerals, weddings, harvest, etc. Just my humble opinion. Randlanders pray to the Creator for favors, such as relief from the drought. [LoC: Prologue, The First Message, 36]
Mark Looi: The Forsaken were 13 of the most powerful Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends. They went over to the Dark One's side during the War of the Shadow. Legend has it that they were sealed with the Dark One when the Dark One's prison was re-sealed.
The 13
Forsaken
(in alphabetical
order) are
Aginor
(M): killed at the Eye of
the World (by drawing too much
of the One Power) [TEotW: 51, 756-9, Against the Shadow,
634-5]Probably resurrected as
Osan'gar
.
Asmodean
(M): real name: Joar
Addam Nesossin, aka: Jasin Natael. captured by Rand and shielded by
Lanfear at Rhuidean
[TSR: 58, 973-8, The Traps of Rhuidean, 674-7] Toast at the
end of TFoH...Twice! No body was found, so most people
in Randland do not know he is dead, just that he has vanished.
Balthamel
(M): killed by the
Green Man at the Eye of the World
[TEotW: 50, 751-2, Meetings at the Eye, 630-1]
Probably resurrected as
Aran'gar
.
Be'lal (M): aka High Lord Samon of Tear, balefired by Moiraine
in the Stone of Tear [TDR: 55, 651-2, What is Written in
Prophecy, 557]
Demandred
(M): Real name Barid
Bel Medar.
Believed to dislike Rand/LTT
intensely. [TSR: 58, 975, The Traps of Rhuidean, 677]
Turned to
the Shadow because he got tired of being second-best to LTT
[TFoH: 3,
105, Pale Shadows, 76-7], [LoC: Prolgoue, The
First Message, 56-7].
Possibly involved with the Seanchan [LoC: 6, Threads Woven of Shadow,
135], also possibly masquerading as
Mazrim Taim
.
Graendal (F): known to currently have a long string of young men
and women. In the habit of taking aristocrats and making them serve in
some demeaning aspect, using enough compulsion to fry their brains to make
them useless, though a conservative player for all that. Currently in
Arad Domon, having taken over somebody's palace. She has one of the
World's Greatest Generals working for her, and it seems as though
all the reported chaos in Arad Doman might not be quite as chaotic
as it first appears. She appears to visitors as an enfeebled old
lady.Before turning to the
Shadow, she was a psychiatrist in the AOL [LoC: 6, Threads Woven of
Shadow, 130-9].
Ishamael
(M): real name: Elan Morin
Tedronai, aka
Ba'alzamon. probably killed by Rand in Tear [TDR: 55, 666, What
is Written in Prophecy, 570] The most
philosophically-minded of the Forsaken, he came up with many theories on
the nature of the battle between the Creator and the DO [LoC: 6,
Threads Woven of Shadow, 133].
Lanfear
(F): real name: Mierin
[TSR: 58, 973, The Traps of
Rhuidean, 676] aka: Selene, aka Keille, aka Silvie. former lover
of LTT (Rand). May be toast or in Aelfland.
Mesaana (F): The long-anticipated Forsaken in the Tower.
[LoC: 6, Threads Woven of Shadow, 138]
Was rejected by the Collam Dam, so instead
of being a researcher, she ended up a teacher. Feels uneasy around
Semirhage (Don't we all? :)
Moghedien
(F): aka Gyldin, aka Marigan.
captured by Nynaeve in Tanchico, but escaped
[TSR: 54, 909-13, Into the Palace, 631-3] believed to be
the strongest Forsaken in T'A'R [TSR: 52, 864, Need, 599]
Captured by Nynaeve in Salidar and forced to teach her and Elayne.
Released by
Aran'gar
and
summoned to SG [LoC: Epilogue, The Answer, 697-8].
Rahvin (M): aka: Lord Gaebril, was active in Caemlyn [TDR:
46, 534-40, A Message Out of the Shadow, 452-7] Balefired by
Randin TFoH. [TFoH: 55, The Threads burn, 672]
Sammael (M): real name: Tel Janin Aellinsar [TFoH: 45,
After the Storm, 516] aka: Lord Brend of Illian [TDR: 44,
508-9, Hunted, 429-30] Was given scar by LTT. Hates Rand. Wanted
always to be taller. [TFoH: Prologue,The First Sparks Fall,
29]
Semiraghe (F) Has a penchant for gruesome torture. Whereabouts
unknown.Hates Lanfear. Is very tall,with dark skin & eyes, and
likes wearing black. Was a brilliant
healer who took payment in extracting extra pain from her patients.
By Emma Pease
2 of each Ajah except red (1) for a total of 13. Still unknown are the 1 gray, 2 blues, 1 yellow. ?? means either former Ajah or country unknown
NAME AJAH ORIGIN COMMENT
==============================================================================
Liandrin red Tarabon leader
Joiya Byir white ?? eldest and dead at Tear
Rianna Andormeran white Kandor white streak in hair
Marillin Gemalphin brown ?? likes cats
Eldrith Jhondar brown ?? arranges for cats to go away
Jeaine Caide green Arad Doman
Asne Zeramene green Saldaea
Chesmal Emry yellow Ghealdan (one of the best healers known)
Temaile Kinderode gray Cairhien blue eyes,dark hair,vulpine,cruel
Amico Nagoyin ?? ?? youngest and dead at Tear
Berylla Naron ?? ?? lean, manipulative
Falion Bhoda ?? ?? long-faced
Ispan Shefar ?? Tarabon dark-haired
consists (to start with) of 4 reds, no blues, 1 each of yellow, green, and brown, 2 or 3 each of gray and white. [not sure whether she is including herself and Alviarin in the count]:
Elaida, Amyrlin Seat (red)
Alviarin, Keeper (white, Black)
Teslyn, red, Illianer
Javindhra, red
Danelle, brown
Joline, green
Shemerin, yellow (to be "arrested and reduced to Accepted", according
to paper's in Elaida's study [TFoH: 49, To
Boannda, 581])
Andaya, gray
Evanellein, gray
Sheriam, leader, blue
Carlinya, white
Myrelle, green
Anaiya, blue
Movrin, brown
Beonin, gray
Siuan Sanche, formerly blue, Tear, Amyrlin Seat, Warder Alric (dead,
TSR), stilled (TSR), at Salidar (TFoH), unstilled (LoC)
Leane Sharif, blue, Arad Doman, Keeper of the Chronicles, Warder unknown,
stilled (TSR), at Salidar (TFoH), unstilled (LoC)
Moiraine Damodred, blue, Cairhien, vanished(TFoH), Warder (was) Lan
Aeldene, blue, heads the Blue Ajah's eyes and ears network, missing in
TFoH.
Memara, red, sent to Saldaea by Elaida's council
Verin Mathwin, brown, very old, Warder Tomas, in Two Rivers (TFoH)
Serafelle, brown
Andeleas, brown, very old lives in Arafel with her sister,
Vandene, Warder Jaem?
Takima, brown, teaches history
Phaedrine, brown, at Salidar
Brendas, white, part of the group that healed Mat
Alanna Mosvani, green, Arafel, same age as Sheriam, Warder Ihvon
Vandene, green, very old lives in Arafel with her sister,
Andeleas, Warder Jaem?
Myrelle, green, on the council ruling at Salidar (TFoH),
Warders are Nuhel Dromand (Illian), Croi Makin (Andor), Avar
Hachimi. Rumored to have Married all three of her Warders
against custom. New Warder-Lan
Kiruna Nachiman, green, Arafel, rumored to be the sister of the king
of Arafel. At Salidar, Sent to the waste to find Rand
Bera Harkin, green, at Salidar, Sent to the waste to find Rand
Ryma, yellow, caught by the Seanchan
Another slender yellow was part of the group that went to Fal
Dara.
Ananda, yellow, Min sees her dying
Edesina, yellow, slender, Min sees a silver collar around her
that shatters
Therva Maresis, yellow, slender, at Salidar
Nisao Dachen, yellow, short
Dagdara Finchey, yellow, tall, wide, grey haired, very skilled
healer
Narenwin Barda, yellow, heads yellow ears and eyes
network
Sierin Vayu, gray, Amyrlin before Siuan, dead
Marras, unknown, probably in charge of the gardens since Faolain was
sent to her to do some gardening.
Silviana, mistress of novices under Elaida (TFoH)
Saroiya, mentioned as an Aes Sedai that someone played a trick on some
20 plus years ago.
Gitara Moroso-She had the Foretelling. She told Tigraine to join
the Maidens of the Spear, and she died informing the Amyrlin before Sierin
Vayu, Siuan Sanche, and Moiraine Damodred that the Dragon was Reborn.
Pedra, Irella, Faolain Orande (at Salidar), Theodrin (at Salidar), Nynaeve, Egwene, Elayne, Emara (either novice or accepted, at Salidar), Verine (dead TFoH [killed by Fain])
Sahra (dead TSR), Else (no longer), Tabiya (at Salidar)
Sharina (mentioned to Nynaeve in the ter'angreal) Beldeine, green, Keeper to Egwene inside the ter'angreal Gyldan, black, seen by Egwene in the ter'angreal
SURVEY SAYS: Are the following Black Ajah??
first survey sec. survey
Yes No Maybe Yes
- Moiraine 00 30 04 -
- Verin 09 21 04 5
- Alanna 10 16 08 30
- Anaiya 05 16 13 21
- Elaida 07 24 03 -
- Alviarin 11 09 14 -
- Danelle 10 12 12 18
- Sheriam 08 20 06 14
- Carlinya - - - 28
[ Ruchira Datta, Pam Korda, and Roy Navarre as the Lanfear Pin-up of the Month Club, Carolyn Fusinato]
Lanfear presents a bit of an enigma. Many of her actions have led some people to believe that she is not 100% Evil. The argument is that she &Beidomon drilled the Bore into the DO's prison by accident, and only became Forsaken after that either due to the DO's direct action, or out of pride. Moreover, everyone would link her with all the DO's ravages that followed, thinking she released him on purpose, no matter what she did. Being an extremely proud person, it would be hard for her to admit that she had just made a colossal mistake.
Evidence: In the "Eyes of Charn" sequence,[TSR: 26, 432-437, The Dedicated, 303-6] Charn perceives Mierin as a good person, and maintains this belief even after she became Lanfear. Up to TFoH (see refutation), it can be claimed that she hadn't done any inarguably evil acts. She has been deceptive - but what would one expect from an Aes Sedai? She is jealous and possessive of Rand - but note that she had not done anything to harm her competition, which would probably be very easy for her to do. (She met Egwene in Tel'aran'rhiod, if I recall correctly, but anyway Egwene had been eliminated from the category of "competition" by this time.)
She told Ishamael in TDR that she was loyal to the Dark One and no other. But in TSR, she suggested to Rand that they supplant the DO together. As for the scene at the end of TFoH, she was insane and not responsible for her actions. (She dislikes being called "Mierin" in the extreme. This could be taken several ways.
One way to take it is that she wants her former self to be disassociated from her current evil ways - she does not want to be reminded of what she once was, it is too painful.)
Refutation: I have always believed that Lanfear was evil, starting way back when we first meet her as Selene in TGH. She made my skin crawl. LTT, an honest man, even the Forsaken admit, said that Lanfear, even when she was Mierin, loved power more than anything else. What is the DO but the ultimate temptation of power?
All of her actions in "helping" Rand have not been to further his cause against the DO, but to gain his trust and lust, so that she could control him. She does not love Rand/LTT; she wants him to be her obedient lap-dog, and to serve him up on a platter to the DO, so that she can be the most powerful of his servants. She would supplant the DO and the Creator in a second if she could, and then be disappointed that she wasn't powerful enough.
Having deceived Rand for so long, it would have been simple for her to deceive Charn, a follower of the Way of the Leaf. (It is obvious from looking at the Tinkers and the Ancient Aiel that Leafers cannot believe that the world is a Bad Place with Bad People in it.)
But anyway, evidence in TFoH closes the case for good. I do not refer to the skinning of Kadere, torturing of Egwene & Aviendha, killing of many, and attempted killing of Rand, although that provides plenty of evidence in itself, insanity or no. I refer to Moiraine's vision in the Rings of Rhuidean. [TFoH: 53, Fading Words, 637]
If Moiraine had not jumped Lanfear, and let her have her way, Rand would be dead, or Lanfear's love-slave, with the crippled mind of LTT. These were Lanfear's plans. They are not the plans of a good person. Oh, and if you need further proof, recall the ecstasy with which she describes bathing in the DO's presence at Shayol Ghul.
Note that Lanfear did NOT send the Trollocs who fought Sammael's trollocs in TSR. They were sent by Semirhage, on order of the DO. The DO, it seems, has been giving Rand aid for some time now, probably in the hopes of eventually turning him to the Dark Side. Any "help" Lanfear has done for Rand was probably in view of this end. Taking credit for rescuing him is certainly not past her.
Carolyn F. adds, that in a letter she got from RJ, he said that Lanfear fixated on possessing a man who never loved her. (I guess LTT was just using her for sex, eh?) Her desire for Rand is as much desire for power as for him personally. She could get her hands on the remote-control ter'angreal for the kick-ass sa'angreal, get credit for turning the Dragon Reborn over to the DO. She power for power's sake, not for Rand's sake.
by Erica Sadun and Sean Hillyard
Strange tricksy critters who live in other dimensions. They are also known as the Snakes and Foxes for their appearances and have long-standing tricksy relationships with humans: giving gifts and answers... at a price.
[TSR: 28, 462, To the Tower of Ghenjei, 323] Birgitte arrives to chat up Perrin and talks about the Tower of Ghenjei and the game of Snakes and Foxes. "...there's no way to win." "Except to break the rules," she said. "'Courage to strengthen, fire to blind, music to daze, iron to bind.'" Poor Mat should have known about these rules, but he's tricky and he cheats. Notice that every time Mat is using his "luck", he seems to be humming. This may be related.
We know that The tower of Ghenjei is a route to the realms of the Aelfinn & Eelfinn. We also know that the Seanchan, the offspring of the "hammer" (Paendrag) hold their symbols to be the tower and the raven. And wouldn't you just know, Mat who is due to marry the Daughter of the Nine Moons, the heir to the court of Seanchan and who is already mixed up with the snakes and foxes just happens to have a magic spear with ravens on it. In fact, if you re-regard the inscription on the spear, it just may have to do with the Seanchan's bargain and not that of Mat.
"Thus is our treaty written; thus is agreement made. Thought is the arrow of time; memory never fades. What was asked is given. The price is paid."[TSR: 26, 439, The Dedicated, 307]
Remember also, that those marked with the raven are property of the court of the Seanchan empress. The other object given to Mat was the foxhead. And its eye is the symbol of the Aes Sedai. [TSR: 37, 606, Imre Stand, 426] Boy, this gets complicated, doesn't it? When Mat arrives in the Rhuidean door (foxes), he is greeted and asked about the "old treaty".
The snake people back at Tear were very insistent that he show up at Rhuidean - insistent enough to answer a whole lot of extra questions. Once he gets there, he's given an object which directly mentions something about the treaty.
There seems to be some kind of agreement concerning the use of the door. Anyone may enter who does not bring a way to make light, iron or instruments of music. The snakes will then answer three questions. What do they get out of it? According to Moiraine:
Sensations, emotions, experiences. They rummage through them; you can feel them doing it, making your skin crawl. Perhaps they feed on them in some manners. The Aes Sedai who studied this ter'angreal spoke of a strong desire to bathe afterward [TSR: 15, 257, Into the Doorway, 179].
In addition, the presence of two ta'veren seemed about to shake down the whole place.
The foxes also speak of a treaty in using the doorway. Again, no iron or musical instruments, or ways to make light. Again, there is the prickling of the skin as memories are rummaged through. However, for the foxes this does not seem to be payment enough for their services. Apparently a price has to be negotiated before agreements are made.
Mat lucks out (of course) and asks for a way out as one of his agreements (It seems extremely likely that he would still be there without that), but they still exact a price out of him, and from what we can infer of it, it was not pleasant.
Aludra: I have finally figured out Aludra's entire raison d'etre: the matches. Now how can Mat/Thom get over to Nynaeve to get some matches before he heads off to A/Eelfland?
There could be some major plot development coming up, with regards to Saldaea. We have been getting hints for five books now. In TEotW, in Baerlon, there are rumors about trouble up in Saldaea. But they say, oh-that's the borderlands- there is always trouble in the borderlands. When we first meet Bayle Domon, he is running from Trollocs and Saldaea [TEotW: 20, 312, Dust on the Wind, 262-3].
Then again in TGH and TDR Saldaea is mentioned that something is going on there. Plus that is where Mazrim Taim was operating...Then in TSR, someone in a tavern in Tear says something like Taim was so powerful when he fought the Lord of Bashere's army. Then SS thinks that with all the trouble there, Tenobia might be pushed off the throne-Tenobia is Faile's cousin.
And finally, at the end of TFoH, Bashere shows up in Caemlyn and makes an agreement for Saldaea's support of the Dragon Reborn. In LOC, we learn that Queen Tenobia has gone into seclusion at some country palace, and the leader of the Army and a good portion of said army are thousands of miles away, under the command of the Dragon Reborn. There has been speculation that Semirhage's "wilful charge" is none other than Queen Tenobia.
Survey says: Will Faile be the Queen of Saldaea? Yes:58, No: 24
by Don Harlow, Joe Shaw, somebody else
It may be that Mat was Aemon of Manetheren, although there is little direct proof. It is certain that, in all his lives, he was a military genius.
There has been a lot of speculation that Mat is the reincarnation of an ancient king of Manetheren. It seems to me fairly evident that Mat is the reincarnation of a fairly large number of personalities (I would say "different" personalities, except I suspect that they were all fairly similar). This is evidenced by Mat's pseudo-memories that emerge when Jasin Natael is singing a song about a battle at a river and how the enemy of Manetheren had mercy on the defeated Manetherenites, because they were so brave, etc.
Mat remembers himself, the king's advisor, being killed by that foe's treachery; and then he remembers himself, somebody else, seeing that foe, older and grayer, being killed in another battle somewhere else. [TSR: 37, 610-1, Imre Stand, 424-5]
Additionally, he forms the Band of the Red Hand near the end of TFoH, which was supposedly a band of heroes who went down defending Aemon himself.This looks like another marker, though there's nothing directly of Aemon's memories that Mat has. TFoH also gives details on the span of his memories, from about four or five hundred years before the Trolloc wars and nothing after Artur Hawkwing. What this signifies is another question entirely.
It's clear that Mat was not King of Manetheren in his first memory, at least. I agree that Mat is remembering several lives. IMHO, Mat is one of the Heroes that the Pattern spins out every so often, and he is remembering his previous incarnations. Mat was just a brilliant military advisor for the Manetheren kings, not the King.
Note: it is possible that Mat's memories are not actually those of his own past lives, but that when he asked the Foxes to fill the holes in his mind, they just put in random memories of various battle commanders through the ages.
Moiraine tells Egwene: "ysl/Now you are behaving like a foolish village girl. Most who come to Tar Valon must study for months before they can do what you just did. You may go far. Perhaps even the Amyrlin Seat, one day, if you study hard and work hard./"
"Aemon's warcry, she said - right? Maybe you're Aemon come back again."
Mat says: "You put this Aiel nonsense in his head, on top of what's already there, and the light knows what we'll have. An Aiel lord maybe."
Nynaeve, just before entering the first arch a Novice must pass through to become an Accepted: "Vaguely, Nynaeve thought about her nervousness concerning spiders" Moghedien is also known as 'the Spider'.
Perrin, looking at Ingtar: "Sometimes, to Perrin's eyes, the crescent crest on the Shienaran's helmet looked like a Trolloc's horns."
Ingtar is revealed at the end of TGH to be a Darkfriend seeking to walk in the Light (he sought the Horn for his personal salvation).
"I am not Aiel, Lord Barthanes, and I am not of the [Andor] royal line, either." (Rand to Lord Barthanes, at Barthanes' manor)
I was re-reading the part in TSR where Ny talks to Birgitte and Cain is around. He reminds Birgitte how mad Spider was when she found out Birgitte would fight on the side of LTT. She told Birgitte then something like "I will make you weep alone for as long as the wheel turns". Birgitte says that Spider said it as just a fact that had not happened yet. We know in TFoH that Spider makes good on this threat, but un-binding her to the Wheel.
At one point, early in the book, Ny wishes she could have SS alone for just 5 minutes when SS could not channel - she gets her wish with her little scuffle in Tel'aran'rhiod.
Elayne told Egwene in T'A'R' : "Egwene, you will be Amyrlin when I am Queen of Andor!"
All the Forsaken seem to think that Ba'alzamon was Ishamael . e.g. see Mog's thoughts in [TSR: 46, 759-60, Veils, 526].
[TDR: 21, 237, A World of Dreams, 187] Verin reads a scrap of paper to Egwene when giving her the twisted stone ter'angreal. "Heart of the Dark. Ba'alzamon. Name hidden within name shrouded by name. Secret buried within secret cloaked by secret. Betrayer of Hope. Ishamael betrays all hope. Truth burns and sears. Hope fails before truth. A lie is our shield. Who can stand against the Heart of the Dark? Who can face the Betrayer of Hope? Soul of shadow, Soul of the Shadow, he is -"
[TDR: 56, 672-3, People of the Dragon, 575-6], Eg, Ny, Mat, El and Moiraine are discussing that Rand could not have killed the Dark One himself because a _man's_ body was left. They speculate that Ba'alzamon was Ishamael.
[TEotW: 14, 204-5, The Stag and Lion, 171]: Ba'alzamon tells Rand: "I stood at Lews Therin Kinslayer's shoulder when he did the deed that named him. It was I who told him to kill his wife, and his children, and all his blood, and every living person who loved him or whom he loved. It was I who gave him the moment of sanity to know what he had done."
Lanfear makes some comment that "Ishamael thinks he controls events, but I do, really" or something like that. The only other forsaken taking an active hand in events is Ba'alzamon. the rest are either still bound, or are skulking around in various kingdoms.
[TSR: Glossary, 987, entry "Ba'alzamon", 686] "In the Trolloc tongue, 'Heart of the Dark.' Believed by most, erroneously, to be the Trolloc Name for the Dark One."
[TSR: 46, 760, Veils, 526] Moghedien says: The other [Forsaken in Tear beside Be'lal] sounds like Ishamael to me. All his pride at being only half-caught, whatever the price- there was less human left in him than any of us when I saw him again; I think he half-believed he was the Great Lord of the Dark-all his three thousand years of machinations, and it comes to an untaught boy hunting him down. She states right out that Ish was only half bound, and as well confirms Egwene's guess that Ish=Ba'alzamon.
See: Rand
We assume that they will be used on a faux dragon because the real one isn't available.
Luke Mankin tells us more about the bracelets: I think that the collar and bracelets are not all one piece, and that they will enable a women to control a male channeler for a distance! Here are all the places where it is physically described that I could find. Notice that they never mention a -leash-!
[TSR: 55, 920, Into the Deep, 638]: "Egeanin touched the collar, pushed the bracelets away from the collar. If she felt the emotions trapped in them ... ability to channel. `It is not a'dam,` the Seanchan woman said. `That is made of a silvery metal, and all of one piece.`"
[TSR: 52, 866, Need, 600] "...-a necklace and two bracelets of jointed black metal-..."
[TSR: 54, 905, Into the Palace, 628] "...dull black collar and bracelets... ...wide jointed collar..."
Since we assume that the Seanchan will get the collars, what will they do with their male channeler? OR, will the BA get the collar and bracelets through the Darkfriend connection? Wouldn't the best means of destroying them be separating them and throwing them in say the sea, a volcano, and such?
Now, of course, the sad bracelets can be used on any of the poor sods who signed up to become asha'man.
Jeff R. brings to us The Songs of the Wheel of Time:
Songs connected with = have the same tune, but different lyrics and or names in different areas.
A question mark suffix means that no title is actually given; the title is inferred from the lyrics.
There are two point in the story where Mat could be considered to have died: when he was hung from the tree in Rhuidean, and when he got hit by lightning in the raid on Caemlyn in TFOH. So, is he still linked to the horn?
Firstly, in Tear, [TSR: 15, 253, Into the Doorway, 177]
"'To die, and live again, and live once more a part of what
was!'"
Secondly, in Rhuidean, [TSR: 26, 437-8, The Dedicated, 306-7]
"Letting sword and Power go, he ripped the rope away from Mat's
neck and pressed an ear to his friend's chest. Nothing.
Desperately, he tore open Mat's coat and shirt, breaking the
leather cord that help a silver medallion on Mat's chest. He
tossed the medallion aside, listened again. Nothing. No
heartbeat. Dead. No! He'd be all right if I hadn't let him
follow me here. I can't let him be dead!"
"As hard as he could he pounded his fist against Mat's chest,
listened. Nothing. Again he hammered, listened. Yes. There.
A faint heartbeat. It was. So faint, so slow. And slowing.
But Mat was still alive despite the heavy purple welt around his
neck. He might yet be kept alive."
"Filling his lungs, Rand scrambled around to breathe into Mat's
mouth as strongly as he could. Again. Again..."
He had no heartbeat! He wasn't breathing! He was clinically dead. On that evidence, I really don't see how anyone can doubt, at the very least, that Mat actually died. I do grant that we can disagree and quibble over the binding of the Horn, but that's a different matter.
And on that note, Judy is correct- the phrasing that the Amyrlin used at any rate was "So long as you live" [TDR: 20, 233, Visitations, 182]. I just wonder if anyone ever actually linked themselves to the Horn before, then died and then came back to life. In other words, is their knowledge absolute in this matter, or is this just a turn of a phrase?
Survey says: Is Mat still linked to the Horn? Yes: 55, No: 26.
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