linuxmafia.com 2013/2013.06.linuxmafia.com/linuxmafia.com/pub/jordan/OLD-FAQS/93-09.FAQ

Text File | 1995-04-28 | 166.7 KB | 3,381 lines

Article: 35120 of rec.arts.sf.written
Path: nntp.msstate.edu!gatech!prism!gt5052b
From: [e-mail] (SADUN, ERICA LIEBMAN)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: JORDAN: FAQ it to me!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 30 Sep 93 18:43:17 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 3368

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   "Ages when men ruled the heavens and the stars, and Ages when man roamed
   as brother to the animals.  Ages of wonder and Ages of horror. Ages ended
   by fire raining from the sky, and Ages doomed by snow and ice covering
   the land and sea."

              'JUST THE FAQS'...Sgt. Friday

CONTRIBUTORS. Active Contributors & Articles Plundered From:
Erica Sadun    Mark Looi    Courtenay Footman    Michel Forget
Eugene Hung    Kevin Samborn    John S. Novak III    Emmet O'Brien
Heikki Poso    Emma Pease    Elayne Thompson        Tony Zbaraschuk
S. Hillyard    Jeff Smith    David Wren-Hardin    Ruchira Datta
Damien Cole    Don Harlow    Judith Ghirardelli    John C. Hansen
Bob Hofmann    Roy Navarre    Christian M Gadeken    John Hawkinson
Ken Warkentyne    Will Baird    Arthur Bernard Byrne    Bob Gibson
Don Morgan    Mike Lemons    Stephen Graham        Jon Vessey
Chris Russo    Amish S. Dave    George D. Phillies    Robert Kelley
Chris Flora    Pam Korda    Michael J O'Malley    Randy Cerveny
Dash Wendrzyk    Michael Arnett    Carl Traber        Jeff P. Schneiter
Thomas Petersen    Greg Wheatley    Joseph Shaw
Chad C. D'Amour Orzel        Daniel John Kelly-Harrity
Patrick Nielsen-Hayden        Christopher Lee Cavender
Jocelyn Who Is NOT Kathleen (see 1.6.22)
            (Did I forget anyone?)


+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

PROOFREEDER IN CHEEF: Crhis Russo
REFERENCE CHECKERISSIMO DUDES: Joe Shaw (Official Net Jordan Librarian),
                               Jeff P. Schneiter
KEEPER OF THE FLAME OF TAR FTP: Viren R. Shah <[e-mail]>
                                cy.cs.olemiss.edu (130.74.96.19)
                                available by anonymous ftp.
                                /pub/jordan/Jordan.FAQ.<month>

[NB: 'Survey Says' sections are from the Novak/Ghirardelli Survey]
[NB: New Standard Reference Format:
       <Book Abr.: Chapter #, paperback pg#, Chapter name, hardcover pg#>]

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

CONTENTS: (* = new this faq, + updated this faq, - same as last faq)

   ADMINISTRIVIA
       - 0.0  Contents/Submission Requests/Acronyms/Humor Section
       - 0.1  What are these Jordan Wheel of Time Books?
       - 0.2  How do I post to rec.arts.sf.written about these books?
       - 0.3  Why don't we start a new Jordan-only newsgroup?
       - 0.4  Mis-steps. (Errors along the way)
       * 0.5  Who is Kathleen?  Why is Jocelyn not Kathleen?

   USEFUL INFORMATION (SHORT ANSWERS)
       - 1.1  Why do we think that LTT=Beidomon
       - 1.2  Why do we think that Thom may have fathered Elayne
              and/or Gawyn
       - 1.3  Why do we think that Thom will marry Moiraine?
       - 1.4  What was up with Gawyn during the coup?
       - 1.5  What is the Tamyrlin?
       - 1.6  Who will marry Mat?
       - 1.7  Why do we think that Logain will pull the sword
        and thus become ungentled?
       - 1.8  Why will the bracelets be used on Logain or Mazrim Taim?
       - 1.9  What does Mat being 'free of the one power' mean?
       - 1.10 Who is Susa?
       - 1.11 Where do Baby Myrddraal come from?
       * 1.12 Why isn't Elaida Black?
       * 1.13 What do we know about Kari Al'Thor?
       * 1.14 What do we know about Min's family?
       * 1.15 Why is Eldrene's Veil prominent on the Map?
       * 1.16 Where are the Scantily Clad Maidens?

   USEFUL INFORMATION (LONG ANSWERS)
       - 2.0  Who's Who in the Families?
       - 2.1  Tigraine: An Analysis
       - 2.2  Slayer
       - 2.3  The Severed Hand
       - 2.4  How old is everyone?
       - 2.5  What does each Ajah do (and want)?
       - 2.6  The Green Man and the Song
              (Who is the Green Man, What is the Song, Who will
              find the Song, Who were the Aiel?)
       - 2.7  Fun with Nynaeve
       - 2.8  Countries of Rand-Land
       - 2.9  VERIN & MOIRAINE: Black or Not
       - 2.10 Farstrider & Elyas: Are they the same guy?
       * 2.11 Is there Religion in RandLand?
       - 2.12 Should Auld Acquaintance be Forsaken?
       - 2.13 Black is the color of my true lover's Ajah
       - 2.14 Why Lanfear may be Good (not just in bed, Roy)
       * 2.15 Who are the Aelfs & Eelfs (w.r.t. Mat)
       * 2.16 What's with Saldaea?
       * 2.17 Who was Mat (in his past lives)?
       * 2.18 Where have we seen ironic foreshadowing?
       * 2.19 Why are we sure that Ba'alzamon is really Ishamael?
       * 2.20 When was Rand's Power Acquisition Fever Syndrome?
       * 2.21 What's up with Mat, Rahvin/Gaebril, Elayne and Morgase?

   TRIVIAL PURSUITS
       - 3.0  Arthur and the Holy Grail
       - 3.1  Trolloc Tribes
       - 3.2  Is the world of Rand a future Earth?
       + 3.3  Biblical Parallels
       - 3.4  Dark One Names
       * 3.5  Dragon Legends
       * 3.6  Mat and Odin
       * 3.7  How is Dune like the Wheel of Time?

   IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BABY
       - 4.0  Timeline

   BOOK COVERS
        + 97.0 What is it with those stupid Darrel Sweet Covers?

   PROPHECIES : Readers Guide to Prophecies Great and Small
       - 98.1 Egwene's Dreams
       - 98.2 Min's Viewings
       - 98.3 Various Prophecies
       - 98.4 Dark Prophecy
       - 98.5 Moiraine in Conversation
       + 98.6 Perrin's Dreams

   PUBLISHING STUFF
       * 99.0  When Is The Next Book Out?
       - 99.1  Potential minor spoilers for next book (Fires of Heaven)

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SUBMISSION REQUESTS
[Looking for more humor!  Please send as you find it.]
[What topics have been discussed to death and should I include as
   'calls-for-submission' for next month?]
[Can someone fill in prophecy fulfillment?]
[Please help fill out the countries of RandLand (section 1.8)]
[The timeline is really really awful.  Will someone volunteer to fix it
up?, Huh huh?]


ACRONYMS
       TWoT         = The Wheel of Time
       TEotW        = The Eye of the World
       TGH          = The Great Hunt
       TDR          = The Dragon Reborn
       TSR          = The Shadow Rising
       TFoH         = The Fires of Heaven
       FAQ          = WMAK, Wonderful Masterpiece of Assembled Knowledge,
                      but FAQ is easier to say.
       DO           = Dark One
       Eg/Egw       = Egwene
       Ny           = Nynaeve
       El           = Elayne
       SS           = Siuan Sanche
       AS           = Amyrlin Seat (sometimes Aes Sedai)
       BA           = Black Ajah
       Ish          = Ishamael
       DS           = Darkfriend Social
       OP           = One Power
       TV           = Tar Valon
       LTT          = Lews Therin Telamon
       r.a.sf.w     = rec.arts.sf.written
       J*****n      = Wimpy response to great literature
       IMHO         = In my humble opinion
       DJASA        = Damn, Just Another Stupid Acronym Notational System
                      for the Design, Implementation and Debugging of
                      Dynamic Interfaces (wonder how That slipped in here!?)

AH, HUMOR. (See Section 1.6.20 for Ironic Foreshadowing)

<TSR: 31, 501, "Assurances, 350>
"None of that has anything to do with ta'veren," Perrin said.  "Loial is a
friend and he came to help me.  Gaul is a friend, too, I suppose.  Bain and
Chiad came with Faile, not me.  It's all sort of complicated, but it just
happened.  Nothing to do with ta'veren."

<TEotW: 15, 216, Strangers and Friends>
Min to Rand: 'Go, then.  But you won't escape.' tee hee hee.

<TEotW: 53, 776, The Wheel Turns>
"Every woman is an Aes Sedai"
(Rand thinking to himself on way back to Fal Dara from The Eye)

<TEotW: 46, 702, Fal Dara>
"Poetry out of Lan?  The man was like an onion; every time Rand thought he
knew something about the Warder, he discovered another layer underneath."

<TDR: 47, 549, To Race The Shadow>
"Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest
difference is this.  Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never
forget."

<TDR, 53, 624>
Zarine- "I have no shame in admitting I will be glad enough to run from
this fight.  Men fight when they should run, and fools fight when they
should run.  But I had no need to say it twice."

<John S. Novak III>
Ah yes, I can see it now.  Jordan, while making a trip through scenic, snowy
Peoria, skids off the road and crashes.  A big, burly, not-too-friendly
electrical engineering grad student rescues him, brings him to his apartment
and nurses him back to health.
  ("No, Mr. Jordan, you don't want to go the hospital, or even the Bradley
    University Health Center.  _Bad_ things happen to people there.")
Months later, after being given privileged use of said EE's personal computer,
the sixth book is finished.  Said EE reads through draft manuscript, reaches
end, and storms to Jordan, shouting:
  "YOU HAD HIM FIGHT ISHAMAEL AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE FIRST THREE BOOKS!"

<Judy G.>
Ok, here goes.  If you did not before think I need a hobby, you will now:
   I had a dream about dear Mr. Jordan.  I was somewhere taking an art course
(go figure - I am a Meteorology Grad student).  I was saying to some one how
much I liked the Robert Jordan books.  The professor/instructor/whatever said-
oh really?  Well I am Robert Jordan (yes I know while awake that that is not
his real name).
   I then began telling him about the Net, and what great speculations we have
and about Da Survey.  He was very interested, and asked what was on Da Survey.
  I said, "Oh, you know, stuff like, will Rand die, will he lose a hand, is
Moiraine Black Ajah..." He interrupted me to say "You think Moiraine is Black
Ajah??" in a tone that conveyed astonishment along with a certain "You moron"
implication.  I started to explain about the "Moiraine sent me Lord Ingtar - I
did not send Verin" thing, and he said "My God, that was a *MISTAKE*!!!".
Then he laughed at me... snivel snivel sniff sniff gulp gulp.  Robert Jordan
laughed at me in my dream...

<Chris Flora>
I had this *great* dream last night where I was Rand al'Thor, already
a bit on the mad side, walking around and blasting hell out of the bad
guys with the One Power.  It was great!  Something I've wanted to do
for a long time.  I remember vividly blasting this one guy who was
being mean to a dog. -Chris

<Chris Russo>
Here's the scenario: Erica is all alone at her home/apt/dorm/cardboard box
(whatever).  Sensing a well armed criminal nearby, she quickly hides.
The criminal enters her room, confused that no one is there.  Having cased
Erica for some time now, however, he says, "Is Verin black?"
>From under the bed comes a resigned but excited, "No! She's not black!"
Game over, Erica is kidnapped. The previous was a fictitious dramatization.
Don't fall into the same trap yourself in real life. [Kind of like the Roger
Rabbit "Pop Goes the Weasel" scene.]--Chris Russo

<Chris Russo>
Maybe the Green Man tree will produce seeds!  Then, we'll have fresh
little Nymphoes running around.  Err I mean Nyms.  I guess Aginor
and Balthamel were Nym foes. --Chris Russo

<Chris Cavender>
Nobody is black, They try to ungentle Logain, but he dies in the attempt.
Egwene is AS after 5/6 of the Aes Sedai get killed and or collared. Lanfear
gets killed by the DO in a fit of pique. AND I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE! I SAY
WE STORM THE WAREHOUSES! SEIZE THE TFOH, KILL THE ONES WHO WOULD KEEP US
FROM OUR RIGHTFUL PRIZE!

<from r.a.sf.w, Derek J. Middleton>
Is there a way to kill every article that DOESN'T have a certain word
in it?  Like /!Jordan/j or something?

<Pam Korda>
Lotsa people write about jordan PBs losing their covers:
Maybe the books want to disassociate themselves from that cover art?

<Chris Russo>
What an unnerving experience! There are NO Jordan messages posted since
yesterday!! What am I supposed to do?  Not read ANYTHING in r.a.sf.w?
Are you people insane?  What's going on? I can't understand it!
;akjfjasdf;asdjff f;kjsf;asjf  Help, Ok....ok... I'm alright..... just need a
deep breath here..... let's just all calm down and go over a few things....
you know, get the conversation going.
Is Verin Black?  Is Moiraine Black?  Will Logain be ungentled?
Will Egwene be the Amyrlin?  Is Lanfear good?  Will Judy find
a hobby?  Will I keep my sanity. (KEEP?)
Talk to me... please.... someone type something quickly... I'm
fading fast. On a more serious note.  Will Rand die and then be called back
by the horn?  Perrin?  Mat?....[THE MESSAGE DIED OFF AT THIS POINT...ED.]

<S. Hillyard>
Evidence that Joe Shaw is BA
      1) Buddies with Liandrin
      2) Has his own pet name for the Heart of the Dark
      3) Tries to cover for Verin, who everybody knows is black
Its conclusive.  I'd be very careful if I lived out Virginia way.

<Joe Shaw>
Don't believe Sean, everybody. He's called "Father of Lies" to a reason, ya
know.  Besides, I'm a Finger Lakes native, but I moved away when NY fell to
the Blight.- Joe

<S. Hillyard>
We see through your worthless smoke, friend of the dark. You hang yourself with
your own tongue, traitor.  The man who stripped the border forts of their
guards was never captured.  Joe Shaw, or should I say Jowin Fairheart, the
blood of the Empire State is on your hands.
Be very careful of the internet....Remember the stories of the Forsaken
binding men to them?  Strong men, men who had fought the Dark One from
the start.  Those stories are true, and none of the Forsaken had a tenth
of the strength of their master.  Yield even for an instant and he will
have a string tied to your heart.  Deny him, and his power fails.  It is
not easy when touching the internet, and it is too late for Joe, but it
can be done.

<Pam "I may be ridiculous, but I walk in the Light" Korda>
What! Darkfriends in r.a.sf.w.jordan? That's as bad as BA in the Tower!
I'd as soon swallow a live silverpike! Quick! Somebody set up a "Hunters
Three" party! So, anyway, what do you call a Darkfriend who uses Usenet?
"Dreadposter?"

<S. Hillyard, after Erica defends Verin's honor yet again>

Ackkk! [scribble, scribble]

                         ooo
                        oooooo
                       oooooooo
                       ooooooooo
                        oooooooo
                        oooooooo
                         oooooo
                         ooooo
                        ooooo
                       oo
                      o


Truly, they are everywhere --Sean, Defender of the Light

<John C. Hansen>
Oh yeah?  What about all these fangs and white cloaks we've seen lately hiding
in some darkf...er peoples closets.  Sean has clearly been to one too many
_socials_ with his _friends_, IF you know what I mean.  I mean to say, calling
nice plump old ladies names like _some_ people have been doing in this group
is just not on.  Verin is _not_ BA! :-)  (feeling slightly uneasy at the
thought of having to eat my words some day...)

<John S. Novak>
At least I'm not a Whitecloak. Wouldn't be caught _dead_ wearing white...

<John S. Novak III>
You know what's really scary? The fact that I can glance at, and subsequently
_pronounce_ "Al'cair'rahienallen".  Or the fact that I spell
"Al'cair'rahienallen" without checking my sources for the spelling. And the
same with Tel'aron'rhiod, and so forth...[Close on Tel'aran'rhiod,
John, -10pts, Can't find the other to check it, CR :-]



===========================ADMINISTRIVIA======================================

0.1...............................WHAT ARE THESE JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME BOOKS?
The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan:

Hardcover editions:
THE EYE OF THE WORLD, ISBN 0-312-85009-3, $24.95
THE GREAT HUNT, ISBN 0-312-85140-5, $22.95
THE DRAGON REBORN, ISBN 0-312-85248-7, $22.95
THE SHADOW RISING, ISBN 0-312-85431-5, $24.95
THE FIRES OF HEAVEN, ISBN 0-312-85427-7, $25.95

Paperback editions:
THE EYE OF THE WORLD, ISBN 0-812-51181-6, $5.99 ($6.99 CAN)
THE GREAT HUNT, ISBN 0-812-51772-5, $5.99 ($6.99 CAN)
THE DRAGON REBORN, ISBN 0-812-51371-1, $5.99 ($6.99 CAN)
THE SHADOW RISING, ISBN 0-812-51373-8, $6.99 ($7.99 CAN)

Published by Tor Books

Ask for them at your favorite bookstore, or order the paperback editions
directly from:

Publishers Book and Audio Mailing Service
PO Box 120159
Staten Island NY 10312-0004

To cover postage and handling, add $1.25 for the first book and $.25 for each
additional book.  Check or money order only; no CODs.

-----
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, senior editor, Tor Books
[e-mail] * CIS: 72701,1344 * opinions mine

0.2.................HOW DO I POST TO rec.arts.sf.written ABOUT THESE BOOKS?

Make sure you put the word 'JORDAN' (upper or lower case, your choice) in
the subject line so that kill files can be specialized to catch all the
Jordan/Wheel of Time related posts.  For example:
       Subject: JORDAN: Is Verin Black?
       Subject: JORDAN: What's with Gawyn's weird behavior?
       Subject: JORDAN: Why did Lanfear and Roy do that?


0.3......................................WHY DON'T WE START A NEW NEWSGROUP

Judy G. says:
My canned response to the above is:

Not everyone gets the alt groups.  I would like a group just for Jordan fans
(no, not a support group), but I think it is ridiculous to do something that
would preclude people who were interested from participating, just because some
people don't know how to or don't want to utilize their kill files.  We put
Jordan in the title, so they should not have too much trouble killing them,
unless of course they are stupid.  The last time someone complained about the
Jordan traffic, I said something to this effect, and said that the Jordan
haters or non-readers should consider themselves lucky that we are considerate
enough to put Jordan in the title, opposed to titling things like "Lanfear
seduces Roy, who later cuts off her hand" and even more generic things like
"The severed hand", which would *never* get killed. (To give the non-Jordan
people credit, I got much mail saying that people do very much appreciate the
"Jordan" in the title, and thanked the Jordan people in general for making
their lives a little easier).

There was also an attempt to start a rec group that failed miserably.  The
poor guy who tried to do it got flamed that he was doing it wrong, can't he
read, etc., which I found annoying because the guy was trying to help the
whole group out!  The issue of getting the correct number of votes to start a
rec group was in question (you need so many people saying yes, and so few
people saying no).  Anyhow, this poor guy got flamed so bad that he gave up.

Another thing to consider is that a number of rec.arts.sf.written readers read
this group to find out about other books that people like.  I have seen a
number of people mention that they read Jordan's books after seeing all the
traffic on the net about them.  This is another reason for keeping it in the
main group.

Stephen Graham adds:
I wouldn't appreciate it. I may not like Jordan, but I prefer having the
option of reading posts about him in this group. Splitting on an author
basis weakens r.a.sf.w.

Erica S. adds:
I would never have discovered the books if not for the traffic on r.a.sf.w.

0.4.........................................MIS-STEPS (ERRORS ALONG THE WAY)

Jeff Smith:
       <TSR: 35, 576, Sharp Lessons, 401>
       "Egwene realized Nynaeve's blankets were empty."  Unfortunately,
       at this particular time, Nynaeve was in Tanchico with Elayne.
       It should be Moraine's blankets that are empty......Correct?

Don Harlow:
       It seems to me that early in the first volume Jordan took some time
       to decide whether the marsh-forest in the east of the Two Rivers
       was the Riverwood or the Waterwood.

Damien Cole:
       Why does Moiraine wear her great serpent ring on her left hand in
       TEotW and TDR and on her right hand in TGH? I can think of four
       possible reasons:
       a) a cunning plan by Jordan to make us believe sweet,
          innocent Moiraine was at the Darkfriend social.
       b) Moiraine has an evil, identical twin sister who wears
          her ring on the other hand.
       c) It's Moiraine's ring and she can wear it on whatever
          hand she damn well pleases.
       d) none of the above.

Joseph Shaw:
       From the glossary to TEotW, the entry for "Farstrider, Jain" says
       that "He vanished in 994 NE, after returning from a trip into the
       Great Blight which some say had taken him all the way to Shayol Ghul."
       The glossary to TDR for "Travels of Jaim Farstrider, the" says that he
       disappeared shortly after the Aiel War, which is about 20 years ago.

       Why the differences in spelling?
       Note that even in TEotW, all other indications are that Farstrider
       disappeared 20 years ago, just after the Aiel war:   Ba'alzamon
       tells Rand [ch. 51] "Jain Farstrider, a hero, whom I painted like a
       fool and sent to the Ogier thinking he was free of me."  The man
       that Loial said came to Stedding Shangtai telling them the story
       about blinding the Eye of the World came just after the Aiel War.
       Twould seem to be Farstrider since Ba'alzamon's comments followed a
       reference to the Aiel that told the story to the Tuatha'an.
       So, it seems that the 994 number is wrong.

       Since according to Loial's story, the man planned on taking the story
       to Tar Valon, and doesn't seem to have made it, it would imply he was
       dead. He was "at the point of death, though there was no wound or mark
       on him" and quickly got well within the stedding.  Sounds like the
       DO's taint to me.

       [Don Harlow notes: However, note that in <TEotW: 5, 65, Winternight>
       it is mentioned that Tam has a copy of _The Travels of Jain
       Farstrider_ (sic!) on his bookshelf.]

       <TSR: 54, 913, Into the Palace> (last para of chapter)
       "If only Egwene had not run into any trouble, they might make
       it out of here [the Panarch's Palace] safely after all."
       - It should be Elayne instead of Egwene.

Erica Sadun:
       In TDR, in the beginning at-camp scene, Perrin tells Min that
       he loves her like a sister--and that he has no sisters of his
       own.  In TSR, his two sisters and his brother are killed.
       <TDR: 6, 99, The Hunt Begins> and <TSR: 29, 466, Homecoming>

Morgan Donald Scott
       Ba'alzamon's goals: <TGH: 47, 665, The Grave Is No Bar To My Call>
       "But this time I will destroy you to your very soul, destroy you
       utterly and forever." Maybe he forgot <TGH: 41, 588, Disagreements>
       "Fool, you will destroy yourself!" where he stopped Rand from
       burning himself out. Ba'alzamon is either forgetful, confused, or
       trying to appear so.

       Glossary entries, "Wheel of Time" : The Pattern of an Age is slightly
       different each time an Age comes, and each time it is subject to
       greater change, but each time it is the same Age.
       Notice that last phrase "but each time it is the same Age" appears
       in TGH, but is gone in TDR. Did Jordan change his mind? Did he realize
       he had to change something? What makes this Third Age special? Perhaps
       this is the only one the DO thought up the taint on Saidin. Kind of
       for the Prince of Darkness, since he's had a million chances.

Arthur Bernard Byrne
<TEotW: 31, 455, Play for Your Supper>
       "I don't know what you're running from," he had said with an anxious
       frown, "and I don't want to. You understand? My family." Abruptly the
       farmer had dug two long scarves out of his coat pocket and pushed the
       tangle of wool at them. "It's not much, but here. Belong to my boys.
       They have others. You don't know me, understand? It's hard times."
<TEotW: 33, 495, The Dark Waits>
       "If I was a good man," Mull said, "I'd offer a couple of lads soaked
       to the skin a place to dry out and get warm in front of my fire. But
       it's hard times, and strangers.... I don't know what you're running
       from, and I don't want to. You understand? My family." Suddenly he
       pulled two long, woolen scarves, dark and thick, out of his coat
       pocket. "It's not much, but here. Belong to my boys. They have others.
       You don't know me, understand? It's hard times."
       [WHILE THIS IS STILL A CONTESTED ERROR, IT WILL REMAIN IN THE FAQ.
       I THINK IT WAS A CUT/COPY/PASTE GOOF--Erica]

Courtenay Footman
       A typographical error <TSR: 33, 539, A New Weave in the Pattern, 377>
       Perrin calls Tam al'Thor "Master al'Vere"; Master al'Vere being
       miles away at that time.

George D. Phillies:
       There are no dots in the Aes Sedai yin/yang symbol. "A perhaps-
       serious error of the original seal-builders: the correct
       yin-yang symbol has a splotch a white in the black, and vice versa.
       Jordan may have forgotten this.  On the other hand, the world going
       downhill because the female Aes Sedai channel large amounts of pure
       female aspect of the Force, and without knowing it traces of the
       tainted male aspect of the Force, is perhaps amusing."

Amish S. Dave
       <TGH: 7, 102, Blood Calls Blood>
       "How will this affect matters?  Moiraine wondered.  He is not
       necessary with the Horn gone, and yet...."
       She is referring to Mat: they are all in Fal Dara, several weeks after
       finding the Horn at the Eye of the World.  How did she know at this
       point that Mat and the Horn are linked???  She seems at the same time
       to be planning for Rand to take the Horn to Illian, and use it himself.
       Is this a Jordan mis-step, or is Moiraine more cunning that I thought?

0.5.............................WHO IS KATHLEEN?  WHY IS JOCELYN NOT KATHLEEN?

"Kathleen is my mother, the owner of the account that I _used_
(note the past tense) to post from ! Yes! The reason why I have taken so long
to reply to mail is that I've been off-line while moving to college, and now I
have my very own e-mail address. From now on, no more silly .sig! No more
comments directed to my mother! It'll just be: [e-mail]!
Maybe it should be in the FAQ... Maybe I have delusions of grandeur...
Oh well, it takes my mind off of waiting for TFoH!" -- Jocelyn


======================USEFUL INFORMATION (SHORT ANSWERS)======================

1.1 WHY DO WE THINK THAT LTT = BEIDOMON
Who was Beidomon? Consensus: Lews Therin or Bayle Domon
Dissenting Opinion: 'NO WAY a consensus. Quite a few people -me among them-
    think that he is either dead or one of the male forsaken. Why should
    Lews Therin have needed/had another name?'  H. Poso
Supporting Facts:
  From the Prolog: Dragon is he who brought the shadow;
  Guilt; Because the Dragon's blood is necessary to reimprison the DO.
  <TEotW: 4, 51, The Gleeman>
    "I will tell you of the end of the Age of Legends, of the Dragon,
    and of his attempt to free the Dark One into the world of men."

1.2 WHY DO WE THINK THAT THOM MAY HAVE FATHERED ELAYNE AND/OR GAWYN
       Elayne denies that Galad is her brother.  Thom was around at the
       right time.  Thom clearly had something to do with Taringail's
       disappearance. Thom was in love with Morgase.

1.3 WHY DO WE THINK THAT THOM WILL MARRY MOIRAINE
       Moiraine says she knows the face of the man she will marry. After
       going through the Aelf/Eelf ter'angreal, which only answers personal
       questions, she immediately tells Thom that he will live through
       the next set of adventures.  Thom keeps referring to Moiraine as
       a good looking woman with more and more sincerity as time progresses
       and discovers he no longer loves Morgase.


1.4 WHAT WAS UP WITH GAWYN DURING THE COUP
       Perhaps he was involuntarily bonded to a Black or to a Forsaken.
       His eyes were glazed and he was not necessarily in control of himself.

1.5 WHAT IS THE TAMYRLIN
       Probably the male equivalent of the Amyrlin.  The Tamyrlin had a ring
       just the Amyrlin has a seat. From <TEotW, Prologue, xi, Dragonmount>:
          Elan Morin grimaced. "Look at you," he said scornfully. "Once
          you stood first among the Servants. Once you wore the Ring of
          Tamyrlin, and sat in the High Seat. Once you summoned the Nine
          Rods of Dominion. Now look at you! [...]
       However John Novak suggests it may be the uncorrupted form of Amyrlin.

1.6 WHO WILL MARRY MAT?
       Daughter of the Nine Moons indicates the heir to the throne of the
       Seanchan.  This may be Berelain or the second daughter of the
       Empress who is mentioned in the middle of TGH by the high lord in
       Falme.

1.7 WHY DO WE THINK THAT LOGAIN WILL PULL THE SWORD/BECOME UNGENTLED?
       Why not.

1.8 WHY WILL THE BRACELETS WILL BE USED ON LOGAIN OR MAZRIM TAIM?
       We assume that they will be used on a faux dragon because the real
       one isn't available.

1.9 WHAT DOES MAT BEING FREE OF THE ONE POWER MEAN?
       1. No power in the next age. 2. No power on HIM.

1.10 WHO IS SUSA?
       We don't know.  Only that she 'tamed Jai(m/n) Farstrider'. Perhaps
       Susa = Laras? "She was at one point a wild young thing...and she
       seems like she was someone important at one point." [Judy G.]

1.11 WHERE DO BABY MYRDDRAAL COME FROM?
       Throwbacks from trolloc parents.  One assumes their tiny little
       baby diapers fail to wave in the wind.

1.12 WHY ISN'T ELAIDA BLACK?
       <TSR: 1, 38, Seeds of Shadow>
       "Whatever Siuan was up to, she had to be stopped.  Turmoil and chaos
       multiplied on every side.  The Dark One was sure to break free--
       the very thought made Elaida shiver and wrap her shawl around her
       more tightly--and the Tower had to be aloof from mundane struggles
       to face that.  The Tower had to be free to pull the strings to make
       the nations stand together, free of the troubles Rand al'Thor would
       bring.  Somehow, he had to be stopped from destroying Andor.  [since
       Andor, and its royalty, are the key to defeating the DO.]"

       <TEotW: 40, 606, The Web Tightens> : Elaida doesn't like Rats.

1.13 WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT KARI AL'THOR
       Not much.

1.14 WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MIN'S FAMILY
       Nothing.  A vague reference to an uncle...perhaps Thom. I don't
       know why, but I keep think that she is Owyn's daughter. -- Erica S.


1.15 WHY IS ELDRENE'S VEIL PROMINENT ON THE MAP?
       Maybe a seal is hidden there?  Maybe treasure?  Treasure in
       the Mountains of the Mists are widely rumored which is why
       Faile was going to search there and why Luc stated he was
       in the vicinity.

1.16 WHERE ARE THE SCANTILY CLAD MAIDENS?
    * Rand noticed Egwene's skirt got hitched up some during a ride
    * Lanfear wore Rand's shirt.
    * Women serving Turak in tGH
    * Men & Women serving Suroth in tSR
    * Sea Folk go Topless out at sea.
    * Taraboners wear risque' dresses AND Domani Gals are notorious for
      wearin' em.
    * Eg, Ny, El wear rather risque' dresses themselves (Perhaps their
      shoulders showed)
    * The times Ny and Egw entered the _ter'angreal_ for their Acceptance
      tests.  And Moiraine and Aviendha going into Rhuidean.


=======================USEFUL INFORMATION (LONG ANSWERS)======================

2.0................................................WHO'S WHO IN THE FAMILIES


    T R A K A N D S / A N D O R              D A M O D R E D S/
   (rumored to have Aiel blood)              C A I R H E I N
   -=----------------------                  +-----------=LAMAN--=BARTHANES
   | |                    |                  |         |          (cousin)
   | LUC*  (JANDUIN) -+- TIGRAINE m       TAIRINGAIL  MOIRAINE
   |       clan chief | (Daughter Heir      (heir?)   (half sister
   |       of Taardad |  of Andor ---+---------+      of Taringail)
   |                  |  AKA SHAIEL) |         |
   |                  |              |         |
   |                  |         GALADEDRID     |
   |                RAND                       |
   |                                           |
 MORGASE------------------------+--------------+
                                |
                              GAWYN **
                                &
                              ELAYNE**
                     (Daughter Heir of Andor)

                         M A L K I E R I
        ---------------------------------------------
          |                                           |
       LAIN m. BREYAN allied with COWAN         AL'AKIR m. EL'LEANNA
           |                                             |
          ISAM                                          LAN

* Merges with ISAM, son of BREYAN to form SLAYER
** Possibly bastard of THOM MERRILIN, the gray fox
= Exact links unknown

NOTE : RAND is not up for the throne of Cairhien although Gawyn or Elayne
       might be
NOTE : GALAD is awfully good looking.  Probably RAND may be too although
       this is only hinted at. Also, what will happen when GALAD realizes
       exactly how closely related he is to the Dragon Reborn!?
NOTE : Tigraine, former Daughter Heir to Andor, was Rand's mother. Many people
       comment during the course of the book about Rand's resemblance to
       her. In particular, Elayne, the Mistress of the Inn, and the
       Wise Women of Rhuidean. <TDR: 39, 445, Threads in the Pattern>
       [Elayne nodded.  "I think so.  I do not know much of the Prophecies
       of the Dragon, but I have heard a few lines.  One I remember is, `On
       the slopes of Dragonmount shall he be born, born of a maiden wedded to
       no man.'  Egwene, Rand does look like an Aiel.  Well, he looks like
       the pictures I have seen of Tigraine, too, but she vanished before he
       was born, and I hardly think she could have been his mother anyway.  I
       think Rand's mother was a Maiden of the Spear."]

2.1.......................................................TIGRAINE, AN ANALYSIS

First, here's what we know about Tigraine.  She was the Daughter-Heir
of Andor, and was married to Taringail Damodred.  They had a son,
Galadedrid ("Galad").  Tigraine and her brother Luc were sent to Tar Valon,
in the usual tradition of the royalty of Andor.  However, Tigraine
vanished, and Luc was thought to be dead in the Blight.  (We learned
all this in TEotW - the only one of my TWoT books I have with me.
See Chapter 34, The Last Village, and Chapter 40, The Web Tightens.)

But actually, Luc didn't quite die.  In TGH, he is mentioned in the
Dark Prophecy which was left on the walls of the prison in Fal Dara
after Padan Fain's escape.  Roughly, it said "Isam waited for Luc in the
high passes.  One lived, and one died, but both still are."  It
seems that Luc's body merged with Isam's spirit, or dreamself, to become
the Lord Luc/Slayer/Isam entity who appears in The Two Rivers in TSR.
(Isam, you will remember, was Lan's cousin, who was captured by Trollocs.)

Tigraine's disappearance set off a lot of turmoil in Andor concerning
the Succession.  Taringail was heavily involved; he wished to marry
the next Daughter-Heir and become Prince-Consort.  He got his wish
(marrying Morgase), but before it was over he had gotten his uncle,
King Laman of Cairhien, mixed up in it.  (Thom mentions in TSR that
Moiraine is Taringail's youngest sister and Laman's niece.)  Laman
cut down the Avendesora, or Tree of Life, to make his throne
(thereafter known as "Laman's Pride" or "Laman's Sin") and thus broke
the Second Covenant with the Aiel, sparking the Aiel War.

Now consider what we know about Rand.  Starting with Elayne and Gawyn,
everyone who sees Rand mistakes him for an Aiel.  Rand knows from Tam
that his mother was a Maiden of the Spear.  So, when his right to enter
Rhuidean is challenged in TSR, he claims his mother was an Aiel.  But
he is corrected - actually it was his father.  Then the story comes out...

A noble-looking woman was accosted by some Maidens of the Spear.
She introduced herself as Shaiel, and said that an Aes Sedai in Tar
Valon named Gitara Moroso had Foretold that she must join the Maidens
of the Spear that the world might be saved.  (This is the same Gitara,
incidentally, who died just after informing Moiraine and Siuan Sanche
that the Dragon had been reborn.)  Shaiel said she had left behind a
husband and a son; for the husband she had no regret, but she was sorry
about her son.  Knowing that it was the wish of an Aes Sedai, the
Maidens allowed Shaiel to join.  She married Janduin.  While she was
pregnant, the Aiel War broke out, and against tradition, Janduin let
Shaiel join the other Maidens of the Spear in scaling the Dragonmount.
She died there, but not before giving birth to Rand, who was carried
off by Tam al'Thor.  The grief-stricken Janduin gave up the
clan-chieftainship of the Taardad Aiel, and was later killed in the
Blight, by a man who looked so like Shaiel that Janduin did not even
try to defend himself.

Now we put the facts together.  Shaiel had come from Tar Valon,
where Tigraine vanished from.  Shaiel had left behind a husband
whom she wasn't particularly fond of, and a beloved son.  Tigraine
left behind Taringail and Galad; nobody liked Taringail, but
Galad was well thought-of.  Janduin was murdered by a man who
looked like Shaiel, in the Blight; Tigraine's brother Luc was
transmogrified into Slayer, in the Blight.  The timing also
matches up; Tigraine's disappearance eventually led to the
Aiel War, in which the pregnant Shaiel died.

Here's the clincher.  As we know, Rand's father was Aiel, but
his mother was not.  Yet the Wise Ones say that Rand looks like
his mother.  On the other hand, everyone else says that Rand
looks Aiel.  So we can conclude that Rand's mother looked Aiel,
even though she wasn't.  Who looks Aiel besides Aiel?  Well...

In TGH, Lord Barthanes speculated on who Rand might really be.
He noted that Rand looked like an Aiel; then he said

"The Andoran royal line have almost Aiel coloring in their eyes
and hair."  <TGH: 32, 464, Dangerous Words>

(He mused that Gawyn was about Rand's age...)  Rand, completely
fed up, replied:

"I am not Aiel, ...and I am not of the Andoran royal line."

If you had any doubts, they should be gone now :-) :-) :-).

Ruchira Datta
[e-mail]


2.2..................................................................SLAYER

Q: Who is Slayer? What was he up to?

I was utterly confused with the Slayer concept the first time I read the
series, but when I went back to pull everything together (and to keep me
from going mad waiting for the fifth book) everything came clear.

Basically, here's what you need to know:

Luc was Tigraine's brother.  When she disappeared, he went wandering and
was lost in the Blight.

Isam is Lan's cousin.  Isam's parents were, essentially darkfriends.  (His
father was, explicitly, a Darkfriend, and his mother may have been. I'm not
sure.)  Isam and Lan were infants when Malkier fell, and of Isam, we know
that his mother was ridden down by Trollocs as she fled south with him.
Everyone assumed they both died.  I have my doubts, if Breyan (Isam's mother)
was a darkfriend. Now, go back and check the Dark Prophecy for mention of the
two. They're mentioned together.  It is said that Isam ambushed Luc in the
high passes near the Mountains of Dhoom, that one lived,  one died, but
both are.

_Now_, go reread everything about Slayer and Luc in TSR. You'll see that
Slayer, in the world of dreams, had a very _very_ close resemblance to Lan.
Like, maybe, could be, cousins...? You'll also notice that when Perrin
shot Slayer in the World of Dreams, Luc was the one physically hurt in the
real world.

Draw your own conclusions from there.


John S. Novak, III                              [e-mail]
                                                [e-mail]

2.3.....................................................THE SEVERED HAND
Here is my theory about the severed hand...

I predict that Elayne will be captured and leashed by the Seanchan.
They catch Rand also, but may or may not know that he is the DR.
Remember in TGH where Suroth tells the recently leashed Egwene that
sometimes, for fun, (when the Seanchan are bored and nothing is
on TV) they put the bracelet end of the leash around the man, thus
leashing him to the damane.  Sometimes nothing happens, sometimes
they both die screaming.  So I propose that they do this little
trick to Rand and Elayne.  I also think that whether nothing happens
or not, or whether they both die screaming has to do with the ability
of the man to channel (or learn to channel).  So if they put the
regular leash - not the sad bracelets - on those 2, they both
start to die screaming.  Someone there with a calm mind chops off
Rand's hand to stop the dying (can't chop off Elayne's head, whatever
Rahvin thinks).  Thus the bloody hand Min sees around Rand, and the
severed hand (not her own) that Min sees around Elayne.  Also around
these 2 Min sees images of white hot/red hot irons.  My husband suggested
that these might be used to cauterize the wounds.

Also recall that with the sad bracelets, the collar would go on
Rand, so that would not have any thing to do with him losing his
hand.  Unless the foreshadowed hand refers to someone else's hand
in which case my prediction would be wrong.

Judy G.

Dissenting Opinion:

RJ is going to have to do some fancy writing to get me to accept
the Seanchan being able to force Rand to wear the bracelet on an A'dam
attached to Elayne.  I can see them somehow sneaking up on Elayne,
shielding her from the source, and slapping a collar around her neck.
Share with me your rationalization as to how (in the first place) the
Seanchan could capture Rand, and (in the second place) (if in the first
place they shield Rand) why they don't just "do him" (as it were).

John C. Hansen

Another View On It:

       [IMHO] is my idea on the "Severed Hand" with Elayne. I like
the idea of her capture by the Seanchan; that makes sense. However, putting
Rand in the fix does not. I propose the other logical candidate as being
Thom Merrilin. It has been suggested that the ability to channel is genetic,
and we know he had a nephew who could channel. Further, there is some question
as to whether Elayne is in fact his daughter. Thus, he may have two relatives
who have the Power.
       As a further guess, to compound the bloody court:
       Elayne is caught and leashed; Thom is made to hold the leash,
and starts screaming. Matrim, thinking fast, draws a blade in the presence
of the Empress of the Nine Moons, and cuts off Thom's hand. For this crime,
he is made to forfeit his eye.

Arthur Byrne


2.4......................................................HOW OLD IS EVERYONE?

>From <TSR: Glossary> the Aiel War ended in 978; it must have been winter
  because there was snow in Rand's birth in the winter of 978.  Under False
  Dragons we see that Logain was active in 997, and we know it was spring.
  So RAND was a bit over 18 at the start of the series.  I'd estimate that it
  is currently the start of the summer of the second year from the start of
  the series, so subtracting the four months he lost from Portal Stone hopping
  and he is right on 19 currently.
EGWENE is two years younger than Rand, so started about 16 as you say.
ELAYNE is about the same age as Egwene.
MIN I peg as about 25, the definite is she has some years on Rand.
GAWYN is about Rand's age.
GALAD:  Tigraine disappeared in 972 when he was an infant.  Puts him at 25
NYNAEVE has a few years on Rand, probably about 23
MOIRAINE was Accepted (and about to be raised Aes Sedai) at the end of the
  Aiel War.  Age approx. 25 (older Accepted Age) + 18 = low forties
  LAN was an infant when Malkier fell.  I don't think we have a date on
  that, but he has a couple years on Moiraine I believe, mid forties.
FARSTRIDER, since people seem to think he may be a character we've met, is
  referred to as 'young, but already a traveler' when Malkier fell.  So he
  would be mid sixties if still lurking.
LIANDRIN is referred to as young, not just young seeming as are all Aes Sedai,
  about 25.
ELAIDA has about 5 years (was one of the Accepted who watched over her when
  she was a Novice) on Moiraine, late forties-early fifties.
MOGHEDIEN, she claims she was a couple centuries, and young for Aes Sedai,
  when bound.

--SEH

2.5...................................................WHAT DOES EACH AJAH DO?

[Aes Sedai may be translated as 'Servant to All' although they were called
at times 'Servants of the Light']

Color       Purpose
=======================================================
Blue        Meddle in causes
Red         Prevent another Breaking (i.e., hunt down men who can channel)
White       Philosophers -"Consider the questions of truth with implacable
               logic"
Green       The Battle Ajah - "love men"
Brown       Seekers of knowledge, librarians
Yellow      Healers
Gray        Arbitrators/Mediators.
Black       Do ya' really need to ask?

=====================================
WHAT DO RED AJAH MEMBERS REALLY WANT?
=====================================

<TDR: 38, 435-6, Maidens of the Spear>
[Bain explains] "...Chiad and I felt our wedding pledge was not
enough.  We went to speak the words before the Wise Ones of our
Clans--she risking her life in my hold, and I in hers--to bond
us as First Sisters.  As is proper for First Sisters who are maidens
we guard each others backs, and neither will let a man come to
her without the other. I would not say we do not care for men."
Chiad nodded, with just a hint of smile...
[Egwene thinks in response:] Not Red Ajah. Green, maybe. A cross
between Warders and Green Ajah, and I do not understand another
thing about out of that.

DISCUSSION:
Egwene's first thoughts had been Red Ajah.  Clearly, the Ajah which
does not like men (and often hates them) would provide a refuge for
extremist lesbians. (Such as Elaida?) I think that the Red Ajah has
a reputation for this.  They do not treat men gently (pun intended)
in this Ajah.  We never did settle this point, but I think this
passage lends weight to the argument that the Reds to have a tendency
towards sapphic love in addition to a perpetual problem with pms.
Similarly in the Green Ajah, women who collect more than one man may
have a reputation of, well, group relationships. I believe that
Egwene is thinking that instead of one Green-Aes + many-Warders you
would instead have many-Maidens with one Man. (probably Gaul!) I
can't wait until Gaul realizes that he may have more than he can
handle on his hands!


2.6................................................THE GREEN MAN AND THE SONG
                                        (tinkers, soldiers, warriors, dragon)

Q: WHO IS THE GREEN MAN?
A: He is the last of the Nym, a type of creature which was made apparently
of vegetable matter.  He is described first in <TEotW: 49, 739-740, The
Dark One Stirs>.  However we find out exactly who he is in the fourth
book. <TSR: 25, 432, The Dedicated, 303>
       "A stir at the end of the field told him one of the Nym was
       approaching.  The great form, head and shoulders and chest
       taller than any Ogier, stepped out onto the seeded ground, and
       Coumin did not have to see to know he left footprints filled with
       sprouting things.  It was Someshta, surrounded by clouds of
       butterflies, white and yellow and blue...Each field would have
       its Nym, now...the Nym were older than anyone.  Some said the
       Nym never died, not so long as plants grew..."
Many years later, after the breaking, we see him again, this time with
the characteristic fissure in his face.  He will not be set to the task
of guarding the eye of the world, the horn, the dragon banner and one
of the seals. <TSR: 25, 428, The Dedicated, 300-1>
       "Someshta sat against the wall near the door, a great shape seemingly
       woven of vines and leaves...A fissure of withered brown and charred
       black ran up the Nym's face and furrowed the green grass of his
       hair...Most of the Nym were dead, he had heard"
       "'The sword must wait.  Someshta, we have a task for the last of
       the Nym, if you will do it....'" says Solinda Sedai.

Q: WHAT IS THE SONG?
The Tinkers, an early offshoot of the Aiel, decided to give up their
duty of hiding xxx-angreal and instead dedicate their lives to refinding
the safety and peace of their past. <TSR: 25, 423, The Dedicated, 296>
       "'No, Adan.  We are supposed to find a place of safety...My grandfather
       used to tell me stories he heard as a boy, stories of when we lived
       in safety and people came to hear us sing.  We mean to find a place
       where we can be safe, and sing again.' 'Sing?' Adan scoffed. '...you
       know those old songs no more than I do.  The songs are gone, and the
       old days are gone. We will not give up our duty to the Aes Sedai to
       chase after what is lost forever.'...'We mean to find that safe place.
       And the songs too.'
What song are they talking about?  The scene above in which Someshta is going
through the fields continues like this: <TSR: 25, 432, The Dedicated, 303>
       "The ogier began it, as was fitting, standing to sing, great bass
       rumbles like the earth singing.  The Aiel rose, men's voices lifting in
       their own song, even the deepest at a higher pitch than the Ogier's
       Yet the songs braided together, and Someshta took those threads and
       wove them into his dance...The song caught him up, and he almost
       felt that it was himself, not the sounds he made that Someshta
       wove into the soil and around the seeds."
Indeed, LTT, lost in time and his mind, invites Ishamael as follows:
        <TEotW: prologue, x, Dragonmount>
       "Ah, a guest.  Have you the Voice, stranger? It will soon be
       time for the Singing, and here all are welcome to take part."
The Voice is indeed a talent.  <TGH: 15, 236, Kinslayer> confirms:
       "The Talent was fading, Loial said; he was one of the few who had the
       ability, now".
Loial demonstrates his talent both by singing wood in the alter-reality of
TGH and to bring the tree back to life at the end of TEotW.
<TEotW: 53, 775, The Wheel Turns>
       "Rand could not say if there were words or if it were
       pure song.  In that rumbling voice it was as if the earth
       sang, yet he was sure he heard the birds trilling again,
       and spring breezes sighing softly and the sound of
       butterfly wings. Lost in the song, he thought it lasted
       only minutes, but when Loial lowered his arms and opened his
       eyes, he was surprised to see the sun stood well above the
       horizon."
We can certainly add the Voice to the list of non-one-power talents of
Min's seeing the wheel, being a Wolf-Brother, Ta'veren and seeing Ta'veren.

Carl Traber adds:


Q: WHO WILL FIND THE SONG?
The primary contenders are Aram, Perrin and Rand.  Aram, as you probably know
is a Tinker.  His stated life goal had been to find the song until he took
up the sword in defense of Emond's Field and became 'Lost' to his people.
To find the song would reinstate him and justify his choice of giving up
the peaceful 'way of the leaf'.  Perrin on the other hand keeps getting
faced with the choice of ax or hammer: that is, the choice of creation or
destruction, war or peace, way-of-the-warrior or way-of-the-leaf.
Rand, is the outlier and remains one of the contenders primarily because of
the following quote.  He alone has demonstrated any predilection towards
the talent of the Voice. <TGH: 15, 236, Kinslayer>
       "Rand was not sure what it was Loial did, or how; soft
       as the song was, it caught him up hypnotically, filling his
       mind almost the way the void did..Rand opened his mouth, but
       the song quieted him.  It seemed so familiar, that song, as if
       he should know it. "
Remember as well that adult male Aiel do NOT sing anything but battle dirges.
This may be a convenient plot device to ensure that they have bred true
for the Voice!

Further Evidence that Rand will find the song:
<TEotW: prologue, xv, Dragonmount>
    ages past and will be in ages to come.  _Let the Prince of the Morning
    sing to the land that green things will grow_ and the valleys give
    forth lambs.

Dash Wendrzyk adds:
[Why would] the Ogier would have forgotten that the humans had a part and what
is was?  If they didn't, wouldn't the first meeting between Tinkers and Ogier
have gone something like this:
       Tinker: Do you know the song?
       Ogier:  What, the song that your ancestors used to sing with
              grandfather?
       Tinker: Yeah, that song!
       Ogier:  Nope, never heard of it.

For my recollection of Perrin's talk with Elyas, it seemed that the
Tinker's didn't just not know the words, but didn't know the song that
they were looking for.  BTW, My guess for the person finding The Song is some
Aiel Chieftain  (Rand included), since they actually heard their ancestors
singing The Song.

Chris Russo adds:
What if some Tinker actually went into those columns in Rhuidean?
A Tinker with a reason to look for redemption?  One that has, say,
taken up a sword?    [Wouldn't that be cool? - Erica]

Counter evidence for Perrin:
Perrin is a contender to find the song because of Min's viewing of Perrin
standing among the flowering trees.

Joe Shaw adds (perhaps ironic forshadowing):
<TSR: 42, 694, A Missing Leaf>
"Not Perrin, of course, he had been told often enough that he sounds
like a stepped-on frog, singing."


Survey says: Who will discover the Song?
04 - Perrin       05 - Loial       07 - Aram       03 - Elyas
04 - other        03 - a group     03 - Rand       05 - No one

Survey says: Will Perrin pick the ax or the hammer (whatever that means)?
Ax              07       Hammer              25
Both            01       Undecided           01

Q: WHO WERE THE AIEL?
The Aiel (formerly the Da'shain Aiel) were the 'Dedicated' who worked
for the Servants of All/Servants of Light (Aes Sedai).  The group was
hereditary and had feature of light skin, gray or blue eyes and mostly
reddish or blond hair.  All Aiel could be identified by their particular
hair style which was cut short with a tail hanging in the back.  They
were dedicated to a life of non-violence, following the 'way of the leaf'.
That is, accepting death and life as it came in a completely passive
approach.  The male Aiel worked with the Ogier and the Nym in planting
as they had the gift of the 'Voice', the seed singing.  Although the
Ogier continue to have 'tree singers', the voice of the Aiel seems to be
a talent that has disappeared.  When the Aiel did their work in the fields,
they wore light gray and brown 'working clothes' (_cadin'sor_). The clothes,
the hair style and the avoidance of the use of weaponry which cannot be
used for other purposes remains today, but the talent of the Voice is
currently unknown.

2.7.....................................................WHAT'S WITH NYNAEVE?
>From Joseph Shaw and S. Hillyard:

Main reference:  <TEotW: 21, 317-320, Listen to the Wind>
Too much relevant material to quote here.  Sorry...
(Besides, I don't feel like typing in four pages! :-)

SPECULATION:  Can AS/Forsaken sense Nynaeve's ability to channel when Nynaeve
is calm.?

1.    Nynaeve cannot channel unless she is angry.
2.    Nynaeve cannot even sense other AS channeling, at least when she
      is calm. (i.e., she cannot see the glow surrounding other women when
      they are channeling)
3.    Moiraine has sensed Nynaeve's ability to channel at least twice
      (Their first meeting in Emond's Field, and the morning after Shadar
      Logoth.)
4.    Each time Moiraine has sensed Nynaeve by her ability to channel, it
      took her a few minutes to realize it both times.
5.    Moghedien sensed Nynaeve.
6.    The Windfinder did also.


JOE CLAIMS:  No, AS/Forsaken *cannot* sense Nynaeve when she is calm.

>From points 1 and 2, it would seem that Nynaeve has built up 'walls' to
protect herself from the OP when she learned to channel as a 'Wilder' [1]
- walls that come down when she becomes angry.  These walls also have the
effect of shielding her from being sensed by other women who can channel,
since Nynaeve cannot channel when those walls are in place.  Point 4
explains point 3 if you consider that Nynaeve was angry each time Moiraine
sensed her ability to channel.  After Shadar Logoth, Nynaeve was mad at
Moiraine for dragging Emond's Fielders into her "filthy Aes Sedai plots",
and in Emond's Field because some 'outsider' was addressing her, The Wisdom,
as a "child".  Even though Moiraine suspected that the Wisdom could channel
from the stories of her "miracle cures" and her amazing ability to listen
to the wind, Moiraine herself says that even looking for a young wisdom
she was expecting someone half again Nynaeve's age.  Moiraine passes off
Shadar Logoth as carelessness from worrying too much about the boys, but
Moiraine being careless twice is out of character.

CLAIM:  Yes, AS/Forsaken *can* sense Nynaeve when she is calm.

Points 1 and 2 may handicap Nynaeve, but do not affect other's ability to
sense her.  Point four was just Moiraine not immediately seeing what she
wasn't expecting.   When Moiraine senses Nynaeve after Shadar Logoth, Jordan
never actually says that Nynaeve is angry until *after* Moiraine senses
her.

>From <TSR: 52, 859, Need>, just after Nynaeve leaves the Panarch's
bedchamber while 'need-searching' in _tel'aran'rhiod_
   "Surely Temaile could not have been aware of her long enough to sense
   she could channel; even when she could not do it, the ability was there
   to be felt by one who shared it."
This either completely solves the debate, or is meant to be taken
as Nynaeve's point of view on the subject - she has no reason to
believe it may not be true.

[1] <TGH: 12, 205, Woven in the Pattern>
Verin's description of Nynaeve's problem:

"Wilders have difficulties, it is true.  Almost always they have built up
walls to keep themselves from knowing what it is they were doing, and those
walls interfere with conscious control.  The longer those walls have to build,
the harder it is to tear them down, but if they can be demolished - ..."

S.H. Replies:
You may be able to chalk up all these times to Nynaeve's being angry, but
I think the odds are very low.

Daniel John Kelly-Harrity adds:
Actually, this is untrue.  Recall in the very first book where Nynaeve was
sneaking up on Moiraine and Lan the day after the debacle in Aridhol
(Shadar Logoth)... Neither Lan nor Moiraine heard or saw her coming up on
them; the only reason Moiraine knew was, as she later stated, that she
sensed the presence of another woman who could channel.

Aes Sedai can not be with the presence of another woman who can channel
without "knowing her for what she is".  For that matter, they know it when
a young girl is "nearing her change" (meaning, approaching her first
encounter with the One Power).


2.8....................................................COUNTRIES OF RAND-LAND
Sean Hillyard starts the Countries of RandLand faq.  Help fill it out!
[e-mail].  Thanks especially to Pam Korda.

>Andor<
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:  Currently being overrun by refuges from neighboring
        Carbine.  Likely abode of the Forsaken Rahvin (Lord Gaebril).
        Extreme western provinces having troubles with Trollocs and
        Whitecloaks, and showing a disturbing streak of self governance.
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: start of ch. 13, 172> (partial)


>Malkier<
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: start of ch. 46, 688> (with Shienar)


>Shienar<
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)
Tourist Attractions: Lotsa military stuff, nice signal towers
Home of: Ingtar, Lord Agelmar, Lady Amalisa, Uno, Masema, Hurin
Map: <TEotW: start of ch. 46, 688>


>Two Rivers<
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 Perrin, who may be on his way to becoming "lord" of
       the Two Rivers, by popular demand. Improvised symbol: Wolf's Head.
Tourist Attractions: Eldrene's Veil, Master al'Vere's clock
Home of: do ya have to ask?
Map: <TEotW: start of ch. 1, xviii>
Historical Note: In ancient times was Manetheren, destroyed in the Trolloc
      Wars. Sign of Manetheren: Red Eagle


2.9..........................................VERIN & MOIRAINE: BLACK OR NOT
VERIN: BLACK OR NOT?

S Hillyard & friends point out:
  Told Perrin, etc. that she was sent by Moiraine.  Moiraine says no.
  Is secretive.  Has her own agendas. *1 Verin can sense male channeling.
  *2 Is very knowledgeable about the prophecies. *3 Has channeled in
  a stedding. *4 Says: 'Don't trust Alanna'. *5 The dream ring incident
  where she does not give the notes to Egwene nor warn her about...
  something. *6 Misleads Perrin as to why she is in the Two Rivers.
  Knows perfectly well who Lord Luc is but neglects to fill in anyone
  else. Recognizes the war cry Isam and ditto.

Judy Ghirardelli adds:          <TSR: 31, 493-4, Assurances>
  Perrin asks why she is in the Two Rivers, she responds
  by "would you like some tea??" or some such non-answer.  He asks
  again, and she says she will get to his answer.  She then says
  something like "The Two Rivers is of interest because it produces
  girls who are strong in the Power" or something like that.  She
  implies (IMO) that they are there specifically to find girls who
  can channel, and just happen to get caught up in the struggle.
  I think she was lying (in spirit, but not in letter).  So why did
  she really go there, and why did she mislead Perrin?
  [Also], she knows the "Blood Calls Blood" prophecy, so she knows
  Luc is mentioned.  She also knows Luc is the missing Lord Luc,
  Tigraine's brother who disappeared in the Blight.  She knows he is
  mentioned in Dark Prophecy, yet she does not warn anyone about him?
  Or tell them who he is? Or say, "Lord Luc, thank the Light, you are
  alive!!" Seemed strange to me.

S. Hillyard explains the starred points listed above.
*1   a) Verin is not red and is very old so it is unlikely that
        she was among the group that captured Logain (and so directly
        battled him), yet she was able to gauge his abilities very
        accurately.
     b) Before 'the five ride forth' she informs the group that she
        can't be among them because damane would certainly sense a
        woman channeling, and by the way they may sense a man
        channeling also.
     c) Verin sees Rand for the first time and comments to Siuan
        and Moiraine: 'he is strong, much stronger than I expected. We
        may have to gentle him after all before...'
     d) shows that she knows sensing male channeling is possible,
        even though it seems a very rare ability and so is not likely
        common knowledge.  a) and c) show her rating a male channelers
        strength at a glance, just as we've seen women do for other
        women.
        [John Hansen rebuts: Remember that at the time of their
        arrival at Toman Head, no one else knew that Rand could
        channel.  Verin said what she said to warn Rand without
        suggesting openly that  _He_ could channel.  i.e., she
        couldn't say, "Do not channel, Rand, you might get caught and
        killed..." but if she says (whether it was true or not) "the
        Damane may be able to sense me channeling so I can't go and oh
        by the way they may also be able to sense men channeling as
        well" then Rand knows to be careful and no one suspects his
        ability.]
*2   Only three characters have referred to Perrin's choice of
     hammer or ax:  Ishamael, Lanfear and Verin.

*3   When examining the Ogier who lost his mind in the Way's she
     channels while still in the stedding.  Most likely a Jordan
     error, but with Verin you never know.
       "He did not move as she laid her hands on his wide chest, not
       even a flicker of an eye to acknowledge her touch.  With a
       sharp hiss, she jerked back, staring up at him, then whirled
       to face the Elders.  'He is....empty.  This body lives, but there
       is nothing inside it.  Nothing.'"
     Like I said, this is totally consistent with using the Power
     to delve for injury, which Aes Sedai do with a touch.  Why did
     she jerk back so sharply if she was just physically examining
     him? And that's a pretty final pronouncement from a physical exam.

*4    <TSR: 33, 533, A New Weave in the Pattern, 373>
        "Watch yourself with Alanna, Perrin."
        "What?"  The Aes Sedai's quick changes of topic were
         beginning to confuse him.  Especially when she started telling
         him what he had already thought of, and thought to keep secret
         from her.  "Why?"
         Verin's face did not change, but her dark eyes were suddenly
         bird bright and sharp.  "There are many...designs in the
         White Tower. Not all are malignant, by far, but sometimes it
         is difficult to say until it is too late.  And even the most
         benevolent often allow for a few thread snapped in the
         weaving, a few reeds broken and discarded in making a
         basket.  A ta'veren would make a useful reed in any number
         of possible plans."  Just as suddenly she was looking a
         little confused by the bustle around her, more at home in a
         book, or in her own thoughts than in the real world. [...]

*5   Verin does not give Corianin's notes to Egwene along with the
     dream ring.  Relevant passages:  <TDR: 21, 241-2, A World of Dreams, 191>
       Page upon page, covered with a precise hand, the black ink barely
       faded after nearly five hundred years.  Corianin Nedeal's notes,
       everything she had learned in fifty years of studying that particular
       ter'angreal.  A secretive woman, Corianin.  She had kept by far the
       greater part of her knowledge from everyone, trusting it only to
       these pages.  Only chance and a habit of rummaging through old papers
       in the library had led Verin to them.  As far as she could discover,
       no Aes Sedai besides herself knew of the ter'angreal; Corianin had
       managed to erase its existence from the records.
       Once again she considered burning the manuscript, just as she had
       considered giving it to Egwene.  But destroying knowledge, any
       knowledge, was anathema to her.  And for the other...._No.  It is
       best by far to leave things as they are.  What will happen, will
       happen._  She let the lid drop shut.  _Now where did I put that
       page?_

     [Mike Lemon rebuts:
     I can think of three reasons that Verin wouldn't want to show the
     manuscript to Egwene:  1) Verin is afraid that Egwene would not
     continue if she knew how dangerous it is.  2) Verin is afraid that
     Egwene would not continue if she knew who or what must be sacrificed.
     3) The very nature of prophecy requires that it be vague or kept
     secret.  For example, if you were a fortune teller and a man came to
     you before a trip to Las Vegas and you looked into your crystal ball
     and saw that he was going to win a million dollars, you could not tell
     him that.  If you said nothing, the man would make safe bets and
     gradually win his money.  If you told him he will win a million
     dollars, he might start out by betting everything on one spin of the
     wheel and lose everything.]

       <TDR: 21, 241-2, A World of Dreams, 191>
       [Egwene]What if Verin was Black Ajah herself?  She gave herself a
       shake.  She had traveled all the way from Toman Head to Tar Valon
       with Verin, and she refused to believe this plump scholar could
       be a Darkfriend.  "I trust you, Verin Sedai."  _Can I, really?_
       The Aes Sedai blinked at her again, then dismissed whatever thought
       had come to her with a shake of her head. [...]

*6 <TGH: 14, 231, Wolfbrother>
      "Moiraine Sedai sent me, Lord Ingtar," Verin announced with a
       satisfied smile.  "She though you might need me."

   <TGH: 49, 675, What was Meant To Be>
      "I did not send Verin."  Moiraine frowned.  "She did that on her
      own.  You are of interest to a great many people, Rand.
   You can't get a much clearer contradiction than that.  So
   either one of the two lied, a violation of the oaths, or Verin
   was fooled by someone masquerading as Moiraine.  To me,
   Moiraine lying (from everything else we've seen Moiraine is
   bound by the oaths.  If she were free of them I think she
   would have done a few things differently.) and Verin's getting
   fooled (I think only a Forsaken could have managed it, and
   what Forsaken would have wanted her with Rand; if she is not
   black, that is.) are unlikely. So, is she black?

   Yes.  While testing the dream ring she comes upon Ishamael
   and is ensnared. She attends the social (where she finds out
   about Rand.  She also learns about Perrin choosing the ax or
   hammer from Ishamael at some point) and gets her orders:  To
   be one of the group going to Fal Dara and get herself into the
   confidence of Moiraine, which she does in a risky maneuver.
   On the return trip she is ordered to watch Rand, so she runs
   off to find him; leaving her warder behind and making up the
   Moiraine story when she does locate the party.  After Toman
   Head she is not to kill Mat yet, but to take him back to the
   Tower and keep an eye on him (one of Perrin's dreams shows
   Ishamael very upset at Mat's escape from the Tower.).
   She gives Egwene the dream ring without instructions hoping
   she'll bump into Ishamael and get caught.  She had considered
   destroying the notes because they contain proof that she is
   black, but can't bring herself to do so.  She then is ordered
   to the Two Rivers along with Isam (separate orders, they don't
   know each other), where she meets Perrin.  Noticing
   Perrin doesn't trust her she tries to misdirect him with a
   warning about Alanna.

   No.  She is just very interested in ta'veren and the
   prophecies, and very knowledgeable.  This has allowed her to
   deduce things from the clues available to her, and she has
   even figured out how to break the oath rod oaths.  She didn't
   give the dream ring instructions to Egwene because Corianin
   was black and she was afraid of Egwene's reaction, although
   after Egwene said she trusted her she nearly had a change of
   heart and decided to give them to her anyway.

Two more pieces of evidence brought to my attention by Emma Pease.

  The Draghkar attack:
  Executed at least with Aes Sedai help (the warding on them so
  they couldn't be sensed).  So, Moiraine seemed to think that
  pretty much everyone in the Tower had forgotten about these old
  hermit women Aes Sedai.  However, we do know one individual old
  enough to remember them who could have ordered the attack.  Need
  I say who?

  Barthanes execution:
  He was killed by something that ripped him apart and left his
  head on a stake.  Sounds like the work of Trollocs or a Fade to
  me.  Who could have ordered it?  Well, a certain someone
  was deep in conversation with Barthanes during the party (waving
  away Rand when he tried to approach her), perhaps she heard
  something she didn't like.
  [John Hansen rebuts: Come now.  This was because he failed Ish and
  didn't do what he was ordered to do at the Social.  Fain made
  Barthanes disobey Ish and Ish killed Barthanes for his disobedience.]

MOIRAINE: BLACK OR NOT?
  Disappeared during the Darkfriend social.
  Uses balefire--for which she can be stilled.  She claims it is
  lost knowledge.  How did she find it?
  Judy G. points out that she CAN'T be black because we have been inside
  of her thoughts.
    "I have been thinking once more about Moiraine and is she or isn't
    she.  I started the thread and concluded that I thought she was
    a double agent.  My biggest problem with her is that she was
    conveniently absent during the time of the Darkfriend Social, and
    there were 2 Black Ajah there, so it could have been her.  I know
    there are other possible explanations for her whereabouts.  I have
    decided that, Black or not, double agent spook or not, I do not
    think she could have been at the Social.  I think this because :
    In TDR, when the Gray Men (6 of them) go after Perrin, she is
    quite surprised.  After blasting the Darkhounds with Balefire, she
    tells Perrin that she had been stupid to not realize that they (he
    and Mat) are very important also.  She says she should have realized
    that finding 3 ta'veren all the same age in the same village was
    more than coincidence.  So, had she been at the Social, she would
    have *seen* all of their images, and would have *known* that
    Ba'alzamon/Ish thought they were *all* important, not just Rand.
    Therefore, they were all in danger.  Had she been there, she would
    not have been so surprised that the Gray men were after him, and she
    would not have just then realized that they were all important.
        Also, notice in TGH how Liandrin wants all of the boys found and
    brought to her - not just Rand.  This indicates to me that she *was*
    at the Social and saw all of their faces.  *She* knows they are all
    important, more than Moiraine does at the moment.
           [We *know* Liandrin was at the Darkfriend Social.  She
           mentioned being there when talking to Jaichim Carridin
           aka Bors in Tanchico <TSR: 38, 626, Hidden Faces>]
        Therefore I conclude that the side of the fence I will sit on
    until I think of something to change my mind again is this: Moiraine
    conveniently being absent at the same time as the Social was just
    a red herring.  She is not Black, nor is she a fake Black (although
    I think that would have been cool).  So, the next question, not that
    I expect it to be answered before the next book, is this : who was
    the other Black Ajah at the Social?  *IF* the one could have been
    Liandrin, and I think it was, the other could well have been Verin,
    since they both were en route to Fal Dara.  If Liandrin could have
    made it, so could have Verin, who I think is Blacker than the rocks
    of Shayol Ghul, all IMHO of course..."

  Amish Dave points out that Aes Sedai are sneaky in general:
  In the middle of Chapter 8 of the Great Hunt, Rand meets with the
  Amyrlin, Verin, and Moiraine.  After Rand leaves, Jordan writes:
    The silence stretched on in the room after Rand left until
    it was broken by a long breath from the Amyrlin.  "I cannot
    make myself like what we just did," she said.  "It was
    necessary, but ... Did it work, Daughters?"
    Moiraine shook her head, just the slightest movement. "I
    do not know.  But it was necessary, and is."
    "Necessary," Verin agreed.  She touched her forehead, then
    peered at the dampness on her fingers.  "He is strong.  And
    as stubborn as you said, Moiraine.  Much stronger than I
    expected.  We may have to gentle him after all ..."
  Is it just me, or does it sound like they were using the One Power
  during the meeting with Rand?  Perhaps, maybe, trying to put him on
  a leash of sorts, like the false dragons?  During this conversation,
  it becomes fairly clear also that the Aes Sedai HAVE been manipulating
  false dragons, using them somehow.  The $1,000,000 question is HOW
  the Aes Sedai have been using false dragons, and why.

  Erica Sadun points out:
  Moiraine ADMITS she could be stilled for knowing how to produce
  balefire.  How did she learn this?

2.10...................................................FARSTRIDER == MACHERA?
Jain Charin Farstrider / Elyas Machera:


NB: See Section 0.1 MIS-STEPS about the Jain/Jaim discrepancy
    and the 994 disappearance date not matching other evidence.


Why Elyas was probably one of the five Malkieri soldiers who took care
of Lan as a baby:
  According to Agelmar's story, the five Malkieri soldiers who
  brought baby Lan to Fal Moran "From the cradle they taught him
  all they knew.  He learned weapons [presumably including his
  sword, the sword of Malkieri kings] as other children learn toys,
  and the Blight as other children learn their mother's garden."
  <TEotW: 47, 710-11, More Tales of the Wheel>

  Lan says that Elyas taught him much about the Blight and his
  sword: "'I knew him.  He taught me much, about the blight, and
  about this.' Lan touched his sword hilt. 'He was a Warder,
  before..." <TEotW: 38, 579, Rescue>

  Thus, since Lan learned these things young, it seems very likely
  that Elyas was one of the five Malkieri soldiers.  Also, the
  fact the Elyas demonstrates much knowledge about the Blight and
  Trollocs demonstrates his

What we know about Jain Charin Farstrider:
  1 "A hero of the northern lands who journeyed to many lands and
    had many adventures; the author of several books, as well as
    being the subject of books and stories.  He vanished ... after
    returning from a trip into the Great Blight which some said had
    taken him all the way to Shayol Ghul."
    <TEotW: Glossary entry "Farstrider, Jain", 790>
  2 Author of _The Travels of Jain Farstrider_, "A very well known
    book of travel stories by a noted Malkieri writer and traveler.
    The book was first printed in 968 NE and has been reprinted
    continuously ever since.  ... disappeared shortly after the Aiel
    War and is generally believed to be dead."
    <TDR: Glossary entry "_Travels of Jaim[sic] Farstrider, The_", 696>
  3 From Agelmar's story of Lan's life:  "...young Jain Charin -
    already called Jain Farstrider" captured Cowin Fairheart and
    returned him to the Seven Towers."
    <TEotW: 47, 710, More Tales of the Wheel>
  4 Was tamed by Susa, according to the title of one of Thom's stories
     ("How Susa Tamed Jain Farstrider").  See section 1.6.12
  5 In Cairhien, we learn that _The Travels of Jain Farstrider_
    contains stories of "adventures among the Sea Folk and journeys
    to the lands beyond the Aiel Waste, where silk came from."
    <TGH: 31, 452, On the Scent>
  6 Plus various 'incidental' references to the book _The Travels
    of Jain Farstrider_ throughout the series:
      - copy on Tam al'Thor's table. <TEotW: 5, 65, Winternight>
      - copy in the library of the inn in Caemlyn.  <TEotW: 36, 547,
         Web of the Pattern> <TDR: 45, 527, Caemlyn>
      - copy in the inn in Cairhien. <TGH: 31, 452, On The Scent>

What we know about Farstrider's disappearance:
  7 Ishamael claims "Aiel allowed to flee, and one to live, to speak
    the words that would echo down the years.  Jain Farstrider, a
    hero, whom I painted like a fool and sent to the Ogier thinking
    he was free of me." <TEotW: 51, 760, Against the Shadow>
  8 Loial tells the story of a man who came to Stedding Shangtai
    just after the Aiel War.  "He was at the point of death, though
    there was no wound or mark on him."  "as soon as he was within
    the _stedding_ he quickly got well."  "One night he left without
    a word to anyone, simply sneaked away when the moon was down."
    "Before he left, he told a curious tale which he said he meant
    to carry to Tar Valon." <TEotW: 42, 460, Remembrance of Dreams>
  9 The story the man tells in (8) above is the same story as the
    story the Maidens of the Spear tell the Tuatha'an, which is told
    to Elyas and Perrin.  <TEotW: 25, 375-6, The Traveling People>

  The man who told the story to the Ogier in 2 above seems likely
  to have been Jain Farstrider, *IF* we can believe the words of
  Ishamael.  His words in (7) do match with (8) and (9). Ishamael
  utters those words to Rand after Rand tells Ishamael that he
  doesn't control the pattern.  It seems likely that when lying
  doesn't work, Ishamael switches to telling the truth, at least
  partly, in an attempt to convince Rand.

  Dissenting opinions:
   - The Ogier, book lovers that they are, would have recognized
     Jain Farstrider when they met him.
   - Believe NOTHING that Ishamael (Father of Lies) says.

Now, are Jain Farstrider and Elyas Machera the same person?

Yea:       Well, it's possible...  Consider the following scenario:

  Jain Farstrider did much of his traveling in his youth,
  but returned to Malkier and joined the army (and became a
  member of the King's Bodyguard) when the Trollocs started to
  invade.  After bringing baby Lan to Fal Moran, he wrote
  _The Travels of Jain Farstrider_ during the time he was
  teaching Lan about his sword and the Blight.  Afterwards,
  he became a Warder.   Around the time of the Aiel War, he
  made the trip into the Blight and was captured by Trollocs
  and taken to Shayol Ghul, where Ishamael did something to
  him and sent him to the Ogier in Stedding Shangtai.  There,
  he quickly recovered from his disease, and headed to Tar Valon.
  His eyes turned yellow from the wolfbrother thing sometime
  before this (remember, they turn yellow quickly once the person
  accepts it).  When he reached Tar Valon, either
  - the Red Ajah took notice of his yellow eyes and tried to
    gentle him (thus causing him to run away) before he had a
    chance to tell the story,
  - his Aes Sedai was Black Ajah and suppressed the story,
  - Or Ishamael somehow made him forget the story after he told
    it to the Ogier.  (which has the advantage of explaining Elyas's
    reaction to the Tinker's story about the Aiel - see below.)
  Whichever of the above, Jain Farstrider became Elyas after
  escaping the Aes Sedai, and the story never reached the then
  Amyrlin Seat, or Moiraine and Siuan who were still only
  Accepted at the time of the Aiel War.
  Also, Elyas seemed to know much about the Aiel Waste, implying
  he had been there, and Jain Farstrider had crossed the Aiel
  Waste.  Remember that the Aiel only allow gleemen, peddlers,
  and Tinkers to cross the Waste.  To only known exception to
  this (besides Rand and company) seems to be Jain Farstrider.

  Granted that the above scenario draws some weak connections,
  but there's no solid evidence why Elyas *can't* be Farstrider.
  Aside:  Susa may have been his Aes Sedai.


Nay:
  When Elyas hears the story about the Aiel in the Tinker camp,
  his reaction is that "none of it makes sense".  If he really
  was Farstrider (and the one who told the story to the Ogier)
  he would have either
  - believed that blinding the Eye was possible,
  - shown bit of surprise about the story, quickly covered,
    as a hint by Jordan,
  - Or changed the conversation _before_ Raen started to mention
    Elyas' past, instead of musing about the meaning of the story.
  <TEotW: 25, 375-6, The Traveling People>

  Also, if Jain Farstrider had been one of the five Malkieri
  soldiers, Agelmar would not have left out so important a
  detail.  Thus, it seems very unlikely that Elyas Machera
  and Jain Farstrider are different people,

  Finally, "Why can't Elyas just be Elyas?"

Unanswered Questions:
  - Who was Elyas Machera's Aes Sedai, and how did he become free
    of his bond?
  - What did happen to Jain Farstrider, if he's not Elyas?

2.11............................................IS THERE RELIGION IN RANDLAND?
A: YES, 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. -- Erica

Q: How do we know about organized religion?

A: Glad you asked:

<TEotW: 1, 14, An Empty Road>
        Rand took a deep breath. As much to remind himself as for any
        other reason, he said by rote, "The Dark One and all of the
        Forsaken are bound in Shayol Ghul, beyond the Great Blight, bound
        by the Creator at the moment of Creation, bound until the end
        of time.  The hand of the Creator shelters the world, and the
        Light shines on us all."

<TEotW: 1, 10, An Empty Road>
        Near the Winespring, a score of older women sang softly as they
        erected the Spring Pole...the slender trunk of a fir tree stood
        ten feet high even in the hole they had dug for it. A knot of
        young girls...watched enviously, occasionally singing snatches
        of songs the women sang...at noon the unmarried women would dance
        the Pole...while the unmarried men sang.

<TGH: 10, 178, The Hunt Begins>
        [Loial Says:] "Shienarans believe we all came from earth, and must
        return to earth.  They never use coffins or shrouds, and the bodies
        are never clothed.  The earth must hold the body.  The last embrace
        of the mother, they call it. And there are never any words except
        'The Light shine on you, and the Creator shelter you.  The last
        embrace of the Mother welcome you home.'"

<TSR: 53, 890-1, The Price of Departure, 618>
        Which is how he found himself not a half an hour later kneeling
        opposite her in the common room, in front of Daise Congar and
        Marin al'Vere....and all the Women's Circle.  Loial had been roused
        to stand for him with Aram, and Bain and Chiad stood for Faile...
        Marin tucked a long red wedding ribbon around his neck, and Loial
        threaded another through Faile's dark hair..."I, Perrin Aybara,
        do pledge you my love, Faile Bashere, for as long as I live"...

<TEotW: 27, 412, Shelter from the Storm>
       "Peace be on you always," Elyas replied, "and on all the People." He
       hesitated, then added, "I will find the song, or another will find
       the song, but the song will be sung, this year or in a year to come.
       As it once was so shall it be again, world without end."..."Peace be
       on you," Elyas said. "And on you," Raen said sadly.


OTOH, in Randworld, 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 Randworld. Just because we don't see worship going
on very often doesn't mean it's not being done. Scratch a Randworlder, 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. -Jocelyn


2.12.......................................SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORSAKEN

Q: Who are the Forsaken and where are they at the moment ?

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 imprisoned with their master when the Dark One's prison
was re-sealed.

We have not yet met several of the Forsaken.  However, it is believed that
8 are male and 5 are female.  This belief arises from the shadowy figures
sometimes seen around Rand in dreams.


The 13 Forsaken (in alphabetical order) are

Aginor (M)      killed at the Eye of the World (probably by drawing too
                much of the One Power into himself)

Asmodean (M)    real name: Joar Addam Nesossin
                also known as: Jasin Natael
                captured by Rand and then temporarily shielded by Lanfear
                at Rhuidean

Balthamel (M)   killed by the Green Man at the Eye of the World

Be'lal (M)      also known as: High Lord Samon of Tear
                killed by Moiraine in the Stone of Tear
                [a.k.a. Netweaver]

Demandred (M)   believed to dislike Rand intensely, unconfirmed

Graendal (F)    known to currently have a long string of young men

Ishamael (M)    called himself Ba'alzamon
                probably killed by Rand in 'Tear'

Lanfear (F)     real name: Mierin
                also known as: Selene
                former lover of Lews Therin Telamon (Rand), trying to win
                him back

Mesaana (F)     nothing is known

Moghedien (F)   captured by Nynaeve in Tanchico, but escaped
                believed to be the strongest Forsaken in Tel'aran'rhiod
                [a.k.a. Spider]

Rahvin (M)      (probably) also known as: Lord Gaebril
                (probably) active in Caemlyn

Sammael (M)     also known as: Lord Brend of Illian
                active in Illian

Semirhage (F)   nothing is known


--
Mark Looi                                [e-mail]

2.13.............................BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY TRUE LOVER'S AJAH

>From Emma Pease                          Jul. 6, 93 11:39:19 am PDT
[e-mail]

Here is a list of known black ajah (the twelve who went with Liandrin).
Two of each ajah except Red (one) for a total of thirteen.  The names of
three of them are still unknown and also unknown are who are the two grays,
two blues and one yellow.

[?? = 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   Kandar       white streak in hair
Marillin Gemalphin      brown   ??           likes cats
Eldrith Jhondar         brown   ??           arranges for cats to go away
Jeaine Caide            green   Arad Doman   possibly dead in Tanchico
Asne Zeramene           green   Saldaea
Chesmal Emry            yellow  ??           (one of the best healers known)
Temaile Kinderode       ??      Cairhien     blue eyes, dark hair, fox face
Amico Nagoyin           ??      ??           youngest and dead at Tear
??                      ??      ??
??                      ??      ??
??                      ??      ??

Partial name of one of the 13 Black Ajah:  "Ispan" <TSR: 54, 899, "Into the
Palace"> (when Elayne picks up the tray in the Panarch's Palace kitchen.)
-- Joe Shaw

==============================================================================
And a list of those known to be involved in deposing Siuan

ELAIDA       red,   part of the group that deposes Siuan, plump
DANELLE      brown, part of the group that deposes Siuan
ALVIARIN     white, part of the group that deposes Siuan
JOLINE MAZA  green, part of the group that deposes Siuan
SHEMERIN     yellow part of the group that deposes Siuan, plump

--------------------------------------------
SURVEY SAYS:  Are the following Black Ajah??
                     Yes       No       Maybe
    - Moiraine       00        30        04
    - Verin          09        21        04
    - Alanna         10        16        08
    - Anaiya         05        16        13
    - Elaida         07        24        03
    - Alviarin       11        09        14
    - Danelle        10        12        12
    - Sheriam        08        20        06

2.14................................................WHY LANFEAR MAY BE GOOD
To put it succinctly, why not?  Here are the reasons why
Lanfear is thought to be evil:

1) She is a Forsaken.
2) When she was still Mierin Sedai, she and Beidomon drilled a hole
in the DO's prison.

However, we also have the perspective of her Aiel servant, whose name
I forget.  On the day the hole was being drilled, he was happy that
she had released him to the service of another Aes Sedai, so he could
be with his lover.  He gathered that Mierin and Beidomon's project
would make the Aes Sedai much more powerful, by allowing men and
women to use the *same* One Power.  He remained loyal to her even
many years later, when she was Forsaken and anathema to everyone else,
and apparently died for this.

Her releasing him, and her commanding his loyalty, suggest that Mierin
Sedai, at least, was not an evil person.  Then why did she drill the
Bore and release the DO?  The Da'shain Aiel's perception indicates that
she had something else entirely in mind, which obviously was not
accomplished.  Of course, she could have been lying to him, but what
would be the point?

Once she had drilled the Bore, she possibly had no choice about
becoming a Forsaken.  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 next to impossible for her to admit that she had just made a
colossal mistake.

We have not seen her committing a single unarguably evil action since
her reappearance.  She has been deceptive - but what would one expect
from an Aes Sedai?  She is jealous and possessive of Rand - but note
that she has 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.

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.

Ruchira Datta
[e-mail]

Ruchira Datta

2.15...............................................WHO ARE THE AELFS AND EELFS
       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> Brigitte 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
       Aelfin & Eelfin. We also know that the Seanchan, the offspring of the
       "hammer" (Pendrag) 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.  Hmmmmm. -- Erica S.


2.16......................................................WHAT'S WITH SALDAEA
       I am re-reading TWoT, and I am amazed that I am
       just now noticing this.  It seems as if Jordan is
       hitting us on the head with Saldaea.  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.  They make
       nothing of it.  Of course we have the benefit of knowing
       that if it were really nothing, Jordan would not have
       mentioned it.  (Perrin says something like "Saldaea -
       isn't that in the borderlands somewhere?"  funny in
       hindsight, since I think Perrin is their next King.)

       Then again in TGH and TDR Saldaea is mentioned that
       something is going on there.  Plus that is where
       Mazrim Taim is...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 (and destroyed
       it or something likewise foreboding).  The Lord of
       Bashere is of course Faile's dad.  Then SS thinks that
       with all the trouble there, Tenobia might be pushed off
       the throne - Tenobia is Faile's cousin. hummm...

       So now I think that he has been foreshadowing it for so
       long that the next book will take us there.  Not surprising
       since Faile is from there, and becoming a major character,
       caught up with ta'veren.  I think that the Black sisters
       plan will take place - they have already broken Taim free from
       the Aes Sedai bringing him to the Tower (I assume it was
       the evil chicks at least).  According to their plan, they
       will make Taim do horrendous things and claim his name is
       Rand Al'Thor.  So maybe Perrin and Faile in the 2 Rivers
       (and Tam) will hear this rumor, think maybe it is Rand,
       maybe going mad.  Remember that they don't know he
       is in the Waste.  So they maybe will run off (Perrin will
       run off, dragging Faile) to Saldaea to save "Rand", perhaps
       even foiling the evil sister's plan (I like that) in the
       process...  Judy G.

       [Also: Don't forget that Bayle Domon when first we met him was
       running from Trollocs and Saldaea! <TEotW: 20, 312, Dust on the Wind>
       -- Erica]

2.17.............................................................WHO WAS MAT?
       At the very least, he was Aemon.  He was also a bunch of other
       people.  The other memories come from the scene in TSR when
       he is chatted up by the Gleeman Natael.

       Mike A. says: In <TDR, 19, 216, Awakening, 167-8> Mat goes over in
       his mind the memories of leading a battle by a river.
       "They must win here or die.  He was known as a gambler; it was time to
       toss the dice.  In a voice that carried over the tumult below, he gave
       the order..." This passage matches rather well with Moraine's
       description of Aemon's battle by the River Manethenedrelle <TEotW:
       9, 131-2, Tellings of the Wheel>  IMHO, it seems clear that those
       memories are Aemon's, so MAT=Aemon reborn?  I think so.
       Additionally, after that first battle in which he uses the Manetheren
       battle cry, when they are in Shadar Logoth, Perrin jokes:
       "Aemon's war cry, she said - right?  Maybe you're Aemon come back
       again." <TEotW: 19, 278, Shadow's Waiting>

       Donald J. Harlow:
       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 aka Jasin Natael is singing a song about a battle at a
       river and how the king of Manetheren had mercy on his defeated foe.
       Mat remembers himself, the king, 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>:

       Natael sings the song Midean's Ford, the story of how "Villainous
       Aedomon led the Saferi down on unsuspecting Manetheren".  The make
       a long story short and save me typing, King Buiryn of Manetheren
       met Aedomon at Midean's Ford.  Heavily outnumbered, the army of
       Manetheren fought for three days.  Finally, "numbers dwindling,
       hope fading, Buiryn and his men fought their way across the ford
       in a desperate sortie, driving deep into Aedomon's horde, seeking
       [to kill] Aedomon himself".  They get surrounded, but fought on
       refusing to surrender.  "Natael sang how their courage touched
       even Aedomon's heart, and how at last he allowed the remnant to
       go free, turning his army back to Safer to honor them."

       "It had not been that way, of course.  Mat could remember...counseling
       Buiryn not to accept the offer, being told in return that the smallest
       chance was better than none.  Aedomon, glossy black beard...waited
       until they were strung out and nearly to the ford before" he
       attacked them again.  "His last memory at the ford was trying to
       keep his feet, waist-deep in the river with three arrows in him,
       but there was something later, a fragment.  Seeing Aedomon, gray-
       breaded now, go down in a sharp fight in a forest"

       Joe Shaw:
       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.  But I still claim that
       Mat was just a brilliant military advisor for the Manetheren kings,
       not the King.

2.18..................................WHERE HAVE WE SEEN IRONIC FORESHADOWING?

<TGH: 32, 464, Dangerous Words, 392>
"I am not Aiel, Lord Barthanes, and I am not of the [Andor] royal line,
either."  (Rand to Lord Barthanes, at Barthanes' manor)

<TDR, 32, 367, The First Ship>
Tom is talking with Captain Mallia about Aes Sedai, and suggests Tear invite
a couple dozen. After this piece of silliness, Thom tells him,
"Next you could try telling the Lord Captain Commander of the Whitecloaks
he should marry the Amyrlin Seat."

<TEotW: 3, 39, The Peddler>
"'I heard a story once,' Mat said slowly, 'from a woolbuyer's guard. He
said the Dragon would be reborn in mankind's greatest hour of need, and save us
all.'
    'Well he was a fool if he believed that,' Perrin said firmly. 'And you
were a fool to listen...' 'I suppose he claimed we'd all live in a new Age of
Legends afterwards too.'"

<TEotW: 3, 40, The Peddler>
"'What kind of need would be great enough that we'd want the Dragon to
save us from it?' Rand mused. 'As well ask for help from the Dark One.'"

<TGH, 8, ?, The Dragon Reborn>
Leane, in Fal Dara, surprised by Rand's appearance and bearing:
"I suppose the blacksmith will wear a crown and speak in High Chant."

 <TEotW: 19, 278, Shadow's Waiting>
"Aemon's warcry, she said - right?  Maybe you're Aemon come back again."

<TGH, ??>
Rand says he would rather cut off his own hand than channel again.

<TEotW, ??>
When Min is talking to Rand in Baerlon, she says when the group is all
together, there are so many sparks that she is surprised that no one else
sees it.  "It is a wonder that the inn doesn't burn down" (not exact quote)
And later the inn burns down...

<TEotW, ??>
When Perrin and Egwene are traveling together after the Shadar Logoth fiasco,
he asks her not to try to channel any more, and she says "Would you give up
that ax of yours, Perrin Aybara??"

2.19...................WHY ARE WE SURE THAT BA'ALZAMON IS REALLY ISHAMAEL

<TDR, 21, 237, A World of Dreams>  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>, 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>: 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.

<TDR, 27, 317, _Tel'aran'rhiod_>, the following exchange occurs:
Silvie:  "Ishamael is a fool!"
Egwene:  "What did you say about Ishamael?"
Silvie:  "Just a thing poor folks say, my Lady.  It turns the Forsaken's
power, calling them fools.  Makes you feel good, and safe.  Even the
Shadow can't take being called a fool.  Try it, my Lady.  Say Ba'alzamon
is a fool."

The glossary entry for Ba'alzamon in TSR says "In the Trolloc tongue,
'Heart of the Dark.'  Believed by most, erroneously, to be the Trolloc Name
for the Dark One."                      ^^^^^^^^^^^

[Moghedien]
Pushing everything away, the woman leaned back, speaking half to
herself.  "Rand al'Thor.  So that is his name now."  Her face crumpled
in a momentary grimace.  "An arrogant man who stank of piety and
goodness.  Is he still the same?  No, do not bother to answer that.
An idle question.  So Be'lal is dead.  The other 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.  My way is best.  Softly, softly, in the shadows.
Something to control a man who can channel.  Yes, it would have to
be that."

2.20.........................WHEN WAS RAND'S POWER ACQUISITION FEVER SYNDROME
       1. OP use: cleansing Bela
              <TEotW: 11, 149, The Road to Taren Ferry>
          Reaction:  Baerlon encounter w/Children of the Light,
              <TEotW: 15, 221-226, Strangers and Friends>
          Time: about a week.
       2. OP use:  Hitting Trolloc with the boom of Domon's boat.
              <TEotW: 24, 306-7, Dust on the Wind>
          Reaction:  Mast/trapeze stunt on Bayle Domon's ship
              <TEotW: 24, 357-9, Flight Down the Arinelle>
          Time:  about four days.
       3. OP use:  calling lightning to escape Howal Gode.
              <TEotW: 32, 484, Four Kings in Shadow>
          Reaction:  fever/chills at the inn in Market Sharan.
              <TEotW:  33, 504-508, The Dark Waits>
          Time:  about two days.
       4. OP use:  at the Eye of the World.
          Reaction:  Forgetfulness, others?
          Time:  nearly instantaneous.

2.21.....................WHAT'S UP WITH MAT, RAHVIN/GAEBRIL, ELAYNE & MORGASE
Mat goes to deliver Elayne's letter and discovers that Gaebril is going to
have Elayne killed.  Fine.  So what does he do?  Does he tell Morgase?
No--Gaebril is listening.  Does Morgase have a clue?  Well....maybe.
Let's examine further:
   1. As soon as Mat tells Morgase where he's from (north of Baerlon),
      her eyes widen.  Morgase has met Rand and knows from Elayne's
      letters who else comes from Two Rivers.  That a Two-Rivers-Accented
      young man arrives provides his bonafides.
   2. She tells him two critical pieces of information:
      a. she's no longer mad (if ever she was) with the white tower.
      b. he is to tell elayne EXACTLY that Morgase remembered fondly
         her time in Sheriam's study.  She says this purposefully enough
         that a TRUE supporter of hers (the Guard who escorts Mat back
     out) repeats: Who is Sheriam and what does it mean to be in
         her study.  The wording is strange enough that it should cause
         Elayne to worry.
So what does Mat do?
   1. He tells Thom that Elayne's life is in danger.  Thom starts the
      rumor campaign so that Morgase (who is ALREADY aware of the situation)
      will be made aware of the situation.
   2. Mat goes off and arranges the death of Elayne's assasin.
   3. When he meets up with Elayne, he says: 'You're mother's latest
      boyfriend has overweening ambition.'  NOT: 'Your mother remembers
      fondly her time in Sheriam's study.'
Elayne says: 'Mom's pretty canny' and dismisses this entirely.  She goes
off with Thom and everyone is content.

What is the problem here?  Everyone thinks that once Morgase figures out
what is going on, she'll have it stopped.  WRONG!  Morgase knows that things
are wrong because she is being Mind Controlled by a FORSAKEN!

It will be interesting to see how this develops. --EJLS

==============================TRIVIAL PURSUITS================================
.............................
ARTHUR & THE HOLY GRAIL : 3.0
.............................

       * MOIRAINE = MORGAINE/MORGAN DE FAY
       * MORGASE = MORGAUSE
       * TIGRAINE = YGRAINNE
       * EGWENE = GUINEVERE
       * ARTUR = ARTHUR
       * CALLANDOR = SWORD IN STONE
       * GALAD = GALAHAD _or_ MORDRED
       * GAWYN = GAWAIN
       * GREEN MAN = GREEN KNIGHT or GREEN MAN (worshipped by Celts)
       * SA'ANGREAL = HOLY BLOOD and HOLY GRAIL
       * WOUND IN SIDE = FISHER KING (via BIBLE)
       * NYNAEVE = NYVIAN/VIVIAN/NEMESIS OF MERLIN
       * PERRIN = PARCIVAL
       * MERRILIN = MERLIN
       * LAN = LANCELOT
       * DAMODRED = MORDRED
       * ELAYNE = ?ELAINE? (Lancelot's Wife)
       * TAR VALON = AVALON
       * LUTHAIR PAENDRAG = UTHER PENDRAGON (Now Artur's son vs. his Father)
       * SA'ANGREAL = SAN GREAL, Holy Grail or SANG REAL Holy Blood


Mark Looi
       Now... does anyone remember if there was a character called Miranda in
       Arthurian Legends?  I can't quite remember, but it strikes me as
       somehow familiar.  Of course, Miranda == Mierin (Lanfear)

David Wren-Hardin:
       "This struck me when someone mentioned Min's vision of Rand lying
       on a funeral bier.  Here's a possibility. In the legends of King
       Arthur, at the end of his last battle he is 'killed' or at least
       severely wounded, and put on a funeral boat and ferried to Avalon to
       await the time when he is needed again. Hmm, Avalon=Tar Valon ?"

Bob Hofman:
       "I've noticed this particular Arthurian reference as well.  It
       is especially apt if you remember that in the legend (or at least
       the version I've read) Arthur is severely wounded and on his
       deathbed and Bedivere? witnesses his being taken away on a ship,
       the only others on the ship are three women, although I don't
       remember who.  This bears a striking resemblance to Min's viewing
       of Rand on a funeral bier surrounded by three women.  I believe
       one of the women in the Arthurian tale was his sister or half
       sister, I don't remember the name, who seduced him and became
       the mother of Mordred. This suggests to me that perhaps Lanfear
       (same type of character, power hungry but not necessarily all bad)
       could be one of the three around Rand's funeral bier in
       Min's vision."

Mike Lemons adds:
re: Arthur's 3 Women
        1) Arthur's half-sister Morgan Le Fay.(She is a sorceress who tries to
          seduce most of the knights of the round table.)
        2) The Queen of North Galys.
        3) The Queen of the Waste Land. (Could be Aiel.)

I don't believe that Jordan intends the three women to have the same
characteristics as the three queens from the Arthur legend.  Jordan
probably feels that the legend is satisfied if the number is correct,
i.e. there are three of them.

Concerning Nynaeve = Nyneve:

Nyneve is the Lady of the Lake.  She is called that because she lives at
the bottom of a lake, not because she is in love with Lancelot du Lake.
I believe that Jordan picked this name because Nyneve is the most
powerful of the sorceresses and because she occasionally bosses around
the men folk.  Nyneve imprisons Merlin forever in an enchanted cave in
Cornwall.

Concerning Thom Merrilin = Merlin:

Merlin is described as a sorcerer, mentor to Arthur and son of the
devil.  I think it is likely that Jordan intended Merrilin to be a male
channeller who teaches the ropes to Rand, but Jordan changed his mind in
TSR.  Thom's fight with the Myrddraal resulted in two strange events:
1) Thom survived the fight.  I can't buy the argument that the Myrddraal
let him live because Thom was only trying to slow him down.  The
Myrddraal revel in blood and suffering too much to ever let anyone live
that raises a hand against them.  2) The mysterious fires that occurred
during the fight.

Concerning Lan = Lancelot and Elayne = Elaine:

I think that Jordan chose the name Lan because Lan is a supreme fighter.
I think that Jordan chose the name Elayne because it is the name of a
princess.  The FAQ states that Elaine was the wife of Lancelot.  This
isn't true because Lancelot never married.  There was a prophecy that
Elaine, daughter of King Pelles, would bear a child by Lancelot.  The
child would be named Galahad and would attain the sangreal.  But
Lancelot wouldn't have sex with Elaine because he loved another.  So an
enchantress put a spell on Elaine so that she would look like Lancelot's
true love.  They spent the night together and Galahad was conceived.
(This seems to be a pretty common practice in King Arthur's day when the
object of your desire is in love with another.  The few people who could
cast this spell were probably quite popular!)  Can you imagine Jordan
putting this story into one of his books?  I sure can't.

Concerning Galadedrid = Galahad + Modred:

Modred was the bastard son of King Arthur and Queen Margawse.  He
attempted to marry his stepmother, Gwynevere (Egwene?), while Arthur was
out of town.  Modred is an evil person who delivers a fatal wound to
Arthur in single combat and is killed by Arthur.  Galahad is the most
pure and good of the knights, so much so that he obtains the Holy Grail
(sangreal). I think that Jordan chose the name Galadedrid because he is
pure of heart like Galahad, but still ends up doing evil like Modred.
Possible foreshadowing:  Galadedrid wounds Rand (King Arthur) during
Tarmon Gaidon. Galadedrid finds and brings the kick-ass Sa'angreal.

....................
TROLLOC TRIBES : 3.1
....................

<TEotW: Glossary entry "Trollocs", 798>
Ahf'frait=Afrits, Bhan'sheen=Banshees, Dha'vol=Devils, Dhai'mon=Demons,
Dhjin'nen=Djinns, Ghar'ghael=Gargoyles, Ghob'hlin=Goblins, Gho'hlem=Golems,
Ghraem'lan=Gremlins, Ko'bal=Kobolds, Kno-gmon=Gnomes and....
Al'ghol=???
   a. an inoffensive procedural programming language from the 1960's.
   b. the demon star Algol (also known as Al'ghoul or The Ghoul)
   c. ghouls in general
   d. an inside joke by Jordan.
   e. Vice President Al Gore

..................
FUTURE EARTH : 3.2
..................

Survey says: Is Jordan's world under the Wheel our future earth?
             Yes: 24, No: 09, Maybe: 01


<TEotW: 4, 51, The Gleeman>
John Glenn:
  "Tell us about Lenn," Egwene called.  "How he flew to the moon
   in the belly of an eagle made of fire.  Tell about his daughter
   Salya walking among the stars." (Eagle has landed.../Lenn may be
   a merger of LEM (lunar module) and Glenn)

Salya:  Salyut (Russian for star) OR Sally Ride

Moscow, ICBMS:
       Mosk the Giant, with his Lance of Fire that could reach around
       the world.

America: Merk the other giant.

Queen Elizabeth:
       Alsbet, queen of all. (Remains of British Empire/Commonwealth?)

Gautama Buddha: Ghoetam under the tree of life

Mother Theresa: Materese the Healer, Mother of the Wondrous Ind

Anne Landers: Anla, the wise counselor

<TSR: 11, 209, What Lies Hidden>
In Tanchico Museum at the Panarch's Palace:
    1. Stylized Three-Pointed Triangle (reeking of greed & pride)
         Mercedes Benz logo OR (dissenting opinion) Star Trek Logo
    2. Skeletons of Giraffe and Elephant

<TGH: 49, 678, What Was Meant To Be>
    Loial is reading 'To Sail Beyond the Sunset'

<TGH: 47, 660, The Grave Is No Bar to My Call>
    "Michael instead of Mikel. Patrick instead of Paedrig. Oscar instead
    of Otarin." St. Michael and St. Patrick? I don't know of a St. Oscar....

........................
BIBLICAL PARALLELS : 3.3
........................

0. Aiel wandering the desert for forty years (or centuries or so) a la
   Moses and the tribes of Israel.  Notice that there are many tribes
   (septs) and such.  Ditto the Tinks.
1. Rebirth/Reborn notion of the Savior.  (Although this savior is going to
       do major damage before defeating the evil one).  The blood of the
       lamb versus Rand's blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul.
2. Wound in the side a la the Cross.
3. Sea Folk saying Aes Sedai would wash Dragon's feet with their hair
4. Masema = Saul/Paul: Anti-Rand to rabidly pro-Rand.
5. Seven Seals = Seven Seals of Solomon?
6. "Peace be on you always," Elyas replied, "and on all the People." He
       hesitated, then added, "I will find the song, or another will find
       the song, but the song will be sung, this year or in a year to come.
       As it once was so shall it be again, world without end."..."Peace be
       on you," Elyas said. "And on you," Raen said sadly.
       <TEotW: 27, 412, Shelter from the Storm>
    The former reminds me of the Catholic (maybe Christian in general -
    I'm not sure) prayer called the Glory Be. It goes: "Glory be to the
    Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is
    now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen"
    Obviously, the references to the Trinity aren't present, but the "As it
    once was so shall it be again, world without end" seems pretty much a
    direct lift. And the latter quotes are reminiscent of the closing of a
    Catholic Mass, where the priest pronounces "Peace be with you" and the
    people respond "And also with you." Granted, that's not a particularly
    unique exchange of phrases or anything, but coming in such close proximity
    (a couple paragraphs) after the earlier exchange, it struck a chord. I'll
    admit that spending grades 4-7 in a Catholic school may make this stand
    out a bit more than it deserves, but in light of the fact that there exist
    a number of other Christian parallels in the series, I thought it was
    interesting that the closing ceremony of a people whose non-violence
    closely mirrors that of Christ's teachings also paralleled certain parts
    of the Catholic faith. -- Jon Vessey

    At Easter mass this past spring, I saw an adult baptized for the first
    time in the Catholic faith.  (I am a Baptist - I have seen it much before,
    but never in Catholic mass).  They get the person to kneel, pour water
    over their head, and say something like "Now you are sealed".  I don't
    recall the exact words, but "sealed" was in it for sure and I recall
    thinking Jordan must be Catholic.  Sounds a lot like becoming Accepted to
    me...--Judy G.

    In <TGH: 26, 387, Discord> we have the prophecy: "twice dawns the day
    when his blood is shed.  once for mourning, once for rebirth." This is
    very similar to the darkening of the sun when Christ is crucified: from
    Luke 23, verse 44-45: "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a
    darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  And the sun was
    darkened, and the veil (sic.) of the temple was rent in the midst."
    just a thought...Pam K.


....................
DARK ONE NAMES : 3.4
....................

[Thanks especially to  D.J.K-H]

Ba'alzamon       =  Ba'al or Baelzebub
Sammael          =  ?part of the angelic host from old testament?
Graendal         =  Grendal from Beowulf?
Rahvin           =  ?Raven? harbinger of evil (Native American Loki
                    figure?)
Lanfear          =  French l'enfer name for hell.
Shai...   .      =  (well you KNOW who this is) : Satan
                    [Will Baird notes:Shai...is the Muslim name for
                    Satan literally.]
Bel'al           =  Belial, Biblical demon, Old Testament
Asmodean         =  Asmodeous, Biblical demon, Old Testament
Tarmon Gaidon    =  Armageddon, Book of Apocalypse
Paaren Diesen    =  Paradise, Biblical Genesis
Wild Hunt        =  Wild Hunt, of Christian or Celtic legend
Bel Tine         =  Beltane, a Druidic holiday
Shayol Ghul      =  Sheol, Hebrew for hell; Ghul->Gol or Gul, Arabic
                    for Demon.
Semirhage        =  Legendary Assyrian queen Semiramis, noted for her
                    depravity (see Herodotus) [thanks Tony Z!]
LTT/Morningstar  =  "I have no idea where Neil Gamain came up with this
                    idea, but in the 4th collection of _Sandman_, Morpheus
                    describes Lucifer as "Lucifer Morningstar, who was
                    once Sammael; his maker's finest and most beautiful
                    creation. He is the most powerful being in creation,
                    saving only his maker." (or something to this close
                    effect; from memory.)" -- Arthur Byrne
                    Lews Therin = Lucifer, Lord of the Morning
Myrddraal =         ?Murder All?
Lothair Mantelar =  (Founder of Children of Light)= ?MARTIN LUTHER?
Aginor =            "Recently, a friend of mine had to read the _Iliad_.
                    (Homer's story of the Trojan War)  In Book 21,
                    a character named Agenor attacks Hektor, and is
                    defeated.  Not much is said about him (Agenor) other
                    than that he is "blameless and powerful", and knew
                    that Hektor was stronger than he was.  He attacked
                    anyway, figuring that while Hektor was much more
                    combat-capable, Agenor had the gods on his
                    side, not to mention the fact that even the powerful
                    make mistakes.  In a few minutes, Hektor defeats
                    Agenor, and Apollo surrounds the loser "in a thick
                    mist", and transports him back to Troy.  Some
                    interesting  parallels between this an TEotW's final
                    battle: Both Aginors knew that his opponent was more
                    powerful Both were full of pride Both attacked
                    anyway." Mike O'Malley

....................
DRAGON LEGENDS : 3.5
....................
Taken from Man, Myth and Magic (volume 5, pages 693-694):

"The most striking of these is that the dragon in China is
not, as in the West, a representative or symbol of the
powers of evil.  On the contrary, according to the old
Chinese Book of Rites, the dragon as the chief of all scaly
animals is one of the four benevolent spiritual animals.
This reflects the general principle stated by Jung that
'every psychological extreme secretly contains its own
opposite,' which is expressed in Chinese thought through
the classical doctrine of Yang and Tin.  That this principle
underlies the dragon's transformation into a beneficent
being is confirmed by Wang Fu's statement that the
dragon's scales number 117, of which 81 are imbued with
Yang and 36 with Yin, because the dragon is partly a
preserver and partly a destroyer.  Yang is also the male
element and, as its representative, the dragon also became
at an early period a symbol of the Emperor, and appeared
on the Chinese flag.  During the Manchu dynasty, the
dragon was held in especial esteem, and everything used
by the Emperor was described in terms of it:  there was the
dragon throne, dragon bed and so on.

"Although Chinese dragons appeared at favorable
moments to presage periods of prosperity, and had been
known to emit foam which had supernatural powers of
fertilization, they could also, when offended or disturbed,
cause a drought by gathering up all the water of a district
in baskets, or they could eclipse the sun.  To propitiate
them, the Chinese flew dragon kites, especially at the
mumming parade in the New Year."

Still waiting for Fires ...
Randy Cerveny

................
MAT & ODIN : 3.6
................
<Greg Wheatley tells us:>
Okay, so we know that Jordan's been drawing on various Arthurian and
Christian mythology for TWoT and all possible references to such have
been analyzed to death, if not far beyond. But what about the other
stuff he's obviously drawing upon, Norse mythology for one thing. I
mean has anybody failed to notice that Mat is being set up as Odin,
complete with wide brimmed hat, a spear with ravens drawn on it which
are named "Thought" and "Memory", coincidentally enough the names of
Odin's ravens and will in the future almost certainly lose an eye?
>From here you can then go on to hypothesize that all the characters
may have analogues in Norse mythology. Is it just coincidence that Perrin
is impressively muscled and has a big hammer, just like a certain Norse
god of thunder? Somehow I don't think so.

Which leads on to speculations about what might happen in the remaining
few books (I'd say about 10 to go :-)). For example, we know (or think we
do) that Rand will lose a hand at some time or other and according to Norse
mythology, Tyr loses a hand when fighting the Fenris Wolf during Ragnarok. Does
this mean anything? Who knows. Just thinking about it, however, as well as
speculating, may cause those of us suffering from nervous twitches to calm down
a little as they wait for TFoH.

<Jonathan Vessey adds:>
In addition to the Tree of Life Yggdrasil which someone else pointed out is
mirrored closely in Mat's adventures in Rhuidean, didn't Norse mythology have
some sort of eternal serpent winding around the roots/trunk of the tree? I
can't remember any specifics about this, but it sounds right. Also, there's
the obvious parallel between the fallen warriors whom the Valkyries claimed
off the battlefields and took to Asgaard, there to wait until they would be
called to fight in Ragnarok (the final battle), and the Heroes of the Horn.
Granted, there are differences - the Heroes are bound to the Horn and not to
a specific cause, and they live in Tel'aran'rhiod rather than the afterlife
as such (where they'd fight all day, cutting each other to pieces, then
get healed at day's end. Always got a kick out of that - sounds like a real
heavenly afterlife to me), but the concept of dead heroes waiting around
for the final battle stays the same.

<Chad C. D'Amour Orzel says:
Also, it seems to me there was a Norse myth involving Odin agreeing
to be hung from Yggsdril (or some other unpronounceable Norse thing
like that) in order to gain wisdom or power or both (he really went
in for this self-sacrifice thing...)- a definite parallel to Mat
being hung from the Tree o' Life in Rhuidean.

...........................
WHEEL OF TIME == DUNE?: 3.7
...........................

While looking through the _The Wheel of Time_ books last night, I
noticed some striking similarities to the book _Dune_.

1. Dune is a desert planet. -- Aiel waste
2. There is a group of people who use Truthseeing as a way of manipulating
   political and human breeding condition, the Bene Gesserit.  The b.g. have
   complex schemes all aimed at producing a savior. The savior will be a man
   who has the same powers as they do (they are all women). -- The Aes Sedai,
   while not trying to PRODUCE the savior, are looking for a man who can
   channel...  also very political and with complex ancestry.
3. The Fremen of dune want to turn dune into a paradise planet, but they have
   no water to do it with.  they are trained from birth to be good fighters,
   and they live in caves in the desert.  They know that the savior will come
   and help them make dune into paradise(bring water) -- the Aiel live in stone
   dwellings in the cliff faces, and they don't remember water very well.
   Rand (savior figure) makes it rain and then everyone is surprised.( i
   need to reread that one.)
4. The one big enemy in dune is the great worms -- Aiel waste does not have
   such enemy... instead they have moved up into the blight.  Lan states that
   not much will try to face a wormpack.  while running from the worms they
   find the eye.
5. The savior guy will be born of an offworlder(in dune, an non native) and a
   maiden who is not of the Aiel.
6. The fremen are religious fanatics who fight better than all other people --
   the Aiel , once they realized who Rand was do everything to protect him,
   and they are the best fighters.
There are more but that is all I can remember right now.
-robert kelley


4.0==========================================================================

                         T I M E - L I N E

=============================================================================

Day 1:
  Mieren Sedai and Beidomon make a big mistake at Sharom.  Charn Aiel is
  25 years old.  Highly technological society. Ending of the Age of Legends.
About Year 80:
  Charn is murdered, his great grandson Coumin is about 16.  The Nym are
  still around and most technology, but war is established way of life.
  The trollocs and halfmen have been introduced to the world at large.
  Apparently, Mieren has been protecting the family of her former servant.
  Lews Therin, seen as a great leader, leads the Companions on a
  strike at Shayol Ghul.  The bore is sealed with "most of the Forsaken"
  on the other side. <TSR: 26, 433, The Dedicated, 304>
About Year 150:
  Jonai, son of Coumin, is age 63. The world is in chaos.  Technology is
  failing.  Lews Therin has gone mad, created Kinslayer's dagger.  The
  Aes Sedai have his sword and banner. Jonai is given the task of taking
  all the Ter'angreal away from possible Aes Sedai abuse.  The Da'shain
  Aiel get all the many thousands of wagons together and start out on
  their journeying. They take cuttings of the Chora trees. Jonai has
  children Willim (15), Adan(10), and Esole (maybe 5) and wife Alnora.
  The wagons head out of Paaren Disen.
  The Aes Sedai task the last Nym (the green man) with hiding the horn and
  the banner of the dragon.  The sword is to be dealt with elsewise.
  The island of Tar Valon is created at the same time as Kinslayer's dagger.
About Year 160:
  The wagons of Jonai reach the west coast and surprise they have run
  out of land.  The male channelers have been devastating the countryside.
  The land of Comelle (?land of the Seanchan?) is out at sea and instead
  we have Toman head. About 90% death rate over the last 10 years. We
  find Ogiers, bedraggled, searching for stedding. Jonai decides
  to turn to the south but dies and leaves the wagons in the hands of
  Adan, about 20.  We can assume that there are still Aes Sedai with
  the expedition, but they too are dying rapidly.
About Year 195:
  Adan is now a grandfather, say 65. His grandchildren include Maigran(5)
  and Lewin(6) and Siedre(infant, named after the Aes Sedai who sent them
  on the mission).   His children are all dead of pretty horrible attacks and
  diseases and suicide. Sulwin breaks off from the Aiel and forms the
  Tinkers.  He believes that the need to search for the song that his
  grandfather had told him so much about. The losses have been hard
  and Sulwin wants to look for something hopeful. The Tinkers leave behind
  their Ter'angreal looking for safety, looking for the songs.
About Year 205
  More years of hardship have passed.  Lewin is now about 16. Adan is less
  and less effective influencing the youth who have grown up only with the
  hardship. Lewin saves his sister's life by using a spear, is forced
  to live separately from the main group.  However, he keeps the "way of the
  leaf" by using only weapons which are not solely for killing. The new
  Aiel group will live in tents near the main wagons.
About Year 255
  Lewin is about 66, graying, solemn.  His ?grand?son is Jeordam,
  eighteen years old at this time. There is a definite split between
  the Jenn and the new, more successfully adapted "Aiel".  The Maidens are
  formed by Morin, trying to save her daughter.  She "weds the spear" in
  the attempt. The shortened spear is introduced as the main Aiel weapon.
  Morin is a dream walker and will probably found the Wise Women as well.
About  Year 320
  Jeordam is old, probably in his eighties.  The Aiel have wandered south
  and east to the spine of the world. It is believed that there are still
  Aes Sedai with the Jenn or they have rejoined up with Aes Sedai along
  the way.  They go to east to the three-fold land to build Rhuidean to
  store the Ter'angreals. They have found Ogier to build it. This is when
  the 'sharing of the water' occurs.  Carbine will be granted trading
  privileges through the Aiel waste because of this early hospitality.  The
  pledge will be made with a cutting of a Chora/Avendesora tree and Laman's
  sin which starts the Aiel war will be to cut it down to make a throne of
  it.  The consequences start the prophecies of the dragon in motion
  although the first prophecies are not announced until about 420.
About Year 335-336 Raolin Darksbane is a False Dragon
About Year 420 at most.
  Mandein Aiel becomes the first clan chief by walking through the
  Ter'angreal at partly-completed Rhuidean.  The Chora tree is about 18
  feet tall at most. The Aiel prophesy is announced by the Aes Sedai
  Mordaine and Narisse. Work stops on Rhuidean. The Aes Sedai have had
  a vision which reshapes the purpose of the Aiel. The Jenn have basically
  withered away and only the Aiel are left.
About Year 1000: The Trolloc wars start and last for over three
  hundred years.
About Year 1300-1308 Yurian Stonebow is a false dragon.
About 1600: Davian is a false dragon
About 1939-1943: War of the Second Dragon, featuring Guaire Amalasan.
  Artur Hawkwing rises to prominence.
About 1943-1994: Artur Hawkwing rules.
About Year 2000: Empire of Hawkwing dissolves.  Hundred Years war starts.
About Year 2125: Hundred Years war ends. Children of Light founded.
About Year 2526: Corianin Nedeal dies.
About Year 2980 (or so): Moiraine and Lan are born.  Malkier is lost.
About Year 2990 (or so): Tam leaves two rivers to seek his fortune.
About Year 2994 (or so): Travels of Jaim Farstrider published.
About year 2996 (or so): Galadedrid born.
About year 2997 (or so): Luc disappears into the waste. Merges with Isam.
About Year 2998 (or so): Tigraine is sent away by Aes Sedai foreseer. Joins
  the Aiel as Shaiel (she who is dedicated).
About Year 3000 (or so): Laman chops down Avendoreldra. Min is born.
  Succession woes in Andor. Taringail marries Morgase.
About Year 3001 (or so): Gawyn is born.
About Year 3002 (or so): Aiel approach the gates of Tar Valon and kill
  Laman.  Rand is born. Mat is born. Perrin is born.
About Year 3004 (or so): Egwene is born. Elayne is born.
About Year 3006 (or so): Thom kills Taringail.
About Year 3020 (or so): Logain is false dragon. Rand is REAL dragon.
  Thom kills Galldrian. Green Man dies in struggle with Balthamel.
  Aginor is toast.

NOTE:
About the Aiel: I am not sure that the first/final scene in Rand's
memories (the Agreement at Rhuidean) falls as early as placed in the FAQ
(around 500 or so); Mandein recalls that his greatfather defeated the
"men in iron shirts" who crossed the Dragonwall.  This may be a
reference to Artur Hawkwing's failed attempts to conquer the Aiel.  In
case, by that time the Aiel have been in the Three-Fold Land for at last
(least) a century (Mandein recalls names five generations back) and
probably much longer, given that a lot of septs and clans show up at
Rhuidean, not counting the others who didn't.

Tony Zbaraschuk

97.0........................WHAT IS IT WITH THOSE STUPID DARREL SWEET COVERS?

TEotW: THE GANG HEADS OFF TO TAREN FERRY

1. Moiraine the Midget and  Moiraine's Horse the Dwarf Pony (The text refers
   to the lad being amazed at the sight of the huge horses (plural) ridden by
   Lan and Moiraine--the biggest he had ever seen.
2. Moiraine's dress is supposed to be a darker blue than her cloak.
3. Lan with a Mustache and Goatee?
4. Lan in Seanchan armor?  Lan isn't wearing his color-fading cloak and
   instead is wearing platemail.  Lan should not be wearing platemail.
5. Lan with TWO swords?
6. Moiraine is really UGLY and is wearing White eyeshadow to boot - ugh!
7. Moiraine's hair is light brown--not dark.
8. All the horses are wearing ornamental bridles/saddles-what nonsense!
9. No saddle bags on any of the horses.
10.Everyone is wearing particularly STUPID clothing -- Rand with that weird
   Robin Hood collar, Moiraine in that awful blue cloak, Perrin's
   feather!?, etc.
11.Rand's face changes from the cover to the inside picture.
12.Egwene on the outside cover is blond. (Everyone except Rand from 2 rivers
   has dark hair, dark eyes).
13.The Draghkar is just a bat.
14.The moon is portrayed with far too many degrees of arc for the sky.
15.Thom (little itty bitty Thom) is wearing multicolored clothing but NOT
   a cloak!
16.Perrin's ax (see inside picture) is the wrong shape. (See the description
   in the first chapter: two/halfmoon-blade counterweighted).

[Thomas Petersen adds:
Egwene wears her hair unbraided even though a big issue is made
of the fact that she just got permission to wear it braided.
Moiraine on the other hand has her hair set up in a very elaborate
way even though the Aes Sedai are described as wearing their hair
loose.]

TGH: RECAPTURING THE HORN

1.   Rand (changing his face again) is way way too short and stocky.  He is
   also wearing a really gaudy swordbelt.  His hair, for some reason
   has gotten a lot of body (perhaps all that Clairol) and seems
   almost curly.
[John Hansen adds:
  Rand is a red-head. His breeches are likely gray.  Knee-high boots are brand
  new and probably black.  He wears white silk or linen pull-over shirts with
  billowy sleeves and tight cuffs.  He has three coats (with pockets to put
  his hands in) one scarlet with gold ornamentation, one black with silver
  and another that is white with gold.  The stitching includes thorn/briars
  down the sleeves (correct) but wrapping around the cuffs as well.  Probably
  no green lining.  Certainly no heron on the front.
   The coat (apparently) opens at the front (like most coats do) with
  herons stitched into the high collar (both sides) and the collars are
  edged in gold as well.  He had two cloaks, one with a dangerous dragon on
  the left breast and another plain dark green one.  No fancy bejeweled
  belt is mentioned.  Perhaps taller than drawn (his height in the
  picture is hard to judge - should be around 6'6" I'd guess.)
   He stuck the Shadar Logoth _curved_ and jeweled dagger in his belt when he
  got the chest w/horn. (as opposed to the straight one shown at his belt).
  His sword is curved and single edged and shorter than the one shown. There
  should be a heron on the hilt (in bronze) and perhaps one visible on the
  little bit of the (incorrectly) straight scabbard we can see between his
  legs.]
[Joe Shaw adds:
  "A thick belt slanted around Tam's waist, and from the belt a sword, with
  a bronze heron on the black scabbard and another on the long hilt. ... The
  blade, very slightly curved and sharp on only one edge, bore another heron
  etched into the steel.  Short quillons, worked to look like a braid, flanked
  the hilt." <TEotW: 5, 66-7, Winternight> "...the long, leather-wrapped hilt
  inset with a bronze heron." <TGH: 1, 4, The Flame of Tar Valon>].

2.   Loial's ears are not hairy, way too large and Loial himself is only about
   four feet tall!.  His boots are just awful: what if it rains?  He'd
   walk around with about a gallon or four of extra water in the
   decorative birdbaths of those boots.
[John Hansen adds:
  Loial is nearly two spans tall (nearly ten feet). He's way too short here.
  Ears should be "tufted" and his eyebrows should "dangle like long mustaches"
  and his nose should be "nearly as wide as his face."  He may be wearing a
  long dark stiff collared tunic buttoned to his neck and flared below his
  waist over high boots.  His fingers are described as sausage-like.  Pockets
  in the tunic for holding books. (with books in them).  Over that a long coat
  with pockets full of books.  Generally, he should be hairier and bigger.  He
  is not mentioned at all as carrying a lamp or a book in one hand.]

3. Egwene (or is it Selene) is wearing one of those dopey dresses -- this one
  with a ton of elastic banding.  Do they have elastic in the third
  age or is this another lost art of the Age of Legends.  Either
  lady, she is not very good looking.

[John Hansen adds:
  Huh?  Egwene is miles away on her way to TV land.  Selene (aka Lanfear) is
  tall (one hand shorter than Rand) with long night-dark hair and black eyes.
  She has ivory-pale skin and looks around Nynaeve's age (around 5 years older
  than Rand?)  The entire time she is with Rand, she wears the same snow white
  dress split for riding with silver belt.  (Except for when she is wearing
  one of his shirts that came only halfway down her thighs - hi Roy :-)  Boots
  are tooled in silver with the hem of her dress down over the tops of them.
  Spectacularly beautiful.  It is said that her long hair "shifted in waves as
  she shook her  head" (Does this suggest straight or wavy hair?).]

4.   Assuming that this is the scene where Rand steals back the horn from
  Fain, (a) where is the sniffer? (b) why isn't the horn in a box?
  (c) where is the (big enormous) box?  (d) why has Loial brought some
  pleasure reading for fighting off trollocs (maybe its Dickens)
  (e) Why are the trollocs humans with horns on their helmets? C'mon!
  (f) Why are trollocs so short,  well armed and well armored? (g) Isn't
  it the wrong time of night to have just gotten the horn back
  anyway?
[John Hansen adds:
  This can only be the scene where Rand steals back the horn.  When he and
  Loial arrive back at their camp, Rand sends Hurin off the "outcrop" to
  look at the activity down below.  The horn is in a large ornate gold chest
  that is strapped to the saddle of Loial's huge fetlocked horse.  Selene
  reaches up and opens the chest pushing the lid up and letting it fall open.
  On her tip-toes she reaches into the chest and Rand quickly reaches over her
  shoulder and lifts the horn out of the chest.  It is full night and the
  moonlight glimmers on the horn (which looks like it was drawn correctly).
  No Trollocs are anywhere near at this point.  After a moment Rand returns
  the horn to the chest and after further discussion about the curved dagger,
  he puts it in as well and closes the chest.  So, the scene (if accurate)
  should have a large horse and a gold chest in it.]


TDR : RAND PULLS THE SWORD FROM THE AIR

1. Rand (hair and face changed once AGAIN) is standing in the middle of a
       large hallway where Callandor hangs mid-air.  Isn't this just
       a little inconvenient?  What about dusting the sword or people
       wandering by every now and then?  Don't you think it deserves
       a room or a niche of its own rather than hanging in the middle
       of the hallway?
2. Perrin (straight hair now, hair too light, held back in Rambo style
       but muscles correct) is holding yet ANOTHER ax -- this a little
       more correct. Mat in really sissy clothing and wrong hair is
       looking on as well.  Pardon me, but weren't these guys doing something
       else when Rand was picking up the sword?  Weren't Be'lal, Moiraine
       and Ba'alzamon on hand for the Young-Arthur imitation?
3. The Aiel here look pretty classy, but the buckler in the book is strictly
       leather and not this copper stuff.  Also, this Aiel has black hair!
       C'mon: Perrin with light hair, Aiel with black hair and dark
       complexion?
4. On the very side of the book is a picture of I suppose Ba'alzamon. Boy
       is he ugly or what?  And wearing that Blue and Purple hat?  I wonder
       what he had to do to pick out something that matched his glowing
       teeth so well.  Why would anyone's teeth glow?  Too much fluoride?

TSR : BREAKFAST AT RHUIDEAN

1. Mat's now wearing Perrin's headband and has tied his jacket to his
       shoulder. Boy that must be uncomfortable!  Light hair a
       problem...again!
2. Rand has picked up archery again along with a different face.  Archery?
       And Rand must keep those orthopedic and reconstructive surgeons
       real busy.  He is again really way too short.
3. The peddlers seem to have stolen a tinker wagon.
4. Who's the ugly babe making dinner?  Aviendha? Wrong hair.  Who else would
       wear a dress?  A blue dress?  NO! SAY IT ISN'T MOIRAINE!?!!!!
       Cooking dinner for the Boys?! Sheesh. (It could be Isendre but
       she is way way way too ugly for that).  Anyway, she looks like a
       monkey
5. Who's that leather guy on the left of the wagon?  Where did all that
       leather come from out there in the desert?  And check out the
       toy trolloc that someone has stuck in the rocks above Rand's
       right hand shoulder.


98.0================================READERS GUIDE TO PROPHECIES GREAT & SMALL

98.1..........................................................EGWENE's DREAMS
Egwene's dreams
<TDR: 25, 290, Questions>
      She had dreamed of Seanchan, too, of women in dresses with
      lightning bolts woven on their breasts, collaring a long
      line of women who wore Great Serpent rings, forcing them to
      call lightning against the White Tower.  That had started her
      awake in a cold sweat, but that had to be just a nightmare, too.
      And the dream about Whitecloaks binding her father's hands.

<TDR: 25, 290, Questions>
      There had been a dream of Rand, reaching for a sword that
      seemed to be made of crystal, never seeing the fine net
      dropping over him.  And one of him kneeling in a chamber where
      a parched wind blew dust across the floor, and creatures like
      the one on the Dragon banner, but much smaller, floated on
      the wind, and settled into his skin.  There had been a dream
      of him walking down into a great hole in a black mountain,
      a hole filled with a reddish glare as from vast fires below,
      and even a dream of him confronting Seanchan.

<TDR: 25, 290-291, Questions>
      Perrin with a falcon on his shoulder, and Perrin with a hawk.
      Only the hawk held a leash in her talons--Egwene was somehow
      convinced both the hawk and falcon were female--and the hawk
      was trying to fasten it around Perrin's neck.  That made her
      shiver even now; she did not like dreams about leashes.  And
      that dream of Perrin--with a beard!--leading a huge pack
      of wolves that stretched as far as the eye could see.  Those
      about Mat had been even nastier.  Mat, placing his own left
      eye on a balance scale.  Mat, hanging by his neck from a tree
      limb.  There had been a dream of Mat and Seanchan too but she
      was willing to dismiss that as a nightmare.  It had to have
      been just a nightmare.  Just like the one about Mat speaking
      the Old Tongue. That had to come from what she had heard during
      his Healing.

<TDR, 37, 423, Fires in Cairhien>
      She had dreamed of Perrin with a wolf, and with a falcon,
      and a hawk -- and the hawk and falcon fighting -- of Perrin
      running from someone deadly, and Perrin stepping willingly
      over the edge of a towering cliff while saying, 'It must be
      done. I must learn to fly before I reach the bottom.' There
      had been one dream of an Aiel and she thought that had to do
      with Perrin too, but she was not sure.  And a dream of Min,
      springing a steel trap but somehow walking through it without
      so much as seeing it. ... Mat with dice spinning 'round him ...
      Mat being followed by a man who was not there ... or maybe
      more than one, but in some way there was no one there ...
      Mat riding desperately toward something unseen in the distance
      that he had to reach, and Mat with a woman who seemed to be
      tossing fireworks about.  An Illuminator, she assumed, but that
      made no more sense than anything else.
      Men and women breaking out of a cage, then putting on crowns.
      A woman playing with puppets, and another dream where the strings
      on puppets led to the hands of larger puppets, and their strings
      led to still greater puppets, on and on until the last strings
      vanished into unimaginable heights.  Kings dying, queens weeping,
      battles raging. Whitecloaks ravaging the Two Rivers.  She had
      even dreamed of the Seanchan again.

<TDR, 48, 553, Following the Craft>
      Perrin with a falcon on his shoulder, choosing between ax and
      hammer; A Whitecloak putting Master Luhhan in the middle of a huge,
      toothed trap for bait; Mat dicing with the Dark One, shouting "I am
      coming!" at her; Rand sneaking through utter darkness toward
      Callandor, while all around him six men and five women walked, some
      hunting him and some ignoring him, some trying to guide him toward
      the shining crystal sword and some trying to stop him from reaching
      it, appearing not to know where he was, or only to see him in
      flashes. One of the men had eyes of flame, and he wanted Rand dead
      with a desperation she could nearly taste; Rand in that dry, dusty
      chamber again, with those small creatures settling into his skin.

<TDR, 48, 553, Following the Craft>
      Rand confronting a horde of Seanchan.  Rand confronting her,
      and the women with her, and one of *them* was a Seanchan.

<TSR: 11, 207, What Lies Hidden, 145>
      Rand as tall as a mountain, walking through cities, crushing
      buildings beneath his feet, with screaming people like ants fleeing
      from him. Rand in chains, and it was he who was screaming. Rand
      building a wall with him on one side and her on the other, her and
      Elayne and others she could not make out. "It has to be done," he
      was saying as he piled up stones. "I'll not let you stop me now."
      ... Aiel fighting each other, killing each other, even throwing away
      their weapons and running as if they had gone mad.  Mat wrestling
      with a Seanchan woman who tied an invisible leash to him.  A wolf
      - [Perrin] - fighting a man whose face kept changing.  Galad wrapping
      himself in white as though putting on his own shroud, and Gawyn with
      eyes full of pain and hatred. Her mother weeping.

98.2...........................................................MIN'S VIEWINGS
<TEotW: 15, 215, Strangers and Friends>
LAN:  Seven ruined Towers/A babe in a cradle holding a sword

<TEotW: 15, 216, Strangers and Friends>
THOM: A man--not him--juggling fire/The White Tower

<TEotW: 15, 216, Strangers and Friends> <TDR: 6, 99, The Hunt Begins>
PERRIN: A wolf/A broken crown/Trees flowering around him/
      An Aielman and a cage/A Tuatha'an with a sword/
      A falcon and a hawk, perching on his shoulders, both female.
      A darkness swirling around him.

<TEotW: 15, 216, Strangers and Friends>
MAT: A red eagle/A eye on a balance scale/A dagger with a ruby/A horn/
       A laughing face

<TSR: 15, 253, Into the Doorway, 177>
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
   [What fate?] To marry the Daughter of the Nine moons/To die and
   live again, and live once more a part of what was/To give up half the
   light of the world to save the world.

<TSR: 15, 402, Rhuidean>
WISHES GRANTED:  Holes in memory restored/a way to be free of Aes Sedai and
  the Power/Away and back to Rhuidean
[Survey says: What does Mat being free of the Power mean?
       12    - power won't work *on* him
       13    - no one will *try* to use the Power on him
       02    - no Power in Next Age
       03    - other (unspecified)
       01    - other (no female Power will work on him)
       03    - other (power won't work on him AND/OR no one will attempt it)]


<TEotW: 15, 216, Strangers and Friends>
RAND
      A sword that isn't a sword
      A golden crown of laurel leaves
      A beggars staff
      Him pouring water on sand
      Three woman standing over a funeral bier with him on it:
      A bloody hand and a white hot iron
      Black rock wet with blood:
          "His blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, washing away the Shadow,
           sacrifice for man's salvation" <TSR: 3, 99, Reflection, 71>

<TGH: 24, 362, New Friends and Old Enemies> <TGH: 43, 605, A Plan>
ELAYNE The Rose Crown of Andor
      A severed hand, not hers
      A red-hot iron and an ax.

<TGH: 24, 362, New Friends and Old Enemies>
EGWENE A white flame
[Survey says: Will Egwene be next Amyrlin? Yes:30, No:04]


<TSR: 17, 284, Deceptions, 198>
LOGAIN A halo of gold and blue, signifying glory to come.
[Survey says: Will Logain get the Power back? Yes:21, No:11, Maybe:02
   Will Logain pull the Sword from the Stone? Yes:25, No:07, Maybe:02
   Will Logain turn out to be good or bad? For Rand: 34, Against Rand: 00]

<TSR: 1, 25, Seeds of Shadow, 21> <TSR: 47, 786-7, The Truth of a Viewing>
GAWYN A heron marked sword, his or threatening/
      His banner with a field of green rather than white/
      Either breaking Egwene's neck or kneeling to her

RANDOM AES SEDAI IN WHITE TOWER <TSR, 1, 18-21, Seeds of Shadow>
      A silver collar, similar to, or actually, a damane's.
      [also lots of death and suffering/bones etc.]

<TGH: 43, 605, A Plan>
NYNAEVE: Man's ring of heavy gold.

98.3.......................................................VARIOUS PROPHECIES
<TGH: 26, 387, Discord> <TSR: 9, 180, Decisions>
      Twice and twice shall he be marked,
      twice to live, and twice to die,
      Once the heron to set his path.
      Twice the heron, to name him true.
      Once the Dragon for remembrance lost.
      Twice the Dragon for the price he must pay.

<TGH: 26, 387, Discord>
      Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed.
      Once for mourning, once for birth.
      Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the rock of Shayol Ghul.
      In the Pit of Doom shall his blood free men from the Shadow.
[Survey says: Will there be an eclipse when Rand spills his blood?
       Yes:20       No:14]

<TSR: 21, 349, Into the Heart>
      Into the heart he thrusts his sword,
      into the heart, to hold their hearts.
      Who draws it out shall follow after,
      What hand can grasp that fearful blade?

<TSR: 6, 131, Doorways>
      Power of the Shadow made human flesh,
      wakened to turmoil, strife and ruin.
      The Reborn One, marked and bleeding,
      dances the sword in dreams and mist,
      chains the Shadowsworn to his will,
      from the city, lost and forsaken,
      leads the spears to war once more,
      breaks the spears and makes them see,
      truth long hidden in the ancient dream.

<TEotW, prologue, xv, Dragonmount>
        "O Light of the Heavens, Light of the World, let the Promised One
      be born of the mountain, according to the prophecies, as he was in
      ages past and will be in ages to come.  Let the Prince of the Morning
      sing to the land that green things will grow and the valleys give
      forth lambs.  Let the arm of the Lord of the Dawn shelter us from the
      Dark, and the great sword of justice defend us.  Let the Dragon ride
      again on the winds of time."

<TEotW, Prologue, xv, Dragonmount>
        "All was shattered, all but memory lost, and one memory above all
      others, of him who brought the Shadow and the breaking of the world.
      And they named him Dragon."

<TDR: Trailer Prophesy, 675>
        And it was written that no hand but his should wield
      the Sword held in the Stone, but he did draw it out, like
      fire in his hand, and his glory did burn the world. Thus did
      it begin. Thus do we sing his Rebirth. Thus do we sing the
      beginning.

       -from _Do'in Toldara te_, Songs of the Last Age,
       Quarto Nine: The Legend of the Dragon Composed by
       Boanne, Songmistress at Taralan, the Fourth Age

<TDR: Header Prophesy, 9>
        And his paths shall be many, and who shall know his
      name, for he shall be born among us many times, in
      many guises, as he has been and ever will be, time
      without end. His coming shall be like the sharp edge of
      the plow, turning our lives in furrows from out of the
      places where we lie in our silence. The breaker of bonds;
      the forger of chains. The maker of futures; the unshaper
      of destiny.

      -from _Commentaries on the Prophecies of the Dragon_,
       by Jurith Dorine, Right Hand to the
       Queen of Almoren, 742 AB, the Third Age

<TSR: 3, 99, Reflection, 71>
       His blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, washing away
       the Shadow, sacrifice for man's salvation.

>From Rhuidean:
<TSR: 25, 408, The Road to the Spear>
       The stone that never falls will fall to announce his coming.
       Of the blood, but not raised by the blood, he will come from
       Rhuidean at dawn, and tie you together with bonds you cannot
       break.  He will take you back, and he will destroy you.

_Coramoor_ (Jendai Prophecy):
<TSR: 19, 315-6, The Wavedancer, 220-1>
       He can wield the One Power ... and he holds the Sword That Cannot Be
       Touched.  The Aiel have come over the Dragonwall to his call. ...
       The Stone of Tear has fallen, and war breaks over the nations of the
       land. Those who once ruled have returned, and been driven back for
       the first time. ... The White Tower shall be broken by his name, and
       Aes Sedai shall kneel to wash his feet and dry them with their hair.

The prophesy for the Horn of Valere:
<TEotW: 26, 389, Whitebridge>
       In the last, lorn fight
       'gainst the fall of long night,
       the mountains stand guard,
       and the dead shall be ward,
       for the grave is no bar to my call.



98.4.........................................................THE DARK PROPHECY
<TGH: 7, 105-106, Blood Calls Blood>
      Daughter of the Night, she walks again.
      The ancient war, she yet fights
      Her new lover she seeks, who shall serve her and die, yet serve still.
      Who shall stand against her coming?
      The Shining Walls shall kneel.
      Blood feeds blood.
      Blood calls blood.
      Blood is, and blood was, and blood shall ever be.

      The man who channels stands alone.
      He gives his friends for sacrifice.
      Two roads before him, one to death beyond dying, one to life eternal.
      Which will he choose?  Which will he choose?
      What hand shelters?  What hand slays?

      Luc came to the Mountains of Dhoom.
      Isam waited in the high passes.
      The hunt is now begun. The Shadow's hounds now course, and kill.
      One did live, and one did die, but both are.
      The Time of Change has come.

      The Watchers wait on Toman's Head.
      The seed of the Hammer burns the ancient tree.
      Death shall sow, and summer burn, before the Great Lord comes.
      Death shall reap, and bodies fail, before the Great Lord comes.
      Again the seed slays ancient wrong, before the Great Lord comes.
      Now the Great Lord comes.

98.5.................................................MOIRAINE IN CONVERSATION
<TDR: 6, 93, The Hunt Begins>
      He has yet to break the nations, or shatter the world.  Even scholars
      who have studied the Prophecies for their entire lives do not know how
      to interpret them all.  What does it mean that he shall 'slay his people
      people with the sword of peace, and destroy them with the leaf'?  What
      does it mean that he 'shall bind the nine moons to serve him'? Yet these
      there are given equal weight with Callandor in the Cycle. There are
      others.  What 'wound of madness and cutting of hope' has he healed?
      What chains has he broken, and who put into chains?

98.6...........................................................PERRIN'S DREAMS

<TSR: 28, 458, To the Tower of Ghenjei, 320-1>
      Rand stood amid swirling stormwinds, laughing wildly, even madly, arms
      upraised, and on the winds rode [dragons]; hidden eyes watched Rand,
      and there was no way of telling whether he knew it; Nynaeve and Elayne
      stalking cautiously through a demented landscape of twisted, shadowed
      buildings, hunting some dangerous beast. Mat, standing where a road
      forked ahead of him. He flipped a coin, started down one branch, and
      suddenly was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and walking with a staff
      bearing a short sword blade.  Egwene and a woman with long white hair
      were staring at him in surprise while behind them the White Tower
      crumbled stone by stone.

<TSR: 53, 882, The Price of a Departure>
      Egwene stood among a crowd of women, fear in her eyes; slowly the
      women knelt around her, Nynaeve was one of them, and he believed he
      saw Elayne's red-gold hair.  That window faded and was replaced.
      Mat stood naked and bound, snarling; an odd spear with a black shaft
      had been thrust across his back behind his elbows, and a silver
      medallion, a foxhead, hung on his chest.  Mat vanished, and it was
      Rand.  Perrin thought it was Rand.  He wore rags and a rough cloak,
      and a bandage covered his eyes.

<TDR: 43, 504, Shadowbrothers>
      Egwene and Nynaeve and Elayne stood looking at a huge metal
      cage, with a raised door held on a heavy spring.  They stepped
      in and reached up together to loose the catch.  The barred door
      snapped down behind them.  A woman with her hair all in braids
      laughed at them, and another woman all in white laughed at her.

<TDR, 43, 504, Shadowbrothers>
      Mat, rattling a dice cup. His opponent stared at Mat with eyes of fire.
      Mat did not seem to see the man, but Perrin knew him.
      "Mat!" he shouted. "It's Ba'alzamon. Light, Mat, you're dicing
      with Ba'alzamon!"

................................................................RAND, DREAMS

<TSR: 2, 74, Whirlpools in the Pattern, 54>
      Various erotic dreams of him, Elayne, Min and Aviendha in a pool with
      Lanfear scowling on the sidelines. "He raised a hand to his face, to
      wipe away what felt like sweat.  Festering flesh almost obliterated the
      heron branded on his palm; white bone showed through red-edged gaps."

[Survey says: 7.  Will Rand lose his hand?
       Yes:25, No:07, Maybe: 01, Symbolically: 01]

=================================PUBLISHING STUFF===========================
99.0..............................................WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK OUT?

According to the June edition of Locus, THE FIRES OF HEAVEN will have a
November publication date.  This means that the hard cover should be on the
shelves by late October to mid November.  The series may have seven or
eight books.  You can get a preview of the cover in the latest editions of
Locus or SF Chronicle.  Boy! Does Mat look awful or what?

Latest rumors: October 3 - October 15.

99.1................................................................SPOILERS
>From Elaine Thompson                     Jul. 6, 93 12:22:09 PM MDT
[e-mail]

I got a look at the Tor Fall Catalog over the weekend and looked at the
scoop on _Fires of Heaven_.  Wanted to pass it on to someone. Probable
spoilers for TFoH follow:




















Couladin takes a large number of the Aiel over the Spine of
the World to attack Cairhien.  Rand follows with the rest of
the Aiel to try to unite them and stop Couladin.

Siuan's party meets up with the exiled Gareth Byrne former
commander of Andor's army.

A new Amyrlin Seat is chosen to challenge Elaida, and she is
from Two Rivers.

It was implied that Gaebril/Rahvin was going to get munched by
someone.

Rand ends up on the throne of Andor.

Nothing said about Matt, Perrin or the Seanchan.





--
===========================ERICA SADUN================================
         Grep foo whilst ye may, oh daemons of the Spring...
                       [e-mail]
======================================================================