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- Nov 4, 2020
Sanderson is too much of an uptight dweeb to write a proper womanizer. His Mat chapters felt too damn goofy and sterile.
Wheel of Time - Discuss the Books and the Canceled TV Show
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- Nov 4, 2020
Wheel of Time can only be done justice as an anime and not some over produced western animation.
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- Apr 18, 2019
Animated series and mobile game, from the League of Legends guys. I don't see this going well.
Honka Honka Burning Love
In Clown World, the only god is the one who Honks.
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A 100% chance.
Chapter 12: Woven in the Pattern
Summary
We go back to the day that Ingtar’s company left, seeing events from Nyneave and Egwene’s point of view, mostly The Amyrlin telling Lord Agelmar that the assassination attempt is no big deal and things like that happen to her fairly often and that the wound was barely a scratch.
Siuan orders everyone on their horses and tard-wrangles the Aes Sedai on their way before they have to spend the night because it is to late to leave. She sets a hard pace for her procession and waits until it is almost too dark to set up camp to stop for the evening.
Each evening an Aes Sedai visits them to help them begin the basics of channeling since both have already touched the power, Verin and Liandrin who we have met before already, but 2 new ones Alviarin of the White Ajah and Alanna of the Green Ajah are introduced, not much of importance happens during any of these aside from Nyneave managing the Channel..and lighting her blankets on fire because she is pissed.
We learn a little bit about Aes Sedai culture, that the 3 ranks are called Novice, Accepted and Aes Sedai, and that Novices are expected to do chores while Accepted are a little more free to learn on their own, we also learn some of the practices that are used by Aes Sedai to embrace the source. They imagine a flower, become one with it and open themselves to the light of the power.
As they travel Egwene starts having weird dreams about Rand, culminating in a dream of Rand as we left him, sleeping near Loial and Hurin next to the damaged pillar, a man with eyes of fire watching him, the Fire Eyed man notices her and vanishes..then a Woman all in white with eyes that glowed like the Moon stood above him, then Rand and the Woman both vanished in a flash of light before the dream ended.
She tries to find Moraine to tell her about the dream but Moraine has left, as has Liandrin and Verin, so Egwene tells Anaiya who tells Egwene that she might be a Dreamer, someone who can see things past, present and future using Dreams.
Anaiya tells Egwene that they will test her as a Dreamer eventually and that it’s time to get on the boat to Tar Valon.
Commentary.
Not a lot to talk about here, Verin is great at manipulating people as Nyneave didn’t exactly want to participate in the training until Verin nudged her into it by saying that Nyneave will have to do chores, Egwene also makes an insane leap of logic that Verin knows Rand can channel, but does nothing with that information nor does it really matter at any point.
Its a weird moment.
We also have the proper start of Egwene’s Dreamer arc which lasts until Book Six. I might have something to discuss about this storyline once we get to later on in the Books, its a weird storyline now that I think on it.
Chapter 13: From Stone to Stone
Summary
Rand awakens, but not in the place he went to sleep in. The Hollow that Rand, Loial and Hurin went to sleep in is not where they awoken, the Stone that Loial was examining is now undamaged and there are stairs around it with the colors of the Aes Sedai Ajahs.
Rand wakes up Loial and Hurin and Loial brings up the idea that this stone predates the Age of Legends.
“From stone to stone, from the lines of if, between the worlds that might be”
He posits that they are in an alternate world, an alternate timeline and Hurin panics a bit. Hurin has a wife and children and while he knows they will be taken care of them not getting his body and not knowing what happened to him will cause his wife to worry.
Rand promises that he will get them home and secretly attempts to channel the power to send them home but can’t manage to grasp the light like he did in the village.
Hurin suggests asking the Darkfriends how they did it, surprising Rand that the Dark friends are here in this world instead of being in the other world.
Rand takes charge and the 3 go to find Fain and his Dark friends.
Commentary
We check in on Rand after seeing something weird happen to him in Egwene’s dream, and something super weird has happened.
Poor Hurin he is just a guy who can smell violence and he gets sucked up into this bullshit because Rand slept near something from the ancient age even before the Age of Legends.
Chapter 14: Wolfbrother (Two Books in and we are reusing chapter names)
Ingtar is very angry, wondering where the heck Rand, Hurin and Loial went, having vanished with no trace, Ingtar doesn’t remotely believe Rand and Hurin would abandon the chance.
Perrin and Mat know why Rand might leave, and Loial might follow out of friendship, however Hurin would not leave on his own, and without a Sniffer it will be more difficult for Ingtar to track Fain. So Perrin does something he does not want to do because Mat dies without the Dagger.
Perrin reaches out to the wolves, who ask if he is “LongTooth” which is the name the Wolves gave to Elyas, Perrin says no and gives his image..an in return he gets the Image of a Bull with Silver Horns and a shaggy mane, fighting Whitecloaks with the exuberance of youth. The wolves have named him “YoungBull”
Perrin gives them the scent of Rand, Hurin and Loial and the wolves knowledge of them ends at the Stone where they vanished, with that possibility gone he tells the Wolves about the Trollocs and Fain which enrages the wolves who had apparently not noticed the Trollocs had come this far south.
The packs offer to let Perrin and the Shienarans take part in killing the Trollocs, and he cuts off the connection, fearing being overwhelmed by the wolves anger and bloodlust. Perrin goes to Ingtar and tells him about the wolves and what they said. Ingtar apparently has heard stories of Elyas and believes Perrin, but decides to say that Perrin developed Hurin’s skill.
The group heads south, and Perrin struggles trying to keep the wolves from rushing ahead and killing the Trollocs, which will cause the Dark friends to scatter..possibly losing the dagger, until the Wolves find the camp that Fain had used last night and the wolves send him an image of the slaughter that had occurred last night.
Perrin stops the group and attempts to explain not wanting to go see the pile of skulls in person, Ingtar notices dust in the road behind them, apparently someone is following them. The Lancers prepare to charge and a portly Female with Grey hair rides up.
Mat identifies Verin as she approaches, Moraine having sent her to help them find the Horn. She notices that Rand is gone with Loial and Hurin..and knows that Hurin is a sniffer, catching Ingtar off guard.
Perrin secretly wishes for Rand to stay wherever he went.
Commentary.
The wolves have returned and so has Verin, These 3 chapters are all basically checking in on everyone’s location in between two big sets of Rand POVs.
We find out that wolves name humans who can talk to them, and we get another breadcrumb about Elyas, that he was famous enough in the borderlands for his story to be notable, which lines up with what Lan said in book 1.
It is amazing that Verin kept up her “I am a bird brain” look for anyone, basically everyone notes that she goes from “totally not paying attention” to “paying attention” in every chapter. I guess that is only the good guys though since none of the badguys seem to think she is all that dangerous.
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Chapter 15: Kinslayer
Summary
Rand, Loial and Hurin continue to track the scent of Fain’s group in the weird land that the Stone took them too. The Land is faded and causes everyone’s head to spin if they look to far into the distance. No signs of life outside of trees and grass is apparent, with the only thing that contrasts the grass being long black burn marks as if something had painted fire along the land.
They find water that tastes flat as if it had been boiled but no life there either, no fish or even bugs along the stream. Eventually Loial dismounts and goes to a nearby tree and begins to sing to it, working with the tree to pull a long length of smooth wood from it, which looks to Rand like a walking stick until Rand compares it to Loial’s height, Loial had made himself a quarterstaff.
Loial is abashed about making a weapon, however is further bothered from the fact that while he was singing it seemed to be that the land was “happy” for a weapon to be created. The revelation unnerves Rand and Hurin, but Rand assures them as best he can pretending to be certain and unafraid so that Loial and Hurin don’t completely break down in panic.
Hurin brings up that the trail is weird, as if he is remembering the scent instead of smelling it and that there is the smell of violence everywhere some of it as bad as a massacre that just happened but something like that would leave marks in the grass where they have found none.
Eventually dark falls and the 3 make camp, Rand chooses to take the first watch while the others sleep. The emptiness of the night matches the day almost as if his Trio are the only people in this world. He takes out the flute and plays it quietly a bit to keep himself company, thinking of the times he played for his supper.
Soon a fog rolls in deep and thick enough to cover even Loial’s huge body. Rand grabs his sword and a voice echos out. “Swords are no use to me Lews Therin.”
Ba’azlamon comes out of the night, even deeper darkness coming with him, a mask on his face. The two argue about Rand being the reincarnation of Lews Therin until eventually Ba’alzamon takes off his mask, showing that he is still burnt but starting to recover from it. Then he uses the True Power to cause Rand’s sword to heat up and burn his hand and clothing.
Rand grasps the one power for just a moment and the feel of fire vanishes and he is unharmed, except for a heron branded into the palm of his hand where he was holding his sword.
Commentary
Yay more tree singing, I am surprised that bit did not get edited out given that Loial does not use his new quarterstaff at all and throws it away before this section is over.
Ba’alzamon has returned to the plot again, and is slowly regenerating his burns, which I assume is a True Power only thing since we have never seen anyone heal themselves and direct healing is pretty instantaneous even with the True Power.
Chapter 16: In the Mirror of Darkness.
Summary
Rand awakens Loial and Hurin in the morning, Hurin complains that Rand stayed up all night and that a Lord needs rest to keep their mind sharp. Loial asks about the bandage on Rand’s hand but Rand snaps that it is nothing.
They continue on following Fain’s scent, and come to a large black spire with a bird on top of it. Hurin suggests it might be the spire that Artur Hawkwing set up in memorial to those who died in his victory against the Trollocs, the smell of Fain’s group goes right by it so Rand says they should go to it.
Loial expresses doubt but Rand gallops ahead ignoring the Ogier until he comes to the monument, and sees that it is not a list of human names, and that the bird on it is not the Eagle of Hawkwing but a giant Raven.
The script on the tower is that of Trollocs, and there are symbols of all the Trolloc tribes. Loial catches up with Hurin and Rand. He explains that in this world The Trollocs must have won, and that they are in a world where events happened differently and that is why everything seems so washed out and weird looking, because this world was an unlikely set of events.
Rand says that if the Trollocs won they would be everywhere, but Loial hypothesizes that the Trollocs killed each other and that the world is lifeless because the Trollocs ended up killing everything, Loial also points out the nearby mountains, that Kinslayer’s Dagger a mountain range that is within Cairhien and that they should be nowhere near it.
As the Trio discusses the implications of this they hear a Woman’s scream. Rand races off towards the direction of the scream and finds a woman being assaulted by a large creature that is a cross between a bear and a frog.
He pulls his bow from his stirrup and fires an arrow at the beast, he hits it and the beast turns towards him leaping like a frog. He embraces the void and fires another arrow hitting one of it’s three eyes dead center.
The woman mounts her horse and approaches him. She is tall, dressed all in white with silver jewelry and long black hair. She is the most beautiful woman that Rand had ever seen. Hurin and Loial arrive and are also both struck by the woman’s beauty.
She introduces herself as Selene, and thanks Rand for saving him. Rand and Hurin explains their mission and offers to take Selene with them so that they can keep her safe until they find a way back home
She agrees to join the group and they go off, Selene explaining that she is from Cairhien and that she had ridden out into the mountains to picnic and fell asleep by a stone, and she notices Rand’s wound..she takes his hand and unwraps the bandage.
Selene takes out a salve and rubs it into Rand’s palm, he feels a chill and while his palm is still branded, his hand feels as good as if the salve were one of Nyneave’s ointments.
Rand asks if Selene is an “Aes Sedai” and she angrily responds no, she could never be called “Aes Sedai”
She refuses to speak with him for a long while, talking to Hurin and Loial instead, when she returns to speak with him he tells her of The Void, and she names it “The One-ness”
Then a sound comes from behind, an echoing bark. Rand looks to a nearby hill where 5 more of the beasts that attacked Selene appear.
Commentary
It might be because I know who she is, but Selene throws up more red flags than a Tinder profile that says “Bi-Polar Single Mother who works in HR and wants to punch Nazis”
It is really funny how some of the villains are just completely obvious while others you would never guess. I am not sure if I guessed this right out from the start or it if took me to the end of the book to make this connection but if you haven’t guessed.
This bitch is Lanfear
I don’t consider this a spoiler because if you have half a brain and are paying attention its not really a huge guess.
“Lanfear is free”
“Mysterious beautiful woman who is thirsty as fuck for Rand shows up”
Lanfear is about as subtle as Dr. Wily sometimes.
Also I love Loial’s reaction “If there were ever a concept of perfect human beauty it would be her”
KEK, even the Ogier got the hots for Lanfear. Honestly if she were not murderously backstabbing Lanfear would make a good big tiddy goth GF, but you she is such a backstabbing bitch she ends up being the only Forsaken to get away from the last battle uncaptured and alive. No really Sanderson revealed that the Lanfear that Perrin killed was an illusion and she straight up escaped.
Listen Leigh...sometimes dudes think with their dicks. It's sad but true. There is also the possibility that Lanfear uses slight compulsion to make everyone think she is stunning. Loial suddenly thirst-posting is about the only thing that makes me think it is possible..so I doubt it. Of course I played DND quite a bit and sometimes..you just all miss your spot checks and the party gets ambushed by 4 dudes in plate armor.
Chapter 17: Choices
The Creatures, named Grolm begin to chase them. (((SELENE))) suggests they go to the portal stone, but Rand insists they have to keep tracking Fain.
Rand insists that he can handle this situation and finds an outcropping that he can use. He sets himself up with his bow and 5 arrows. He enters The Void in his mind and fires all 5 arrows, hitting 5 eyes dead on.
Rand goes to let go of the void, but it remains and he can feel the light of Saidin. He begins to reach for it, Hurin interrupts him and Rand intends to tell Hurin to get back on the scent of the trail...then even more Grolm appear over the horizon, a hundred of them, more than an army can handle.
(((SELENE))) takes them to the Portal stone and instructs Rand on it’s use. Telling him about the symbol he should focus on.
Rand uses The Void to grasp at Saidin and focuses on the symbol, letting the power flow into him willing it to flow into the Portal Stone.
The world begins to flicker and once the flickering fades, they are back to their world. Rand suggests that they take (((Selene))) home, and she responds that Fain’s group might not have gone to that world, and that the world could have been a Mirror to the real world..and that the scent Hurin was following was the trail of where Fain’s group are going to go, not where they will go.
Commentary.
Man it would be really weird if this mysterious Selene girl set all of this up to force Rand to channel and get him addicted to using the power.
“I could smell violence on all of us, even you Lady Selene” – Hurin.
I dunno if I want to call this subtle foreshadowing about Selene being Lanfear or a giant Hammer to the reader’s face that they don’t know they are getting hit by.
Summary
Rand, Loial and Hurin continue to track the scent of Fain’s group in the weird land that the Stone took them too. The Land is faded and causes everyone’s head to spin if they look to far into the distance. No signs of life outside of trees and grass is apparent, with the only thing that contrasts the grass being long black burn marks as if something had painted fire along the land.
They find water that tastes flat as if it had been boiled but no life there either, no fish or even bugs along the stream. Eventually Loial dismounts and goes to a nearby tree and begins to sing to it, working with the tree to pull a long length of smooth wood from it, which looks to Rand like a walking stick until Rand compares it to Loial’s height, Loial had made himself a quarterstaff.
Loial is abashed about making a weapon, however is further bothered from the fact that while he was singing it seemed to be that the land was “happy” for a weapon to be created. The revelation unnerves Rand and Hurin, but Rand assures them as best he can pretending to be certain and unafraid so that Loial and Hurin don’t completely break down in panic.
Hurin brings up that the trail is weird, as if he is remembering the scent instead of smelling it and that there is the smell of violence everywhere some of it as bad as a massacre that just happened but something like that would leave marks in the grass where they have found none.
Eventually dark falls and the 3 make camp, Rand chooses to take the first watch while the others sleep. The emptiness of the night matches the day almost as if his Trio are the only people in this world. He takes out the flute and plays it quietly a bit to keep himself company, thinking of the times he played for his supper.
Soon a fog rolls in deep and thick enough to cover even Loial’s huge body. Rand grabs his sword and a voice echos out. “Swords are no use to me Lews Therin.”
Ba’azlamon comes out of the night, even deeper darkness coming with him, a mask on his face. The two argue about Rand being the reincarnation of Lews Therin until eventually Ba’alzamon takes off his mask, showing that he is still burnt but starting to recover from it. Then he uses the True Power to cause Rand’s sword to heat up and burn his hand and clothing.
Rand grasps the one power for just a moment and the feel of fire vanishes and he is unharmed, except for a heron branded into the palm of his hand where he was holding his sword.
Commentary
Yay more tree singing, I am surprised that bit did not get edited out given that Loial does not use his new quarterstaff at all and throws it away before this section is over.
Ba’alzamon has returned to the plot again, and is slowly regenerating his burns, which I assume is a True Power only thing since we have never seen anyone heal themselves and direct healing is pretty instantaneous even with the True Power.
Chapter 16: In the Mirror of Darkness.
Summary
Rand awakens Loial and Hurin in the morning, Hurin complains that Rand stayed up all night and that a Lord needs rest to keep their mind sharp. Loial asks about the bandage on Rand’s hand but Rand snaps that it is nothing.
They continue on following Fain’s scent, and come to a large black spire with a bird on top of it. Hurin suggests it might be the spire that Artur Hawkwing set up in memorial to those who died in his victory against the Trollocs, the smell of Fain’s group goes right by it so Rand says they should go to it.
Loial expresses doubt but Rand gallops ahead ignoring the Ogier until he comes to the monument, and sees that it is not a list of human names, and that the bird on it is not the Eagle of Hawkwing but a giant Raven.
The script on the tower is that of Trollocs, and there are symbols of all the Trolloc tribes. Loial catches up with Hurin and Rand. He explains that in this world The Trollocs must have won, and that they are in a world where events happened differently and that is why everything seems so washed out and weird looking, because this world was an unlikely set of events.
Rand says that if the Trollocs won they would be everywhere, but Loial hypothesizes that the Trollocs killed each other and that the world is lifeless because the Trollocs ended up killing everything, Loial also points out the nearby mountains, that Kinslayer’s Dagger a mountain range that is within Cairhien and that they should be nowhere near it.
As the Trio discusses the implications of this they hear a Woman’s scream. Rand races off towards the direction of the scream and finds a woman being assaulted by a large creature that is a cross between a bear and a frog.
He pulls his bow from his stirrup and fires an arrow at the beast, he hits it and the beast turns towards him leaping like a frog. He embraces the void and fires another arrow hitting one of it’s three eyes dead center.
The woman mounts her horse and approaches him. She is tall, dressed all in white with silver jewelry and long black hair. She is the most beautiful woman that Rand had ever seen. Hurin and Loial arrive and are also both struck by the woman’s beauty.
She introduces herself as Selene, and thanks Rand for saving him. Rand and Hurin explains their mission and offers to take Selene with them so that they can keep her safe until they find a way back home
She agrees to join the group and they go off, Selene explaining that she is from Cairhien and that she had ridden out into the mountains to picnic and fell asleep by a stone, and she notices Rand’s wound..she takes his hand and unwraps the bandage.
Selene takes out a salve and rubs it into Rand’s palm, he feels a chill and while his palm is still branded, his hand feels as good as if the salve were one of Nyneave’s ointments.
Rand asks if Selene is an “Aes Sedai” and she angrily responds no, she could never be called “Aes Sedai”
She refuses to speak with him for a long while, talking to Hurin and Loial instead, when she returns to speak with him he tells her of The Void, and she names it “The One-ness”
Then a sound comes from behind, an echoing bark. Rand looks to a nearby hill where 5 more of the beasts that attacked Selene appear.
Commentary
It might be because I know who she is, but Selene throws up more red flags than a Tinder profile that says “Bi-Polar Single Mother who works in HR and wants to punch Nazis”
It is really funny how some of the villains are just completely obvious while others you would never guess. I am not sure if I guessed this right out from the start or it if took me to the end of the book to make this connection but if you haven’t guessed.
This bitch is Lanfear
I don’t consider this a spoiler because if you have half a brain and are paying attention its not really a huge guess.
“Lanfear is free”
“Mysterious beautiful woman who is thirsty as fuck for Rand shows up”
Lanfear is about as subtle as Dr. Wily sometimes.
Also I love Loial’s reaction “If there were ever a concept of perfect human beauty it would be her”
KEK, even the Ogier got the hots for Lanfear. Honestly if she were not murderously backstabbing Lanfear would make a good big tiddy goth GF, but you she is such a backstabbing bitch she ends up being the only Forsaken to get away from the last battle uncaptured and alive. No really Sanderson revealed that the Lanfear that Perrin killed was an illusion and she straight up escaped.
Listen Leigh...sometimes dudes think with their dicks. It's sad but true. There is also the possibility that Lanfear uses slight compulsion to make everyone think she is stunning. Loial suddenly thirst-posting is about the only thing that makes me think it is possible..so I doubt it. Of course I played DND quite a bit and sometimes..you just all miss your spot checks and the party gets ambushed by 4 dudes in plate armor.
Chapter 17: Choices
The Creatures, named Grolm begin to chase them. (((SELENE))) suggests they go to the portal stone, but Rand insists they have to keep tracking Fain.
Rand insists that he can handle this situation and finds an outcropping that he can use. He sets himself up with his bow and 5 arrows. He enters The Void in his mind and fires all 5 arrows, hitting 5 eyes dead on.
Rand goes to let go of the void, but it remains and he can feel the light of Saidin. He begins to reach for it, Hurin interrupts him and Rand intends to tell Hurin to get back on the scent of the trail...then even more Grolm appear over the horizon, a hundred of them, more than an army can handle.
(((SELENE))) takes them to the Portal stone and instructs Rand on it’s use. Telling him about the symbol he should focus on.
Rand uses The Void to grasp at Saidin and focuses on the symbol, letting the power flow into him willing it to flow into the Portal Stone.
The world begins to flicker and once the flickering fades, they are back to their world. Rand suggests that they take (((Selene))) home, and she responds that Fain’s group might not have gone to that world, and that the world could have been a Mirror to the real world..and that the scent Hurin was following was the trail of where Fain’s group are going to go, not where they will go.
Commentary.
Man it would be really weird if this mysterious Selene girl set all of this up to force Rand to channel and get him addicted to using the power.
“I could smell violence on all of us, even you Lady Selene” – Hurin.
I dunno if I want to call this subtle foreshadowing about Selene being Lanfear or a giant Hammer to the reader’s face that they don’t know they are getting hit by.
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- Mar 19, 2017
I like to imagine she tried to go after Rand shortly after the epilogue and got instantly obliterated by his new dreamer powers
Honka Honka Burning Love
In Clown World, the only god is the one who Honks.
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Chapter 18: To the White Tower
Summary
Egwene and Nyneave travel by River Ship to Tar Valon and discuss Egwene’s recurring dreams of Rand and Ba’alzamon, Then receive a lesson directly from The Amyrlin Seat herself.
Nyneave proves herself strong enough with the power to skip the initial stage of being an Aes Sedai initiate named “Novice” and skip straight to being an “Accepted” however the Amyrlin goes especially hard on the former wisdom trying to get her mad enough to channel again but Nyneave forces herself to keep her temper in check until Siuan leaves.
Not long after Siuan exits, the shifting movement of the boat indicates that they have finally arrived at the island of Tar Valon, the center of Aes Sedai power, and thus the center of the world itself. Nyneave and Egwene depart the ship and even Nyneave who is quite cynical about Aes Sedai can not help be impressed by the Tower itself.
The pair are met by a Red Headed Aes Sedai named Sheriam Bayanar, the Misstress of Novices, who oversees the training of new recruits in the White Tower who takes them toward the tower itself to be properly inducted to begin their training.
Commentary
So remember when I commented about “Females being weak in Earth and Fire and strong in Wind and Water” making no sense given how the Aes Sedai use the power?
Siuan makes a blade out of air in this chapter, one that is “As good as a steel sword” if you can make something as sharp as steel at will, wherever you want it then why would you ever bother with a fireball.
Also Nyneave gets really fucking seasick….even on a river. I kinda feel for her given that she is gonna be boating so much until she learns Traveling. I am also starting to ponder an idea on why Egewene is so disliked...I’ve got a thesis in mind for when we get..far along enough I can point out where her plots have gone in the first few books.
It’s actually something that another reviled plot has in common.
Chapter 19: Beneath the Dagger
Rand, Loial, Hurin and Selene camp in the mountains of Kinslayer’s Dagger. Rand tries to sleep despite the chill of the mountains. He catches Selene nosing around in his saddlebags and she makes a lie about how she wants to clean her dress.
Hurin comes from the ledge he was watching and reports that he has seen a small fire in the distance. Selene insists that Rand and Loial go to check out the camp, and Rand does so to make sure it is Padan Fain’s group.
Rand and Loial head towards the direction that Hurin pointed out, even though the fire had been put out. Luckily the moon is full and bright enough, and the sky is clear enough that when Rand approaches the camp the Moonlight makes the camp visible enough for him to sneak up to the chest itself and guide Loial to it through the sleeping Trolloc guards.
Rand has Loial go back to their horses as Fain awakens and rouses the camp. Trollocs attack and Rand using the void fights back against them, as well as fighting against Saidin, becoming one with his sword in his mind in order to ignore the siren call of the Male half of the power.
Loial calls out to him and the pair escape as Fain screams at them from his camp, The Void keeping Fain from sensing where Rand is, when the pair arrive back with Selene and Hurin they have a short discussion on what to do next.
Selene however says that Rand must go on, not because of destiny..but because Fain is now actively looking for the group and there is no way for them to really sneak past Fain’s group so the only choice is to go to the city of Cairhein and wait for Ingtar to catch up since Fain can’t act openly within a city.
Meanwhile in Fain’s camp, Fain kills one of the Trollocs and tells them to go find Rand in the mountains.
Commentary.
I love the introduction of this chapter. “Night on the edge of Kinslayer’s dagger was cold, as Nights on the mountains are always cold”
Rand takes an even more active role in the story, he kept pushing himself forwards in Eye of the World but was always following Moraine’s plan.
(((SELENE))) continues to act completely deranged, like real red flag levels of creepy. It’s been a while sine I really listened to this part closely, and holy crap Selene is just a fucking lunatic sometimes. Rand is thinking with his cock hardcore in these chapters, I do wonder if she was pulling tricks to help Rand in this chapter...Rand gets a REALLY convenient beam of moonlight that gives him enough light to find the chest in Fain’s camp...and Lanfear is called “Moonhunter” by the Wolves.
She ain't wrong, Rand must have gotten some fat XP off those Grolm, if only he had put some skill points into Perception to see through (((SELENE)))
Chapter 20: Saidin
Summary
Rand’s group continues running from Padan Fain’s group, going towards a small village. Outside of it Rand encounters an excavation of a large statue with a giant crystal orb.
The Orb Calls to Rand, and he finds himself being tempted by the Song of Saidin. He feels as if the Statue and Saidin would sing together if he would just allow the Male half of the Source embrace him.
He finds himself drawn towards the Statue until something deep within him triggers an image of a harsh land, desolate from an unyielding sun that bakes away even the slightest drop of water, he shakes off the desire to get to the statue and finds that Selene is begging him to come away from the statue and that she won’t bring up Glory, or The Horn of Valere again.
Commentary.
This statue certainly isn’t an important plot point for the future...and most certainly isn’t something dangerous enough that even Lanfear is scared shitless of it…
Totally Not Important at all.
Seriously though, Rand’s interaction with the statue freaks out fucking Lanfear. If you think about this chapter after you find out who she is then you should realize just how dangerous this thing is.
Chapter 21: The Nine Rings
Summary
Rand and Company find the local Inn, called the Nine Rings.
Some of the local guards are drinking and playing dice in one corner, with their Captain at another table. The Innkeeper serves them pork slices with peppers in a sweet and sour sauce. The Innkeeper notices the flute case Rand has sticking out of the bundle of Thom’s cloak and asks if Hurin could play some songs.
Rand surprises the Innkeeper by saying the Flute was his, and performs a bit, causing the guards to sing a bit, the captain dismisses the guards and speaks with Rand a bit. One of the maids drops a lamp causing a small fire and Selene uses it an excuse to go to her room and avoid the Captain’s questions.
The Captain questions Rand a bit, as if he were trying to drill Rand for information about who he truly is and what his intentions are. Like he were suspecting that Rand was a spying on the excavation project.
In the Morning Selene has vanished leaving Rand a letter, not wanting to be around the guards that the Captain forced on Rand..because they were just so happening to go his way.
Commentary
Whee Rand flute playing! I never get tired of Rand’s musical learning coming into play.
(((SELENE))) has completely vanished and is gone..she totally isn't just invisible and stalking Rand the rest of the book. It is the letter that smells like Perfume and not her violating his personal space 24/7.
The Concept of “The Great Game” comes into play here, which you might think is a reference to “A Game of Thrones” but The Great Hunt came out in 1990, years before “A Game of Thrones” came out.
Get cucked again WesterNiggers
Summary
Egwene and Nyneave travel by River Ship to Tar Valon and discuss Egwene’s recurring dreams of Rand and Ba’alzamon, Then receive a lesson directly from The Amyrlin Seat herself.
Nyneave proves herself strong enough with the power to skip the initial stage of being an Aes Sedai initiate named “Novice” and skip straight to being an “Accepted” however the Amyrlin goes especially hard on the former wisdom trying to get her mad enough to channel again but Nyneave forces herself to keep her temper in check until Siuan leaves.
Not long after Siuan exits, the shifting movement of the boat indicates that they have finally arrived at the island of Tar Valon, the center of Aes Sedai power, and thus the center of the world itself. Nyneave and Egwene depart the ship and even Nyneave who is quite cynical about Aes Sedai can not help be impressed by the Tower itself.
The pair are met by a Red Headed Aes Sedai named Sheriam Bayanar, the Misstress of Novices, who oversees the training of new recruits in the White Tower who takes them toward the tower itself to be properly inducted to begin their training.
Commentary
So remember when I commented about “Females being weak in Earth and Fire and strong in Wind and Water” making no sense given how the Aes Sedai use the power?
Siuan makes a blade out of air in this chapter, one that is “As good as a steel sword” if you can make something as sharp as steel at will, wherever you want it then why would you ever bother with a fireball.
Also Nyneave gets really fucking seasick….even on a river. I kinda feel for her given that she is gonna be boating so much until she learns Traveling. I am also starting to ponder an idea on why Egewene is so disliked...I’ve got a thesis in mind for when we get..far along enough I can point out where her plots have gone in the first few books.
It’s actually something that another reviled plot has in common.
Chapter 19: Beneath the Dagger
Rand, Loial, Hurin and Selene camp in the mountains of Kinslayer’s Dagger. Rand tries to sleep despite the chill of the mountains. He catches Selene nosing around in his saddlebags and she makes a lie about how she wants to clean her dress.
Hurin comes from the ledge he was watching and reports that he has seen a small fire in the distance. Selene insists that Rand and Loial go to check out the camp, and Rand does so to make sure it is Padan Fain’s group.
Rand and Loial head towards the direction that Hurin pointed out, even though the fire had been put out. Luckily the moon is full and bright enough, and the sky is clear enough that when Rand approaches the camp the Moonlight makes the camp visible enough for him to sneak up to the chest itself and guide Loial to it through the sleeping Trolloc guards.
Rand has Loial go back to their horses as Fain awakens and rouses the camp. Trollocs attack and Rand using the void fights back against them, as well as fighting against Saidin, becoming one with his sword in his mind in order to ignore the siren call of the Male half of the power.
Loial calls out to him and the pair escape as Fain screams at them from his camp, The Void keeping Fain from sensing where Rand is, when the pair arrive back with Selene and Hurin they have a short discussion on what to do next.
Selene however says that Rand must go on, not because of destiny..but because Fain is now actively looking for the group and there is no way for them to really sneak past Fain’s group so the only choice is to go to the city of Cairhein and wait for Ingtar to catch up since Fain can’t act openly within a city.
Meanwhile in Fain’s camp, Fain kills one of the Trollocs and tells them to go find Rand in the mountains.
Commentary.
I love the introduction of this chapter. “Night on the edge of Kinslayer’s dagger was cold, as Nights on the mountains are always cold”
Rand takes an even more active role in the story, he kept pushing himself forwards in Eye of the World but was always following Moraine’s plan.
(((SELENE))) continues to act completely deranged, like real red flag levels of creepy. It’s been a while sine I really listened to this part closely, and holy crap Selene is just a fucking lunatic sometimes. Rand is thinking with his cock hardcore in these chapters, I do wonder if she was pulling tricks to help Rand in this chapter...Rand gets a REALLY convenient beam of moonlight that gives him enough light to find the chest in Fain’s camp...and Lanfear is called “Moonhunter” by the Wolves.
She ain't wrong, Rand must have gotten some fat XP off those Grolm, if only he had put some skill points into Perception to see through (((SELENE)))
Chapter 20: Saidin
Summary
Rand’s group continues running from Padan Fain’s group, going towards a small village. Outside of it Rand encounters an excavation of a large statue with a giant crystal orb.
The Orb Calls to Rand, and he finds himself being tempted by the Song of Saidin. He feels as if the Statue and Saidin would sing together if he would just allow the Male half of the Source embrace him.
He finds himself drawn towards the Statue until something deep within him triggers an image of a harsh land, desolate from an unyielding sun that bakes away even the slightest drop of water, he shakes off the desire to get to the statue and finds that Selene is begging him to come away from the statue and that she won’t bring up Glory, or The Horn of Valere again.
Commentary.
This statue certainly isn’t an important plot point for the future...and most certainly isn’t something dangerous enough that even Lanfear is scared shitless of it…
Totally Not Important at all.
Seriously though, Rand’s interaction with the statue freaks out fucking Lanfear. If you think about this chapter after you find out who she is then you should realize just how dangerous this thing is.
Chapter 21: The Nine Rings
Summary
Rand and Company find the local Inn, called the Nine Rings.
Some of the local guards are drinking and playing dice in one corner, with their Captain at another table. The Innkeeper serves them pork slices with peppers in a sweet and sour sauce. The Innkeeper notices the flute case Rand has sticking out of the bundle of Thom’s cloak and asks if Hurin could play some songs.
Rand surprises the Innkeeper by saying the Flute was his, and performs a bit, causing the guards to sing a bit, the captain dismisses the guards and speaks with Rand a bit. One of the maids drops a lamp causing a small fire and Selene uses it an excuse to go to her room and avoid the Captain’s questions.
The Captain questions Rand a bit, as if he were trying to drill Rand for information about who he truly is and what his intentions are. Like he were suspecting that Rand was a spying on the excavation project.
In the Morning Selene has vanished leaving Rand a letter, not wanting to be around the guards that the Captain forced on Rand..because they were just so happening to go his way.
Commentary
Whee Rand flute playing! I never get tired of Rand’s musical learning coming into play.
(((SELENE))) has completely vanished and is gone..she totally isn't just invisible and stalking Rand the rest of the book. It is the letter that smells like Perfume and not her violating his personal space 24/7.
The Concept of “The Great Game” comes into play here, which you might think is a reference to “A Game of Thrones” but The Great Hunt came out in 1990, years before “A Game of Thrones” came out.
Get cucked again WesterNiggers
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2020
For those new to this series and thread, welcome to the Island of Subtlety, Tar Valon!
NSA
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2017
Or as I call it, Tight Vagina!
Honka Honka Burning Love
In Clown World, the only god is the one who Honks.
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- Aug 29, 2019
Don't forget the giant white tower shoved into it...
Chapter 22: Watchers
Summary
Moraine and Lan have found their way to a small village in the far reaches of Arafel, the Borderlander nation west of Shienar. They speak of how they met and how Moraine decided to bond him. Moraine tells Lan that she has used the Bond’s abilities to have the Bond pass to another sister if something were to happen to Moraine because Moraine does not want him doing something stupid if she were to die.
This upsets Lan and Moraine pushes even harder, questioning the fact that Lan gave Rand advise on how to act in front of the Amyrlin. Lan blames “Ta’veren” and eventually leaves.
Moraine considers things for a moment until another Aes Sedai comes in, Vandene Namelle, who lives on this farm with her sister Adeleas and her warder Jaem. They retired decades ago in order for Adeleas to write a history of the world since the breaking and most have forgotten they even exist despite their farm having as much information as a library.
Moraine asks her a few questions about recent events. Tomon Head, Lanfear, The connection between the Horn of Valere and The Dragon, eventually Moraine exists the cabin and goes to find Lan, until she is attacked by a Draghkar.
Moraine is almost taken by the beast until it is attacked by Lan and Jaem. Moraine considers methods of attack that would not endanger the warders and decides to touch the Draghkar to set it on fire. Before she can the Warders simultaneously stab the shadow spawn and kill it.
Vandene and Adeleas rush out to make sure Moraine is okay and deal with the Draghkar’s body. When one of the sisters brings up how nobody sensed the Draghkar approaching and Moraine says the thing that nobody wants to say.
“It was warded with the power, which means the Black Ajah did it.”
Commentary.
Man Moraine, I wonder..if instead of poking the gross ass not vampire thing with a finger to kill it if there were some way..to make a super sharp blade of air.
I kind of want to count this as the first proper appearance of a Draghkar, they were around in the Eye of the World but we never came face to face with one in a direct confrontation..it just kind of flew around in the last book, which is something I think the later books started to trip on..after like Book 3 we don’t get many new Shadowspawn.
I think it is generally assumed that the Draghkar was warded by Liandrin since she also left the Aes Sedai caravan after Moraine and Verin did. I don’t think we ever get evidence for this beyond “Who else could it have been.”
Chapter 23: The Testing.
Summary
Nyneave is taken into the depths of the White Tower where she is to be tested to become an Accepted by Sheriam.
The test involves going through the 3 arches of a ter’angreal to face specific trials involving facing her fears. One Fear of her past, one fear of her present and one fear of her future and to be able to keep her focus well enough to find the Silver Arch to escape the vision.
Her fears of the past involve being lost in a Maze and facing off against Aginor, One of the Forsaken from the previous book.
Her fears of the present involve her replacement Wisdom being a Tyrant who poisons children to keep her job, and murders any of the Adults to speak up against her.
Her fears of the future are a life with Lan, their children and a reborn and cleansed Malkier.
Nyneave generally does well in the testing, with the third test managing to snare her well enough to force her to use the One Power to make the Silver Arch re-appear after it vanishes.
Commentary
This is kind of a long chapter in terms of word count, but when you summarize there is not much to really discuss. We aren’t exactly foreshadowing things like the Testing we see in the next book.
We get a minor implication about what is exactly going on in these Arches with Nyneave forcing the arch to appear by sheer force of will.
According to the Wiki we also get an early appearance by a Red Sister who becomes incredibly important later on. I am going to need to keep in mind the description of “Swarthy” to see if that gets brought up again when she re-appears in the plot.
I am starting to like Early series Nyneave a lot more this read through, she straight up Leeroy Jenkins into the third test’s arch and sheer level of “AW FUCK NO” she achieves upon seeing what is going on in the future vision is fun, I kind of wonder what would have happened if she told Vision Lan “I am taking the test for the accepted..I need to find a Silver Arch and GTFO of this vision”
There is also a name in the third vision of Sharina Sedai, a name that comes up later on in the series.
Chapter 24: New Friends and Old Enemies
Egwene is taken to her new quarters in the Novice section of the tower and meets Elyane Trakand, who Egwene quickly keys onto as the Daughter Heir that Rand had met in Caemlyn.
The two discuss how things work in the Tower and Egwene whines about how unfair it is, but Elyane explains why it has to be that way and Elyane suggests meeting another girl that knows about Rand and along the way they encounter Logain Ablar, the False Dragon who had been captured and gentled, who is taken off by an accepted.
Elyane takes Egwene to a garden, to meet Min the woman who sees visions from Baerlon and while the 3 chat Elyane’s brothers appear. Galad and Gawyn who also know of Rand. Gawyn comments on how Rand altered the lives of many of the people he had encountered in book one, going as far as commenting that Gawyn might be “Ta’veren”
Elaida comes upon the group, causing Gawyn to retreat before she berates him, however Elyane greets her as if they are friends and the Red Sister dresses the Princess down as if she were a common girl even demanding that Elyane seek out Sheriam for punishment for talking to an Aes Sedai without being spoken to first.
Commentary
Why don’t you look at that, a bunch of characters we met in the first book were relevant and turn out to be supporting cast for our Main Female character. Well la de da imagine setting things up and having them pay off.
Egwene even meets one of her most important antagonists here in Elaida, who shows shades of what will come with her character deserving a beauty parlor thread. She watched Elyane grow up and treats her like shit as soon as Elaida has an excuse to do so.
Honka Honka Burning Love
In Clown World, the only god is the one who Honks.
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kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
Chapter 25: Cairhien
Summary
Rand and the procession of guards that accompany him arrive in the City of Cairhien, the capital of the nation of the same name.
The city’s walls are surrounded by a secondary city, called the Foregate, largely comprised of refugees from the Aiel War twenty years ago, the families of farmers who were afraid to return to their homes in the eastern part of the nation, near the Dragonwall, the Mountains that separate the West lands from the Aiel Waste.
The current King, Galldrian Riatin purchases grain from Tear and Andor to feed the people, and pays entertainers to keep them amused day and night, including Illuminators who perform firework shows at night and have built a chapter house due to the permanence of Galldrian’s payments to him.
The guard captain takes Rand to the proper gate and has his, Loial and Hurin’s name written down, and the gate guards demand that Rand return by the next day to tell them the Inn that he is staying at. Rand finds an Inn named “The Defender of the Dragonwall” and purchases rooms for him and his friends.
Rand questions why everyone of the Cairhienen seem to be spying on them and Hurin explains that they basically are, that in the years after the fall of House Damodred the entire Nation’s leadership got swept up in the Game of Houses and that has filtered down to the normal folk.
Everyone plays the game or is selling information to someone who is playing the game. Rand is frustrated by the entire concept of Daes Dae’mar and decides to go out to the Foregate and enjoy some of the festivities, on the way out Rand receives a pair of invitations from Noble houses to attend parties, which he burns and proclaims “I am not part of your game”
He explores the Foregate for a time until he hears a familiar voice performing from inside of a building and looks inside to see Thom Merrilin performing the Great Hunt of the Horn on the stage. Thom instantly notices him and discretely directs Rand to a hallway to wait for Thom to finish the tale.
The pair talk for a moment and Thom tells Rand to meet him at an Inn called “The Bunch of Grapes” to talk more, and so that Rand can return Thom’s harp and flute.
Comtentary
We have unlocked Major City number 4 of the series (Fal Dara is big, but it is not the capital of Shienar)
Rand exhibits some real lolcow behavior here, all he had to do was let the things pile up, or respond “No thank you, we are not intending on staying in the city for very long”
Thom returns to the plot long enough for Rand to give him his Flute and Harp back since Rand apparently now has enough gold on hand to stay in upscale inns for days. I am not exactly sure how I feel about money already being dropped as a plot point at this bit..but if Moraine intends on Rand being proclaimed as “The Dragon” her shoving enough Gold in his saddle bags to make it seem like he shouldn’t worry about money is sensible.
Chapter 26: Discord
Summary
Rand returns to the Defender of the Dragonwall long enough to get Thom’s Flute and Harp and force Loial into going to meet the Gleeman.
They head to the bunch of grapes and the Innkeeper directs them to Thom’s room where a woman named Dena is, Rand thinks quick enough to pick up on the fact that Dena and Thom are shagging, but before he can act on this realization Thom enters.
He sends Dena off and Rand tells Thom about the Horn of Valere and asks the Gleeman to help them get to Shienar, to which Thom turns them down because he is in love with Dena and she is in love with him.
Rand asks Loial to leave the room and begins to ask Thom about how the Horn of Valere connects to The Dragon Reborn since they will both be at The Last Battle. Thom says he doesn’t know of anything that connects the Dragon to the Horn but brings up one of the parts of the Prophecies noticing the Herons on Rand’s coat.
“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”
Rand hides the Heron that is branded into his hand and claims that his sword makes 5 because there are herons on it, he tries to convince Thom to come with them again and Thom turns him down.
Thom gives Rand another flute, the replacement Thom was using until now..and Rand leaves, with Thom saying to not return because “A clean break is best” and he doesn’t want to be tempted by the Horn.
Rand leaves and Thom ruminates on the Horn and Dena until the Innkeeper comes in and asks why Thom is talking to an Andoran Lord and Thom responds that “Rand is just a Sheepherder.”
Commentary
Exposition time!
Thom comes into the plot to bomb us with some exposition about the Heron mark and vanish like Tuxedo Mask.
There isn’t much to really say, we get confirmation that Thom’s nephew could channel, and Thom saying “I am out of it” which is massive copium, you are stuck in a Tav’eren web Thom..you are fuuuucked for the next 13 books.
Chapter 27: The Shadow in the Night
Loial and Rand make their way back to the city but are cornered by Dark Friends and Trollocs that are pretending to be puppets, Rand kills the first Trolloc with ease but a second attacks him from behind. Loial grabs hold of that one and the pair wrestle for a bit until Loial flings the Trolloc head first into a nearby building and snaps its neck.
Loial and Rand are beset by Trollocs and Dark Friends and are nearly herded out of the city until a female voice calls to them. (((Selene))) comes out of an alley and says she has been watching the pair try to evade the Trollocs.
Rand notices the illuminator’s chapter house near the edge of the city they are being pushed out of and Rand decides to head there since they won’t be able to get back to the city without being attacked. Loial worries about this idea since the illuminators kill trespassers.
The Trio sneak into the chapter house and among the fireworks, overhearing the Chapter House Leader named Aludra arguing with Tammuz her second in command. They sneak along the racks of set up fireworks..and Loial knocks down one of the smoking punks. It lands on a fuse and sets one of the fireworks off.
The Group hides in an ally while the illuminators investigate the punk and the set off firework, Aludra blames Tammuz and they all go back into the main building, Loial points out the Trollocs have followed them in and are about to get seen by the illuminators at the building’s window.
Rand tells Loial to run and grabs one of the fireworks, pointing it at the Trollocs and shooting it at them, the explosion blasts the Trollocs and the building they were hiding near. In the chaos Rand goes to find Loial and (((SELENE))) who escaped Loial’s watch and vanished.
The Pair head back to the city and the Defender of the Dragonwall, where a letter from (((Selene))) awaits Rand.
Commentary.
Oh yes it is “Fains” Trollocs here and totally not Lanfear trying to force Rand to use the power more, it’s just coincidence that she would show up during an attack...fucking bitch.
She does give us some more bits about what she can do while they are hiding “If you stay perfectly still..it is as if you can’t be seen at all” She be cheating her stealth checks, I wonder if Rand ever put 2 and 2 together with that and realized that they were never likely in danger with that.
I actually do not think this is a fair criticism to levy Miss Butler.
If context hasn't told you by now, Ingtar's speech should have keyed you in. This is not a civilization in growth and innovation this is a setting where people are living day to day and just trying to survive. Nobody is going to make some grand invention unless a Ta'veren comes around and hands it to them. **COUGH COUGH**
Summary
Rand and the procession of guards that accompany him arrive in the City of Cairhien, the capital of the nation of the same name.
The city’s walls are surrounded by a secondary city, called the Foregate, largely comprised of refugees from the Aiel War twenty years ago, the families of farmers who were afraid to return to their homes in the eastern part of the nation, near the Dragonwall, the Mountains that separate the West lands from the Aiel Waste.
The current King, Galldrian Riatin purchases grain from Tear and Andor to feed the people, and pays entertainers to keep them amused day and night, including Illuminators who perform firework shows at night and have built a chapter house due to the permanence of Galldrian’s payments to him.
The guard captain takes Rand to the proper gate and has his, Loial and Hurin’s name written down, and the gate guards demand that Rand return by the next day to tell them the Inn that he is staying at. Rand finds an Inn named “The Defender of the Dragonwall” and purchases rooms for him and his friends.
Rand questions why everyone of the Cairhienen seem to be spying on them and Hurin explains that they basically are, that in the years after the fall of House Damodred the entire Nation’s leadership got swept up in the Game of Houses and that has filtered down to the normal folk.
Everyone plays the game or is selling information to someone who is playing the game. Rand is frustrated by the entire concept of Daes Dae’mar and decides to go out to the Foregate and enjoy some of the festivities, on the way out Rand receives a pair of invitations from Noble houses to attend parties, which he burns and proclaims “I am not part of your game”
He explores the Foregate for a time until he hears a familiar voice performing from inside of a building and looks inside to see Thom Merrilin performing the Great Hunt of the Horn on the stage. Thom instantly notices him and discretely directs Rand to a hallway to wait for Thom to finish the tale.
The pair talk for a moment and Thom tells Rand to meet him at an Inn called “The Bunch of Grapes” to talk more, and so that Rand can return Thom’s harp and flute.
Comtentary
We have unlocked Major City number 4 of the series (Fal Dara is big, but it is not the capital of Shienar)
Rand exhibits some real lolcow behavior here, all he had to do was let the things pile up, or respond “No thank you, we are not intending on staying in the city for very long”
Thom returns to the plot long enough for Rand to give him his Flute and Harp back since Rand apparently now has enough gold on hand to stay in upscale inns for days. I am not exactly sure how I feel about money already being dropped as a plot point at this bit..but if Moraine intends on Rand being proclaimed as “The Dragon” her shoving enough Gold in his saddle bags to make it seem like he shouldn’t worry about money is sensible.
Chapter 26: Discord
Summary
Rand returns to the Defender of the Dragonwall long enough to get Thom’s Flute and Harp and force Loial into going to meet the Gleeman.
They head to the bunch of grapes and the Innkeeper directs them to Thom’s room where a woman named Dena is, Rand thinks quick enough to pick up on the fact that Dena and Thom are shagging, but before he can act on this realization Thom enters.
He sends Dena off and Rand tells Thom about the Horn of Valere and asks the Gleeman to help them get to Shienar, to which Thom turns them down because he is in love with Dena and she is in love with him.
Rand asks Loial to leave the room and begins to ask Thom about how the Horn of Valere connects to The Dragon Reborn since they will both be at The Last Battle. Thom says he doesn’t know of anything that connects the Dragon to the Horn but brings up one of the parts of the Prophecies noticing the Herons on Rand’s coat.
“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”
Rand hides the Heron that is branded into his hand and claims that his sword makes 5 because there are herons on it, he tries to convince Thom to come with them again and Thom turns him down.
Thom gives Rand another flute, the replacement Thom was using until now..and Rand leaves, with Thom saying to not return because “A clean break is best” and he doesn’t want to be tempted by the Horn.
Rand leaves and Thom ruminates on the Horn and Dena until the Innkeeper comes in and asks why Thom is talking to an Andoran Lord and Thom responds that “Rand is just a Sheepherder.”
Commentary
Exposition time!
Thom comes into the plot to bomb us with some exposition about the Heron mark and vanish like Tuxedo Mask.
There isn’t much to really say, we get confirmation that Thom’s nephew could channel, and Thom saying “I am out of it” which is massive copium, you are stuck in a Tav’eren web Thom..you are fuuuucked for the next 13 books.
Chapter 27: The Shadow in the Night
Loial and Rand make their way back to the city but are cornered by Dark Friends and Trollocs that are pretending to be puppets, Rand kills the first Trolloc with ease but a second attacks him from behind. Loial grabs hold of that one and the pair wrestle for a bit until Loial flings the Trolloc head first into a nearby building and snaps its neck.
Loial and Rand are beset by Trollocs and Dark Friends and are nearly herded out of the city until a female voice calls to them. (((Selene))) comes out of an alley and says she has been watching the pair try to evade the Trollocs.
Rand notices the illuminator’s chapter house near the edge of the city they are being pushed out of and Rand decides to head there since they won’t be able to get back to the city without being attacked. Loial worries about this idea since the illuminators kill trespassers.
The Trio sneak into the chapter house and among the fireworks, overhearing the Chapter House Leader named Aludra arguing with Tammuz her second in command. They sneak along the racks of set up fireworks..and Loial knocks down one of the smoking punks. It lands on a fuse and sets one of the fireworks off.
The Group hides in an ally while the illuminators investigate the punk and the set off firework, Aludra blames Tammuz and they all go back into the main building, Loial points out the Trollocs have followed them in and are about to get seen by the illuminators at the building’s window.
Rand tells Loial to run and grabs one of the fireworks, pointing it at the Trollocs and shooting it at them, the explosion blasts the Trollocs and the building they were hiding near. In the chaos Rand goes to find Loial and (((SELENE))) who escaped Loial’s watch and vanished.
The Pair head back to the city and the Defender of the Dragonwall, where a letter from (((Selene))) awaits Rand.
Commentary.
Oh yes it is “Fains” Trollocs here and totally not Lanfear trying to force Rand to use the power more, it’s just coincidence that she would show up during an attack...fucking bitch.
She does give us some more bits about what she can do while they are hiding “If you stay perfectly still..it is as if you can’t be seen at all” She be cheating her stealth checks, I wonder if Rand ever put 2 and 2 together with that and realized that they were never likely in danger with that.
I actually do not think this is a fair criticism to levy Miss Butler.
If context hasn't told you by now, Ingtar's speech should have keyed you in. This is not a civilization in growth and innovation this is a setting where people are living day to day and just trying to survive. Nobody is going to make some grand invention unless a Ta'veren comes around and hands it to them. **COUGH COUGH**
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2019
I like Rand's chapters in foreign cultures. He's running around like headless chicken not understanding or even rejecting local customs.
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2020
It also wouldn't surprise me if at some point in the past that the Aes Sedai would have made it crystal clear what would happen to the Illuminator's Guild if they even thought about weaponizing their stuff and that just became a tradition with an occasional reminder to the head every time leadership changed.
NSA
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2017
It makes sense for a setting with magic to have somewhat stunted or different technology innovation. A musket is great, but is it going to stop a woman with magic fireball and bubble shield powers? I also imagine medical tech being a bit stunted by the existence of Healing.
With the re-discovery of cuendillar and Elayne worrying about cannons vs city walls, I think they're going to be making the new city walls out of cuendillar anyway, so good luck blasting through that with a cannon.
With the re-discovery of cuendillar and Elayne worrying about cannons vs city walls, I think they're going to be making the new city walls out of cuendillar anyway, so good luck blasting through that with a cannon.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2024
Honka Honka Burning Love
In Clown World, the only god is the one who Honks.
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- Aug 29, 2019
The only one he outright rejects is the Daes Dae'mar, which really isn't a bad thing. Cairhen is a community watch thread in the form of a country.
I looked it up to see how old the Illuminators are as a group and the wiki doesn't say, given they only have two chapter houses they may be relatively recent, honestly I don't think Hawking would have accepted the "Nobody is allowed into our building" bullshit they pull so I am guessing they came into being after he fell.
Easier than that...Giant Wall of Air. I think unironically Air might be the most under-rated element in the setting, Invert the weaves and you have an invisible wall that is strong enough to deflect lightning strikes.
There is also the 3 Oaths since defensive use of Cuendillar might count as "making weapons"
Chapter 28: A new thread in the Pattern
Summary
Perrin’s group pass through Kinslayer’s Dagger, the wolves still guiding them towards Fain’s group. Ingtar asks Perrin to repeat what he had told the Shienaran Lord earlier when they found the Trollocs Rand had killed.
He explains that all he knows is that someone who the wolves hold in “awe” attacked Fain’s camp and killed the Trollocs, and that the wolves call this person “Shadowkiller” but before they can get to far into the discussion Uno announces that there are Aiel nearby in the rocks and if he has seen one they are probably surrounded.
Uno then points out that the Aiel has stepped into the road itself, Maesema and 3 other of the Lancers instantly try to kill him but Ingtar calls them off. The Aiel Warrior stands at the charge of 4 men without reaction completely unafraid of 4 horsemen with lances that were bearing down on him just a second ago.
Ingtar, Perrin and Mat go to see what the Aiel wants, given he could have just stayed hidden. When Verin approaches the Aiel bows and calls her a “Wise one” explaining that the “years do not touch the wise ones in the same way as other women”
Before Verin can react Ingtar asks the Aiel, named Urien, who says he has not seen them. The group learns more about the Aiel. That they live in the waste because of a great “Sin” long ago and that they are waiting for a prophesied time when “They will leave the Three fold land and take back our places of old”
Verin grills the Aiel on how women are tested to be wise ones, but Urien is reluctant to say anything until Verin announces that she is not a “Wise one” but she is instead Aes Sedai. Urien tells her what he knows, what every Aiel knows.
“Those who would be Clan Chief or Wise One go the Rhuidean in the Lands of the 13th Aiel Clan, The Jenn Aiel, most do not return.” Then he looks at the sky and tells Verin “It is said we failed the Aes Sedai long ago, and if we were to ever fail them again they would slay us. Bring your Lightnings Aes Sedai, I will dance with them.”
As he says this Perrin does not smell fear on the man, that this Aiel was unafraid of death. Verin dismisses Urien’s superstitions and asks why he showed himself to them.
“I search for a man, He who comes with the Dawn, it is said that there will be signs heralding his coming, You looked like a wise one so I thought you may know of great events.”
“He will come from the west, beyond the spine of the world but be of our blood..he will take us out of the Three Fold Land..and he will conquer under this sign”
Urien then uses one of his spears, not like the Shienaran lances, much smaller, then he draws the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai. When Verin says she knows of no signs he might be looking for Urien withdraws quickly vanishing behind the rocks as if he became one with the ground.
Commentary
Kiwis...the Aiel have entered the plot.
I think it is pretty slick that it is not Rand who first meets the Aiel despite being one of them and that his fate is more intertwined with them than anyone else. We meet them here and it takes several books for Rand and the Aiel to intersect plot wise to the point where Perrin and even the 3 Girls run into them before Rand does again.
The wolves having a special name for Rand is cool, we get a lot of that from the Wolves a bunch of the Forsaken get nicknames from the Wolves. It is strange that Ishamael didn’t have one, he is up there with Lanfear in terms of fucking around in the world of dreams so they should know Ishamael.
Chapter 29: Seanchan
Summary
Geofram Bornhald enters a village that had been obviously been attacked by the Questioners of the Children of the Light in a false flag attack to make it look as if Tarabon and Arad Domon are attacking each other trying to incite a war between the two countries.
With this realization and orders to return deeper into the plains from Jaichim Carridin he decides that the true enemy are the opponents to the west, the invaders who have taken the City of Falme. He sends messages to his spread out forces to gather for an attack on the Seanchan, who claim to be the descendants of Artur Hawkwing returned to the lands that he ruled.
Meanwhile on the Aryth Ocean, The Spray, Bayle Domon’s ship is under attack from one of the Seanchan vessels. Bayle attempts to escape until something causes a giant column of Fire and Water to erupt near the ship, and several other times. It is very clear to Bayle that if he attempts to escape his ship will be shattered, if not by the waterspout then by the fire within them setting off the Fireworks he had managed to buy, so he surrenders.
After seeing that The Spray had surrendered, the captain of the Seanchan ship boards The Spray and announces herself as Egeanin, and brings aboard a pair of women which are connected by a long silver piece of jewelry, one wearing a collar one wearing a bracelet.
Egeanin explains that the collared one is a Damane, an enslaved channeler who is commanded by the wearer of the bracelet called the Sul’dam, she impounds The Spray and commands Bayle to sail to Falme.
When The Spray arrives at Falme it is searched and Egeanin finds the Cuendillar Seal that Bayle owns, she takes it and Bayle to the Seanchan Lord called one of “The Blood” named Turak, Turak takes the seal as a gift from Egeanin and decides that Bayle having owned something as rare and expensive as Cuendillar would be someone interesting to talk to and as such demands that Bayle Domon stay in Falme for the time being.
Commentary
Another small set up chapter for later before we get to the action portion of the Cairhien story line. I say action in terms of consequence to the plot rather than flinging magic and swinging swords as the next part does not have much of that but what Rand does has major consequences
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It would depend on the Aes Sedai and the specific task. Would making a shield of cuendillar count as a weapon? Armor?
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kiwifarms.net
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That would depend on how the Oath works, if the Aes Sedai views a cuendillar shield or armor as a weapon to harm another man then they can't make it probably.
Chapter 30: Daes Dae’mar
Summary
A few days after the events in the Illuminator Chapter House Rand paces around in Loial and Hurin’s room, frustrated at Hurin becoming even more formal and acting like a “real proper” servant to Rand. The Innkeeper knocks on their door and gives Rand more invitations to parties, Rand throws them on the table and goes to ignore them until Hurin looks at the pair of invitations.
On the Seals are the two most powerful political people in Cairhien, Galldrian Riatin the King of Cairhien and Barthanes Damodred the Lord of House Damodred, the house that held the throne before Galldrian until Laman Damodred caused and was killed in the Aiel War.
Hurin explains that he can’t turn down these invitations because the Cairhienans would take that as a sign that he is not allied with anyone since he has turned down invitations to visit every house..and that he can’t accept one without being in danger because the two houses are bitter rivals and could potentially take accepting an invitation as being allied with a house.
Rand basically decides he hates the entire City and all of it’s bullshit and can’t wait to leave, then he and Loial go to check to see if Ingtar has arrived or if he can find any information on (((SELENE))) and Rand of course gets the run around because everyone in Cairhien is a niggerfaggot and the entire country deserves what it got 20 years ago.
On their way back to the Inn Loial notices a fire up ahead, Rand’s years of being a farmer and woodsman lets him correctly guess that the fire is where the Inn is. The pair run to the Inn which is indeed on fire and ask about Hurin.
The Innkeeper says that he did not notice Hurin exiting, Rand and Loial go into the burning Inn to save Hurin. Rand’s room is the center of the blaze and Hurin is knocked out in the middle of his and Loial’s room. Loial checks under his bed and finds that the Dark friend’s have stolen the Horn of Valere back.
Loial takes Hurin back and Rand pauses before leaving, going into his room which is currently a complete conflagration and grabs his Saddlebags, which contain the Dragon Banner and the flute that Thom had given him.
Rand exits the building and finds Hurin and Loial, with Hurin being tended to by one of the Local healers who explains that she can not help Hurin.
As Rand and Loial watch helplessly while Hurin sits in coma, Mat Cauthon’s voice calls out. Rand looks up to see Mat, Perrin, Ingtar and Verin riding to meet him.
He looks the group says “You are too late” and begins to laugh.
Commentary.
“Fiery but peaceful dark friends” in Cairhien apparently.
Poor Rand gets absolutely crapped on here, if he had just like chilled out and waited for Ingtar to find him instead of getting all antsy and checking in with the unhelpful assholes everything would have been fine.
No wonder Rand has a bit of a moment at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 31: On the Scent
Summary
Verin delves Rand seemingly very worried that Rand has gone mad from the taint already. Rand and Mat discuss what happened to Rand and how His trio got so far ahead, and how Ingtar’s group found them so fast.
Perrin explains their short run in with the unhelpful clerk that Rand dealt with earlier in the day, who was far more willing to help Verin after she seemed to make it clear that if he did not the Clerk was going to enjoy having a septum piercing involving a great serpent ring if he did not stop giving her bullshit.
As Verin heals Hurin, Rand begins to tell Mat about losing the chest that the Horn and the Dagger were in but decides it is perhaps a better idea to find somewhere that they can talk in private given that the crowd has decided the Aes Sedai and Rand are much more interesting than the burning building.
Verin takes them to an Inn that she had stayed at before, with Hurin seeming a little tired however the Sniffer assures Rand that he can find the trail of the dark friends that set the fire. Rand realizes that he has accidentally taken charge and apologizes to Ingtar, who says that “Rand was the best choice for a second, and that maybe he should have had the charge”
Upon arriving at the Inn Rand gets a quick bath and change of clothing and as he dresses he considers (((SELENE))) as he dresses thinking about her so hard he think she can smell her perfume. He rejects the idea of being with her again and burns her letters.
Outside of the Inn a massive gust of wind presses against the Inn as the letters burn, hard enough that it rattles the windows enough to let some in, which causes the fire to flare up and almost burn Rands fingers.
The Point of View then switches to Perrin, who is waiting with Mat, Ingtar, Loial and Verrin in a private dining room of the Inn. Hurin has gone off to trail the Dark friends who set The Defender of the Dragonwall on fire and Rand enters the Room, walking with more confidence and looking as if the fancy coat is fitting on him.
Verin asks Rand how they got so far ahead and Rand explains the Portal Stones and meeting (((SELENE)) as well as stealing the Dagger, and afterwards they eat dinner, Loial and Rand read while Perrin and Ingtar play stones.
Hours later Hurin returns with news that he has followed the trail to The Mansion of Barthanes Damodred and Hurin can smell Trollocs there as well, the Lord of house Damodred is a Dark Friend and has the Horn of Valere.
The group discuss what to do and eventually Verin says that she could get them into the Mansion if she leaks to the Innkeeper that she wants to see it, to which Hurin says “Rand already has an invitation” Verin grins and says “Sometimes the Wheel of Time gives you what you need before you know you need it”
Rand is initially wary of the plan, not wanting to pose as nobility anymore, while Perrin watches him speak with Verin and Ingtar as if he were their equals, all while considering the name the Wolves’ name for Rand “Shadowkiller”
He speaks up that Rand can do it, and Mat finally notices that Rand is maturing and Rand finally relents and agrees to pretend he is “Lord Rand of House Al’thor” to find The Horn and Dagger.
Summary
Lanfear is watching Rand bathe.
Lanfear is legitimately fucking stalking Rand and when he sets fire to her letters she tries to set his hand on fire.
I don’t think I ever realized how much of a psycho bitch Lanfear is even in the early stages of the book.
I like how we get Perrin’s POV in the second half of this chapter, showing that Rand has matured a lot even in the past week through the eyes of one of his friends is a clever way of doing show instead of tell.
NSA
kiwifarms.net
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I always forget that Moiraine is actually Moiraine Damodred, which makes her Rand's aunt. Or at least, she would have been, except Rand's mother didn't have Rand by her Damodred husband, but by an Aiel. She actually is Elayne's aunt though. It's all very sus, and I liked the part in one of the books where Robert Jordan carefully explains that Rand in fact is NOT making out with his sister, unlike Luke Skywalker. Still, it's a weird web of connections, and I forgot about it, maybe because IT DOESN'T MATTER AT ALL.
JUST LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PLOT POINT! POOF! It doesn't matter any more! Plot threads in Wheel of Time are like characters in Game of Thrones. Don't get too attached!
JUST LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PLOT POINT! POOF! It doesn't matter any more! Plot threads in Wheel of Time are like characters in Game of Thrones. Don't get too attached!
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