SImple Rand task

[Sabio]

Am I the only one who thought Rand going to see the Aiel history was a little pointless or he basicly got a huge pass?  Only 1 in 3 men come out because seeing the aiel history is so shocking for them.  But Rand not being raised aiel might of been shocked but I doubt it was going to be so traumatic he would never come out.  So it seems like his becoming chief of chiefs was made a bit easy for him.  As long as he survived the walk to and from, there really was no chance he was going to fail the test.

[BFG]

This is true, but was the point to make it challenging? From the Aiel perspective, seeing the history/being those people is a way that may connect him with them as people, something the Wise Ones were worried about all the time. The Car'a'carn was always going to be a wetlander so always going to be someone that doesn't understand them/isn't going to struggle seeing their history

[Sabio]

I would just think to become chief of chiefs would of been a little more difficult.  I understand him being raised outside of the blood was to ensure he wasn't"corrupted" by aiel thinking.  So that when he did go in he didn't freak out and die.  Even then the information was really only of use so he could "expose the truth that was so long hidden".  it just seems like he got a free pass on this one to ensure the chosen one didn't screw everything up an fail.  I mean to get the one of the herons he was at least stabbed.  

Edited February 3, 2018 by Sabio

[Maedelin]

According to Min, the dragons that are on his skin hurt.  Elayne notes that she feels them too; [Winter's Heart] so his trial with the Aiel was with some cost.  He had to learn an entire culture in a handful of months.  And to be honest; if the trial wasn't dangerous, it wouldn't have lent him credibility with the Aiel.

 

I see it similar to this: much like how the test to become Aes Sedai is a test that a Dreamer could potentially fail, and Nynaeve nearly did because of her work in tWoD, so too was the test to become a clan chief was at a different level of difficulty because of how/who/what the taker was.

[greenman]

I always thought the important takeaway from Rand's Rhuidean experience wasn't his own struggle with the truth of Aiel history, it is the fact that he exposes the Aiel to that truth. THAT is what proves he's Car'a'carn. All clan chiefs go through the glass columns. The impact of that knowledge on an entire people is infinitely more traumatic than any one man's trip through the ter'angreal, as well it should be for the chief of chiefs.

[failemandarb]

1 hour ago, greenman said:

I always thought the important takeaway from Rand's Rhuidean experience wasn't his own struggle with the truth of Aiel history, it is the fact that he exposes the Aiel to that truth. THAT is what proves he's Car'a'carn. All clan chiefs go through the glass columns. The impact of that knowledge on an entire people is infinitely more traumatic than any one man's trip through the ter'angreal, as well it should be for the chief of chiefs.

I agree I think the waste itself along with the Aiel in general were tough enough of a task to handle, let alone proving that he was the Car'a'carn.  Couladin or the Shaido didn't help matters either. I think if Rand got it slightly easier than with anybody else, than it was deserved. He is juggling everything/one else after all!