Rand in Cairhien being blasted by Sammael in Illian???

[dalewb]

Dear Forum,

During the battle of Cairhien, Rand is standing on his wooden tower with Egwene and Aviendha when it gets blasted to smithereens by Sammael.... in Illian.  I'm trying to understand how this is possible.  During the battle, on at least 2 occasions, someone is reflecting on how hard it is to channel at a distance.  One of those people is Rand, the freaking Dragon Reborn, arguably the most powerful male channeler in existence.  If he's having trouble channeling at a moderate distance, how can Sammael channel lightning bolts out of the Cairhienen sky from Illian?

Thanks in advance,

Dale

[solarz]

Nothing says Sammael was channeling from Illian, or that it was Sammael at all. Any one of the Forsaken could have traveled to Cairhien to attack Rand's forces.

[Sabio]

Yeah it's highly unlikely he was doing it from Illian.  Since Rand thought how after he retaliated with a rather nasty weave there had been no more attacks.  So he had to be in the area since Rand retaliated.

[wotfan4472]

Sammael was in the area, and close by. Perhaps among the Shaido at the time? He was trying to goad Rand into Lanfear's trap. The attack on the Tower was one such instance. Not only did Sammael indicate more attacks had been done by him after the Tower, Mat indicates this as well.

[Forshookt]

And besides, Sammael had travelling and inverted weave knowledge. Don't know if male channelers can mask their ability, but he could I think

[wotfan4472]

He definitely had the ability to hide his channelling. But the point of Sammael letting Rand know he had showed up at Cairhien was ultimately as bait for a trap. A role he absolutely hated to play, which was funny to me.

[Forshookt]

True. That meeting with Rahvin was so tense. 

[dalewb]

Thanks everyone!  That makes a lot more sense.  Referring to Lanfear's trap - was that what she was doing down at the docks the day Moiraine tackled her into the doorway?  I don't recall what the trap was all about, nor what Sammael's part in it was.

[Sabio]

That wasn't part of the trap, Lanfear discovered he had slept with Avi and went into a rage and tried to kill Avi and either kill or capture Rand.  The trap I believe was to have Rand go after Sam where Rhavin, Gren, and Lanfear would be waiting.  So Sam was to keep provoking Rand until he went after him.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Sabio

[agreddon]

On 3/21/2018 at 8:28 AM, Sabio said:

That wasn't part of the trap, Lanfear discovered he had slept with Avi and went into a rage and tried to kill Avi and either kill or capture Rand.  The trap I believe was to have Rand go after Sam where Rhavin, Gren, and Lanfear would be waiting.  So Sam was to keep provoking Rand until he went after him.

 

Ah Lanfear, the ex girlfriend from Shayol Ghul (in this case, literally).  I could easily see her trying to crash Lews Therin's wedding with a half drunk bottle of Cristal from the previous night.

[wotfan4472]

hehehe!! I could see it too!! Heck, she would do what Crisis on Earth X did on her own!!

[Orderofolde]

Sammael stood on the Illian side of a gateway he opened using inverted weaves to hide where he was and used the storm the girls had raised to send the lightning bolts down marching across Rand's Maidens and the Tower, then closed it when he saw his handiwork had the desired effect.