Question....

[Moghedian]

For some reason I remember either Mat or Perrin being told that they could be taught to channel sometime in the first few books. Did this happen or is it just a figment of my imagination (which I strongly suspect). If it did happen when and who was involved? ???

[Wayhey]

Nope, definitely not.  Maybe you were thinking of Tuon...?

[Moiraine_Damodred]

The only thing I can think of about Mat and Perrin being linked to the power in early books was in TDR when Perrin told Moiraine about one of his Wolf Dreams, and she said something to the effect of "Any other sister would haul you off to be gentled if she heard that"

[Moghedian]

The only thing I can think of about Mat and Perrin being linked to the power in early books was in TDR when Perrin told Moiraine about one of his Wolf Dreams, and she said something to the effect of "Any other sister would haul you off to be gentled if she heard that"

 

Thanks, I think it was that.

[Luckers]

Though the possibility that Mat or Perrin might be able to learn to channel has never been ruled out... i just dont see it.

[RobinRosengren]

I've for quite a long time thought it would be really funny if Mat could channel, but his medallion stopping him from reaching the source.

 

Just read this from The Dragon Reborn, Ch 20 - Visitations when 'Selene'/Lanfear visits Mat in the tower.

Her hand was empty, and she stood halfway across the room, but he leaned back, away from her hand, as if she were right on top of him with a dagger. He did not know why, really, except that there was a threat in her eyes, and he was sure it was real. His skin began to tingle, and his headache returned.

 

I know it was most likely whatever Lanfear did that made his skin tingle, but still...

[RobertAlexWillis]

I've for quite a long time thought it would be really funny if Mat could channel, but his medallion stopping him from reaching the source.

 

It doesn't work that way.  Cadsuane has one that does the same thing, and she can channel fine while wearing it.

 

I know it was most likely whatever Lanfear did that made his skin tingle, but still...

 

Especially since the "tingle" was accompanied by his headache returning ... and Mat has never shown symptoms of touching the Source, and he wouldn't be able to feel a woman channeling until he had actually touched the Source at least once ...

 

Yeah ... that incident wasn't proof that Mat can channel ... 'cause he can't.  It hasn't been ruled out in the sense that Rand tested them and it came back negative, but it has been ruled out in the sense that I'm telling you, they can't.  ;D

[Mr Ares]

It has been ruled out in the sense that I'm telling you, they can't.  ;D

I love empirical proof.

[Kaznen]

But Mat's sister is a sparker. ???

[DemandredFO]

Yes, it's going to be very interesting when Mat meets moiraine agian(for both parties) and hopefully gets her healed.  Also him meeting his sister, who can channel.  Tuon could channel if she learned how, Mat is surrounded by people who can channel and one idiot

[Moiraine_Damodred]

But Mat's sister is a sparker. ???

And Rand is the Dragon Reborn, but I don't see his half-brother Galad channeling.......although that would be the greatest irony in the history of ever if Galad started channeling......

[dyring]

But Mat's sister is a sparker. ???

 

So either the channeling gene in Mat is dormant, or his body got the gene but his soul doesent.

and I guess its also possible however extremely unlikely that Mat could learn. I don´t think thats the case thou.

Him and toun both must have the gene thou, so theyr children would have a good chance of beeing channelers.

 

//dyring

[Kura]

But Mat's sister is a sparker. ???

 

So either the channeling gene in Mat is dormant, or his body got the gene but his soul doesent.

and I guess its also possible however extremely unlikely that Mat could learn. I don´t think thats the case thou.

Him and toun both must have the gene thou, so theyr children would have a good chance of beeing channelers.

 

//dyring

 

I'm gonna assume that channeling is recessive.. So with a punnet square

 

C=can't channel

c=can channel

 

C  c

C|CC|Cc

c|Cc|cc

 

So theres a 1/4 chance that he didn't get a channeling gene at all. Of course, this is based on guesses of the nature of the channeling gene, and his parents, but hey, with 1% of the population being able to channel, I'd say its reasonable. :-P

[Luckers]

Keep in mind that there is also a soul element to channeling.

[RobertAlexWillis]

But Mat's sister is a sparker.

 

As many others have pointed out, having a sparker in the family may increase the likelihood of being able to channel, but it certainly doesn't guarantee it.

 

Elayne is a sparker, and neither Galad nor Gawyn shows any signs of channeling.

 

Moiraine has two sisters, neither of whom can channel.

 

Kiruna Nachiman's brother is the King of Arafel ... and he certainly can't channel ...

 

Given the stress that Mat and Perrin have been under, if they were able to channel, they would have by now, just as circumstances forced the emergence of Rand's abilities.  Other abilities have emerged in each of them, but not the ability to channel.

 

Mat and Perrin cannot channel.

[trakand_01]

Haha, how amusing if it turned out Mat is actually the Dragon, and Rand was just used as a decoy, for Mat to have the time develop a bit further.

 

Its not gonna happen, but i'd laugh if it did. At least he'd get to use his full repertois of expletives  ;D

[RobinRosengren]

Given the stress that Mat and Perrin have been under, if they were able to channel, they would have by now, just as circumstances forced the emergence of Rand's abilities.  Other abilities have emerged in each of them, but not the ability to channel.

 

Wasn't Damer Flinn a soldier in Andor before he became an Asha'man? I think that as a soldier, he must have been in a lot of stressfull situations. And he hadn't even started slowing when he came to the Black Tower, so he can't have channeled almost anything. I mean, even Morgase is pointed out as someone who looks younger than she is, and she can barely channel.

 

Once again, let me point out that I don't believe that Mat (or Perrin) can channel. I just feel that we can't be 100% sure that:

Mat and Perrin cannot channel.

[Tyrell]

Given the stress that Mat and Perrin have been under, if they were able to channel, they would have by now, just as circumstances forced the emergence of Rand's abilities.  Other abilities have emerged in each of them, but not the ability to channel.

 

Wasn't Damer Flinn a soldier in Andor before he became an Asha'man? I think that as a soldier, he must have been in a lot of stressfull situations. And he hadn't even started slowing when he came to the Black Tower, so he can't have channeled almost anything. I mean, even Morgase is pointed out as someone who looks younger than she is, and she can barely channel.

 

Weeell, there's a difference between a sparker and a learner, what RAW was saying was that if either Mat or Perrin were a sparker then they wouldda very probably done their thing by now, and they haven't. Neither has been tested to see if they can learn, but I don't think they can and I don't think I'd want them to be able to either.

[Wayhey]

Even if Mat or Perrin could learn to channel, I don't think either of them has any inclination to find out.

[the dude]

from a storyteller's point of view, though, it'd be kind of redundant to have them channel, especially this late in the game.  just sort of, superfluous.  y'know?