quick question on matt & the horn of valere

[divillysausages]

when matt was in the tower, he was told that as long as he was alive, the horn of valere is just another horn for anybody else that blows on it. for it to work for someone else, he'd have to die. but he did die in rhuidean, which would mean that the horn of valere is magicificated again, right? so all through the books, where he's thinking on it, and other people who knew he blew it are saying that he has to be at the last battle, are potentially wrong, 'cause now anybody can use the horn. does that make sense?

[stapes2007]

Mat didn't die at Rhuidean, he just came very very close.  He did die when Rand attacked Rahvin in Caemlyn, but when Rand balefired Rahvin Mat came back to life and because of the effects of balefire Mat is still linked to the Horn.

[divillysausages]

it does specifically say 'dead' when rand cut him down, and mat says himself a few times in the book that he died on that tree in rhuidean. unless rj said that that was only the characters opinions and didn't count somewhere?

[Hybrid]

From the raswrj group's FAQ (http://www.darkfriends.net/wheel/2_nondark/2.1_taveren/2.1.3_mat-horn.html):

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Bill Garrett's report of RJ's appearance at Balticon 30 (April 1996) mentions: "(Jordan noted that Mat's death by lightning and subsequent undoing of his death when Rand balefired Rahvin, fulfills a prophecy about living, dying, and then living again.)" Tim Kington reports that, when asked how long Mat had hung from the Tree of Life in Rhuidean, RJ replied, "Long enough to be almost dead" (emphasis mine) [post-COT signing, Dayton, OH, January 16, 2004].

[divillysausages]

ah, nice one, thanks

[stapes2007]

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mat says himself a few times in the book that he died on that tree in rhuidean.

Mat doesn't have any recollection of dying at Caemlyn, and just assumes that he died at Rhuidean.

[Sharaman]

Related. In TSR a fade addresses Mat as "Hornsounder". So some at least of the Great Lord's minions know by the time of the TSR attack on the Stone who blew the Horn. One lot of Fades and Trollocs was sent to the Stone by Sammael, the other lot by Semirhage. I'm assuming Sammy's lot (and obviously Sam by extension) know since Semi doesn't have a clue about Mat, not even his appearance, till KoD and the Chosen's TeaParty. I'm also assuming that if a random Fade knows, the info has been fairly widely disseminated among ShadowSpawn. So it is not info that died with Sammael in CoS and Lanfear-Cyndane (who probably knew given she was at Falme and then in the Tower chatting to Mat).

How come everyone of the Chosen has not come to realise, not even by KoD, that Mat is the Hornblower? No mention of this detail in the Chosen Tea-Party when Moridin is showing their mug-shots around. Some of the other Chosen don't seem to know earlier as well that Mat blew the Horn - they assume Rand blew it (Can't remember the book reference but Ishy or Belal (?) refers to it in conversation with Rand and Rand feels relief that the Chosen in question doesn't know Mat blew the horn.) No  mention in several Graendal or Demandred PoVs either. 

At least some AS know as well (TDR Siuan's conversation with Mat; Verin being at Falme, maybe Moraine as well). Siuan was interrogated thoroughly when she was deposed - would she have disclosed this detail and the fact that the HoV is in the Tower? Messaana is in the Tower as well - does she have this info? Apparently not given what we've learnt from Alviarin's PoVs and from the Fain-Alviarin encounter.

How come the Chosen have not made a concerted effort to pool info, put Mat down, grab the HoV and set one of themselves up as the blower? Nor has various factions of the Light tried to sequester/ replace Mat.

This all seems like an odd gap in information and a missing plot element, given the number of people on both sides of the fence who are aware of Mat's importance.

 

[Arath Faringal]

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How come the Chosen have not made a concerted effort to pool info, put Mat down, grab the HoV and set one of themselves up as the blower? Nor has various factions of the Light tried to sequester/ replace Mat.

 

Because this is WoT.  There is an unwritten law in this world that states:  Thou shalt not share valuable information with thine allies, especially if thine information would be extremely beneficial to all.

 

The biggest flaw on both sides is that everyone wants all the information, but is unwilling to share any in return.

[Durinax]

nah it's the old rule of evil turning in on itself

[Hybrid]

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nah it's the old rule of evil turning in on itself

And good, too, considering how many of the misunderstandings between the different forces of the Light could be settled by everyone just getting together and pooling their information rather than relying on rumor as evidence.

[Durinax]

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nah it's the old rule of evil turning in on itself

 

And good, too, considering how many of the misunderstandings between the different forces of the Light could be settled by everyone just getting together and pooling their information rather than relying on rumor as evidence.

 

not really the same thing since they are not actively fighting each other