Dragon in the Skies Over Toman Head; Power-Wrought Swords & the DO, Film at 11

[ksbsnowowl]

SPOILERS THROUGH AROUND BOOK 4

 

As we know from story evidence, as well as Aes Sedai/Warder knowledge, blades forged by the One Power are unbreakable (aside from something like balefire).  How is it, then, that Rand’s blade becomes a melted ruin when he plunges it into Ba’alzamon’s torso, since, as we later learn, Ba’alzamon is really Ishmael?  Being Ishamael, a mere human (though a channeler, and a Forsaken [re-]linked[?] to the DO), stabbing him with the power-wrought blade should have had no more affect on the blade than stabbing any other person with it.

 

What theories are there concerning the truth as to why Rand’s first power-wrought blade melted?  Did it have something to do with Ishmael using the True Power?  Did it have something to do with Ishy being linked to the DO?  Some other possibility that hasn’t crossed my mind?

 

On a side note, how was Ba'alzamon healing his horrible burns from EotW so quickly/fully?  I realize that several months pass during The Great Hunt, but there is no mention of any scars still on his face in The Dragon Reborn.  Was another Forsaken or Dreadlord healing him?  Or am I just being way too analytical with is healing?

[Luckers]

This is not technically true--we know blades forged by the one power are stronger then normal metal, and retain their sharp edge with no need to sharpening. But they are not cuendillar, they can be destroyed by forces other than balefire.

 

As to specific points.

 

How is it, then, that Rand’s blade becomes a melted ruin when he plunges it into Ba’alzamon’s torso, since, as we later learn, Ba’alzamon is really Ishmael?  Being Ishamael, a mere human (though a channeler, and a Forsaken [re-]linked[?] to the DO), stabbing him with the power-wrought blade should have had no more affect on the blade than stabbing any other person with it.

 

Rand was channeling into the blade itself...

 

he could feel the Power that suffused him running into the sword, as well, threading through the intricate matrices wrought by Aes Sedai during the Trolloc Wars.

 

It's therefore likely that the destruction of the sword came from what Rand did--or possible what Rand did in confrontation with what Ishamael did to try and protect himself--of which we have no comments, but can assume occured (after all why would Ishamael not channel to defend himself from being stabbed).

 

On a side note, how was Ba'alzamon healing his horrible burns from EotW so quickly/fully?  I realize that several months pass during The Great Hunt, but there is no mention of any scars still on his face in The Dragon Reborn.  Was another Forsaken or Dreadlord healing him?  Or am I just being way too analytical with is healing?

 

The Dark One can heal. We see Aginor de-age in front of Rand at the Eye of the World, we see Ishamael fix Lews Therin. The Dark One's healing is probably not pleasent--yet given he can make them immortal, apperently arresting cell deteriation, then i'd say he could fix scar tissue.

[ksbsnowowl]

Ah, I didn't recall that quote about Rand channeling into the sword itself.  Very interesting.  Thanks.

[Jethro]

What interests me is the fact that even though Rand stabbed Ishamael in the heart while channeling through the sword, Ishamael survived.

 

I wonder about this alot. For a human to survive a wound through the heart is impossible, however you look at it. Even if he was holding the Source, Ishamael should have died, and we all know he didnt. I wonder exactly what it means when whichever Forsaken it was that said, "Ishamael was more than half mad and less than half human." Could Ishamael have evolved somehow, into some sort of Shadowspawn unlike any other? The fire in his eyes and mouth was real, because Rand noted on his dead body all the burns and such. I think Ishamaels body was no longer powered by its organs

[Tyrell]

The True Power.

 

Ishamael was pretty damn far along the Saa-change-thing.

[triadruid]

I wonder if Ishamael's survival/the sword's destruction is tied into what happened when the two balefire streams collide later in the series (trying to avoid spoilers, but one is TP-based and one is OP-based). Rand channeling into the sword, driving it into Ishy's TP-suffused body.... could be. And very cool if true, as it would tie up several loose ends. :)

[Guest The Thin Inn Keeper]

For a human to survive a wound through the heart is impossible, however you look at it.

No it's not.

 

If modern doctors and paramedics can keep someone alive, then I'm sure a channeler can heal them easily. As long as they got help almost immediately, then I don't see a problem.

 

The term through the heart rarely means "It went right through the center of the heart, destroying it beyond repair."

 

Why couldn't the blade have clipped the heart, damaging but not destroying it?

[ROB_88]

did it specifically say "through the heart" and not just through the chest near the heart.

maybe Ishmael is one of the few who has his heart on the right side.

[Majsju]

It says that Rand drove the sword into Ishamaels heart. This is however written from Rands POV, and at this point I would hardly call him such an expert when it comes to armed combat that he can tell exactly how successful his hit was.