Morgase and the One Power

[NZ Warder]

Hi All. I am currently reading COS and have just got to the bit where the Whitecloak fortress is attacked by the Seanchan. I got the idea from reading it that Morgase could tell when the power was being used? Is this correct? If that is the case, would that mean she can use it (even on a small level)? Also, do you reckon that is why everyone thinks she is beautiful - perhaps she has started taking on a very low-level agelessness? I would be interested in your thoughts.

[Obligatory WOT Reference]

well because of certain things that happen in the later books, i'm assuming it's your first read of the series. I don't think that's why she's become so beautiful, i'm pretty sure she was to begin with. but yes morgase can sense the power, but that's all i'll say

[RobertAlexWillis]

Morgase does not have the agelessness, because she has not taken the Oaths, but she has slowed, so that she appears younger than she is.  And yes, it is clearly stated in books previous to aCoS that she can channel very, very weakly, so its not actually a spoiler to say so. 

[mb]

In Great Hunt, it was told that Morgase was weak in the One Power.

From Great Hunt Chapter 4 (Anaiya speaking):

"I remember when she came to Tar Valon as a girl. She did not have the ability to become a full sister and it rankled her."

 

[Blackrose]

Since when does taking the Oaths give you the agelessness? I thought that working with or being able to channel a little gave them the ageless look.

[Dark Justice]

Since CoS where there is channelers in the knitting sircle that is 100 years older than any AS, and does not have the ageless faces. The oathrod makes the agelessness...

[RobertAlexWillis]

Most Aes Sedai think that too.  But they're wrong.  Its the Oaths.

 

Working with the Power ... well, just being able to channel, really ... makes you stay young, physically.  If you start once you are already old, it actually reverses aging.

 

This is why none of the Kin look ageless.  They look young.  None of the Aiel look ageless.  They look young.  None of the Accepted ever start to look ageless, no matter how long it takes them to become Aes Sedai.  They look young.

 

A good reference page on the Oaths:

 

http://www.wotmania.com/faqtopic.asp?ID=68

 

An RJ quote on slowing:

 

Regarding Sharina, and other women who learn to channel at age, she will indeed grow younger in appearance.  No, she will not achieve an Aes Sedai face without the Oath Rod, but where she has previously looked, say, sixty, she will look perhaps thirty-five, with accompanying changes in hair color.  Think of it as analogous to slowing, which older women also do.

 

(Bold added)

 

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=31

[Blackrose]

Ah, so the Oaths freeze the look

[RobertAlexWillis]

Yep.  Not only that, but the Oaths actually cut the Aes Sedai's life roughly in half.  Thats why the Kin are so much older, too.  And Alivia; she's at least 400 years old, and barely looks middle aged.  Cadsuane is supposed to be about the oldest an Aes Sedai can get, however, she's less than 300 years old.

[Blackrose]

So is Cadsuane bound by the Oaths? man, im starting my third re-read and im still missing some things.

[Dark Justice]

She is.

[balefireruinssteaks]

The only current Aes Sedai not bound by the Oath Rod are Theodrin, Faolain, Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, Siuan and Leane.  (though, it simply escaped the Aes Sedai's notice to consider whether Siuan and Leane would take the Three Oaths again once they were Healed - I think everyone assumed that the Oaths replaced themselves)

 

The ageless look does come after one has taken the Oaths on the Oath Rod, but as previously stated it also cuts a channeler's life (or perhaps anyone who uses it) in half...resulting in "old" Aes Sedai being in their late 200's while other women who can channel are much like in the Age of Legends where 300 was considered just in your middle years...people likely lived to be in their 500 and 600s (perhaps longer) before they died.

 

That makes me curious, considering Ogier think humans are short lived, while they themselves only live to be about 500 years old (granted that is a long time, but channelers not bound by the Oaths outlive Ogier)

[mb]

I think it is any oaths, not necessarily the oaths.  The Black Ajah seems to be one indicator of this.

 

[RobertAlexWillis]

I think it is any oaths, not necessarily the oaths.  The Black Ajah seems to be one indicator of this.

 

Yes, it doesn't matter what oaths the person takes.

 

That makes me curious, considering Ogier think humans are short lived, while they themselves only live to be about 500 years old (granted that is a long time, but channelers not bound by the Oaths outlive Ogier)

 

Well, only about one percent of the population has the potential to channel, and a much lower percent actually ever does touch the Source, and so gain the benefit.  (Keep in mind, those who can learn but never do actually touch the Source never slow; they live normal lifespans and age normally.)  Include also the fact that only female channelers have been surviving in Randland for the last 3500 years or so, and you end up with probably less than .1% who actually live more than 100 years.  Its not surprising that the Aes Sedai don't figure in the Ogier's idea of how long (or short) lived humans are.