The End of Eye of the World

[Ziggdiezan]

That Large "cable" connecting Agnior was his connecting to the true source right? i just dont get how rand saw it then but now later in the books, was it cause he used the eye of the world or something. thanks

[Barmacral]

I don't know how precisely Rand saw the cable on Aginor, Ishy or Asmodean, however, it was not a result of the Eye, as Rand DID see it later with Asmodean.

[JenLenaMom]

I thought it was his link from the Dark One, because Asmo tells Lanfear Rand had cut him off from the DO's protection.

[gper]

I thought the cord was protection from the taint of the one source and that only Ishy had the ability to use the true power.

[Barmacral]

JLM is correct, it is their connection to the Dark One, and it does protect them from the taint.

Also, previously all the Chosen were able to channel the True Power, however when Moridin was named Nae'blis the DO took away the priviledge from the rest and gave it to Moridin exclusively.

[Gentled Ben]

He isn't talking about the black cords that he saw on some of the male Forsaken, he's talking about the big luminous cable of saidin running from the Eye to Aginor, and yeah, I think it was his connection to the Eye, and that's why he never sees it again on any other channeler.

[luftstark]

which bring the questions:

 

Why was he able to see the connection to the Eye (a Well) and no one sees the conection to the OP when others channel?

 

Or even when Nynaeve/Cadsuane use their Wells later, they don't see cords linking to it!!!

 

So was it a male/well fenomenon? or was it special to the Eye?

 

Last questions: Does the woman shine with the OP aura when uses a well?? can't recall it!

[Ziggdiezan]

when Rand watchs and see's a strand lift off and touch him. Aginor says "no it is mine, you cant have it" or something. That could only be the well i think.

[JenLenaMom]

You're right that is the connection to the Eye. The only thing I can think is that it has to do with some property of the Eye itself, that or RJ hadn't fully worked out all the mechanics of channeling yet.

[Gentled Ben]

I assume it's because of the distance involved. Saidin is all around us, so when a man draws on it normally, you do not see his actual connection to it, and when the women drew on their wells, they were wearing them as ornaments, so again, there was no great distance involved, but in this instance, the Eye of the World was waaaay over there. Of course, I have nothing to back that up, and the fact that the Eye is unique might also account for it.  :-\

[Cybertrolloc]

I write off most differences in the first 3 books and some of 4 compared to the rest as changed premises (especially things power related). Life's too short ;)

[Luckers]

There should be a difference made between the black cord, and the black threads. The Black cord that Rand sees on Ishamael almost certainly was the connection through which the True Power flows--the black threads, on the other hand, seem to be something different.

 

JLM is correct, it is their connection to the Dark One, and it does protect them from the taint.

 

Thats not all it is though. When asked about this RJ answered rather cryptically that 'thats what Rand thought it was'.

 

Since severing the black threads left Asmodean exposed to the taint it would seem that the threads are related--so my guess is that the threads represent the Chosen Mark. It is not nessasarily HOW the Dark One protects them from the Taint, or how they access the True Power--but without it the connection cannot be made.

 

 

[Nightstrike]

Q61: I’m trying to verify Rand’s impression he has at the end of book four, regarding the connection [the Black Cords] he cuts [from] Asmodean. Rand seemed to believe [the Black Cords] was the connection directly from that individual to the Dark One. So what I am wondering is, is that connection key to transmigration?

 

RJ: No, because what you are thinking of wasn’t a connection, Rand thought it was.

 

 

Q30- Access to the True Power is a matter of wanting it and the Dark One letting you. NOT black cords. In Prologue to The Eye of the World we saw True Power to heal insanity. The One Power cannot be used to heal insanity. The True Power used at Shayol Ghul will fry you instantly.

 

Q31- Can you clarify who can tell when one is using the True Power?

 

No one can tell if you're using the True Power, except the Dark One, of course

 

 

I think the black cords were for protection from the taint. I don't know any other use for them.

[Luckers]

Well, the issue is that when Rand severed the black cords on Ishamael in tDR he WAS cut off from the True Power. Which is why I suggest that the cords are in fact a representation of the Chosen Mark. They are not the path through which one channels the power, but if cut off from them one can hardly recieve the Dark Ones permission because one has no connection to him.

 

Though again I do agree that they are likely involved in protecting against the Taint too--I just do not think that is their primrary function.

[Durinax]

didnt the cord also rejuvinate their bodies?

[Luckers]

Possibly. Aginor rejuvinates only after he taps the Eye--which is Saidin. We know the Power has a ejuvinating effect on people--RJ states that people like Sharina who start channeling late in life will de-age back, though not entirely to what she would have been had she started channeling young.

 

However the Dark One does claim to make people immortal--we've never seen it in effect. The Forsaken survived due to being outside of time, and those that weren't, aged.

 

From there, yes, Aginor's rejuvination is advanced. But then he did kill himself by drawing on too much of the Power.

 

So yes, maybe the Dark One used that connection to rejuvinate Aginor--though I think it was more likely the abuse of the Power.

 

Either way, those cords are not, specifically, that. Like channeling the True Power, those cords enable that to happen, but that is not their purpose.