DeBunking the famous TWO SERVANTS THEORY (ASMODEAN THEORY)

[SilkWWU]

Debunking The “Two Servants Theoryâ€

 

Travis G.

 

The original theory that I will be discussing, dissecting, and finally debunking (for the most part) can be found at the WOT Encyclopedia (http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/) under “Theories and Unanswered Questions.†While interesting and well thought out, there are blatant errors that all but those of us, who actually went back, double checked, and rehashed the actual text, would have found. Please, before you read this counter-argument, go back and analyze the original theory at the website posted above. It will make much more sense to you since I will be writing in direct relation to that document.

It is quite apparent that the author of this theory is correct in the location of Asmodean’s death. Unfortunately, that tells us less then we can hope. It is not an uncommon area for people to be wandering in. Rand states, “I walked this way with Elayne and Gawyn the day I met Morgase.†So now that we have the general location set (as presented in the TST), we can begin to dissect the encounter with the servants and really put to rest the myth that the killer had to be one or both.

The author of the “Two Servants Theory†claims that it is obvious that “they were more then servants.†I find this claim hard to prove. We need to realize whom we are talking about. The Forsaken. The passage where Rand encounters the pair of unlucky servants goes like this:

A man and a woman crouched against the wall, servants liveried in red and white, short of their middle years and holding each other as though for protection. Seeing Rand—there was more to the name; not just Rand—the man started to rise from where he had huddled away from the Myddraal-led band, but the woman hauled him back by his sleeve.

“Go in peace,†Rand said, putting out a hand. Al’Thor. Yes, Rand al’Thor. “I’ll not hurt you, but you could be hurt if you stay.â€

The woman’s brown eyes rolled up in her head. She would have collapsed in a heap if the man had not caught her, and his narrow mouth was working rapidly, as if he was praying but could not get the words out.

Rand looked where the man was looking. His hand had stretched out of his coat sleeve far enough to bare the Dragon’s golden maned head that was part of his skin. “I will not hurt you,†he said, and walked on, leaving them there. He had Rahvin to corner yet. Rahvin to kill. And then?â€

 

This is the paragraph that has been examined by this author. I find his conclusions concerning the servants mentioned in this paragraph quite absurd, while the obviousness at their lack of involvement is quite glaring. Considering that the killer of Asmodean must have been someone who could channel, considering the quickness and finality of his death. Which means that the servants (one or both) had to be the Forsaken if they were anything other then normal servants. I will dissect chronologically in this paragraph. When can you ever imagine any of the Forsaken “huddling together?†The entire mannerisms displayed by these servants’ defeats any idea that they could have been Forsaken. From the huddling, to the fainting, to the staring in awe while praying at Rand’s tattooed arms, none of which could coincide with any of the ways a forsaken would act. Especially Sammael or Graendal.

There is one other aspect that sheds opposing light onto whether both of the servants were Forsaken. Surely Rand would have noted a scar on the face of the man such as the one Sammael has during the description, since in multiple instances throughout the book, he uses Lews Therin’s memories to recognize faces, places, etc. So, if they were in fact Sammael or Graendal in disguise, they would be under Illusion. But, remember, when under Illusion, if you are touched, it is easily recognizable that it is not your real appearance. So when the female servant faints, and the male servant catches her, Rand (who is still talking to them) would have noticed (particularly wrapped in Saidin, with its attention to detail) that there was an Illusion going on. I believe that I have presented enough counter-evidence to close the case on whether or not the servants were the killers of Asmodean. Now, lets look beyond the servants and into the culprits and find a few other major errors that the author of the “TTST†missed which completely destroy his theory of Sammael as the main killer.

The second half of his article is relatively sound when discounting Forsaken as suspects. Unfortunately he makes a grave mistake when he says that Semirhage has a POV disproving her as a suspect in the Prologue of Lord of Chaos. While she does have a POV I have failed to find any reference in that section to how she wouldn’t know about Asmodean’s death. The only thing that happens is in Demandred’s POV earlier, Shai’tan (I have no fear!) mentions that Asmodean will not be brought back. While Sammael in his own POV, states, “And why would he kill Asmodean? I would if I could find him, but he has gone over to al’Thor. He is teaching him!†While Graendal counters under her breath, “Always some excuse for your failures.†Here, we get Sammael stating right out that he wants to know where Asmodean is, and Graendal says only that seemingly suspicious answer? It can be interpreted to mean that Graendal knows more about that subject then she is letting on. Of course we know that the Forsaken also maneuver against each other, which means that Sammael could be lying. To find further proof, we move further along in LOC, chapter 23 to be exact, where Graendal replies to Sammael’s inquiry to the whereabouts of the other Forsaken.

I’m sure I know what Demandred is scheming, but where is he hiding? Where is Semirhage? Mesaana? What about Asmodean and Lanfear? Moghedien?

Those cold fingers returned, imprinting themselves on her skull. He would not lounge there and talk this way—he would not dare suggest what he was suggesting—unless. . . .â€Asmodean and Lanfear are dead, and I am sure Moghedien must be, too.â€

It is here that the final piece of who killed Asmodean comes into play. If there is a strong case for one of the Forsaken it is Graendal. This last part proves it, in a sense. For she is quite sure that Asmodean and Lanfear are dead, while she thinks Moghedien is dead to (though we know she’s not).

The two servants were in fact, just that. The location of the death, it really hardly mattered, while I may be completely wrong on my analysis of Graendal being the killer, I can say in full confidence that the Forsaken were NOT masquerading as servants when Rand encountered them.

[Jonn]

You could have put this in one of the two Asmodean threads already in play.