Saidin has been cleansed, what about the ways?

[cortezthekiller]

I'm sure this has been brought up, but I didn't see anything.

 

So Rand (and Nynaeve) have cleansed the taint on Saidin, I wonder if the Ways can be cleansed in the same manner.  It would be pretty cool to see them in their full glory as they once were.

 

I guess it's something that, if it were to happen, would probably be outside of the scope of the series, considering it doesn't seem crucial to winning the Last Battle, but who knows.  It it possible?

 

What do you think?

[Duskfire]

Yeah I am assuming something will happen regarding them at some point, but as you said it may not be in the series. I cant see the good guys winning TG and just allowing the ways to be corrupted afterwards. Although, the Ogier will probably be departing from the world so maybe the Ways won't just be as useful anymore. Particularly with Aes Sedai being able to Travel.

[mossman87]

Here ya go:

 

Q:  About Machin Shin in the Ways: since it seems to absorb the creatures that pass through there, could you regard them as a servant of the Dark One or perhaps almost as a Forsaken?

RJ: It's not a servant of the Dark One. It will kill Trollocs or anything else. You can say it's a parasite that grew in the Ways because of the taint and the One Power that was used to initially create the Ways, and the Talisman of Growing that was used to extend the Ways.

So it's not a servant of the Dark One, but its definitely on the evil side.

Q:  Would it be cleaned with the cleansing of saidin?

RJ: No. It's like a bacteria breed. Just by cleaning up the chemicals that caused the bacteria to come into existence, unless its feeding on that, those chemicals, you are not going to destroy the bacteria. You simply cut off what helped to create it.

 

Q:  In The Great Hunt, when Rand, Mat and Perrin are trying to enter the Ways, Machin Shin is waiting there for them. It seems like Padan Fain has it waiting there for them. Is Machin Shin in any way related to the evil of Shadar Logoth?

RJ: In some ways. Machin Shin is linked, or you might say drawn, to that. It's not a matter of linked, but more attracted by, in much the same ways as I spoke about the evils being attracted to one another due to opposite polarities. (Shadar Logoth and the taint)

In the same way there is an attraction because Machin Shin was created in effect by the taint. It grew out. You can see it as a fungus that was constructed with the wrong type of materials. If you think about it as that way you get a better idea about its true nature.

 

I kept the other stuff because I thought it was interesting.

[Chance]

The taint has been cleansed, but the Ways are not.  The Ways are, IMHO, crucial to the last battle. I don't believe the Ways can be cleaned the same way as the taint. Both statutes are destroyed now. I do believe that the Ways will be cleansed, and probably before the end of the series. I also would like to see Rand and Nyn working some major power again.

[Duskfire]

The OP isnt asking whether the Ways were cleansed, they were asking whether the Ways will be cleansed at some point in the series.

[Vermillion]

I think the Ways are on the way out.  They need to be destoryed by the time the age comes again to be remade.  I think Loial is already doing that by closing the doors.

[cortezthekiller]

thanks, duskfire that is pretty much what i was asking.  but even more specifically, not just will it happen, but is it even possible?

[Paerish Swar]

IMHO, I don't think it would be smart to cleanse the Ways until after TG.

 

The way the Trollocs are coming into the South is by the Ways, and the present state of the Ways and Machin Shin makes it dangerous/difficult for even them to use (which is at least a little helpful for the side of the Light).  If the Ways get fixed while there are still Waygates in the Blight it will just make it easier for the Trollocs to navigate and attack in the South. . .

 

unless Rand manages to block all the Waygates, but then there wouldn't be any point to take the time to cleanse them at that point either, since no one would using them anyway.  Why fix what you're planning on not using.  (there's no major strategic advantage for Rand to use the Ways, just secure them)

 

Rand needs to defeat the DO first, then the Blight needs to be cleansed (or the Waygates in or near it need to be completely secured), and then the Ways can be cleansed for the people of Randland to access for convenient rapid transit. 

[Demiandre]

*Hey! You didn't received the flyer, Paerish Swar? Travel Air-Line, is opening agencies in Randland. For a rapid and safe journey, use Travel Air Line. Our black-coated stewards will bring you where you want.*

 

I need a precision about the RJ's quote here over : Does he said the Talisman of Growing also is tainted, or merely said that using it enables for the "bacteria" to developp? If the later, then it could be feasible to destroy all Waygate with the Talisman, as Haman said, so the current Ways will be connected to Randland no more, and open new ones. Technically, it could work.

 

Second reflection about the Ways. I think they are far less dangerous now that the Machin Shin is following Rand.