Mat's Ashandari (potentially stupid question)

[Doselan]

I'm re-reading book 4, and I just got to the part where mat was cut from the tree and has his Ashandari, and it raised an old question in my mind... Why did the foxy folks give it to him?  He asked for 1) A way out, 2) A way to be free of the Aes Sedai, and 3) Memories to fill in the holes in his own.  Well he got the way out, he got the foxhead medallion, and he got dead guys' memories.  Where did the blasted Ashandari come from? 

[lordofsoup]

they needed something to hang him on, and had an Ashandari lying around.  It is worth a fortune in Randland, but nothing to them. 

[Doselan]

For real?  Why not hang him on the tree limbs?

[yoniy0]

They had it inscribed especially for him. A waste to keep it with them, how will he remember the terms of their agreement if they had?

[Doselan]

Well whatever the reason, I love the weapon. :D

[JakeBarnes]

For real?  Why not hang him on the tree limbs?

 

Because they couldn't (or wouldn't) leave their realm to physically tie him to the tree.  

 

Remember, when he goes through the door in Tear, they carried him back and threw him out.  I'm assuming, that they tied him to the Ashandarei and just threw him out.  He just happened to land in the tree.  

 

 

[Nae Bliss]

Ashandrei=Epic win

[Doselan]

For real?  Why not hang him on the tree limbs?

 

Because they couldn't (or wouldn't) leave their realm to physically tie him to the tree.  

 

Remember, when he goes through the door in Tear, they carried him back and threw him out.  I'm assuming, that they tied him to the Ashandarei and just threw him out.  He just happened to land in the tree.  

 

 

 

10-4.  :D  This is a very informative part of the boards. :o 

 

And yeah Nae... Bad spelling.  Probably should have looked it up first. >.<  lol

[Nae Bliss]

sorry... I was rushing. ;D

[Doselan]

No I meant bad spelling on my part.  I thought you were correcting my spelling.  lol

[lillcheese]

I choose to believe that none of you are correct and we have yet to learn what its purpose or their reasoning is.

[StefanR]

I choose to believe that none of you are correct and we have yet to learn what its purpose or their reasoning is.

 

This

[Barid Bel Medar]

Yeao, I am with the last two posters.

 

It is personally given to him, as it has the inscription to remind him, it has the Ravens on it. It is an artifact form the AoL.

 

Theres no coincidence there.

 

Really, they just got rid of it to hang him?

 

This is RJ, not a 12 year old.

 

 

[aunt_pol]

True, and there's the medallion as well. That's already earned its keep.

[Doselan]

Perhaps we'll find out it's purpose in this next book?  I really hope Mat thinks to take Iron, Fire, and Music!

[aunt_pol]

I'd say Aludra will provide the makings of the Fire - you're not lying (technically) in saying you've no fires about your person, with a box of matches in your pocket. The music thing confuses me. How could they stop someone singing in there? I grant they could frisk you to remove your harp and what not, but your voice?

[Doselan]

Well they usually say "instruments for making music", so if you don't count a voicebox as an "instrument", then perhaps it's only music from instruments and not voices that effects them.

[aunt_pol]

Aha. I couldn't remember if they'd specified instruments or not. I'm sure Thom can find some way round that.

[Doselan]

Oh yeah, you know he will. :D  Thom is a sneaky little fella. 

 

And as far as Iron goes?  I'm sure they can all work up a few Iron Weapons.  Though the line "Iron to Bind" makes me wonder if they should have iron weapons or iron handcuffs.  lol

[aunt_pol]

Hmm, I wonder is it like a silver + vampire thing? ... Where do they get the knife on the cover, I wonder. How do you hide iron well, though?

[Doselan]

I'm not sure.  They've never really searched anybody that's come through the doorframes (That I've noticed), they usually just ask, "Do you have any fire, iron, or insturments for making music" or something to that effect.  However in asking them, they could be causing them to think of whether or not they do, and reading their thoughts.  I'm pretty confident that the Finns have some sort of ability to read thoughts.

[Achala]

The knife on the cover must be the bronze knife that Olver speaks of- on hearsay from Birgitte of course. It's bronze, so technically, it would be allowed.

[Doselan]

It's my impression that the bronze knife is only for drawing the symbol to gain entry though, right?

[MikeRiley]

Mat considers the ashanderai as their joke. It was inscribed with the message for him and he was hanged by it. I don't think it was selected at random, but it might have been a weapon suited to Mat specifically from those memories (he does know how to use it). It would be like them hanging Birgitte from her bow. I believe that this is all it is.

 

One thing to consider about his ashanderai is that while it's from the Age of Legends, none of the memories that were given to him are from that time. I think it's just a weapon suited to him, the same way he is the "Son of Battles", "Gambler" and "Trickster." I imagine there's quite a lot we don't know or only think we know that we'll learn in the next two books and outriggers.

 

I also don't think "iron to bind" refers specifically to the metal iron. We'll see in November!

[Doselan]

Yes indeed! 

 

In a related question... Mat's memories... Do you guys think they could be the memories of his past lives or just a jumble of a bunch of different people's memories?