TS/OP vs OS/TP

[Xader]

Okay, so here we go.

 

The majority of channelers in Randland use the One Power, drawn from the True Source, yeah?

 

And certain individuals (to prevent certain spoilers) use The True Power, from the Once Source.

 

It seems to me that they should have opposite naming schemes.

 

Take the OP. As it is different for males and females, I would think calling in the "One" Power is a bit of a misnomer. I propose that is should be the True Power, drawn from the One Source.

 

Conversely, to the FS and any potential dreadlords, would they not think of the DO's power as the One Power drawn from what they consider the "True" Source?

 

Now I realize that many will probably disagree, and that what is "true" varies by perspective. But reversing the naming scheme just seems to make them fit more neatly to me.

[thevillagecouncil]

TS = OP = OS

 

the dark one = TP

[Tom Sawyer]

Ya, the One Power always seemed to be a weird term to use since there are two of them and most everybody who uses them is well aware that there are all these other powers out there which people have. Calling the DO's one the True Power just sounds to me like a way that the Forsaken can kiss their god's ass and tell him that his power is so much better than all those other stupid little powers because he's just so super and awesome and good looking.

[trashbird1240]

Calling the DO's one the True Power just sounds to me like a way that the Forsaken can kiss their god's ass and tell him that his power is so much better than all those other stupid little powers because he's just so super and awesome and good looking.

 

Remember that Semirhage can sense Rand drawing the True Power and basically says "Great Lord, Why?" as in "Why are you letting him do this?" or is it "Why are you letting him do this to me?"

 

Do we know anything about the True Power before the appearance of Moridin?

[Mulk]

I don't think she sensed it; I think she knew that a TP weave was the only way to destroy cuendillar so it had to be the TP, not saidin. Thus the sense of betrayal.

 

/twocents

 

edit: also, she knows he can't channel saidin except at her command and will and it's obvious he can't touch saidar.

[Tom Sawyer]

Ya, she seemed to realize that if he wasn't channelling the OP, then he must have been using the TP. Since you need the DO's OK for that, he must have been wanting Rand to do so. She'd thought that Shadar Haran showed up to free her and help her drag Rand up to Shayol Ghul, but then realized that he'd set her up to have Rand kill her.

 

That's why you don't ally yourself with the forces of darkness - because they'll screw you.

[Majsju]

Ya, the One Power always seemed to be a weird term to use since there are two of them and most everybody who uses them is well aware that there are all these other powers out there which people have. Calling the DO's one the True Power just sounds to me like a way that the Forsaken can kiss their god's ass and tell him that his power is so much better than all those other stupid little powers because he's just so super and awesome and good looking.

 

 

Unless some DFs have been told offscreen, Rand is the only 3rd Ager who knows about the existence of TP, and that because of his LTT memories. Everyone else, Aes sedai, Wise Ones, Windfinders, Damane, Asha'man, Sharan channelers etc only knows about one power - Saidin/Saidar.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Unless some DFs have been told offscreen, Rand is the only 3rd Ager who knows about the existence of TP, and that because of his LTT memories. Everyone else, Aes sedai, Wise Ones, Windfinders, Damane, Asha'man, Sharan channelers etc only knows about one power - Saidin/Saidar.

 

Ya, and that's two powers. Then there's people who can see the future, people who can talk to wolves, people who can sniff out evil, whatever-it-is at Shadar Logoth, whatever caused the taint, whatever caused the Blight, how Halfmen move through shadows, the Tower of Ghenjii, the Dream World - and those are just the ones I can think up in a couple seconds and there've probably been a few more mentioned.

 

Most Aes Sedai are aware of most of those. They are able to use one power out of the many powers which are common knowledge to them. It seems odd for them to term their the One Power.

[Majsju]

Unless some DFs have been told offscreen, Rand is the only 3rd Ager who knows about the existence of TP, and that because of his LTT memories. Everyone else, Aes sedai, Wise Ones, Windfinders, Damane, Asha'man, Sharan channelers etc only knows about one power - Saidin/Saidar.

 

Ya, and that's two powers. Then there's people who can see the future, people who can talk to wolves, people who can sniff out evil, whatever-it-is at Shadar Logoth, whatever caused the taint, whatever caused the Blight, how Halfmen move through shadows, the Tower of Ghenjii, the Dream World - and those are just the ones I can think up in a couple seconds and there've probably been a few more mentioned.

 

Most Aes Sedai are aware of most of those. They are able to use one power out of the many powers which are common knowledge to them. It seems odd for them to term their the One Power.

 

Saidin/Saidar are two halves of the same power, ie the One Power. The others you list are abilities. Just like channeling is an ability, the ability to use the OP.

 

It may seem like nitpicking, but there is a very clear distinction.

[Tom Sawyer]

But they're not the same power, they're two different things. And yes, if you go and redefine every other power to be something other than a power then there is only one. Similarly, I can say that I'm the only one who can use the One Power because I define everything that doesn't involve drinking my cup of coffee to be not a power.

 

It's just a wierd choice of word for it.

[Majsju]

What makes the difference between a power and an ability in the world of WOT is that the OP is something people use. Channelers do not walk around having power, they have the ability to tap into, and use the OP.