What are the black cords connecting Ishamael and Asmodean to the Dark One?

[Khosann]

What are the black cords connecting Ishamael and Asmodean to the Dark One? True Power? How Forsaken are protected from going mad by using Saidin? Do black cords protect them? Does the DO protect them via True Power?

[fikkie77]

They are probably a connection to the DO, preventing the male channelers from the taint on Saidin. They are only seen in special circumstances, like at the Eye of the World and while skimming. Rand didn't see them on Be'lal, Rahvin and Sammael.

[Khosann]

They are probably a connection to the DO, preventing the male channelers from the taint on Saidin. They are only seen in special circumstances, like at the Eye of the World and while skimming. Rand didn't see them on Be'lal, Rahvin and Sammael.

 

So is it True Power?

[fikkie77]

No, a connection to the DO filtering the taint from Saidin. The connection itself is not saidin or TP.

[moratcorlm]

Well, it may be True Power, but the black cords do not enable the Forsaken to channel the True Power. RJ was adamant about that, while he left a lot of other questions unanswered. Search for "black cord" here.

[dovien]

It seems to me sensible to suppose that the 'black cords' are the taint being siphoned away from the channelers while they are using the power.

[Demiandre]

But Rand saw one of those cord, but of a different color, on Aginor when he drew the Power through the Eye. Yet, he never saw the same thing again later.

 

Ishamael and Asmodean have black cords, which means it is something different IMO.

 

We know Ishamael/moridin uses the TP a lot. Couldn't it be possible that this black cord could be Rand seeing them drawing on the TP? Or seing the link through which they draw the TP from the Dark One?

[Agitel]

The cords of light Rand saw on Aginor, himself, and Ishamael was the link to saidin. The black cords are the connection to the Dark One, and perhaps the filters on saidin, which the male channelers need.

 

Rand can't always see any of these things, so him seeing him in some circumstances and not in others shouldn't be used to decide what they are.

[Luckers]

I've theorized that the cords may be the Chosen Mark--the imprint that makes Shadowspawn recognise and obey thee Chosen the power to command the Shadowspawn. Note for instance that Asmodean loses this ability and protection.

 

It does have some function in protecting the Chosen from the Taint, and also, based on Ishamael, has some role in their ability to channel the True Power. Of course RJ has made clear its not a direct connection, nor the actual path through which the Chosen draw on the True Power--which is just a matter of asking and being granted it--but it's role may be something along the lines of you have to hack the cords to be able to ask, or some such. Like they're the phone through which you give the Great Lord a holla.

 

Hopefully the Encyclopaedia will shed more light.