Callandor's "Weakness" - A New Theory?

[SaBenBen]

* Not sure if this theory already exists, but if it does, it must be either very old or very neglected *

 

Having been around this forum for around 1.5 years (mostly lurking ), I came to the realisation that not once in all that time had I seen a proper discussion, or rather a proper theory, about Callandor and it's mystery weakness. Sure, there is the odd reference here and there- but discussion on this topic seems to have been avoided an awful lot, given the impact this weakness could have on the story. In fact, when compared to things like the bodyswap theory and heated debates over Egwene's personality and moral standing, Callandor seems a bit neglected. I thought it might be a good idea to kick off discussion again with a theory I devised myself only a few days ago in the bodyswap theory thread. I basically said that the weakness of Callandor would be that it absorbed souls. A bit ridiculous at first look, and really not worth much. But upon further thought, it occurred to me that Callandor could actually act as a massive soul-trap (like Moridin's, but bigger) , absorbing the soul of any person physically wounded with it. Because, remember, Callandor was made to be a sword. Not a bauble, or a headpiece, but a sword. And what does one do with a sword? Make holes in stuff! So far, Rand hasn't actually "melee'd" anyone with Callandor, or made any holes in anyone, so I think it would be reasonable to assume that perhaps Callandor activates it's hidden ability on physical contact? Now my original theory was that Rand would 'sheath the sword' atop Shayol Ghul to kill the DO, and that his soul would be stored in Callandor, thus making the bodyswap possible. But really, there are a lot of ways a soul trap sword could be used for, (perhaps absorbing Moridin's soul and being able to use the TP safely through him?) and that's why I really like this theory. And remember, Callandor's weakness will be integral in TG. Otherwise, Rand could have just used the Access Key. The only difference between the key and Callandor is that Callandor has a 'hidden function' yet to be discovered, and I think that 'hidden function' is going to be the difference between winning and losing TG. The possibilities are endless.

 

So, what do you think? If you have an idea of your own please post it, and please say what you think about additions and modifications that could be made to this theory. I've probably missed several key points (I'm not sure if an object can be a sa'angreal and a ter'angreal at the same time), so feel free to add your own opinion. I have no idea how to end this thread, so... Have a nice day !

[gloweye]

I dont think its something like that, as its described as a weakness. The ability to trap souls doesn't sound like a weakness to me, and neither like something that new rand would use.

 

And about the melee use of callandor, he ran ishamael through with it in TDR, when he finally killed him. Although out was in TAR, a function like that would work just fine.

[FarShainMael]

I am reminded of something that Min read in ToM32:

 

"Light is held before the maw of the infinite void, and all that he is can be seized."

 

And she thinks: "This is it." She believes this is the answer Rand needs - but she is worried that she might be misinterpreting. Her thoughts are interrupted by the return of an exhausted Rand from Maradon.

 

Who is the 'he' this refers to?

 

Gaidar makes the point that trapping souls is not a weakness necessarily; but what if it traps the soul of the person wielding it? There might be a reason this didn't happen when Rand used it in T'A'R. Dunno. I'm speculating randomly here.

 

[Barid Bel Medar]

I am not sure about the "weakness" thing.

 

Are you talking about the flaw? This was the manufacturing error, that Callandor does not have a buffer to prevent the wielder from drawing too much power, making it unstable.

 

Or are you referring to possible other weakness that it may have, like in Min's viewing?

 

I suppose it is possible, although as mentioned, soul-trapping is not exactly a weakness, its a side effect.

 

A weakness seems to infer danger to the wielder or being weaker because of something.

 

A most likely option would be it exposes the wielder to the DO in some way, similar to its flaw with the buffer, it lacks a safe buffer, and creates a vunerability. That is my idea of it anyway (since you asked)

 

The theory is certainly interesting, I love reading fresh theories, I do not think it is correct, but I like it, nice one!

[Edynol]

I keep thinking it is something simple that we have overlooked, something that his already been displayed in the books, but no one thought much of. We all know about the lack of buffer and all, but there is indeed a 2nd flaw we have not figured out yet. One of my theories is that it drains ones essence in some way. Like little by little it weakens ones strength in the power, like what the Finns did to Moiraine and Lanfear, but to a much lesser extent. See we read that prophecy "All he is will be siezed" and Min's onyx hand viewing and think about someone else seizing him. But another way to interpret it is that when he uses Callandor, instead of just "seizing" the OP, he is also drawing from his own life force, his spirit, or whatever it is that determines ones strength in the Power. And if Alivia is part of the circle, seeing as it is mentioned it works best with a woman directing the flows, thus leading the circle, she might have to sacrifice Rand by continuing the draw from him to complete the weave to trap the DO, thus helping him die instead of out-right killing him.

 

Another theory is that it makes one more susceptible to shielding, but that woud be rather disappointing. lol.

[ChaosBorn]

I agree there defiantly is something that we don't know about Callandor, that will prove crucial in the last battle, wether this is a weakness or a strenght no one knows. I thought the flaw was that it had to be used in a circle with 2 women?

 

But Cadsuane and Min know there is something more about Callandor

 

""Cadsuane," she said. "This is still wrong. There's more here. Something we haven't discovered."

"about Callandor?" the woman asked.

Min nodded.

"I suspect so as well" " From tGS chapter 48

 

your idea about the soul trap seems as feasible as any, if a bit odd as Soul Trapping hasn't really featured much as a theme in the series, i do like your thought as well about Rand having to channel both the One Power and True Power to defeat the Dark One, i was thinkiing along the same lines myself.

[Vardar]

I'm going with Callendor can augment useage of the True Power as well. That's it's weakness, and using Callendor with the TP will make you go insane that much faster. The onyx hand was Moridin, and he's going to get it, and go completely nuts and die trying to use it.

[Edynol]

Augmenting the TP would be a strength. As for making one go mad quicker, it already did that when saidin was tainted. Part of what buffers did was add a bit of taint protection so that it maginified the power without magnifying the taint. So without that buffer, Rand was getting a huge overflow of the taint as well before the cleansing. I still think my theory is the most likely though.

[Vardar]

Augmenting the TP would be a strength. As for making one go mad quicker, it already did that when saidin was tainted. Part of what buffers did was add a bit of taint protection so that it maginified the power without magnifying the taint. So without that buffer, Rand was getting a huge overflow of the taint as well before the cleansing. I still think my theory is the most likely though.

 

It wouldn't be a strength if it made one go instantly mad and die. Think about it. He draws TP with it, relishes with it for a quick second, then BAM, rots away into nothingnes because of the insanity.

[Edynol]

It wouldn't be a strength if it made one go instantly mad and die. Think about it. He draws TP with it, relishes with it for a quick second, then BAM, rots away into nothingnes because of the insanity.

If you look at it that way, yeah. But like I said, even looking at it that way, that would just be a result of the buffer flaw we already know about, it would the same flaw, not another flaw.

[BKVMC]

ok going to try to knock out a crazy theory about callandor we know its special or it wouldnt be mentioned specifically so lets break down why i guess we have to start at what we know of the beginning of its making who was there? we saw the female aes sedai the green man and a male aes sedai in the room with callandor when rand went thru his vision quest were the aes sedai there the one who made callandor? i dont now but im going to say probably. we know its made for saidin but its made with a supposed flaw that 2 women must link with a male with a woman leading the link. why? was this a flaw or was this on purpose? im thinking it was on purpose lets go back to the time frame it was made in it was post saidin taint war of power basically over we know one of the aes sedai in the room had fortellings this sword that is not a sword was made flawed on purpose.

 

Lets move forward to verin she stated basically that the war against the DO will not be fought the way Rand thinks it will be fought.

 

Alivia is destined to help Rand Die but not kill him so according to the theory im making about callandor she will have to be one of the 2 women with him with callandor.

 

what do we know of the green man we know he was able to make his own reality within the blight and maintain it while he was alive. what do we know of the ways we know that male aes sedai made the talismans that made them. was the green man in EOTW the same green man in rands post life vision quest? probably. was he the only Green man alive? probably not.

 

we know links cannot be broken by distance they diminish as people get farther apart but never break incoming hyposthesis on callandor:

 

the 2 women act as an anchor the sword that is not a sword is able to make a way gate to a green mans sanctuary where rand will step through in all his tavereness near where the whole was drilled and he will basically "insert" himself into the "Bore" allowing his taveren nature to cause a buffer allowing the pattern to heal the link will break and they will assume rand is dead how he comes back no idea.

[csnyder]

Links themselves create buffers to one exceeding channeling limits; essentially a link would provide that first buffer, however that second 'flaw' needs to be addressed. Rather than Moridin, I see Lanfear/Mierin-Alivia-Rand serving as the aforesaid link. Lanfear has that knowledge of what exactly she did in opening the Bore, and beyond that she also has access to the TP if it necessary for the Sealing (maybe Moridin will even allow it?). Nynaeve's participation is also important, however, and I think her recent Healing of Madness is going to be a considerable factor in ridding the world of the DO.

[Edynol]

Lanfear/Cyndane has never had access to the TP that we know. She has never been mentioned using it. Also, you have to have to DO's permission to use the TP, and he won't let you use it against him. Though it is possible for Rand to get around that, I don't think he will use it. He might, but I don't think so. Also, all the Greenmen are dead. The one we met was the last one. Also, the flaws in Callandor weren't on purpose, RJ said they mass produced angreal and sa'angreal back then and sometimes flaws just happened to make it through, callandor is just an example of this.

[A Rant Lord]

What we know of Callandor: It can actually block balefire. Thought I read this in TDR. Don't know if it's any use of you guys, just thought I'd post it.

I like the soultrapping idea, especially the idea where it said it might soultrap the one using it. Now maybe you can also think of soultrapping as a way of soulpreserving? As in, preserving Rand's soul inside callandor when his body dies? Funky wild idea's throwing it out here.

[Barid Bel Medar]

What we know of Callandor: It can actually block balefire. Thought I read this in TDR. Don't know if it's any use of you guys, just thought I'd post it.

I like the soultrapping idea, especially the idea where it said it might soultrap the one using it. Now maybe you can also think of soultrapping as a way of soulpreserving? As in, preserving Rand's soul inside callandor when his body dies? Funky wild idea's throwing it out here.

 

It does seem to block balefire. Rand uses Callandor to split it in half. The scene is rather ambiguous, so it is possible that it wasn't actually Callandor, but I am fairly certain it was.

[Mr Ares]

ok going to try to knock out a crazy theory about callandor we know its special or it wouldnt be mentioned specifically so lets break down why i guess we have to start at what we know of the beginning of its making who was there? we saw the female aes sedai the green man and a male aes sedai in the room with callandor when rand went thru his vision quest were the aes sedai there the one who made callandor? i dont now but im going to say probably. we know its made for saidin but its made with a supposed flaw that 2 women must link with a male with a woman leading the link. why? was this a flaw or was this on purpose? im thinking it was on purpose lets go back to the time frame it was made in it was post saidin taint war of power basically over we know one of the aes sedai in the room had fortellings this sword that is not a sword was made flawed on purpose.

Interview: Oct 28th, 2005

KOD Signing Report - Jason Wolfbrother (Paraphrased)

Jason Wolfbrother

 

Was Callandor constructed during the War of Power?

Robert Jordan

 

 

Yes.

Jason Wolfbrother

 

Was it used in the War of Power?

Robert Jordan

 

Yes, that is how the flaw was discovered.

Jason Wolfbrother

 

Why didn't they ward/buffer Callandor?

Robert Jordan

 

The flaw with Callandor is simply a manufacturing flaw. He went on to talk about how they were at the end of their tech age with only a few sho-wings and jo-cars left. A couple of shocklances were still around but they were not as prevalent as they had been. Anyway they had been mass producing ter'angreal, angreal, and sa'angreal, and there are bound to be flaws with the products. The flaw with Callandor is simply one such flaw.

[SaBenBen]

I think there are two distinct flaws here; first the obvious and already outlined lack of a buffer, then a second, more meaningful function built into Callandor for the Dragon's use. I mean, look at the way everything is set out- Callandor features in the prophecies and is noted as the "Dragon's weapon". Why? I mean, Rand could have used the access key or some other sa'angreal to get the job done. It seems that the undiscovered thing about Callandor might actually not be the flaw. We have heard the flaw mentioned several times, but if the flaw is simply the lack of a buffer, then might this second option be an advantage or extra feature to the sword, deliberately built for the last battle? This option assumes that every time the 'flaw' or 'weakness' is mentioned, it simply refers to to the buffer. There may be a second, unrevealed advantage to Callandor designed just for the Dragon, mentioned in this conversation (posted earlier):

 

"Cadsuane," she said. "This is still wrong. There's more here. Something we haven't discovered."

"about Callandor?" the woman asked.

Min nodded.

"I suspect so as well"

 

From tGS chapter 48

 

This implies that there is something else about the sword that is unrelated (probably) to the manufacturing flaw.

[Edynol]

I forget, is callandor made from cuendillar? I can't remember it's exact description. If so, than that explains why it could split balefire. Anything made from Cuendillar balefire would or any other weave would just make it stronger. Unless used with the TP instead of the OP.

[Barid Bel Medar]

I forget, is callandor made from cuendillar? I can't remember it's exact description. If so, than that explains why it could split balefire. Anything made from Cuendillar balefire would or any other weave would just make it stronger. Unless used with the TP instead of the OP.

 

Most sources (I mean like people in the books) refer to it as a "crystal" blade, not sure if this is actual crystal, or a description of what it looks like (like when people say crystal clear water.) I don't think any Cuendillar we have seen looks anything like crystal? Perhaps it is some form of it, like it has been speculated male-made cuendillar would look different (although the theory is that it would be black).

 

I would assume that Rand or someone would have thought about it if it were cuendillar, it would definitely have been mentioned in the recent books with Min and Cadsuane studying Callandor quite closely, so I am going to say it is pretty safe to say no, it is not, unless it has some special property that makes it appear different.

 

FotP, you are correct, in Towers of Midnight Min goes further and states that there is something else besides the flaw, or at least she believes that there is.

 

Anyway, I think that Callandor might be flawed beyond that. I think it might...Rand, I think it might make you weak, open you to attack, if you used it.

 

This is where I got my theory of it having an opening of some sort, which leaves him open to attack, but possibly opens up something else that may be crucial to defeating the DO. Perhaps it is not what it is meant to be, just that as a side effect of being open to attack, Rand finds a way to use this to his advantage.

 

It comes down to the word weakness I suppose. Weakness is usually something missing, or something left vunerable, not something added or extra. A weakness in a shield would not be that it had a knife added to it, it would be a crack in the wood which could be pried open.

 

That's how I see it anyway, something in Callandor's nature creates an opening,to what, I cannot say. The Dark One, his link with Moridin, TAR, the Bore, his own power? Anyones guess really.

 

This does not necessarily mean that it does not have the ability to hold souls, Callandor is strange in many ways, there may be more to it than Min has guess, but I do not think it is the "weakness" in this case.

[RealAshaman]

Hello everyone....first time poster.

 

The Dark one has the True Power. The Creator gave Randland the One Power....split between Saidar(female) and Saidin(Male). What if Callandor's flaw is it allows the One Power to truely become One. Meaning both Saidar and Saidin can somehow be used together....as in how the Creator or Dark One would use it. Several times it has been mentioned that Rand would need 2 women to use the crystaline sword. Cadsuane says its because the Sword amplifys the taint. Thus it needs a Woman to direct the flows and act as a buffer(I think that was how it was said...please correct me if im wrong). We now know that the taint has been cleansed from Saidin. This no longer means that the women involved need to be a buffer for the taint.

 

What Im thinking is that one woman embraces Saidar, while Rand embraces Saidin......the flaw in the Sword allows Rand to combine the two sources of Power, and create a new version of it....The Creators version....the True Power. The second woman would then be needed to direct the flows for the New Power. It always bothered me that the Dark One had the True Power, and that the Creator gave us two types of One Power. What if the True Power is really the combination of Saidin and Saidar. I think It is the True Power that both the Dark One and the Creator use. Man wasn't strong enough to accept the True Power, and so the Creator separated it into Saidar and Saidin(more manageable for humans).

 

Numerous times we have learned that Saidar and Saidin can be addictive, but that the True Power was even more addictive. It would make sense, if it was a combination of Saidar and Saidin.

 

Since the cleansing of the taint, it has bothered me that Rand wasnt meant to use the CK in the last battle. What made Callandor a better option than the CK? From my understanding, the sword didnt allow you to draw anywhere near the amount of the One Power, as the CK. However, if the sword allowed you access to the True Power, it could make all the difference in the world.....Sealing the Dark One with his own power. Plus Rand wouldnt be beholden to the access of the True Power granted via his bond to Moridin.

 

"Light is held before the maw of the infinite void, and all that he is can be seized."(All that he is can be seized....by combining the two powers into One, he is Truely seizing all the power that is available to him. Perhaps its just wishful thinking, but this line seems to fit with my theory).

 

"Anyway, I think that Callandor might be flawed beyond that. I think it might...Rand, I think it might make you weak, open you to attack, if you used it."( If Rand was responsible for only pulling at Saidin,woman 1 only pulling at Saidar, and woman 2 using the New Power, Rand would be vulnerable. Since Woman 2 controlled the flows for the new power, Rand would be open to attack and unable to defend himself against any One Power attack. With the amount of energy and concentration it would take to pull at so much Saidin, he might also be unable to protect himself against any physical attacks.

 

What you guys think?

[Barid Bel Medar]

Well, I was going to say no, until the last line about being unable to protect himself while pulling the OP in.

 

So, after that, I say yes, I actually really like it.

 

To be a bit nit-picky, I would not say that being able to channel both is the weakness (since it is very much a strength) but rather that through the weakness (being vulnerable to attack) the OP can truly be seized, and that Rand finds a way, not that the weakness was supposed to give access, but more like an accident that Rand can take advantage of.

[RealAshaman]

Barid Bel Medar

 

The post that was put up earlier with the RJ interview, mentions how Callandor was a manufacturing flaw. I believe the flaw is what allows Rand to meld both Saidar and Saidin as one. I dont think the flaw is the weakness.

 

For me, the weakness would be:

Rand is pulling at the maximum amount of Saidin that he can draw. Then as he forms a link with Woman 1(who is doing the same), he is able to use the flaw within Callandor, to somehow merge the two powers into One. This new power then would be transferred to the 2nd Woman, who would be responsible for directing the flows of the New Power. Both Rand and woman 1 would be defenseless(thus a weakness), cause they would be unable to do anything but draw on the their respective One Power(Saidar and Saidin). Similar to how Rand needed protection while he and Nynaeve cleansed the taint from Saidin. I figure the concentration of the One Power involved, and the formation of a new power, has to be very taxing on the mind and body. I dont think they would be in a position to attack or defend against anyone. This trio would def need a form of the "Hundred Companions" to protect them, while they use the Crystal Sword.

[Barid Bel Medar]

IN that case, the flaw has already been explained. The flaw is that there is no buffer on the sa'angreal, like there is on others, making it unstable and able to burn out. He can only safely use it in a circle with 2 women.

[RealAshaman]

Barid

 

Sorry its been awhile since I read all the books, but didnt Cadsuane say the reason two women were necessary, because they buffered against the taint that was amplifiyed through Saidin. Now that Saidin is no longer tainted, that buffer doesnt hold true. I do think that if Rand had not cleansed the taint, the two women would indeed act as a buffer, while Rand used the flaw in Callandor to meld the Saidar and Saidin as one. Now I think the 3rd person can be a man or a woman(someone has to control the link).

 

Perhaps there is an additional weakness with Callandor(as you pointed out): Drawing that much power or in that manner would make it unstable and cause the channeler to become severed from the source. Thus the 3rd person becomes necessary to take the strain off the two people that are drawing on Saidar and Saidin.

 

I believe that both are right.

[Edynol]

I acutally like this theory. RJ and BS hinted that there other way to access the TP, though they didn't say it out right. It would make sense the the creator has access to the TP that is untainted, while the DO has access to the TP we know about, which is tainted. I always wondered how the TP was called the true power while saidin and saidar both came from teh True Source. I think the True Source is also the source of the TP, just that which the DO and his chosen wield is tainted.

 

So while the TP we know about is only accessable with the DO's permission, maybe the other, untainted version is accessable in another way. Could be possible. :)