The Black Tower

[thisguy]

I may be remembering this incorrectly. If I am, my apologies.

 

Anyway, the way I remember it, Rand sets up the Black Tower in Andor. Why didn't he set it up in those empty lands between Shienar and Cairhien? Seems like he just wanted trouble.

[Terez]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

[thisguy]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

Yeah, thanks. I still have a decent memory of the general events but the specifics I've seemed to have lost often. I remember him ruling now. I think I'm close to that point. Or, at least the rescue.

 

I wasn't entirely sure if Taim was a darkfriend at first or just a serious jerk (to put it lightly).

[Vardar]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

 

I'm guessing he also thought about ease of travel. It'd be a mofo to get people to migrate to those empty lands, since he was the only one who knew gateways at that point. At the point that he had someone to test and was ready to start more active recruiting, it was still better to leave them there, because people who wandered in would go to the City to get there, putting out word in a world with horrible communication would be a pain, I'd expect.

 

So, it kinda makes sense at first, but he probably should have moved it once he had people to travel.

[Pinzarn]

Also from a logistics stand point, his non-channeling army was in Andor. So Bashere could eaily take the wash-out quickly and start training them.

[Vardar]

Also from a logistics stand point, his non-channeling army was in Andor. So Bashere could eaily take the wash-out quickly and start training them.

 

Gateways make distance obsolete really.

[Barid Bel Medar]

How would anyone find the Black Tower if it was in the middle of nowhere?

 

Originally I think the intention was for the best advertisement and ease to gain numbers quickly.

 

Near arguably the second greatest city in the world, word would get round a lot faster and travel finding the way there much easier.

 

At the time people were coming to Rand, not Taim scouting.

 

Also it could be that he put it so close to Caemlyn to try and ease male channelers back into society. (To fight TG at least, but he already had plans for a cleansing) Can't do that if they are tucked away in obscurity. People need to be alright with working together with Asha'man.

 

Ultimately though, I think the problem just got out of hand. He had no idea it would become so crazy. His original intention was a "farm" where men could be trained to fight the Last Battle. He didn't anticipate Taim actually building a Black Tower complex / town. By the time it had happened, it was already too late.

[Vardar]

How would anyone find the Black Tower if it was in the middle of nowhere?

 

Originally I think the intention was for the best advertisement and ease to gain numbers quickly.

 

Near arguably the second greatest city in the world, word would get round a lot faster and travel finding the way there much easier.

 

At the time people were coming to Rand, not Taim scouting.

 

Also it could be that he put it so close to Caemlyn to try and ease male channelers back into society. (To fight TG at least, but he already had plans for a cleansing) Can't do that if they are tucked away in obscurity. People need to be alright with working together with Asha'man.

 

Ultimately though, I think the problem just got out of hand. He had no idea it would become so crazy. His original intention was a "farm" where men could be trained to fight the Last Battle. He didn't anticipate Taim actually building a Black Tower complex / town. By the time it had happened, it was already too late.

 

Exactly.

[Terez]

It was not too late to move until construction began on the walls and the barracks and the palace. But Rand was off in crazy-land and doing his best not to think about Taim at all.

[Vardar]

It was not too late to move until construction began on the walls and the barracks and the palace. But Rand was off in crazy-land and doing his best not to think about Taim at all.

 

Technically since they can use the power, its not too late now. With gateways, what's really holding them there?Move the stones, link with the AS for bigger gateways, problem solved.

[Pinzarn]

Also from a logistics stand point, his non-channeling army was in Andor. So Bashere could eaily take the wash-out quickly and start training them.

 

Gateways make distance obsolete really.

 

True, but when the BT was established how many people could travel? Only two or three (outside of the Foresaken). So at that point of the story, location and logistics were huge. Even the supplies coming from Camelyn were via wagons and carts.

[Vardar]

Also from a logistics stand point, his non-channeling army was in Andor. So Bashere could eaily take the wash-out quickly and start training them.

 

Gateways make distance obsolete really.

 

True, but when the BT was established how many people could travel? Only two or three (outside of the Foresaken). So at that point of the story, location and logistics were huge. Even the supplies coming from Camelyn were via wagons and carts.

 

Like Terez said, there was a huge gap in time between Farm and Tower. They had plently of people who could travel before they started construction. At the point Taim stopped recruiting himself, they could have moved to a better site.

[fuzz1717]

They could have moved, but once you start something a lot of the time it seems like a waste to tear it down and rebuild it somewhere else. Then, by the time the Black Tower became really big, Taim had established his authority there and the whole Tower was under the effect of the dreamspike.

[ShenAnCalhar]

If you want to establish yourself as a legit organazition to rival the White Tower, you don't want to be hiding out in the styx. It sends the wrong message - Caemlyn (if not Tar Valon) is where you want to be.

[Suttree]

Think will end up in TV. Once the BT is rent in fire and blood the foundations of Elaidas palace will be looking pretty good.

[fuzz1717]

Think will end up in TV. Once the BT is rent in fire and blood the foundations of Elaidas palace will be looking pretty good.

 

Didn't think about that, that makes a ton of sense. It really completes the whole yin/yang theme too if the two halves of the Aes Sedai (or i guess now Aes Sedai and Ashaman) are finally united.

[Elaevia]

Think will end up in TV. Once the BT is rent in fire and blood the foundations of Elaidas palace will be looking pretty good.

 

I know she's got other problems at the moment, but would like to see Elaida's reaction to the news that her palace is the new home of the black tower!

:)

[shortkut]

i always thought that was the obvious place for them to finally wind up

[Terez]

Most do. I'm still hoping Tar Valon will be destroyed too, though.

[Terez]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

 

I hate to have conversations with myself, but it occurred to me that the translation of Asha'man might suggest that Rand truly did believe the Black Tower would help protect Elayne.

[Durinax]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

 

I hate to have conversations with myself, but it occurred to me that the translation of Asha'man might suggest that Rand truly did believe the Black Tower would help protect Elayne.

I always saw it as more of a he sees them as weapons, weapons he will use to protect the light from the shadow

[Barid Bel Medar]

He was ruling from Andor at the time so it was convenient for him. But yeah, it was stupid, especially considering his fears about screwing up Andor before Elayne had a chance to take it. Perhaps he thought it would be a good thing, and would help protect her. He didn't anticipate that Taim was a Darkfriend, clearly.

 

I hate to have conversations with myself, but it occurred to me that the translation of Asha'man might suggest that Rand truly did believe the Black Tower would help protect Elayne.

 

I usually enjoy conversations with myself

 

Funnily enough, considering the circumstances it might turn out that the Black Tower does help to protect Elayne.

[Maleshub]

The problem with the BT is that it was infiltrated from the get-go. If we assume that Taim was a "plant" by Moridin or another Foresaken to supply the Shadow with a brood of male channelers, then the place where it is set up is negligent. Wherever the place, Taim would have done his thing.

 

Caemlyn probably made sense as a place for the BT for a number of reasons. First and foremost it was a place where people "dragonsworn" flocked to after Rand killed Rahvin. And it helped that the Tower was in a secure area where it couldn't be attacked by the WT or other enemy forces easily. And the logistics part of being in Caemlyn's vicinity is helpful.

 

But Rand did put the viper in Elayne's lap with that move. And I guess he'll pay (as well as Andor) when and if Taim's DF faction enters into the battle for Caemlyn on Demandred's side.