DRAGONMOUNT

Welcome to another edition of Fan Art Friday! Today's theme is Min.   Elmindreda (Min) Farshaw is probably one of the most loved female characters. She is known for her refusal to wear skirts (except in certain cases) and making breeches a fashion statement among women. She is one of Rand's girls and she can see the future in people's auras.   So here is Min...   Min Farshaw by Yunyin   Min in her rose colored breeches. This image is kind of cute.   Min Farshaw by Ellyka     Min in the classic pose of Randland women. This is what Min would have looked like after she started wearing snug breeches.   Min Farshaw by pollyuranus     Pollyuranus wanted to show Min's coat and breeches in full to give a better look but focused more on her face. Still, this looks good and stays true to the character.   Wheel of Time's Min Farshaw by AimeeCosette     With curls removed to get a better boyish look, Min looks like a fighter with knives ready to face anyone.

<!-- isHtml:1 --><p>Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!<br /> This week I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of interesting <em>Game of Thrones</em> related news items that I picked up on over the last few days.<br /> First, I noticed that a huge dragon skull washed ashore in Dorset, England, proving that the huge mythical beasts were, in fact, real. Or at least it would do, if it were not actually a man made structure promoting the series being released on a streaming service. Which is a shame, but it's still pretty cool. I'd love to see more companies go to this effort to advertise the things we love! Here is a picture of it:<br />  <br /> <img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/gallery_16065_320_20221.jpg" /><br /> I wonder what could be done to advertise <em>The Wheel of Time</em> at an appropriate moment? Maybe a replica of the part of the statue of Hawkwing they found?<br /> The other thing I thought worth bringing to your attention was the "Iron Throne" painting by <strong>Marc Simonetti</strong> which <strong>George R. R. Martin</strong> says <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://grrm.livejournal.com/327569.html'>best fits</a> the idea he had in mind when writing the books. Not that the H.B.O. version posted at the top of this article isn't cool, but Simonetti's work is amazing. Here it is, and as you can see in George R. R. Martin's vision the throne is much bigger.<br />  <br /> <img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/med_gallery_16065_320_136519.jpg" /><br /> <br /> I'm sure you'd agree it is totally awesome. I wish they had done something like this for the show. What an amazing visual image it makes. This goes to show that no matter how well a series is translated onto the big screen, it can never be quite as epic as the imagined version.<br /> Well I hope you found both of these little tidbits as interesting as I did. And if any of you are amateur (or professional) sculptors or something, feel free to do something equally as awesome for our beloved <em>Wheel of Time</em> series and take pictures for <em>Dragonmount</em>. I'll even post about it in Rotating Features! Have fun!<br /> Until next time, friends!</p>

Got a Black Ajah Sister Got a Black Ajah Sister I got a Black Ajah Sister She's got me so blind I can't see But she's a Black Ajah Sister and She's trying to make a Darkfriend out of me   Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai Yes, don't turn your bond on me, Sedai Don't mess around with your weaves Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai 'Cause you might not like what you achieve   (flute solo)   You got your bond on me, Sedai You got your bond on me, Sedai Yes, you got your bond on me, Sedai Turnin' my heart into stone I need you so bad Black Ajah Sister I can't leave you alone

Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  For this week, I've got some questions about the standing flows in the Age of Legends.   SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.   The standing flows are only mentioned in passing once, but they are alluded to a few times throughout the series.  They are a product of the Age of Legend, a mixture of One Power and technology that allowed non-channelers to use ter'angreal.  It's not clear how much of their technology ran on the One Power.  Or if it was just for frivolous things, not really worthwhile.  But let's take a look at the actual quote about them from the series.     Not much to go on, but the Wheel of Time Wiki expands on it a bit:     It's interesting that Alviarin thinks of the standing flows only in context of the ter'angreal—as if only ter'angreal can access the standing flows.  However, current knowledge of the Age of Legends is very scant, and mostly wrong.  Alviarin's understanding would most likely be incorrect, no matter how much Mesaana told her.  That means the One Power—through the standing flows—could be used for other things.   Or, it could mean that all the technology used was developed through ter'angreal.  Making angreal, sa'angreal, and ter'angreal was common in the Age of Legends.  Many people had the Talent.  It would make sense for them to develop new ter'angreal, ones that could use the standing flows, to better the lives of the common citizens.   Either way, I think a vast majority of items were One Power based.  Even sho-wings and jo-cars.  The One Power is an endless energy supply.  The Aes Sedai would be stupid to not harvest its power and put it to practical use.   But how would the standing flows be harnessed?  I can see two ways.  First is that the Aes Sedai make pools of saidar and saidin for the ter'angreal to feed off of.  If there are vast pools all over the world, the weaves could be tied off—connecting the ter'angreal and the pools—making all the items work without someone actively channeling into it.   It's implied that men and women working together could form these pools without difficulty (The Eye of the World, Chapter 50, "Meetings at the Eye").  The only reason the ones who made the Eye of the World died was to make saidin pure and clean.  If creating pools of pure Power could be done, Aes Sedai could regularly refill the "reservoirs," allowing all the items linked to it to draw on the Power stored within.     Or, taking on a more sci-fi perspective, the standing flows could be pure Power left to run wild.  It's all around, and all the devices programs to feed off the flows would work.  Maybe a good analogy would be a wind generator.  The wind is all around, and the device—the windmill—can access that power as long as the wind is there.   This might seem a bit confusing, but let me elaborate.  When we see scenes from the Age of Legends during Rand's trip into the glass-column ter'angreal, we see a group of Aiel, Ogier, and a Nym seed singing.  During this scene, it's speculated that the Nym uses weaves of the Power (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 26, "The Dedicated").  The phrase is that the Nym, "took those threads and wove them into his dance," which sounds a lot like channeling.  So, where is the Nym getting the flows?  From the standing flows, the Power that is surrounding them.  It's like wind all around them, and the Nym—a construct, like a ter'angreal—can access them.   Another point I'd like to touch on is whether or not the standing flows will come back.  They disappeared when the Bore was breached.  The Wheel of Time Wiki has something interesting on this that might shed some light on how they disappeared:     If sho-wings are running off the standing flows, they stopped working "immediately" after the Breaking.  If the standing flows are pools of the One Power, that makes sense since the Aes Sedai wouldn't go about refilling the reservoirs.  And if the standing flows are wild threads of Power running free, their threads could have been disrupted by the appearance of the Dark One.  He could have broken the weaves.  He could have taken away the wind.   But is it fixable?  Alviarin's comment of why such a thing had been allowed is telling.  I think most Aes Sedai would feel the same way.  The Power is for them, not for others.  The White Tower may claim to serve all, but I don't see them wanting to give up even an ounce of their power. The Asha'man might be more likely to create standing flows again.  They learned the lesson that they are men, not weapons, so they might want to be more of a help to society.  But it would require the cooperation of women, if the standing flows are pools.  Men and women need to work together to accomplish that task.     Two of the female Forsaken are still alive, Graendal and Moghedien.  Graendal is under compulsion, and fawning over Aviendha.  A lot of information might come of that.  Moghedien is a collared damane, captured and taken back to Ebou Dar.  Some information might come from that.  Honestly, I don't think the Seanchan would want to use any items that use the Power, so they wouldn't want the standing flows to reform.   But Graendal could be key to setting up a lot of wonders from the Age of Legends.  I wouldn't be surprised if she could help recreate the standing flows as well, if there were willing participation among the current channelers.   The last idea is that—if the Dark One blocked the flows, his resealing could heal the weaves on their own.  The standing flows could instantly be reinstated, without any help from another source.  That would lead to a lot of confusion, but probably some advances in civilization pretty quickly.   That's all for this week's edition.  Next time, I want to look at the Aiel and their new role in society.  Thanks for reading!

Ta'veren Tees has a new shirt available for pre-order.    

Another week has come and gone, and it is time for another Dragonmount Weekly Roundup.   Wheel of Time Cage Match: Interested in discussing the Week 1 winners? How about the Week 2 winners? Also, don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the Week Three Line-up:    Asmodean vs Alivia Siuan vs Narishma Galad vs Faile Tam vs Sulin   So, Min Fairshaw has an interesting, and seemingly unique, power of reading the threads of the Pattern surrounding other people. In the General Wheel of Time Discussion board, there is an ongoing discussion of the usefulness of her power. Is her power just a plot device, or something more?   Interested in playing Quidditch? What about Battleship? People wanting to play games but seeking an alternative to Mafia can find these games in our Social Groups.   Roleplayers would be interested to know that a position as the Role Play Group Leader for the Children of Light is now open for applications. Those interested in the position must have an interest in the Children of the Light Roleplay.   That about wraps it up for this week’s Weekly Roundup. I hope you have a safe and happy summer, and a great Bastille Day! (July 14).

Week 2 of Dragonmount's Wheel of Time Cage Match is finished!  Here's the list of winners:   Galad defeated Uno Tam defeated Slayer Sulin defeated Tuon Faile defeated Berelain   All the winning fighters will advance to Round 3, which starts right now!  Here's the line-up:   Asmodean vs Alivia Siuan vs Narishma Galad vs Faile Tam vs Sulin   Go to the Cage Match board to vote for your favorite character.  Or discuss more of Week 2's fights here.

Welcome to another edition of Fan Art Friday!   Seanchan are the people from across the Aryth Ocean. Artur Hawkwing sent his son to conquer the Seanchan lands. As time passed, the Seanchan and Luthair Hawkwing's people merged into one. The Seanchan are known for their damane, collard women born with the spark, and sul'dam, who are women who can learn to channel, control the damane. The nobility or Blood are marked by lacquered nails and shaved heads.   Important incidents with the Seanchan include Falme, the capture of Amadicia, and the attack at White Tower, among several others.   This edition brings to you the Empress, may she live forever, damane, the battle at White Tower, Seanchan insect-like armor, and a symbol representative of Seanchan.   Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag by PollyUranus   The Seanchan Raid by Sango1013   Damane by SicilianValkyrie   Seanchan by tjsavolainen   Seanchan by DonXavier

Hello friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!   Have you recently finished The Wheel of Time series and would like to do a re-read, but the thought of finding time to wade through such a big series is a little off-putting? Or have you not yet finished the series and just don't seem to be able to get through it, but you're dying to see how it all ends?   Well, have no fear because help is very, very near!   Here at Dragonmount we have our very own eBook store.   It has all of the books by both Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, so you can choose which ones you need to read or re-read, and download them to a variety of devices--which you can then easily carry about with you to read a little when you can. So there really are no excuses!   What is great about the store is that the eBooks are offered digital rights media (DRM) free--which means you can download them onto more than one device, and that makes it even more convenient for you. Whatever gets you reading The Wheel of Time is fine by us!   The prices are very reasonable and what's more, you can buy a gift voucher for a friend you may know who would really appreciate help reading the books as well... Whatever gets them reading The Wheel of Time, too!   Dragonmount has partnered up with Tor, the licensed publishers of The Wheel of Time eBooks. In fact, we also stock many other eBooks from Tor, if you wanted to check out some other works of fiction--but only if you have finished The Wheel of Time first. Twice!   I jest, of course. Check out the store and see if it offers anything of interest to you.   If you have questions, you can learn more in our eBook FAQ.   Have fun!   Until next time, friends!

Romeo and Juliet   Elayne: Rand al'Thor, Rand al'Thor. Wherefore art thou Dragon Reborn? Deny thy madness and refuse thy fate, Or be but sworn my love, and I suppose I'll just have to get alone with those two other girls...     Hamlet   Matrim: To run, or not to run, that is the question.  Whether 'tis easier to avoid the slings and arrows of those charging armed men, or to take flight against the sea of troubles, and by running away, delay them.  Or to cheat, to cheat perchance to win.  Ha, there's a laugh.   Macbeth   Rand: Is this Callandor I see before me, handle towards my hand?