DRAGONMOUNT

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  I've come back with renewed vigor, thanks to a wonderful weekend at JordanCon.  It was an incredible experience, talking with Brandon, Harriet, Maria, and Alan, as well as other fans who love the series as much as I do.  I also sat through several of the theories/spoiler panels, letting ideas grow in my mind of topics to explore.  For this edition, I want to look at the comical side of The Wheel of Time fandom and talk about "The Grave is No Bar to My Looney Theories" panel at JordanCon.  But first:   SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.   The Looney Theories discussion included Kristy Lussier, Sarah Nakamura, Billy Todd, Matt Hatch, and Alan Romanczuk on the panel.  This discussion wasn't meant to be taken seriously, so any idea someone presented that could likely be true was marked with a "Too Plausible" stamp and pushed away.  We'll talk about one of those for next week, but I'm jumping ahead of myself.  I just want to give fair warning that these theories will be a bit on the crazy side.   My favorite of the bunch involved Berelain and Rhuarc.  Here's the theory:  In A Memory of Light, romantic couples seemed to live or die together: Siuan and Bryne, Gawyn and Egwene, etc.  But the only couple that didn't fit this criteria was Amys and Rhuarc.  The theorist claims that this proves that Rhuarc was not really in love with Amys, and that he was gay.  This is further collaborated by his relationship with Berelain, that she is one of those young women who liked to hang out with gay men.  It may be a stretch, but I could see it happening.   The next one comes from the idea that peach pits are poisonous in Randland.  The theory says that peach pits are actually saidin, and they are poisonous because of the taint.  So, with the cleansing of the source, peaches won't be poisonous anymore.  It's plausible.   Another suggested that Rand is really Charlie Sheen.  I think some part of this theory derives from Charlie Sheen's sudden descent into madness, but mostly it was because it would mean Tam is Martin Sheen—which seemed to make many of the women attendees sigh.  Charlie Sheen as the Dragon Reborn is hard to swallow, though.   This may be the looniest, in my opinion.  Rand didn't die during his fight with the Dark One because Rand didn't have a soul.  The theorist pointed out that Rand is a ginger—someone who has red hair—and everyone knows gingers don't have souls. (I must point out, once again, that this is all in jest.  There is no offense meant to anyone with red hair.)   And our own ed2funy submitted one for the panel's consideration.  He said that Rand wasn't the Dragon Reborn from the start.  His powers only came to him the night they were fleeing the Two Rivers.  On that night, Bela was in danger, and so she—who was really the Creator—searched for a way to save herself.  She released the Power into Rand, allowing him to become the Dragon and channel to save herself.  Also, at the end of A Memory of Light, Bela did not die.  Rather, she allowed her Power to go into the Horn of Valere and caused Olver to sound it.  She lost her body, but the Creator doesn't need it.  Everyone knew from the start that Bela was either the Dark One or the Creator, so this makes sense to me.   Ed came up with another one, though not in time for the Looney Theories panel.  He said that the Ogier will use Seed Singing on people before they use the Book of Translation to flee the land.  When they Sing to the people, the humans will grow into giants, creating another one of our modern world's legends.  Harriet was sitting at the table next to us, though, and when Ed asked her if it was possible, she said flat out, "No."  Sorry, Ed!   I think the tradition of looney theories will still continue, even with the conclusion of the series.  There are so many ways to analyze and evaluate all the characters and their interactions with each other.  Plus, it's a lot of fun thinking outside of the box, and just enjoying the silliness that can come from friends talking together.   That's all for this week.  Next week we'll examine another "looney theory" that sounds really plausible to me: Lanfear is still alive.  So, join us then, and don't forget to post your own looney theories in the comments.  Thanks for reading!

It is said that the Ogier are great builders. The cities they build seem to have a life of their own. Among the Ogier built cities, Tar Valon is said to be the most beautiful. Tar Valon is followed by Caemlyn in terms of beauty. People of Caemlyn say that Tar Valon could not be more beautiful than Caemlyn, but that is so because they have not seen Tar Valon.   In honor of these two cities, this week's fan art is focused on Caemlyn, Tar Valon, and places in and around them.     The White Tower by humite     Caemlyn from Tar Valon Gate by artguyjoe     Dragonmount by NuttyMonk   That's it for Part 1 of Architecture and Scenery. Part 2 will be here next week, and you are free to guess what will be in store for you.

Hello, friends! It's Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog! This week, we are taking a look at another form of Wheel of Time media, for those of you addicted to The Wheel of Time but with no way to get your fix now that the series has ended... This particular website holds a special place in my memory because it was something I read avidly in the years I first joined Dragonmount way back when I was in school. It is an unofficial, tongue-in-cheek comic series called WoT now?, which is an especially apt name now that the series has been completed. Its author is known as Burnout, an avid fan of the Wheel of Time series. The artwork is fairly basic and based on the old Megaman gifs. It can be a little irreverent and as stated, tongue-in-cheek, but it should provide a good giggle to its readers once you get into it. It was definitely done with the best of intentions by a fan who loved The Wheel of Time and Robert Jordan as much as we all do. Sadly, the series has not been continued for a while now, but there are plenty of panels to read in the meantime. Have fun!

Announcer Reader discretion is advised.     Children   Announcer   Children is filmed on location with the men of the Children of the Light. All Darkfriends will be brought to trial for their crimes.     Chioal Honestly, the best thing about this job is that you get to help the people of the world. I mean, just think of what would happen if these fools went on with their killing and destruction? We can't allow the Shadow to spread, so we go where the Light wills and bring peace and justice.   Rodhor Right, and you get to travel to all sorts of different places. I've personally never been to this area of Amadicia, but it's a beautiful country, and they understand that, even if it doesn't seem pleasant, your duty is yours to do, so they've been pretty helpful to us.   Chioal And respectful too. That's the nice thing about wearing the sunburst; it allows people to see you're someone to be respected, and feared a little. But you have my word that we're out to help the people.   Rodhor Indeed. That's why we're out here. We've heard reports of Darkfriends gathering in the local countryside and we can't be having with that. So, we're traveling the roadways, stopping here and there and seeing if anyone has heard any news.   (Horses pull up outside of an inn) Rodhor Now, we're heading in to this inn because we've heard rumors that a Darkfriend was seen in the area, and may have stayed here plotting his foul deeds.   (Inside)   Chioal Morning, sir! I and my companions here are seeking out the enemies of the Light. We wish to ask you a few simple questions about a traveler that may have passed through here about a week ago.   Innkeeper Yes, yes, of course. I'll tell you anything you wish to know, gentlemen.   Rodhor We'd expect nothing less from one who walks in the Light. Now, sir, was there or was there not a gentleman with a beard and a slight scar on his right cheek?   Innkeeper (Cowering) Yes, sir...I saw him. He came in asking for a room and I noticed the shadows seemed to follow him. I sent him packing on his way, sir. No help for the Shadow here, sir. Honest, sir.   Chioal That's good. Did he mention which way he was headed?   Innkeeper No, sir. Saw him shake his head and head off that way down the road.   Rodhor Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, though, I'll have Inquisitor Vareyn come in here and double check what you've told us, and then we'll leave you to your business.   (Children head back out as a man with a shepherd's crook on his robe enters. Cameraman quickly exits.)   Chioal Well, we'll know by tonight if this man's story can be corroborated, and whether or not he may have been our Darkfriend's contact in this town. Either way, this town may have fallen under the Shadow, so we'll be sending back a messenger to the Fortress of the Light and ask for a banner to be sent here to make sure that these fine folks walk under the Light. (Distant cries of pain)  

Dragonmount's very own Co-Webmasters, Jason Denzel and Jennifer Liang, have been honored recently for their tireless contributions to the Wheel of Time fandom.  Both are extremely deserving of this recognition, and we are proud to have them at the helm of this website. Jason will be a Guest of Honor at Penguicon this year.  Penguicon is a science fiction convention that has a strong focus on computer-related topics.  It will be held in Pontiac, Michigan from April 26-28, 2013.  When he is not on Dragonmount or engaging in other hobbies, Jason works on Linux projects for a network technology company.  He will be the first notable Wheel of Time fan to be a Guest of Honor at a convention.       Jennifer was elected President of the Southern Fandom Confederation last weekend at JordanCon.  The Southern Fandom Confederation is an organization dedicated to celebrating science fiction and fantasy fandom in the Southern United States.  It is affiliated with DeepSouthCon, which is a traveling Southern convention that JordanCon hosted this year.  Jennifer's work as both the Chair of JordanCon and Director of the former Wheel of Time track at Dragon*Con made her an ideal candidate for the position.  When she is not working on conventions or on Dragonmount, Jennifer works as a special education teacher.

Trollocs. Fades. Draghkar. Myrddraal. Twisted Ones. Neverborn. The Shadowspawn have names that differ from region to region. They were created by Aginor during the Age of Legends for the fight against the forces of Light. They are the forces of the Dark One whose numbers are so large that the forces of Light cannot compare. They were formed from twisting humans and animals with the True Power. Every fantasy needs the kinds of creatures it can throw against the good guys (and not mind dozens of them being killed in the process). The Wheel of Time has the Shadowspawn. The Shadowspawn are a varied bunch, including Trollocs, Fades, Draghkar, and gholam. These creatures have been fascinating for me (or I just chose this topic because I call my brother a Trolloc). Now, without further ado, I present to you the Shadowspawn. Goat-horned Trolloc by t-biddy     Myrddraal by BloodRedFullMoon     Draghkar by cadavis3     I suppose my teachers could count as Shadowspawn, but I cannot post pictures of them here since they are not from the Wheel of Time series.   That's all for today!   (Artworks have been used with permission.)  

Hello, friends! It's Thursday, which means two things--the weekend is not too far away and it's time for our Thursday blog! This week, we are looking ahead to JordanCon, which will be held in Roswell, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. In case you aren't too sure what JordanCon is, it is a convention held in honor of our late, beloved Robert Jordan, which means of course that it will feature a lot about the Wheel of Time books, among other things. Things like what, you ask? Well, if you want the full rundown, here is a link to the Schedule of Events. Let me mention a few highlights for you... This year, JordanCon will be hosting DeepSouthCon. Click on their name if you want to follow a link explaining all about DeepSouthCon, but essentially it is another convention which moves location each year, and this year it is joining up with JordanCon. It's all about Science Fiction, so there will likely be many common interests for those already heading to JordanCon. In particular, it is well known for the Hearts Tournament and the DSC (DeepSouthCon) awards ceremony. There are a whole host of exciting guests, including Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal, who will be doing book signings. Imagine having your books signed by them both! Artist Michael Whelan, who created a masterpiece for A Memory of Light, the final Wheel of Time book, and award winning author Seanan McGuire will also be on the roll of honor, along with many others. Check out the Special Guests list in the link to the schedule provided above for more information on these Guests and on the rest who will be attending. Did you have a crazy theory since reading A Memory of Light? Well, it's your lucky day! There will be several, spoiler-permitted panels throughout the day where the books will be discussed and dissected for as long as time allows. And finally, a nice new feature which will certainly be of use to those of us who are members here at Dragonmount--and to those who haven't joined up yet (hint, hint!)--is the Wheel of Time Speed Friending Service! It's just like speed dating, but instead of looking for romance, you'll be looking for new friends who ALSO love the Wheel of Time series! What more could you ask for? Have your email addresses at the ready. We really hope everyone who is able to attend fully enjoys JordanCon this year. If you haven't been able to attend this year, fear not. Every year gets better than the last, so start planning now!  

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Earlier this month we posted on Facebook about 16-year-old Ben Wolverton, son of fantasy author David Wolverton (aka David Farland).  Ben was in a terrible long boarding accident which left him with severe brain trauma and other serious injuries.  Unfortunately his family doesn't have health insurance and the medical bills are stacking up.    Dragonmount, along with several other websites and authors, are trying to spread the word about ways you can help Ben and his family. Please join us in contributing in one or more ways.   Book Bomb A "book bomb" is where we encourage as many people as possible to buy a specific book in a short period of time. Not only does this provide money via direct sales, but it also helps push the book up the charts, thereby increasing exposure to as many people as possible.  The authors and fans organizing this event have chosen David Farland's Nightingale. Please go to Amazon and purchase a copy. Not only will you help the Wolverton family, but you'll get a fantastic novel. Direct Donation If you would prefer to make a direct donation to Ben's recovery, you can do so here.   Spread the Word Whether you're able to help financially or not, we ask that you consider sharing news about Ben's accident on your Facebook, twitter, email, or just word of mouth.    The Wheel of Time community is large and has always proven to be generous. By helping the Wolverton family, you will be upholding Robert Jodan's legacy of charity and kindness.     Thank you for joining us to help. 

The name is al'Thor, Rand al'Thor.   My instructions were explicit. I was to prevent the Dark One from breaking free of his prison at Shayol Ghul. Licensed to break the world.   (Bond Music)     (Private study)   Moiraine:  Your mission is of the utmost importance, al'Thor. Try to take it seriously.   Rand:  I'm always serious, M. Have I ever let you down?     Watch as he battles the world's most feared villains   Rand:  Do you expect me to just hand control over to you, Forsaken?   Aginor:  No, Lews Therin, I expect you to die.     With amazing devices from an Age long past   Thom:  And if you press this part here, the head of the ter'angreal will shoot out flames up to thirty feet. This one will allow you to open any lock, and this sword also doubles as a flute.   Rand:  And how much use do you think a flute will do in the Last Battle?    Thom:  Just try to bring it back in one piece, al'Thor.   And with beautiful women at every turn   (Tavern) Min:  I know I'm not the only girl in your life, al'Thor, but do you have to be so cavalier?    Rand:  Elmindreda, what would I do without you?   (Courtyard)   Elayne:  Well, well, and what have we here?   Join Rand al'Thor in    "Eye of the World"   Coming soon to a theater near you     (Tavern)   Rand:  Mother's milk in a cup. Shaken, not stirred.