DRAGONMOUNT

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's theory blog, and sorry for the delay. Since you've all been waiting, no doubt, with bated breath, let's jump right into today's topic: the three ta'veren, their connection to one another, and their purpose in the Last Battle.   Spoiler warning! This will include content from many books in the series, including Towers of Midnight, and speculation about A Memory of Light. Please read at your own risk.   Also, this WILL NOT contain spoilers from A Memory of Light's Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, or Chapter 11. Please refrain from posting any spoilers from A Memory of Light in the comments section. The A Memory of Light spoiler discussion board can be found here.   We know the fact that there are three ta'veren is significant. I think it shows that the Shadow is really strong and poised for victory during this Age. That is why the Wheel spun out the three together, to balance the evils within the world. And there are many threads connecting Rand, Mat, and Perrin together. They feel each others' need, they are able to see the others through an outside source with the swirling colors, and they have a similar sense of duty, knowing they must all be together during Tarmon Gai'don.   For the longest time, I've held the belief that Mat and Perrin would accompany Rand to Shayol Ghul, down into the mountain itself. There are a few pieces of evidence that support this theory, so I'll point them out quickly. First, three ta'veren together have more power than they do separately. Moiraine mentions this a couple of times in The Eye of the World. In this scene, she's speaking with Lord Agelmar, emphasizing why Rand, Mat, and Perrin must go to the Eye.     If three ta'veren can affect the Pattern around the Eye, and maybe weave the Dark One out, surely there's a greater chance of that if all three go to the Pit of Doom.   Another reason I think this is possible is because Mat and Perrin already have their functions for the Last Battle, and it will mirror their functions during the battle against the Seanchan in Falme. Mat and Perrin both fought, but not to the extent of being battle leaders. Mat sounded the Horn, Perrin held the Dragon Banner. During the Last Battle, they should have the same roles.   Naturally, there is some counter evidence to this too. The most obvious is the cover for A Memory of Light, which features Rand with Moiraine and Nynaeve going down into the Dark One's Bore. Of course, Mat and Perrin could be coming in right behind them.   Mat's battle reputation has increased significantly since Falme, so it may seem like a loss to the Light side if Mat doesn't help lead the battle. But there are still four of the Great Captains alive, plus Lan and the great Aiel leaders, and possibly even the Seanchan leaders—since all of them are considered to be like the Great Captains (Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 23, "Ornaments"). I don't think Mat's presence would be missed too much.   If it's not possible for Mat and Perrin to be there physically, let's look at this from a different angle. Maybe their pull on each other is what the colored swirls are all about. I looked through the interview pages, and all major questions in regards to the colors was met with a RAFO. Brandon Sanderson answered one: that the colors can't be seen in Tel'aran'rhiod, or in the land of the Finns.   We know very little about this part of their connection, only that it increases as the books progress and now they can actually see what the others are doing. Maybe this will be how they stay together, through their ta'veren link. If Mat and Perrin do stay outside, they could go into a trance, being connected with Rand, though not actually inside the Bore with him.   And what of them seeing each other? This is such a strange aspect of their abilities. As I mentioned earlier, when the colors swirl, they see the others through an outside source—not from the others' eyes, or even from another person in the room. It's like an out-of-body experience; they float in the space in front of the others. Whose eyes are they seeing through? Is it the Pattern that picks a spot from which to see? Is the Pattern that all-encompassing? The Pattern, the fabric of reality, should have access to every aspect within the world, right?   Let's look at the first time Mat actually sees an image with the colors:     And here's a more recent one, from when Tam tells Perrin he needs to go with the Aes Sedai:     This implies that Perrin's vision is moving with Rand, like a tracking shot. Most of the time, they dismiss the images, making them go away. If they didn't, would they stay connected for longer lengths of time?   It's been answered by Robert Jordan that souls cannot be split, so the out-of-body experiences they are having doesn't suggest that they are part of the same soul, able to view another third of their body.   But I'm sure the swirls of colors is the key in some way to the Light's triumph over the Shadow. Perhaps that's the true meaning of the prophecy, "the three shall be as one" (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 48, "Reading the Commentary").   That's all for this edition. Join me next week for an examination of whether Perrin and Faile will survive the Last Battle. Thanks for reading!

Brr! It's actually cold here in Southern California, which means November is definitely under way. I hope you're all staying warm and healthy!   What questions from the Wheel of Time series still need to be answered? Do you think they will be answered in A Memory of Light, or will there be a lot of loose ends that never get resolved? Let us know what you think in our A Memory of Light Spoiler Discussion forum.   The Black Tower Social Group has their November edition of The Tainted Times up now. Check out what they've been up to lately!   What are you thankful for? Can you list at least thirty things that make you grateful? Share them with the Kin Social Group in their Annual Thankful Thread, then explain how you'll act on those thankful feelings.   An Aes Sedai and her Warder escape from a fight, but are near death. Will they overcome their plight and survive? Find out in the role play My Fortune for a Bandage.

I'm not very good at hiding my inner fantasy geek, but I haven't yet felt the overwhelming urge to permanently ink my skin with a declaration of my undying love for Mat Cauthon or The Wheel of Time. That's not to say I haven't thought about it. Probably the only thing saving me from just such an uncontrollable urge in the future is the fact that I've sworn off getting any more tattoos. (Three and a half hours of tattoo-machine-on-spine was my lifetime pain limit. I've had more fun skiing on a bone fracture.)   Even though I won't be getting any more tattoos, I still love looking at them. Luckily, there are some amazing Wheel of Time tattoos out there. Here are some of my favorites.   Unless I use full names below, I'm using Dragonmount handles. Also, there's a whole Dragonmount forum thread on this here. Jenn dedicated an old Fan Art Friday to this, too.     Marcus Allen Adams has a lot of Wheel of Time tattoos! The Andoran lion in the bottom right corner is a work in progress.       flafro got this amazing half sleeve tattoo done a while back...       ...which inspired Bandenjamin to get this half sleeve. (These are my favorites. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm staggered by the sheer awesomeness of flafro's and Bandenjamin's arms.)       FizzLiz posted this insanely adorable picture in the forums of her husband holding their baby girl Nynaeve.       Continuing the half sleeve theme, we've got Windstrider's awesome wheel-and-serpent tattoo...       ...and a work in progress that Plazmuh is getting (has gotten? I'd love to see an update!)       In true Wheel of Time spirit, kanekaspar got this tattoo of a dragon wrapped around his forearm.       Emma Wardle got this along her ribs. I love the design and am in awe of her pain tolerance.       And these guys (C. Charles Lovat-Fraser on the left and Mark Johnston on the right) just made me laugh. Their tattoos are cool, too.       Last but not least, here's Dragonmount's illustrious founder, Jason Denzel, with his amazing dragon tattoo.  

I have another Admin interview for you. These kind of got sidetracked due to unforeseen circumstances. I have an interview with one of our Role Play (RP) Admins, Winterwinds. He is in charge of the RP Groups.     Q: When did you start reading The Wheel of Time?   A: I started reading The Wheel of Time back in middle school, so around 6th or 7th grade, I borrowed The Eye of the World from my school's library. The rest, as they say, is history.     Q: How did you find Dragonmount and get involved with Admin/Staff?   A: Well, I was made staff actually shortly after I joined Dragonmount. Barm noticed I was greeting everyone, and actually outgreeting the newbie mods, so he offered me a job! That went on for a few years, then Tay approached me to be her 2nd in command.     Q: You are in charge of the RP Groups. How do you balance everything between the groups?   A: Well, for the most part I just try to keep a clear and level head, try and be as fair as I can towards all the RP Groups.     Q: What are your favorite RP threads?   A: Most of my favorite RP threads have been over in the Wolfkin or in the Rev. One board. For instance, I started a thread a long time ago, of which I cannot remember the name but it was nominated for an Empy, which was set in the War of Power.     Q: Do you actively RP?   A: Not as much as I want to here, but elsewhere I am quite an active RPer. My lack of RP here stems from the Wolfkin having just flopped over and gone into hibernation mode.     Q: What faction would you join in Randland if you had to choose only one?   A: Wolfkin, without a shadow of a doubt.     Q: Who is your favorite character in The Wheel of Time?   A: Oddly enough, Mat. I am a big RTS player, and Mat's general abilities have always been something I looked up to.     Q: What is the most memorable moment for you in The Wheel of Time?   A: In the book just before the last book, Towers of Midnight I think, there was a scene where Perrin and Elayne's brother, who is the Lord Captain Commander of the Whitecloaks, find common ground after Perrin saves a Whitecloak who had been accidentally stuffed into a pile of the dead. I just loved how two former foes could find common ground and put aside their differences like that.     Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share?   A: Um, well, I guess the only thing I would like to share is that I hope some more people decide to wander down to the RP side and say hello, and perhaps stick around or RP in the Rev. One board. It's a fun place to be and we are always welcoming to newcomers.

It's time for another giveaway! Here are the rules again for those who aren't familiar with them:       This time, we will be giving away a copy of Knife of Dreams. I haven't received the audio clip from Macmillan yet, but will add it here if/when I do.   This giveaway's question is: What would you do if you found yourself in Tel'aran'rhiod for the night? You have until Wednesday, November 14th to answer in the comments section. Good luck!

Alright, folks, I'd like to thank you for coming to the Friends of the Dark Local 328 Annual Picnic. If I could have your attention, I've got some quick announcements to pass on and then we can get back to the barbecue and games.   First off, I'd like to remind you that while it's a lot of fun to mess with each other, I must ask you to stop with the pranks. Hiding a corpse in the houses of fellow cell members is well and good, but once you start drawing the Dragon's Fang on each other's doors, people are going to start asking questions, and to be honest, that's counterproductive. If you're going to have a laugh, either have it at the expense of someone who isn't a contributing member or make it subtle.   Next up, on the topic of officially sanctioned masks...   Our identities are important to each of us as a way to make sure that we, as a family, are not compromised. To that end, we've long had the practice of wearing masks to these gatherings to protect ourselves. I feel I must point out once more that the list of approved materials for construction of these masks as listed under subsection 12, paragraph 7 does not include items such as lacy underwear, must consist of more than just fake spectacles and a moustache, and should not be made to look like any other person. Remember, folks, it's been 48 days since the last hanging of someone who was actually a Friend of the Dark, so let us please keep those villagers guessing.   Also on the agenda are a few notes about our dear friends, the Trollocs.   Please keep in mind while visiting Shayol Ghul on vacation to NOT, I repeat NOT taunt the Trollocs. Only Aginor knows what he bred them with to get their sense of humor, but I feel that after last month's massacre of the holiday tour group, this point cannot be stressed enough. Also, if invited over for a feast, here are two things to remember. First, make sure you know exactly what is in the bowl they are offering you for dinner and, in my opinion, it may be wise to just stick with the salad. Second, make sure you are not intended to be the main course.   Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I'd like to mention that we're undergoing a change in management. Recently the Chosen have come out of where they were locked away and have stepped up to take charge in the fight against the Light once more. Now, as of right now, they're allowing us to generally carry on as we have been, but remember your oaths. If one of them approaches you for assistance with a plot, show them the selfless pride and intelligence we're known for.   I'd also like to point out at this time that the one change they have made is to the punishment bylaws. Whereas previously, it went from a verbal warning for a first failure to a written warning for the second and so on, the bylaws now read: "First Failure: Death. Second Failure: Permanent Death." Although, of course, in their wisdom and mercy the Chosen may simply change the sentence to a lifetime of insufferable pain and then death, as they see fit. Our motto has therefore been changed as well, from "Death Before Failure" to simply "Death For Failure." Do, uh, keep that in mind.   That concludes my announcements. The barbecue is in the back. We'll be playing "Pin the murders on the Aes Sedai" a little later, and don't forget to grab a favor bag on the way home. Have a wonderful time, everybody.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post this last week, but better late than never! This time, the featured eBook wallpaper is for The Gathering Storm. The artwork is by Todd Lockwood. Here is the image:     Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art for this eBook?

Welcome back, all!   People are still buzzing about Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm. If the Internet memes aren't satisfying your need for discussing the implications of this event, come to our Movies and Games Discussion forum and let us know what you think.   The Aiel Social Group would like to know what has left its mark on you. What person, thing, or experience has left a positive mark on your life?   The Band of the Red Hand Social Group just posted their monthly Regimental Book Discussion. This month, they are wondering when Mat became "great" in the Wheel of Time series. When did he grow from being a simple farm boy or sidekick to being a full-fledged hero?   Our fearless leader, Jason Denzel, has been making us jealous this weekend. He's been hobnobbing with Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss at the World Fantasy convention in Toronto. Check out our Twitter or Facebook pages for more on this.

Last week, I introduced the amazing art on the Facebook page "Screw you all, I love Wheel of Time." Assuming you weren't so inspired by my post that you looked up the rest of the art yourself, I'm featuring another handful of favorites from the page this week.   Art by Cyndi Crews     1. Rand al'Thor by Madeleine Gusdal (Epilogue gallery, Elfwood gallery)       2. Selene by Madeleine Gusdal       3. Tinker Women by Cicely Combs   Cicely Combs' unique and fascinating style has become more sophisticated in the years since she painted these pieces. I highly recommend checking out her professional gallery!       4. The Rebel Amyrlin by Cicely Combs       5. Tinker Woman Dancing the Tiganza by Jon Foster   According to the Wheel of Time Wiki, this was created for the Wheel of Time roleplaying game. Jon Foster is an incredible professional artist with impressive vision--please check out his gallery if you have time. You won't regret it!       6. Rand by Meghan Waters   I love this one! I've never seen it anywhere else!       7. Rand al'Thor Pumpkin, Light Version by =joh-wee (pattern by ~TamIsMyFather)   Happy Halloween!  

It's time to find the most sinister pumpkin patch and get ready for   "It's the Great Dark One, Myrddraal Bah'roun"   Reunite with the gang as they get together for this yearly tradition of fun, traveling from house to house slaughtering all and gaining the spoils of victory.   Trolloc one: "I got a pig." Trolloc two: "I grabbed someone for the Trolloc pot." Myrddraal Bah'roun "I got a rock."   Watch as Ishamael teaches young Lanfear about the Great Dark One. "Each year, the Great Dark One rises out of the pumpkin patch he thinks is the most sinister, bringing his most loyal followers candy and the title of Nae'blis."   Yes, it's fun all around for the gang in this heart warming over a fire tale.   Darkfriend one: "I took a sack full of gold." Darkfriend two: "I nicked this nice bow." Myrddraal Bah'roun "I got a rock." Moghedien: "You Blockhead."   Watch as Snoopy battles the Dragon Reborn!   (Sequence of Snoopy fighting Rand in the skies above Falme)   "Myrddraal Bah'roun, what kind of costume is that?" "I had a little trouble with my sword." "Why did you think you even needed eyeholes?"   Yes, tune in this Tarmon Gai'don for:     "It's the Great Dark One, Myrddraal Bah'roun"