DRAGONMOUNT

Hello again. Welcome to another edition of "WoT If?". This week's topic might be a bit out there, but bear with me. I'll explain the method to my madness.   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.   So, the timeline of The Gathering Storm and Towers of Midnight is a little difficult to get a handle on. Luckily, there are excellent online resources that figure out the timeline of the whole series. On Theoryland.com, I found a tentative timeline for Towers of Midnight by the user morat'corlm. This helps explain where everyone is during each scene along the main timeline.   According to morat'corlm's research, there is a nine day gap between Androl pleading with Pevara for help (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 56, "Something Wrong") and Mat preparing to leave for the Tower of Ghenjei (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 52, "Boots").   This gap seems plausible for the battle for the Black Tower. After Androl asks Pevara for assistance, I don't think they'll just wait around day after day. Pevara is the type to act. When she listens to Androl, I think she and the unturned Aes Sedai and Asha'man will begin their escape or attack (since the dreamspike only negates Traveling/Skimming weaves) the next day. Also, Myrelle's group of Salidar Aes Sedai is still camped outside the Black Tower, as far as we know. Once attack channeling begins inside the grounds, I'm sure they will come and help fight.   Here's a note on the dreamspike. Mesaana thinks to herself:     What exactly does "except for those allowed" mean? Is the one who activates the dreamspike able to pick and choose who can enter the area? When Graendal activates hers against Perrin, is she still able to Travel into the area? I would assume so, based on Mesaana's statement. But what if the dreamspike's maker, or original user, is currently reborn and in the Black Tower? Would they still have access to Traveling within the area? I think it's possible. My first thought would also be that Androl has some connection to the dreamspike, since he's so skilled with Gateways. But we've already been shown that even his Gateways don't work. However, there could be another person there who is "allowed", even if by accident, to use Traveling within the dreamspike's perimeter.   What does all of this have to do with saving Caemlyn? Well, after the nine day gap, there's still another eight days or so before Caemlyn begins to burn. That's plenty of time for the surviving Asha'man to come to the aid of the city.   There's been a lead up to a fight between the Light and Shadow factions within the Black Tower for at least the past three books. Logain, most assume, will lead the Light side, with Taim leading the Shadow. However, there aren't too many Light characters still at the Black Tower since Logain says:     And a little later in the same chapter, Logain talks of Taim's "cronies":     This information isn't surprising. We've known for a long time that Taim is up to no good. So, with most of the men at the Black Tower loyal to Taim, not Rand—or even Logain—those Asha'man and Aes Sedai trapped inside are in pretty rough shape.   During that same scene, Rand admits he doesn't have time to deal with Taim at the moment, and Verin says:     Knowing what we know about Verin and her inability to divulge plots within the Shadow, I think we can assume the opposite is true. That is, Taim will have to act before the Last Battle, so the Asha'man can't help the Light. The Asha'man and Aes Seadi are prisoners in the Black Tower, trapped there by the dreamspike, being picked off one by one and turned to the Shadow by the 13x13 method.   During Towers of Midnight, Rand realizes he can't Travel to the Black Tower, so the dreamspike is still active. This is the day before he wants to go to Merrilor, the same day Olver opens Verin's letter.   Here's the quote:     However, we don't know why the dreamspike is still active. Perhaps it's being used by the survivors to make a place of safety for their wives and families. I don't think it necessarily implies that there's still trouble going on there. This quote also implies that Logain is already at the Black Tower. The last we actually saw of him was during the prologue of The Gathering Storm.   Mezar Kurin seems to be another 13x13 turned Asha'man. When Logain's Asha'man talk about Mezar, they say his memories are still present, but something is wrong with his manner, with his eyes, with his smile. This is the same way Bashere responds to Taim in Lord of Chaos, Chapter 2, "The New Arrival". Mezar sends along a message from Logain, but is it true or not?     Was Mezar turned before his return to the Black Tower or after his arrival? If before, perhaps more of Logain's or Rand's loyal Asha'man were turned, even those sent to Illian or Arad Doman. Either way, I'm sure they have all of Mezar's information about Rand and Logain's current whereabouts and some of their plans.   Since Logain disappeared from Rand's group, where is he, if not at the Black Tower? Perhaps he's doing a little recruiting of his own, to bolster his group before rushing in to take on Taim.   Perrin lends Grady's Gateway abilities to Mat so he can get to the Tower of Ghenjei and back (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 53, "Gateways"). Mat will have at least one Asha'man to help battle the Shadowspawn and Darkfriends destroying Caemlyn. Since I predict the drama at the Black Tower will be finished, Grady can summon the survivors to come help. They have been inspected by Elayne and her guards, and have been made to know that they are on Andoran soil. I think they will feel a debt to help protect the capital.   I'll stop there; we'll save the details of the battles for another time. Please join us next week for the first half of a two week special on the Eye of the World.

It's time for another roundup! Here's a fun topic from our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum:  Which Forsaken has done the most evil?  There's even a handy poll in which to vote.  I've already seen some amusing answers. Although it's wrapping up, there's still time to ask last minute questions in our Q&A session with Saladin Ahmed.  I'll be posting all the questions and answers here on the front page once this session is completely finished. Our Humor Blogger is running a competition in the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild to see who can submit the best potential image for his new blog.  If you'd like to see your art featured every week as the humor blog icon, there's still time to see if you have what it takes! Have you played the Band of the Red Hand Social Group's Originals vs. Covers game?  Two versions of each featured song will be posted: an original version and a cover version.  You simply vote for the version you like the best.  The song "Hallelujah" is currently on the hot seat. The Brown Ajah is just about to start their Travel & Olympics Month festivities in the White Tower & Warders Social Group.  The event will begin on August 1st and will last the entire month.  See the thread I linked above for an overview of activities. If you missed the A Memory of Light panel from LibertyCon, don't fret!  The guys from tWotcast have it available as a podcast episode that you can download from their site.

I never expected to dedicate an entire week to a single character, especially not a single bad guy. But Lanfear's stunning beauty has inspired so many stunningly beautiful works that I felt it would be a disservice not to feature them.   During the Age of Legends, Mierin Eronaile was one of the two researchers responsible for accidentally drilling the Bore in the Dark One's prison. Before this, she was briefly involved with Lews Therin Telamon, who she viewed as a path to power. After drilling the Bore, her ambition and jealousy towards Lews Therin's wife, Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar, drove her to swear loyalty to the Dark One. She took the name Lanfear, meaning "Daughter of the Night," and went on to become the most powerful of the female Forsaken, as well as a master of Tel'aran'rhiod. She was sealed into the Dark One's prison at the end of the War of the Shadow, when Lews Therin and the Hundred Companions marched on Shayol Ghul.   The seals on the prison weakened at the end of the Third Age, eventually allowing her to escape. Under the guise of the Lady Selene, she then attempted to convert Rand to the Shadow. Her stalking and manipulations came to a head in Rhuidean, where Moiraine famously saved Rand from her fury by tackling her, throwing her through the stone doorway ter'angreal, and trapping them both in the land of the Finns.   Lanfear has since been reincarnated as the Darkfriend Cyndane ("Last Chance"), who Moridin controls with a mindtrap. Her stated intent has always been to enlist Rand's help in using the Choedan Kal to destroy both the Dark One and the Creator. However, both her desire to see Rand dead and her subjugation by Moridin confuse the issue of her current intentions.       1. Lanfear by ~kotian82:   This artist is a master of light and composition. The opulent details and silvery light emphasize the ephemeral beauty and power Lanfear personifies. Her association with the night is beautifully conveyed.         2. Xmas Gift: Lanfear by =trishna87:   The flawless simplicity of this work--particularly the sparse use of color--strikes a perfect chord. Lanfear's coy smile and hipshot pose perfectly convey her sensuality and arrogance.         3. Selene by *EdselArnold (Edsel J. Arnold):   I really thought this work was done in watercolor with gold foil, and I was completely floored when I realized it was digital. In any medium, it's a carefully balanced, flawless example of Art Nouveau.         4. Daughter of the Night by Zephyrus (Zephyrus at Dragonmount, ~Gorgaidon at deviantART, and here's her online portfolio and blog):   In terms of the sheer physical beauty of the subject, this is one of the most beautiful depictions of Lanfear I've seen. The washed out colors used here have a sinister feel--appropriate given Lanfear's darker (or shall I say manipulative, sociopathic, and power-crazed) qualities.         5. WoT - Lanfear by *Rakiah:   I feel a little guilty because I just featured another one of *Rakiah's works last week. But beautiful work deserves praise, and the time is right! I particularly like the costuming details in this depiction of Lanfear.  

First off, I'd like to thank Tynaal Consen for the hard work she put into this position as my predecessor and for giving me a good base foundation from which to start. As of today, I will be taking over as the Rotating Features Blogger. Here's some information about me for those of you who don't know me. I guess you could call me a bit odd, for lack of a better word. I started reading The Wheel of Time back in November of 2010, and I finished the series around June of 2011. I absolutely loved it; I couldn't put it down, and I even read it at work. Besides reading, I'm an avid fan of manga, anime, and video games. I'm a fledgling mafia player as well. I am pretty active around the Dragonmount forums.   I have quite a few plans for my blog. Some of them have been greenlit already, and some are still in the idea phase. One of my biggest plans that has already been greenlit is a countdown to A Memory of Light series review. Each month, I'll post a brief review of my thoughts on the book I am currently on for that particular month. I'll try not to put too many spoilers in there, as I know not everyone is finished with the series up through Towers of Midnight, and I'll make it obvious in the article title when it's a Wheel of Time book review. Also, I plan to finish up the rest of the Dragonmount Admin interviews from where Tynaal left off. Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll be posting one each month. The rest of my weekly articles will just be random topics of interest. I hope to make these articles interesting for everyone. I realize everyone won't like every article, since that's just personal preference, but I hope to get in something for everyone and am not above taking requests when I can squeeze them in. Keep in mind, though, I will not encroach on the other front page bloggers' territory, so if your request would fall under one of their categories, I won't be able to cover it.

"ARE YOU PONDERING WHAT I'M PONDERING, ISHAMAEL?"   "Sure thing, oh Great Lord of the Dark, but even if we put a creamy nougat into every Trolloc, we'd still not be able to call them a tasty treat."   "NEVER MIND, ISHAMAEL. JUST MAKE SURE THAT PRESS RELEASE GETS DOWN TO MARKETING, WILL YOU?"     New from Thakan'dar Enterprises   Nae'Bliss   A sensual dark chocolate bonbon filled with an even darker core of blackberry brandy. Deliciously decadent, it'll be sure to please the Dreadlord in you. Thirteen pieces to every box, they'll turn your enemies to friends with but a taste.     and for the kids, don't forget to pick up     Candy Bubbles of Evil   A delightful treat for children of all ages. Candy coating on the outside, and a surprise inside every one. Now available in Blood Red Cherry (pictured), Shadow Black Licorice, and new Myrddraal Gray Grape.     Find these delightful treats and more from your local door to door Thakan'dar peddlers, coming to a village near you.

Hi, everyone. Welcome back to "WoT If?". For this week's discussion, I'd like to look a little closer at the sul'dam and their damane. There are a few points about them that get overlooked and plenty of questions to ask about their future.   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.   For most of our female characters in the series, being a damane is a fate worse than death. Egwene has such a fear of being leashed that it makes her particularly vengeful when the Seanchan attack the White Tower in Towers of Midnight. Though the a'dam was mysterious at first, we learn later that it acts as an instrument that forces a link between the damane and the sul'dam, leaving the sul'dam in complete control.   The first thing that I've always wondered is why the damane don't feel the ability to channel in sul'dam. When Rand and Aviendha Travel to Seanchan in The Fires of Heaven, they encounter two sul'dam, two damane, Lady Morsa, and Jalindin, a Seeker for Truth. When Rand asks Aviendha to shield the ones who are leashed, she says:     Sul'dam claim they develop an "affinity" (The Great Hunt, Chapter 42, "Falme") for knowing if a damane has channeled. Some experienced sul'dam can even see weaves without the bracelet on. I can't believe that the Empress, or anyone within the Seanchan hierarchy, couldn't put together these pieces and realize that sul'dam can channel too.   Tuon's total lack of surprise at this reveal might show some do know. In Knife of Dreams, she tells Mat:     She doesn't respond with, "Don't say such vile lies," or something along those lines. She seems to accept it without comment.   It might be argued that Seanchan-raised damane don't know how to sense the source in another woman; it could be one of the skills or Talents that have been lost in Seanchan. I doubt it, but it's possible. However, with the sudden intake of so many Aes Sedai, the secret can't remain hidden for long. If Aviendha can sense the sul'dam's ability, a trained Aes Sedai most certainly will.   Once exposed, all the Seanchan would have to do is order the sul'dam to drink forkroot tea. I'm assuming it would work on sul'dam the same as any other woman who can channel. After all, it worked on Morgase and she is probably more weak and unpracticed than the sul'dam.   The Aiel Wise Ones being taken damane might have a large impact on the Seanchan's future. When Aviendha goes through the glass columns in Rhuidean a second time, she sees the future of her line. The scene, through the eyes of her daughter, Padra, shows the Aiel still fighting with the Seanchan over the collared Wise Ones. However, you'll notice that it doesn't imply that more Wise Ones have been taken, only the initial Shaido who were captured by General Tylee.   The other future scenes show the Aiel constantly at war with the Seanchan. The Raven Empire has taken control of most of the world. They have technology—or is it One Power technology? Malidra thinks:     So, the Raven Empire seems to make use of the One Power, and even have a weapon that sounds to me like a shocklance. But it never mentions sul'dam, damane, or getting the "magics" from leashed women. I think this shows that the Seanchan eventually will give up their ways of collaring women.   Another question to ask about the a'dam is whether it's similar at all to the Domination Band (the male version of the a'dam). Moghedien tells Nynaeve in the Panarch's Palace:     Is it only the male a'dam that has the backwards flow? Obviously, women channelers don't have the madness, but could the damane eventually be able to turn the flow back on the sul'dam? Damane from Seanchan are raised to know they are beneath humans; they are animals, dogs. Their training is so harsh that even Egwene, a very strong-willed woman, was beginning to be brainwashed into believing it was good for her to serve her sul'dam wholeheartedly.   However, a sudden hoard of Shaido Wise Ones was collared at the end of The Gathering Storm. How will the sul'dam control a group of women who do not fear pain? I can't see how the sul'dam could even begin to turn the Wise Ones into obedient damane. And if the Wise Ones cannot be cowed by the a'dam's effects, perhaps the Wise Ones can turn the flows against the sul'dam.   There's more to speculate on the a'dam, but I think I'll leave it there. Join us next week for a look at the Black Tower's possible role in saving Caemlyn.

I hope everyone is enjoying the new bloggers so far.  This week, we'll also hear from our new Rotating Features Blogger. It's time for our Q&A session with Saladin Ahmed!  Anyone can participate.  Just head to our General Discussion forum and find this thread. Everyone's talking about the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.  We're talking about it too, so come to our Movies and Games Discussion forum to let us know how you liked it.    The Black Tower Social Group's July discussion on video games is still going on.  The thread I linked also contains links to the related discussions for the month, so be sure to read it carefully. It's time for the Shayol Ghul Social Group's latest Caption Faction game!  It's easy to play.  Simply take a look at the featured picture and vote for the caption you think would best fit with it.   The Blue Ajah's much anticipated annual Harry Potter Week at the White Tower & Warders Social Group is almost here!  The event will take place from July 25-31.  Watch this space to keep up with each new thread as it starts. That's all for now.  Have a great week! 

Physical and mental bonds are a recurring theme in The Wheel of Time. This week, the Fan Art Friday spotlight is on the four types of bonds that shape destiny in the world of the Wheel.     1. Prisons and Imprisonment These bonds may be entirely physical, but they have a powerful mental effect on the imprisoned. Perhaps the greatest example of this is the subjugation of the marath'damane by the Seanchan, which (especially in Egwene's case) may yet impact the world in ways we haven't even foreseen. For better or worse, imprisonment plays an essential role in the personal development of many of the characters. Egwene's imprisonment in the White Tower was essential to her development as Amyrlin and the mending of the rifts between the Aes Sedai factions, Rand's imprisonment in the events leading to the Battle of Dumai's Wells didn't do his sanity any favors and most certainly precipitated his trust issues, and Faile's kidnapping at the hands of the Shaido Aiel forced Perrin to accept command. Then, of course, there is the most famous prison of all--the Dark One's prison in Shayol Ghul, where He was "bound at the moment of Creation."   Above: Red Ajah by ~leilasedai Below: Defeat in the Stone Stand by *faile35 (Jeff Fairbourn)       2. Treaties and Oaths Many of the oaths sworn in The Wheel of Time, including oaths of fealty and all those promises Mat always ends up regretting, can be broken at will (albeit at the oath-breaker's peril). Others, such as treaties made with the Snakes and Foxes in the Chamber of Bonds, oaths sworn on the Oath Rod, and the oaths sworn by Darkfriends, are virtually inescapable. These bonds exact a terrible price.   Above: Son of Battles by ~aiconx (Amanda Elm) Below: Seanchan Propaganda Poster by ~minniearts       3. Relationships Love, friendship, and fealty take on a whole new meaning in a world with Warders and Aes Sedai, first-sisters, and Compulsion. For me, the most interesting person-to-person bonds in the series are those between Rand and Moridin and those between Rand, Mat, and Perrin. In the case of the three ta'veren, they are not only bound together mentally (as evidenced by the flashes of color they see when they think of each other) but are also bound together physically, as threads in the Pattern.   Above: WoT: Hold over Caemlyn (Rahvin and Morgase) by *Rakiah Middle: Moiraine and Lan by Cicely Combs Below: Tarmon Gai'don by ~ReddEra (Ariel Burgess)       4. Ta'maral'ailen (Web of Destiny) Most of the heroes in the world of the Wheel are reluctant heroes, and most of the series concerns each character's struggle to accept his or her fate. Eventually, though, even Mat realizes some things are just meant to be.   Below: One Seanchan to go, please ... by Forbis  

Apparently, Tor.com posted some more eBook wallpaper while I was gone!  This time, the featured eBook wallpaper is for Winter's Heart. The artwork is by Scott Fischer. 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?

Tor Books released a fascinating article on Tor.com today which reveals the process by which the hardcover dust jacket (i.e., the book cover) is produced. Tor Art Director Irene Gallo describes: Last week I visited Coral Graphics to do a press-check for the A Memory of Light jacket sales-proof. A sales-proof is not the final jacket but it’s pretty darn close... The full article can be read on Tor.com. Head over there to read it, and see a lot of great photos. About A Memory of Light AMOL will be released on January 8, 2013 in hardcover and audiobook. The eBook will be released on April 9th. Read the opening portion of the AMOL prologue. Read the opening portion of Chapter 1. Visit our complete AMOL info page. Discuss A Memory of Light on our forums. Follow us on Twitter or "Like" us on Facebook. Please consider pre-ordering the book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.