As far as division goes, I think it is clear that Seanchan are actually helpful in uniting Randland in one way or another (be it uniting people against themselves, or uniting people after conquering them and creating order.)

Not really. Whilst they are good at creating order in the lands they hold, and indeed are uniting those lands together, all they've achieved is a bigger overall division. It's like saying that the creation of the Soviet Union was good for global unity. Sure, it stopped The Ukraine and Georgia from ever going to war (not that I'm saying that they would have done, but you get my point), but it created a far bigger division between the USSR and the USA. (Mosc and Merc, presumably, but that's a whole different debate). If Seanchan had been wiped out by the DO, Rand would have taken each country one by one, been able to spend more time on the Shaido, and probably have marched off to SG two books ago.

The idea that trollocs can't cross to Seanchan can't be right either, there are Ways, and ground (though it is cold), and there are boats (sure Fades afraid of water but enough driving got them even into SL).

Well yes. Although I'm not certain that the Ways exist in Seanchan, and I can't really imagine a boat crewed by shadowspawn, but the land would certainly be viable. So it's clear that the DO had no interest in conquering Seanchan then, yes?

According to the rebel Aes Sedai who went to the site of the cleansing in CoT, the amount of saidin used was enormous compared to the amount of saidar used which was in itself an impossibly large amount. Then how is it that the male CK survived the cleansing while the female one went boom?

It could be because they are talking about the total amount, rather than the intensity at any one point.

It could be down to the fact that Nyn isn't as strong as Rand, didn't have enough stamina to keep control during the process or possibly that she's not skilled enough in the specific elements that were used to create the saidar 'funnel' (unlikely though, as Rand was controlling their circle).

It could also be due to the fact that Rand was in control – perhaps his inexperience at working with saidar caused it.

So plenty of scope for a 'logical' explanation.

Well yeah. You are supposed to dislike (most of) them.

Come on, the whole continent would be more than useful to start his campaign. He needs space and resources for the armies, plus noAS, that's a big plus! Think how easy it would be to use demani for the DO's purposes. Makes no sense.

Covering Seanchan with Blight wouldn't 'give' the DO control over the people and damane, they would all just be killed, and then you have no Seanchan invasion to cause division on the main continent.

What's holding the Blight in Seanchan lands? There is  no WT and yet they don't even believe in Trolocs.

What's holding the Blight anywhere?

It seems to advance and retreat depending on how hungover the DO is feeling that particular day. I guess he doesn't really have any vested interests in Seanchan at the moment, so he has no reason to spread out his efforts.

Is he referring to Rand, and all the others laugh because it is a saying known to Darkfriends? Or is he referring to himself, still wanting the power of the DR?

Well it really depends on who you think Taim is, doesn't it?

And that's a whole different debate.

My friend I loaned my WoT books to had a fire in their house and now I have 7 WoT books... FOUR... *sighs* EotW - FoH + TGS. FIRST EDITION PAPERBACKS... :(  With the shoddy Tor covers too, still on them!

...

You loan your books to people?

I could understand loaning your money, car, spouse or children, but your books?

Crazy.

What happened to the rebel's Mistress of Novices?

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tower needs two MoNs, now that they have so many new novices to deal with...

It isn't from Rhuidean.  Its from the realms of the Finn

Personally, I would assume that it belonged to one of the previous visitors to the Finn, however, if that were actually the case, one might conclude that Mat should remember using it in the past (which we are never told he does).

Still I wonder what is going on at the Seanchan part of the blight. Thanks for the info guys ^^

Seeing as they've never encountered a trolloc, probably not a lot.

There is another odd statement he makes once when he claims that he is useless with a sword or other physical weapons when he argues with Rand about teaching weapons to Ashaman. As a Borderlander, this is very strange since even cobblers etc, are taught the use of weapons in the Borderlands (Narishma who was a cobbler, explains that he would be able to beat 3 out of 4 Southern soldiers due to his militia training).

I think this is a very deliberate clue which tells us that Taim has been replaced by a Forsaken, most likely (due to all the red and black) Moridin. I don't see any reason to go for more outlandish theories such as as-yet-unforeseen characters reborn from the AoL.

Unless there's some decent evidence that he isn't Morodin?

We haven't really seen any evidence regarding the Warder bond with men who can channel. It's my understanding that the Warder bond works the same for all men, regardless wether they channel or not.

Well we know that those that can channel can't be 'forced' through the bond – Alanna tried on Rand and completely failed. Also, we know that only channellers can mask their bond – Avi can, Min and Birgitte can't.

So there are certainly some differences when the bondee can channel.

Rand wouldn't need to be healed if Alanna were to kick the bucket. Why? He has a seperate warder bond with his 3 ladies. There wouldn't need to be an worry because he's still bonded.

Is there even any evidence that the warder bond (when broken) does affect men who can channel in the same way as a normal warder?

I know we've had a few channelling bondees die (such as Eben), but I can't think of any bonders kicking the bucket and leaving their other half alive...

Am I forgetting something?