What was Ishamael's staff in tGH? Was it a shocklance?

Why, when Lews therin was sealing the bore, did 13 forsaken attack? lews therin had 100 strong channelers at his back, so they must have known they were going to lose. why not just run away?

in CoS Mat has a flashback when he meets Birgitte and recognizes her for the first time. "Mikel of the Pure Heart, and Shivan the Hunter behind his black mask. He was said to herald the end of Ages, the destruction of what had been and the birth of what was to be, he and his sister Calian, called the Chooser, who rode red-masked at his side." I was wondering if RJ said anything about if they will be in the books or if we have already met them.

Why do the Aes Sedai swear three oaths on the oath rod, instead of just swearing never to lie on the oath rod, and then saying "I will make no weapon....." since it is the same thing?

What would happen if you balefired a gateway?

Also can cuellandar be detroyed by use of a gateway?