Let's keep in mind that Brandon is not RJ. While he's a big fan of the series, the characters aren't his, nor the storyline or the world. He may not have any innate desire to dabble very much more in the WoT universe at the cost of his own creations, after all.

Personally, I'm quite glad if this book wraps it all up nicely and that is the end of the story, because while it has been a pleasant story, it would be far less so if it just kept going without measure and with contrived ways to keep it going, personally speaking anyway.

I would however say that there are prequels and side stories that could be done as/if needed as the universe is so vast that there's great opportunities to tell more stories if one such comes to mind.

What am I overlooking? The royal line of Andor is Rand himself, being of the royal line and at the same time the clear focal point for the forces of "good" vs the DO. While yes you can look at clues at the other people that fit the description through one way or another the simple fact is none of them fit near as well as Rand himself does. I don't see a reason for overcomplicating that part of it. There's simply too thin reasoning to suggest that Luc, Elayne or any other member of the royal line would be equally significant.

As far as the last battle, we already know it isn't the -last- battle from "The great battle done, but the world not done with battle" as well as the various references to the world after where you still have the Seanchan, parts of the Aiel as well as various factions that may seize the opportunity, given the chance. This should however be the last great battle in the fight against the shadow, during this period of time.

Also, the Wheel turns. I have a hard time seeing how this does not mean that the bore will happen again and thus eventually even Randland, again. The implications of taking the DO entirely out of the playing field (the only way to ensure it does not happen again) are way too major in my book. RJ wrote about the ongoing fight between good and evil and suddenly ending that fight would just feel wrong towards the tone of RJ's writing.

Don't forget that Rand also is connected to the DO, that's how he broke out of Semirhage's A'dam and later channeled the TP. Complete aside I know, but yes it apparently is possible, in any case.

Anyhoo, the creator has stated he will not take part directly, so in all likelihood it will either be something like you suggested earlier, Nynaeve discovering a way to resurrect somebody tied to the creator, or else drawing from the power in such a way that it is not feasible to do normally except when having a little passive cooperation from the creator in some way. How, I don't know.

The former solution sounds almost like a variation upon christianity, which could be a point, if I don't recall incorrectly RJ was christian?

Interesting theory. It -would- solve the issue of being able to resurrect the dead since it would only work on somebody with such ties to the creator, then. Could work.

As far as Brigitta, I agree that I would be surprised if "this is it", so to speak. Prematurely brought out and all, yet nothing that entirely excludes a possibility of her finding herself back in T'A'R when she dies eventually. Nothing says she can't still even have her "usual" adventures with Gaidal Cain, as time passes the years of difference between them will become more insignificant in any case.

As for Nynaeve, I dunno. I do believe she has a significant role to play in recreating the DO's prison, but healing death is problematic on so many levels. There has been plenty of mentions that could suggest something like it but I have a hard time seeing how it could be done without rendering the whole concept of death meaningless. Perhaps if she in some way can act as a catalysator for the Creator or something, you would have a non-spammable way to heal death, else the cost will have to be so significant it's something nobody would elect to do otherwise.

Well, LTT saying that the true power does not -have- to mean it is so, neither he nor anybody else from the AoL are omniscient. However, I do believe you're right about Callandor and that it is the power potential that sets it apart from the Choedan kal.

BTW I do not think the bore will be resealed, as per earlier comment I believe the bore will be healed as if it never were. That is in line with my pet theory that it is Nynaeve who is the other woman with Rand in the picture, and with the wheel-nature of the wheel of time. There was no bore, no seal to break through, the first time the bore was made. Nothing that weakened or deteriorated over time. Another sealing would just put it back to that deteriorating state with the implication that the DO might break free on his own, which according to nature of the wheel of time, he can't and won't do, hence there won't be a seal focal point, his prison will be intact, unbroken.

Looking forward to read it, regardless :)

cjlittle, on , said:

 

What if it is ment to combine all 3 powers? I am fairly certin that durring onee of LTT's rambalings he said the male half was tainted b/c it touched the DO. And that it couldn't be any other way b/c something had to touch him in order to seal his prison. So what if Rand joins the circle with Callandor and it alowes him to ue both the male half and the TP at the same time? The TP touches the DO and the OP seals it all up. Just a thought.

I think this time will be different: Rand is not going te re-seal the Bore, but is going to heal the Bore, so that the Pattern is once again what will be imprisoning the Dark One and not saidin and/or saidar.

That is exactly my thought as well, it fits with how RJ has placed Nynaeve in the storyline and with the principle of the wheel turning over and over.

The sealing of the Bore was always an imperfect solution, Rand (and, I believe, Nynaeve) will be "healing" the damage the making of the Bore made to the pattern, ensuring that the Bore has to be made all over again when the wheel turns again, not simply the DO breaking down the seal over time.

"setting up Nynaeve for something significant beyond what she's already done"

As I said.

Anyhoo, Lanfear, one of the Chosen, more than central to the story from her role in creating the bore, not to mention heading off the sideline of the Choedan Khal, one of Rand's protectors during the early days and the first to show him the real cost of his unwillingness to harm women. A more central role than many of the other forsaken tbh. But who knows. It could be an interesting twist. Still, there's a dot on her head that suggests it is Nynaeve after all, but, we shall see..

She's interacted with Rand numerous times true, when she hoped to win him back. When she learned about Avienda that - at least seemingly - ended, and every glimpse we've had of her as Cyndane, any mention of Rand has triggered at least an apparent desire to pull him down and to see him suffer.

Of course it could all be a ploy but it being her down in the Pit along with Rand at least -seems- to be coming out of the blue. Then again, RJ did love his surprises but...I just feel he's been setting up Nynaeve for something significant beyond what she's already done. Looking forward to finding out tho, just too bad I can't spend my christmas holidays reading :P

There is a definitive dot/mark on the woman in yellow's forehead, and while there are stronger female channeler's Nynaeve has the advantage of having worked with Rand in momentous tasks before, as well as having perhaps the best "intuitive" grasp of channeling of all the women close to Rand. Drawing a bit further on the less plausible side; Rand is attempting to rebuild the prison holding the DO and that could be considered being a "healing" of sorts (after all, we are not merely talking brick and mortar here, but a breakage of the more "metaphysical" - prolly wrong word there - sense).

On the negative evidence side; Lanfear/Mierin/Cyndane last we've seen her has been quite firmly and squarely set against Rand for him spurning her. Granted, she's a passionate creature from what we've seen her, but even assuming she'd change her mind it just doesn't tick as many emotional boxes for me as does it being Nynaeve.

And of course Egwene has other duties and never was a likely candidate there in any case.

Min could be an option but that to me feels a bit more up in the air. Yes, her ability to see things perhaps could in some way unknown manifest itself in a useful way here but it seems more far fetched and unplausible, and aside from that she simply has less to contribute with in the midst of combat.

It is to me overwhelmingly likely that we are seeing Moiraine and Nynaeve accompanying Rand here.

Like the art btw, wrt Rand's hardness - well, he's probably come through fire and blood to get here to begin with, and he's entering a fight that (he believes) will kill him even in the best of cases and in the worst; end the world. That's likely to make any of us a bit stern-faced :P