So I have always assumed that as reincarnation happens in WOT and there is a defined pattern, that there must be a finite fixed number of total souls that exist. Each one being reincarnated at different points. However this can’t be true, new souls must be being created, otherwise the total number of souls would steadily deplete. Balefire is the first cause for this depletion. Not so much an issue now but we know the in the war of shadow it was being used to eradicate entire cities. Millions of souls removed from the pattern to never be reincarnated, The DO may be the other reason, he removes the souls of various of his tools now we do not know if these souls are then destroyed, or if they get spun back into the pattern once the original body has been destroyed. Over the course of turning to turning, if there is a finite resource of souls to start with, both of these things will steadily remove more and more souls. So last shadow war may not have exhausted it, but there will be another one and, balefire will be re learnt in one age and used to eradicate more souls. Over turn after turn the souls steadily trend down. So do you believe that new souls are created and not everyone is a reincarnation. In return is it possible that some souls do in fact pass on to whatever there is after, spinning out of the pattern? Or is the only way souls are removed the active intervention of other people?

The age of legends is presented as a truly peaceful egalitarian period, where people wanted for nothing, there was no crime, no war. But on re reading the series I find myself wondering if RJ is giving hints that this isn’t strictly true. I am seeing now a world with a 2 caste system, those who channel and those who don’t. It appears channelers occupy every important role in society. They make decisions, they lead, they run the schools universities medical facilities. Channelers have everything. This isn’t surprising, every channeler will live far longer and so over time would become more and more in control not needing to retire due to age, or illness. Then you have non channelers, from the books you only catch glimpses but it seems almost like they are a 2nd lesser form of humanity. They act as servants, looking after and supporting, they tend crops. If you think of humanity this makes perfect sense. People with powers slowly taking over and controlling those without. Giving the sense that “this way is better” because war and conflict has ended. There is no crime because us with powers have ended it. I wonder if the age of legends was more like a benign dictatorship. Those without always seen as something lesser. This idea of superiority then leads to the great mistake. If you feel you are better then most of humanity you will be less likely to stop and question. So thoughts, was the age of legends truly as fair as those in rand land try to believe?

I had a random thought today and, hunting online can’t find an answer. I know Morgase escapes Rahvin’s compulsion, but, does she ever find out who he truly is and how he had her under such a spell, if she does which book is that in. I just can’t remember.

The concept of Free Will is an interesting one, if I am destined to do a thing, but make my own choices in getting there then have I set on a fixed path or did I haver free will to get there. Wanting to avoid a wide ranging debate about free will in our own world is there such a thing as true free will in the WOT, or, does everyone exist on a thread as pre determined on a pattern? Alternatively, do some honestly have free will while others, those more intrinsically linked to the wheel like Rand, Mat, Perrin, the Forsaken, Aes sedai etc, have a more fixed pattern. Personally I am torn, on the one hand the events leading to Rand just being born as the Dragon indicate that there is a distinct lack of free will for some. Events where set in place many aeons before to make sure Tigraine would become a Maiden and then die on Dragonmount. Alternatively the finn tell Matt he can make a choice, but, if he chooses the wrong path he will die. This indicates an element of free will in the world, but, by making the choices the pattern does not want you to make the result will be you are removed from the pattern. Min also suggests that people have a choice, her visions sometimes changing or weakening/strengthening based on what people do. Although, the visions themselves may be a way of prompting a person on a particular path. Additionally the very existence of Taveren by definition removes free will, how many people are forced to make choices they usually wouldn't just by being in close proximity to Rand? So did RJ or BS ever discuss this concept? What do other people think, does true free will exist in the WOT?

I am just re reading the Shadow Rising and it reminded me of the first time of reading and that moment of clarity about the 2nd age, how it was a high age of technology and civilisation and not a medieval age like the world painted in the books. That, combined with the reveal of the truth of the Aiel was the moment when everything clicked. In fact the Shadow Rises is when Robert Jordan truly defines his world, we see the Finn worlds, getting a sense that there are alien creatures existing in different planes or maybe far away planets. In some respects it hit me the same way that the end of the original planet of the apes hits, seeing that he is on a future earth. With the TV show I was really looking forward to this big reveal, having maybe 2 seasons of being in a generic high magic land before then having that Charlton Heston moment but, it very much seems like WOT threw it all away in a cheap reveal, talking to friends who had never read the book that realisation that the world had been high tech and was now very much no tech seemed to just fall a bit flat. So I wonder, did the show runners miss a trick here should they have held off that reveal for a season or maybe even 2?

So everyone talks about who their fav WOT characters are but I wondered what are peoples from other IP's. This can be fantasy, sci fi, comics, TV, Animation, Good Guy or Bad Guy and for any reason. I will start Lucius the Eternal - Warhammer 40K, take the most evil sadistic but very very vain being you can think of and ramp it up to 11. Lucius loves causing pain, suffering and just being a bit of a troll. But, he can't ever die. If someone kills him (and they have), then if they gain any satisfaction from his death, even for a microsecoond, the demonic god that Lucius serves starts the process of brining him back, inside them. It starts with dreams, then they start carving or getting strange scars, replicating the ones Lucius has given himself, then eventually he just posses them completely and they morph into him, the only sign sits on his armour, where an image of their face appears, screaming as their soul is forever tortured. This doesn't have to be a direct killing either, there is a fantastic short story where a guy, who works in a factory, building landmines, slowly goes crazy, kills his family and then becomes Lucius, all because one of the landmines he built blew him up a galaxy away. Why do I like him, the character just defines the Grim Dark of Warhammer 40K, there have been inordinate debates online about the ways you might be able to finally kill him, but also the story of his descent form arrogant but fairly good space marine to crazy chaos champion is told really well, and, he is just really really over the top cool :). Death - Discworld Need I say anymore, the ultimate in dry wit, the master manipulator while also being inept and sometimes very very lucky. I like him early on when he has a very different personality "Isn't it dark in here" still brings a smile to my face, and I like him later on when Terry P changed his personality and made him more of a distinct character. So 2 to get us going ?