*looks wide-eyed at what's going on* What are you doing? I'm not sure an Accepted should be watching this. Black Tower ruffians. *sniffs disapprovingly*

Certainly what you say rings true - I cannot help but remember somethings saying that Mashadar was older than Mordeth, perhaps in Fain's ramblings, but those parts about him thinking about his "self" being comprised of many different entities and forces, I am sure I could have misunderstood or misremembered.

To be fair, we don't know this. As far as I can remember at least, we only know that the Third Age Aes Sedai knew nothing of Mashadar. While obviously the AoL Aes Sedai knew nothing of Arhidol, there is nothing saying that they had not encountered it before. At least, I'm pretty sure that Mashadar predated Mordeth, so could have been known of in the Second Age. Or am I misremembering?

You could indeed have it right, I am only speculating. Yes, Moggie has the arrogance of the Chosen regarding the Channelers of the present age. But she was hiding as a serving woman while the others took over Kingdoms and set-up palaces full of unimaginable wealth and she would not have risked a confrontation with Rand or any of the Chosen. Scary, yes, but scary as the spider she is named after. The show gave me much more Semirhage vibes, but maybe that is just me.

Well, it is only speculation, but Moggie in her entrance, is scary. Moghedien in the books is not, she is one of the least impressive Chosen and more or less looked down on by the others. I'd say it also makes sense, they have moved from 13 to 8 Chosen, and Semirhage apart from being the scariest actually is a pretty flat character, really only having a back story about being a sadistic mental health therapist and being the one that scares the other Chosen, rather than intimidates due to strength in the power. Moghedien if I remember rightly does not really have much of a back story, not anything that stands out anyway. Moghedien would never attack Lanfear and then let her off with a warning. She would have struck from the Shadows and killed her or remained hidden (in my humble opinion based on the book's character). But show Moghedien was showing off hugely and was telling Lanfear off like a naughty little girl and Lanfear was terrified. So by combining Semirhage's cruelty, terrifyingness and her back story, with Moghedien's MO of hiding in the Shadows and actual role in the story, it seems like an amalgamation that could capture the essence of both characters, and would make Moggie's appearance at the end of season 2 make much more sense in terms of character. Of course they could have just upped her character on a par with Lanfear and Ishamael, but to me it makes more sense Moggie will be the new unhinged torturer. I'm sure time will prove me wrong lol.

It is not impossible that this is a deliberate "dumbing down", as one of the things WoT does not do great is be consistent with the cyclical nature of the Wheel. LTT being the First Dragon, and Rand the second, directly contradicts the cyclical narrative. If Rand is LTT reborn, LTT is Rand reborn. Plus, it in the lore, it never makes any effort to explain what the Dragon is. Or I totally missed it if it did. It could be that it was felt that Dragon always being the Dragon Reborn better conveyed the nature of the Wheel without needing to explain constantly. Just as the Shadow is always called the Dark (*shudders*) it could be a simplification of terms for consistency and to give a more solid base to the world. In the Walking Dead I always thought all the different names for the walkers really added colour, but in WoT perhaps they decided to keep terminology as easy to understand as possible. Not sure I am very convinced by that argument, and it was not a simple error in the understanding of the lore, but it certainly is a possibility. On the more general topic, I think there are clear differences between, changes such as Moiraine being the star, with many changes to enlarge and deepen her role which were very much chosen a priori changes such as Perrin killing his wife to try explain his motivations in story (which can also easily be broken in visual nuggets for the "Previously on" preamble), which are trying to tell the same story in a better way for TV or the runtime they have changes such as apparently combining Semirhage and Moggie into one character (that looks like what they have done?) to condense the story, or combining the ashagarai and dagger into a light sabre which also serves as a plot device (note, some of these may be better than others, but I'll leave that up to the individual to decide) changes such as the blight due to budget and priority of screen time changes forced by actors not being available or covid, or other issues. There is a lot going on. They have to make a lot of changes, I don't see how that is escapable no matter how "true" to the books you want to be. One change I was disappointed with was Maiden handtalk - in my headcanon it is all flicks of the fingers, much more like a really complicated Navy SEAL gesture commands (if anyone understands what I mean by that terrible description). The way the have put it in, does not seem like something you can use while crouched in cover, and it is the opposite of discrete. But they obviously tried hard to make a language that was plausible, presumably also to people that understood sign language, so you can hardly call it a deviation from the source because they don't respect it (just in case anyone missed that making of segment, they actually had an expert in sign language create a series of consistent gestures that they taught the actresses playing the Aiel).

What in the Light are banana peppers? Yeah, I could Google but explanations are more fun.

Good advice 🙂

Meditating is something I always mean to get into. I took part in a trial for mindfulness as treatment for ADD but I never really got into the habit. My brother also said it is the thing that has helped him most with his chronic physical problems that no doctor can diagnose since he was knocked off his bike and suffered back injuries. It is just... stopping thinking. My brain views such new-fangled nonsense with suspicion. But it is is prepared to think about it, lol.

I never heard of that until I came onto DM, and I would normally rate my knowledge of all things unpleasant and childish fairly high. It does certainly give a new angle to the Dark One's taint, something I am quite glad I was spared during reading the book. May have spoiled the mood slightly.

Is that so? I seem to remember when Pevara and co. are rumbled with their secret meetings, one of the Aes Sedai says something along the lines of "Is not obvious what they are doing?" and then grabs the Rod, retakes the oath and then declares not to be a Darkfriend. In my head, she did this while everyone was still gawking at her. I suppose someone could have been in the process of channeling, but I kind of remember it differently than that. I'd look it up if I could think of what book it was in.

I also think that in the story it is fairly well set-up that no one knows who the Black Ajah is. Like when Moggie is talking to Liandrin and lets slip that she has no idea who they report to, in the Tower or if another of the Chosen is involved. So in the lore it is established that Moggie would not have been able to tell Egwene. Just as it is established capturing Liandrin and putting her to the question would not help. I suppose there is the possibility they could have used Moggie to try and out suspected Black sisters, but that would involve letting people know who she was, and would risk her escape probably. I can see Sanderson engineering some sort of complicated so set-up where they cleverly trap Black sisters due to the wording of the oaths or so, but Jordan always seemed happy to leave things such as that no one could know who the Black sisters were just as is.

Well if you need any help don't forget about your friendly neighbourhood aspie 🙂 I'm told I have a deft touch with boring menial tasks 🙂

I think it is fantastic that you take care of yourself. Everyone needs periods where they recharge the batteries so to speak. I kinda wish I had something similar. I just find myself withdrawing and then getting to a place where I cannot concentrate on or enjoy what I am doing as it is not productive enough, or well enough done, or I don't take it seriously enough, or I spend too long on it, or I'm not being friendly enough, or being too clingy; preferably where I can beat myself up for being too much or too little and bonus points for being able to do both. Then eventually I get enough rest and fed up enough of my own **** that I get out of the pit I was in. I'd love to be productive in there, like write a novel while tripping like Hunter S Thomson, but as of yet I most do stupid stuff because I'm too busy to start anything or too tired to commit to anything but have hours to read comment sections on the Internet. So in short, even though I'm fantastically bad at it, I fully support and encourage people to take time to look after themselves.

The atmosphere had changed in the Riposte - it was palpable that people's attention was now on the prospective job. Kaylee was surprised that the Taraboner was still holding the offer open for her. She carefully lifted her spear so she could lean on it. "I have no horse, and well, I can sit on one." Kaylee sounded unconvinced. "The wagons will be good enough for me. I do be in, if you'll still have me."

Yes, she is a bit headstrong. Though that explained by Min's viewing that her children would be born which is a bit lacking as she could have given birth minus a few limbs or in captivity and she is also very reckless with other people's lives as well. But I suppose she is allowed her faults as much as anyone. Also I think she is aware that she does not outrank the other Accepted, and that she has zero chance of getting Nynaeve or Egwene to anything she tells them anyway.

I think this has something to with the way Jordan sees women, definitely how they are portrayed in the book. IIRC Jordan said he grew up in a household with strong women, I don't quite remember the exact wording. But most of the female characters are, to use a negative term, bossy. In contrast to the men who nearly universally follow the rules, accept each other's authority, selflessly work for the greater good; if you stick two female characters together they start to argue about who is in charge. Three and you have a fight. A lot more and you have the cluster**** that is the White Tower. The exception to this Elayne, who has been trained in diplomacy. I cannot help but feel - probably completely incorrectly - that a lot of the female interactions are based on Jordan's own experiences of, say, his relatives cooking Thanksgiving dinner and as such he sees Elayne as above this kind of kitchen politics. Of course it could just be she has been specifically trained on how to get along with groups that are disagreeing, but I cannot help picture a scene in a Southern kitchen when the issue of who's stuffing recipe is going to be used and it looks like things are about to turn nasty. That is my take anyway.

I could be wrong, but I thought she was forbidden from channeling, which as long the oaths were in place she physically could not break. So even with the Oath Rod in her possession, she could not be free until she found another channeler to release her. I think at least that it was something like that, that although she could get free, she needed help yet.

Example of gatekeeping.

For this one, just in case anyone is wondering, it is funny because the guy doesn't hear what the girl says and that is really funny.

I feel a little sad as I wanted to check if this really was Dick King-Smith, and found out he died in 2011. That just shouldn't be allowed.

Kaylee glared at the blonde man with pure loathing. As if there do be nothing between being polite or a bully! The Light burn him to ashes! She now regretted not hitting him earlier, it would have been worth another handful of broken knuckles. But her anger was fading, the energy that had fueled her throughout the day was dwindling. Kaylee was tired, bone tired, empty within from the disappointment. The short-haired woman snagged her eyes, and twirled her daggers unnecessarily theatrically. "The boy didn't yelp twice at your hands for nothing." Kaylee held up her hands as if beseeching. "I did no be hurting the lad." She turned to Uno. "I did no hurt you?" She repeated it as a question. The boy looked away and rubbed his arm, shifting uneasily. "So, that do be that, then. I grabbed the arm of the most beloved and fragile boy in all the Westlands. But I did no mean to be hurting ye, and be sorry if I did." Kaylee offered her wrists to the group at large. "Will ye be binding me fast while you call for the Watch? No?" With a disgusted snort, Kaylee snatched up her spear and strode to the door. Or tried to. No one moved out of her way. They were all looking at her, as if they were all judging her, looking down at her. She wanted to barge her way through them, but her explosive anger was spent. Kaylee felt tired and alone, and very far from home. She looked at the floor and waited.

Kaylee looked at the newcomer with interest. Would she look similar when she was older? The short woman wore her scars well. She moved with a lean grace that drew the eye. Her appraisal was cut short as the mercenary started talking to her. Berating her actually, Kaylee's eyebrows rose as he went on. Piss on everyone around her? By ordering a drink from the wrong person in an inn? Idiot Northerners. For not talking like some Lady who has spent her life with servants waiting on her every wish? Kaylee was so indignant she could do little more than splutter helplessly as the Taraboner continued. He spoke to the young man as well - commending his principles! - and then started talking to the scarred woman again. "I don't work with bullies." The young man with the braided hair picked up her coin and walked away. She had told him what would happen if he called her that again, very clearly. The Taraboner worried she would get a blade stuck in him. The newcomer with her old scars...well, Kaylee could not rightly think of what she had done to annoy her but even then. It. was. unbearable. Kaylee slammed both fists onto the table with all her might, instantly regretting it as the pain from her damaged hand shot up her arm. Opening her mouth, Kaylee let out a wordless scream of pure frustration, that tore through the inn making several people jump in alarm. "STOP! You be no just walking away after insulting me again!" Kaylee yelled at the retreating figure. "So I no be some fine lady in silks and be no simpering and giggling. I've worked me whole life since I was a mere babe, and I have never looked down on someone doing an honest day's labour. I have never bullied a single flaming person, as my aged grandmother stands witness." Kaylee glared at everyone. "If the boy no be taking drink orders, he could be saying that to me, no? Northerners! The water smells of chicken and you be having to clean your own tables and you get called a bully if you be ordering a drink in an inn!" Kaylee's chest heaved with emotion. A tear leaked out of her eye, and ran down her scar. I will no cry in front of them. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. In a much quieter voice ended with "It looked like it was going to be such a good day." So Plan B was no great success. Sadly, she did not have a Plan C and she had just given away her last silver crown. More tears ran down her cheeks but she refused to cover her face in front of these people.