I want it that way - Backstreet Boys

_ O _ I _ I _ / IS / _ _ _ E There is no P 😞 Guessed A E I O P S 2 notches Cairos on the gallows. Arie on the gallows

Are they Ogier?

As I remember it, Fain was directed to find those three in particular, he was compelled to, with every waking moment. That is nothing like ta'veren. And the boys weren't ta'veren before Moiraine found them it would stand to reason - the pattern had no need of them and there were no effects visible of three ta'veren as they grew. Fain has plot armour, and is his dealing with Rand is it far simpler to assume Fain was caught by Rand's ta'veren web than the other way round. Same for Mat. And the powers Fain has come directly from Mashadar, ta'veren has nothing to do with that. While I don't suppose that it is impossible that he was ta'veren, I don't think there is anything that really points that way in the books.

_ O _ I _ I _ / I S / _ _ _ E There are three Is and an O 🙂 Guessed A E I O S 1 notch Cairos on the gallows.

Wait I'm Executioner? Just as well I have an excellent memory. Er, give me a moment... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ S / _ _ _ E There is an S and an E 🙂 Guessed A E S 1 notch Cairos on the gallows.

Girls just want to have fun - Cyndi Lauper

The Girl All the Bad Guys Want - Bowling for Soup

The books tell a continuous story so I am not sure how much sense it would make to read individual books by themselves. Rand's character goes through a lot during the story, and changes quite a bit too, so in any given part of the story he can be behaving quite differently. Of course, his core values don't change so much as his outlook. Which book has the most Rand I really could not say, outside of the first one that is written completely from his point of view - the later books are spread over many different points of view. Perhaps somewhere there is a breakdown per book but honestly not sure of much value that would have.

21st Century (Digital Boy) - Bad Religion

Hell Yeah - The Bloodhound Gang

Cannot stand Cadsuane. Everything about her is annoying imo. The mysterious back story. The bunch of ter'angreal that give her unique powers. The way she treats other Aes Sedai. The way she is a legend that is never mentioned until she appears. The way she knows how to handle Rand but actually deals with him so badly she is only kept around because Min had read the books and knew she was super important - because otherwise Tam would never speak to Rand (a viewing of Min's right up there Alivia's one). Her obsession with corporal punishment. Her relationship with Nynaeve that had no arc or progression. About the only thing I like was her interactions with Sorilea, and that did not develop very far. I think you are right about Demandred but not sure if it was ever confirmed. Some people were just discussing it but I cannot quite recall in which thread...

Yay for the Tower's cutest and most snuggly Aes Sedai! We love you Cross! Hope you have had a great birthday 🙂

Sometimes I really wonder if the concept of adapting something for a different medium is so alien to people. Obviously the makers of the show have their own take - such as the enlargement of Moiraine's role - her fleshed out relationship with Suian, her aging so that the effect of her greatly lengthened life can be examined and shown, the attention given to her and Lan's relationship. But these are a change of emphasis, which should still be illuminating the same world and story. There are lots of things about the show that I find disappointing, so I can understand for some people that it can be even more disappointing. There are really a lot of issues that they could have kept more accurate to the lore and still told the same story. I still find it worrying that so many people take Mat's parents as such an example of sexism. Mat's father is worse than the books, an attack on all men. Mat's mother is worse than in the books, an attack on Mat and all men. Just as long as we are being consistent. For Perrin, his character has been not destroyed - he did not murder his wife. Nor was she fridged - that trope is particularly about how male characters are motivated in a story by the antagonist infringing their patriarchal property. This is not the case here. What I would say is more relevant is that they have done exactly nothing with this addition to Perrin's character. And it gives him a reason to avoid the Two Rivers - while Mat is given a compelling reason to return, which again as of yet they have done very little with. It is a shame for the accuracy of the show that the first season had to be different, given that the Dragon being teased could not be done when it was publicized that the show was all about the Dragon. Given the sensible choice to make the starting characters act like literal children or hobbits, and the greater emphasis on Moiraine, the changes forced by needing to simplify the number of locations, etc, the lack of budget... And then the troubles that have plagued it since due to corona, schedule conflicts due to corona, Barney dropping out, etc, meaning that the end of season one was a literal disaster and season two must have been rewritten several times. But for me there is more than enough to keep the show very enjoyable, and I am eager for more. And I'll never understand those that refuse to watch it because Rand has sex with Egwene. As if that makes a difference, but yeah, as I say, I don't understand it.

But is there not a penalty for repeating a song? Like having to down your imaginary drink... Hmm, yeah not sure quite why that would help.

I feel I am perhaps spreading myself a bit thinly here, but how could I refuse you, Cairos? What do I have to do to join?

I always thought that was the bittersweet thing about the books. Given the cyclical nature of the world - not matter how perfect how heroes managed to make the outcome, it only made the fall to come worse. Which is of course is how our history has played out as well - but well it was not inevitable by definition in the same way. The industrial revolution occurred due to Britain's unique qualities - large high-quality coal reserves near the surface of the earth, an island so-shaped so that no point is more than 80km from the sea, and a coast where you are never more than 20km from a deep water harbour (compared to for example France's 5 over thousands of kilometers of coast). The Two Rivers does not have any of this, let alone being placed in the very important trade routes from the Baltic. The issue of guns - yes, I totally agree they are not some amazing anti-channeler device (though they would be a lot more effective than archers) but tactic-wise, they would have a huge impact, relative to conventionally armed troops. Also Jordan uses a huge conceit that he has Aludra make cannons that took the real world centuries to develop. Her dragons appear to me to be close to the firearm development of the Baker Rifle. So adding in the thought of firearms in the Wheel of Time does not seem entirely unfair (indeed, Jordan himself does in Aviendha's visions within a short period of time). (Likewise Jordan's inclusion of a late-stage steam engine without any of the real world catalysts or commercial development, that springs from the mind of an individual, shows again a conceit, or a lack of appreciation of the real world conditions that brought about the Industrial Revolution).

And yet the White Tower was instrumental in defeating the Shadow at every point. So matter how dysfunctional it was, it still served its purpose. Indeed, I could see that a "fully functioning" Tower could have made Siuan and Moiraine's task impossible, and would have been a positive boon for the Shadow when delivered into the hands of Elaida. The Tower appears to have been hampered just enough to suit the Dragon Reborn. Maybe I am wrong, or simply armed by hindsight, but it seems to me that the Shadow would have been better served by a completely broken Tower, or a strong Tower in sympathetic hands, rather than what they did, and they definitely could have done something else with the numbers they had and the advantages over the Aes Sedai who were Oath bound and in complete denial. And your analysis of Aran'gar as far as I can see is lacking. He kills Egwene's maids to get access to her, he kills Cabriana's two dearest friends and no one else (am I forgetting anyone?) - to blame this on random love of killing Aes Sedai is a complete refutation of the actual facts. As opposed to non-actual facts, obviously. Of course, forensic examination of the minutiae is rather unfair in fiction, but the fact remains, it did not feel right to me. Which may have been me missing something, admittedly. But the fact remains.

Sorry to interrupt your celebration in the Tavern, but I would not ever use that name in Ireland, I mean, ouch. But since I have recovered from my flabber being ghasted, please continue.

Greetings and welcome, Lord Eben, back to rejoining. Look forward to seeing you about and discussing the books with you 🙂