@Wassup, I  agree that the Aiel were not researched very much(or very well). I do mark that as a failure on the Aes Sedai part. You say they considered Manetheren to be the old blood so they needed to look into the even older cultures that still existed in the world. I'm not sure when the Karethon Cycle came about but i imagine they had hundreds of years to look into it, looking at you Browns. I think it would have been possible, even likely that some curious Brown disguises herself with some tinkers and goes into the waste to learn about the Aiel. Even if just for a search for knowledge.  

 

I may be off track here but I think with all the resources available to them they should have had a better picture of their world in general and things considered important like prophecy about the saviour/destroyer of the world.

 

Good point about the 13th depository wall. I would lean ter'angreal or just rule of cool. Because it was cool looking.

1 hour ago, king of nowhere said:

there was no reason to not finish them

Perhaps they had been instructed not to. Remember, the Dark One has plots within plots within plots. Often, he likes to break things, wait for them to heal a bit, then break them again. The attack is meant to sow panic and discord and suspicion. That will leave the Aes Sedai brittle and easily led into becoming pawns in the Dark One's later designs.

 

If Siuan is dead, for example, there's no need for her to be deposed. The Tower might unite behind their martyred Amyrlin or their martyred Keeper. 

 

(Incidentally, this may also be the reason for the slow walk to the center - perhaps they were ordered to make sure everyone knew exactly who they were. The remaining Sisters are meant to believe that they know the identities of all of the Black sisters when, in fact, there are more still hiding among them.)

 

Granted if this is the explanation, it would help to make that explicit at some point.

In that situation it is also tactically sound to move together in order to protect each other, have ability to concentrate firepower (didn't happen) and gain distance from the other AS so you don't get bashed in the head with a staff. The walk was probably because they are just arrogant. 

57 minutes ago, Skipp said:

 

'Or a hidden weave known only by the Aes Sedai who knew of the 13th Depository existence.'

 

 

... maybe it's another one of those magic doors we all thought 'What the heck?' about when we first saw Moiraine create a secret passage into Siuan's room

 

 

 

 

Edited February 26Feb 26 by Ithillian Turambar

3 hours ago, Elder_Haman said:

Perhaps they had been instructed not to. Remember, the Dark One has plots within plots within plots. Often, he likes to break things, wait for them to heal a bit, then break them again. The attack is meant to sow panic and discord and suspicion. That will leave the Aes Sedai brittle and easily led into becoming pawns in the Dark One's later designs.

 

If Siuan is dead, for example, there's no need for her to be deposed. The Tower might unite behind their martyred Amyrlin or their martyred Keeper. 

 

(Incidentally, this may also be the reason for the slow walk to the center - perhaps they were ordered to make sure everyone knew exactly who they were. The remaining Sisters are meant to believe that they know the identities of all of the Black sisters when, in fact, there are more still hiding among them.)

 

Granted if this is the explanation, it would help to make that explicit at some point.

I can accept this explanation - if, as you say, it is made explicit at some point.

 

It would be just like the DO.

3 hours ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

57 minutes ago, Skipp said:

 

'Or a hidden weave known only by the Aes Sedai who knew of the 13th Depository existence.'

 

 

... maybe it's another one of those magic doors we all thought 'What the heck?' about when we first saw Moiraine create a secret passage into Siuan's room

 

 

 

 

 

Except the picture frame she used didn't take her to Siuan's rooms in the Tower; it took her to a hut in Tear (the same hut that she and Siuan talked about wanting to retire to before their lives were upended by Gitara's Foretelling about the Dragon Reborn).

Really?

 

Well that went completely over my head.

34 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

Really?

 

Well that went completely over my head.

 

You're not alone in that. 

 

Internally, the locale was referred to as the FFH, but we didn't know what FFH stood for* until we got the flashback Cold Open to the episode Daes Dae'mar.

 

* it's an acronym for Fishwives Fxck Hut

I am going with Forsaken and DO orders on Black Sisters fleeing.  Primary objective get out Mcguffin and sow chaos.  Black Ajah in tower probably told defend selves and create chaos but don't kill everyone.  Black sisters still hiding in Tower.  Also need for speed once fight starts.  Lots more sisters in Tower that are about to flood halls.  

7 hours ago, Guire said:

I am going with Forsaken and DO orders on Black Sisters fleeing.  Primary objective get out Mcguffin and sow chaos.  Black Ajah in tower probably told defend selves and create chaos but don't kill everyone.  Black sisters still hiding in Tower.  Also need for speed once fight starts.  Lots more sisters in Tower that are about to flood halls.  

But if speedy escape was the goal how did Alanna and her warders get ahead of them again and far enough to be able to just be walking.

Edited February 27Feb 27 by Mailman

16 minutes ago, Mailman said:

But if speedy escape was the goal how did Alanna and her warders get ahead of them again and far enough to be able to just be walking.

Option 1.  Writers wanted Alana and warders to meet fleeing Black Ajah so Ivhon can die heroically and give more screen time to a popular female character and her surviving nepo warder.  

 

Option 2 . Black Ajah from Hall needed to go long way to secure brown sister with object giving Alana and warders time to get ahead of them.  

 

My guess is a little of both.  Hall should be boiling like a fire ant hill at this point.  Black ajah have to use back hallways to make a clean exit is likely if they want to avoid killing or outing other Black sisters.  

1 hour ago, Guire said:

Option 1.  Writers wanted Alana and warders to meet fleeing Black Ajah so Ivhon can die heroically and give more screen time to a popular female character and her surviving nepo warder.  

 

Option 2 . Black Ajah from Hall needed to go long way to secure brown sister with object giving Alana and warders time to get ahead of them.  

 

My guess is a little of both.  Hall should be boiling like a fire ant hill at this point.  Black ajah have to use back hallways to make a clean exit is likely if they want to avoid killing or outing other Black sisters.  

The problem with that is 13th depository was close enough to the hall for them to know a fight had broken out. If it could be felt a long way away a huge number of sisters would have arrived and intervened.

 

Why would you need to use backhalls no one outside of the Hall would know exactly what had happened inside and thus no one would have reason to stop those sisters leaving until those stunned raised the alarm. 

 

And why would you need to collect the black from the depository as no one knows what she has done at all her movement is assured. It makes more sense for her to leave Tar Valon by herself and meet them at a secondary location. The absolute only reason for them to meet up is if her primary objective was to steal something that facilitates the escape.

Edited February 27Feb 27 by Mailman

6 hours ago, Mailman said:

The problem with that is 13th depository was close enough to the hall for them to know a fight had broken out. If it could be felt a long way away a huge number of sisters would have arrived and intervened.

 

Why would you need to use backhalls no one outside of the Hall would know exactly what had happened inside and thus no one would have reason to stop those sisters leaving until those stunned raised the alarm. 

 

And why would you need to collect the black from the depository as no one knows what she has done at all her movement is assured. It makes more sense for her to leave Tar Valon by herself and meet them at a secondary location. The absolute only reason for them to meet up is if her primary objective was to steal something that facilitates the escape.

I am going with enough logic to provide suspension of disbelief for audience.  Like I said the giant boom of Liandrin's blast that Moraine saw is going to stir up Warders and Sisters and Guardsmen(if the Tower actually had any).  Sisters are going to question Sitters walking away from Tower what happened. and where they are going.  It's a get out without drawing attention situation.   I could write an essay about everything I dislike about show especially upcoming Two Rivers Battle.  This battle I am not too upset about considering the previous battles.  I cam easily find Hair, makeup, costume, prop, representation, musical episode, gender interviews about show.  I haven't seen any discussion with military consultants or war historians.  So if it's entertaining and at all plausible I count it a win.  RoP battles still give me nightmares.  I am just staying around to support Empress Lanfear.  May her reign be eternal.

23 minutes ago, Guire said:

I am going with enough logic to provide suspension of disbelief for audience.  Like I said the giant boom of Liandrin's blast that Moraine saw is going to stir up Warders and Sisters and Guardsmen(if the Tower actually had any).  Sisters are going to question Sitters walking away from Tower what happened. and where they are going.  It's a get out without drawing attention situation.   I could write an essay about everything I dislike about show especially upcoming Two Rivers Battle.  This battle I am not too upset about considering the previous battles.  I cam easily find Hair, makeup, costume, prop, representation, musical episode, gender interviews about show.  I haven't seen any discussion with military consultants or war historians.  So if it's entertaining and at all plausible I count it a win.  RoP battles still give me nightmares.  I am just staying around to support Empress Lanfear.  May her reign be eternal.

The blacks have 1 incredible advantage as well they can lie.

 

They can tell any Aes Sedai or guards they meet that the Amiryln has ordred them to hold the docks and everyone else is to assemble in the courtyard for example.

Edited February 27Feb 27 by Mailman

They were heading towards the docks, but may have had a designated rendezvous point for the brown sister.  They may have been trying to draw as little attention as possible while going through the city.  I know, it would be hard not to draw attention given their appearances after the fighting.

 

The AS in the tower would be rushing toward the explosion to see what happened not imagining it was a fight or attack.  There should be some berserk warders running amok up there.

 

I can just imagine Alanna running through the city trying to get to the docks as fast as she can.  She was faster than her warders! 

7 hours ago, Wassup said:

They were heading towards the docks, but may have had a designated rendezvous point for the brown sister.  They may have been trying to draw as little attention as possible while going through the city.  I know, it would be hard not to draw attention given their appearances after the fighting.

 

The AS in the tower would be rushing toward the explosion to see what happened not imagining it was a fight or attack.  There should be some berserk warders running amok up there.

 

I can just imagine Alanna running through the city trying to get to the docks as fast as she can.  She was faster than her warders! 

Why are people not stopping Alanna then. Who would have any reason to stop the blacks that would not have to apply the same reason to Alanna.

 

There are no warders still standing outside the Hall (including Alanna's) when the doors explode, it is possible some of the sisters warders where elsewhere in the tower though.

There's another new scene just been posted on YouTube on the WoT Up channel.

 

Gawyn and Galad are training in the warder yard and there's some serious sass going on

moved

 

Edited March 7Mar 7 by Mailman

On 2/21/2025 at 11:38 PM, DojoToad said:

I think that the CGI used for the magic battle was very good.

 

What I can't understand is the end of the battle.  Whether the Black should have won the battle given the numbers is debatable.  But they are the Black.  They had defeated the most powerful women in the Tower and they were all laying on the ground defeated and helpless.  Finish them off quickly with a quick slice of the power?  Nah, let's retreat to the docks so we can fight them again another day.

 

Retreat was prudent after the battle but at least clean up the low hanging fruit that will only take a millisecond to destroy.

 

Just now, Jack sjacki said:

The one thing I did notice was two yellows {Black} left the Hall of the Tower with Liandra but only Chesmal was in the street to face Allana 

 

A broken Amrylin is more useful than a dead one.