Artificial intelligence. It's possible that Ishamael and Rand were meeting in TAR too. We know illusions can be made that lack intelligence (Fain does it) and we know that they can be made to draw from the viewer's own thoughts (Moghedien does it, as do the ring ter'angreals). I don't believe Kari was a darkfriend.

I doubt there were any Two Rivers DF's before the influx of refugees. People generally become darkfriends as a shortcut to something they desire, and the whole mentality that seems prevalent in the Two Rivers is "that with enough hard work, you can get what you want." Even the Coplins, Congars and young Matrim believed this.

 

I cant say the same about the Folk from Taren Ferry, them folk just wierd