The Black Wind! What it exactly is and is motives

Machin Shin.  I found it interesting because Paidan Fain was able to control it at times.  But it's basically an offspring, virus, bacteria of the taint on Saidin.  The Ways were made with Saidin and the taint is allowed to grow and fester inside and basicall take on a life of it's own. 

Well, the tainted Ways grew as a bacteria from the tainted Saidin. Machin Shin grew from that. 

 

I believe RJ or Brandon said that the Black Wind itself was an amalgamation of all the souls of those who had died in the Ways. 

 

It would explain why the people who are 'devoured' by Machin Shin aren't actually killed, but return lifeless, like their soul had been sucked out. 

 

Interesting as always is as bigdoug said, Fain. I think he and the Black Wind were so similar, they are kind of like siblings, so they kind of get along. As much as any crazy wind and crazy guy can do. 

about Fain being able to control Machin Shin at times, I am not sure.

none of his on-screen scenes gave any indication that he was able to control it.  and Fain seemed to hope for Rand to quickly come to Toman Head.

 

Machin Shin getting Fain's Rand-tracking ability seems more likely.

Machin Shin just waiting at the waygate seems to mean it was guarding it, which is unlike it,.  If you believe Moraine she had mentioned how Machin Shin wasn't able to consume Fain's soul because of whatever the DO did to him in order to ferret out what Fain saw and heard in his travels.  So if its only could partially consume his soul then it might be they have sort of a Rand/Mordin link going.

Well, the tainted Ways grew as a bacteria from the tainted Saidin. Machin Shin grew from that.

 

I believe RJ or Brandon said that the Black Wind itself was an amalgamation of all the souls of those who had died in the Ways.

 

It would explain why the people who are 'devoured' by Machin Shin aren't actually killed, but return lifeless, like their soul had been sucked out.

 

Interesting as always is as bigdoug said, Fain. I think he and the Black Wind were so similar, they are kind of like siblings, so they kind of get along. As much as any crazy wind and crazy guy can do.

 

So wouldnt the Machin Shin be a danger to the Pattern, since it takes peoples souls and keeps them from being reincarnated. That could be a reason for the Ways being feared that is not mentioned. That, like bailfire, it keeps threads from being woven back into the pattern.

Edited July 18, 201511 yr by Dagon Thyne

Guess depends on what it does with the souls after consuming it.  Is it food, does it act as a storage container of all consumed souls, etc.  Balefire doesn't stop rebirth.  I thought that also but your soul isn't destroyed.  Accordong to the BWB not only does it steal your soul but your mind.  Just like there is nothing to suggest a Draghkar can stop someone being reborn or if you are killed so your soul can empower the myrddraal weapons.