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Weekly Roundup August 11-17

Hello! To those of you who have already started school, or are about to go back, I wish you the best of luck in your educational endeavors.  It’s been another week, and it’s time for another Weekly Roundup!
 
In the General Discussion board, someone has asked about podcasts. Do you have any podcasts that are not Wheel of Time related that you enjoy? Share and discuss!
 
And, in the Television and Entertainment board, there is a discussion on the best scenes and episodes from television. This is not a “what is your favorite show” discussion. Instead, take the time to think of the best moments you’ve ever watched on TV, and relive your memories.
 
Are you a fan of Dr. Who? The Black Tower now has an official discussion thread about the Doctor. Have a favorite Doctor? Ever find a funny video about the Doctor? Share it here. 
 
And finally, from the Dragonmount Twitter Feed:
 
The series is called Ren, and will be produced in the United Kingdom, though you do not have to be a resident of the UK to help get this series off the ground! 
 
I hope you all have an excellent week!
Moon Sedai
Moon Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Ta'veren

Welcome to another edition of Fan Art Friday! This time's theme is ta'veren: Rand, Mat, and Perrin.
 
Rand al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara are the three boys with whom the journey in The Eye of the World starts. Through the series they all go through lot of transformations, but they have needed each others' help time and again. This edition features all three of them together.
 
WoT: Mat, Rand and Perrin by Manweri

Mat with dice to show him as a gambler, Rand with a dragon to show him as the Dragon Reborn, and Perrin with wolves to show him as a Wolfbrother.
 
Ta'veren by starvnartist

Three of them, ready for battle.
 
Ta'veren by Lovegrove

Perrin looks like he is not going to let go of his farmer look, Rand has accepted that he is Dragon Reborn, and Mat is mischievous as usual.
 
Three Taverens finished by Zilverboy86

Prince of the Ravens, the Dragon Reborn with the Dark One's threat, and Perrin with the hawk and falcon on his shoulders.
 
Ta'veren by mattolsonart

This kind of reminds me of how I imagined the Last Battle.
 
ta'veren by katya-h

This artwork shows the artist's detail with faces.
 
Ta'veren by dem888

The background keeps reminding me of Shadar Logoth even though I know that the scene could not have taken place there.
Panchi
Panchi

WoT If… the Ghosts are from a Mirror World?

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  This week, we'll expand just a bit on the last topic: the ghosts and their connection to the Pattern.  Before we begin:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
I think I argued pretty well that the ghosts are part of the Pattern, not the work of the Dark One.  Most would agree that is the logical outcome.  However, there were a few other questions left unanswered.  Like, why do the dead arrive?  Is it only to fulfill the prophecies—to be an outward sign of the Last Battle?  Are they just reflections or are they actual dead?
 
Or even more peculiar, why didn't Tuon see the ghosts outside Jurador?
 
The road seems to be filled with people.  Mat can see them in front of him.  With Tuon and Selucia in front as well, they should have been able to see what Mat saw.  But they didn't.  This could all be chalked up to Mat's ta'veren nature, but it seems like more than that.  Of course, we know Tuon is skilled at ignoring things she doesn't want to see, so it could be as simple as that.
 
Last time, we talked about the ghosts not actually causing any harm.  They seem to be unaware of the living.  Egwene mentions this to a novice while in the White Tower:
 
There's a few pieces I want to pull from that chunk of text.  First is that the ghosts are in different clothes, older fashions.  This shows that they are from a different time, not those recently deceased.  Or, perhaps they are even from the future.  If the Pattern is weakening, and they are more reflections than ghosts, they could easily be people from an Age yet to come.
 
Even though most of the character think they are ghosts—"Yet [Egwene] had seen ghosts in the halls of the White Tower, and the corridors seemed to rearrange on a daily basis (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 12, "Unexpected Encounters")—that doesn't mean they are correct in doing so.
 
In fact, if we stretch that even further, they might even be images from mirror/portal stone worlds.  Egwene sees the dreams of people who live in the parallel worlds, so it's possible they could become overlapped as the Pattern dissolves.
 
I would say that all the "ghosts" observed are really just overlapped images from mirror worlds, if some of them hadn't been recognized.  In Crossroads of Twilight, Elsie, the servant, recognizes the ghost of Lady Nelein (Chapter 10, "A Blazing Beacon").
 
Okay, back to Egwene's speech.  The next bit of information is that the dead returning is a sign of Tarmon Gai'don.  We've heard that in several places, but it's still pretty interesting.  That would imply that the dead are a necessity for the Last Battle.  As if their only purpose is to be an outward sign.  It's sort of like the idea that the thing itself is not important—the dead walking have no bearing on the mortal humans—but their appearance is seen as something more.  It could have just as easily been the sun turning red, or the sky turning green.  It had to be something visible to all, to let them know the end was coming.  
 
For that reason, I would go back to the idea of the ghosts just being images—something used by the Pattern.  Perhaps consciously used by the Pattern.  There are such things as Pattern Level Events—like Rand fighting Ishamael in the sky over Falme.  These events are broadcasted for all to see.  The ghosts, likewise, could be a Pattern Level Event, with the Pattern using itself—and its somewhat broken state—to show the world what it needed to see.
 
Also, Egwene speaks about the women walking into walls.  Except the current changes in the Tower—caused by the weakening Pattern—there shouldn't have been too many modifications to the White Tower's internal structure.  If the ghosts are images, just transplanted and following a set course, why would they walk through walls?  Those walls shouldn't have been there when the ghosts lived, so any "recording" and playback of them wouldn't have them walking through walls.  
 
That again, leads me to the idea of mirror worlds.  In a mirror world, the Tower could have been built differently, with a hallway leading off that way, instead of a wall.  That way, the ghost would have been following a natural path to them, but would seem to walk through a wall in Randland's White Tower.
 
And we know that people can exist simultaneously in mirror worlds, so it also answers the question of how some of the dead are recognizable.  It wouldn't be the Lady Nelein that Elsie knew, it would be the mirror world version of her.  
 
We'll have to wrap it up there.  I think I've made a pretty good case, but I'm still curious to see what you think.  Please post your comments below.  Next time, we'll look at some common misconceptions that persisted throughout the series.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Weekly Roundup August 4-10

Hello Dragonmount! Since I was off on a leave of absence last weekend battling Klingons and Toasters at Space City Con, I’m going to give you an extra-large dose of the Weekly Roundup this week.
 
It’s August at Dragonmount. Summer vacations are wrapping up, school is about to start again, and Dragonmount has a flurry of activity!
 
Speaking of vacations, at the White Tower and Warders, the Brown Ajah is hosting its Travel Week. This is your chance to share vacation memories, discuss why people should visit your hometown, and to share your traveling playlist.
 
The Wheel of Time Cage Match has ended, and Asmodean has proven victorious over all his competition. Was there any doubt? Feel free to wear a forum signature commemorating this event.
 
The Black Tower is discussing the evils of texting. Personally, I think texting is evil mostly because my autocorrect doesn’t understand Wheel of Time terminology, but the Black Tower members have some other amazing ideas about texting.
 
Shayol Ghul is hosting Faction Olympics. While many of the activities are designed to prove which faction is the best, there are two activities that new and non-members can participate in: Twisted Fairy Tales and Roast an SG Member. This is your chance to let Shayol Ghul members what you really think about them!
 
The Wolfkin are hosting a Chili Festival! Here is the chance to participate in a chili dunking booth, Pictionary, word association, a scavenger hunt, and more! For those who are not already members of the Wolfkin, this is an excellent time to get to know this wonderful social group.
 
On the Roleplaying side, it looks like a returning Dragonmount member will soon join the Black Tower. I wonder what kind of "trouble" he will get himself into...
 
One final note before I leave you to another week of Wheel of Time awesomeness: Jason and Jennifer often post some amazing stuff that is Wheel of Time related on Dragonmount's Facebook and Twitter pages. For those who do not yet follow Dragonmount on social media, you are really missing out on some excellent information. They post information about the new DRM-free eBooks in the eBook store, interesting Wheel of Time related news, and more.
 
Here is just one of many awesome Tweets posted on the Dragonmount Twitter feed:
 
 
Follow Dragonmount on Twitter and Facebook for more.
Moon Sedai
Moon Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Wheel of Time Card Teasers

Welcome to a new edition of Fan Art Friday! This week is about The Wheel of Time card teasers by ReddEra, and there's a surprise bonus at the end.
 
The Wheel of Time card teasers--made for Taveren Tees by artist Ariel Burgess--feature most of the important characters and they are some of the most beautiful artworks of the characters at present. This edition features some of my favorites. You can see others at the Wheel of Time Card Teasers Gallery.
 
Sammael

He looks like a general ready for a fight.
 
Moghedien

She sure looks like someone who manipulates from the shadows.
 
Galad Domodred

No one can mistake Galad for anyone but a Whitecloak.
 
Berelain Sur Paendrag Paeron

Beautiful! One word says it all.
 
Aludra

Aludra looks fiery, ready with her dragon.
 
 
Now here's a bonus, an interview with artist Ariel Burgess (or ReddEra) herself.
 

To see more of Ariel's work, here are some links:
Ariel's Website
Ariel's Facebook Page
Wheel of Time Facebook page
Panchi
Panchi

The Wheel Turns: The Shadowed Path (review)

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!
 
This week it's time once again for a book review. I have recently re-read a fantasy novel called The Shadowed Path, by one Simon Stone. I have met him in real life and got chatting with him, and his story and that of his novel is quite interesting.
 
To be brief, Stone is not yet a well known author, although I wish him all the success in the world in the future. He is, however, at least in my opinion, an excellent writer. From what I know about Dragonmount, several of its members are in a similar position, which is why the story of Stone and The Shadowed Path might prove interesting and I decided to pass it on. Stone decided to self publish his book by making it available on Amazon. It is a fascinating concept which allows you to get that story you've been working on out there for people to read, and to get yourself and your friends a copy of it as a finished article, because as everyone who has tried to get into publishing knows, sometimes it isn't how good you're writing is, it's just getting that first break and getting your name at least a little bit known.
 
Why do I say that? Because Stone's The Shadowed Path is as good as many books I have read from the shelf of a library or book store, to be frank. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flows, the plot is interesting and fast paced, the action is well written and dynamic, the characters at once interesting and believable, and the setting is a little different.
 
The book follows the journey of three principle characters from a Roman-inspired fantasy setting into a nightmarish forest--and then shows not so much what happened to them, but how it changes them, particularly the main character, Marcus. Meanwhile a horde of horrifying monsters are on the rampage, an Aztec-like kingdom is seeking war, and the most intriguing part of the book, the waylander, famed for not being able to harm a living creature, are suddenly able to kill, and frighteningly good at it.
 
It's well worth a read. The Amazon store has both a Kindle eBook and a paperback edition. I enjoyed it enough to get the paperback. I'd recommend it to you if you're looking for a new fantasy read, something a bit different, and I hope you enjoy it too.
 
Have fun!
 
Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

Wheel of Time Cage Match: the Champion is…

Congratulations to Asmodean!  He won the championship title, beating out Tam al'Thor.  It was tough for Asmodean, he nearly lost to Alivia in Round 2.  But, he proved to be the strongest out of all the combatants.  
 
Also, theLivingNightmare won the Prediction Competition—even guessing that Asmodean would be the champion!  Congratulations!
 
If you want to continue the Cage Match discussions, you can!  Here's a list of all the threads:
 
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Congratulations Asmodean
 
Thanks to everyone who participated and made this year's event a success.  And a special thanks to all the staff that put in time and effort to produce such wonderful write ups!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fantasy Review: The Six-Gun Tarot

In the past, Dragonmount has occasionally featured reviews for other books within the sci-fi/fantasy genre.  We're going to start that up again!  So, on the first Wednesday of every month, one of the Front Page Bloggers will feature a book they recently read.  Feel free to add your thoughts about the book in the comments section.
 
This review will contain slight spoilers.
 
The Six-Gun Tarot
By R. S. Belcher
 
Synopsis:
The setting is Gulgotha, Nevada in 1869.  Jim, a fifteen-year-old, is on the run from the law, trying to find a place of safety.  Or, is it the mysterious jade eye, the last memento of his dead father, that's drawing him to the town of Gulgotha?  When he gets to town, Jim is taken under the wing of Mutt—a Native American deputy—and Sherriff Highfather.  But magic is in the air, and Jim's arrival might be the only thing that will save the people from an ancient evil.
 
A battle that predates the world—a battle between angels and demons and the darkest evil—is about to unfold in the small town.  The folk need to band together, each with their own abilities, and save Gulgotha from the clutches of darkness.
                                
The Pros:
This book's main drawing feature is the character development.  Each character is unique, with a rich back-story and relatable motives.  Jim—arguably the main character—has trouble in his past for killing a man.  He's so young, but still so tortured by his decisions.  Mutt, the deputy, is only part human—the other half comes from his deity father, Coyote.  This makes him an outcast with the humans, and his supernatural family.  Sherriff Highfather has saved the town from countless evils, including giant bats and a ghoul in the graveyard.  He is interesting because he cannot be killed.  He's been hanged three times, and still has not died.  The rumors around town say it's because "it's not his time."
 
There are other great characters too.  Maude Stapleton trained with a pirate queen in her youth and passes on her skills to her daughter.  Harry Pratt, the mayor, hides his homosexuality behind multiple wives.  And there are even angels: Biqa, who refused to fight for God in His battle to gain supremacy over the cosmos, and Lucifer.
 
The way the characters interact with each other and their surroundings is what makes this story so incredible.  Everyone has their secrets, most of them dark; as dark as the evil that surrounds their town.
 
The Cons:
One of the few things I disliked about the book was the point-of-view switches.  It was written in omniscient point-of-view—meaning the reader can see and hear every character's thoughts.  This made it difficult to tell which thoughts were attributed to which character.  There were no scene breaks to let the reader know they were in someone else's head.
 
Still, Belcher did a fairly good job with the difficult point-of-view.  It hampered the story, but didn't crush it.
 
Conclusion:
This book kept me interested for every page.  It had a dark, and sometimes gritty, story line, but also humor, and the possibility of redemption.  There were themes of faith, of letting go, of forgiveness, and of revenge.  It had something to please any reader. 
 
My Rating:
4 out of 5
 
 
If you're interested in trying out this book, you can buy it from Dragonmount's eBook store.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

WoT If... the Dark One Can't Touch the Dead?

Hello, all!  Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  The topic this time is the walking death—or the ghosts—that pop up in several places in the series.  We have instances where this phenomenon is attributed to the Dark One, and in other places it's attributed to the Pattern.  So, which is it?  But first:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
I think most of us would think that the ghosts, or spirits, are a result of the Pattern beginning to unravel.  Reality is getting warped.  First off, could it be because of all the balefire?
 
With the importance of balefire in A Memory of Light—and Egwene giving her life to combat it—balefire might be one of the main causes.  It is what frays the Pattern; it removes threads and threatens the existence of life itself.
 
Or is it just the Pattern?  An article on the WOTFAQ, "What's Up With the Ghosts?", has this to say about the dead's connection to the Pattern:
 
 
However, the unraveling of the Pattern is also blamed on the weakening seals, and the Dark One.  Look at this quote between Rand and Egwene about breaking the seals:
 
 
Here, Egwene is blaming the walking dead, not only on the seals, but on the Dark One.  She's implying his touch is what is causing the Pattern such turmoil.  She also thinks that breaking the seals would make everything worse.
 
By that logic, we can assume Egwene believes the Dark One is in control of all the dead.  That's a belief that's very debatable.  We know the Dark One is also called Lord of the Grave, but it's also a common belief within Randland that people who walk in the Light are protected from the Dark One after death.
 
There is a lot of conflicting information about this topic.  A lot of it is based on what characters believe, and it's been pointed out to us time and time again that the characters are not always right—in fact, most of the time they are wrong.
 
So, how much access does the Dark One have to souls?  The WOTFAQ also talks a bit about this.  They speculate that Ishamael—when impersonating Ba'alzamon in The Eye of the World—really had access to Kari al'Thor's soul.
 
 
However, even if that were true, how would Ishamael have access to the souls?  He is not the Dark One.  In fact, during this scene, none of the seals had been broken yet.  It isn't broken until after Rand's fight with Ishamael.  Therefore, the Dark One wouldn't be able to touch the land at all, let alone bring Kari al'Thor's soul back to talk to Rand.
 
The proposed idea that it isn't an illusion has some other flaws as well.  We know that the battle with Rand and Ishamael is taking place in Tel'aran'rhiod.  Ishamael is a very skillful manipulator of the World of Dreams; there's no reason Kari al'Thor can't be an illusion made by him.  Naturally, Ishamael would want her to say things that would convince Rand.  Having her say, "Join the Dark One," would key Rand in that it's a fake; Kari would never say that to her son.  So, he needed her to say things that sounded convincing; things that would make Rand believe she was real, giving Ishamael power over Rand.  If Rand believes it's true, in Tel'aran'rhiod, it is.
 
But her last line—"The Light. The blessed Light."—could be another trick of Tel'aran'rhiod.  If Rand believes it is Kari, Ishamael might lose a bit of control over the illusion.  She could be acting based on Rand's image of her.  We see something similar to this when Nynaeve and Elayne are playing in Tel'aran'rhiod:
 
 
Here, their made up creation begins to act on its own.  Obviously, they wouldn't want it to chase them, but their belief in it caused it to act the way they thought it would.  
 
I think that could show that Ishamael didn't really have access to Kari al'Thor's soul.
 
Another argument against the Dark One having souls is the fact that we see what he can do with them.  Let me try to explain.  The Dark One regenerates the souls he has.  We do not have any example of him holding onto souls and doing nothing with them.  Here's an interview with Robert Jordan that kind of says the same thing:
 
 
Robert Jordan emphasizes that the Forsaken have seen the Dark One transmigrate souls, that he can bring the dead back to life.  Accessing souls and putting them into constructs—in this case, dead bodies—is nowhere near letting souls wander free all over the world.  
 
In fact, since the souls cannot touch the world and seem to be doing no harm, I think that shows it's not the Dark One's work right there.  If the dead were roaming on his behest, they woild be causing damage, doing evil, harming people—like the bubbles of evil that originate from him.
 
I think this also shows that Ishamael is a master manipulator.  He brings up Kari al'Thor, an illusion, to mess with Rand.  In the same way, he told Lews Therin in The Eye of the World prologue that the Dark One could bring back Ilyena.  Again, by that point, the Dark One was already sealed in the Bore.  There was no way he could have brought Ilyena back, even if he could access her soul.  Plus, there is still the debate of the Dark One being able to grab souls of people who walk in the Light.  Personally, I don't think the Dark One could have touched her at all, even if Lews Therin agreed to it.
 
The conclusion is that the dead have to be a result of the Pattern.  But for what purpose?  Just to fulfill the prophecies?  To be a sign that the Last Battle approaches?  Or is it involuntary?  Does the Pattern, in its weakened state, lose the ability to hold onto the dead?
 
This is getting a bit long, so we'll take a closer look at a few of those ideas for next week.  That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Symbols

Welcome to Fan Art Friday! This week's theme is symbols. Just a note here that many of the artworks used were made as wallpapers.
 
Symbols are an important part of The Wheel of Time. From the Aes Sedai rings to the Dragon pins; from the servant of all symbol to various flags and chapter icons we see. The most common symbols are the Great Serpent, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Dragon's Fang and the Wheel of Time. Here are some artworks using symbols.
 
Wheel of Time Wallpaper by Darksider0

Great Serpent with representations of saidar and saidin.
 
Wheel of Time pile-on by thequiet1k

A lot of symbols. How many can you guess?
 
The Wheel of Time by Darksider0

Another way of seeing the Wheel with saidar and saidin
 
The Wheel of Time by ajkareze

Saidar and saidin are in the center of the Wheel of Time with seven spokes for the seven Ages.
 
The Fires of the Wheel by SakamotoKaito

The Wheel of Time on a background of fire.
 
Saidin vs Saidar by spiritofthewillow

Saidar with Nynaeve, and saidin with Rand, symbolizing the dual forces of the One Power.
Panchi
Panchi

The Wheel Turns: A Game of Stones

[Editor's Note: Ireond, our Humor Blogger, is filling in the role of Rotating Features Blogger because he wanted to share a more in depth look at A Game of Stones with the Dragonmount community.  He's been playing for awhile and has a better insight to the attractions of the game.  Fnorrll will return next week with "The Wheel Turns."]
 
A Game of Stones is a browser based multiplayer role playing game set in The Wheel of Time universe.  Currently in its eleventh version, players can choose a nationality and class and then go explore, fight, and earn money to their hearts content, or at least until the Last Battle.
 
The basic overview of the game:
Character creation consists of choosing a nationality for your character, and then picking a basic class.  As you gain levels, you open the opportunity to build estates in wilderness areas, gain profession points which can be used to buy businesses in town and gain other bonus, and eventually gain the option to add more classes to your character.  Classes offer a skill tree with various bonus stats, and every level, you are given skill points to customize your character.  
Players are ranked by experience, alignment, and Ji. Experience is a pretty standard affair, you attack non-player characters (NPCs) or players, and gain experience accordingly.  Alignment is how your actions have defined you in terms of leaning more towards the Shadow or the Light.  Ji is an interesting factor, and affects a fair amount of game play.  Each action you do brings you honor.  As you rise in honor, your standing in the game rises as well, but the true benefit is when you're a member of a clan, as your gain in honor carries over to them, allowing them to take control of the local towns.  Towns have shops where you can purchase gear and temporary bonus items, as well as restock your stamina; the clans can invest in upgrades, allowing you to gain bonuses from towns that your clan controls.  Lose the town though, and you lose those bonuses.
Combat is limited by each character only gaining two combat points an hour, but you are allowed to bank up to a hundred, allowing you to walk away from the game for long periods, if you desire, and not falling behind.  However, movement is determined by stamina, which can be replenished by resting or using an inn at a city, allowing you to move freely completing non-combat quests if you wish. You can play with your stats, change equipment around, and hang out on the clan or world chat boards while waiting for combat points.
The early game consists of securing towns for clans and leveling up your character.  You can compete in tournaments, build a commercial empire, or just run around completing quests.  Eventually the seven seals to the Dark One's prison will appear, and then they start breaking.  This is the point the current game is at now, but that means the fun is just beginning.
You see, the Last Battle is coming.  Hordes of NPCs will be descending and doing their hardest to make sure the towns are wiped off the map.  Then players will be divided by alignment and fight for all creation.
Then, the Age ends. 
The next version comes out, where a new Age will unfold, and a new battle for creation will begin.
Which side will you fight for?
Swing by A Game of Stones and take a look.
 
I spoke with Tim Jensen, current programmer and administrator for "A Game of Stones."
 
Q: When did the game first start, and when did you take over?
 
A: I'm not sure on exactly when the game first started. I first started playing in the Summer of 2003, which I believe was towards the beginning. After a releasing couple different versions of the game, the original Creator, Craig Harrison, decided he wanted to move on and posted the source code online in May of 2007. I took the code, made a few modifications I thought would be nice and launched my first version in September 2007.
 
Q: What is the one aspect about the game you feel brings in the most players?
 
A: Honestly I'd have to give credit to the Wheel of Time for that one. I'd estimate about 90% of the vocal users of the site are fans of the books that checked the game out due to their love of the series. Though even if you haven't read the books, the game is still accessible. It's really a pretty standard RPG game with a Wheel of Time skin on it, though I've tried to get as many details right as I can while keeping the game balanced.
 
Q: What do you feel attracts first time players?
 
A: Beyond the idea of playing a Wheel of Time game, I'd say that it's the fact that it's an online game that can suck up as much or a little of your time as you want and you can still be fairly competitive. That's something I've tried to strive for with how the game is set up. Some people complain about the limited turns players are allotted, but to make up for it each person can have 3-6 characters. Keeping up with that many characters and fully taking advantage of all the game has to offer with each of them can suck up a lot of time if you let it.
 
Q: What do you feel keeps players coming back for each new version?
 
A: This one I have to give to the GoS community. They've kept the atmosphere of the game friendly but competitive. It's always interesting to see how things play out each version. Alliances shift from Age to Age and the new players and clans that pop up add a wrinkle into existing dynamics. Another thing I've tried to do is be responsive to what the players want for the game (within reason). Most of the changes that I have made have been at the suggestion of the players. With each version has come something new and I hope it the thought of seeing what's next keeps players coming back.
 
Q: If you had a tip for players that are new to the game, what would it be?
 
A: Don't be afraid to ask questions. I openly admit that my weakest point is documenting how things work, so the game can be a bit overwhelming for new players. Luckily, the existing player base is quite friendly to new players and quick to answer questions. I suggest joining an existing clan your first time through rather than creating your own. That way you can learn the ropes from the more veteran players and hopefully make a few friends in the community along the way.
 
Q: What made you decide to institute the last battle?
 
A: Two reasons. One, I originally planned to launch V10 in February of this year, so that would have been within 1 month after AMoL released so that seemed fitting. More importantly was the need that each "Age" of the game needed a firm ending. In previous versions, people would play for a month or so, then gradually let their characters fade into neglect. By adding the Last Battle, there's a point that everything is working towards so people know what's coming and how much longer things will keep going. Hopefully it will keep players engaged to the end.
 
Q: What do you see in the future for this game?
 
A: I honestly don't know. I hope the game continues to thrive. This last version has been the most successful yet since I've taken over, so hopefully the trend continues. I still have plenty of ideas on where the game can improve. So as long as people keep playing and I have time to work on it (thanks to my wife for putting up with me!), I'll keep releasing new versions.
Ireond
Ireond

WoT If... the Aiel Join the Tinkers?

Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  For this week, I want to look at the Aiel and how they might be repurposed after the Last Battle.  And as always:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
When Rand holds the meeting at Merrilor, the Aiel were intended to be left out from the demands.  Since they followed him from the beginning, he wanted to show them he trusted them not to cause problems after the Last Battle.  Through Aviendha's second trip through the glass-column ter'angreal, we see this decision would have left the Aiel to a terrible fate.
 
Luckily, after Aviendha demands her boon from Rand—to be included in the Dragon's Peace—Perrin is able to come up with an idea to give the Aiel purpose on this side of the Spine of the World.
 
 
But with the repurposing, what else will change for the Aiel?  Where will their "home base" be?  How will they interact with one another?  How will they continue to grow as a People?
 
For the question about their home, I bet the Clans will distribute "home turfs" amongst themselves.  With eleven Clans, and fourteen nations (or seventeen, if you count the city-states and the now-blooming Malkier), it shouldn't be too hard to divide up the land.  However, they could also decide to be travelers, like the Tinkers, never in the same place twice.  This choice would let them be a little more free from the influences of the nations.  Perhaps they could even band back together with the Tinkers.  While the battle is raging, Raen, a Seeker of the Tuatha'an, begins to wonder about condemning violence.
 
 
With this knowledge, the Tinkers and the Aiel could rejoin, become one people again, but with two different branches.  If that happened, the Aiel who gave into the bleakness could come back to the Clans, and join the Tinker section, devoting their life to the Way of the Leaf to meet their toh.
 
As for how they would treat each other, their constant feuds with one another would need to end.  As the Clan Chiefs have spent so much time with each other since The Shadow Rising, I don't see this being as big a problem as they think.  In fact, Rhuarc actually says he will put blood feuds aside: "I have buried blood feuds for you, Rand al’Thor. I would not take them up again. I have friends now that I would rather not kill" (A Memory of Light, Chapter 6, "A Knack").
 
I don't think the Chiefs will disappear.  The Aiel need a structured hierarchy to follow.  But Societies might change, or morph, to encompass more attributes.  Maybe Clans become less important, and members can travel more as members of Societies—like they did in Rhuidean.  Maidens can be sent, regardless of Clan, to chase down bandits from Andor.  The Stone Dogs can patrol the Borderlands; the Seia Doon can protect the border with Seanchan.  They would be less likely to attack members of other Clans if they separated like this.
 
Maybe, they would eventually have Society Chiefs, instead of Clan Chiefs.  And the Maidens could have the first female Chief.
 
What about growing?  I see plenty of ways this will happen.  First off, is the new visions brought by the glass-column ter'angreal.  It isn't clear if the vision is different the first time, or not.  If it requires a second time, I think the Wise Ones—perhaps even the Clan Chiefs—will insist candidates go through a second time.  This testing is very important to them as a People.
 
With their firm belief in ji'e'toh, the Aiel need something to keep them humble, to keep them working, to keep them focused.  We saw when Aviendha went through the ter'angreal the first time that it was not a challenge for her.  It was nothing new, so it was not a test.  The Wise Ones and the Chiefs need to be the strongest of the strong.  If anyone who went through could survive—as everyone now knows their ancient past—the Chiefs are nothing special.  They need to wheedle out those who would crack under the pressure.  The second trip nearly shattered Aviendha, which shows it was an adequate test of her character.
 
Another thing they need to do is conquer the wetlands.  Not in the way of kings and dictators, but in the lands.  Any Aiel above the age of five can survive on their own in the Waste.  How many would be able to survive in the wetlands?  It's a different climate, a different terrain, different flora and fauna, different animal life.  Aviendha thinks about this as she arrives at Merrilor:
 
 
The Wetlands are a different challenge.  It's something else for the Aiel to work towards, to master.
 
I would love to have a story thirty or forty years from the current time, just to see how the Aiel have grown.  They have such an interesting culture, and it would be awesome to see them thrive in a new situation, instead of being beaten and surrendering to their life in the Three-Fold Land.
 
That's all for today.  Next week, we'll look at the walking dead and possible reasons they were returning.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Weekly Roundup July 21-27

Hello! It looks like July is almost at an end, and it’s time for another Weekly Roundup!
 
We’re approaching the final round of the Wheel of Time Cage Match! You may, of course, continue discussion of last week's fights, but don’t forget to vote in the final match! And, while you are at it, who would win between Bela and Hopper or Bella and Jacob?
 
In the White Tower and Warders Social Group, the Blue Ajah is hosting Harry Potter Week! Join the Tower in Quidditch trivia, and keep a look out for more Harry Potter themed threads!
 
Of course, if the White Tower's Quidditch game is full, you can always join Quidditch in Shayol Ghul!
 
Do you hate your alarm clock? Do you wake up on your own? Or do you have fuzzy assistants to wake you up in the morning? The Wolfkin are talking about the best way to wake up.
 
Well, that’s it for July! A friendly reminder as August starts, don’t forget to sign in to your Social Groups! 
Moon Sedai
Moon Sedai

Wheel of Time Cage Match: The Finals

Round 4 has concluded, and again, the results are a bit surprising:
 
Tam defeated Galad
Asmodean defeated Narishma
 
That moves us onto the Final Round:
 
Asmodean vs Tam
 
We also have a special consolation match, just for fun:
 
Bela & Hopper vs Bella & Jacob
 
Go vote for your favorite character and help decide who will win the title of Cage Match Champion!
 
Round 5 voting ends at 9pm EST, August 3, 2013.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

The Wheel Turns: All About Gaming

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!
 
This week I want to talk about a hobby of mine, and that is board games. Now I need to stress a few things here--firstly, by board games I don't mean Monopoly. There is a growing trend of geeky board games in various fantasy, science fiction, and other settings, and they are awesome. If you aren't yet a fan of gaming, watch this video.
 
Personally I'm really getting into the board game scene and have picked up a few of them. And one that I am really enjoying is Arkham Horror. It's not Arkham as in Batman, by the way, but a city or town in the world of renowned writer H. P. Lovecraft. You may have heard of one of his more famous works, "The Call of Cthulu." His writing is a blend of dark, Gothic science fiction/horror.
 
The game Arkham Horror is very immersive, as you control investigators in the city of Arkham. Portals to other worlds keep opening and various hideous monsters pop out and roam the city streets. You, the investigators, must arm yourselves, collect clues, close the gates, kill the monsters, and try to prevent the Ancient One--which could even be Cthulu himself--from awakening! It's really great fun, challenging, and almost like a role playing game. I thoroughly recommend it, although it may be a little off putting if you aren't used to playing these kinds of board games.
 
If that is the case, I really do recommend you to find your nearest genuine gaming shop and see what is out there. Settlers of Catan is an excellent, easy to play game, even better with the Cities and Knights expansion. There is also a very good Game of Thrones board game where you each play as one of the Houses of Westeros. There is literally so much to choose from. I haven't yet seen a Wheel of Time board game but there may well be one!
 
If you're at all like me and are a little bit geeky--which is in fashion these days, by the way!--you really want to get into tabletop gaming. And if you are, then try out Arkham Horror--I've fallen in love with it.
 
Have fun!
 
Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: One-Upmanship And Sundry Thoughts

Spoilers?
 
 
Rand:  I gave up a hand, got a wound in my side, and am slowly going mad from another man's memories in my head...
 
Mat:  Oh yeah? Well...  I gave up an eye, got hanged from a tree, and am also going slightly mad, but from SEVERAL men's memories in my head and some dice rattling inside of it...
 
Perrin:  I... uh...  gave up an axe, once ripped a few buttons off one of Faile's dresses by accident and... um... yeah.  I yield on this one...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Random thoughts from the Tainted One:
 
Honestly, when I think of the Snakes and Foxes, I really can't help but occasionally think of them as the Wheel's Waldorf and Statler:
 
    "Why do we even watch the weaving of the Pattern?"
    "Have you seen what else is on?"
    "There's something else on?"
    "My point exactly! Hohohohohoho!"
 
This of course, brings to mind the thought that maybe, a hilarious sketch for The Wheel of Time series could be done a la the Muppets.  Kermit as Rand, Gonzo as Mat, and Fozzie as Perrin: 
 
    Fozzie:  Hey Rand! I know how you can remove the taint...  You just gotta change the channel! Wakka wakka!
Ireond
Ireond

New Play-By-Post Role Playing Website Kicks Off

The First Age—a play-by-post role playing website—has just launched.  The site allows users to create characters that live in the First Age, the Age before the Age of Legends, in an alternate history taking place in our own world in 2045.The website's creator, who goes by the name Ascendancy, has this to say: 
 
 
The site if full of information relevant to the current Age's politics and problems, including the monsters that inhabit the world from the Age before, everything from chupakabras to zombie-like rougarou.  There's even details about all the Ages between the Third Age—when The Wheel of Time series actually takes place—and our own First Age.  The fictional set up is incredibly specific and creates a rich environment for possible role playing.  There's even a warning that players may receive detailed instructions from the administrators to help shape the overall plot of the story, and provide plot twists.  Anyone is able to join The First Age and add their own character and tale to the Pattern as it unfolds.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Weekly Roundup July 15-21

Well, it is Monday, and you know what that means? It is Weekly Roundup time!
 
The Wheel of Time Cage Match is now entering the fourth week. You may continue to discuss the Week Three matches, but do not forget to vote in Week 4:
 
Asmodean vs Narishma
Galad vs Tam
 
The classic Super Nintendo game Earthbound is now available on the Wii-U Virtual Console. Discuss the game, and the virtues of emulators, in the Movies and Games Discussion forum. 
 
In other news, two of Dragonmount's members got married on July 13: Barmacral and Raena! To those who do not know the happy couple, Barm is one of our Admins, and Raena is the Keeper of the Chronicles of the White Tower and Warders Social Group. Congratulations, guys!
 
In the Role Playing community, some members of the Band of the Red Hand are meeting up with Tinkers. Will the Tinkers convince the Band members to follow the Way of the Leaf? Read and find out!
 
 
Well, that is about it for this week's edition of Weekly Roundup. See you next week!
Moon Sedai
Moon Sedai

Wheel of Time Cage Match: The Week 3 Winners Are...

We had an exciting week!  The Asmodean vs Alivia battle was neck and neck up to the very end.  Are you surprised who won?
 
Asmodean defeated Alivia
Tam defeated Sulin
Narishma defeated Siuan
Galad defeated Faile
 
We are moving onto the semi-finals!  Here's the line up:
 
Asmodean vs Narishma
Galad vs Tam
 
Help decide who will move onto the finals!  And if you've got more to say about Asmodean or Alivia (or the others), talk about in the Week 3 Continued Discussion thread.
 
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Min

Welcome to another edition of Fan Art Friday! Today's theme is Min.
 
Elmindreda (Min) Farshaw is probably one of the most loved female characters. She is known for her refusal to wear skirts (except in certain cases) and making breeches a fashion statement among women. She is one of Rand's girls and she can see the future in people's auras.
 
So here is Min...
 
Min Farshaw by Yunyin

 
Min in her rose colored breeches. This image is kind of cute.
 
Min Farshaw by Ellyka
 

 
Min in the classic pose of Randland women. This is what Min would have looked like after she started wearing snug breeches.
 
Min Farshaw by pollyuranus
 

 
Pollyuranus wanted to show Min's coat and breeches in full to give a better look but focused more on her face. Still, this looks good and stays true to the character.
 
Wheel of Time's Min Farshaw by AimeeCosette
 

 
With curls removed to get a better boyish look, Min looks like a fighter with knives ready to face anyone.
Panchi
Panchi

The Wheel Turns: Skulls and Thrones

<!-- isHtml:1 --><p>Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!<br />
This week I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of interesting <em>Game of Thrones</em> related news items that I picked up on over the last few days.<br />
First, I noticed that a huge dragon skull washed ashore in Dorset, England, proving that the huge mythical beasts were, in fact, real. Or at least it would do, if it were not actually a man made structure promoting the series being released on a streaming service. Which is a shame, but it's still pretty cool. I'd love to see more companies go to this effort to advertise the things we love! Here is a picture of it:<br />
 <br />
<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/gallery_16065_320_20221.jpg" /><br />
I wonder what could be done to advertise <em>The Wheel of Time</em> at an appropriate moment? Maybe a replica of the part of the statue of Hawkwing they found?<br />
The other thing I thought worth bringing to your attention was the "Iron Throne" painting by <strong>Marc Simonetti</strong> which <strong>George R. R. Martin</strong> says <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://grrm.livejournal.com/327569.html'>best fits</a> the idea he had in mind when writing the books. Not that the H.B.O. version posted at the top of this article isn't cool, but Simonetti's work is amazing. Here it is, and as you can see in George R. R. Martin's vision the throne is much bigger.<br />
 <br />
<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/med_gallery_16065_320_136519.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I'm sure you'd agree it is totally awesome. I wish they had done something like this for the show. What an amazing visual image it makes. This goes to show that no matter how well a series is translated onto the big screen, it can never be quite as epic as the imagined version.<br />
Well I hope you found both of these little tidbits as interesting as I did. And if any of you are amateur (or professional) sculptors or something, feel free to do something equally as awesome for our beloved <em>Wheel of Time</em> series and take pictures for <em>Dragonmount</em>. I'll even post about it in Rotating Features! Have fun!<br />
Until next time, friends!</p>
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Thom meets Santana

Got a Black Ajah Sister
Got a Black Ajah Sister
I got a Black Ajah Sister
She's got me so blind I can't see
But she's a Black Ajah Sister and
She's trying to make a Darkfriend out of me
 
Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai
Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai
Yes, don't turn your bond on me, Sedai
Don't mess around with your weaves
Don't turn your bond on me, Sedai
'Cause you might not like what you achieve
 
(flute solo)
 
You got your bond on me, Sedai
You got your bond on me, Sedai
Yes, you got your bond on me, Sedai
Turnin' my heart into stone
I need you so bad
Black Ajah Sister I can't leave you alone
Ireond
Ireond

WoT If… The Standing Flows Return

Welcome back to another edition of "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  For this week, I've got some questions about the standing flows in the Age of Legends.
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
The standing flows are only mentioned in passing once, but they are alluded to a few times throughout the series.  They are a product of the Age of Legend, a mixture of One Power and technology that allowed non-channelers to use ter'angreal.  It's not clear how much of their technology ran on the One Power.  Or if it was just for frivolous things, not really worthwhile.  But let's take a look at the actual quote about them from the series.
 
 
Not much to go on, but the Wheel of Time Wiki expands on it a bit:
 
 
It's interesting that Alviarin thinks of the standing flows only in context of the ter'angreal—as if only ter'angreal can access the standing flows.  However, current knowledge of the Age of Legends is very scant, and mostly wrong.  Alviarin's understanding would most likely be incorrect, no matter how much Mesaana told her.  That means the One Power—through the standing flows—could be used for other things.
 
Or, it could mean that all the technology used was developed through ter'angreal.  Making angreal, sa'angreal, and ter'angreal was common in the Age of Legends.  Many people had the Talent.  It would make sense for them to develop new ter'angreal, ones that could use the standing flows, to better the lives of the common citizens.
 
Either way, I think a vast majority of items were One Power based.  Even sho-wings and jo-cars.  The One Power is an endless energy supply.  The Aes Sedai would be stupid to not harvest its power and put it to practical use.
 
But how would the standing flows be harnessed?  I can see two ways.  First is that the Aes Sedai make pools of saidar and saidin for the ter'angreal to feed off of.  If there are vast pools all over the world, the weaves could be tied off—connecting the ter'angreal and the pools—making all the items work without someone actively channeling into it.
 
It's implied that men and women working together could form these pools without difficulty (The Eye of the World, Chapter 50, "Meetings at the Eye").  The only reason the ones who made the Eye of the World died was to make saidin pure and clean.  If creating pools of pure Power could be done, Aes Sedai could regularly refill the "reservoirs," allowing all the items linked to it to draw on the Power stored within.  
 
Or, taking on a more sci-fi perspective, the standing flows could be pure Power left to run wild.  It's all around, and all the devices programs to feed off the flows would work.  Maybe a good analogy would be a wind generator.  The wind is all around, and the device—the windmill—can access that power as long as the wind is there.
 
This might seem a bit confusing, but let me elaborate.  When we see scenes from the Age of Legends during Rand's trip into the glass-column ter'angreal, we see a group of Aiel, Ogier, and a Nym seed singing.  During this scene, it's speculated that the Nym uses weaves of the Power (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 26, "The Dedicated").  The phrase is that the Nym, "took those threads and wove them into his dance," which sounds a lot like channeling.  So, where is the Nym getting the flows?  From the standing flows, the Power that is surrounding them.  It's like wind all around them, and the Nym—a construct, like a ter'angreal—can access them.
 
Another point I'd like to touch on is whether or not the standing flows will come back.  They disappeared when the Bore was breached.  The Wheel of Time Wiki has something interesting on this that might shed some light on how they disappeared:
 
 
If sho-wings are running off the standing flows, they stopped working "immediately" after the Breaking.  If the standing flows are pools of the One Power, that makes sense since the Aes Sedai wouldn't go about refilling the reservoirs.  And if the standing flows are wild threads of Power running free, their threads could have been disrupted by the appearance of the Dark One.  He could have broken the weaves.  He could have taken away the wind.
 
But is it fixable?  Alviarin's comment of why such a thing had been allowed is telling.  I think most Aes Sedai would feel the same way.  The Power is for them, not for others.  The White Tower may claim to serve all, but I don't see them wanting to give up even an ounce of their power.
The Asha'man might be more likely to create standing flows again.  They learned the lesson that they are men, not weapons, so they might want to be more of a help to society.  But it would require the cooperation of women, if the standing flows are pools.  Men and women need to work together to accomplish that task.  
 
Two of the female Forsaken are still alive, Graendal and Moghedien.  Graendal is under compulsion, and fawning over Aviendha.  A lot of information might come of that.  Moghedien is a collared damane, captured and taken back to Ebou Dar.  Some information might come from that.  Honestly, I don't think the Seanchan would want to use any items that use the Power, so they wouldn't want the standing flows to reform.
 
But Graendal could be key to setting up a lot of wonders from the Age of Legends.  I wouldn't be surprised if she could help recreate the standing flows as well, if there were willing participation among the current channelers.
 
The last idea is that—if the Dark One blocked the flows, his resealing could heal the weaves on their own.  The standing flows could instantly be reinstated, without any help from another source.  That would lead to a lot of confusion, but probably some advances in civilization pretty quickly.
 
That's all for this week's edition.  Next time, I want to look at the Aiel and their new role in society.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai