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The Wheel Turns: Blademasters and Heron Marked Swords

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

For many readers of The Wheel of Time, the Blademasters are some of the most interesting characters in the books. Sure, we may fantasize about what it would be like to wield the awesome power and the fine subtleties of saidin or saidar, but skill with the sword, a master of the blade, is something very relatable, something we can cross reference with history and other fantasy series, and even something we can experiment with in real life.

The whole notion of being a Blademaster is a fascinating one. The sword forms are, I think, one of the most interesting concepts that Robert Jordan introduced into the series, and one I can't off the top of my head think of something similar to in another work of fantasy fiction (feel free to leave a comment below if you can think of a parallel idea in another book or series). And the sword forms, it should be noted, whilst possibly learned and of some use to an experienced fighter, are actually the Blademaster's forms, designed to be learned by those seeking to reach mastery of sword fighting, duelists and purists in the use of the the katana-like curved swords of Jordan's world.

One only becomes a Blademaster if they either defeat in single combat another known Blademaster or are judged on their skill by a panel of five Blademasters, being declared as one only by unanimous vote. There are said to be fewer than 100 Blademasters within the Westlands.

A big part of the fantastical desire to earn this title for myself (and, I am confident, many other readers) is being able to carry a Heron-marked sword, one which is designed to proclaim to all your skill as a weapon, a wielder of the sword. You can imagine that to carry one would be the kind of thing to cause a room to fall silent as you enter, to cause your opponents to reassess you with a vague uncertainty, to strike fear into the hearts of your foes. "He carries a Heron-marked sword. Blademaster! Blademaster!" The whispers would almost certainly go along in your wake wherever you passed. Sublime.

So. Where can I get me one of those?

I have selected a link for you to take a look at. I have chosen one from Amazon because it is an officially licensed replica, seems to be at a saving, and of course Amazon is an international supplier. Leave a comment below if you know of a better place to find one or a wider selection online.

If you want to own your very own Heron-marked sword, then have a look online, there are plenty out there. Not only will you look and feel like a total boss, but it would be great for meets and conventions, and in general, anyone who recognized the significance of it would be another Wheel of Time fan, and that would be a great way to meet new fans.

If you do get one, or have one already, please be sure to sign up here at Dragonmount to the forums and spread pictures of you with your gorgeous blade! I would certainly like to see it over at the Warder's Guild! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: And How Does That Make You Feel?

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Ireond
Ireond

WoT If…A Cour'souvra Survives?

Welcome back to another exciting edition of "WoT If?".  This week's topic is Lanfear/Cyndane, but before we jump into the theory:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light. Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
As I said last week, the idea for this theory came from the Looney Theories panel at JordanCon.  It was proposed by Jenson, a member of the audience, and immediately struck down as too plausible.  
 
He said that Lanfear is still alive.  We know that Perrin overcame her Compulsion and killed her before she could attack Rand, Nynaeve, and Moiraine.  However, Jenson pointed out that her cour'souvra is still intact.  That means her soul is still in the world. 
 
We've talked before about the nature of the soul; rebirth is a major theme throughout the series.  But we don't know exactly what happens to a soul after a person dies.  We see the Heroes of the Horn go to Tel'aran'rhiod to wait, but what of normal souls?  We also know there is only a short time that the Dark One has access to a soul.  But if the soul is still in the world, the Dark One wouldn't be able to touch it or reclaim it—plus, he's cut off from the world now, so he couldn't even if it were possible.  Perhaps the Creator could take the soul from the cour'souvra and place it with the other waiting souls.
 
Most likely, I think Lanfear's soul would be stuck in the cour'souvra until someone comes along and releases it.  She wouldn't be able to be reborn at all until she was released.  There's no way her soul could be woven back into the Pattern if it's still alive in one form or another.
 
That opens up a lot of possibilities.  First, how long can a cour'souvra survive?  Perhaps Lanfear's soul inside would die eventually, after her normal lifespan was used up—another 600 years or so?  Or, would it be stuck in a state of limbo for the rest of existence?  Or, if we want to take this into the crazy theory category, maybe Lanfear's soul could be used in a construct—like the Nym.  
 
At JordanCon, I asked Maria about the Nym's souls.  We talked about it in a blog last year, and I was wondering if she knew where the souls came from and how the ancient Aes Sedai got them into the construct.  She didn't have an answer.  Maybe this is where Aes Sedai got the souls.  Perhaps Aes Sedai who went to the Shadow could use this as a last resort to come back to the Light?  If they had their cour'souvra they could give it to the Light Aes Sedai and have it transplanted into a Nym's body.
 
Even I'll admit that's a bit of a stretch.  Regardless, I think it's quite possible for Lanfear to still be "alive" through her cour'souvra.  And there's even more of a twist when you think of where Lanfear's soul might be.  The last time we saw it…
 
 
So, if it was still around Moridin's neck, that means Moridin likely had it with him in Shayol Ghul.  Which means it was there when Rand and Moridin switched bodies.  Which means it was around Rand's neck when he woke up and rode off.  Which means Rand has access to Lanfear's soul!
 
The irony of this makes me grin.  What would Rand do with it?  I think he forgave her—or at least let go of his anger—so that he would be willing to release the soul, either into a construct, or out of the cour'souvra and let it die.  Rand might see releasing it as a mercy, instead of allowing it to be stuck for eternity in the mindtrap.
 
That's all for this week.  Don't forget to post your comments below about your thoughts on Lanfear's fate.  Next time we'll talk about something along the same lines—or at least with a connection to the Nym: seed singing and the Voice.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Alternative cover art for A Memory of Light

At JordanCon V, I had the distinct privilege to purchase one of Michael Whelan's original concept paintings for A Memory of Light. 
The story behind is this image is that it’s one of several concepts that Michael provided to Tor Books. From what I understand, this particular painting was one of the top choices to become the actual book cover, but the publisher wanted an image which included the lunar eclipse.  If this image had been selected, Michael would have re-painted it, and added a significant amount of more detail.
 
The painting depicts Rand, holding Callandor, outside the cave at Shayol Ghul, right before he descends to face the Dark One.
 
Detail:


 
More images and details about how I acquired the painting can be found on my personal website. Also, be sure to look at Tor.com's behind-the-scenes feature at how the AMOL cover was designed.
 
What do you think?
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Showcasing one of the concept paintings for the AMOL book cover.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

The Wheel Turns: Features of Dragonmount

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week, I thought I would begin a series of articles I plan on continuing from time to time in this blog. It will highlight some of the different areas of Dragonmount which you may not yet have begun enjoying, just to see if we can tease you into that direction...

We begin by appealing to you hardcore Wheel of Time enthusiasts out there. First, I'll highlight something which you may enjoy if you have perhaps finished reading the series now, maybe even more than once, and then we will look at something that will appeal to all fans of the series, even if they are on their first incomplete read through.

One of the sections of our Dragonmount forums is the Wheel of Time Discussion area, and within that you can find the Full Spoiler Discussion board for A Memory of Light, the final book in The Wheel of Time series. Now, I won't highlight any of the articles on this board to you in case I spoil something you haven't read yet (and also because I haven't read A Memory of Light myself yet...Shhh...Don't tell!), but if you have completed the series and the final book, or if you are adventurous enough not to mind being told about things you haven't read in the series, then dive right in and see what everyone is discussing! The series may have ended, but the crazy theories from the minds of fans everywhere certainly have not!

Within the same section of Dragonmount, you can also find the General Wheel of Time Discussion forum. This has all sorts of interesting discussions ongoing, and is spoiler friendly to those who may not have finished the series yet. For example, right now, there is an engrossing debate about who the deadliest Blademasters in Randland may be, an interesting discussion on the way Brandon Sanderson wrote compared to Robert Jordan, and a great thread that has been going strong for some years where you can ask a simple question, get a simple answer to anything you have come across in the series you found confusing, and that's just a brief selection of the topics on offer.

There really is plenty to get involved in on these Dragonmount boards and they are one of the most popular features of the site, so feel free to join in and have your say or benefit from hearing other people's opinions.

As a final note, be sure to read the pinned topics at the top of each board to familiarize yourself with any of the posting rules that may apply. Other than that--have fun!

Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Perrin Aybara

(Deep Voiced Movie Announcer) In a time when trouble was spreading across the land   (pan across a field of dying wheat being marched across by an army)   A simple blacksmith had his own problems   (Arnold) "Sometimes, especially in the dream, I forget I'm a man, not a wolf. If one of these times I don't remember quickly enough, I'll lose hold, I'll be a wolf. In my head, at least. A sort of half-wrong image of a wolf. There won't be anything of me left."   He stood against the tides of darkness for the love of his life (scene outside village square with armed villagers standing around a wolf's head banner)   (Faile) I'll not have you bleeding to death on me. That would be just like you, to die and leave me the work of burying you. You have no consideration.  
(Arnold) Faile. My falcon.   But then they took her
   (Arnold) Faile! Nooooooo!!   He will make them pay     (Arnold) "A Warder once told me Trollocs call the Aiel Waste 'the Dying Ground.' I mean to make them give that name to the Two Rivers."  
Wherever they go   (pan across the ruined city of Malden, cut to Sevanna scolding Faile)   (Sevanna) You will do as I say or I will have you beaten again and again.   With any weapon that comes to hand   (Sam Elliot as Elyas) "You'll use it, boy, and as long as you hate using it, you will use it more wisely than most men would. Wait. If ever you don't hate it any longer, then will be the time to throw it as far as you can and run the other way."
 
  And with a ragtag band of misfits to help him find her
  
 (scenes of wolves running through a snowy forest, then cut to Aiel and Two Rivers bowmen marching over a hill)
 
 (Gaul)  Get on a horse? Me? Must be wetlander humor.  What'll you think of next, Perrin?
           
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger
 
is     "The Wolf King"   (Arnold) Tell her I love her. Tell her I’m coming.
 
Ireond
Ireond

WoT If...We Still Have Looney Theories?

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  I've come back with renewed vigor, thanks to a wonderful weekend at JordanCon.  It was an incredible experience, talking with Brandon, Harriet, Maria, and Alan, as well as other fans who love the series as much as I do.  I also sat through several of the theories/spoiler panels, letting ideas grow in my mind of topics to explore.  For this edition, I want to look at the comical side of The Wheel of Time fandom and talk about "The Grave is No Bar to My Looney Theories" panel at JordanCon.  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.
 
The Looney Theories discussion included Kristy Lussier, Sarah Nakamura, Billy Todd, Matt Hatch, and Alan Romanczuk on the panel.  This discussion wasn't meant to be taken seriously, so any idea someone presented that could likely be true was marked with a "Too Plausible" stamp and pushed away.  We'll talk about one of those for next week, but I'm jumping ahead of myself.  I just want to give fair warning that these theories will be a bit on the crazy side.
 
My favorite of the bunch involved Berelain and Rhuarc.  Here's the theory:  In A Memory of Light, romantic couples seemed to live or die together: Siuan and Bryne, Gawyn and Egwene, etc.  But the only couple that didn't fit this criteria was Amys and Rhuarc.  The theorist claims that this proves that Rhuarc was not really in love with Amys, and that he was gay.  This is further collaborated by his relationship with Berelain, that she is one of those young women who liked to hang out with gay men.  It may be a stretch, but I could see it happening.
 
The next one comes from the idea that peach pits are poisonous in Randland.  The theory says that peach pits are actually saidin, and they are poisonous because of the taint.  So, with the cleansing of the source, peaches won't be poisonous anymore.  It's plausible.
 
Another suggested that Rand is really Charlie Sheen.  I think some part of this theory derives from Charlie Sheen's sudden descent into madness, but mostly it was because it would mean Tam is Martin Sheen—which seemed to make many of the women attendees sigh.  Charlie Sheen as the Dragon Reborn is hard to swallow, though.
 
This may be the looniest, in my opinion.  Rand didn't die during his fight with the Dark One because Rand didn't have a soul.  The theorist pointed out that Rand is a ginger—someone who has red hair—and everyone knows gingers don't have souls. (I must point out, once again, that this is all in jest.  There is no offense meant to anyone with red hair.)
 
And our own ed2funy submitted one for the panel's consideration.  He said that Rand wasn't the Dragon Reborn from the start.  His powers only came to him the night they were fleeing the Two Rivers.  On that night, Bela was in danger, and so she—who was really the Creator—searched for a way to save herself.  She released the Power into Rand, allowing him to become the Dragon and channel to save herself.  Also, at the end of A Memory of Light, Bela did not die.  Rather, she allowed her Power to go into the Horn of Valere and caused Olver to sound it.  She lost her body, but the Creator doesn't need it.  Everyone knew from the start that Bela was either the Dark One or the Creator, so this makes sense to me.
 
Ed came up with another one, though not in time for the Looney Theories panel.  He said that the Ogier will use Seed Singing on people before they use the Book of Translation to flee the land.  When they Sing to the people, the humans will grow into giants, creating another one of our modern world's legends.  Harriet was sitting at the table next to us, though, and when Ed asked her if it was possible, she said flat out, "No."  Sorry, Ed!
 
I think the tradition of looney theories will still continue, even with the conclusion of the series.  There are so many ways to analyze and evaluate all the characters and their interactions with each other.  Plus, it's a lot of fun thinking outside of the box, and just enjoying the silliness that can come from friends talking together.
 
That's all for this week.  Next week we'll examine another "looney theory" that sounds really plausible to me: Lanfear is still alive.  So, join us then, and don't forget to post your own looney theories in the comments.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Architecture and Scenery (Part 1)

It is said that the Ogier are great builders. The cities they build seem to have a life of their own. Among the Ogier built cities, Tar Valon is said to be the most beautiful. Tar Valon is followed by Caemlyn in terms of beauty. People of Caemlyn say that Tar Valon could not be more beautiful than Caemlyn, but that is so because they have not seen Tar Valon.
 
In honor of these two cities, this week's fan art is focused on Caemlyn, Tar Valon, and places in and around them.
 
 
The White Tower by humite

 
 
Caemlyn from Tar Valon Gate by artguyjoe

 
 
Dragonmount by NuttyMonk

 
That's it for Part 1 of Architecture and Scenery. Part 2 will be here next week, and you are free to guess what will be in store for you.
Panchi
Panchi

Rotating Features: WoT now?

Hello, friends! It's Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week, we are taking a look at another form of Wheel of Time media, for those of you addicted to The Wheel of Time but with no way to get your fix now that the series has ended...

This particular website holds a special place in my memory because it was something I read avidly in the years I first joined Dragonmount way back when I was in school. It is an unofficial, tongue-in-cheek comic series called WoT now?, which is an especially apt name now that the series has been completed. Its author is known as Burnout, an avid fan of the Wheel of Time series.

The artwork is fairly basic and based on the old Megaman gifs. It can be a little irreverent and as stated, tongue-in-cheek, but it should provide a good giggle to its readers once you get into it. It was definitely done with the best of intentions by a fan who loved The Wheel of Time and Robert Jordan as much as we all do.

Sadly, the series has not been continued for a while now, but there are plenty of panels to read in the meantime.

Have fun!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Bad Boys, Bad Boys

Announcer
Reader discretion is advised.
 

 
Children
 
Announcer
 
Children is filmed on location with the men of the Children of the Light.
All Darkfriends will be brought to trial for their crimes.
 
 
Chioal
Honestly, the best thing about this job is that you get to help the people of the world. I mean, just think of what would happen if these fools went on with their killing and destruction? We can't allow the Shadow to spread, so we go where the Light wills and bring peace and justice.
 
Rodhor
Right, and you get to travel to all sorts of different places. I've personally never been to this area of Amadicia, but it's a beautiful country, and they understand that, even if it doesn't seem pleasant, your duty is yours to do, so they've been pretty helpful to us.
 
Chioal
And respectful too. That's the nice thing about wearing the sunburst; it allows people to see you're someone to be respected, and feared a little. But you have my word that we're out to help the people.
 
Rodhor
Indeed. That's why we're out here. We've heard reports of Darkfriends gathering in the local countryside and we can't be having with that. So, we're traveling the roadways, stopping here and there and seeing if anyone has heard any news.
 
(Horses pull up outside of an inn)
Rodhor
Now, we're heading in to this inn because we've heard rumors that a Darkfriend was seen in the area, and may have stayed here plotting his foul deeds.
 
(Inside)
 
Chioal
Morning, sir! I and my companions here are seeking out the enemies of the Light. We wish to ask you a few simple questions about a traveler that may have passed through here about a week ago.
 
Innkeeper
Yes, yes, of course. I'll tell you anything you wish to know, gentlemen.
 
Rodhor
We'd expect nothing less from one who walks in the Light. Now, sir, was there or was there not a gentleman with a beard and a slight scar on his right cheek?
 
Innkeeper
(Cowering)
Yes, sir...I saw him. He came in asking for a room and I noticed the shadows seemed to follow him. I sent him packing on his way, sir. No help for the
Shadow here, sir. Honest, sir.
 
Chioal
That's good. Did he mention which way he was headed?
 
Innkeeper
No, sir. Saw him shake his head and head off that way down the road.
 
Rodhor
Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, though, I'll have Inquisitor Vareyn come in here and double check what you've told us, and then we'll leave you to your business.
 
(Children head back out as a man with a shepherd's crook on his robe enters. Cameraman quickly exits.)
 
Chioal
Well, we'll know by tonight if this man's story can be corroborated, and whether or not he may have been our Darkfriend's contact in this town. Either way, this town may have fallen under the Shadow, so we'll be sending back a messenger to the Fortress of the Light and ask for a banner to be sent here to make sure that these fine folks walk under the Light.
(Distant cries of pain)
 

Ireond
Ireond

Special Honors for Dragonmount's Jason Denzel and Jennifer Liang

Dragonmount's very own Co-Webmasters, Jason Denzel and Jennifer Liang, have been honored recently for their tireless contributions to the Wheel of Time fandom.  Both are extremely deserving of this recognition, and we are proud to have them at the helm of this website.
Jason will be a Guest of Honor at Penguicon this year.  Penguicon is a science fiction convention that has a strong focus on computer-related topics.  It will be held in Pontiac, Michigan from April 26-28, 2013.  When he is not on Dragonmount or engaging in other hobbies, Jason works on Linux projects for a network technology company.  He will be the first notable Wheel of Time fan to be a Guest of Honor at a convention.      
Jennifer was elected President of the Southern Fandom Confederation last weekend at JordanCon.  The Southern Fandom Confederation is an organization dedicated to celebrating science fiction and fantasy fandom in the Southern United States.  It is affiliated with DeepSouthCon, which is a traveling Southern convention that JordanCon hosted this year.  Jennifer's work as both the Chair of JordanCon and Director of the former Wheel of Time track at Dragon*Con made her an ideal candidate for the position.  When she is not working on conventions or on Dragonmount, Jennifer works as a special education teacher.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Our Co-Webmasters have been honored for their work in the fandom.

Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: Shadowspawn

Trollocs. Fades. Draghkar. Myrddraal. Twisted Ones. Neverborn. The Shadowspawn have names that differ from region to region. They were created by Aginor during the Age of Legends for the fight against the forces of Light. They are the forces of the Dark One whose numbers are so large that the forces of Light cannot compare. They were formed from twisting humans and animals with the True Power.
Every fantasy needs the kinds of creatures it can throw against the good guys (and not mind dozens of them being killed in the process). The Wheel of Time has the Shadowspawn. The Shadowspawn are a varied bunch, including Trollocs, Fades, Draghkar, and gholam.
These creatures have been fascinating for me (or I just chose this topic because I call my brother a Trolloc).
Now, without further ado, I present to you the Shadowspawn.
Goat-horned Trolloc by t-biddy

 
 
Myrddraal by BloodRedFullMoon

 
 
Draghkar by cadavis3

 
 
I suppose my teachers could count as Shadowspawn, but I cannot post pictures of them here since they are not from the Wheel of Time series.  
That's all for today!  
(Artworks have been used with permission.)
 
Panchi
Panchi

JordanCon Preview

Hello, friends! It's Thursday, which means two things--the weekend is not too far away and it's time for our Thursday blog!

This week, we are looking ahead to JordanCon, which will be held in Roswell, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. In case you aren't too sure what JordanCon is, it is a convention held in honor of our late, beloved Robert Jordan, which means of course that it will feature a lot about the Wheel of Time books, among other things.

Things like what, you ask? Well, if you want the full rundown, here is a link to the Schedule of Events. Let me mention a few highlights for you...

This year, JordanCon will be hosting DeepSouthCon. Click on their name if you want to follow a link explaining all about DeepSouthCon, but essentially it is another convention which moves location each year, and this year it is joining up with JordanCon. It's all about Science Fiction, so there will likely be many common interests for those already heading to JordanCon. In particular, it is well known for the Hearts Tournament and the DSC (DeepSouthCon) awards ceremony.

There are a whole host of exciting guests, including Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal, who will be doing book signings. Imagine having your books signed by them both! Artist Michael Whelan, who created a masterpiece for A Memory of Light, the final Wheel of Time book, and award winning author Seanan McGuire will also be on the roll of honor, along with many others. Check out the Special Guests list in the link to the schedule provided above for more information on these Guests and on the rest who will be attending.

Did you have a crazy theory since reading A Memory of Light? Well, it's your lucky day! There will be several, spoiler-permitted panels throughout the day where the books will be discussed and dissected for as long as time allows.

And finally, a nice new feature which will certainly be of use to those of us who are members here at Dragonmount--and to those who haven't joined up yet (hint, hint!)--is the Wheel of Time Speed Friending Service! It's just like speed dating, but instead of looking for romance, you'll be looking for new friends who ALSO love the Wheel of Time series! What more could you ask for? Have your email addresses at the ready.

We really hope everyone who is able to attend fully enjoys JordanCon this year. If you haven't been able to attend this year, fear not. Every year gets better than the last, so start planning now!
 
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Springtime Planting

Ready for Springtime Planting?

Disgusted by those unsightly weeds?

Are your neighbors slowly being eaten by the plants in your garden?

 

 

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Listen to some of our satisfied customers:

 

"I used to have to worry about the dog being poisoned and then exploding before my eyes.  Now, thanks to Blight-B-Gone, I'm no longer having to explain to the kids where Spot has disappeared to!"

 

 

"First it was those unsightly brown spots. Then we had an outbreak of jumera.  Thanks to Blight-B-Gone, we can now leave the house safely!"

 

 

Yes, look for 

 

BLIGHT-B-GONE

 

Now available in your local hardware and home repair stores.
Ireond
Ireond

David Farland Book Bomb

Earlier this month we posted on Facebook about 16-year-old Ben Wolverton, son of fantasy author David Wolverton (aka David Farland).  Ben was in a terrible long boarding accident which left him with severe brain trauma and other serious injuries.  Unfortunately his family doesn't have health insurance and the medical bills are stacking up. 
 
Dragonmount, along with several other websites and authors, are trying to spread the word about ways you can help Ben and his family. Please join us in contributing in one or more ways.
 
Book Bomb
A "book bomb" is where we encourage as many people as possible to buy a specific book in a short period of time. Not only does this provide money via direct sales, but it also helps push the book up the charts, thereby increasing exposure to as many people as possible.  The authors and fans organizing this event have chosen David Farland's Nightingale. Please go to Amazon and purchase a copy. Not only will you help the Wolverton family, but you'll get a fantastic novel.

Direct Donation
If you would prefer to make a direct donation to Ben's recovery, you can do so here.
 
Spread the Word
Whether you're able to help financially or not, we ask that you consider sharing news about Ben's accident on your Facebook, twitter, email, or just word of mouth. 
 
The Wheel of Time community is large and has always proven to be generous. By helping the Wolverton family, you will be upholding Robert Jodan's legacy of charity and kindness.  
 
Thank you for joining us to help. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Help support the Wolverton family after their recent tragedy.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Sean Connery as a Redhead?

The name is al'Thor, Rand al'Thor.
 
My instructions were explicit. I was to prevent the Dark One from breaking free of his prison at Shayol Ghul. Licensed to break the world.
 
(Bond Music)
 
 
(Private study)
 
Moiraine:  Your mission is of the utmost importance, al'Thor. Try to take it seriously.
 
Rand:  I'm always serious, M. Have I ever let you down?
 
 
Watch as he battles the world's most feared villains
 
Rand:  Do you expect me to just hand control over to you, Forsaken?
 
Aginor:  No, Lews Therin, I expect you to die.
 
 
With amazing devices from an Age long past
 
Thom:  And if you press this part here, the head of the ter'angreal will shoot out flames up to thirty feet. This one will allow you to open any lock, and this sword also doubles as a flute.
 
Rand:  And how much use do you think a flute will do in the Last Battle? 
 
Thom:  Just try to bring it back in one piece, al'Thor.
 
And with beautiful women at every turn
 
(Tavern)
Min:  I know I'm not the only girl in your life, al'Thor, but do you have to be so cavalier? 
 
Rand:  Elmindreda, what would I do without you?
 
(Courtyard)
 
Elayne:  Well, well, and what have we here?
 
Join Rand al'Thor in 
 
"Eye of the World"
 
Coming soon to a theater near you
 
 
(Tavern)
 
Rand:  Mother's milk in a cup. Shaken, not stirred.
Ireond
Ireond

WoT If…Moridin Was Turned?

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. Once again, I set out with the intention of examining the body-swap at the end of A Memory of Light.  Again, I got distracted by other things.  Sorry to get your hopes up, but I'm pushing body-swap back for the next edition.  Rather, I want to look at something else that deals with Moridin and his ties to the Shadow.  Before we start, though:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
In Chapter 2, "A Dangerous Place," Pevara and Androl are preparing to con the Asha'man Dobser to get information on Logain's whereabouts.  As they are doing so, Pevara says, "The accounts seem to agree. The more dedicated a person was to the Light before being taken, the more dedicated they'll be to the Shadow after falling."
 
Several questions popped into my head when I read this the first time. 
 
1) How would they be able to gauge this? Is there some way to give a person's dedication to the Light a value? 
 
2) What accounts are there of this transition?  Would they have to follow around Black Sisters and witness their evil deeds to see how far they'd gone to the dark side? 
 
3) If they have this information, and know the Forsaken are loose (thirteen channelers), why wasn't there some Tower alert system warning of the possible danger?  Especially since three separate parties went to the Black Tower where there were channelers galore. 
 
So, let's look at each of these questions and see what we can learn.  First off, how to gauge this.  It seems to me like most people in Randland are indifferent to the Creator.  They claim to "walk in the Light," which means they try their hardest not to do bad things.  But the definition of "bad" isn't very well defined in Randland terms.  In the Two Rivers, they have a pretty strict upbringing where everything from boys who "did not keep out of their elders’ way," to polygamist relationships that would cause "the Women’s Circle [to swallow] their tongues" are considered "bad" (Path of Daggers, Chapter 22, "Gathering Clouds" and Winter's Heart, Chapter 12, "A Lily in Winter", respectively).  But do these constitute as the Shadow?  Most would agree they don't.
 
Then how would one gauge a person's devotion to the Light or to the Shadow?  There aren't any concrete definitions of what is of the Light and what of the Shadow.  We see several instances where characters do what they feel is right, despite the cost to them or others.  Galad does this regularly, as do Mat, Perrin, and Rand.  They feel they do the Light's work by sacrificing themselves for a greater good.  By Wheel of Time standards, I think they all are dedicated to the Light.  On the flip side, we see the Forsaken act out of greed and malice, hurting anyone and everyone they can get their hands on.  Naturally, they would be devoted to the Shadow. 
 
But if this trick of thirteen channelers and thirteen Myrddraal is so well known there are records of it in the White Tower, maybe it was common in the Age of Legends as well.  I'm getting ahead of myself, though.  On to point number two.
 
The records themselves baffle me.  As I said earlier, how would the Light side know all that the Shadow does in order to track how dedicated a person would be to the Shadow?  And since the definition of Light and Shadow vary by town, how could the White Tower specify which acts are which?  Was Toveine's part in the "vileness" after the Aiel War an act of the Light or the Shadow?  What we see of her as a Turned Aes Sedai seems pretty bad, so she must have been dedicated to the Light.  Yet her actions of gentling men before reaching the Tower were condemned and got her exiled, despite her belief that they had "been necessary and right" (Path of Daggers, Chapter 26, "The Extra Bit").  Because of this, there seems to be no way to accurately judge a person's intent.  These records probably couldn't prove anything one way or the other.
 
For number three, why wasn't the Tower put on high alert when they realized the Forsaken were free?  And doubly so when they found out Rand had started a school for male channelers.  Since most Aes Sedai foolishly doubt the existence of the Black Ajah, when other channelers come into the world, they should have had the sense to be afraid, yet they weren't.  Toveine leads fifty Aes Sedai to the Black Tower, knowing that thirteen of them could turn someone to the Shadow.  I can't believe there wasn't more caution in this endeavor.
 
Of course, there is the argument that this information is in the Thirteenth Depository, only known to Sitters, Heads of the Ajahs, the Keeper, and the Amyrlin.  But Pevara is a Sitter and apparently has access to the "accounts."  On top of that, they were ordered to bond Asha'man by Tsutama, the Head of the Red Ajah, who would also know of these records.  And Toveine was also a Sitter before her exile, so she would know this information too.  And Reds would be the first to think that male channelers were Shadowspawn—or at least Shadow sworn.  Yet no precaution was taken in either case.
 
All of this speculation leads me to two conclusions: Taim was not Turned; Moridin/Ishamael might have been.
 
Before, I always maintained that Taim had been turned by the 13x13 combo.  It seemed most likely because of Bashere's inability to recognize him right away in Lord of Chaos (Chapter 2, "A New Arrival").  However, Brandon Sanderson was asked this very question:
 
 
If Taim was not very nice before, that means he lacked a dedication to the Light, which means his dedication to the Shadow would have been just as weak, if Turned.  We see by his elevation to one of the Chosen that Taim's dedication to the Shadow is strong.  From this logic, I don't think Taim was Turned.  I'm going to change my official stance on that.
 
But what about the other Forsaken?  We see time and time again that they are evil to their bones...except Moridin.  The other Forsaken have their own reasons for going to the Shadow, and they seem to do it willingly.  Yet we never get a convincing reason with Moridin, other than the fact that he wants the whole world to die.  In the comments for other blogs, we talked about Moridin having an epiphany similar to Rand's in "Veins of Gold" (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 50).  But, since Moridin didn't have the love Rand did, he was unable to find that last sliver of hope to keep fighting.  But I'll offer another reason.  What if Ishamael—or Elan Morin—was just as dedicated to the Light as Lews Therin, but was caught by servants of the Shadow and Turned?  I think this would explain better how Elan Morin could have flipped sides so easily and quickly.  He was so dedicated to the Light that he became just as dedicated to the Shadow.  That could be the reason he was trusted above all the others, because his own ambitions were eradicated by the Shadow's will.
 
That will be all for today's edition.  I'm going to have a break next week (for school work) and the week after (for JordanCon).  But we'll return on the 30th, and hopefully, I'll have time to talk with Brandon Sanderson and ask a few questions.  If anyone is going to JordanCon, make sure to say hi to me.  And, as always, thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New Perrin Shirt from Ta'veren Tees

Calling all Perrin fans!  Our friends at Ta'veren Tees have a great new shirt for you.  It features artwork from popular artist Seamas Gallagher.  Check out the press release:
 
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NEW PERRIN AYBARA SHIRT WITH ART BY SEAMAS GALLAGHER AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER
 
The trio of ta’veren shirts by The Wheel of Time® artist Seamas Gallagher is finally complete with the addition of the “Perrin Aybara by Seamas” tee, now available for preorder at www.TaverenTees.com/perrinbyseamas.  Preordering this shirt ensures it will be shipped as soon as it is in stock on April 11. In addition, this shirt will be on sale for $26 during the pre-order period.
 

 
“Perrin Aybara by Seamas” is available in sizes S-5XL on an adult tee shirt.
 
Until now, only Gallagher’s versions of Rand (www.taverentees.com/randbyseamas) and Mat (www.taverentees.com/matbyseamas) were available for purchase, and fans of the blacksmith-turned-wolfbrother have been anticipating the release of the final ta’veren. Ta’veren Tees is happy to release this homage to the Wolf King at last. Why the wait? This shirt features updates to the art that cannot be found elsewhere. Older versions of Gallagher’s Perrin depict him with an ax. Ta’veren Tees, along with Seamas, decided it was time for this Perrin to give up the ax and take up the hammer.
 
The back of the shirt reads “If you could see through these golden eyes of mine, you’d find the world a different place.”
 
This shirt is available through 5XL on a forest green, adult, cotton tee. All “Special Edition” designs have the snake/wheel logo on the left sleeve.
 
Seamas Gallagher
 
Seamas Gallagher started working on The Wheel of Time® as a personal side project. However, he was able to contribute art for The Wheel of Time® graphic novel, and is excited to have his art on Ta’veren Tees, as well. Seamas is an officially licensed WoT artist, whose art can be found at: www.seamasgallagher.com. To read more about Seamas, visit www.taverentees.com/artists.
 
 
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

WoT If…Pevara Lied?

I said last week that we were going to look at the body-swap occurrence, but I got sidetracked in my research.  For this edition of "WoT If?",  I want to look at something that's very easy to miss.  Something Pevara said in A Memory of Light. But before we start:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
We all know Pevara is not Black Ajah.  She would have been outed by Androl—who can read her mind—or by Taim and his lackies—who attempted to turn her towards the Shadow.  Both of these, I think, are ample proof she is not of the Black.  But there is one line in A Memory of Light where Pevara appears to lie.  Let's take a look at the passage:
 
 
There are only a few paragraphs of text separating Emarin's request and Pevara's refusal; this happens very quickly.  In the first exchange, Emarin clearly states that he wants the prisoner to hear, and Pevara agrees.  She knows she has released the weaves a bit; she knows he can hear.  How can she—by the Three Oaths—answer "No" to Emarin's question?
 
The first time I read this, I went into a near panic.  It has the sound of a lie to me, and I thought Pevara might really be Black Ajah.  However, there are other likely reasons why/how she was able to answer the way she did.
 
One explanation might be Aes Sedai trickery.  The phrase—the way Emarin words it—uses a negative question: cannot.  Pevara's answer is also a negative: no.  These two negatives, by the laws of the English language, cancel each other out, winding up with a positive: he can hear.  However, that's not the way most people speak.  If asked the same question, many would reply with, "No, he cannot hear," answering Emarin's intended question (if their captor was capable of listening) rather than the actual phrase of the question.
 
Wow, that got way too technical.  Regardless, it could be a trick of the language Pevara was using to make their captive think she answered differently than she did.  It would be an example of the saying, "The truth an Aes Sedai says isn't the truth you think it is."
 
But there may be another explanation as well.  We know Pevara and Seaine took turns releasing themselves from the Oath Rod (shown in The Path of Daggers, Chapter 26, "The Extra Bit").  Every account we see of them releasing themselves, we also see them reswearing.  Notice those few key words: every account we see.  How many times did they take the Oath Rod?  How many times did they have the opportunity to release themselves?  What if Pevara was tempted to not reswear?
 
Egwene, when she reclaimed the Tower, made every sister go through the reswearing process and prove they were not Black Ajah (The Gathering Storm, Epilogue, "Bathed in Light").  However, Pevara and her group heading to the Black Tower left in Knife of Dreams (Epilogue, "Remember the Old Saying").  So, Pevara missed this forced reswearing.  For all we know, she may have removed the Oaths at some point and kept them off.
 
This might seem unlikely, but she was planning on going to the Black Tower to bond Asha'man.  Perhaps she felt she needed more protection than what the Oaths offered.  The Asha'man could tear an Aes Sedai apart, and the Aes Sedai wouldn't be able to do anything until the Asha'man struck first.  They would be in a ton of danger if they still kept to the Oaths.
 
Plus, people say that if you do something once, it's easier to do the next time.  We have three instances in the books where Pevara and Seaine release themselves and reswear.  With that way of looking at the situation, what harm could come from a fourth time, or a fifth?  Especially if you may need to use the One Power as a weapon against people who aren't Darkfriends.
 
Again, it's unlikely.  Pevara probably used a language trick.  We know Aes Sedai aren't forbidden to lead people astray.  But still, I think it's curious.  The phrase just jumps out at me and I can't help but doubt her.  And I'm extra surprised none of the Asha'man called her on it.  I think she lied.  But I want to know what everyone else thinks.  Is it possible that Pevara actually lied or not?
 
I'll keep it short and sweet this week since some of that consisted of heavy reading.  I promise, next week we'll look at the body-swap occurrence and the significance it played.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Tor launches WoT mobile campaign

Tor Books launched a Wheel of Time mobile text campaign today.  If you text the word Epic to 555111, you'll receive 3-5 trivia alerts per week. Here's the press release:
And no, despite this news article going live on April 1, this is not a joke. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Tor launched a new Wheel of Time mobile campaign where you can get Wot facts and news alerts sent to your phone or messaging device.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: March 31-April 6, 2013

Welcome back!  Before we begin, I want to make a couple of announcements.  First, the blogger application deadline has passed, and I will be revealing the new bloggers shortly!  Second, I know that there are some Memory Keeper reports that didn't make it up during my LOA; the person who was covering for me did not have a chance to get them up.  I'll be gradually sprinkling those in between the regular blogs during the next couple of weeks.
 
A Memory of Light left a lot of unanswered questions about the Seanchan.  What will become of them now that the Last Battle is over?  Come share your theories in our A Memory of Light Full Spoiler Discussion forum.  Please remember not to talk about spoilers elsewhere on the forums at this time.
 
There's still time to join in the Aiel Social Group's March Culture of the Month discussion.  They have been discussing the Cherokee.  This thread is full of interesting and well-researched information.
 
The Shayol Ghul Social Group's popular advice columnist, Narg, is back.  Join him for another exciting round of Ask Narg. 
 
What are your online obsessions?  Whether it's Dragonmount itself, a popular MMORPG, or something else, the Wolfkin Social Group would like to know about it.
 
That's all for now.  Have a wonderful week!
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Your guide to this week's Dragonmount news and events.

Dwynwen
Dwynwen

A Memory of Light ebook

The ebook version of A Memory of Light is now available on the Dragonmount eBook store.
The AMOL ebook is discounted to $13.99 in our store. 
As with all titles in our online store, the AMOL ebook is entirely DRM-Free.  When you purchase it, you'll have access to download both the Kindle-compatible file (.mobi), as well as a standard .epub file which works on Apple iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch), all Barnes & Noble Nooks, and most Android devices. 
Get A Memory of Light in our eBook store now.

By purchasing this ebook through our store, you are helping to support Dragonmount. Click here for more information about our DRM-free ebook store.
Unfortunately, due to the way publishing contracts are designed, we only have the ability to sell this ebook to people with a valid U.S. billing address. We wish we could sell it more widely, and may one day have the ability to do so.  
Some fans have expressed an understandable frustration regarding the delay between the release of the hardcover and ebook. There were several reasons for this. The primary reason is that Harriet recognized that traditional booksellers were very supportive of Robert Jordan over the years. By initially releasing only physical copies of the book, it helped support their business at a time when eBook sales are becoming more and more normal.  Harriet believes in a world where brick-and-mortar bookstores are pervasive and successful. 

   
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    A Memory of Light is now available as an ebook. Order it now from our online store

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

WoT If...The Horn Is All About Location?

Hello all, and welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog.  This week's topic is the Horn of Valere and the mysteries, and misinformation, behind it.  Before we start, though:
 
SPOILER WARNING.  This will include content from A Memory of Light.  Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.
 
This last book really blew off a lot of preconceived notions about the Horn, even for Brandon Sanderson.  In an interview, Brandon says he was surprised that the Horn couldn't be used by a Darkfriend, and added that Harriet had to edit his work to fix it: "She explained that this was one of Jim's ruses, that the characters in [the] book were wrong and repeating bad information, and that Jim had been very clear with her that it was not the case."  This is only one example of how the truth an Aes Sedai says isn't what you think it is.  There were several others throughout the series.
 
Another issue that shocked me was the severed link between Mat and the Horn.  When Birgitte calls him Hornsounder in A Crown of Swords (Chapter 21, "Swovan Night"), I thought the link had to be intact.  Birgitte's ripping from Tel'aran'rhiod happened after Mat's balefire "death," so she should have known the link was lost.  In A Memory of Light, Hawkwing is aware that the link was broken when Mat was balefired (Chapter 39, "Those Who Fight"), so Birgitte should have known as well.  But, for argument's sake, perhaps Birgitte was calling him that out of respect.  Hawkwing himself called Mat "Hornblower" (Chapter 43, "Field of Glass").  In the United States, even former presidents are still called Mr. President—it stands to reason that a former Hornsounder could still be called Hornsounder.
 
Another exciting revelation: the Horn summons dead wolves!  There's plenty to talk about from this scene in A Memory of Light.  First, it seems the wolves only appear after Olver blows the Horn at Shayol Ghul.  Why weren't they summoned when the Horn was first sounded?  Is the location of the Horn important?  Olver first blows it in Merrilor, when he's trapped by Trollocs (Chapter 39, "Those Who Fight").  But the heroes all appear around the battlefield, not Olver—Noal rushes off to Olver right after the Horn is sounded.  And even further away, Birgitte appears standing over her dead body.  Why did Birgitte appear separate?  And if she could, why couldn't the wolves?
 
It isn't until Chapter 46 ("To Awaken"), that the wolves' spirits are called into the battle.  And it's only after Olver blows the Horn at Shayol Ghul.  Perrin notes that the wolves' spirits are all gathered, and it's only after the Horn calls that they ask Perrin to lead them.  Then Perrin thinks, "Why must the heroes all be human?"
 
We know the wolves have some sort of knowledge about the Last Hunt, and they must realize they have some role to play.  But Perrin's thought about wolf heroes doesn't seem right, unless every wolf is a hero.  The Horn called every wolf that was there, every spirit of a dead wolf—not only a select few that have proved themselves brave enough.  Perhaps the Horn just summons all the denizens of Tel'aran'rhiod.  If the souls of deer or any other wild beast had been near Shayol Ghul, would they have been summoned for the Last Hunt as well?  Or did the wolves only choose to be there because they have a connection to men and knew they could help?
 
And if the wolves are bound to—or at least called by—the Horn, how come they didn't appear in Falme?  It seems quite possible that some wolves would have been in the area and got caught up in the pull of the Horn.  But there were none.  Perrin was there, and could have led them.  Does this mean that the wolves could only participate once, in the Last Hunt only?
 
I looked through all the posted interviews at Theoryland to find any recent (Post-A Memory of Light) interviews about the Horn.  There aren't too many yet, so maybe that's something we'll have to ask Brandon Sanderson about.  Based on the way the Last Battle played out, I'm assuming location does matter.  The Horn summoned the heroes—who are naturally bound to the Horn.  They would have been called from anywhere they roamed in Tel'aran'rhiod.  But the wolves, who are creatures of the World of Dreams, yet not bound to the Horn—as far as we know—had to be in the location for the Horn to call them.  This still doesn't explain why they didn't help in Falme, but it does explain why they had to be called separately. 
 
One other thing I found, not necessarily about the Horn, but more about Tel'aran'rhiod, is a theory by FarShainMael on the A Memory of Light Spoiler Board.   FarShainMael suggests a link between Rand post-Tarmon Gai'don and the Horn's power to summon aspects of Tel'aran'rhiod to the real world.  He says:
 
 
I think this raises an interesting concept.  We see that Rand has complete control over his surroundings.  He only has to impose his will in order to light his pipe.  This is very close to the way things work in Tel'aran'rhiod.  Rand is one who is bound to the Horn—after he dies, he will be summoned if the Horn were sounded—so it's possible he could use some benefits from the Horn while alive.  Maybe the same would have happened for Birgitte if she hadn't died.  Maybe an aspect of this will pass into the young Gaidal Cain.  We really have no way to know for certain what the Horn does to the heroes who are already born.  But I like FarShainMael's idea.
 
That's all I've got on the Horn.  I'm really hoping more interviews with Brandon Sanderson will show up and he'll have a bit more to say on the subject.  Next week, I'd like to look at the body-swap theory more closely and examine what exactly happened at the end there.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New cover art for A Crown of Swords

Tor Books unveiled a brand new book cover for the print edition of A Crown of Swords.  The artwork is by Tyler Jacobson and depicts the scene where Rand meets Cadsuane for the first time.
 
Here's the full image. Click to see a larger version in our Gallery:
 

 
Be sure to check out the full feature on Tor.com.
 
This new edition matches the style Tor has been using for the series over the past few years. Most of the second edition book covers feature the same artwork from the ebook editions, but this new artwork is brand new.  
 
Wheel of Time second edition book covers:
 






  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Tor Books released a new book cover for the second edition for A Crown of Swords.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel