We're talking about carrying grain to feed a few millions people for a while. The gateways the Asha'man can make are most often too small for more than small wagons, and unless Rand asked the 47 Aes Sedai to help (which he wouldn't do, he doesn't want to be in their debt), they couldn't link to make really huge gateways (that would have sped things up some, but not enough to match what the SF could do. There isn't likely enough big transports in all of Tear to carry grain for millions in less than several trips). It would have taken them weeks at least to bring all that grain to Arad Doman like that, and Rand had pressing needs of the Asha'man for other tasks, like setting up on the Illian border, and the others coming with him to pacify Arad Doman. That's why he asked the Sea Folk to do it, and it took them all their big ships to meet his demands.
I don't understand why you cannot just open the gateway inside a grain silo so that gravity will basically force the grain through in moments like water through a hose. It could even be speeded up with some flows of air. You could basically transport the grain from silo to silo directly. No need for wagons or whatever then right?
Also why not ask the AS for help? If he asked them in say public "Will you help the Asha'man to bring food to feed the starving children of Bandar Eban(or whatever)" then what exactly were they going to say? I don't see this as a problem since they were bonded to the Asha'man and they seemed to practise linking even without Rand ordering it (such as during the trolloc attack). Why would helping to feed civilians cause a debt? This would easily be faster than ships. And if all else fails, the Aiel WO could link the Asha'man and they support Rand already.
Heck, if you really want ships then why not just open a gateway big enough FOR ships and instantly move the transports from port to port without need to go to open sea at all.
Are the Sea Folk important?
- 03/06/2010 04:35:17 PM
1213 Views
Oh right, the Amayar thing... hope Sanderson's careful about stuff like that.
- 04/06/2010 01:41:53 AM
789 Views
*NM*
Not as important as your mom is to me. Oops, Double post. MY BAD. *NM*
- 04/06/2010 03:20:04 AM
276 Views
Rand has a navy now. A powerful Navy.
- 04/06/2010 03:11:19 PM
655 Views
Re: Rand has a navy now. A powerful Navy.
- 04/06/2010 06:58:05 PM
662 Views
Re: Rand has a navy now. A powerful Navy.
- 05/06/2010 04:53:27 AM
646 Views
Re: Rand has a navy now. A powerful Navy.
- 05/06/2010 05:53:43 AM
601 Views