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I think the usefulness was a later realization darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 26/06/2010 07:32:59 PM

Why do you think the DO gave Balthamel a female body?

For much the same reason he gave Lanfear and Aginor bodies he knew they would both hate. It's a not-so-subtle punishment for failing.

Demandred considers at the Tea Party in WH that "bodies for transmigration supposedly were chosen by what was available, yet Osan'gar and Aran'gar were proof of the Great Lord's cruel sense of humor."

Seems obvious that the DO chose bodies these people would especially hate. Otherwise why give Balthamel the female body and Aginor the dumpy man? Obviously because their respective reactions.

I actually don't think that the DO gave these bodies because he thought it especially funny, but simply because it would be a strategic advantage to have a male channeler in a female body, if you want to infiltrate a society with female channelers. And also Osan'gar's rather nondescript body makes sense, if he should join Rand. I wonder if Demandred didn't already know at this point where Aran'gar stayed, otherwise he had to see the advantage of a female body (but Mesaana likely told Demandred).

Possible, but IMO more likely that the advantage was noticed after the body was given, especially since Halima's body is so attractive, makes the joke that much funnier.

It's obvious that something was planned for the infiltration since Semirhage was interrogating Carbriana about this time too, but nothing to say that the infiltrator needed to be a woman who channels saidin, much less one that is so physically attractive that she can't help but draw attention to herself. If they really wanted her to be "invisible" in the camp Chesa's body would have been a better choice.

Apparently Demandred doesn't know that much about transmigration anyway, though, as the word "supposedly" indicates (this might explain, why he doesn't realize that a too less capable body can reduce the OP strength, like apparently in Cyndane's case).

We've seen absolutely no evidence that Aran'gar has lost even a shred of her OP strength. There is even less evidence that this is why Cyndane is weaker.

Does everybody agree that the body comes from someone in the Borderlands, like SH tells? In this case, it makes sense that Cyndane's comes from the Borderlands as well (BS implied the same in a Q&A).

What would be the purpose of lying about it? It's not like they had dozens of Andoran or Taraboners to choose from up in the blight... Borderlanders are the easiest to access so it seems more likely that the DO would just pick the best options from what he had at hand.

Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!

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Character discussion 7 : Aran'gar/Balthamel Sidious - 22/06/2010 02:40:07 PM 1450 Views

The Forsaken most likely to acquire an STD ... Shishka - 22/06/2010 03:34:41 PM 780 Views

Are you serious?... more than Graendal? Sidious - 22/06/2010 05:45:54 PM 791 Views

Graendal strikes me as a voyeur - she likes to watch more than actively participate, I suspect.

*NM* Shishka - 22/06/2010 05:49:15 PM 332 Views

Nah, I think she's the Domani Bicycle *NM* Sidious - 22/06/2010 05:52:42 PM 344 Views

LOL!!! *NM* Shishka - 22/06/2010 05:54:34 PM 287 Views

Also, Graendal is much more picky in her conquests, I suspect ... Shishka - 22/06/2010 06:07:08 PM 693 Views

but seriously, what is that based on? Sidious - 22/06/2010 07:27:42 PM 676 Views

My general impression of the two characters ... Shishka - 22/06/2010 09:35:57 PM 736 Views

Re: My general impression of the two characters ... Sidious - 23/06/2010 12:12:39 PM 703 Views

Here's an interesting quote darius_sedai - 26/06/2010 02:59:23 PM 747 Views

Makes sense to me orius - 23/06/2010 05:02:47 AM 749 Views

I'd be surprised if Graendal bothered to Delve them darius_sedai - 26/06/2010 02:54:39 PM 636 Views

Re: I'd be surprised if Graendal bothered to Delve them orius - 03/07/2010 09:00:23 AM 626 Views

I think Aran'gar was Slayer's mystery employer in WH ... Shishka - 22/06/2010 04:17:27 PM 1020 Views

Yeah, I suggested that Aran'gar posed as Demandred Etzel - 22/06/2010 04:54:59 PM 718 Views

The TGS quote is a good point ... Shishka - 22/06/2010 05:27:59 PM 760 Views

I think the patron's identity might be something that RJ not necessarily wanted to reveal. *NM* Etzel - 22/06/2010 06:42:24 PM 695 Views

Re: The TGS quote is a good point ... darius_sedai - 26/06/2010 03:39:54 PM 832 Views

There's some evidence against that, though Sidious - 22/06/2010 05:47:34 PM 645 Views

I think Aran'gar wouldn't directly confront Demandred Etzel - 22/06/2010 06:41:33 PM 604 Views

Still risky though Sidious - 22/06/2010 07:29:32 PM 652 Views

No risk, no fun. Etzel - 23/06/2010 08:57:09 AM 579 Views

Osan'gar has GUTS??? darius_sedai - 26/06/2010 03:47:29 PM 803 Views

Of course he has guts Sidious - 04/07/2010 10:16:16 AM 674 Views

If I was a badass Forsaken with enough power to go toe to toe with him YES darius_sedai - 04/07/2010 02:49:54 PM 790 Views

What will be her next task? Etzel - 22/06/2010 05:01:37 PM 703 Views

He's more fit to sweep up after others' mistakes - maybe his next task will be with Tuon? RugbyPlayingAshaman - 22/06/2010 05:20:37 PM 652 Views

Re: He's more fit to sweep up after others' mistakes - maybe his next task will be with Tuon? Shishka - 22/06/2010 05:45:40 PM 635 Views

I like this idea to infiltrate the Seanchan as well Etzel - 22/06/2010 06:37:39 PM 653 Views

Wolves can sense channelers - the wolves knew Egwene was different, remember? RugbyPlayingAshaman - 22/06/2010 07:37:52 PM 726 Views

Maybe Aran'gar rather hides among the 100.000, i.e. she would be hard to discover Etzel - 23/06/2010 08:59:09 AM 603 Views

One of the weakest and least capable of the Forsaken we've seen RugbyPlayingAshaman - 22/06/2010 05:16:13 PM 697 Views

Are you sure? Sidious - 22/06/2010 05:44:26 PM 791 Views

It's not about dismissing her lightly - it has more to do with being accurate with an assessment RugbyPlayingAshaman - 22/06/2010 05:49:17 PM 688 Views

I'd have to agree orius - 23/06/2010 05:30:06 AM 710 Views

You know Callandor had nothing to do with Eben, right? Cannoli - 23/06/2010 06:03:42 AM 6374 Views

Her female body, a joke by the Dark One? Etzel - 23/06/2010 08:46:26 AM 678 Views

I think the usefulness was a later realization darius_sedai - 26/06/2010 07:32:59 PM 661 Views

Translation of Aran'gar Etzel - 23/06/2010 12:57:17 PM 805 Views

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<quote id="122762">
<quote id="121741">Why do you think the DO gave Balthamel a female body?</quote>

For much the same reason he gave Lanfear and Aginor bodies he knew they would both hate.  It's a not-so-subtle punishment for failing.

<quote>Demandred considers at the Tea Party in WH that "bodies for transmigration supposedly were chosen by what was available, yet Osan'gar and Aran'gar were proof of the Great Lord's cruel sense of humor."</quote>

Seems obvious that the DO chose bodies these people would especially hate.  Otherwise why give Balthamel the female body and Aginor the dumpy man?  Obviously because their respective reactions.

<quote>I actually don't think that the DO gave these bodies because he thought it especially funny, but simply because it would be a strategic advantage to have a male channeler in a female body, if you want to infiltrate a society with female channelers. And also Osan'gar's rather nondescript body makes sense, if he should join Rand. I wonder if Demandred didn't already know at this point where Aran'gar stayed, otherwise he had to see the advantage of a female body (but Mesaana likely told Demandred).</quote>

Possible, but IMO more likely that the advantage was noticed after the body was given, especially since Halima's body is so attractive, makes the joke that much funnier.

It's obvious that something was planned for the infiltration since Semirhage was interrogating Carbriana about this time too, but nothing to say that the infiltrator needed to be a woman who channels saidin, much less one that is so physically attractive that she can't help but draw attention to herself.  If they really wanted her to be "invisible" in the camp Chesa's body would have been a better choice.

<quote>Apparently Demandred doesn't know that much about transmigration anyway, though, as the word "supposedly" indicates (this might explain, why he doesn't realize that a too less capable body can reduce the OP strength, like apparently in Cyndane's case).</quote>

We've seen absolutely no evidence that Aran'gar has lost even a shred of her OP strength.  There is even less evidence that this is why Cyndane is weaker.

<quote>Does everybody agree that the body comes from someone in the Borderlands, like SH tells? In this case, it makes sense that Cyndane's comes from the Borderlands as well (BS implied the same in a Q&A).</quote>

What would be the purpose of lying about it?  It's not like they had dozens of Andoran or Taraboners to choose from up in the blight... Borderlanders are the easiest to access so it seems more likely that the DO would just pick the best options from what he had at hand.
</quote>

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