Well, like you say, we really don't know enough. And since all of the characters originally involved in this scheme are dead, except for Sevanna, who is captured, it is mostly irrelevant.
It does depend on how Asmodean approached Couladin about the Dragons. I doubt he appeared as Jasin Natael to offer them to him, Couladin despised wetlanders, and Asmo wouldn't want to risk that disguise.
Asmo could have pulled Couladin into T'A'R or something similar, giving him a dream where a legendary Aiel Chieftain told Couladin he was great and special, that he was the Car'a'carn. Asmo could have given him the Dragons there, or put him in a deep sleep and done it in the real world.
I'm not saying that's what happened, just that Asmo didn't necessarily have to offer in a way that had Couladin suspecting he was a male channeler. Asmo likely did it in a way that had Couladin sincerely thinking he was the Car'a'carn, not a usurper.
Personally, I wouldn't like it much if the antagonists were all Darkfriends. There are scumbags in the world, but that doesn't meant they are all sworn to the Shadow. As for Couladin in particular, it's irrelevant at this point.
It does depend on how Asmodean approached Couladin about the Dragons. I doubt he appeared as Jasin Natael to offer them to him, Couladin despised wetlanders, and Asmo wouldn't want to risk that disguise.
Asmo could have pulled Couladin into T'A'R or something similar, giving him a dream where a legendary Aiel Chieftain told Couladin he was great and special, that he was the Car'a'carn. Asmo could have given him the Dragons there, or put him in a deep sleep and done it in the real world.
I'm not saying that's what happened, just that Asmo didn't necessarily have to offer in a way that had Couladin suspecting he was a male channeler. Asmo likely did it in a way that had Couladin sincerely thinking he was the Car'a'carn, not a usurper.
Personally, I wouldn't like it much if the antagonists were all Darkfriends. There are scumbags in the world, but that doesn't meant they are all sworn to the Shadow. As for Couladin in particular, it's irrelevant at this point.
What do we really know?
Couladin agreed to let Asmodean put the fake dragon markings on his arms in a bid for power. He may not have known who Asmo really was (in fact, I highly doubt it), but he had to believe he was dealing with a male channeler with all that implies. He must at the very least have suspected he was dealing with DF's.
But we really have no way of knowing how much Couladin knew or didn't know. We also have have no way of knowing how much of what he did was his own plans and how much was Sevanna's, or Asmodean's, or Lanfear's. He was at least partially a puppet, definitely.
There's nothing conclusive. Personally I'm 50/50 on whether or not he was an actual DF.
Couladin agreed to let Asmodean put the fake dragon markings on his arms in a bid for power. He may not have known who Asmo really was (in fact, I highly doubt it), but he had to believe he was dealing with a male channeler with all that implies. He must at the very least have suspected he was dealing with DF's.
But we really have no way of knowing how much Couladin knew or didn't know. We also have have no way of knowing how much of what he did was his own plans and how much was Sevanna's, or Asmodean's, or Lanfear's. He was at least partially a puppet, definitely.
There's nothing conclusive. Personally I'm 50/50 on whether or not he was an actual DF.
"And it breaks my heart to look around, and see the unimpressed; who can't believe the emperor is dressed"~Fastball
2-7-1
2-7-1
Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 09:49:32 AM
- 1823 Views
it's been discussed a lot
12/08/2010 11:00:06 AM
- 1298 Views
Really? All the questions it poses?
12/08/2010 11:06:11 AM
- 1088 Views
Havent seen this exact discussion before either.. *NM*
12/08/2010 11:06:45 AM
- 425 Views
see my further reply =oP I'm 13% less of a jerkface than it looks *NM*
12/08/2010 12:10:28 PM
- 429 Views
Re: Really? All the questions it poses?
12/08/2010 11:56:26 AM
- 1108 Views
not really
12/08/2010 02:08:41 PM
- 1018 Views
Yep, pretty much. Otherwise he could have just nullified the Compulsions' lingering effect on Elza
12/08/2010 02:11:24 PM
- 942 Views
As demonstrated in TGS...
12/08/2010 05:27:21 PM
- 921 Views
We don't know that about Compulsion - we are talking about 2 different ways to deal with that weave
12/08/2010 07:16:30 PM
- 912 Views
Re: We don't know that about Compulsion - we are talking about 2 different ways to deal
12/08/2010 08:21:32 PM
- 932 Views
Re: We don't know that about Compulsion - we are talking about 2 different ways to deal
12/08/2010 08:32:41 PM
- 924 Views
Re: We don't know that about Compulsion - we are talking about 2 different ways to deal
13/08/2010 06:51:45 AM
- 791 Views
I replied to the topic before you edited to ask all the extra questions
12/08/2010 12:08:27 PM
- 918 Views

Both Bair and Sorilea knew
12/08/2010 10:33:59 PM
- 925 Views
Re: Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 02:43:23 PM
- 1136 Views
Re: Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 05:42:00 PM
- 1421 Views
Re: Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 08:06:25 PM
- 1211 Views
Re: Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 08:20:44 PM
- 927 Views
Re: Who betrayed Cadsuane by stealing the male adam and CK?
12/08/2010 08:32:21 PM
- 1031 Views
Who most wanted to get rid of Cadsuane BESIDES Rand?
12/08/2010 09:01:44 PM
- 1048 Views
Can't be Sorilea
13/08/2010 11:50:53 AM
- 857 Views
Re: Can't be Sorilea
13/08/2010 08:46:02 PM
- 822 Views
Re: Can't be Sorilea
14/08/2010 12:00:40 AM
- 853 Views
Re: Can't be Sorilea
14/08/2010 12:34:18 AM
- 910 Views
Not necessarily, Sorilea still could have watched Cadsuane untie the weaves
15/08/2010 01:53:27 AM
- 799 Views
Re: Not necessarily, Sorilea still could have watched Cadsuane untie the weaves
15/08/2010 12:53:42 PM
- 735 Views
I think that Couladin was a dark friend.
13/08/2010 03:00:20 AM
- 1317 Views
I'd be surprised, actually.
13/08/2010 05:34:13 AM
- 836 Views
Couladin and Asmodean
13/08/2010 08:33:38 AM
- 889 Views
Re: Couladin and Asmodean
13/08/2010 04:45:21 PM
- 1042 Views
Couldin isn't intolerant. He's murderously xenophobic.
14/08/2010 05:45:15 PM
- 830 Views
Almost ALL of the Aiel were murderously Xenophobic before Rand united them. *NM*
15/08/2010 01:00:37 PM
- 401 Views
Noone betrayed 'Cadsuane'-That was just a happy side affect (for the DO)
15/08/2010 08:22:59 AM
- 933 Views
*Sigh* it is 2:20 AM so this is a double post. (You can ignore this one) *NM* *NM*
15/08/2010 08:23:49 AM
- 379 Views