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Graendal knew Aran'gar was distracted malekithe Send a noteboard - 23/09/2010 07:10:52 AM

I think its pretty clear that Aran'gar was holding saidin if she gasped. It's a recurrent reaction we've seen when a channeler is suddenly shielded and loses their connection with the Source.

I also don't think that strength is a primary determinant here. Graendal is immensely skilled. Aran'gar was facing the window and unprepared. We know that channelers can shield one another if they are of equal strength. IMO Graendal is stronger or equal to her and overwhelmed her with sheer speed and surprise. Whether she used the angreal is difficult say, but the author usually mentions if a channeler pulls through one.

We also don't know whether she shielded Delana and Aran'gar at the exact same time, or did it quickly and sequentially. She's certainly fast enough to pull off two shields that look like a single weaving.

Anyway, I don't find it a big stretch for a female Forsaken to shield a male. I think it's been a well established fact that the females are close to the males in strength, and Graendal is near to the top of all channeling strengths.

If it was that easy for Graendal to incapacitate Balthamel (and an Aes Sedai at the same time), then the Moghediens, Mesaanas, Asmodeans etc. of this world would not have existed for very long.

Not to mention what more powerful channelers than Graendal (Ishamael, Cyndane, Lanfear etc) could have done to them.

I mean, Rand himself said that just shielding two normal Aes Sedai is no trifling matter of the Power, let alone shielding a Forsaken and an Aes Sedai at the same time.

Anyway, I just question what this would imply for the ability of weaker members of the Forsaken to survive for any length of time.


But it is that easy. It's been made clear on several occasions that the Forsaken are at maximum readiness while they're around each other. Even very powerful Forsaken like Sammael, Lanfear and Rahvin fill themselves to the brim with the One Power when they're around each other. They prepare counter weaves and hold them in place and watch each other intently. It only takes one slip, and I do believe Aran'gar may be the first true example of this that we've seen in the series. She did the worst thing possible - she allowed herself to be distracted by Rand, turned away and allowed Graendal to be placed behind her. Such a small thing is all that was needed for Graendal to have the upper hand, and ultimately led to Aran'gar's downfall. I do think that many Forsaken fell in such a casual manner, which is why channelers like the Forsaken survived. They never ever let their guard down. It must be very stressful.

If they're ready around each other, then none of these Forsaken can take each other on, but even Rahvin alluded to the danger of having Lanfear behind him. He could very easily have died in that scene had Lanfear not wished to speak with him. He didn't even know she was there until she spoke. Aran'gar is the end-point of what I've always suspected would happen to someone like that if they became too comfortable around Graendal.


Graendal saw that Aran'gar was distracted, her back was turned to her, that alone was enough for Graendal to think she could shield Aran'gar.

It would be like two swordsmen who are nearly identical in skill, but if one of then turns their back to the other then he is going to get himself killed.

I agree that usually the Chosen are all filled with the Power and on alert around each other normally because they know what will happen if they don't pay attention. In this case Aran'gar had no idea what Rand was doing and was totally focused on him. Also she had no good reason to believe that Graendal would go against her, if anything she might think that Graendal would link with her to oppose Rand or bail with her.

I feel that Aran'gar was either not holding the source (to keep a low profile so Rand wouldn't wonder why someone was holding onto Saidin very strongly when no one should be doing that in Natrin's Barrow) and she gasped because she saw Graendal weav a gateway and then she immediately tried to seize the source & found out she'd been shielded OR she was holding onto the source, but not to her full capacity as she had no intention of confronting Rand nor making a beacon of Saidin for him to see.

Either way Graendal realized Aran'gar was distracted by Rand and that was enough for her to shield her. As for Delana she probably was not even holding the source before Graendal wove the gateway because she knew Graendal would see her holding it and be suspicious of why she dared to in front of her.
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Towers of Midnight : Prologue discussion - 21/09/2010 04:38:40 AM 8290 Views
Me Too! Guess who is alive!! - 21/09/2010 04:44:40 AM 2067 Views
A dove, that's weird - 21/09/2010 03:19:10 PM 1815 Views
Re: A dove, that's weird - 21/09/2010 03:26:39 PM 1745 Views
Yes, that's the point - 21/09/2010 11:49:00 PM 1613 Views
It did feel a bit deus ex machina - 22/09/2010 12:03:05 AM 1718 Views
Fain is as creepy as ever - 21/09/2010 05:06:35 AM 1814 Views
You all can go to heck (and find me a link!) *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:10:47 AM 1155 Views
Re: You all can go to heck (and find me a link!) - 21/09/2010 05:14:26 AM 1928 Views
It's D/L on B&N now *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:15:44 AM 1044 Views
Anyone find the audiobook version? *NM* - 21/09/2010 10:20:22 AM 1016 Views
I love the borderlanders - 21/09/2010 05:25:29 AM 1795 Views
Best scene of the prologue *NM* - 21/09/2010 03:28:28 PM 1107 Views
Could somebody post a link to where they got it? I want to go to a site where I can download now *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:39:13 AM 1011 Views
I posted some links here - 21/09/2010 06:04:38 AM 1642 Views
My quick summary - 21/09/2010 06:02:41 AM 2410 Views
Whoa, whoa, whoa. - 23/09/2010 02:59:37 AM 1487 Views
It's good, but... Perrin. Ugh. - 21/09/2010 07:37:43 AM 1839 Views
Awesome! - 21/09/2010 09:00:45 AM 1593 Views
Regarding Graendal - 21/09/2010 10:12:42 AM 2104 Views
Some things... - 21/09/2010 01:18:10 PM 1654 Views
I'm glad. Being right is a good feeling - 21/09/2010 04:12:08 PM 1618 Views
a very weak angreal - 21/09/2010 04:55:15 PM 1613 Views
Even a weak angreal - 21/09/2010 05:47:26 PM 1568 Views
The Angreal Elayne mentions made her 2x as strong as Nynaeve - 21/09/2010 06:04:21 PM 1432 Views
The laughter in Perrin's Dream - 21/09/2010 02:24:14 PM 1693 Views
Probably Slayer - 21/09/2010 04:29:41 PM 1565 Views
Re: Probably Slayer - 21/09/2010 04:39:36 PM 1376 Views
Audio Book - 21/09/2010 06:39:54 PM 1514 Views
Not even Ishamael could shield another male Forsaken and an Aes Sedai at the same time... - 21/09/2010 06:46:42 PM 1718 Views
It's different (I think?) but I'm certainly no expert and I'm sure someone else will reply - 21/09/2010 06:57:18 PM 1612 Views
OK, I haven't read the scene, so I don't know if Arangar was holding saidin at the time or not - 21/09/2010 07:00:23 PM 1428 Views
Re: OK, I haven't read the scene, so I don't know if Arangar was holding saidin at the time or not. - 21/09/2010 07:11:42 PM 1542 Views
Thanks. Was Arangar channeling at the time? - 21/09/2010 07:13:53 PM 1516 Views
I think so, yes. - 21/09/2010 07:15:44 PM 1449 Views
I don't think so actually - 21/09/2010 07:57:42 PM 1558 Views
I don't think Aran'gar was channeling - 21/09/2010 11:00:22 PM 1504 Views
I don't think she even closed her Gateway. It think it was BF'd *NM* - 21/09/2010 11:52:01 PM 880 Views
no she wasn't *NM* - 21/09/2010 10:25:13 PM 989 Views
nope, no power - 23/09/2010 03:05:30 AM 1366 Views
So here's what happens... - 21/09/2010 07:15:03 PM 1889 Views
Thanks. A few comments... - 21/09/2010 07:27:33 PM 1388 Views
I don't rule out the angreal... - 21/09/2010 07:32:40 PM 1428 Views
Elayne's weakest angreal doubles her strength. Graendal x2 can easily shield Cyndane+Moggy, so... - 21/09/2010 07:35:06 PM 1546 Views
Graendal's seemed much weaker... - 21/09/2010 07:52:20 PM 1420 Views
Elayne also called the x2 turtle angreal "weak"... - 21/09/2010 08:00:01 PM 1427 Views
and we know it wasn't enough to overwhlem Verin's circle - 21/09/2010 08:02:13 PM 1284 Views
I disasgree. There is no evidence that Aran'gar was holding saidin at the time - 21/09/2010 07:42:23 PM 1362 Views
Then why did she gasp at the shield? She couldn't have known what Graendal was weaving. - 21/09/2010 07:52:49 PM 1392 Views
because she was surprised that Graendal would put a shield on her in the first place - 21/09/2010 07:58:45 PM 1431 Views
How did she know there was a shield? - 21/09/2010 09:16:59 PM 1367 Views
Fact: Graendal cannot shield a male Forsaken and an Aes Sedai if they are holding the Source... - 21/09/2010 09:28:17 PM 1379 Views
Who said "they"? - 21/09/2010 09:55:28 PM 1353 Views
I really don't think you have to be holding the source to know you've been shielded - 21/09/2010 10:29:20 PM 1308 Views
Provide evidence? - 21/09/2010 10:36:36 PM 1381 Views
Thanks, but like I said, they were both wrapped in air. That's enough for Aran'gar to wonder - 21/09/2010 10:44:17 PM 1287 Views
They gasped before Graendal wove Air... - 21/09/2010 11:13:48 PM 1340 Views
Alright, you win *NM* - 22/09/2010 02:51:26 AM 927 Views
*NM* - 22/09/2010 03:06:22 AM 799 Views
Siuan was distracted by a number of other things going on, not to mention how suspect - 22/09/2010 02:43:36 PM 1269 Views
And Aran'gar was fully focussed on Graendal? - 22/09/2010 03:02:16 PM 1495 Views
More so than Siuan was on Elaida when they were shielded. - 22/09/2010 03:33:15 PM 2291 Views
So? - 22/09/2010 03:48:11 PM 1217 Views
It doesn't matter. There are more Shieldings that go unnoticed when not holding the Source - 22/09/2010 03:55:48 PM 1316 Views
Nice catches! - 22/09/2010 04:06:52 PM 1415 Views
we don't know that - 22/09/2010 02:35:50 PM 1341 Views
Huh? - 22/09/2010 03:03:52 PM 1297 Views
Give over, Darius... there's plenty of evidence... - 22/09/2010 03:45:11 PM 1349 Views
Give over what? There is no hard evidence that Aran'gar wouldn't notice a shield put on her - 22/09/2010 05:00:11 PM 1255 Views
What rot... (also, Egwene and Rand) - 22/09/2010 05:21:08 PM 1342 Views
take a pill Fionwe ... no need to go batshit on me for having an opinion. - 22/09/2010 05:38:21 PM 1339 Views
Re: take a pill Fionwe ... no need to go batshit on me for having an opinion. - 22/09/2010 05:45:05 PM 1440 Views
if it was JUST one shield ... but she's shielding an AS and weaving a Gateway too! - 22/09/2010 05:48:52 PM 3383 Views
Well... - 22/09/2010 07:00:26 PM 1385 Views
She says... - 22/09/2010 07:04:32 PM 1395 Views
no one is arguing that - 22/09/2010 07:09:17 PM 1339 Views
Er... - 22/09/2010 07:19:09 PM 1293 Views
I'm contending that it's possible Aran'gar snesed she'd been shielded - 22/09/2010 07:20:48 PM 2116 Views
Re: I'm contending that it's possible Aran'gar snesed she'd been shielded - 22/09/2010 07:26:52 PM 2080 Views
Again, I just find that option completely unlikely since Graendals angreal isn't all that strong - 22/09/2010 07:39:02 PM 1345 Views
You've made a long list of channelers "incompetant" and "untrained". Enough. - 23/09/2010 01:53:25 AM 1418 Views
Re: You've made a long list of channelers "incompetant" and "untrained". Enough. - 23/09/2010 03:42:31 PM 1326 Views
- 23/09/2010 03:54:02 PM 1332 Views
Re: . The evidence is that no channeled is that strong! - 23/09/2010 04:04:02 PM 1450 Views
Really? - 23/09/2010 06:11:00 PM 1395 Views
Re: Really? - 23/09/2010 09:56:09 PM 1291 Views
That's my point *NM* - 24/09/2010 12:20:45 AM 932 Views
Re: She says... - 22/09/2010 07:12:48 PM 1343 Views
Exactly. - 23/09/2010 01:54:05 AM 1310 Views
The way it reads she is holding open a Gateway, then slams shields on both - 22/09/2010 07:08:17 PM 1320 Views
Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 05:46:19 PM 1401 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 05:53:05 PM 1285 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 07:03:02 PM 1281 Views
Nope - 22/09/2010 07:19:30 PM 1193 Views
Re: Nope - 23/09/2010 02:06:35 AM 1335 Views
Toveine! Now THAT is a good catch, fionwe! - 23/09/2010 07:57:05 AM 1454 Views
Sidious pointed it out, actually. But thanks! - 23/09/2010 03:55:29 PM 1335 Views
And you ignore all the evidence in the series that definitively makes it impossible for Graendal to - 23/09/2010 03:57:49 PM 1233 Views
Well... - 23/09/2010 04:31:27 PM 1420 Views
According to Fionwe she isn't using the angreal - 24/09/2010 11:18:30 PM 1527 Views
Re: According to Fionwe she isn't using the angreal - 25/09/2010 09:38:41 AM 1375 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 24/09/2010 03:20:49 AM 1499 Views
Oh come on.. be real - 22/09/2010 05:39:51 PM 1312 Views
see that's an argument that makes more sense to me - 22/09/2010 05:47:17 PM 1389 Views
Re: How did she know there was a shield? - 24/09/2010 04:42:25 AM 1322 Views
You'[re missing the part about the bonds of air as well - 21/09/2010 11:06:04 PM 1328 Views
No. The sequence was shield-gasp-tie off shield-wrap in Air. *NM* - 21/09/2010 11:14:41 PM 963 Views
We have seen people holding the source caught off guard by a shield *NM* - 22/09/2010 12:10:48 AM 932 Views
Well, exactly! - 22/09/2010 02:01:12 AM 1392 Views
What I think happened - 22/09/2010 09:19:57 AM 1344 Views
It's not the male/female issue. It's a Forsaken vs Forsaken issue... - 22/09/2010 10:06:47 AM 1303 Views
Re: It's not the male/female issue. It's a Forsaken vs Forsaken issue... - 22/09/2010 01:31:52 PM 1394 Views
Fair point. - 22/09/2010 02:07:05 PM 1386 Views
I think it also bears mentioning that ... - 22/09/2010 04:17:17 PM 1378 Views
Graendal knew Aran'gar was distracted - 23/09/2010 07:10:52 AM 1286 Views
About shielding a channeler holding the Source... - 22/09/2010 05:51:34 PM 2396 Views
Re: About shielding a channeler holding the Source... - 22/09/2010 07:04:37 PM 2843 Views
The angreal makes this an unnecessary debate... - 22/09/2010 07:09:20 PM 1286 Views
she never shielded them - 22/09/2010 07:22:29 PM 1297 Views
True...But it made her strong enough to easily overcome both... - 22/09/2010 07:28:12 PM 1245 Views
This I can believe ... it's just problematic since the angreal isn't mentioned - 22/09/2010 07:51:19 PM 1339 Views
Re: This I can believe ... it's just problematic since the angreal isn't mentioned - 22/09/2010 07:54:18 PM 1299 Views
LMAO... nice! - 22/09/2010 08:24:20 PM 1320 Views
I think we need to place Aran'gar lower too.. - 22/09/2010 07:10:29 PM 1377 Views
A lot of unsubstantiated assumptions there... - 22/09/2010 07:13:51 PM 1242 Views
I would agree - 22/09/2010 07:22:50 PM 1378 Views
Re: I would agree - 22/09/2010 07:25:46 PM 1245 Views
Re: A lot of unsubstantiated assumptions there... - 23/09/2010 03:03:26 AM 1302 Views
Mostly agree - 22/09/2010 07:23:53 PM 1296 Views
Re: Mostly agree - 22/09/2010 07:28:42 PM 1259 Views
I am starting to believe that RJ didn't think quite so literally - 22/09/2010 08:07:45 PM 1315 Views
Not sure if you agreed with this before, but I reached this point awhile ago bwahaha - 22/09/2010 08:53:42 PM 1323 Views
I've been on this side for a good long while - 22/09/2010 09:40:43 PM 1429 Views
*NM* - 28/09/2010 11:54:54 PM 882 Views
Well there is one thing to consider about this - 21/09/2010 07:32:44 PM 1572 Views
So there are 6 Forsaken left. - 21/09/2010 10:23:22 PM 1586 Views
For the record - 21/09/2010 10:53:16 PM 1484 Views
She opened two Gateways, IIRC - 21/09/2010 11:58:29 PM 1378 Views
Re: She opened two Gateways, IIRC - 22/09/2010 02:21:47 AM 1419 Views
Wait...so NO ONE has wanted to discuss the Sapphic scene at Graendal's place? - 22/09/2010 03:48:36 AM 1533 Views
yes, totally Lesbian. *NM* - 22/09/2010 03:04:16 PM 925 Views
No, the other L word. "LesbiAHNS?" *NM* - 22/09/2010 04:18:55 PM 983 Views
Yes, it was totally lesbian. - 22/09/2010 07:09:19 PM 1355 Views
No, not at all. Aran'gar is still a dude at heart. I think. *NM* - 22/09/2010 08:18:55 PM 954 Views
I tend to agree - 23/09/2010 05:42:52 PM 1360 Views
Lady parts + Lady parts = Lesbian sex - 24/09/2010 11:24:36 PM 1958 Views
Yes, but its still a little off - 25/09/2010 09:40:16 AM 1405 Views
Transgender is a little convoluted I suppose - 25/09/2010 04:41:33 PM 1562 Views
Re: Transgender is a little convoluted I suppose - 25/09/2010 05:25:10 PM 1435 Views
What does Graendal think of Rand? - 22/09/2010 02:00:28 PM 1521 Views
She was really surprised and scared. - 22/09/2010 02:11:28 PM 1480 Views
I take it you haven't read the Prologue. - 22/09/2010 02:16:49 PM 1374 Views
Quite a bit... - 22/09/2010 02:31:14 PM 1521 Views
Agreed, she's been worrying about him since the begining - 22/09/2010 03:18:48 PM 1546 Views
Thanks for the answers *NM* - 22/09/2010 05:46:05 PM 888 Views
Second best prologue ever... - 22/09/2010 06:24:44 PM 1751 Views
It's my favorite ever. Only one dark spot tarnished it. - 22/09/2010 07:18:12 PM 1400 Views
Yeah, tEotW is the best... - 22/09/2010 08:22:12 PM 1423 Views
Aran'gar is a tool - 22/09/2010 07:31:36 PM 1555 Views
Yes. s/He was. - 22/09/2010 08:59:16 PM 1395 Views
Shadow invading Kandor and Lan riding trough it. CONNECTION? - 22/09/2010 08:36:05 PM 1514 Views
- 23/09/2010 04:47:11 PM 1451 Views
Nice prologue, but not superb, IMO - 23/09/2010 05:45:41 PM 1477 Views
Re: Nice prologue, but not superb, IMO - 23/09/2010 09:54:33 PM 1456 Views
I believe that Sanderson concocted the entire Graendal/Rand/Balefire part - 23/09/2010 10:24:46 PM 2096 Views
I had a similar thought, but... - 23/09/2010 10:40:58 PM 1408 Views
Probably not Sanderson - 23/09/2010 11:11:54 PM 1441 Views
No way - 24/09/2010 07:14:35 AM 1362 Views
I agree. *NM* - 25/09/2010 09:42:46 AM 929 Views
A few nits - 12/10/2010 10:21:27 AM 1357 Views
Canadian Download site - 29/09/2010 12:05:12 AM 1852 Views

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