The dark aura seemed to be a direct result of his usage of the TP. There was never any indication that there was a corresponding light aura.
Seemed to be yes, now you know better.
Seriously though, BS said in a book tour that: "The black/dark aura around Rand is partially, but not entirely, an effect of True Power usage".
Partially, but not entirely. It seems pretty obvious now in hindsight that the whole dark aura in the last book was likely meant to show that Rand has some kind of power to affect the world somehow in fullfillment of the dragon&land-prophecy, whether some unique dragon-power or a manifestation of uber!ta'veren. The fact that he had used TP caused this power to go corrupt however. There were other clues such as ta'veren only causing bad things, etc. We also know that the dark!aura directly caused things to spoil and rot.
And this was unique to Rand. None of the other forsaken have such auras despite the fact that they have touched the TP a lot more. Ishamael was the only one that had anything like it, and he was super-TP addict and even then the effect did not look entirely identical (and did not affect the land). This has caused a lot of speculation, but it does suggest, even before ToM, that the TP was not the only reason the aura happened, implying it had something specific to do with Rand/Dragon too.
So yes, there was foreshadowing and this did not come entirely from nowhere. Infact its likely that the dark!aura was written strictly so that we could see the light!aura and be prepared for it.
It is true that this is the first time we have actually _seen_ the light!aura in the books, but really, so what? Everything has to appear on the scene for the first time sometime. It just happened that the light!aura only appeared now that Rand has finally accepted LTT and found peace. I think it was a perfectly fitting time to show it.
As for what exactly it is, what causes it and so on, I expect the book will hopefully reveal something more to us about this. Though I suppose if Rand has only a few chapters, we might have to wait until the final book (grr).
Chapter 1 released
01/10/2010 01:40:27 PM
- 5595 Views
For the record, it sucks waiting for you people to wake up and read this
01/10/2010 01:50:02 PM
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Not too much new to work with. Is "she" Egwene? Cads? Someone else? *NM*
01/10/2010 02:01:12 PM
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Well damn. Was that Buddha?
01/10/2010 02:36:29 PM
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This blaming Brandon for everything stuff is getting old.
01/10/2010 02:55:04 PM
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I've never blamed BS for anything (expect fucking up Mat's character)
01/10/2010 03:27:36 PM
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BOOOOO I want Sunshine and Rainbows damnit *NM*
01/10/2010 11:04:21 PM
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Poorly written, but I still got goosebumps at Rand's importance finally being demonstrated...
01/10/2010 03:14:48 PM
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"My father’s estates do produce lumber and fine woods, and ice peppers, and furs, and more besides."
01/10/2010 03:27:22 PM
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It's the style. In the Randland context, the word "grows" is more appropriate...
01/10/2010 03:31:22 PM
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did you not read my reply title? That was a quote from The Shadow Rising, same exact context. *NM*
01/10/2010 03:32:23 PM
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Fine. So be it. It still feels wrong to me. *NM*
01/10/2010 03:36:16 PM
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but it's all RJ's fault *NM*
01/10/2010 03:40:14 PM
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Maybe it's in the context of BS's sentences...
01/10/2010 03:44:28 PM
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I feel bad for you. I really do.
01/10/2010 03:54:02 PM
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Yes it does. But it is not conscious. It comes from 15 years of growing up reading Wot..
01/10/2010 03:55:39 PM
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As if the rest of us haven't been reading for just as long.
04/10/2010 05:00:32 PM
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I've been reading the series sinc e EoTW hit bookshelves circa 1990
05/10/2010 11:10:08 PM
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It sounds like Rand is finally growing up
01/10/2010 03:46:54 PM
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He has achieved enlightenment and knows more than everyone else, so he doesn't have to be insecure..
01/10/2010 03:52:23 PM
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I don't agree - I think that what he is going to tell Egwene will be unpleasant for everyone.
01/10/2010 04:07:19 PM
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Why would that upset her?
01/10/2010 04:21:29 PM
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Because I think she was hoping to work with him to solve some of these problems
01/10/2010 04:42:33 PM
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I tend to agree
05/10/2010 01:41:22 AM
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The Sickness
01/10/2010 07:22:24 PM
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thoughts
01/10/2010 07:28:38 PM
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Re: thoughts
01/10/2010 08:36:18 PM
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Egwene
03/10/2010 02:57:38 AM
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Re: Egwene
04/10/2010 09:44:00 AM
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Nonsense
05/10/2010 03:52:31 AM
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Re: Nonsense
05/10/2010 09:53:06 AM
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seriously! Read what Egwene actually says sometime...
06/10/2010 08:17:15 PM
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Re: seriously! Read what Egwene actually says sometime...
06/10/2010 08:40:39 PM
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want to back that up with an actual quote from Egwene's mouth?
06/10/2010 11:01:09 PM
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Re: want to back that up with an actual quote from Egwene's mouth?
07/10/2010 09:45:21 PM
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Yes, but her comment is far closer to the truth than his!
07/10/2010 10:18:54 PM
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I'd say
08/10/2010 08:30:17 PM
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just like Egwene is 100% correct about AS being compelled
08/10/2010 10:31:03 PM
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Re: just like Egwene is 100% correct about AS being compelled
09/10/2010 11:46:54 AM
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And Egwene was the only person to do things like this? Elayne made a huge public show
09/10/2010 02:49:13 PM
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Fan...freakin...tastic. Had chills and watery eyes the whole time. This book is going to ROCK. *NM*
01/10/2010 08:18:20 PM
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I am so confused...
01/10/2010 09:45:32 PM
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Re: I am so confused...
01/10/2010 10:22:14 PM
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Re: I am so confused...
01/10/2010 11:21:32 PM
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Re: I am so confused...
02/10/2010 01:01:47 AM
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That may have been an indirect result of using the TP, rather than a direct one
03/10/2010 03:30:24 AM
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I'm surprised no one has discussed Seanchan yet
01/10/2010 10:20:37 PM
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I believe the murderer is a random noble blamed for killing the royal family *NM*
02/10/2010 01:58:53 AM
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Moridin....
02/10/2010 04:03:34 PM
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I've seen it theorized (before chapter 1 was released) that
02/10/2010 04:39:09 PM
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I don't think...
02/10/2010 05:44:05 PM
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Re:TOM Chapter 1 Biblical Parallel
02/10/2010 08:31:35 PM
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dammit how am i supposed to read this without reading the prologue first? *NM*
03/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
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The revival of the Green Man?
03/10/2010 09:25:50 PM
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Re: The revival of the Green Man?
04/10/2010 11:49:54 PM
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You assume the supply of Souls is finite
05/10/2010 02:49:28 AM
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Yes
05/10/2010 02:08:10 PM
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That doesn't make sense
06/10/2010 04:14:54 AM
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you assume that a soul is tainted forever and not returned to a nutral state upon death.
06/10/2010 06:43:11 AM
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O... you assume I don't know my stuff
06/10/2010 02:35:06 PM
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ARGH! Spoilers! Spoilers! MINE EYES!!!!
14/10/2010 08:52:53 AM
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Or at least not click the threads CLEARLY designated as being about ToM.
24/10/2010 02:10:13 PM
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