Modern day Aes Sedai don't know how to make ter'angreal, but the first a'dam was made by a Seanchan "Aes Sedai" about a thousand years ago. When Egwene was made damane, Renna said something like "If we find you have the talent to make a'dam then you will be very pampered indeed." (cannot find the actual quote right now) To me this implies that there are at least women capable of copying, if not making, ter'angreal in Seanchan today. It is therefore possible, if not likely, that the Bloodknife rings were created in Seanchan, where assassination seems like one of the most likely ways to die, by one of the channelers there. Whether that was one of their power-hungry "Aes Sedai" (pre-Luthair) or one of their damane remains a mystery, but it doesn't seem like something that would have existed during the Age of Legends. Remember, those AoL people dealt with assassination in ways like Gray Men, gholam, etc.
I wonder who made the rings in the first place and how they are powered? It occurs to me that maybe they are not ter'angreal at all, or atleast not OP ones.
Consider, we know that the modern AS don't know how to make ter'angreal at all, and the way the bloodrings work seems somewhat contradictory to the values and ideals of the ancient Aes Sedai. However a ring that makes you a perfect assassin for a time and then kills you seems like something the shadow would want to make and approve of.
I think the bloodring are relics from the Age of Legends, but not from the AS, but rather from the forsaken/shadow. Infact I wonder if maybe they don't even use OP, but rather TP.
We know that the Dark One can create objects that are powered by the TP or the shadow or whatever. The blades wielded by the myrddraal are a prime example of this. They have "mystical" properties but they are no ter'angreal and are not powered by OP. Bloodrings make you very hard to see, that effect is something the shadow is already familiar with in their grey men.
The description of the rings also seems very "shadowy".
Fortuona moved to the next soldier in the line of five. The woman's black hair was braided. Fortuona kissed her on the forehead, saying the same ritual words. These five were Bloodknives. The pure black stone ring each one wore was a specialized ter'angreal that would grant them strength and speed, and would shroud them in darkness, allowing them to blend into shadows.
The incredible abilities came at a cost, however, for the rings leeched life from their hosts, killing them in a matter of days. Removing the ring would slow that process slightly, but once activated—done by touching a drop of one's own blood to the stone ring while wearing it—the process was irreversible.
The description of the rings as "pure black" could be a clue to their origin. It should also be said that BS has confirmed that while the Seanchan can replicate the a'dam ter'angreal, they cannot do the same for the bloodrings. Why not? Because its too complex for the damane? Or because its made with TP?
While the reactions of the Seanchan on seeing Gawyn might be interesting, I wonder if maybe the new and improved Rand with LTT's memories will recognize the things too. If this idea is true and they are TP ter'angreal, I wonder if the rings might have some as yet unexpected use that Rand for example could put them to.
Until Gawyn reunited with his mother I thought he might put all three on at once and try to kill Rand, but now that's obviously not going to happen.
So what do you think he'll do with them?
What I'm looking forward to is a Seanchan reaction to seeing three bloodknife rings hanging around his neck as trophies. Come to think of it Egeain is on her way north... We'll see.
So what do you think he'll do with them?
What I'm looking forward to is a Seanchan reaction to seeing three bloodknife rings hanging around his neck as trophies. Come to think of it Egeain is on her way north... We'll see.
I wonder who made the rings in the first place and how they are powered? It occurs to me that maybe they are not ter'angreal at all, or atleast not OP ones.
Consider, we know that the modern AS don't know how to make ter'angreal at all, and the way the bloodrings work seems somewhat contradictory to the values and ideals of the ancient Aes Sedai. However a ring that makes you a perfect assassin for a time and then kills you seems like something the shadow would want to make and approve of.
I think the bloodring are relics from the Age of Legends, but not from the AS, but rather from the forsaken/shadow. Infact I wonder if maybe they don't even use OP, but rather TP.
We know that the Dark One can create objects that are powered by the TP or the shadow or whatever. The blades wielded by the myrddraal are a prime example of this. They have "mystical" properties but they are no ter'angreal and are not powered by OP. Bloodrings make you very hard to see, that effect is something the shadow is already familiar with in their grey men.
The description of the rings also seems very "shadowy".
Fortuona moved to the next soldier in the line of five. The woman's black hair was braided. Fortuona kissed her on the forehead, saying the same ritual words. These five were Bloodknives. The pure black stone ring each one wore was a specialized ter'angreal that would grant them strength and speed, and would shroud them in darkness, allowing them to blend into shadows.
The incredible abilities came at a cost, however, for the rings leeched life from their hosts, killing them in a matter of days. Removing the ring would slow that process slightly, but once activated—done by touching a drop of one's own blood to the stone ring while wearing it—the process was irreversible.
The description of the rings as "pure black" could be a clue to their origin. It should also be said that BS has confirmed that while the Seanchan can replicate the a'dam ter'angreal, they cannot do the same for the bloodrings. Why not? Because its too complex for the damane? Or because its made with TP?
While the reactions of the Seanchan on seeing Gawyn might be interesting, I wonder if maybe the new and improved Rand with LTT's memories will recognize the things too. If this idea is true and they are TP ter'angreal, I wonder if the rings might have some as yet unexpected use that Rand for example could put them to.
I always say, if you must mount the gallows, give a jest to the crowd, a coin to the hangman, and make the drop with a smile on your lips. ~Birgitte
The Bloodknife rings
- 24/11/2010 08:49:01 PM
1482 Views
Trophies
- 24/11/2010 09:11:03 PM
894 Views
............ Rand isn't dead ... *NM*
- 24/11/2010 10:47:20 PM
301 Views
Gawyn's hatred for Rand has been resolved. *NM*
- 25/11/2010 12:29:12 AM
350 Views
*NM*
Re: The Bloodknife rings
- 24/11/2010 09:34:58 PM
917 Views
Re: The Bloodknife rings
- 24/11/2010 10:10:52 PM
816 Views
you turn them on with a drop of your own blood
- 24/11/2010 10:13:42 PM
735 Views
Wonder what happens if you are wearing it and get somene elses blood on it... *NM*
- 25/11/2010 02:16:09 PM
318 Views
Re: Wonder what happens if you are wearing it and get somene elses blood on it...
- 25/11/2010 04:00:04 PM
748 Views
*NM*
True, although he would've died if not for healing, he was a goner *NM*
- 25/11/2010 05:06:35 PM
326 Views
I bet he will use them at the Last Battle
- 24/11/2010 11:07:59 PM
809 Views
Re: I bet he will use them at the Last Battle
- 24/11/2010 11:51:07 PM
712 Views
Be cool if the warder bond...
- 25/11/2010 12:31:11 AM
739 Views
I wonder if Healing would let you get all the benefit without dying? *NM*
- 25/11/2010 03:50:29 PM
305 Views
What if..
- 25/11/2010 03:50:04 AM
935 Views
No, no, they explained this
- 25/11/2010 06:27:46 AM
695 Views
Ah. That's what I get for not re-reading. Thanks 
- 25/11/2010 06:35:55 PM
637 Views
- 25/11/2010 06:35:55 PM
637 Views
NP. I remembered reading it, but I had to look up the quote to be sure myself.
- 26/11/2010 02:47:24 AM
650 Views
Who made them?
- 25/11/2010 08:15:44 AM
827 Views
Probably the Seanchan channelers
- 26/11/2010 02:54:01 AM
661 Views
Re: Probably the Seanchan channelers
- 26/11/2010 09:13:51 AM
729 Views