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Strength was "prized" in the AoL ... but lack of strength was not a negative darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 12/12/2010 01:41:08 AM

In general it sounds like you had to exceed greatly the current Tower's standards to make a career in the Guild or in the Guild-based faciliities like the Collam Daan. OTOH, it's also likely a great deal of women put out by the Tower would have managed to meet the AOL standards to be an Aes Sedai (if they followed the OP training, of course), as few ever seem to be put out for lack of channelling skills, but rather for not fitting the mold. The OP aside, I bet fairly few sisters in the White Tower would meet the standards of the Guild in issues like ethics, behaviour and mentality.


I can't prove this from the text but I always figured that strength in the One Power was a lot less important to the Age of Legend Aes Sedai than it is to present day Aes Sedai.

Weak channelers are considered unfit by present-day Tower because they wouldn't be able to kill a trolloc horde by themselves while weaving a 100 useless weaves but in the Age of Legends that wouldn't be so important. There's a reason why they made all of those angreal. It was an equalizer that enabled channelers with small inborn strength to realize her talents. Circles, so common in the Age of Legend, functioned similarly. They were headed by the most talented person among them, not the strongest.


From my interpretation I think the very Strong Channelers had great status, probably because they are typically so versatile in their OP abilities. But equally important were those gifted with strong Talents or particularly gifted in certain areas (think Naeff with Air). Those seemed to be the type of people who would add an extra dimension to a circle and thus would have been in great demand. In the AoL Egwene probably would have wound up in a vocation involving Earth, mining or perhaps building ... Naeff perhaps in the Weather business etc...

Current AS are more "generalists" with the Power and thus Strength plays a more important role ... the Stronger you are the more stuff you can do being the theory. Since Talents are so rare with AS, or rather they go unidentified, that dimension was lost to them. It's one of the major problems with the Tower IMO.
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
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Nynaeve's stupidity and the test for Aes Sedai Sidious - 07/12/2010 08:27:05 PM 4598 Views
Just like all women. Great Lord of Chaos - 07/12/2010 09:15:12 PM 1393 Views
Way to totally misunderstand the chapter Icarium - 07/12/2010 09:39:08 PM 1888 Views
I second this redhand - 07/12/2010 10:10:24 PM 1550 Views
your bold is stuck. *NM* LadyLorraine - 07/12/2010 10:21:22 PM 670 Views
He BOLDLY seconded it... *NM* HyogaRott - 08/12/2010 03:04:33 PM 648 Views
which is quite excellent. I was just leting him know *NM* LadyLorraine - 08/12/2010 03:28:24 PM 545 Views
I think that statement says it all. LadyLorraine - 07/12/2010 10:19:50 PM 1563 Views
Thanks. That's exactly what I think. ˥ɐ ʎpu∀ɹ - 08/12/2010 08:29:28 AM 1452 Views
+1, well said *NM* Lord Haart - 08/12/2010 11:19:29 AM 603 Views
Agrees *NM* Onarishma - 09/12/2010 03:27:53 PM 1155 Views
Yes, the OP totally whiffed here. Nyn couldn't remember.. The Angry Druid - 11/12/2010 01:50:11 AM 1440 Views
On the whole, the test is innappropriate IMO DomA - 07/12/2010 09:40:08 PM 1665 Views
I agree with this entirely *NM* LadyLorraine - 07/12/2010 10:07:52 PM 603 Views
very well said *NM* darius_sedai - 07/12/2010 10:23:06 PM 547 Views
It's kind of a chicken and egg thing BlackAdder - 07/12/2010 11:13:19 PM 1320 Views
Re: It's kind of a chicken and egg thing DomA - 08/12/2010 12:37:20 AM 1649 Views
nice post Sidious - 08/12/2010 09:20:02 AM 1446 Views
Isn't it implied guttering flame - 08/12/2010 02:16:58 PM 1224 Views
no they were students together darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 05:33:17 PM 1160 Views
No, Lanfear was older than Lews guttering flame - 08/12/2010 07:21:45 PM 1385 Views
Where on earth did you get that from? darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 08:41:16 PM 1310 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from? DomA - 09/12/2010 10:27:20 AM 1327 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from? Sidious - 09/12/2010 03:56:32 PM 1434 Views
I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time darius_sedai - 09/12/2010 04:34:23 PM 1358 Views
Re: I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time moratcorlm - 09/12/2010 05:43:40 PM 1320 Views
I think skill with Saidar is easy enough to judge as it's a simple matter to see the skill darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 05:37:27 PM 1244 Views
I think the greens should have been on Nynaeve's side as well LadyLorraine - 08/12/2010 06:18:16 PM 1347 Views
Problem is they are Aes Sedai and thus more likley to be political rather than rational! *NM* darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 08:52:00 PM 910 Views
too f'n true *NM* LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 12:17:58 AM 612 Views
Re: nice post DomA - 09/12/2010 01:23:50 PM 1447 Views
On the matter of strength guttering flame - 09/12/2010 08:51:36 PM 1256 Views
Re: On the matter of strength Timthetrolloc - 10/12/2010 10:38:42 AM 1289 Views
Strength was "prized" in the AoL ... but lack of strength was not a negative darius_sedai - 12/12/2010 01:41:08 AM 1218 Views
The test is stupid and it was about time someone pointed it out Zeratul - 07/12/2010 10:29:38 PM 1237 Views
Channeling under duress IS necessary for ALL Aes Sedai Urbannen - 05/01/2011 12:04:53 AM 1408 Views
Well BlackAdder - 07/12/2010 11:03:38 PM 1295 Views
Yes. How dare she not conform with every other fucking mindless stupid WT Aes Sedai *NM* Variant - 07/12/2010 11:36:52 PM 741 Views
Status is not an end in itself. *NM* Chas - 07/12/2010 11:52:37 PM 623 Views
They're not really stupid... DomA - 08/12/2010 01:00:20 AM 1345 Views
Not saying they are. It's just that most AS that we've come across Chas - 08/12/2010 02:20:05 AM 1048 Views
They're constantly outsmarted by a teenage girl that has spent most of her life in a damn farm. Variant - 08/12/2010 10:32:50 AM 1305 Views
yeah because that's so realistic Sidious - 08/12/2010 12:17:29 PM 1242 Views
Egwene had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Variant - 08/12/2010 11:50:17 PM 1213 Views
Bah... DomA - 09/12/2010 10:56:24 AM 1347 Views
Nope, the Sitters were always stupid Zeratul - 09/12/2010 12:37:05 PM 1315 Views
I did not say all Aes Sedai are stupid, I said all WT Aes Sedai are stupid. Variant - 10/12/2010 09:19:52 AM 1313 Views
cause being rural automatically makes you dumb?..... *NM* Onarishma - 09/12/2010 05:34:11 PM 703 Views
It makes you uneducated moratcorlm - 09/12/2010 05:46:49 PM 1228 Views
You are not only wrong in your call, Fanatic-Templar - 08/12/2010 04:39:44 AM 1556 Views
Re: You are not only wrong in your call, Sidious - 08/12/2010 09:13:37 AM 1558 Views
if that is the purpose of the test LadyLorraine - 08/12/2010 01:34:45 PM 1250 Views
minor disagreement darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 05:27:51 PM 1349 Views
Yes, but you can be not-panicked and not calm of body LadyLorraine - 08/12/2010 06:38:56 PM 1182 Views
not really the same thing as what the AS are getting at though darius_sedai - 08/12/2010 09:02:05 PM 1825 Views
that's retarded, imo LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 12:21:27 AM 1342 Views
About Elaida... Zeratul - 09/12/2010 12:29:21 PM 1333 Views
...no wonder the Aes Sedai are floundering LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 01:43:42 PM 1069 Views
Oh it's totally stupid! darius_sedai - 09/12/2010 04:37:14 PM 1306 Views
No I know why she took the job. I just don't understand why she got it LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 04:52:34 PM 1250 Views
I think Elaida just smarmed up at the right time, Morgase was very young then darius_sedai - 09/12/2010 05:52:29 PM 1357 Views
hmm. curse smarming, then *NM* LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 07:47:26 PM 546 Views
As I recall... Fanatic-Templar - 10/12/2010 05:18:25 AM 1269 Views
Oh. Well, I'm sorry then. Fanatic-Templar - 08/12/2010 06:48:50 PM 1292 Views
I think it has already been established that the purpose of the test is to ensure that Chas - 08/12/2010 09:59:18 PM 1052 Views
Yeah, but how does that work? Fanatic-Templar - 08/12/2010 10:24:35 PM 1195 Views
Somewhere in the sub-conscious they know what they're doing is important to them. Chas - 09/12/2010 12:20:47 AM 1323 Views
Even so, it wouldn't work. Fanatic-Templar - 09/12/2010 03:32:55 AM 1239 Views
I think if this thread has established anything it's that the test is severely flawed. *NM* Chas - 09/12/2010 09:24:48 PM 607 Views
Another headless chicken example. Chas - 09/12/2010 12:30:02 AM 1220 Views
the headless chicken is just such a lovely metaphor for panic *NM* LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM 549 Views
Re: Oh. Well, I'm sorry then. Sidious - 09/12/2010 12:07:15 PM 1296 Views
Re: Oh. Well, I'm sorry then. Fanatic-Templar - 10/12/2010 05:32:27 AM 1383 Views
The main difference guttering flame - 10/12/2010 05:50:43 AM 1240 Views
I'm not sure I agree. Skeeve the Great - 08/12/2010 12:17:12 PM 1328 Views
You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right" Cannoli - 09/12/2010 02:59:50 AM 1398 Views
I hate it when I love you just a little *NM* LadyLorraine - 09/12/2010 04:46:57 AM 592 Views
Re: You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right" Sidious - 09/12/2010 09:26:21 AM 1260 Views
That's not the dilema Cannoli - 09/12/2010 05:23:19 PM 1464 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with Cannoli. Give over Sidious. You're wrong. fionwe1987 - 09/12/2010 09:55:20 PM 1240 Views
Bah! As if an opinion on the test's validity can be wrong *NM* Sidious - 10/12/2010 04:39:14 AM 1384 Views
That's not what it's really about guttering flame - 10/12/2010 05:44:12 AM 1217 Views
The paralells are not obvious to me... Cannoli - 15/12/2010 11:42:51 AM 1292 Views
More like guttering flame - 15/12/2010 01:26:40 PM 1201 Views
This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil. fionwe1987 - 09/12/2010 03:46:31 AM 1255 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil. Sidious - 09/12/2010 09:40:09 AM 1308 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil. fionwe1987 - 09/12/2010 02:04:02 PM 1617 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil. DomA - 09/12/2010 11:26:40 AM 1316 Views
Agreed... fionwe1987 - 09/12/2010 01:54:09 PM 1263 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with fionwe1987. Give over Sidious. You're wrong. Cannoli - 10/12/2010 03:53:25 PM 1323 Views
no, she did not disagree. slight difference LadyLorraine - 10/12/2010 05:53:54 PM 1193 Views
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