Nynaeve is obviously meant to be shown as of such rare strength that almost no one will ever be born who could match her ... to be honest I have always hated that RJ started adding women like Sharina and Alivia into the story as stronger than Nynaeve ... there seems to be no reason for them to be stronger and it takes away from Nynaeve IMO ...
I also think on RJs original list that Nynaeve was at the top of is where quotes like "candles and bonfires" came from ... but as the list revised he started bringing the levels closer together. Now, even women like Moiraine seem very strong in the power, and they can't be more than "average" on the Bell Curve he talked about ... another thing I find bothersome is that at the beginning of the series AS are supposed to be generally weak(ish) in the Power as a general rule, but as we've progressed we've really not seen any evidence of a ton of women who are Stronger than run of the mill AS.
This is why I consistently believe Egwene and co are so much closer to the FS level than the AS level. The simple rarity of women of their strength. There are may be as many as 15 women with more strength than Egwene (looking at Linda's list there are 6 levels 21-16 above her and there are 13 women across those levels)... below them there is an exponential increase in incidence of strength (on Linda's list the 6 levels below Egwene comprise over 70 women) ...
Additionally, AS would have noticed Wilders of great strength if there were more than a handful above the level of Moiraine ... the fact that not one AS ever mentions meeting a Wilder as strong as Egwene on the main continent just speaks further to the rarity of her strength. Not to mention Seanchan, Aiel and Seafolk Channelers consider them incredibly strong ...
Overall, my point is that all of this supports your assertion that Nynaeve is likely the Strongest mainland Sparker born since the AOL ... and Egwene and co are nearly as rare and likely far closer to Nynaeve than they are to the crop of women such as Moiraine.
I also think on RJs original list that Nynaeve was at the top of is where quotes like "candles and bonfires" came from ... but as the list revised he started bringing the levels closer together. Now, even women like Moiraine seem very strong in the power, and they can't be more than "average" on the Bell Curve he talked about ... another thing I find bothersome is that at the beginning of the series AS are supposed to be generally weak(ish) in the Power as a general rule, but as we've progressed we've really not seen any evidence of a ton of women who are Stronger than run of the mill AS.
This is why I consistently believe Egwene and co are so much closer to the FS level than the AS level. The simple rarity of women of their strength. There are may be as many as 15 women with more strength than Egwene (looking at Linda's list there are 6 levels 21-16 above her and there are 13 women across those levels)... below them there is an exponential increase in incidence of strength (on Linda's list the 6 levels below Egwene comprise over 70 women) ...
Additionally, AS would have noticed Wilders of great strength if there were more than a handful above the level of Moiraine ... the fact that not one AS ever mentions meeting a Wilder as strong as Egwene on the main continent just speaks further to the rarity of her strength. Not to mention Seanchan, Aiel and Seafolk Channelers consider them incredibly strong ...
Overall, my point is that all of this supports your assertion that Nynaeve is likely the Strongest mainland Sparker born since the AOL ... and Egwene and co are nearly as rare and likely far closer to Nynaeve than they are to the crop of women such as Moiraine.
Well we'll have to disagree on this forever I guess

I agree that Egwene has rare strength and Nynaeve too but I don't think their strength levels can be extrapolated from it. According to Elayne even a woman of Sheriam's strength is uncommon. Therefore a woman like Moiraine is already rare. Egwene had Moiraine's power in the beginning of book 4 already, and she said that Rand smothered her with ease, clearly showing how much stronger a channeler can be compared to Moiraine. Ultimately I think channelers like Lanfear are several times stronger than women like Moiraine, especially because Rand can easily engage two women who are not much weaker than her at the same time.
Therefore I believe in a large leap from AS to Egwene, and another large leap to Nynaeve. My best guess is that Egwene is twice as strong a most women, and Nynaeve three times. Egwene is a middle-man between Forsaken strength and average women. She's rare and can outclass most channelers but falls way short if very strong channelers compete.
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This message last edited by Sidious on 27/01/2011 at 07:39:44 AM
Could Norla be the other woman stronger than Nynaeve?
22/01/2011 06:54:36 PM
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It's a nice idea, really
22/01/2011 07:04:03 PM
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we don't know the strength difference between Cadsuane and Nynaeve
22/01/2011 08:55:48 PM
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Nynaeve is of course roughly twice as strong as Cadsuane...
24/01/2011 10:26:49 PM
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you and your assumptions crack me up ... there is zero evidence that Nyn is 2x Cadsuane
26/01/2011 04:41:33 PM
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Waits for the candle flame vs. bonfire quote to appear...
26/01/2011 05:01:28 PM
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*blows out the friggin candle* ... why does anyone take EoTW Moiraine quotes seriously?
26/01/2011 09:41:53 PM
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tGH, but I agree...
27/01/2011 04:58:08 AM
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Re: tGH, but I agree...
27/01/2011 07:29:15 AM
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I think it's a matter of perspective too
27/01/2011 05:12:29 PM
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Nynaeve temporarily holds Logain shielded on her own, while 5 average strength Aes Sedai cannot...
27/01/2011 05:35:26 PM
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Another inconsistency ... since 4 women held a shield on Rand who is Stronger than Logain EDIT
27/01/2011 07:47:31 PM
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Not an inconsistency and if you analyse it...
27/01/2011 08:21:39 PM
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I'm not dismissing the quote I'm saying 6 weak women held Logain
27/01/2011 09:21:34 PM
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Circular logic...
27/01/2011 09:49:40 PM
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Explain to me how Moghedien is only 60% of Lanfear and managed to do anything?
28/01/2011 06:25:28 PM
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Easy. And I dispute that all 6 women shielding Logain were only 10% stronger than an Accepted.
29/01/2011 12:42:54 PM
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Not even gonna bother ... So many flawed statements in here it's not worth the effort to correct you *NM*
29/01/2011 04:50:01 PM
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Wait... what?
27/01/2011 11:16:32 PM
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Re: Wait... what?
28/01/2011 12:26:22 AM
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Nope...
28/01/2011 01:24:18 AM
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Yeah, but...
28/01/2011 12:53:26 PM
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Therer is a direct quote in New Spring
28/01/2011 02:20:40 PM
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That's your evidence? You mean like Caddy defers to Nynaeve?
28/01/2011 02:29:46 PM
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It will be someone who was alive at some point during the series...
22/01/2011 07:11:57 PM
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Strength in the Power and skill in the Power are not the same thing.
22/01/2011 10:33:12 PM
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true, but nearly 300 years ago when she was a new AS she had yet to learn that lesson
23/01/2011 04:49:33 PM
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Possibly? But unlikely.
23/01/2011 11:12:01 PM
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The 6 are...
24/01/2011 10:09:33 PM
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I disagree. If anything Semirhage is at the same strength level
24/01/2011 11:10:30 PM
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Agree and disagree...
25/01/2011 10:44:26 AM
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Re: Agree and disagree...
25/01/2011 11:04:11 PM
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I didn't say Semirhage is definitely one of the 6, but his answer leaves it as a viable possibility.
26/01/2011 07:36:52 AM
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I'd disagree with that statement. I think he definitively ruled her out with his comment
26/01/2011 04:40:14 PM
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Lanfear and Cyndane are the same person *NM*
25/01/2011 10:24:15 AM
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I think Shannows' point is that even with reduced strength, Lanfear is still the most powerful
25/01/2011 05:30:34 PM
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Re: The 6 are...
25/01/2011 10:51:40 PM
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This seems like the most likely case to me, but Sommeryn is unsubstantiated to date
26/01/2011 04:43:27 PM
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I think there's a stronger case for Someryn than most women
26/01/2011 05:07:03 PM
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I agree that she is the most likely candidate, but there is nothing beyond speculation
26/01/2011 09:45:27 PM
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Talaan isn't stronger. She is the same strength and has been actively channeling for 6 years
24/01/2011 11:14:31 PM
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Not necessarily
25/01/2011 08:07:02 PM
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But that doesn't answer why a toothless wilder in a backwoods hut would have drawn
26/01/2011 04:49:33 PM
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nah
25/01/2011 10:55:10 PM
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it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
26/01/2011 04:47:32 PM
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Re: it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
26/01/2011 05:17:16 PM
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I can see that as a possibility too
26/01/2011 10:22:02 PM
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Re: I can see that as a possibility too
27/01/2011 07:38:31 AM
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