I'm not entirely certain how to word this, so I'm just going to do what I do best...go with a stream of consciousness on the keyboard. 
A well is basically a "pool" of the Power, correct? We've seen on at least one occasion that one can be cut off from the True Source yet still channel if he/she has a well, so it seems to me that a well is basically a glob of saidar or saidin that is unconnected to the Pattern. So that means that the Eye of the World was basically a well for a man.
We know via RJ that the Eye wasn't used for its intended purpose but we don't know what that purpose was. We also know that saidin was tainted because the DO was able to touch it as a counterstrike when LTT and his hundred Companions sealed the Bore. So my point is this:
1. Had LTT been channeling through a well, would the DO been able to taint saidin at all? Unless LTT had been pulling the True Source the "normal" way - i.e., from the Wheel/Pattern/Creator/whatever, then it seems to me that the only thing that would have been tainted was the saidin left in the well he was using. Catastrophe averted. But that didn't happen, so...
2. Based on what I said, I think the Eye was intended for Rand to use to "touch" the DO (or, rather, hold him back) when he goes to remove the Bore. I say 'remove' because I don't think it was meant to be sealed...at some point in time, and I believe this is that point in time, the Bore has to be "healed", so to speak, so that it no longer exists (although I don't see this being an instantaneous thing and it may take time for the Pattern to heal completely, but that is for another discussion).
If #2 is true, then Rand is left with nothing to safely "touch" the DO with unless he can get his hands on a well that holds a huge amount of saidin. Since we know he will succeed, where can he get such a thing? My first thought was that, perhaps, Justice (Hawkwing's sword) could be a well, but I believe Rand would recognize a well at this point, given his memories. Granted, we haven't really seen much of Rand's POV since his epiphany, but if he had drawn this conclusion, he would've mentioned something to someone - at least Min - I think.
Thoughts?
A well is basically a "pool" of the Power, correct? We've seen on at least one occasion that one can be cut off from the True Source yet still channel if he/she has a well, so it seems to me that a well is basically a glob of saidar or saidin that is unconnected to the Pattern. So that means that the Eye of the World was basically a well for a man.
We know via RJ that the Eye wasn't used for its intended purpose but we don't know what that purpose was. We also know that saidin was tainted because the DO was able to touch it as a counterstrike when LTT and his hundred Companions sealed the Bore. So my point is this:
1. Had LTT been channeling through a well, would the DO been able to taint saidin at all? Unless LTT had been pulling the True Source the "normal" way - i.e., from the Wheel/Pattern/Creator/whatever, then it seems to me that the only thing that would have been tainted was the saidin left in the well he was using. Catastrophe averted. But that didn't happen, so...
2. Based on what I said, I think the Eye was intended for Rand to use to "touch" the DO (or, rather, hold him back) when he goes to remove the Bore. I say 'remove' because I don't think it was meant to be sealed...at some point in time, and I believe this is that point in time, the Bore has to be "healed", so to speak, so that it no longer exists (although I don't see this being an instantaneous thing and it may take time for the Pattern to heal completely, but that is for another discussion).
If #2 is true, then Rand is left with nothing to safely "touch" the DO with unless he can get his hands on a well that holds a huge amount of saidin. Since we know he will succeed, where can he get such a thing? My first thought was that, perhaps, Justice (Hawkwing's sword) could be a well, but I believe Rand would recognize a well at this point, given his memories. Granted, we haven't really seen much of Rand's POV since his epiphany, but if he had drawn this conclusion, he would've mentioned something to someone - at least Min - I think.
Thoughts?
It would depend on if the taint was attracted to saidin or if it was just between the user and saidin. If the taint stuck to saidin then it could possibly get mixed back in with the main source if the DO tainted the well.
The descriptions we've heard make it sound just like a barrier that gets all over your fingers when you stick your hand in but at the same time the effects didn't seem to significantly lessen over time until the Taint was destroyed and tremendous though that effort was it doesn't seem to balance out thousands of years of men channeling withering and dying.
If weaves are recycled back into the One Power then the Taint might be as well.
Channeling through a Well...
- 19/06/2012 07:47:37 PM
1370 Views
I like it, though I wonder if it would work.
- 20/06/2012 10:19:23 PM
1094 Views
Re: I like it, though I wonder if it would work.
- 20/06/2012 10:49:39 PM
701 Views
I don't know... how can you cover an infinite source with a finite taint?
- 28/06/2012 05:51:48 PM
572 Views
Re: I don't know... how can you cover an infinite source with a finite taint?
- 22/07/2012 06:52:31 PM
586 Views
Re: I don't know... how can you cover an infinite source with a finite taint?
- 29/07/2012 02:12:41 AM
536 Views
i disagree with your second point, mainly because of what was found at the bottom of the well
- 25/06/2012 08:01:39 PM
685 Views