I like the idea that the 13x13 may isolate them in some way. Would explain many of our question, especially since they don't seem to be showing signs of the Taint Rot etc...

Personally, I believe too much has been made of the "honor" of using the TP to give creatures such as the SN access ... What is the advantage for the DO in keeping it from the FS but giving it to the SN. The SN would be just as deadly with only saidin given their likely low level of training and the FS would be exponentially more dangerous with access. Clearly they innovated quite a lot during the WoP as we see from Graendal's POV. The SN would bring none of these advantages to the table, yet all the FS would bring at least some of it.

I suspect they are only truly taught the basics of how to survive touching the Source and the rest is picked up from watching others and experimenting during battle




I think this is obvious, but it doesn't change who the FS are ... If there is potential for them to gain power or precedence above the others they will all take it despite the cost, it's part of the ridiculousness that makes them the FS ... According to Moghedien only 29 individuals were ever granted access to the TP which leads me to agree with you in part. I very much doubt the 29 who did touch it would have ever been welcomed back to the Light since the acts necessary to prove themselves "worthy" would have been a death sentence on the other side, but it's clear ST was playing some game with his very top generals. All the more foolish of them to embrace the TP, once they did there would never be an escape from the DO as they would quite literally be addicted to him.

The SN will be just as effective as a secret weapon using saidin. No one suspects a group like this to exist and the probably lack of extensive training makes their Channeling abilities rather inconsequential. They would almost be more effective as ground troops who use saidin in small ways to make them essentially unstoppable 1:1 against a non-Channeler. Imagine fighting a Blademaster level fighter who could light you on fire or bind you in air etc... You have no chance against this.



Yet if they knew the TP existed and then were attacked by a man showing the Saa (which wasn't something Isam noticed in his description) they would have known he was Talented ... The fact that they attacked and got their asses handed to them without recognizing what he was until at lest a dozen of them where destroyed indicates to me that they are unaware of the TP. If they knew they would have seen the first man go down and immediately known what Moridin wielded.



Agreed. Moridin is too new. Ishamael may have started the process (or some Aiel DF, who knows), but it's clear they are self perpetuating at this point. Don't read too much into what I call training. I think it's simply a matter of someone showing the noobs enough to not die in the attempt to learn wielding the OP.




Agreed



Again, mostly agree ... I've waffled about Sorilea and Bair for a while ... Could be either, or neither or both! I suspect Sorilea above Bair only because Bair had a fantastic opportunity to aid Mesaana in TOM and did not, paired with 2 things on the Sorilea side ... Verin suspected her and her strange involvement with the Cadsuane and the Domination Band scenario ...

As for Melindrah, that was all part of the Lanfear plot to point Rand at Sammael ... Could have been any number of non-Aiel DF at that point ... I have a hard time seeing an DF organization inside the Aiel that is very organized or centralized ... Certainly nothing like the BA as there are too many divisions and too few opportunities meet and too great an opportunity for exposure.