I never said any of this. In fact, what I believe happens is that the Oath Rod accelerates your aging to that "looks like 65" point. And I think it does this proportional to your strength, so the stronger channeler is send speeding to that point faster than a weaker one. Essentially, the Oath Rod negates, to an extent, the slowed aging of channelers. The more crimes you commit, the more that advantage is taken from you, so that heavily criminal channelers would only have had a normal human lifespan (which was still 250 years in the AoL).

A good clue towards this is Siuan. When she's in Salidar, a Yellow comments that she and Leanne were prime childbearing age, as far as the OP could tell. This implies that when they were Oathbound, they weren't at optimal age for bearing children by the time they were 45. A channeler who slows a lot, like Melaine, however, has no difficulties with this, despite likely being much older than Siuan.

At 300, Cadsuane should be at her middle years. I think if the Oaths are removed from her, she'll go back to looking around 30, and probably be able to comfortably bear children. Her grey hair will disappear too. Essentially, the slowing will re-establish itself, and reset the clock to back then the Oath was first taken. This also makes sense, since the Oaths were made removable so that criminals who were genuinely rehabilitated were allowed to remove their Oaths.

And we've seen that the OP can reverse aging, with the case of Sharina. She's already losing wrinkles and grey hair. I think Jordan said she'll go till she looks much younger.


I assume you mean barely slowed? If so, yes.

Exactly. Sorelia has hit her maximum degeneration (and then some, because of the difficult living conditions in the Waste). How long she lives from here on is up in the air. Given that Jordan said the upper limit is a spry 65 year old look, that means stuff like dementia, and further skin wrinkling and and muscle degeneration are being kept at bay by the same process that kept them looking young for so long. Since its likely the same process, the effect may also be similar. How long you live after you reach this point may also be proportional to strength, with the stronger channelers living longer.


Very obvious, as I'll show.



Now, this is naive Egwene talking, still believing that Aes Sedai had some wisdom or sense in them. But what is clear is that advisors are chosen. Yes, skill can play a role, but that is not the case with Elaida. Yes, a relationship with Morghase can play a role, and likely did. At the end of the day though, the advisor is chosen, either to be confirmed by the Hall, or by direct dictat of the Amyrlin (more likely the former).

This is not to say the monarch has no say. Tenobia's reaction to Elaida's choice for her advisor, Memara, proves that compatibility with the ruler is important. Any Aes Sedai who has a relationship with an advisor is going to be able to maneuver to get that post with the Hall. But the Hall being the Hall, she'll also have an easier time if she's stronger in the OP.

And we also have direct examples of Hall/Tower appointed advisors:



From the BWB. The implication is clearly that she got the advisor the Tower wanted her to have.



This is even more clear. Hawkwing "accepted" an advisor. He didn't choose. And the WT used this as a way to show "neutrality". They can't do that if the ruler chose any old Aes Sedai to advise him.

And how do you think ruler choose their advisors anyway? A lineup of likely sisters? A rotation of candidates till they fix on one? That may work in Andor, but what about places like Illian and Mayene, where the advisors are secret?

The Tower goes so far as to have a serious issue with Moiraine spending time doing her own thing (which they are entirely clueless about)! You think they're not going to want a say over as important a post as advisor to the White Tower's closest ally? How naive are you?


There is. You just missed it.