I think most of the Forsaken are close in strength. I'd propose the following...
90 - 100 strength : Ishamael, Demandred, Lanfear, Sammael, Rahvin, Aginor, Graendal, Sharina, Alivia.
80 - 90 strength : Semirhage, Mesaana, Nynaeve, Balthamel, Be'lal.
70 - 80 strength : Moghedien, Asmodean
I really don't think that strength has ever been a factor in Forsaken attitudes to one another. The Forsaken tend to look at the whole picture : strength, skill, reputation, previous triumphs, mental state. Semirhage tends to make people uneasy because she is such a horrendous torturer - she makes Lews Therin scared and there is no way she approaches him in power. Aginor has lots of strength but little else. Moghedien has little strength but can backstab anyone.
I see no problem with Semirhage having a strength of 85 and Lanfear 100. It would be an even duel if it came to it, and neither would underestimate the other. Semirhage certainly has talents that make her a dangerous adversary, and Moridin doesn't doubt she could kill Rand.
It's important to remember that any Forsaken who were weak or unskilled were killed in the War of Power. All of them can stand their ground in some way. Any large gap cannot exist between the Forsaken - Demandred would not ally with Mesaana if she was weak enough to crush... she has something to her name. They are not Aes Sedai - they don't defer to strength. They are confident in their own power and skill to challenge anyone. Semirhage had no problem going for Rand when her plan failed, and Graendal didn't consider strength when she took on Cyndane and Moghedien at the same time. They're mostly equal to one another, with a few differences.
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Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
Semirhage's strength in the Power...
- 12/11/2009 06:57:37 AM
1290 Views
No you did not...
- 12/11/2009 07:27:06 AM
893 Views
I'll look again tonight, but I'm sure Nynaeve made a comment...
- 12/11/2009 07:33:29 AM
901 Views
Actually, Nynaeave is far stronger than Moghedian now
- 12/11/2009 12:30:29 PM
853 Views
We DON'T know that Graendal is stronger than Semirhage and Mesaana...
- 12/11/2009 12:48:32 PM
948 Views
Inconsistency?
- 12/11/2009 08:53:39 AM
815 Views
Holding a shield vs. making one...
- 12/11/2009 03:19:09 PM
796 Views
Don't they clearly say one single would suffice but they used 2 for
- 13/11/2009 04:57:15 AM
717 Views
To HOLD her. Didn't I make the distinction clear?
- 13/11/2009 05:04:58 AM
706 Views
Reducing the number of people holding the shield, reduces the strength of the shield correspondingly
- 13/11/2009 07:15:24 AM
675 Views
Not necessarily true (Plus, another possibility)...
- 13/11/2009 07:43:37 AM
669 Views
I agree about the angreal, but not the 1 woman shield part...
- 13/11/2009 07:50:26 AM
751 Views
Agree to disagree?
- 13/11/2009 08:07:59 AM
691 Views
Sure, just a couple of points...
- 13/11/2009 08:18:15 AM
788 Views
Re: Sure, just a couple of points...
- 13/11/2009 08:51:28 AM
787 Views
Interesting concept...
- 13/11/2009 08:59:53 AM
793 Views
The answer lies in a fundamental difference between spinning and maintaining a weave...
- 13/11/2009 09:33:00 AM
888 Views
Yeah, I posted on this
- 12/11/2009 08:53:26 PM
797 Views
Hmmm....
- 13/11/2009 12:42:37 AM
807 Views
Mesaana thought she matched Semirhage
- 13/11/2009 01:45:09 AM
935 Views
Re: Hmmm....
- 13/11/2009 06:56:56 AM
729 Views
I think Sanderson just doesn't have the interest and knowledge of relative strength that RJ did..
- 13/11/2009 07:07:45 AM
713 Views
Re: Hmmm....
- 13/11/2009 07:59:57 AM
792 Views
The reason behind our (certainly MY) hesitance to place Nynaeve too high, is Alivia...
- 13/11/2009 08:04:51 AM
813 Views
There is a simple answer... skill...
- 13/11/2009 08:21:25 AM
810 Views
Except that...
- 13/11/2009 08:49:15 AM
797 Views
What about Sharina?
- 13/11/2009 09:17:20 AM
682 Views
No evidence either way, but you leave a massive gap between Lanfear and the average Forsaken...
- 13/11/2009 09:31:27 AM
811 Views
I don't think it's massive
- 13/11/2009 09:46:27 AM
792 Views

