Re: Do you realise what this means! We now have a clear strength list among the female Forsaken...
rhiane Send a noteboard - 18/11/2009 09:27:06 PM
That's quite absurd and refuted by the text!
And who are then the six women stronger than Nynaeve, if Cyndane and Mesaana aren't stronger? Alivia, Graendal, Semirhage, some super damane from Tuon?
BTW, BS explicitly stated that he didn't mean that Asmo was balefired. He also said that there are other RAFO circumstances besides balefire, which prevent a transmigration. This fits with RJ's comment that the DO couldn't transmigrate Asmo because of how AND where he died (if Asmo was balefired the DO couldn't already transmigrate him for that sole reason!). IMO, a certain death in TAR is such a circumstance.
However, the theories that Sammael or Be'lal were transmigrated seem pretty much crushed. Since Osan'gar wasn't balefired, he might have been transmigrated, though, if the DO is such keen on bringing back his original Forsaken. Maybe hs is truly Moridin's messenger seen in the prologue of TGS.
And we know now that Rand's sword is indeed a RAFO.
Good report!
And who are then the six women stronger than Nynaeve, if Cyndane and Mesaana aren't stronger? Alivia, Graendal, Semirhage, some super damane from Tuon?
BTW, BS explicitly stated that he didn't mean that Asmo was balefired. He also said that there are other RAFO circumstances besides balefire, which prevent a transmigration. This fits with RJ's comment that the DO couldn't transmigrate Asmo because of how AND where he died (if Asmo was balefired the DO couldn't already transmigrate him for that sole reason!). IMO, a certain death in TAR is such a circumstance.
However, the theories that Sammael or Be'lal were transmigrated seem pretty much crushed. Since Osan'gar wasn't balefired, he might have been transmigrated, though, if the DO is such keen on bringing back his original Forsaken. Maybe hs is truly Moridin's messenger seen in the prologue of TGS.
And we know now that Rand's sword is indeed a RAFO.
Good report!
Brandon said that he stated that Cyndane was "very weakened", and he stressed the "ened" part. Another indirect confirmation that Cyndane is Lanfear, but also stressing that she is not weak in the Power, but just much less than she was. Which leads me to believe that Alivia was definitely stronger than Cyndane at the Cleansing, but most likely not stronger than Lanfear had been.
If his Cyndane quote is accurate as you suggest, referring merely to her being "weakened", but still strong, then a lot of things suddenly become clear.
1. There are 6 females above Nynaeve, but Cyndane is DEFINITELY not one of them, according to Sanderson. He is "pretty sure" that Semirhage isn't stronger than her either, but not 100% certain. In any event, Nynaeve and Semirhage are very close to one another in strength.
Cyndane is according to him significantly weakened, and he had no hesitation in placing her below Nynaeve. He wasn't as sure about Semirhage.
We know from before that Cyndane is stronger than Graendal. And Sanderson says that Mesaana is not particularly strong for a Forsaken, and definitely below Nynaeve as well. We've always known Moghedien is the weakest of the female Forsaken.
Here then, is the definitive female Forsaken strength list:
Lanfear
Semirhage
Cyndane
Graendal
Mesaana
Moghedien
And it seems Nynaeve either falls at the same level as Semirhage, or slightly above Semirhage.
There we have it then, in black and white.
Brandon did say "very weakened" three times in two sentences, he was pretty adamant that she was not weak, but only weakened.
I would say your female Forsaken list is accurate. With all the comparisons added together throughout the series, and with the new information this week, it couldn't really be any other way.
my Q&A and time spent with Brandon Sanderson
- 17/11/2009 04:23:32 PM
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Cyndane is "very, very weak"?!
- 17/11/2009 04:41:32 PM
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Maybe Asmo doesn't count as a Forsaken anymore and what is MAFO?
- 17/11/2009 05:35:05 PM
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I asked Brandon to clarify last night in Pasadena about Cyndane
- 18/11/2009 05:22:14 PM
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Do you realise what this means! We now have a clear strength list among the female Forsaken...
- 18/11/2009 05:42:51 PM
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That means, though
- 18/11/2009 05:48:15 PM
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I've started a new thread, giving the new, DEFINITIVE female Forsaken strength list. Yay!!! *NM*
- 18/11/2009 05:58:03 PM
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Re: Do you realise what this means! We now have a clear strength list among the female Forsaken...
- 18/11/2009 09:27:06 PM
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I apparently have to Log In to read this.
- 17/11/2009 05:33:03 PM
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You don't need the email confirmation!
- 17/11/2009 05:36:40 PM
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Hm. I could have sworn I saw something about an email confirmation. Thanks. *NM*
- 17/11/2009 05:38:14 PM
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The strength comparisons don't make sense...
- 17/11/2009 06:26:05 PM
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Re: The strength comparisons don't make sense...
- 17/11/2009 06:55:39 PM
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If you read it in context, the list he is referring to is a female list...
- 17/11/2009 07:41:18 PM
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I don't think...
- 17/11/2009 07:48:36 PM
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How do we explain BS stating that he is "pretty sure Nynaeve is stronger than Semirhage?"
- 17/11/2009 07:51:39 PM
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forgetting Cyndane, it does
- 17/11/2009 08:56:16 PM
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No Forsaken knew, when the Cleansing would happen...
- 17/11/2009 09:43:04 PM
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Re: No Forsaken knew, when the Cleansing would happen...
- 17/11/2009 09:48:31 PM
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Talaan and Someryn are pure guesses from Dom...
- 17/11/2009 10:06:56 PM
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Elayne at the beginning of PoD thinks Talaan is at least as great as Nyn
- 18/11/2009 12:23:31 AM
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Thanks Ken!
- 17/11/2009 07:07:03 PM
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It almost has to be Justice
- 17/11/2009 07:30:32 PM
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But here's the thing....
- 17/11/2009 10:27:55 PM
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I think the clues still point to it being Justice
- 17/11/2009 10:37:44 PM
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I was just making argument
- 17/11/2009 11:05:18 PM
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Guaire Amalasan!
- 18/11/2009 12:50:09 AM
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Maybe Hawkwing took Justice from Amalasan after the Battle of the Jolvaine Pass?
- 18/11/2009 02:09:03 AM
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That was the crazy part - I named him as one of LitN's "other channelers producing weapons". 
- 18/11/2009 02:17:25 AM
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- 18/11/2009 02:17:25 AM
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And I appreciate your arguments!
- 18/11/2009 08:49:55 AM
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Perhaps it's a "Sword for the Ages"
- 18/11/2009 09:26:00 AM
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Thank you Ken for the report. You aren't pulling our leg are you?
- 17/11/2009 11:11:48 PM
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Re: Thank you Ken for the report. You aren't pulling our leg are you?
- 17/11/2009 11:26:30 PM
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Who is the Aiel chick with all the one power strength? I forget who, but she is Shaido. *NM*
- 17/11/2009 11:34:42 PM
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One of the women stronger than Nynaeve is probably a Sharan
- 17/11/2009 11:53:12 PM
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don't read too much into this
- 18/11/2009 12:00:19 AM
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It could be true
- 18/11/2009 02:14:50 AM
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This is RJ's Wheel of Time we're talking about. Not David Eddings. *NM*
- 18/11/2009 02:18:08 AM
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*NM*
- 18/11/2009 02:18:08 AM
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