In other words, why go to all the trouble of creating a mechanism whereby a transmigrated Forsaken's strength can be reduced, if it is to have no real impact?
You don't know why Cyndane lost strength - it might have been punishment by the Dark One, or the Finns, or a side effect, or she was improperly Healed by a woman... there are dozens of theories, and with none confirmed there is no way to apply a theme.
Where Semirhage's source of strength was her reputation as a torturer, and the fear this evoked in others, Lanfear's source of strength has always simply been her STRENGTH. The fact that it is superior to that of the other Forsaken females.
So, if RJ was somehow attempting to strip the Forsaken of their auras of greatness, would it not make much more sense to reduce Cyndane to the unfamiliar position of being weaker than some of her competitors among the Chosen?
So, if RJ was somehow attempting to strip the Forsaken of their auras of greatness, would it not make much more sense to reduce Cyndane to the unfamiliar position of being weaker than some of her competitors among the Chosen?
Who says he's stripping them of their greatness? You have no idea what is going on with Cyndane - we have almost no information on her. Even if he did weaken her as punishment (which I actually don't think is what happened), how does it fit your theory that she is now weaker than her peers if she is now only weaker than Semirhage, but still stronger than all the other women. Some punishment - she's 2nd instead of first.
I think it would fit the pattern.
What pattern? RJ isn't stripping anyone of anything. Osan'gar and Aran'gar are as strong as ever.
But, as we've already said, we cannot be sure. After Sanderson's first, incorrect quote, we could place Cyndane below Nynaeve for sure.
After his partial retraction, we don't know how far we should move her up again. He still maintains she is significantly weakened. And his emphasis on the 6 women above Nynaeve did not tie up with his uncertainty regarding Cyndane. Basically, it does not seem as if she was one of the names among the 6, else he would surely not have made such an issue about her reduced status.
After his partial retraction, we don't know how far we should move her up again. He still maintains she is significantly weakened. And his emphasis on the 6 women above Nynaeve did not tie up with his uncertainty regarding Cyndane. Basically, it does not seem as if she was one of the names among the 6, else he would surely not have made such an issue about her reduced status.
He does not maintain that she is significantly weakened. He says that she is weakened - those are his very words, and those are not new to the series... we know that already from separate sources.
Considering he's moved around from Cyndane being 'very very weak' to 'what you've always thought of her strength', I find it hard to believe that the statement on the 'six' is immune. She's obviously there if she's stronger than Graendal.
About your last sentence. Who says Graendal and Semirhage are not on the same level? Give me one quote that proves otherwise?
In fact, give me a convincing argument that even strongly SUGGESTS otherwise?
We don't have a single comparative quote between Graendal and Semirhage, or even between Graendal and Nynaeve, which would allow us to extrapolate to Semirhage.
This message last edited by Shannow on 20/11/2009 at 03:28:32 PM
Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 04:12:35 PM
1805 Views
Except...
- 19/11/2009 04:26:32 PM
833 Views
There's no evidence for that
- 19/11/2009 04:31:17 PM
785 Views
I agree with Sidious - we have no evidence at this time, so she should remain off the list
- 19/11/2009 04:38:31 PM
791 Views
It's common sense
- 19/11/2009 04:40:01 PM
735 Views
No, it's based on absolutely nothing
- 19/11/2009 04:50:30 PM
804 Views
If you agree that there are stronger damane than Alivia...
- 19/11/2009 05:00:05 PM
727 Views
Glad to have you back. Now for the arguments to start!
- 19/11/2009 04:29:01 PM
848 Views
Hmm...
- 19/11/2009 04:47:12 PM
848 Views
Actually, you are the one placing Lanfear immensely high, my list reduced the strength difference...
- 19/11/2009 05:05:18 PM
928 Views
But I'm not
- 19/11/2009 05:17:05 PM
829 Views
Let me ask you this...
- 19/11/2009 10:13:12 PM
864 Views
All assumption
- 20/11/2009 04:11:20 AM
732 Views
Why introduce that concept, if it is just of academic importance?
- 20/11/2009 07:41:54 AM
697 Views
You don't know the significance of it at all
- 20/11/2009 03:14:46 PM
815 Views
Why?
- 20/11/2009 03:17:51 PM
1346 Views
Re: Why?
- 20/11/2009 04:30:50 PM
685 Views
How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 20/11/2009 05:07:39 PM
723 Views
Re: How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 21/11/2009 10:55:47 AM
719 Views
Is Graendal the only Forsaken NOT to overstate her own ability then?
- 21/11/2009 01:53:28 PM
822 Views
Your rankings hinge ENTIRELY on whether you have Graendal correctly placed.
- 20/11/2009 03:24:22 PM
676 Views
Yeah... entirely 
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
681 Views
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
681 Views
What ever happened to all teh info from wotmania? Especially the FAQs? *NM*
- 19/11/2009 05:01:45 PM
528 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 05:39:10 PM
815 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post -- What about Dexterity??
- 19/11/2009 06:44:31 PM
818 Views
Seems good, except I'd bunch up the upper levels and place Nynaeve a little higher. *NM*
- 19/11/2009 09:46:16 PM
413 Views
Too many levels
- 20/11/2009 01:48:24 AM
800 Views
21 levels is largely a myth
- 20/11/2009 04:27:27 AM
693 Views
I have to disagree for a couple of reasons.
- 20/11/2009 04:14:40 AM
824 Views
I thought of something else to support my upper limit theory on gateways
- 20/11/2009 01:53:05 PM
811 Views
Talaan is not stronger than Nynaeve
- 28/11/2009 08:27:22 PM
877 Views
more hopefully to come
- 20/11/2009 08:15:00 PM
668 Views
Thanks KCF, that's a great question to ask.
- 20/11/2009 08:28:32 PM
912 Views
I'm the same way. I should be studying for law school finals, but I'm distracted. *NM*
- 20/11/2009 09:45:46 PM
334 Views
I agree that Graendal is the 2nd most powerful woman Forsaken
- 29/11/2009 04:07:00 PM
655 Views