One additional point I'd add to lend credence to Graendal being higher up the list is this quote:
~The Fires of Heaven
"If this Rand al'Thor really is Lews Therin Telamon reborn," Graendal went on, settling herself on the man's back where he crouched on all fours, "I am surprised you haven't tried to snuggle him into your bed, Lanfear. Or would it be so easy? I seem to remember Lews Therin led you by the nose, not the other way around. Squelched your little tantrums. Sent you running to fetch his wine, in a manner of speaking." She set her own wine on the tray, held out rigidly by the sightlessly kneeling woman. "You were so obsessed with him you'd have stretched out at his feet if he said 'rug'."
No way a woman significantly weaker throws this in Lanfears face! Just minutes later the two almost end up in a duel, if not for Rhavin we may well have seen a chick-Forsaken fight
Graendal is a lot of the things, but stupid is not one of them. We know that she will not risk facing Rand head-to-head, but she was willing to face Lanfear? Very unlikely IMO unless she was close enough in strength that she felt her skill could overcome Lanfear's power.
~The Fires of Heaven
"If this Rand al'Thor really is Lews Therin Telamon reborn," Graendal went on, settling herself on the man's back where he crouched on all fours, "I am surprised you haven't tried to snuggle him into your bed, Lanfear. Or would it be so easy? I seem to remember Lews Therin led you by the nose, not the other way around. Squelched your little tantrums. Sent you running to fetch his wine, in a manner of speaking." She set her own wine on the tray, held out rigidly by the sightlessly kneeling woman. "You were so obsessed with him you'd have stretched out at his feet if he said 'rug'."
No way a woman significantly weaker throws this in Lanfears face! Just minutes later the two almost end up in a duel, if not for Rhavin we may well have seen a chick-Forsaken fight
Graendal is a lot of the things, but stupid is not one of them. We know that she will not risk facing Rand head-to-head, but she was willing to face Lanfear? Very unlikely IMO unless she was close enough in strength that she felt her skill could overcome Lanfear's power.
What you are saying is possible. However, even if Graendal is the second strongest Forsaken, she would have to be at least two levels below Lanfear. Lanfear is stronger than Cyndane. Cyndane is stronger than Graendal. With a minimum of two levels separating Lanfear and Graendal, Graendal is outmatched no matter what. What difference does it make if Graendal was 3 levels below Lanfear or 4 levels below?
I think Graendal was seeing how far she could press Lanfear. I also think that Graendal would not have pressed her like that except for the fact that Sammael and Rahvin were nearby. I think Graendal knew Lanfear would restrain herself (to some degree) with the men there.
I disagree, 2 levels with a skill bonus to Graendal is manageable as we've seen from Alivia v. Cyndane.
I think Graendal is confident that they are close enough in strength and that she is the more skilled combatant. I don't think she has any kind of respect for Lanfear. She seems to have respect for Semirhage (her tGS POV made me believe that she at least acknowledged Semirhage as "accomplished" ). But Lanfear? I think she sees her as a bit of a whiny brat.
Consider she knew straight up that Sammael would have killed her (even admitted it to herself) when she considered her options... I don't have the quote handy, but she basically said something like "Sammael probably already held the power and would sense the moment she embraced saidar, she would be the one to die". She immediately begins ingratiating herself, making herself indispensable ... just as she has with Moridin. She only takes that posture with people she thinks can kill her.
Also I think Graendal knows exactly how far she can push each one of the others, it's her area of special concern after all!
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 04:12:35 PM
1873 Views
Except...
- 19/11/2009 04:26:32 PM
897 Views
There's no evidence for that
- 19/11/2009 04:31:17 PM
848 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
854 Views
It's common sense
- 19/11/2009 04:40:01 PM
776 Views
No, it's based on absolutely nothing
- 19/11/2009 04:50:30 PM
878 Views
If you agree that there are stronger damane than Alivia...
- 19/11/2009 05:00:05 PM
780 Views
Glad to have you back. Now for the arguments to start!
- 19/11/2009 04:29:01 PM
931 Views
Hmm...
- 19/11/2009 04:47:12 PM
931 Views
Actually, you are the one placing Lanfear immensely high, my list reduced the strength difference...
- 19/11/2009 05:05:18 PM
1024 Views
But I'm not
- 19/11/2009 05:17:05 PM
902 Views
Let me ask you this...
- 19/11/2009 10:13:12 PM
931 Views
All assumption
- 20/11/2009 04:11:20 AM
829 Views
Why introduce that concept, if it is just of academic importance?
- 20/11/2009 07:41:54 AM
757 Views
You don't know the significance of it at all
- 20/11/2009 03:14:46 PM
898 Views
Why?
- 20/11/2009 03:17:51 PM
1409 Views
Re: Why?
- 20/11/2009 04:30:50 PM
777 Views
How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 20/11/2009 05:07:39 PM
792 Views
Re: How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 21/11/2009 10:55:47 AM
794 Views
Is Graendal the only Forsaken NOT to overstate her own ability then?
- 21/11/2009 01:53:28 PM
909 Views
Your rankings hinge ENTIRELY on whether you have Graendal correctly placed.
- 20/11/2009 03:24:22 PM
776 Views
Yeah... entirely 
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
750 Views
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
750 Views
What ever happened to all teh info from wotmania? Especially the FAQs? *NM*
- 19/11/2009 05:01:45 PM
559 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 05:39:10 PM
876 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post -- What about Dexterity??
- 19/11/2009 06:44:31 PM
868 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
452 Views
Too many levels
- 20/11/2009 01:48:24 AM
876 Views
21 levels is largely a myth
- 20/11/2009 04:27:27 AM
774 Views
I have to disagree for a couple of reasons.
- 20/11/2009 04:14:40 AM
899 Views
I thought of something else to support my upper limit theory on gateways
- 20/11/2009 01:53:05 PM
912 Views
Talaan is not stronger than Nynaeve
- 28/11/2009 08:27:22 PM
979 Views
more hopefully to come
- 20/11/2009 08:15:00 PM
727 Views
Thanks KCF, that's a great question to ask.
- 20/11/2009 08:28:32 PM
969 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
369 Views
I agree that Graendal is the 2nd most powerful woman Forsaken
- 29/11/2009 04:07:00 PM
731 Views
It's possible
- 30/11/2009 08:23:28 PM
747 Views
Re: It's possible
- 01/12/2009 06:18:56 PM
847 Views