Certain fragmentary manuscripts, largely forgotten, contain tantalizing hints about the nature and use of circles in the Age of Legends, but unfortunately only hints. According to what the circle was intended to achieve, members were recruited depending on their strengths in the Five Powers while the leader was chosen more for skill. It also seems that certain balances of male with female were considered best for certain tasks, and also certain sizes of circles. A circle of seventy-two may have been the largest and most powerful combination, but it was not always the best for the desired results. Some tasks were best accomplished by a circle of one man and one woman, despite its limited strength, while others were more efficiently done with greater numbers. The details remain lost in the ruins of the Age of Legends, although it is possible that there may be sources hidden away in the library of the White Tower.
Its pretty clear that
a) Smaller circles could sometimes do better than a circle of 72.
b) Individual member's strengths in the power as well as the skill of the leaders mattered a lot.
Given the nature of the Seals, I'd bet they wanted thirteen AS strongest in Spirit, and also extraordinarily skilled. That must be a sufficiently rare combination as to exclude the strongest women.
Weaker women like Sorilea have shown skill, yes, but nowhere close to what even women like Egwene show, and I believe that was the minimum level of strength they considered for inclusion in the circle.
Its pretty clear that
a) Smaller circles could sometimes do better than a circle of 72.
b) Individual member's strengths in the power as well as the skill of the leaders mattered a lot.
Given the nature of the Seals, I'd bet they wanted thirteen AS strongest in Spirit, and also extraordinarily skilled. That must be a sufficiently rare combination as to exclude the strongest women.
Weaker women like Sorilea have shown skill, yes, but nowhere close to what even women like Egwene show, and I believe that was the minimum level of strength they considered for inclusion in the circle.
I'd bet on Lews Therin using all five powers to seal the Bore. Besides that, I don't think that skill would be a factor in choosing the women involved - only the leader needs skill, not the members of the circle. The prerequisite would have been high strength and at least average strength in all of the Powers, which in its self is very rare. That way, Lews Therin could draw on any threads without that woman fatiguing too quickly.
I do wonder how he managed to do it without women. Some things are impossible if you don't include men and women, and considering the men didn't link, it's strange that they could do it alone.
Wheel of Time board admin
Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
LTT and the bore.
16/01/2010 02:50:34 AM
- 1431 Views
I think there is a scene in KoD or CoT
16/01/2010 02:57:13 AM
- 730 Views
It's in KoD, but I don't know exactly what it's got to do with this?
18/01/2010 06:51:37 AM
- 579 Views
Re: It's in KoD, but I don't know exactly what it's got to do with this?
19/01/2010 05:13:26 AM
- 580 Views
You'll need to provide the quote then ... otherwise I'm not sure what you are talking about
19/01/2010 06:14:20 AM
- 519 Views
It had to be a circle of six men and six women...
16/01/2010 03:18:16 AM
- 689 Views
Here's the quote...
16/01/2010 06:02:49 AM
- 727 Views
Re: Here's the quote...
16/01/2010 04:00:11 PM
- 622 Views
I think it's more like a woman of Sorilea's strength than Nynaeve's that he worried about
16/01/2010 04:19:24 PM
- 563 Views
Hmm...
18/01/2010 11:21:41 AM
- 558 Views
It could be that the Pattern Made LPD a Ta'varen for a period of time...
16/01/2010 04:03:14 AM
- 584 Views
I think...
16/01/2010 11:31:18 AM
- 718 Views
Re: I think...
16/01/2010 01:27:40 PM
- 668 Views
In my view...
16/01/2010 01:50:03 PM
- 527 Views
Re: In my view...
16/01/2010 02:11:20 PM
- 537 Views
We know...
16/01/2010 02:43:41 PM
- 659 Views
Its presented as fact
16/01/2010 03:00:33 PM
- 543 Views
Here is a quote by RJ
16/01/2010 03:10:28 PM
- 580 Views
Re: Here is a quote by RJ
16/01/2010 03:26:13 PM
- 619 Views
In my opinion
16/01/2010 03:51:02 PM
- 522 Views
RJ was as slippery as an AS!
16/01/2010 04:31:02 PM
- 535 Views
Re: We know...
16/01/2010 03:17:54 PM
- 607 Views
It's in any case clear...
16/01/2010 03:27:49 PM
- 510 Views
Re: It's in any case clear...
16/01/2010 03:44:33 PM
- 570 Views
I don't think
16/01/2010 03:56:25 PM
- 553 Views
I spent a lot of time thinking on the population issue too. I think it was a matter of ...
18/01/2010 07:51:31 PM
- 609 Views
My Thoughts
16/01/2010 09:43:33 PM
- 530 Views
Wow, that's an interesting point. It's even more signnificant since T'A'R is supposed to ...
18/01/2010 07:36:35 PM
- 486 Views