One of the most interesting things about the newly-released Chapter 1 of TGS - Edit 1
Before modification by Werthead at 06/09/2009 01:04:43 AM
...is that is confirms that the split in the Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends between the Fateful Concord and the Hundred Companions is not widely known. I'm going to hazard a guess that Latra Posae Decume's name isn't even known to Rand, and won't be until Lews Therin mentions her.
That seems to indicate a popular fan theory - that Lews Therin failed to seal the Bore because he only had men with him and no women - has been validated, and to seal the Bore this time Rand will need female help. I'm guessing Alivia, as the strongest living female channeler will be the one to help*. I wonder if Lews Therin or Rand or both will vanish or 'die' when the prison is completely re-sealed, thus fulfilling Min's viewing of Alivia's role in events (helping Rand die, although I wonder if she was actually seeing Lews Therin 'die'
.
I think the theory lost some ground after RJ suggested that if women had been present saidar would have been tainted as well. My guess is that if only women had been present saider would have been tainted, but if both men and women had been present, the Bore would have been completely patched and the prison resealed perfectly.
* Which incidentally would explain why Jordan introduced Alivia to supplant Nynaeve as the strongest female channeller in the first place. I was trying to work out why some damane we only met comparatively recently was muscling out a central POV since Book 1, then realised that if Rand needs the strongest female channeller to help him at Shayol Ghul, that might be a one-way trip, and a newer, more minor character is more disposable than a fan-favourite central character who's been around since day one.
That seems to indicate a popular fan theory - that Lews Therin failed to seal the Bore because he only had men with him and no women - has been validated, and to seal the Bore this time Rand will need female help. I'm guessing Alivia, as the strongest living female channeler will be the one to help*. I wonder if Lews Therin or Rand or both will vanish or 'die' when the prison is completely re-sealed, thus fulfilling Min's viewing of Alivia's role in events (helping Rand die, although I wonder if she was actually seeing Lews Therin 'die'
.I think the theory lost some ground after RJ suggested that if women had been present saidar would have been tainted as well. My guess is that if only women had been present saider would have been tainted, but if both men and women had been present, the Bore would have been completely patched and the prison resealed perfectly.
* Which incidentally would explain why Jordan introduced Alivia to supplant Nynaeve as the strongest female channeller in the first place. I was trying to work out why some damane we only met comparatively recently was muscling out a central POV since Book 1, then realised that if Rand needs the strongest female channeller to help him at Shayol Ghul, that might be a one-way trip, and a newer, more minor character is more disposable than a fan-favourite central character who's been around since day one.