I could be wrong here, but my understanding of channeling is that the ability to learn shows even before the girl "sparks" (see Egwene who was recognized as a potential channeler by Moiraine even though she did not reach her "change" yet).
If that is the case, a girl who fails the sul'dam test needs not be retested. She will never spark. Only the ones who test positive need to keep retesting. The sul'dam know that, and take that as part of the training.
I believe everyone is tested. The Seanchan don't know anything about sparkers and learners. I am also not certain if the a'dam is capable of detecting a sparker until she is very near to the channeling age. I expect that putting the a'dam on a 5 year old sparker would do very little for instance. So in order to be certain, you need to test until 25th after which women no longer spark. The Seanchan likely won't understand the reason (though they might have once at the very beginning), but they know that after 25th any woman who will start channeling, has already done so.
In some way, as cruel as the Seanchan system is, at least it results in a lower death rate, since there is no chance of any girl dying of channeling because she was not found and trained before her change.
Well, the testing is done only once per year. I suppose there is a small chance that you start sparking right after the last test and die before the next one. But I expect that for the most part you are right.
Not that I find that comforting. Between a relatively quick death via OP or horrific-torture&lifetime of being viewed as little more than an animal, I would not have to think long to choose the option which I would prefer.
The sul'dam candidates are brainwashed from the outset to believe that they are saving the damane from a horrible fate, so if one of them tests positive and is made damane, she is probably relieved that she is "safe" from hurting herself and others.
I seem to recall a mention somewhere that some are like that, while others fight against it. Makes sense in a way, no matter how brainwashed you are, when the moment actually comes and you are suddenly a slave and an "animal", you will not like it, no matter how much you supported the system before.
Seanchan girls. Do they live in terror until 25?
02/06/2010 12:32:14 AM
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It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
02/06/2010 01:06:32 AM
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Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
02/06/2010 01:50:49 AM
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Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
02/06/2010 05:53:14 AM
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Re: It's a huge honor to be a sul'dam, and they test for that on the same day
04/06/2010 07:19:36 PM
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A few details to consider
02/06/2010 01:11:12 AM
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Re: A few details to consider
02/06/2010 02:31:08 AM
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Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
02/06/2010 08:57:43 PM
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Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
03/06/2010 03:38:25 AM
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Re: Well, it took centuries for most people to understand breeding/genetics
04/06/2010 07:46:08 PM
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Nobody knows about Sul'dam because it takes them extra long to learn.
03/06/2010 07:58:41 AM
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I think they retest only the sul'dam
02/06/2010 04:13:55 AM
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I'll have to check my EotW, but I think Eg did have some fevers before Winternight. *NM*
02/06/2010 06:34:35 PM
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Re: I think they retest only the sul'dam
04/06/2010 07:55:56 PM
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Point on the testing
08/06/2010 02:15:26 AM
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Re: Point on the testing
08/06/2010 02:46:06 PM
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I'd think that would be a tiny chance given how diligent the Seanchan are in this regard
08/06/2010 02:58:15 PM
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Remember, Seancean have no idea channeling can be "learned"
02/06/2010 07:04:11 AM
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This is how Damane and Sul'Dam are determined, straight from tGH
03/06/2010 08:14:03 AM
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That doesn't make sense. Are you sure they don't put the BRACELET on the girls, not the collar?
04/06/2010 01:35:08 AM
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I am absolutely sure. Quote from book.
04/06/2010 03:09:08 AM
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Toun, though too young can be collared
06/06/2010 03:29:29 AM
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I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
06/06/2010 03:39:16 AM
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Re: I don't think Tuon will ever Channel
06/06/2010 05:07:40 AM
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I just see all of that as potential plot lines for the planned follow-up Mat/Tuon in Seanchan novels
08/06/2010 02:09:26 AM
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Not at all
02/06/2010 03:52:31 PM
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As with most things in Jordan's universe, I don't think it was thought through very seriously.
03/06/2010 08:05:04 PM
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Huh?
03/06/2010 08:44:35 PM
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Sure
03/06/2010 09:00:40 PM
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Bah...
03/06/2010 09:51:09 PM
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Jordan definitely made mistakes with the Ajahs. In particular, the Black Ajah ones who fled.
03/06/2010 10:56:39 PM
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Re: Sure
04/06/2010 04:55:23 AM
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I don't know if that's totally true
04/06/2010 12:09:29 PM
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Maybe you don't read that much serious literature? I just don't see why you are arguing this.
04/06/2010 03:47:50 PM
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I actually don't read much fiction at all to be honest
04/06/2010 04:00:03 PM
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You're right about the fact that I have mostly contempt for Jordan.
04/06/2010 05:42:49 PM
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Meh
04/06/2010 05:03:41 PM
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I love that: "I'm convinced Rand al'Thor is the most monotonous man in the world."
04/06/2010 05:47:01 PM
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I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
04/06/2010 03:51:42 PM
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Re: I think the number of characters directly contributes to the situation.
04/06/2010 05:04:52 PM
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Brandon brings out supporting chars. better, it's true.
04/06/2010 03:17:52 AM
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You're absolutely right. Sanderson gets "inside" the characters a bit more. *NM*
04/06/2010 03:52:29 PM
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