Hmmm.... - Edit 1
Before modification by DomA at 26/09/2010 05:38:04 PM
Sorry, I still don't see where you're going with this comment, or how you mean it as counter argument to my theory, if you do...
My idea is simple and general enough: the Shadow, it doesn't matter who, is eliminating the wolves and increasing the packs of DH before the LB.
I have not much to offer as to why the Shadow bothers, but I suggest it is probably linked the similarly still unexplained reason why the Wheel bothered to make a ta'veren Wolf King for the Last Hunt.
The rest is all details. I'm pretty sure Slayer is somehow involved, and this could be how he gets involved with Perrin again in TOM as the gathering of wolves must be drawing close now, but I certainly don't suggest it's Slayer's idea to eliminate systematically the wolves.
I just know that when Slayer is around, wolves tend to die, and RJ reminded us of this as late as Winter's Heart, ending a totally unrelated mission with a mention by Isam that he was going to kill some wolves again to pass time. Isam and wolves, that's been staple for this character, one of his defining traits. Heck... that's even the origin of his (wolf)name Slayer.
For all I know, Slayer will only be ordered by TOM to deal with Perrin's gathering. He may not have been involved so far with the DH packs also hunting wolves at a Forsaken's orders. I just think Slayer's return near Perrin will have to do with the elimination of wolves before TG, and that it's also what the unusually large DH packs are already about. It's even possible Slayer has no specific orders but will get involved personally because he hates Perrin and he hates wolves and noticed the gathering. That's all RAFO sort of details to me - no matter how much we theorize, we rarely get the details right. I stick to the great lines on this one: the DH pack was one among many hunting wolves, and Slayer's involvement with Perrin will be connected in some way with the wolves.
If I'm right sub-Lanfear is involved, it's quite possible she calls on Slayer to deal with Perrin. I've long suspected Lanfear sees a TAR denizen like Slayer as her personal servant and she's been the one to use him most often in the series (the murders of the BA are hers, I believe. Elayne puzzled it out: this was done to convince them the BA had spoken too much, and to follow the trails they spoke of. Lanfear wanted Elayne and co. to leave Rand's side for the next phase of her seduction plan, but couldn't risk harming them. The murders in the Tower are almost certainly hers. She saved the girls she intended to use to meddle in Be'lal's plans from the Grey Men Ishamael sent to kill them, as he sent against Mat, and against Perrin, and against Rand). I remain undecided whether Lanfear had anything to do with sending Slayer to the TR, but it's not impossible. There sure were many rumours spreading damn fast to Tear and reaching just the right ears about problems in the TR. This could be Fain's doing, or Lanfear's. I used to think she heard the rumours and sent Slayer to remove the reason to attract Rand to the TR, but Slayer's campaign pattern doesn't really fit with an attempt to remove the WC... and finding Fain among them. But well... maybe.
In any case, the Chosen are ordered to use their followers to find and kill Mat and Perrin. The Chosen trying to deal with Perrin failed twice already. It would make sense to call on a nastier pawn, like Slayer, to help - especially if the Chosen is Cyndane.
My idea is simple and general enough: the Shadow, it doesn't matter who, is eliminating the wolves and increasing the packs of DH before the LB.
I have not much to offer as to why the Shadow bothers, but I suggest it is probably linked the similarly still unexplained reason why the Wheel bothered to make a ta'veren Wolf King for the Last Hunt.
The rest is all details. I'm pretty sure Slayer is somehow involved, and this could be how he gets involved with Perrin again in TOM as the gathering of wolves must be drawing close now, but I certainly don't suggest it's Slayer's idea to eliminate systematically the wolves.
I just know that when Slayer is around, wolves tend to die, and RJ reminded us of this as late as Winter's Heart, ending a totally unrelated mission with a mention by Isam that he was going to kill some wolves again to pass time. Isam and wolves, that's been staple for this character, one of his defining traits. Heck... that's even the origin of his (wolf)name Slayer.
For all I know, Slayer will only be ordered by TOM to deal with Perrin's gathering. He may not have been involved so far with the DH packs also hunting wolves at a Forsaken's orders. I just think Slayer's return near Perrin will have to do with the elimination of wolves before TG, and that it's also what the unusually large DH packs are already about. It's even possible Slayer has no specific orders but will get involved personally because he hates Perrin and he hates wolves and noticed the gathering. That's all RAFO sort of details to me - no matter how much we theorize, we rarely get the details right. I stick to the great lines on this one: the DH pack was one among many hunting wolves, and Slayer's involvement with Perrin will be connected in some way with the wolves.
If I'm right sub-Lanfear is involved, it's quite possible she calls on Slayer to deal with Perrin. I've long suspected Lanfear sees a TAR denizen like Slayer as her personal servant and she's been the one to use him most often in the series (the murders of the BA are hers, I believe. Elayne puzzled it out: this was done to convince them the BA had spoken too much, and to follow the trails they spoke of. Lanfear wanted Elayne and co. to leave Rand's side for the next phase of her seduction plan, but couldn't risk harming them. The murders in the Tower are almost certainly hers. She saved the girls she intended to use to meddle in Be'lal's plans from the Grey Men Ishamael sent to kill them, as he sent against Mat, and against Perrin, and against Rand). I remain undecided whether Lanfear had anything to do with sending Slayer to the TR, but it's not impossible. There sure were many rumours spreading damn fast to Tear and reaching just the right ears about problems in the TR. This could be Fain's doing, or Lanfear's. I used to think she heard the rumours and sent Slayer to remove the reason to attract Rand to the TR, but Slayer's campaign pattern doesn't really fit with an attempt to remove the WC... and finding Fain among them. But well... maybe.
In any case, the Chosen are ordered to use their followers to find and kill Mat and Perrin. The Chosen trying to deal with Perrin failed twice already. It would make sense to call on a nastier pawn, like Slayer, to help - especially if the Chosen is Cyndane.