She was being Forced for those first 18 months but then for most of the time between TFoH and WH she was on her own and her progression of strength slowed down to normal rates.
We don't know what Nynaeve's strength was in TEotW, but in TDR, Siuan says Nynaeve is "already as strong as any woman in the Tower," which means Moiraine level at least. By TSR, she was a match for Moghedien. In PoD, Nynaeve still hadn't reached full strength according to Elayne. I agree that Nynaeve progressed much slower after leaving the Tower, but there must still be a significant difference in strength between her potential and Moggy.
Egwene seems to have been forced more than the others--Nicola says in ACoS no one ever gained as much of her strength as fast as Egwene. Elayne also comments in WH that she and Aviendha are still behind Egwene although they have the same potential strength.
I think it's pretty clear that Nynaeve, who had been unconsciously channeling for the better part of a decade, would have been very close to Moiraine (who is maybe 50% of Nynaeve) level when the series started. This also explains Moiraine's bonfire v. candles comment as Nynaeve would walk in the door and already have more strength than any living AS, and in a Tower where many women were starting to question if Strength was on the decline! We know she's already pretty close to Siuan's strength at the very beginning of TGH and certainly after Falme had grown even more ... by TSR IMO she had hit about 90% of her potential (her growth going from Moiraine to Moghedien took about 18 months). Then within the next 9 months (the timeline between her fight with Moghedien and the Cleansing) she continued to grow at a more normal pace.
Egwene was damane which likely forced her from a very beginner to close to Moiraine's level in just a few months. That's probably 60% of her strength in like 2 months ... no wonder Nicola thinks no other woman had ever gained so much of her strength so quickly. But we also know that Egwene continued to grow rapidly between TSR (where at the beginning she's a bit stronger than Moiraine) and when she becomes Amyrlin. It explains why she and Elayne are so afraid of Rand in that scene too ... his growth is even more astonishing! He would have been more than 2x (men have levels above women) than either of the girls at this point, even if he was only at 85% so of course they feel like kittens next to him.
We know she and Aviendha both are more than 50% of absolute female strength by the end of TFoH as Moiraine indicates the two combined could overwhelm a Female Forsaken, but at this point Aviendha had only been channeling for a couple of months and was likely not anywhere close to Egwene... she may have been as strong as Moiraine at this point. Meaning Egwene at 85% of her potential added to Aviendha at maybe 60% could overwhelm a FS level female.
Further more it explains why Egwene was more cautious in her assessment of Moghedien (when Moghedien escaped Egwene may have only been at about 85% ... still far stronger than any woman in camp, but a much longer step down from Moghedien than she is now, remember too that Egwene could not Channel for a couple of months at all after the attack by Lanfear which likely slowed her growth, and spent more time learning to Dreamwalk than Channel under the WOs ... now she believes she can take on Mesaana head to head in ToM ... if she's full strength now she's much closer to the FS than before.
She was probably very close to if not already at her full potential by WH, leaving Elayne and Aviendha behind by a decent margin, and now only a bit shy of the Weaker Forsaken (Moghedien and Messana), but probably still a goodly step down from the most powerful (Nynaeve level). I've always thought Nynaeve was about 20% stronger than Egwene ... or the equivalent of a woman like Daigian.
The debate has always been that many posters here feel Egwene is more like 50% of Nynaeve's strength. That seems preposterous to me given all the evidence in the text to the contrary. We know Egwene is stronger than two Strong AS combined, and we know that strength follows a bell curve, so if Egwene was only around a 50-60 on a 100 point scale there should be literally thousands of women at her level and thus far, Forsaken aside, we've seen only about 10 women who can match or exceed her potential. We've been exposed to something like 10,000 women who can channel between the various groups and in every instance we hear about Egwene/Elayne/Aviendha's strength ... the WF told Elayne she had never met anyone so strong as her and Nynaeve (and they were only able to produce 2 women), the WO have produced 3 women aside from Aviendha (and we don't know for certain that Tamela and Viendre are actually above Elayne since she was not at full potential when she encountered them) and we've seen 1 damane (maybe 2 if Tuon's strongest Sera is ever quantified) who out match them.
It's a consistent theme that the "Wondergirls" are very close to the top level of strength. But I think people forget sometimes that the timelines in the books aren't the same in every book. The first 4 books are more than 1/2 of the total series timeline and it's obvious that none of the girls have peaked by then!
In the end it doesn't much matter since the odds of getting a direct quote are basically NIL ... but it makes for lots of conversations on the forum!
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
More evidence that Elayne is much weaker than the Forsaken
09/12/2010 03:45:27 PM
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Yes.
09/12/2010 04:39:58 PM
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No.
09/12/2010 05:34:57 PM
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Actually...exponential or at least non-linear makes alot of sense to me
09/12/2010 06:27:29 PM
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Nope. Then Rand would be able to crush 13 Aes Sedai with ease.
09/12/2010 06:32:53 PM
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Three things:
09/12/2010 06:47:30 PM
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That quote is incorrect as it contradicts all other evidence from later books...
09/12/2010 06:51:02 PM
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If strength isn't linear and on a steep enough curve that could work.
09/12/2010 07:22:24 PM
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I think that RJ's statement that the strongest man and strongest women were equal...
10/12/2010 03:23:12 PM
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I wasn't aware this was an issue?
09/12/2010 04:45:02 PM
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I just hope aMoL finally reveals who's going to be the Dragon Reborn...these lesser debates can hang *NM*
09/12/2010 05:26:37 PM
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not really
09/12/2010 04:46:42 PM
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and you'll note that none of the angreal are considered particularly strong
09/12/2010 04:48:14 PM
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She probably weaved them separately on account of being pregnant *NM*
09/12/2010 04:56:12 PM
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Pregnancy seems to be interfere with her ability to grasp the power
09/12/2010 05:06:15 PM
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I don't know if it's a more complex CHANNELING undertaking, though
09/12/2010 05:42:57 PM
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I don't have the book handy, but she talks about the level of complexity
09/12/2010 05:45:52 PM
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hmm, but we still don't know if it's the weaves or the process that is so complex
09/12/2010 06:28:14 PM
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Well according to Monaella it makes it harder to Channel, but from Elayne's POV
09/12/2010 06:52:55 PM
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We never really get a feel for their relative strengths
09/12/2010 05:51:38 PM
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Yes. In PoD Aviendha states that the woman-wrapped-in-hair angreal almost doubles her strength...
09/12/2010 06:30:41 PM
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you have the wrong angreal and the wrong strength
09/12/2010 07:07:18 PM
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Nope. You are the one whose got the wrong angreal...
09/12/2010 07:15:38 PM
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where is that quote my friend?
09/12/2010 08:07:50 PM
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PoD: The Breaking Storm
09/12/2010 08:16:58 PM
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Ah yes, ... "almost 2x as much" still doesn't support your assertion that Nyn is 50% above Elayne
09/12/2010 08:20:37 PM
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That's a gross skewing of what that sentence means...
09/12/2010 09:05:05 PM
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Don't be absurd...
09/12/2010 09:21:00 PM
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she does not say that! she says Moghedien could kill her before she could react. so could Daigian
09/12/2010 09:34:50 PM
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"The only Aes Sedai who could hope to match one of the Forsaken was in Ebou Dar..."
09/12/2010 09:44:25 PM
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And yet...
09/12/2010 09:48:34 PM
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No, Egwene does NOT think she can defeat Mesaana in a One Power battle...
09/12/2010 09:59:35 PM
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Here are te quotes...
09/12/2010 10:10:09 PM
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Did you not read the quote above, made by Egwene in the heat of battle with Mesaana?
09/12/2010 10:34:05 PM
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It might interest you to know that that was Katerine!
10/12/2010 12:15:51 AM
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Oh nonsense
10/12/2010 04:43:44 AM
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But that's his point.
10/12/2010 06:01:59 AM
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its a useless point
10/12/2010 10:11:00 AM
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Yes, utterly useless...
10/12/2010 11:46:15 AM
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Dude, you need to re-read the books...
10/12/2010 04:15:11 PM
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he means Sheriam, but your points still hold true
10/12/2010 08:19:16 PM
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Re: he means Sheriam, but your points still hold true
11/12/2010 07:21:49 AM
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potentially, but Mesaana later turns up with BA using the 19 stolen ter'angreal.
11/12/2010 03:41:41 PM
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I'm so glad you're a mod! Setting great standards there...
10/12/2010 04:11:56 PM
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Re: I'm so glad you're a mod! Setting great standards there...
10/12/2010 04:35:23 PM
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Duh! Seriously, are you Elaida or something? Your logic is astounding.
10/12/2010 06:47:17 AM
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Duh! Seriously, are you Elaida or something? Your logic is astounding.
10/12/2010 06:47:18 AM
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which only tells us that Nynaeve is equal to the Forsaken. Has nothing to do with Egwene being
10/12/2010 01:51:12 PM
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Nynaeve has been channeling (albeit blocked) for close to 10 years
10/12/2010 02:24:57 PM
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Re: Yes.
09/12/2010 07:49:12 PM
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You're obviously a latecomer to this ongoing debate. Here's a recap...
09/12/2010 08:03:51 PM
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where this falls apart is that Daigian at a 10 is too weak
09/12/2010 08:16:17 PM
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Nope...
09/12/2010 08:44:51 PM
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now you are just force fitting quotes into what you want to say
09/12/2010 09:29:20 PM
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Nope...
09/12/2010 09:42:58 PM
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all of the girls were Forced! Nynaeve was already at least as strong as Moiraine in EoTW
11/12/2010 08:04:02 PM
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Re: all of the girls were Forced! Nynaeve was already at least as strong as Moiraine in EoTW
11/12/2010 11:59:55 PM
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that's the point I'm making
12/12/2010 12:58:38 AM
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I don't think Elayne was forced
12/12/2010 04:33:26 PM
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I believe there is a quote from RJ that states they all were, but Egwene was held damane
12/12/2010 04:43:29 PM
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Re: I believe there is a quote from RJ that states they all were, but Egwene was held damane
12/12/2010 04:46:50 PM
- 1100 Views
Thanks for the quote
12/12/2010 07:17:30 PM
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perhaps the opportunity hasn't arisen? And of course it's politic to appologize to the Amyrlin
12/12/2010 07:41:11 PM
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Re: all of the girls were Forced! Nynaeve was already at least as strong as Moiraine in EoTW
12/12/2010 08:04:21 PM
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that's where I'm estimating Nynaeve being close to Siuan and Moiraine in EoTW
12/12/2010 08:30:54 PM
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Re: now you are just force fitting quotes into what you want to say
10/12/2010 01:17:10 AM
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Mesaana
10/12/2010 04:43:07 AM
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agreed
10/12/2010 01:48:59 PM
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Re: agreed
10/12/2010 04:38:28 PM
- 900 Views
very true, and I find it interesting that during the TAR battle Mesaana didn't bother
10/12/2010 05:03:43 PM
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Re: very true, and I find it interesting that during the TAR battle Mesaana didn't bother
11/12/2010 07:22:54 AM
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Re: You're obviously a latecomer to this ongoing debate. Here's a recap...
10/12/2010 09:19:17 AM
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OK. Here's the clear evidence of Dagian's, Moiraine's, Egwenes and Moghedien's comparative levels.
10/12/2010 12:00:48 PM
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"clear evidence"
10/12/2010 01:27:01 PM
- 1080 Views
Laughable interpretation...
10/12/2010 01:31:57 PM
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Amys is clearly stronger than half Egwene's strength...
10/12/2010 04:27:30 PM
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couple of thoughts here
10/12/2010 08:01:44 PM
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Re: couple of thoughts here
10/12/2010 11:27:19 PM
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that's what I said! EDIT
11/12/2010 04:03:59 PM
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Well...
11/12/2010 07:58:38 PM
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Katerine is a pain in the ass and Silviana wasn't about to risk only one woman holding that shield
11/12/2010 08:26:29 PM
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Leane was shielded by two sisters as well
11/12/2010 11:14:08 PM
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I think that's almost certainly a custom for women held in the open cells
11/12/2010 11:22:12 PM
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Re: I think that's almost certainly a custom for women held in the open cells
12/12/2010 12:04:33 AM
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Oh... so we dismiss all quotes from people we don't like?
12/12/2010 05:18:42 AM
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re-read the section my friend. EDIT
12/12/2010 03:58:28 PM
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Dude...
12/12/2010 06:29:43 PM
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did you read the quote? They discuss how much they gave her on the way to the Tower!
12/12/2010 07:39:55 PM
- 1060 Views
Not one of those things answers my rather simple question...
13/12/2010 02:27:44 AM
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because it's the first time Egwene has been dosed with Forkroot
13/12/2010 03:55:18 AM
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She knows but she doesn't know?
13/12/2010 05:35:55 AM
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She knows that Nynaeve had told her it dampened her ability
13/12/2010 05:13:23 PM
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And she doesn't know any details...
13/12/2010 07:19:12 PM
- 1024 Views
this conversation is so pointless
13/12/2010 10:43:35 PM
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Yes. But since you continue to not answer the main question, necessary.
13/12/2010 11:24:24 PM
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Re: Yes. But since you continue to not answer the main question, necessary.
14/12/2010 11:06:55 AM
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Of course its obvious now!
14/12/2010 12:44:59 PM
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it was always obvious that to me. The first thing Egwene thinks is about what the drug does to her
18/12/2010 05:07:38 AM
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Shielding
13/12/2010 08:01:19 PM
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Practice. We do know that AS practice their weaves far more than WO
13/12/2010 10:50:09 PM
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Re: Practice. We do know that AS practice their weaves far more than WO
14/12/2010 04:25:20 AM
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There is, actually...
13/12/2010 11:28:42 PM
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Meh
14/12/2010 04:22:45 AM
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Well...
14/12/2010 04:37:50 AM
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Re: Well...
14/12/2010 10:52:55 AM
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of course Katerine is redundant! 2 women of Barasine and Katerine's strength
18/12/2010 05:00:50 AM
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Re: Amys is clearly stronger than half Egwene's strength...
11/12/2010 07:31:25 AM
- 1201 Views
um, Elayne was in the process of bleeding to death and then had just been Healed
11/12/2010 03:50:27 PM
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astounding "evidence"
10/12/2010 09:58:47 PM
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Re: astounding "evidence"
11/12/2010 09:15:03 AM
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thanks
11/12/2010 03:54:54 PM
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Re: thanks
12/12/2010 12:49:52 PM
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We're not in disagreement for the most part
12/12/2010 04:23:02 PM
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Re: We're not in disagreement for the most part
12/12/2010 05:00:02 PM
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Actually in the AoL all AS who went over (50%) were refered to as Forsaken
12/12/2010 05:13:46 PM
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Re: Actually in the AoL all AS who went over (50%) were refered to as Forsaken
12/12/2010 06:35:02 PM
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All of the AS who went over to the DO refered to themselves as the Chosen
12/12/2010 07:50:59 PM
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Re: All of the AS who went over to the DO refered to themselves as the Chosen
12/12/2010 11:05:58 PM
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Re: All of the AS who went over to the DO refered to themselves as the Chosen
12/12/2010 11:11:29 PM
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Re: All of the AS who went over to the DO refered to themselves as the Chosen
12/12/2010 11:14:47 PM
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I don't get the logic here...
09/12/2010 09:41:18 PM
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It doubles her strength. Nynaeve is only 50% stronger. So she only needs half of it to match Nynaeve
09/12/2010 09:46:42 PM
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And...?
09/12/2010 09:51:57 PM
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Personally, I thought it had something to do with not harming the babies.
09/12/2010 10:01:10 PM
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That was my interpretation too
10/12/2010 04:36:38 AM
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what books are you reading? she's absolutely convinced until that scene
10/12/2010 04:12:34 PM
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The oaths proposal is after the jailhouse break in the timeline
10/12/2010 04:31:12 PM
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You are correct! So clearly worry about the babies was not a reason to not draw more
10/12/2010 05:05:30 PM
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Re: what books are you reading? she's absolutely convinced until that scene
10/12/2010 04:41:25 PM
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Re: what books are you reading? she's absolutely convinced until that scene
10/12/2010 05:02:10 PM
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and as a poster above points out the scene is AFTER she's stabbed
10/12/2010 05:07:17 PM
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Re: More evidence that Elayne is much weaker than the Forsaken
10/12/2010 08:22:21 PM
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Re: More evidence that Elayne is much weaker than the Forsaken
10/12/2010 08:33:25 PM
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Re: More evidence that Elayne is much weaker than the Forsaken
10/12/2010 09:12:12 PM
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they can actually sense both which is how Elayne knows Nynaeve is not at full potential
10/12/2010 09:22:35 PM
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Re: More evidence that Elayne is much weaker than the Forsaken
10/12/2010 09:31:13 PM
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Please note that Nynaeve has commented every time she's been around
10/12/2010 10:08:16 PM
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Re: Please note that Nynaeve has commented every time she's been around
10/12/2010 10:50:32 PM
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It's more than just fear of Moridin that makes her choose an attack from such a distance
10/12/2010 11:10:57 PM
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How is it that this the longest thread on this board? Is it even relevant in the least? *NM*
18/12/2010 02:53:22 PM
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Re: How is it that this the longest thread on this board? Is it even relevant in the least?
18/12/2010 08:21:24 PM
- 1009 Views
Look at the topic. As if we needed evidence that Elayne is weaker than the Foresaken.
19/12/2010 04:41:25 AM
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