Short of the Dragon Reborn, it is the most powerful position in the world, and that still holds true.
Everything else I pretty much agree with. But the list of top 3 powerful people are:
1. Rand
2. Tuon
3. Egwene
Tuon now doesn't have the whole Seanchan continent backing her. What she has is roughly 200K soldiers, Tarabon, Amadicia and Ebou Dar (none of which were major military powers save Amadicia, and their most significant military asset is now with Perrin), and an unspecified number of damane that is almost certainly smaller than the full number the Tower can field.
Plus, Egwene now has the beginnings of a working relationship with the WF and the WO, added to some influence with the DR, much influence with the rest of the Randland continent, the full backing of Andor-Cairhein... She's in sum, definitely more powerful than Tuon.
This isn't right at all lol. We're not given the amount of Damane the Seanchan have on Randland but it's certainly at equivalent to what the Tower can field, if not more. Regardless of what Egwene can yield, it doesn't matter because what Egwene can call forth would be like calling on a bunch of grunts straight out of boot camp...compared to Damane being Green Berets. The only channelers that would matter that Egwene could 'call' would be the Asha'man from the Black Tower and that isn't happening anytime soon for way too many reasons to begin listing here.
The Seanchan have more than 200k more soldiers as well. They had 100k at the Molvanian (sp) gap and I surmise 100k in the same situation guarding against Illian - that's 200k right there. And then you have the Seanchan's General's all being Great Captain equivalent as per Rand. So the differences in what Tuon can call forth and what Egwene can call forth is huge. The only chance Egwene would have against Tuon would be if she had the Asha'man and Matrim in her pocket and we all know that's not happening. So yeah, Tuon's more powerful than Egwene and Egwene would be crushed if she wasn't the Mary Sue of Randland.
The Seanchan have built a nice little empire by conquoring a group of weak, and disorganized countries. The Seanchan military had huge advantanges over Tarabon, Altara, Amadicia, and the Almoth Plain. All of which had weak or non existent national governments, and small poor armies. The Seanchan used overwhelming numbers, the raken provided intelligence and air support, and Damane which were not available to those they conquored.
The Seanchan generals are not Great Captains. Rand said the Ever Victorious Army won because they learned from their losses. The three times Seanchan army went up against a competent Randland general they lost. Rand about 5000 troops and a few Ashaman thumped the Seanchan. Rodel Itrulde destroyed the Seanchan army that was chasing him. Mat outmaneuvered whatever the Seanchan tried in Altara.
Egwene has assets than Tuon doesn't.
1. Linking which is unknown and unavailable to the Seanchan. Linking will allow Egwene's Aes Sedai to project more power at a greater distance than the Damane. Think a battleship firing its 16 inch guns at range that outranges a cruisers 8 inch guns.
2. Angreal and Sa'angreal. A weakened Egwene used an sa'angreal and was able to drive off the Seanchan force that attacked the White Tower.
3. Gareth Bryne is a Great Captain and is building a large army.
4. Allies. The Seanchan really have no allies. At a minimum Egwene can count on Elayne. Elayne the queen of two countries, has the Kin as power users, and cannons.
Tuon has one additional advantage. Egwene is focused on Tarmon Gaidon. Tuon is focused on the White Tower.
Egwene has one more advantage. Rand will not allow the White Tower to be crushed.
Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 05:59:15 PM
- 2144 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician.
16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM
- 1299 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM
- 999 Views
If the Shadow had removed Elaida so Egwene was Amyrlin whilst Rand was still Dark ...
16/12/2010 11:56:08 PM
- 949 Views
Same thing if Elaida was in charge when meeting w/ Dark Rand. *NM*
17/12/2010 02:10:20 AM
- 500 Views
Except Rand wouldn't go to the WT with Elaida in charge, without having to fight
17/12/2010 02:50:18 AM
- 1070 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM
- 1112 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM
- 868 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are?
17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM
- 976 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM
- 1026 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM
- 813 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM
- 971 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM
- 871 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM*
20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM
- 534 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends.
20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM
- 926 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene
20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM
- 1038 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader?
20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM
- 836 Views
She has the same power base as any Amyrlin - the Aes Sedai, the artisans, Guards & citizens of TV
17/12/2010 05:51:20 PM
- 966 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue
17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM
- 1337 Views
I see them as being the same thing.
17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM
- 966 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy
17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM
- 885 Views
I would say that in the grand scheme of things, Rand's had good to balance out the bad.
20/12/2010 06:27:35 PM
- 867 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here.
18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM
- 975 Views
But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
20/12/2010 06:17:17 PM
- 1277 Views
Re: But you are just undervaluing Egwene's struggles in comparison to the other characters.
22/12/2010 05:28:01 PM
- 1049 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons...
18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM
- 1007 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon?
18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM
- 828 Views
Definitely...
18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM
- 865 Views
That's not right...
19/12/2010 12:56:25 AM
- 832 Views
Re: That's not right...
19/12/2010 11:38:54 PM
- 957 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts.
20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM
- 827 Views
She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM
- 862 Views
RJ is more powerful.
20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM
- 963 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM
- 945 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM
- 808 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon...
20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM
- 891 Views