Just a random thought on Sanderson's comment that there are only 6 women stronger than Nynaeve on RJs list ...
Well we have Lanfear, obviously. I always assumed Graendal and Semirhage were stronger than Nynaeve, and Moghedian is equal to her. Not sure about Mesaana. There's Sharina and Alivia. That leaves us with one space.
It seems most likely it's Talaan - she's young, and though she's about equal to Nynaeve at the moment, she's surely got more strength to gain.
If Talaan isn't one of the six, or I've overestimated the strength of one of the forsaken, it's possible you're right. I wish RJ had dropped us a few more hints about Norla. Cadsuane spoke of 'earning' her ornaments, which doesn't sound like it was something that happened overnight. Did Norla imprison her, somehow? Set her tasks? Why? She wouldn't necessarily have had to have been stronger than Cadsuane to do it - just look at that kinswoman who can weave the unbreakable shields.
My own little pet theory, which I admit is extremely unlikely, is that the sixth super-strong female channeler is Sera, one of Tuon's damane. She's mentioned as being 'the strongest', nothing else, and Tuon did have a whole continent of channelers to choose from. But there doesn't seem to be much point to having such a strong channeler and giving her no role.
Lanfear - the strongest woman ever
Cyndane - weaker than Lanfear but stronger than all the other female Forsaken
Alivia - considerably stronger than Nynaeve
Graendal - the 2nd strongest of the original female Forsaken. RJ said Nynaeve at full strength was of average strength for a female Forsaken, which would translate to 2 female Forsaken being stronger than her (Lanfear and Graendal) and two being weaker than her (Mesaana and Moghedien)
Sharina - has a potential higher than Nynaeve's.
That's 5 women. Now we have Semirhage, who Sanderson said was very close to Nynaeve, but he was "pretty sure" that Nynaeve was slightly the stronger of the two.
I still maintain that Sanderson's uncertainty in this regard is extremely suspicious, and speaks more towards his personal DESIRE for Nynaeve to be stronger than Semirhage than it actually being a fact. If he knew who the 6 women stronger than Nynaeve are, then he should be able to definitely state that either Semirhage is stronger or weaker than Nynaeve. He wouldn't have to say he is "pretty sure" that Semirhage is slightly weaker.
Yes or no would be the categorical answer.
Therefore, it might well be that all the speculation on the identity of the sixth woman is unnecessary, and that Semirhage is in fact this woman.
Just as Talaan is ... Sanderson would have been just as certain if Semirhage was Stronger than Nynaeve as he should have been certain she was weaker. Additionally he seemed very certain of the 6 women who do stand above Nynaeve so it seems even less likely that Semirhage would actually be stronger.
Sanderson wasn't sure of the identities of the 6 above Nynaeve at all. He wasn't sure about Semirhage, and he didn't have a clue what Cyndane's new strength level was. This indicates that while he knew the NUMBER of women above Nynaeve was 6, he didn't know their identities at the time he was sharing this info.
Hence his uncertainty regarding Semirhage being weaker or stronger than Nynaeve. He didn't actually know for sure whether she was one of the 6 or not, but his IMPRESSION was that she was not.
He said that he was pretty sure that she was weaker than Nynaeve but couldn't be certain. To say that is evidence of Semirhage being one of the six is ridiculous. He literally insinuated the opposite.
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Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
Could Norla be the other woman stronger than Nynaeve?
- 22/01/2011 06:54:36 PM
2066 Views
It's a nice idea, really
- 22/01/2011 07:04:03 PM
1119 Views
we don't know the strength difference between Cadsuane and Nynaeve
- 22/01/2011 08:55:48 PM
1053 Views
Nynaeve is of course roughly twice as strong as Cadsuane...
- 24/01/2011 10:26:49 PM
1149 Views
Still sticking to the nonsense I see...
you and your assumptions crack me up ... there is zero evidence that Nyn is 2x Cadsuane
- 26/01/2011 04:41:33 PM
981 Views
Waits for the candle flame vs. bonfire quote to appear...
- 26/01/2011 05:01:28 PM
1010 Views
*blows out the friggin candle* ... why does anyone take EoTW Moiraine quotes seriously?
- 26/01/2011 09:41:53 PM
981 Views
tGH, but I agree...
- 27/01/2011 04:58:08 AM
1061 Views
Re: tGH, but I agree...
- 27/01/2011 07:29:15 AM
908 Views
I think it's a matter of perspective too
- 27/01/2011 05:12:29 PM
863 Views
Nynaeve temporarily holds Logain shielded on her own, while 5 average strength Aes Sedai cannot...
- 27/01/2011 05:35:26 PM
770 Views
Another inconsistency ... since 4 women held a shield on Rand who is Stronger than Logain EDIT
- 27/01/2011 07:47:31 PM
867 Views
Not an inconsistency and if you analyse it...
- 27/01/2011 08:21:39 PM
1090 Views
I'm not dismissing the quote I'm saying 6 weak women held Logain
- 27/01/2011 09:21:34 PM
904 Views
Circular logic...
- 27/01/2011 09:49:40 PM
970 Views
Explain to me how Moghedien is only 60% of Lanfear and managed to do anything?
- 28/01/2011 06:25:28 PM
1009 Views
Easy. And I dispute that all 6 women shielding Logain were only 10% stronger than an Accepted.
- 29/01/2011 12:42:54 PM
743 Views
Not even gonna bother ... So many flawed statements in here it's not worth the effort to correct you *NM*
- 29/01/2011 04:50:01 PM
442 Views
Wait... what?
- 27/01/2011 11:16:32 PM
831 Views
Re: Wait... what?
- 28/01/2011 12:26:22 AM
779 Views
Nope...
- 28/01/2011 01:24:18 AM
869 Views
Yeah, but...
- 28/01/2011 12:53:26 PM
921 Views
Therer is a direct quote in New Spring
- 28/01/2011 02:20:40 PM
896 Views
That's your evidence? You mean like Caddy defers to Nynaeve?
- 28/01/2011 02:29:46 PM
832 Views
It will be someone who was alive at some point during the series...
- 22/01/2011 07:11:57 PM
1061 Views
Strength in the Power and skill in the Power are not the same thing.
- 22/01/2011 10:33:12 PM
892 Views
true, but nearly 300 years ago when she was a new AS she had yet to learn that lesson
- 23/01/2011 04:49:33 PM
874 Views
Possibly? But unlikely.
- 23/01/2011 11:12:01 PM
837 Views
The 6 are...
- 24/01/2011 10:09:33 PM
1155 Views
I disagree. If anything Semirhage is at the same strength level
- 24/01/2011 11:10:30 PM
924 Views
Agree and disagree...
- 25/01/2011 10:44:26 AM
883 Views
Re: Agree and disagree...
- 25/01/2011 11:04:11 PM
818 Views
I didn't say Semirhage is definitely one of the 6, but his answer leaves it as a viable possibility.
- 26/01/2011 07:36:52 AM
935 Views
I'd disagree with that statement. I think he definitively ruled her out with his comment
- 26/01/2011 04:40:14 PM
734 Views
Lanfear and Cyndane are the same person *NM*
- 25/01/2011 10:24:15 AM
409 Views
I think Shannows' point is that even with reduced strength, Lanfear is still the most powerful
- 25/01/2011 05:30:34 PM
884 Views
Re: The 6 are...
- 25/01/2011 10:51:40 PM
944 Views
This seems like the most likely case to me, but Sommeryn is unsubstantiated to date
- 26/01/2011 04:43:27 PM
764 Views
I think there's a stronger case for Someryn than most women
- 26/01/2011 05:07:03 PM
915 Views
I agree that she is the most likely candidate, but there is nothing beyond speculation
- 26/01/2011 09:45:27 PM
782 Views
Talaan isn't stronger. She is the same strength and has been actively channeling for 6 years
- 24/01/2011 11:14:31 PM
885 Views
Not necessarily
- 25/01/2011 08:07:02 PM
745 Views
But that doesn't answer why a toothless wilder in a backwoods hut would have drawn
- 26/01/2011 04:49:33 PM
839 Views
nah
- 25/01/2011 10:55:10 PM
1072 Views
it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
- 26/01/2011 04:47:32 PM
972 Views
Re: it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
- 26/01/2011 05:17:16 PM
853 Views
I can see that as a possibility too
- 26/01/2011 10:22:02 PM
855 Views