I tend to see Cadsuane as the "middle ground" you refer to and Egwene yet another rung up from that ... IMO Cadsuane is 2x an average AS (say Verin), Egwene 2x a strong AS (Sheriam) and Nynaeve 2x a Very Strong AS (Moiraine) ... the proof is in the books that Cadsuane is a long step above all other AS and there are at least strong hints that there is a long step up to Egwene given that Bode is likely stronger than Cadsuane but still weaker than Egwene, and Nicola may well have also been between Cadsuane and Egwene.
Egwene was about Moiraine's level at the start of TSR (maybe a bit stronger from her comments to Rand), but Elayne was significantly below her at this point ...
TSR
Into the Palace
Egeanin, arms folded in front of the doors, seemed ready to let it go on, but Elayne wove flows of Air around Amathera's waist. To her surprise she was able to lift her off the already senseless woman and set her on her feet. Perhaps learning how to handle those heavy weavings from Jorin had increased her strength.
We know from Siuan's later comments that she was once strong enough to lift about 3x her own body weight and here we have Elayne being surprised at being able to lift a single woman and noting that her strength must have grown between the Rand encounter and this moment at the tail end of TSR.
Rand essentially overwhelmed a Moiraine level woman and a woman likely not much above average AS strength ... maybe Verin strength at most. This is not a surprise since not much later we see Verin and Alanna linked even less effective against Rand!
I think people often forget that Egwene has been pretty far ahead of Elayne in strength for most of the series. It's clear that Elayne was maybe 50-60% of Egwene in current strength when they encountered Rand. And Egwene was probably at about 60% of her maximum in this encounter.
The real problem I see in the consistency is how strong AS really are ... there is a wide range of quotes that contradict where AS strength stands. I agree that the average women are very much weaker than FS level, but the Strongest seem to be closer to 50% of that level. And IIRC Brandon has come out and said the strength range of AS is much larger than we all seem to think... which is logical given Siuan was about 3x Daigian, and Daigian would fall right around the lowest end of average female strength on a Bell Curve.
I also think there is plenty of evidence showing that Nynaeve and all of the Forsaken basically make up about the top 10% (or so) of the strength curve with Egwene and co in the next rung and then Cadsuane/Bode/Nicola the next ... after that you get into the "average level women" that probably peaks around Moraine and ends at Daigian before you hit the truly weak women such as Alise etc ...
Egwene was about Moiraine's level at the start of TSR (maybe a bit stronger from her comments to Rand), but Elayne was significantly below her at this point ...
TSR
Into the Palace
Egeanin, arms folded in front of the doors, seemed ready to let it go on, but Elayne wove flows of Air around Amathera's waist. To her surprise she was able to lift her off the already senseless woman and set her on her feet. Perhaps learning how to handle those heavy weavings from Jorin had increased her strength.
We know from Siuan's later comments that she was once strong enough to lift about 3x her own body weight and here we have Elayne being surprised at being able to lift a single woman and noting that her strength must have grown between the Rand encounter and this moment at the tail end of TSR.
Rand essentially overwhelmed a Moiraine level woman and a woman likely not much above average AS strength ... maybe Verin strength at most. This is not a surprise since not much later we see Verin and Alanna linked even less effective against Rand!
I think people often forget that Egwene has been pretty far ahead of Elayne in strength for most of the series. It's clear that Elayne was maybe 50-60% of Egwene in current strength when they encountered Rand. And Egwene was probably at about 60% of her maximum in this encounter.
The real problem I see in the consistency is how strong AS really are ... there is a wide range of quotes that contradict where AS strength stands. I agree that the average women are very much weaker than FS level, but the Strongest seem to be closer to 50% of that level. And IIRC Brandon has come out and said the strength range of AS is much larger than we all seem to think... which is logical given Siuan was about 3x Daigian, and Daigian would fall right around the lowest end of average female strength on a Bell Curve.
I also think there is plenty of evidence showing that Nynaeve and all of the Forsaken basically make up about the top 10% (or so) of the strength curve with Egwene and co in the next rung and then Cadsuane/Bode/Nicola the next ... after that you get into the "average level women" that probably peaks around Moraine and ends at Daigian before you hit the truly weak women such as Alise etc ...
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Could Norla be the other woman stronger than Nynaeve?
22/01/2011 06:54:36 PM
- 2142 Views
It's a nice idea, really
22/01/2011 07:04:03 PM
- 1196 Views
we don't know the strength difference between Cadsuane and Nynaeve
22/01/2011 08:55:48 PM
- 1127 Views
Nynaeve is of course roughly twice as strong as Cadsuane...
24/01/2011 10:26:49 PM
- 1233 Views
you and your assumptions crack me up ... there is zero evidence that Nyn is 2x Cadsuane
26/01/2011 04:41:33 PM
- 1054 Views
Waits for the candle flame vs. bonfire quote to appear...
26/01/2011 05:01:28 PM
- 1086 Views
*blows out the friggin candle* ... why does anyone take EoTW Moiraine quotes seriously?
26/01/2011 09:41:53 PM
- 1052 Views
tGH, but I agree...
27/01/2011 04:58:08 AM
- 1140 Views
Re: tGH, but I agree...
27/01/2011 07:29:15 AM
- 984 Views
I think it's a matter of perspective too
27/01/2011 05:12:29 PM
- 913 Views
Nynaeve temporarily holds Logain shielded on her own, while 5 average strength Aes Sedai cannot...
27/01/2011 05:35:26 PM
- 843 Views
Another inconsistency ... since 4 women held a shield on Rand who is Stronger than Logain EDIT
27/01/2011 07:47:31 PM
- 953 Views
Not an inconsistency and if you analyse it...
27/01/2011 08:21:39 PM
- 1167 Views
I'm not dismissing the quote I'm saying 6 weak women held Logain
27/01/2011 09:21:34 PM
- 984 Views
Circular logic...
27/01/2011 09:49:40 PM
- 1050 Views
Explain to me how Moghedien is only 60% of Lanfear and managed to do anything?
28/01/2011 06:25:28 PM
- 1086 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
- 829 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
- 475 Views
Wait... what?
27/01/2011 11:16:32 PM
- 909 Views
Re: Wait... what?
28/01/2011 12:26:22 AM
- 853 Views
Nope...
28/01/2011 01:24:18 AM
- 945 Views
Yeah, but...
28/01/2011 12:53:26 PM
- 992 Views
Therer is a direct quote in New Spring
28/01/2011 02:20:40 PM
- 967 Views
That's your evidence? You mean like Caddy defers to Nynaeve?
28/01/2011 02:29:46 PM
- 927 Views
It will be someone who was alive at some point during the series...
22/01/2011 07:11:57 PM
- 1134 Views
Strength in the Power and skill in the Power are not the same thing.
22/01/2011 10:33:12 PM
- 965 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
- 950 Views
Possibly? But unlikely.
23/01/2011 11:12:01 PM
- 914 Views
The 6 are...
24/01/2011 10:09:33 PM
- 1236 Views
I disagree. If anything Semirhage is at the same strength level
24/01/2011 11:10:30 PM
- 1001 Views
Agree and disagree...
25/01/2011 10:44:26 AM
- 963 Views
Re: Agree and disagree...
25/01/2011 11:04:11 PM
- 890 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
- 1009 Views
I'd disagree with that statement. I think he definitively ruled her out with his comment
26/01/2011 04:40:14 PM
- 809 Views
Lanfear and Cyndane are the same person *NM*
25/01/2011 10:24:15 AM
- 456 Views
I think Shannows' point is that even with reduced strength, Lanfear is still the most powerful
25/01/2011 05:30:34 PM
- 961 Views
Re: The 6 are...
25/01/2011 10:51:40 PM
- 1028 Views
This seems like the most likely case to me, but Sommeryn is unsubstantiated to date
26/01/2011 04:43:27 PM
- 833 Views
I think there's a stronger case for Someryn than most women
26/01/2011 05:07:03 PM
- 988 Views
I agree that she is the most likely candidate, but there is nothing beyond speculation
26/01/2011 09:45:27 PM
- 856 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
- 964 Views
Not necessarily
25/01/2011 08:07:02 PM
- 829 Views
But that doesn't answer why a toothless wilder in a backwoods hut would have drawn
26/01/2011 04:49:33 PM
- 915 Views
nah
25/01/2011 10:55:10 PM
- 1121 Views
it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
26/01/2011 04:47:32 PM
- 1060 Views
Re: it's obvious that Norla made her "earn" the ornaments
26/01/2011 05:17:16 PM
- 937 Views
I can see that as a possibility too
26/01/2011 10:22:02 PM
- 945 Views
Re: I can see that as a possibility too
27/01/2011 07:38:31 AM
- 1039 Views
we'll always disagree I suppose
27/01/2011 04:47:42 PM
- 980 Views