Probably true, but maybe a hint from a Sanderson interview should be considered here...
Shannow Send a noteboard - 26/09/2012 08:56:32 AM
We pretty much know which "agents" Moghedien is talking about, as we know when she discovered Nynaeve's existence.
She must have asked someone in Liandrin's group (and that this is the explanation is supported by the fact Moghedien's "agents" aren't in the Tower where they'd have spotted Sharina for instance). Liandrin's group must told her about the Tower's strongest women, it's even likely it happened after Moghedien saw Nynaeve's strength for herself (it's her, not the BA who found Nynaeve in Tanchico), so much above those of those BA. That must be what sparked her curiosity - for her own safety she had to know if she'd encounter many more like Nynaeve. She must have asked the BA if there were other AS like Nyaneve or stronger.
Basically, that quote just tells us Moghedien found Hessalam to be of significant strength. It also pretty much tells us Graendal was strong, but not in the "freak" zone like Lanfear because Moghedien wasn't surprised enough for that, nor did she think of Graendal's strength.
IMO it tells us Graendal is either in Nynaeve's range or somewhat stronger, but still in the zone of strength that's rare but not exceptional enough for her to think "wow, this woman is exceptionally strong, about as strong as Graendal". If Moghedien met someone else of Lanfear's strength, it's something like that she would think.
She must have asked someone in Liandrin's group (and that this is the explanation is supported by the fact Moghedien's "agents" aren't in the Tower where they'd have spotted Sharina for instance). Liandrin's group must told her about the Tower's strongest women, it's even likely it happened after Moghedien saw Nynaeve's strength for herself (it's her, not the BA who found Nynaeve in Tanchico), so much above those of those BA. That must be what sparked her curiosity - for her own safety she had to know if she'd encounter many more like Nynaeve. She must have asked the BA if there were other AS like Nyaneve or stronger.
Basically, that quote just tells us Moghedien found Hessalam to be of significant strength. It also pretty much tells us Graendal was strong, but not in the "freak" zone like Lanfear because Moghedien wasn't surprised enough for that, nor did she think of Graendal's strength.
IMO it tells us Graendal is either in Nynaeve's range or somewhat stronger, but still in the zone of strength that's rare but not exceptional enough for her to think "wow, this woman is exceptionally strong, about as strong as Graendal". If Moghedien met someone else of Lanfear's strength, it's something like that she would think.
I'm always on the lookout for strength comparisons but I found this one pretty uninformative. I merely assumed that it pointed to Nynaeve and Hessalam being stronger than Moghedien but neither of those two are a surprise, and we know that even Cyndane is stronger than Hessalam. I don't think Moghedien's quote form the basis of even the weakest theory. Its like Daigian commenting on an Aes Sedai who is stronger than her.
When Sanderson was asked how Nynaeve's strength compared to Semirhage, he went into how Nynaeve is incredibly strong (with only 6 females stronger than her). He then said that Nynaeve's strength is so rare that whenever we encounter someone stronger than her, it will pretty much be remarked upon.
Well, I find it quite interesting that Moghedien brings Nynaeve's name into her totally unrelated thoughts on Hessalam's strength, and saying how it is unbelievable that Hessalam wasn't noticed by her agents if Nynaeve was.
This could be Sanderson staying true to his comment that anyone who is stronger than Nynaeve will be remarked upon with a comparison to Nynaeve in some way.
In any case, this certainly links nicely to previous estimates of Graendal being stronger than Nynaeve, and the fact that Graendal really has to be one of the 6 channelers above Nynaeve, if Semirhage isn't one of them (he still left that open to a slight possibility).
Nothing conclusive, but it does fit the generally accepted picture.
This message last edited by Shannow on 26/09/2012 at 08:57:58 AM
AMOL Prologue : Analysis of Forsaken section *major spoilers*
19/09/2012 05:47:21 PM
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You left out that Taim and Demandred have met before.
19/09/2012 06:19:01 PM
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Part of me keeps screaming Logain, though that can't be right...
20/09/2012 12:14:00 PM
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We have our answer as to why Cyndane and Moiraine are reduced in power.
20/09/2012 05:14:01 AM
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It was spelled out before.
20/09/2012 05:25:05 AM
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And some of us guessed that's what happened, we just didn't have evidence. *NM*
20/09/2012 12:04:18 PM
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Nor a lot of support for the idea...
22/09/2012 06:28:14 PM
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Really? Seemed like the obvious series of events
23/09/2012 02:32:35 PM
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I know...
23/09/2012 05:30:42 PM
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I'm not so sure
24/09/2012 05:32:50 PM
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Why question it?
25/09/2012 01:40:39 AM
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Re: Why question it?
25/09/2012 06:12:32 AM
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No she doesn't. She focuses on Graendal's punishment being about her looks
25/09/2012 04:10:04 PM
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Re: No she doesn't. She focuses on Graendal's punishment being about her looks
25/09/2012 06:41:13 PM
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Re: No she doesn't. She focuses on Graendal's punishment being about her looks
25/09/2012 07:21:03 PM
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Re: No she doesn't. She focuses on Graendal's punishment being about her looks
25/09/2012 07:53:47 PM
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Demandred - the wasted Forsaken
20/09/2012 08:14:15 PM
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Talmanes
23/09/2012 12:42:27 AM
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I think you once again overestimate my appreciation of the series.
25/09/2012 02:33:34 PM
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Re: Talmanes
02/10/2012 03:27:05 PM
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I'm disappointed after waiting a week for a new post in the Forsaken thread, it's about Talmanes!
02/10/2012 09:46:48 PM
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Two interesting Forsaken issues you haven't raised
22/09/2012 06:21:34 PM
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Seems to me that Taim himself was behind going to Rand
23/09/2012 02:53:32 AM
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Re: Seems to me that Taim himself was behind going to Rand
23/09/2012 05:50:48 PM
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I think I rebel against this thought process because of the Taimandred Red Herring
23/09/2012 06:35:19 PM
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Re: I think I rebel against this thought process because of the Taimandred Red Herring
23/09/2012 07:46:59 PM
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I have to wonder at Hessalam
23/09/2012 01:20:13 PM
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Re: I have to wonder at Hessalam
23/09/2012 06:52:10 PM
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I agree that B-Sand seems to have inserted Graendal into the Slayer plot line in TOM
23/09/2012 07:17:15 PM
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Re: I agree that B-Sand seems to have inserted Graendal into the Slayer plot line in TOM
23/09/2012 08:19:02 PM
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EDIT ... Demandred has only had about 9 months (according to wotchron)
23/09/2012 09:13:44 PM
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Re: I have to wonder at Hessalam
24/09/2012 05:18:29 PM
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So based on this new info, what is Demandred's big game? Shara or Isle of Madmen back on the table?
23/09/2012 08:01:03 PM
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Re: So based on this new info, what is Demandred's big game?
23/09/2012 08:52:48 PM
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Interesting...
23/09/2012 09:06:18 PM
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Re: Interesting...
23/09/2012 11:31:31 PM
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I think we saw them during the attack on Maradon. The Portal Stone attack seems less likely
23/09/2012 11:41:42 PM
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If I had to take a guess right now I'd say he has been setting up various Shadow armies thought the
23/09/2012 09:30:34 PM
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I think at the very least he has recreated the One-and-Eighty male channelers from the AOL...
23/09/2012 09:34:56 PM
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As I said he will almost certainly have Channelers
23/09/2012 09:47:53 PM
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All he needed to do was train 10 guys personally..
23/09/2012 09:51:46 PM
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It took Taim nearly a year to train a dozen men to a place where they could teach
23/09/2012 10:00:40 PM
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The world is 25,000 miles by 25,000 miles in size...
23/09/2012 10:15:22 PM
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That is just far fetched ... I think I would laugh out loud if that is the case
23/09/2012 10:43:37 PM
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Direct quote from Demandred refutes this...
23/09/2012 10:49:10 PM
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Demanded is much more like Mesaana in his ways
23/09/2012 10:55:00 PM
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"My rule is secure." Could Demandred be ruling an entire Mirror World?
23/09/2012 10:43:51 PM
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The changes in Moghedien
25/09/2012 03:29:15 AM
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I believe she commented on Graendal's strength, comparing it to Nynaeve or something?
25/09/2012 11:07:24 PM
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Well..
25/09/2012 11:15:21 PM
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Thanks for the quote, but reading that, it kind of implies the opposite, to me...
25/09/2012 11:35:53 PM
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Hmmm....
26/09/2012 12:00:33 AM
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Hehe, that old argument again.
26/09/2012 12:09:25 AM
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Yes.
26/09/2012 12:58:03 AM
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I agree the Forsaken are all pretty close in effective Strength
26/09/2012 04:11:16 AM
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Re: I agree the Forsaken are all pretty close in effective Strength
26/09/2012 08:53:02 AM
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Well...
26/09/2012 09:09:38 AM
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Re: Well...
26/09/2012 10:17:03 AM
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Moiraine lost more than 2/3 of her strength. Siuan lost about that and Moiraine seems
26/09/2012 04:46:18 PM
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Re: I agree the Forsaken are all pretty close in effective Strength
27/09/2012 03:00:04 AM
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Re: I agree the Forsaken are all pretty close in effective Strength
27/09/2012 07:23:11 AM
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As always you forget book 4 is more than half way through the timeline of the series
26/09/2012 03:58:22 AM
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Actually......
26/09/2012 02:30:00 AM
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Not sure that's completely true..
26/09/2012 06:42:51 AM
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Probably something like this
26/09/2012 08:36:40 AM
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Probably true, but maybe a hint from a Sanderson interview should be considered here...
26/09/2012 08:56:32 AM
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Re: Probably true, but maybe a hint from a Sanderson interview should be considered here...
26/09/2012 10:01:08 AM
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Graendal almost has to be Stronger than Nynaeve
26/09/2012 05:57:35 PM
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One thing about that...
27/09/2012 02:58:56 AM
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Possible, but I find it unlikely
27/09/2012 06:16:56 AM
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The reason I think that...
27/09/2012 06:25:48 AM
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I always assumed Nynaeve at the top was a list he later revised as he decided to bring in
27/09/2012 06:39:35 AM
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I wasn't making a Strength comparison ... I was commenting on her lack of cowardice
26/09/2012 03:45:36 AM
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Re: I wasn't making a Strength comparison ... I was commenting on her lack of cowardice
26/09/2012 05:30:36 PM
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